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Roy Grace #7
Dead Man's Grip
It's a race against time as Detective Superintendent Roy Grace tries to stop a grieving mother from taking the law into her own hands in Dead Man's Grip , by award winning crime writer Peter James.
A university student is killed in a tragic traffic accident while riding their bicycle. When two of the drivers involved are hunted down by a sadistic killer, Grace knows that the third driver, Carly Chase, may be next.
Carly, a solicitor, believes hiding is not an option and heads to New York to speak with the cyclist’s mother. But Grace knows about the mother’s underworld connections and that the family will stop at nothing to take an eye for an eye . . .
Although the Roy Grace novels can be read in any order, Dead Man's Grip is the seventh thrilling title in the bestselling series. Enjoy more of the Brighton detective’s investigations with Not Dead Yet and Dead Man's Time .
Now a major BRITBOX series, Grace , starring John Simm.
A university student is killed in a tragic traffic accident while riding their bicycle. When two of the drivers involved are hunted down by a sadistic killer, Grace knows that the third driver, Carly Chase, may be next.
Carly, a solicitor, believes hiding is not an option and heads to New York to speak with the cyclist’s mother. But Grace knows about the mother’s underworld connections and that the family will stop at nothing to take an eye for an eye . . .
Although the Roy Grace novels can be read in any order, Dead Man's Grip is the seventh thrilling title in the bestselling series. Enjoy more of the Brighton detective’s investigations with Not Dead Yet and Dead Man's Time .
Now a major BRITBOX series, Grace , starring John Simm.
528 pages, Paperback
Published October 3, 2019
588 people are currently reading
3838 people want to read
About the author
Peter James
228 books3,570 followersPeter James is a global bestselling author, best known for writing crime and thriller novels, and the creator of the much-loved Detective Superintendent Roy Grace. With a total of 16 Sunday Times No. 1s under his belt, he has achieved global book sales of over 20 million copies to date and has been translated into 37 languages.
Synonymous with plot-twisting page-turners, Peter has garnered an army of loyal fans throughout his storytelling career – which also included stints writing for TV and producing films. He has won over 40 awards for his work, including the WHSmith Best Crime Author of All Time Award, Crime Writers’ Association Diamond Dagger and a BAFTA nomination for The Merchant of Venice starring Al Pacino and Jeremy Irons for which he was an Executive Producer. Many of Peter’s novels have been adapted for film, TV and stage.
Synonymous with plot-twisting page-turners, Peter has garnered an army of loyal fans throughout his storytelling career – which also included stints writing for TV and producing films. He has won over 40 awards for his work, including the WHSmith Best Crime Author of All Time Award, Crime Writers’ Association Diamond Dagger and a BAFTA nomination for The Merchant of Venice starring Al Pacino and Jeremy Irons for which he was an Executive Producer. Many of Peter’s novels have been adapted for film, TV and stage.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 631 reviews
June 23, 2021
"De allerlaatste pagina laat je met een schok achter en belooft weer heel wat spannends voor komende boeken wellicht. Ik ben de Roy Grace verhalen nog lang niet beu en kijk alweer reikhalzend uit naar het achtste deel van deze enorm goede serie."
https://elinevandm.wordpress.com/2021...
https://elinevandm.wordpress.com/2021...
November 15, 2011
This was an ARC won from GoodReads. Dead Man's Grip is a police procedural (which is not my normal choice in books). It was not a psychological thriller, nor was it a suspense or a "whodunnit." I found the plot to be very linear and there were no surprises or turns in the story. It really was just a police procedural. I was hoping for some sort of a plot turn. I understand however that Peter James is very good at the this genre and the book certainly does take you along in the footsteps of the crime division. It is also important to note that this is a 7th or 8th book involving Detective Roy Grace and there is an ongoing story line there involving his missing ex-wife and current new love-interest. He is also building upon his setting in the town of Brighton, England throughout this series so having only read one book does not give me the entire scope of his writing. Apparently he is a beloved author and has a big following for these books.
The writing was tight and cohesive. I give two stars because I don't care much for this genre and found the story a bit uninteresting. There was a bit of suspense at the end, but I also knew that the end would involve saving the character who was currently in trouble so it was not very exciting. The entire storyline was this: A fatal accident with three survivors; the deceased is a relative of the mob; the mob exacts revenge by hunting down the three people involved and torturing/killing them; the third person is saved at the end. The reader knows all along what is happening and by whom, and follows the police as they try to solve the crime and catch the killer. There was nothing unexpected.
The writing was tight and cohesive. I give two stars because I don't care much for this genre and found the story a bit uninteresting. There was a bit of suspense at the end, but I also knew that the end would involve saving the character who was currently in trouble so it was not very exciting. The entire storyline was this: A fatal accident with three survivors; the deceased is a relative of the mob; the mob exacts revenge by hunting down the three people involved and torturing/killing them; the third person is saved at the end. The reader knows all along what is happening and by whom, and follows the police as they try to solve the crime and catch the killer. There was nothing unexpected.
June 5, 2017
Dead Man's Grip is book 7 in the Roy Grace series by Peter James. A single mum Carly Chase went to work one day and was involved in a major road accident which change her life. Readers of Dead Man's Grip will follow the investigation by Detective Superintendent Roy Grace and Detective Sergeant Glen Branson into the road accident and find out what happens to the people who was involved. Readers of Dead Man's Grip will be surprise with the ending of this book.
I love Peter James character Detective Superintendent Roy Grace. The reason for this I like the way Detective Superintendent Roy Grace is supportive of his staff and becomes involve in any investigation of Major Crime Branch. I also like the interaction between Detective Superintendent Roy Grace and Detective Sergeant Glenn Branson.
Readers will also enjoy the interaction between Detective Superintendent Roy Grace and his partner Cleo. Readers will please that Detective Superintendent is scare of heights and water, however, forgot about his fears to save the life of a young boy. Readers of Dead Man's Grip will learn about the procedures of Crime Scene Investigators.
I recommend this book.
I love Peter James character Detective Superintendent Roy Grace. The reason for this I like the way Detective Superintendent Roy Grace is supportive of his staff and becomes involve in any investigation of Major Crime Branch. I also like the interaction between Detective Superintendent Roy Grace and Detective Sergeant Glenn Branson.
Readers will also enjoy the interaction between Detective Superintendent Roy Grace and his partner Cleo. Readers will please that Detective Superintendent is scare of heights and water, however, forgot about his fears to save the life of a young boy. Readers of Dead Man's Grip will learn about the procedures of Crime Scene Investigators.
I recommend this book.
June 17, 2024
4⭐️ = Good.
Hardback.
Another really enjoyable book in this series and a very compelling read. It could be quite upsetting for some, as some of the murder descriptions were fairly harrowing. The characters were well developed and easy to imagine.
I look forward to reading the rest of this series.
Hardback.
Another really enjoyable book in this series and a very compelling read. It could be quite upsetting for some, as some of the murder descriptions were fairly harrowing. The characters were well developed and easy to imagine.
I look forward to reading the rest of this series.
August 21, 2015
Peter James is such a wonderful author.....
This book kept surprising me all the way through - I would never want to get on the wrong side of this man. He has so many novel ways of doing a person in!
In this chilling psychological thriller, a fatal traffic accident has unforeseen and unimaginable consequences.
Lawyer, Carly Chase, took evasive action and crashed her car into a café instead of hitting the American student riding his bike on the wrong side of the road. But when breathalysed she is found to be driving over the limit. Carless, due to be prosecuted in court, and suffering the disdain of her young son, she thinks life can't get much worse.
How wrong she is.
The drivers of the other two vehicles involved are found tortured and murdered.Detective Superintendent Roy Grace of the Sussex Police Force thinks Carly could be next.
This book kept surprising me all the way through - I would never want to get on the wrong side of this man. He has so many novel ways of doing a person in!
In this chilling psychological thriller, a fatal traffic accident has unforeseen and unimaginable consequences.
Lawyer, Carly Chase, took evasive action and crashed her car into a café instead of hitting the American student riding his bike on the wrong side of the road. But when breathalysed she is found to be driving over the limit. Carless, due to be prosecuted in court, and suffering the disdain of her young son, she thinks life can't get much worse.
How wrong she is.
The drivers of the other two vehicles involved are found tortured and murdered.Detective Superintendent Roy Grace of the Sussex Police Force thinks Carly could be next.
April 2, 2016
The seventh in the Roy Grace series. The opening few chapters involving a road traffic accident sets the scene. Without explaining plot spoilers, those involved in the accident become potential targets for the killer.
Overall I enjoyed the book- PJ never disappoints for me. I love the snappy short chapters that are PJ trademark. However, I'm finding it hard to rate as some of the plot strands tend to be significantly less realistic.
Overall I enjoyed the book- PJ never disappoints for me. I love the snappy short chapters that are PJ trademark. However, I'm finding it hard to rate as some of the plot strands tend to be significantly less realistic.
April 9, 2012
I keep getting sucked in by the great blurbs by people I really like, praising Peter James to the skies. And I really like good police procedurals, especially British and European ones - there are hundreds of them on my bookshelves. But Roy Grace leaves me lukewarm. He's a bit of a sad case - and the missing wife back story seems more of a distraction than an illumination. He reminds me a bit of Charlie Brown.
This book has some decent bits - the attempt to rescue the kidnapped boy at the end is pretty exciting. But there just isn't the emotional resonance or the humor - of any sort, ironic, black, whatever - that draws me into a character and a series.
This book has some decent bits - the attempt to rescue the kidnapped boy at the end is pretty exciting. But there just isn't the emotional resonance or the humor - of any sort, ironic, black, whatever - that draws me into a character and a series.
October 21, 2016
This may be, so far, one of my favourite books from The Roy Grace series. I jumped from number five to number seven, so I can not judge the previous one, but this was another good thriller, fast-paced and interesting. What starts as a road traffic collision leads to mafia-related plot, keeping you on edge. As usual, short chapters and well defined characters and locations. I haven’t been to Brighton, but yet it feels as though I am a local, such are the descriptions of the place.
No doubt I will continue with Grace books. Good stuff.
Will he finally find out what really happened to his ex?
No doubt I will continue with Grace books. Good stuff.
Will he finally find out what really happened to his ex?
July 25, 2018
This is one of my favourites of the series so far. I really enjoyed it. I saw some reviewers weren't keen on this one, whereas I've felt like that with some of the preceding tales.
It was a good story based around an accident involving a cyclist, a car, a lorry and a van.....and all caused by one reckless move from just one of them....no doubt Mr James had people of a certain brigade screaming at him on Twitter !! I enjoyed the relationship of Tooth and his associate and I'm so happy the associate didn't end up maimed, abused or dead. Thankyou for this !
I was shocked when he referred to Brighton being a Crime Capital of the UK a couple of times. I would find this pretty hard to believe when we have the likes of London, Liverpool, Glasgow, Manchester and Birmingham to contend with !! He also refers to The Devil's Dyke which I always thought was just Devil's Dyke, and it turned out Wikipedia agrees with me and loses The from it, although I expected to be wrong seeing as this author also knows the area well. Something else mentioned made me think, too. When was the last time you checked your registration plates on your car ? You just don't, do you ? In case somebody swaps them.....I like to think I'd spot this right away but I'm not sure I would.....
I am a bit irritated that he always goes with American spellings in his Kindle books, though. Either that, or the publisher is sticking the wrong version up on the Amazon UK site....there were mistakes that ought to have been spotted as well.....this guy's a bestseller and his publisher is making bestselling pounds off the back of it, I'm sure, so the least they could do is apply some proper proofreading !! Life was used and not lives, and struck and not striking, the apostrophe in git's and then boys' in the wrong place for both and I'm sure his books have had hyphen issues before. There are a few examples again in this book-up-andover door, Shore-ham, spoonfed, Kings-way (more than once). These really should be spotted pre-publication if I can !!
There were some very funny little lines throughout which had me giggling (The plane landed hard, hitting the runway like the pilot hadn't realised it was there)...though a few parts were a little repetitive. If I heard about the minstrel's gallery once more I was ready to combust and it seems that at every briefing Grace held, without fail, some idiot's phone went off !! I laughed to myself when he asked at one point, "...do you have anything to report from Ford ?" I was still thinking of the motor company and not the prison !!
It leaves us with a dum, dum, dum moment right at the end to lead us into the next instalment, I hope. I'm looking forward to it.
It was a good story based around an accident involving a cyclist, a car, a lorry and a van.....and all caused by one reckless move from just one of them....no doubt Mr James had people of a certain brigade screaming at him on Twitter !! I enjoyed the relationship of Tooth and his associate and I'm so happy the associate didn't end up maimed, abused or dead. Thankyou for this !
I was shocked when he referred to Brighton being a Crime Capital of the UK a couple of times. I would find this pretty hard to believe when we have the likes of London, Liverpool, Glasgow, Manchester and Birmingham to contend with !! He also refers to The Devil's Dyke which I always thought was just Devil's Dyke, and it turned out Wikipedia agrees with me and loses The from it, although I expected to be wrong seeing as this author also knows the area well. Something else mentioned made me think, too. When was the last time you checked your registration plates on your car ? You just don't, do you ? In case somebody swaps them.....I like to think I'd spot this right away but I'm not sure I would.....
I am a bit irritated that he always goes with American spellings in his Kindle books, though. Either that, or the publisher is sticking the wrong version up on the Amazon UK site....there were mistakes that ought to have been spotted as well.....this guy's a bestseller and his publisher is making bestselling pounds off the back of it, I'm sure, so the least they could do is apply some proper proofreading !! Life was used and not lives, and struck and not striking, the apostrophe in git's and then boys' in the wrong place for both and I'm sure his books have had hyphen issues before. There are a few examples again in this book-up-andover door, Shore-ham, spoonfed, Kings-way (more than once). These really should be spotted pre-publication if I can !!
There were some very funny little lines throughout which had me giggling (The plane landed hard, hitting the runway like the pilot hadn't realised it was there)...though a few parts were a little repetitive. If I heard about the minstrel's gallery once more I was ready to combust and it seems that at every briefing Grace held, without fail, some idiot's phone went off !! I laughed to myself when he asked at one point, "...do you have anything to report from Ford ?" I was still thinking of the motor company and not the prison !!
It leaves us with a dum, dum, dum moment right at the end to lead us into the next instalment, I hope. I'm looking forward to it.
June 18, 2020
After a horrific road accident costs a teenager his life, Carly Chase finds herself traumatized, despite her little involvement in it. Just when she thinks it can't get any worse, the police come to her door with some life-threatening news that sends her on an anxiety-riddled spiral that she can't escape from, leaving her determined to protect herself and her loved ones. Meanwhile, Roy Grace prepares for the arrival of his baby, he's thrown into this traffic accident case, assigned the hefty task of finding out why the mafia seems to be involved with what appears to be a complete accident in his town of Brighton, and more importantly: how he can protect those involved.
After years of my mum swearing by Peter James' writing and telling me his Roy Grace series is a crime series to reach for, I finally took the dive and picked up my first ever Peter James book. Though it's the seventh installment in the Roy Grace series, this works well as a standalone. The cast is introduced as if it's the first time meeting them, and there are some small mentions of previous cases (which I have been told are previous books in the series), that do not offer any spoilers - meaning I can actually go back and read them and be shocked! The only way this book doesn't work as a standalone is in the sense of Grace's private life, with small mentions of his past not meaning anything to me.
However, in terms of plot - I really enjoyed this. I am a true lover of Brighton and find myself there whenever I can, so to read a book that focuses solely on the underbelly of Brighton is a warm welcome for me. And the way that Peter James pairs, what appears to be, a 'simple' crime with something much darker and full of revenge and sickening twists is marvelous.
Though there were moments when I thought, "nope, this wouldn't really happen," I fully enjoyed Dead Man's Grip. It was intense, suspenseful, and full of gruesome imagery and shocking moments. Even when the true villain was revealed, there was still so much suspense at finding their next victim alive and well before time ran out. It was enough to keep me hooked!
I'll definitely be reading for more Peter James books in the future.
After years of my mum swearing by Peter James' writing and telling me his Roy Grace series is a crime series to reach for, I finally took the dive and picked up my first ever Peter James book. Though it's the seventh installment in the Roy Grace series, this works well as a standalone. The cast is introduced as if it's the first time meeting them, and there are some small mentions of previous cases (which I have been told are previous books in the series), that do not offer any spoilers - meaning I can actually go back and read them and be shocked! The only way this book doesn't work as a standalone is in the sense of Grace's private life, with small mentions of his past not meaning anything to me.
However, in terms of plot - I really enjoyed this. I am a true lover of Brighton and find myself there whenever I can, so to read a book that focuses solely on the underbelly of Brighton is a warm welcome for me. And the way that Peter James pairs, what appears to be, a 'simple' crime with something much darker and full of revenge and sickening twists is marvelous.
Though there were moments when I thought, "nope, this wouldn't really happen," I fully enjoyed Dead Man's Grip. It was intense, suspenseful, and full of gruesome imagery and shocking moments. Even when the true villain was revealed, there was still so much suspense at finding their next victim alive and well before time ran out. It was enough to keep me hooked!
I'll definitely be reading for more Peter James books in the future.
August 9, 2016
A friend insisted that I should read Peter James' crime novels as they were far better than what I'd read before by him (Perfect People and The House on Cold Hill).
But I find I've got the same problems here as with the rest of his writing: too predictable, too long windy descriptions which are unnecessary (who cares how many turns he takes during a drive to a crime scene, or that he takes a turn at a filling station or a Tesco), too gratuitously gruesome scenes which bring nothing to the story, the characters inconsistent or 'unformed' (with the exception of Roy Grace) or not really likeable.
The main problem I had with this one however, was that it took about 50 chapters and ± 250 pages to get to a point in the story where new elements not described in the blurb on the back of the book came in.
No, you can't convince me that Peter James' books are worth my time.
But I find I've got the same problems here as with the rest of his writing: too predictable, too long windy descriptions which are unnecessary (who cares how many turns he takes during a drive to a crime scene, or that he takes a turn at a filling station or a Tesco), too gratuitously gruesome scenes which bring nothing to the story, the characters inconsistent or 'unformed' (with the exception of Roy Grace) or not really likeable.
The main problem I had with this one however, was that it took about 50 chapters and ± 250 pages to get to a point in the story where new elements not described in the blurb on the back of the book came in.
No, you can't convince me that Peter James' books are worth my time.
June 8, 2018
3,5 okay... finally the mistery around Sandy is getting mentioned... don’t like where it is going but we’ll see
May 27, 2013
Dead Man’s Grip by Peter James is a great book if you are in the mood for a mystery thriller. This book keeps you entertained and wanting to read more. The author switches the point of views from chapter to chapter keeping the reader involved and thinking. It is an exciting read about a girl, Carly, involved in a car crash. However, you later find out that it was not just an ordinary car crash. It turns out that the other drivers involved were tortured and killed before the crash and Carly was the target. As the police further investigate and offer her protective help, she declines and knows that those responsible can hunt her down if she goes into protection. As she tries to out run her killers, they are already one step ahead of her. Peter James uses several writing techniques in Dead Man’s Grip creating a fantastic story proving that a good mystery is never dull.
I loved reading the murder mystery and how the detectives try to solve the case. It kept me interested throughout the book. I found myself always thinking ahead trying to solve the mystery. I liked how the book was written from different characters’ point of views and kept switching from chapter to chapter. Although it was tough to follow along for the first three chapters because I didn’t know the characters, I wanted to give this book a chance. I am glad that I did. Once I got deeper into it, the plot and the relationship between the characters became clearer and I found the story very entertaining and captivating.
The author uses very descriptive details to describe some of the characters and is very graphic throughout the whole book. For example, when the author describes Roy’s wife as she looked in the hospital: “She was wearing a blue hospital gown, and her blonde hair, cascading round her face, had lost some of its usual luster“ (James 31). The author continues painting a picture about how pale she is and the condition she is in. He uses descriptive words like cascading and luster to create an image in your head. He is very descriptive throughout the book not only describing characters but also the settings and accidents in the book. His attention to details keeps you interested by creating images as if you were actually there.
The book doesn’t just have one big story; it has side stories going on for each character. This keeps you entertained throughout the book because you read one person’s side story and then it ends with a cliffhanger switching to another’s story. You don’t know when it’s going to switch back to the first character’s point of view again so you just want to keep reading. For example, one of the side stories is: “The boy had a central nervous system that seemed to be wired all wrong. He appeared to have no pain receptors” (James 64). Later on in the book you figure out what this character’s role is in the accident, but before you get to that part the author provides you with his background and how he spends his life. This keeps you wondering and interested in why this character was introduced and has you wanting to know more about the character. A good book always has well-developed characters and James has done an excellent job in developing the characters in this story.
Overall this book never had a dull moment and always kept me on the edge of my seat. I would highly recommend Dead Man’s Grip to anyone that enjoys reading a good mystery.
I loved reading the murder mystery and how the detectives try to solve the case. It kept me interested throughout the book. I found myself always thinking ahead trying to solve the mystery. I liked how the book was written from different characters’ point of views and kept switching from chapter to chapter. Although it was tough to follow along for the first three chapters because I didn’t know the characters, I wanted to give this book a chance. I am glad that I did. Once I got deeper into it, the plot and the relationship between the characters became clearer and I found the story very entertaining and captivating.
The author uses very descriptive details to describe some of the characters and is very graphic throughout the whole book. For example, when the author describes Roy’s wife as she looked in the hospital: “She was wearing a blue hospital gown, and her blonde hair, cascading round her face, had lost some of its usual luster“ (James 31). The author continues painting a picture about how pale she is and the condition she is in. He uses descriptive words like cascading and luster to create an image in your head. He is very descriptive throughout the book not only describing characters but also the settings and accidents in the book. His attention to details keeps you interested by creating images as if you were actually there.
The book doesn’t just have one big story; it has side stories going on for each character. This keeps you entertained throughout the book because you read one person’s side story and then it ends with a cliffhanger switching to another’s story. You don’t know when it’s going to switch back to the first character’s point of view again so you just want to keep reading. For example, one of the side stories is: “The boy had a central nervous system that seemed to be wired all wrong. He appeared to have no pain receptors” (James 64). Later on in the book you figure out what this character’s role is in the accident, but before you get to that part the author provides you with his background and how he spends his life. This keeps you wondering and interested in why this character was introduced and has you wanting to know more about the character. A good book always has well-developed characters and James has done an excellent job in developing the characters in this story.
Overall this book never had a dull moment and always kept me on the edge of my seat. I would highly recommend Dead Man’s Grip to anyone that enjoys reading a good mystery.
January 21, 2012
The story sounded interesting and had possibilities. I tried to like it but couldn't.
I found it long and draggy. A quarter of the book could have been cut out to make it more enjoyable.
I didn't find any of the characters likeable. Well, the only one I liked was Tony, the cyclist who got killed in the beginning of the book.
There seemed to be a lot of characters, especially cops or cop-related, so I gave up trying to keep them straight.
SPOILERS/POSSIBLE SPOILERS
This is the latest is a series featuring Roy Grace. His wife, Sandy, has apparently been missing for ten years and she pops up in this book in Germany. Why is she there? I dunno. And I'm not really sure why she disappeared in the first place. She seemed to be angry because she felt he was more dedicated to his job than to her. Just a guess.
And Carly was an idiot. She knows that the American-based mob are suspected of torturing and killing the other two people involved in the accident for revenge and she'll be next. Yet she turns down getting relocated along with her son by the police and flies to the U.S. to reason with the pissed off parents of the dead cyclist. Really?!
Blog review: http://www.teenaintoronto.com/2011/11...
I found it long and draggy. A quarter of the book could have been cut out to make it more enjoyable.
I didn't find any of the characters likeable. Well, the only one I liked was Tony, the cyclist who got killed in the beginning of the book.
There seemed to be a lot of characters, especially cops or cop-related, so I gave up trying to keep them straight.
SPOILERS/POSSIBLE SPOILERS
This is the latest is a series featuring Roy Grace. His wife, Sandy, has apparently been missing for ten years and she pops up in this book in Germany. Why is she there? I dunno. And I'm not really sure why she disappeared in the first place. She seemed to be angry because she felt he was more dedicated to his job than to her. Just a guess.
And Carly was an idiot. She knows that the American-based mob are suspected of torturing and killing the other two people involved in the accident for revenge and she'll be next. Yet she turns down getting relocated along with her son by the police and flies to the U.S. to reason with the pissed off parents of the dead cyclist. Really?!
Blog review: http://www.teenaintoronto.com/2011/11...
October 26, 2011
In truth, my tastes for crime fiction are normally biased towards American and Mediterranean settings. I do like some British crime writers, Ian Rankin and Mark Billingham amongst them, but I tend to find the settings too close to home to provide the pure escapist experience I’m seeking when I pick up such a book.
Peter James sets his Roy Grace series in and around Brighton and I have to say that the quality of the writing and the inventiveness of the plots put him right at the top of the list of home based writers. Ok, so the south coast setting isn’t quite (to me) as interesting as, say, LA or Southern Louisiana, but everything else is spot on. I’ve been hooked on this series from the first book (Dead Simple) and have followed Roy and his tightly knit band of colleagues through their ups and downs ever since. This latest adventure is certainly up to the standard of the rest with a New York based killer on the rampage in a wet and windy Brighton. It is top quality stuff and I’d urge any fan of crime fiction to seek out this series.
Peter James sets his Roy Grace series in and around Brighton and I have to say that the quality of the writing and the inventiveness of the plots put him right at the top of the list of home based writers. Ok, so the south coast setting isn’t quite (to me) as interesting as, say, LA or Southern Louisiana, but everything else is spot on. I’ve been hooked on this series from the first book (Dead Simple) and have followed Roy and his tightly knit band of colleagues through their ups and downs ever since. This latest adventure is certainly up to the standard of the rest with a New York based killer on the rampage in a wet and windy Brighton. It is top quality stuff and I’d urge any fan of crime fiction to seek out this series.
January 30, 2012
For some reason it actually took a little while to get into this. Normally i devour one of these in a few days. I'm not sure if it was the description of the novel i read from the dust cover, or the involvement of the Mafia in a British police procedural. Or it may be because i also obtained all of the Jack Frost novels at around the same time and couldn't wait to get through those.
Anyway, under pressure of getting the book of to the mother in-law who also loves crime novels, i finally got stuck in and was not disappointed. If anything Peter James has done more research than usual so the involvement of the Mafia did not seem incongrous or jar at all. Also the story travelled along at a good pace, the main characters were realistic, if not always likable and their reactions entirely human. If i had any problems at all it was with the Sandy sideplot, but that still needs to play out and i'm sure that the author has things still to reveal there which i'm sure will redress that balance.
Anyway, under pressure of getting the book of to the mother in-law who also loves crime novels, i finally got stuck in and was not disappointed. If anything Peter James has done more research than usual so the involvement of the Mafia did not seem incongrous or jar at all. Also the story travelled along at a good pace, the main characters were realistic, if not always likable and their reactions entirely human. If i had any problems at all it was with the Sandy sideplot, but that still needs to play out and i'm sure that the author has things still to reveal there which i'm sure will redress that balance.
December 28, 2020
"Prieš pradėdama dairytis naujų horizontų, privalai įsidrąsinti ir nusigręžti nuo kranto."
"Jei nori gyventi, nelauk, kol praslinkus audra, o išmok šokti lietuje."
Man tikrai patinka serija apie Rojų Greisą. Bet tik patinka. Aš norėčiau pamesti galvą, bet tai vis neįvyksta. Istorija tikrai įtraukianti ir įdomi, bet su jauduliu ir nekantrumu, spurdančia širdimi skaičiau tik pabaigoje, o norėčiau būt tokios būsenos bent jau didžiąją knygos dalį. Autorius vis atskleidžia naujų faktų apie Sendę, šį kartą drėbė net su kaupu. Labai laukiu įvykių, susijusių su ja, kulminacijos.
"Jei nori gyventi, nelauk, kol praslinkus audra, o išmok šokti lietuje."
Man tikrai patinka serija apie Rojų Greisą. Bet tik patinka. Aš norėčiau pamesti galvą, bet tai vis neįvyksta. Istorija tikrai įtraukianti ir įdomi, bet su jauduliu ir nekantrumu, spurdančia širdimi skaičiau tik pabaigoje, o norėčiau būt tokios būsenos bent jau didžiąją knygos dalį. Autorius vis atskleidžia naujų faktų apie Sendę, šį kartą drėbė net su kaupu. Labai laukiu įvykių, susijusių su ja, kulminacijos.
September 28, 2018
Het verhaal komt wat trager op gang dan dat we van Peter James gewoon zijn maar het plot zit goed in elkaar en de ontknoping is best wel spannend te noemen. Ik heb alweer genoten van deze Roy Grace thriller.
August 10, 2016
Too grisly for me, but I had to know what happened. So I raced through it. I can calm down now. My next book will have to be a much slower ride.
August 14, 2022
Dar vienas įtraukiantis detektyvas, nuo kurio sunkiai galėjau atsiplėšti.
Avarija, kurios metu žūsta studentas. Su nelaimingu įvykiu yra siejamos trys transporto priemonės. Dviejų iš jų vairuotojai randami žiauriai nukankinti, ir vien skaitant kaip tai buvo padaryta,buvo šiurpu ir bloga. Studentas priklausė pavojingai nusikaltėlių šeimai ir norima atkeršyti už jo mirtį. Paskutinei likusiai vairuotojai taip pat gresia pavojus,ir nepaisydama perspėjimų ji sugalvoja planą išsigelbėti, bet nenumano, kad pasamdytas žudikas yra labai sumanus.
Tikrai netrūko įtampos, ir puslapiai vertėsi greit.
P. S. Ir pabaiga tokia netikėta, nes Rojaus dingusi žmona pasirodo yra gyva, ir jie turi bendrą vaiką. Ir dabar suku galvą ar bus koks tęsinys, nes jau nekantrauju sužinot kaip viskas klostysis toliau, ar visgi tęsinio nebus ir skaitytojui paliktas didelis klaustukas?
Avarija, kurios metu žūsta studentas. Su nelaimingu įvykiu yra siejamos trys transporto priemonės. Dviejų iš jų vairuotojai randami žiauriai nukankinti, ir vien skaitant kaip tai buvo padaryta,buvo šiurpu ir bloga. Studentas priklausė pavojingai nusikaltėlių šeimai ir norima atkeršyti už jo mirtį. Paskutinei likusiai vairuotojai taip pat gresia pavojus,ir nepaisydama perspėjimų ji sugalvoja planą išsigelbėti, bet nenumano, kad pasamdytas žudikas yra labai sumanus.
Tikrai netrūko įtampos, ir puslapiai vertėsi greit.
P. S. Ir pabaiga tokia netikėta, nes Rojaus dingusi žmona pasirodo yra gyva, ir jie turi bendrą vaiką. Ir dabar suku galvą ar bus koks tęsinys, nes jau nekantrauju sužinot kaip viskas klostysis toliau, ar visgi tęsinio nebus ir skaitytojui paliktas didelis klaustukas?
August 16, 2024
3.5 ⭐️
Audiobook
Audiobook
April 25, 2012
This was my first Peter James book and it's not difficult to see why he's popular. The word grip is particularly appropriate because the story-line certainly grabs hold of the reader at the outset and doesn't let go.
It begins with a road traffic accident. We see the young American cyclist saying goodbye to his girlfriend, the tired lorry driver and the nice/normal forty-something solicitor setting off for work after a night of heavy drinking. There's a terrible accident. Someone dies. Nobody's fault, but everybody's life is turned upside down. The main reason Dead Man's Grip works from this moment on is that we all know it could so easily happen to us.
When the victim turns out to be connected to the New York mafia, It soon becomes clear that the repercussions of the accident won't end with any charges brought by the Sussex Police.
I'm not a big fan of police procedurals and Roy Grace himself didn't really do it for me, but Dead Man's Grip is fast paced, exciting and exceptionally well researched.
It begins with a road traffic accident. We see the young American cyclist saying goodbye to his girlfriend, the tired lorry driver and the nice/normal forty-something solicitor setting off for work after a night of heavy drinking. There's a terrible accident. Someone dies. Nobody's fault, but everybody's life is turned upside down. The main reason Dead Man's Grip works from this moment on is that we all know it could so easily happen to us.
When the victim turns out to be connected to the New York mafia, It soon becomes clear that the repercussions of the accident won't end with any charges brought by the Sussex Police.
I'm not a big fan of police procedurals and Roy Grace himself didn't really do it for me, but Dead Man's Grip is fast paced, exciting and exceptionally well researched.
May 26, 2017
I can't believe I'd never heard of Peter James before I happened upon this book from the library, but it's certainly whet my appetite to catch up on all his previous works.
The audiobook version was brilliantly read by Jamie Glover.
The audiobook version was brilliantly read by Jamie Glover.
December 2, 2017
Peter James mystery's are always a good read but this was one of those annoying books where a woman's idiocy is the thing that drives the plot and irresponsible drinking just gets glossed over.
December 11, 2017
Boring
July 10, 2022
This is one of the best of the series I have read so far. When a young man is killed coming off his bike. Three vehicles were involved other than the bike things take an even sinsiter turn. The young man's family have connections with a New York Mafia. Two involved now dead everything is put into protecting the third Carly Chase and her son. Taking in Brighton and New York it's a fast and thrilling read. Sandy is ever present once again while Cleo and Roy get some concerning news about junior. Branson is a stand out once again.
July 29, 2025
5* for using Brighton as a stage.
3* for everything else.
My first book from the series (the older ones were not available at the library) - I enjoyed it and will get the next one soon.
3* for everything else.
My first book from the series (the older ones were not available at the library) - I enjoyed it and will get the next one soon.
April 24, 2024
A treat to get back to a real mystery - Roy Grace is such a great character, and the murders are very inventive (and gruesome!). The Sussex police team is full of interesting characters, some good, some bad, but all a good read.
Read
February 1, 2014I've just finished reading Susan Hill's Simon Serrailler series and was looking for a decent crime detective series. I like Lord Peter Wimsey, Commander Sam Vimes - that sort of character- and this series was recommended to me.
Perhaps after being engrossed in Hill's series for the last couple of weeks I was expecting something on similar lines, but I was disappointed. If I had known this novel was about the mob, then I would not have bought it but also I couldn't get interested in the characters. They seemed far too 'cliched', as if the author was trying too hard to get it 'right' and there were too many boring details about what clothes people wore - four detailed descriptions in the space of three pages is too much! I dnf'd at page 104. I appreciate that other readers will love a series like this, just as some will dislike Hill's 'Serrailler' novels, which is why I am not giving a rating.
Perhaps after being engrossed in Hill's series for the last couple of weeks I was expecting something on similar lines, but I was disappointed. If I had known this novel was about the mob, then I would not have bought it but also I couldn't get interested in the characters. They seemed far too 'cliched', as if the author was trying too hard to get it 'right' and there were too many boring details about what clothes people wore - four detailed descriptions in the space of three pages is too much! I dnf'd at page 104. I appreciate that other readers will love a series like this, just as some will dislike Hill's 'Serrailler' novels, which is why I am not giving a rating.
November 20, 2016
I was looking forward to this latest offering from Peter James but was left slightl disappointed. I think it was the hitman element which just didn't feel realistic, especially as all the previous books relayed a feeling that the events could happen.
The story begins with Carly Chase getting into her car to take her son to school and being involved, although not directly, in a collision which kills a young American student. The writing is good, the setting well done and it is really nice meeting the same characters throughout the series of books.
The ongoing saga of Roy Grace's missing wife got more than a mention and I'm looking forward to reading about what happens in the next installment of this slow burning thread of the books.
In conclusion this book is somewhere between a 3 & 4 * review, the hitman Tooth just didn't ring true to me but that may be personal taste, the rest of the book was as good as ever and I will be ordering the next one.
The story begins with Carly Chase getting into her car to take her son to school and being involved, although not directly, in a collision which kills a young American student. The writing is good, the setting well done and it is really nice meeting the same characters throughout the series of books.
The ongoing saga of Roy Grace's missing wife got more than a mention and I'm looking forward to reading about what happens in the next installment of this slow burning thread of the books.
In conclusion this book is somewhere between a 3 & 4 * review, the hitman Tooth just didn't ring true to me but that may be personal taste, the rest of the book was as good as ever and I will be ordering the next one.
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