Unconventional Detective Declan Miller has a problem. Well, two problems. First, there’s his dead wife and her yet-to-be-solved murder. He really should stop talking to her ghosts…

Second, and most pressing, a young man has just appeared on his doorstep with a briefcase . . . containing a pair of severed hands. Miller knows this case is proof of a contract killing commissioned by local ne’er do well Wayne Cutler—a man he suspects might also be responsible for his wife’s death. Now Miller has leverage, but unfortunately, he also has something that both Cutler and a villainous fast-food kingpin are desperate to get hold of.

Sprinkle in a Midsomer Murders-obsessed hitman, a psychotic welder, and a woman driven over the edge by a wayward Crème Egg, and Miller is in a mess that even he might not be able to dance his way out of.

Praise for The Wrong Hands:

Amazon Editors’ Pick in Best Mystery, Thriller & Suspense
Deadly Pleasures Mystery Magazine’s Best Mystery/Crime Novels of 2024
The Financial Times Best Crime Books of Summer

“[The] electrifying sequel to The Last Dance . . . Declan remains a dashing, sharp-witted protagonist . . . Throw in a delightfully madcap plot and breakneck pacing, and readers are left with a caper they won’t soon forget.”—​Publishers Weekly, starred review

“Wryly comic, fast-paced, and sharply observed, this excellent sequel to The Last Dance will be welcomed by the author’s fans.”—Library Journal

“Although the tone of these nonstop shenanigans is never exactly lighthearted, their frantic pace, the ineptness of both cops and robbers, and the constant habit of many characters of sizing up their self-performative personas make it never less than madcap.”—Kirkus Reviews

“How about two severed hands, a hitman obsessed with the British crime show Midsomer Murders and a detective who can really dance? Welcome to Mark Billingham’s second mystery starring Detective Declan Miller, a man haunted by his dead wife (literally!) with a flair for ballroom dancing.”​—​Michael Glitz, Parade

“[A] solidly crafted thriller and a bawdily funny caper . . . The outsize talent of Billingham . . . can be measured by the ease with which he balances this series’ humor with its central tragedy.”—​Nell Beram, Shelf Awareness

“A novel from Mark Billingham is always a big deal for me as he is one of the best in the world at what he does . . . There are so many quirky aspects of this novel that make the plot just hum . . . What I love most about The Wrong Hands is the consistently snappy dialogue. Declan Miller is such a unique protagonist, and his quick wit makes the series sing and zip along smartly. It is such a contrast to Mark Billingham’s brilliant Tom Thorne mysteries, which is why readers keep coming back for more.”—​Ray Palen, Bookreporter