Lee Allen's Blog - Posts Tagged "peter-james"

Dead Simple by Peter James

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


The first gripping thriller in Peter James’ Roy Grace series.

Michael Harrison’s friends have planned a stag-night prank to get back at him for all the practical jokes and pranks he has played on them over the years. But this prank ends in tragic consequences – four friends dead and Michael missing. The tragedy takes a sinister turn – Michael’s best man, unable to make the stag night in time, thus saving his life, claims to have no idea what the prank entailed and can shed no light on Michael’s whereabouts. Trapped and alone, Michael’s time is running out.

Detective Superintendent Roy Grace is consulted on the case by one of his colleagues. He already has a lot on his mind – he’s currently giving evidence in court, in a case which threatens to derail after it is revealed he visited a psychic with a key piece of evidence; while he continues to be haunted by the disappearance of his wife, Sandy, almost nine years ago. Pulled deeper into the case, Grace’s suspicions about the best man grow.

In a race against time, Grace and his team are determined to find Michael Harrison and identify who else may be involved in his disappearance.

I had been meaning to start the Roy Grace series for quite some time. Within the first few pages I was wondering why on earth I had taken so long to start and I did not want to put the book down. Fast-paced and packed with suspense, dosed with procedural and forensic detail, building to an intense and action-packed climax, ‘Dead Simple’ begins the series with a bang. Grace makes a brilliant detective – intuitive, determined, haunted, empathetic, compassionate – and I look forward to his character developing and discovering more about him and his life in future novels. Threaded beneath the police investigation is Grace’s own interest in the supernatural and the occult, familiar from James’ supernatural novels.

The books will shortly be adapted into a TV series – written by ‘Endeavour’ creator and writer Russell Lewis, and starring John Simm as Roy Grace, and, of course, based on Peter James’ superbly plotted books. It promises to be fantastic, particularly in light of the combined talents of this trio and, doubtless, many others.

I will be turning to the second novel in the series, ‘Looking Good Dead’, sooner rather than later. At the time of writing, book 16 is due for release this summer. There is a lot more to read and I cannot wait to dive in for more.



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Looking Good Dead by Peter James

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Detective Superintendent Roy Grace is thrown into another disturbing case in the second gripping thriller in Peter James’ police procedural series.

Tom Bryce, travelling home from work, find himself increasingly irritated by a fellow passenger. Relieved when the man finally disembarks from the train, he then notices he has left behind a CD-ROM. With the intention of being a good Samaritan, he takes the CD home so he can check its contents with the hope of identifying its owner and returning it. But when he accesses the CD, he is diverted to a webpage, where he witnesses footage of the brutal murder of a young woman.

In the aftermath of his last case (as told in ‘Dead Simple’), Roy Grace is under more intense scrutiny from his superiors and the press. But he is to have little respite before heading another enquiry, when a headless corpse is found abandoned on farmland, launching a murder investigation. His team’s first task is to identify the young woman, which leads them into the world of escort agencies and sex work.

Meanwhile, Tom is struggling to comprehend what he has witnessed, unsure even of its authenticity. But someone has become aware that he accessed the CD and the threats begin, becoming increasingly aggressive. When he sees the face of the murdered woman once again, as the police appeal for witnesses, Tom faces a dilemma. Should he go to the police or heed the warnings? His decision threatens to endanger both him and his family. As the terror unfolds, he realises the full extent of the evil they are dealing with.

I instantly loved this police series when I read ‘Dead Simple’ earlier this year, and ‘Looking Good Dead’ is a superb second case for Roy Grace. It picks up immediately after the first novel, which instantly immerses you back into Grace’s world. While the cases themselves are unrelated and the novels can be read as standalones, the challenges of Grace’s personal life and career make for serialised reading, both of which will no doubt continue throughout the series with ever-increasing complications. I think Grace is a fantastic and interesting character, with many layers that we are only just beginning to explore; his relationships with DS Glenn Branson and Cleo are especially endearing.

The novel is dosed with procedural and forensics details, hurtling from one twist to another, culminating in a dramatic finale. I adore police procedurals which feature such attention to detail and a gritty authenticity to its fictional drama. Once again, the shadow of the supernatural hovers in the background, giving the series an additional spin on the genre with this relatively rare quality. Fast-paced, tightly-plotted and well-written, 'Looking Good Dead' is a fine example of modern detective fiction.

The upcoming TV adaptation, starring John Simm, will feature two episodes, based on ‘Dead Simple’ and ‘Looking Good Dead’. I’m very excited to see both on the screen after reading them this year. The third book, ‘Not Dead Enough’, sounds brilliant – already on my to-read list for early next year!



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Not Dead Enough by Peter James

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Another gripping investigation for Detective Superintendent Roy Grace.

The discovery of Katie Bishop murdered in her own home launches a new murder inquiry for Grace and his team. Suspicion immediately falls on her husband, Brian Bishop, though it appears he was in London at the time of his wife’s death and couldn’t possibly have committed the crime.

Grace struggles not to feel distracted from the case – he has a new lodger in the form of friend and colleague DS Glenn Branson, suffering marriage difficulties; while an old friend contacts him believing he and his wife have seen Grace’s long-missing wife, Sandy, in Munich. But Grace’s determination to find answers to old questions runs the risk of causing strife in his relationship with Cleo.

When a second woman is murdered, press and public scrutiny builds into a frenzy, with fears that they are witnessing the beginnings of the work of a serial killer. Yet Grace continues to focus his attention on Brian Bishop, convinced he remains the key to unlocking the case. But, with two women dead, the truth may prove to be more sinister than at first believed, the pursuit of which may come at a devastating cost.

The first two books already quickly cemented this series amongst my favourite police procedurals, and Peter James is firing on all cylinders with this third novel – an intricately plotted mystery layered with authentic procedural and forensic detail, multiple strands criss-crossing and coalescing into perfectly-realised revelations, while the ongoing arcs of Grace’s personal relationships continue from the previous novels. The mystery of Sandy’s disappearance goes up a gear; while Grace’s developing courtship with Cleo is a joy to experience, also now facing the challenge of Grace’s ghosts continuing to haunt him.

Gripping from the very first page, the novel builds to a thrilling, action-packed climax, which leaves you breathless for more. Peter James has created a superb detective in Roy Grace, continuing to build on his character in each successive novel as he focuses on a new, independent inquiry. I particularly enjoy the subtle serialised elements – in Grace’s personal relationships and references to previous cases, and Grace’s fascination with the paranormal, all of which will no doubt build to exciting heights as the series continues (though it’s worth noting each book can be read as a standalone). With seventeen novels, and a Quick Reads novella, and counting, there is a lot more to look forward to and I’m already excited to delve into Grace’s next case in ‘Dead Man’s Footsteps’.

An engrossing detective story and intense psychological thriller, ‘Not Dead Enough’ is the work of a master at the top of their game.



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Dead Man's Footsteps by Peter James

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


A complex case for Roy Grace and the team to unravel, that stretches across continents and back in time into the heart of atrocity.

The discovery of skeletonised remains in a storm drain changes the course of Roy Grace’s weekend plans, launching an investigation into the suspicious death, the first priority being to identify the unknown victim and how she came to be abandoned where she was found.

Meanwhile, in Australia, the body of another young woman is found in the boot of a submerged car. As both suspicious deaths on opposite sides of the planet are determined to be murder, potential links form between them and the presumed death of a man during the terror attacks of 9/11.

As the investigations progress, another young woman who has travelled to the UK under an assumed identity is in fear for her life. By the time her plight comes to the attention of police and linked to the murder inquiry, they find themselves in a race against time to save lives and apprehend a dangerous offender.

Peter James’ Roy Grace series has quickly become one of my favourite police procedural series, and this fourth entry once again does not disappoint – a complex, thrilling plot that evolves in fast-paced twists and turns, packed with layers of detail and well-developed characters. The main plot takes place several months after the previous novel, ‘Not Dead Enough’, picking up the threads of the key character’s personal lives, ongoing subplots and the aftermath of the cases of recent months.

The novel also features flashbacks to the events in New York on 11th September 2001 and its immediate aftermath. While the events themselves are tangential to the core plot, those scenes offer an insight into the horrors experienced that day and what was witnessed and experienced by the many who were there. It remains a defining moment in recent history, the images of the horror that occurred that day forever imprinted on the memories of countless people across the planet.

Told with both gritty realism and sensitivity, the multiple strands of the story weave their own threads, racing on their own paths until tying together at the climax, the novel leaving us with that final concluding scene and its tantalising final sentence. Each of the four novels in the series so far have offered something different, a different approach to a murder investigation with a multitude of driving factors, each time offering a fresh approach while developing the series’ own formula and ongoing character arcs.

A gripping police procedural crime thriller, ‘Dead Man’s Footsteps’ will have you hooked from beginning to end and leave you in eager anticipation for the next case. Next in the series is ‘Dead Tomorrow’ and I cannot wait to read it.



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Dead Tomorrow by Peter James

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Roy Grace investigates a sinister case of human organ trafficking.

A body is dredged from the depths of the English Channel, missing some of its vital organs, the removals surgical and more akin to a medical setting than would be expected. This is only the first body, launching a complex inquiry for Detective Superintendent Roy Grace and his team.

Meanwhile, in Romania, young, homeless teenagers find themselves in the sights of a group of organised criminals in the guise of good Samaritans. No one misses them; no one searches for them when they go missing - making them the perfect victims for human trafficking in all its forms.

Back in the UK, a teenage girl fights for her life as her liver disease takes its final turn for the worse, urgently requiring a transplant. Her mother becomes increasingly desperate as it becomes evermore unlikely her daughter's life can be saved. But when a lifeline is offered, she realises she is willing to do whatever it takes to save the life of her daughter.

'Dead Tomorrow' is the fifth novel in the Roy Grace series and it may just be my favourite so far. A complex crime thriller structured with interwoven narratives from the perspectives of the police, victims and criminals, it masterfully builds a portrait of the true horror of its core subject matter, making for an engrossing and fulfilling novel from the tantalising and traumatic opening chapters to a dramatic and truly emotional conclusion.

Taking place a matter of weeks after 'Dead Man's Footsteps', we are launched immediately back into Roy's life, both personal and professional. I particularly enjoy the ongoing narrative presented by the series - while each novel presents a different investigation, the characters' personal lives and the aftermath of recent investigations continue into the successive novels; a certain significant sub-plot continues to be seeded, as well as reference to a cold case which may prove significant in the next novel. The core characters of Roy, his friend and sergeant Glenn, and new girlfriend and mortuary technician Cleo, are now well-established and their ongoing stories as thrilling as the investigation itself.

The novel unflinchingly tackles its difficult themes, forcing the reader to challenge themselves with the same dilemmas as the characters as the story progresses. Aside from the main characters, the other key characters are also developed superbly - this could as equally be a standalone thriller as an entry in a series. Perhaps the most endearing and sympathetic of the characters was Caitlin, the incredibly brave and unwell teenage girl who puts many adults to shame through her courage and moral integrity despite all that she faces.

With each new entry, Peter James continues to build a police procedural series of the highest quality. With intricate attention to detail in police procedure and forensics, these novels are well-researched and psychologically authentic, as well as being riveting, entertaining thrillers with a dark edge. Along with the previous two books, this novel has been adapted for the upcoming second season of TV series 'Grace', starring John Simm; I'm eager to see how the talented team will have achieved the seemingly impossible task of adapting this story into a one-hundred minute film.

Gripping, moving, and deeply engrossing, 'Dead Tomorrow' is a superlative thriller that will stay with you long after the final pages.



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Dead Like You by Peter James

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Roy Grace hunts a serial rapist and murderer in this gripping police thriller.

After a New Year's Eve celebration, a woman is raped as she returns to her hotel room. Shortly afterwards, another woman is attacked, evidence suggesting that serial rapist the Shoe Man is once again operating.

Over a decade has passed since the Shoe Man abruptly ceased offending, following the disappearance on Christmas Eve of a young woman believed to be his final victim. No trace of her has ever been found.

Detective Superintendent Roy Grace leads the inquiry into the new series of attacks, determined to finally bring the prolific sexual predator to justice and prevent him harming any more women before he once again vanishes without a trace.

'Dead Like You' is the sixth novel in Peter James' Roy Grace series, once again delivering an intense thriller that arrests you from the opening chapter. With relentless and gripping plotting, forensic and procedural attention to detail coupled with exploring the psychology of both victims and offenders, this continues to be amongst my favourite police procedural series, always well-written with a gritty realism, maintaining its pace through every chapter.

With flashbacks exploring the original series of crimes and the investigation that the then Detective Sergeant Grace was involved in, as well as glimpses into Grace's strained home life with Sandy, the novel juggles the multiple narratives between the time periods. Over a decade later, the case continues to haunt Grace, having become one of the many cold case files sharing space in his office, rarely reaching the top of competing priorities due to the volume of live inquiries requiring immediate and urgent attention.

Meanwhile, Roy is finally beginning to move on and accept the lack of resolution following the disappearance of his wife, Sandy, almost a decade ago - thanks to his relationship with new partner Cleo, who is pregnant with their first child. I love the serialised nature of this series and how the character's personal lives weave around the investigations - with the continuing sub-plot of the mystery surrounding Sandy, the reflection on cases in the previous novels and foreshadowing of future directions for the series, and primarily the continuing and evolving relationships at the heart of the main characters' stories. Peter James balances this perfectly with the core investigation and developing the new characters in each novel connected with each new case.

Absorbing, satisfying and thought-provoking, 'Dead Like You' continues a superlative police procedural series, leaving you eager to dive straight in to the next book.



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Dead Man's Grip by Peter James

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Another thrilling chapter from the case files of Roy Grace.

Tragedy rips apart multiple lives when a cyclist is killed in a road accident involving three other road users.

As police investigate what caused the accident, the case takes a sinister turn when a killer seeks to avenge the young man's death.

Caught in a race against time, Grace and the team find themselves pitted against a dangerous and resourceful criminal, intent on completing his sadistic mission.

'Dead Man's Grip' is the seventh book in Peter James' Roy Grace series, presenting another challenging case for the Detective Superintendent and his team. Featuring a self-contained inquiry, we are launched immediately into the midst of a fatal road traffic collision, triggering the escalating events to come and taking an unexpected turn into the world of organised crime.

One of the things I love about this series and most enjoyed in this novel is its serialised nature, with references to past cases, ongoing subplots and the evolving story of the characters' personal lives. Grace and Cleo are expecting their first baby, fraught with anxiety in the early chapters as Cleo is rushed into hospital. Meanwhile, the mystery of Sandy's disappearance continues to bubble away, unbeknownst to Grace, who is determined to finally and fully move on from the past.

Peter James once again delivers a gripping police procedural, featuring intricate attention to detail, thrilling twists and turns, and multiple character perspectives driving the fast-paced and multi-layered plot, coming to an intense, action-packed conclusion - along with a final unexpected revelation, leaving us in eager anticipation of the next in the series, 'Not Dead Yet'.



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Not Dead Yet by Peter James

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


An intense police thriller of Hollywood glitz and glamour and the darkness lurking in its shadow.

Music legend Gaia is returning to Brighton to shoot a new film. Following an attempt on her life in Los Angeles, the police are drafted in to increase the protection around her.

Meanwhile, the discovery of a dismembered corpse at a local farm launches a murder inquiry, the key first step being to identify the victim.

Juggling multiple priorities, the team uncover evidence of dangerous and scheming minds behind the crimes, while the constant threat of catastrophe hangs over them.

'Not Dead Yet' is the eighth novel in the police procedural series featuring Detective Superintendent Roy Grace. Once again, Peter James delivers a gripping, fast-paced thriller in this consistently high-quality series, brimming with procedural detail, forensic science, psychological depth and thrilling action. It is always a joy to return to Grace, Cleo, Glenn and the rest of the team, this time catching up with them only four weeks after the conclusion of the previous novel, launching into intriguing new investigations - sharing perspectives not only from the police, but also victims, witnesses and suspects. This is a story of obsession and fanaticism, touching on themes of media ethics and the dark side of fame.

A complex, multi-faceted case; there are several investigative angles and characters in the mix. Gaia, whose artistic legacy and superstar persona appears much inspired by Madonna, is a fabulous character, that aura of mystique that surrounds such an icon captured perfectly; James does a fantastic job of crafting and maintaining that whilst simultaneously revealing the human being behind the art and the public persona. We also gain an insight into the machinations of Hollywood filmmaking and the cut-throat nature of the entertainment industry, inciting jealousy, plots of revenge, and the dangerous cocktail of access and exposure that can turn followers into stalkers.

The ongoing series arcs and subplots also step up a gear in this chapter, with more revelations surrounding the core mystery of Sandy's disappearance, following the surprise twist at the end of the previous novel. The serial narrative and close development between cases continue to shine - the trial of the criminal apprehended in the second book has arrived, while Grace's ongoing suspicions about a police leak also finds a resolution. The novel's many threads entwine perfectly, building to a dramatic, tense finale, followed by a case-concluding denouement and a sudden shock, before Peter James once again leaves us poised for the next chapter in eager anticipation.

Meanwhile, along with the previous two novels 'Dead Like You' and 'Dead Man's Grip', 'Not Dead Yet' has been adapted for the third season of the 'Grace' TV series starring John Simm.

Authentic and thrilling, 'Not Dead Yet' explores the difference between the face one presents to the world and what lurks behind these masks.



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Dead Man's Time by Peter James

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Another gripping volume in the case files of Roy Grace.

An elderly woman is tortured during a robbery at her home and left for dead, launching a major police inquiry led by Detective Superintendent Roy Grace.

Ninety years earlier, the victim and her brother left New York following the murder of their mother and kidnapping of their father. That legacy has haunted them and may have a bearing on the present day crimes.

As Grace and the team investigate, another operation to hunt down the killers is underway, one intent on vengeance rather than justice.

'Dead Man's Time' is Peter James' ninth novel in the Roy Grace series, featuring an investigation into a vicious crime that has its origins nine decades earlier, entwined with the history of the Irish Mafia and one family's place in it. Travelling from Brighton to Marbella and New York, with a few scenes set in Munich, we uncover crimes stretching across the globe and back in time, the narrative deftly blending elements of a standalone organised crime family revenge thriller within the continuing police procedural series.

Starting less than two months following the conclusion of the last book, picking up on the ongoing threads, Roy Grace is struggling to juggle his responsibilities to the new major investigation and to new baby Noah and his partner Cleo. Meanwhile, a face from his past continues to plot revenge, and more secrets continue to bubble away, unbeknownst to Grace. There are some deeply emotional moments for many of the recurring characters, while the rising threat against Cleo and Noah leaves us on the edge of our seats.

Peter James continues to be at the top of his game, delivering another taut, suspenseful thriller, balancing a keen sense for detail and depth with its lightning pace, the various plot threads entwining as we reach the final chapters and a mystery reaching back decades is solved. Always intriguing, always gripping, this high quality series continues to deliver something a little different in each case, while maintaining that sense of familiarity with returning to a world and characters that we love about a series.

'Dead Man's Time' is a tense, enthralling thriller, leaving us poised to dive into the next in the series - 'Want You Dead'.



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Want You Dead by Peter James

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


An intense investigation for Roy Grace and the team.

A doctor is burnt alive, while a series of arsons and accidental fires around Brighton and Hove have only one link in common – estate agent Red Westwood.

Ambitious and hopeful for the future, Red finds herself the epicentre of an insidious campaign to terrorise and possess her.

She is the object of an obsession; in the sights of a malignant narcissist who will not stop until he has broken and destroyed her.

‘Want You Dead’ is the tenth novel in Peter James’ police procedural series featuring Detective Superintendent Roy Grace. Smouldering with suspense and distilled with the chill of an autumnal atmosphere, this dark thriller delves deep into the nature of psychological abuse, the insidious nature of the abuser’s manipulative and controlling behaviour and how it escalates into dangerous obsession and the threat of violence.

We meet Red in the aftermath of an abusive relationship, now dating a new man, but her ordeal is far from over. An endearing and empathetic central character, Red remains vulnerable and struggling to move on, but possessing an inner strength and determination to fight through – proving herself a survivor. Her ex-partner Bryce makes for a disturbing and ruthless villain, ever-resourceful and hell-bent on his quest for vengeance and total dominion over Red, his obsession and pyromania now entirely out of control. At each twist of the plot, the tension ratchets up, Bryce always one step ahead and Red ever deeper into danger. Meanwhile, Roy and Cleo are about to be married, Noah now almost four months old. Unknown to Roy, his own wedding threatens to be derailed by more than the launch of this new murder investigation.

With tragic and emotional moments and detailed insights not only into the police investigation, but also into the mind and history of the perpetrator, a keen focus on the victims, in particular Red, and also touching on the personal lives of the police team, this tenth installment once again masterfully brings all these elements together to craft a riveting and absorbing police thriller that remains engrossing from the shocking opening scenes through to its suitably blazing, yet chilling, conclusion. It’s perhaps one of my favourite entries in the series so far, though it's difficult to make that distinction in such a consistently high quality series. Once again, we are left poised to dive into the next in the series, ‘You Are Dead’.

Relentless and intoxicating, ‘Want You Dead’ is a superb psychological thriller and another gripping chapter in the case files of Roy Grace.



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