DS Declan Miller is tends to get the unusual and bizarre cases, and the one he has been assigned is no different.Miller has a man claiming he’s guilty for a murder that hasn’t happened. This attracts the attention of a rogue enforcer and a gangland boss, an unforgiving lady who doesn’t mess about. If that’s not enough a student is kidnapped, and all of it seems related, along with his personal issues to deal with, life is never straightforward for our budding detective.If he is to solve the case he will have step out of the shadows and put his life on the line.The Shadow Step is a fantastic piece of work by Mark Billingham.The creation of the character DS Declan Miller is one the best things to come along in fiction in a very long time.He’s wonderfully sarcastic, incredibly funny, but most importantly he cares about the job, and he deep down has a kind heart.I’m a massive fan of this series and I highly recommend it.

I really love Mark Billingham books and have really enjoyed the Tom Thorne series - so Detective Declan Miller was always going to be a hard act to follow. This is the third in the series and now the mystery surrounding the demise of Millers wife has been resolved - this story came into its own. There was one aspect of a spectral nature I found a little odd but to say more would provide unacceptable spoilers. As always the bookwas well written and cleverly woven together and I think Detective Miller is growing on me - even his rats. I look forward to more Mark Billingham

The third instalment in the Detective Declan Miller series is an absolute joy to read. Miller is quirky, dry, and deliciously sarcastic, with a wit that genuinely made me laugh out loud. His inner monologue and sharp observations give the book a wonderfully light tone, yet the crimes themselves are handled with depth and care. What continues to set this series apart is its heart. Miller’s tender conversations with his late wife Alex reveal a vulnerability beneath the humour. His partnership with Xiu who he affectionately nicknamed “Posh” has grown into a steady, believable friendship, full of warmth and perfectly timed banter. The return of characters from the first two books gives the story a sense of reunion, almost like catching up with old friends, even the villains are drawn with a certain charm. Meanwhile, Miller’s complicated but clearly loving relationship with his stepdaughter Finn is felt in every interaction. Lighter in tone than the Thorne series but every bit as compelling, this book balances humour, heart, and an intriguing case with impressive skill. Detective Declan Miller is truly a detective like no other ,and this series would make a perfect TV show. It has everything.

I'm so pleased this is going forth as a series, as it's one of the most enjoyable out there right now. Declan Miller is perfect, just because he's not perfect, and it's because he's an absolute comedian who happens to be a bloody good detective that forms the backbone of this newly evolving story. Of course, there's the whole police team, all with pitch-perfect foibles that blend so deliciously. There's the dancing, in theory Miller's go-to when times are tough, but often acting as a simile for the case he's working on. Dance Class is led by two formidable former detectives, as well, so a work/life crossover helps the grey cells think outside the box. In The Shadow Step, there's the odd murder or two, drug dealing and crime lords, though the latter often appear in sequins and stilettos, just to add to the enjoyment. Miller's constant supply of Dad Jokes is always in bad taste and entirely appropriate for the story, as ever - even when the ghost of his wife, Alex, is in the room too, fondling the rats. (Yes - this is really a scene in the book!) I've not missed a Mark Billingham book since the first Thorne was published 25 years ago, and on the basis of this new one he's going to stay at the top for a very long time.

As a fan of Mark Billingham, I was absolutely buzzing to get stuck into this third instalment of the Detective Miller series. I actually haven't read the first two books in this series yet – I must have been asleep or living on the moon to completely miss them! – but I am pleased to say that didn't affect my experience at all because it works brilliantly as a standalone. I recently took this on holiday with me and ended up reading the entire thing in just over a day. I was completely engrossed and totally ignored everything else going on around me. DS Declan Miller finds himself landed with an incredibly bizarre puzzle. A man walks in and confesses to a murder, but it is totally obvious that he is completely innocent. Before long, everything spirals into pure chaos involving a gangland queenpin, a very eccentric mix of suspects and a kidnapping. Oh, and you can also expect appearances from a wonderfully wobbly dog and some rather memorable ceramic leopards! Declan Miller is such a unique character. Honestly, I would absolutely hate to work with him in real life because he is a tad immature, constantly cracking jokes at the wrong moment and downright annoying to his colleagues. Yet, that is exactly what makes him such a joy to read. He brings so many genuine laugh out loud moments to the story, balancing out the gritty, dark nature of the actual crime investigation with his wit. The plot moves at a fantastic pace and keeps you guessing as the tension ramps up. Mark Billingham is a master at weaving together a complex police procedural while keeping the tone incredibly entertaining and full of heart. It is a perfect five-star read for me. Many thanks to the author, Little, Brown Book Group and NetGalley for enabling me to read and indulge myself in yet another cracker from Mr Billingham.