Peter James' Not Dead Yet - Review

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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