Mark Billingham, who is probably Britain’s finest living crime writer, has been knocking off a book a year, sometimes starring his main protagonist Tom Thorne, but sometimes with Thorne only having a walk-on part. In this year’s book, Thorne is centre stage. Working together with his two closest colleagues (and best friends) he is up against an old nemesis. I love these books not only because they’re cleverly-plotted, full of wit, and with characters I have grown to know well. I also love them because they’re largely set in Crouch End, Muswell Hill, Hornsey, Kentish Town and Highgate. In other words, in my neighbourhood. Highly recommended.