Crime book - cant remember the name, anyone?

[Gribble]

I read a book a while ago and it was bloody brilliant and Id love to read it again but I cant remember the name, googling hasnt helped me much either. Wonder if anyone here has heard of it?

In a nutshell it is about a guy who lives / hides in the attics on a row of houses and he spies on the people who live in them. The main points I remember is that the woman in one of the houses notices a smell of urine all the time (coming from the guy as he basically lives in the attics). It was really gripping because whenever she noticed the smell you knew it was because the man was nearby watching her. Its set in England, down south I think, and the detective in it reminded me of a Tom Thorne type character, infact the whole book was a bit Mark Billinghamesqe.

if I remember right the front of the book was white.

Despite my memory of the book being totally vague it was a brilliant novel and its bugging me that I cant remember the name. Anyone know it?

I don't know but I like the sound of it and will be watching!

I always read these threads thinking that I am really well read and will know the answer. Turns out I am not, but bump anyway because I also would like to read this!

More annoyingly my mum remembers reading it but she cant recall the title of it either. It was a really good read, damn my crap memory!

Sounds a bit like Mo Hayder, The Treatment.

Murderer lives in the attics. Don't remember the smell bit but it's been a while since I read it.

oooh that sounds promising, off to google.....

It certainly rings a bell with me. I remember it being really good and I thought all of Mo Hayder's were superb, so could be that as Gladys suggests. Was there an overlooking park (from those houses) in it also?

thats it! Just read the reviews and thats definitely it. It was quite dark but very gripping. its rare a book sticks with me as I read that many.

Wish I had asked on here ages ago, its been around 3 years that Ive tried to remember the name if it. Thanks very much Gladys

Ooh good, I am pleased Like shrinkingnora I normally come onto these threads to find I have no idea, so it's nice to get one right for a change

well if I think of anymore I'll definitely come back here. Ive never wandered onto the Adult Fiction boards before which is odd given I read so many books.

Am off to have a look at some past threads for ideas when i go book shopping next, might see you lot around again soon

Gribble, and everyone else - if you like reading and chatting about books, you could also pop over to our group on goodreads to chat even more. Maybe see you there?

Thanks Malfi, have just registered

For anyone new to these, I recommend reading 'Birdman' first, which is the first novel in the series. There are about 5 in the series to date and The Treatment is the second. Unfortunately they are all chockfull of spoilers. Some of it's unavoidable of course, but I think she gives away far too much of what's happened in previous novels. So best to read them in order to get full enjoyment.

Percy - Ive just ordered Birdman and The Treatment.

I didnt realise they were in order. i made that mistake with Tess Gerritsen, read Bodydouble first and wondered what the hell was going on

Wowooo - sorry I missed your post. yes I think a park does play something significant in the story if I remember right.

Im so happy, honestly 3 years 3 years Ive been trying to track it down

3 YEARS

Can I just say I love you all.

I have been harping on about a book where the killer removed his victims hearts and sewed birds in to anyone remotely interested in book see to see if anyone could remember the title for about 10 years! No one has ever read it and always looks at me like I am slightly mad. One thread on here and I have found it! I knew as soon as I saw Birdman. Off to order all of the series now.

*book see should read books of course!

No, I think it's unfair to her readers not to make it clear that they should be read in order. Two of them (I think it's Ritual and Skin) are practically Parts 1 and 2 of the same story, and I was bloody annoyed a little way in when I realised - I'd read enough for the earlier book to be spoiled for me.

I'm not talking here about the usual detective's-private-life kind of subplot. I mean she actually goes into details about things that have happened. For instance in one book, there's a reference to the death and funeral of a named character .... really unnecessary. Most crime authors don't keep bringing up details of previous cases, and you can happily read them out of order without fear of major spoilers.

the treatment , mo hayder

just finished it

i was too scared sped-read most of it................