Peter James' Looking Good Dead - Review

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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