I love the Roy Grace books and have read every single one. This latest instalment was a great read and had me hooked from the very beginning. We have a couple of storylines running parallel to each other, with the investigation into the murder of a farmer who was trying to prevent his puppies being stolen, the subsequent trail into who was illegally importing puppies from abroad and the sad hospitalisation of a young girl. The storylines were gripping and, whilst it wasn’t really a “whodunnit”, I was kept on edge wondering how it was all going to end. James explained that, in his experience, a majority of policemen and policewomen enjoy their work, even though they have to work insane hours, deal with the bureaucracy, and face horrible tragedies, as well as the internal politics of the system. But he also explains that those experiences are the reason that police workers look at the world differently than everyone else. For years, Harry and Freya dreamed of finding a valuable hidden treasure at a car boot sale. They didn't think it likely, of course, but they could hope.

This is an excellent crime novel. The wealth of technical detail around the investigation is fascinating, the new kinds of crime are interesting, and the sub-plot will emotionally engage most readers. I really enjoyed this, and I think most crime readers would too. A farmer is killed when confronting intruders who complete the successful robbery of some unusual items. Organised criminal gangs have identified a new market and are willing to do what it takes to make money. Roy Grace is determined to stop it. If you're used to mysteries set in cosy English villages, gritty London, or the distinguished university cities of Oxford and Cambridge, Brighton may seem a very different sort of setting. It's a quirky coastal town about 50 miles south of London, and though it's quite distinctly British, it has a dash of San Francisco about it (or perhaps we should say San Francisco has a touch of Brighton). Peter James's Roy Grace mystery series was recently adapted for television by Endeavour writer Russell Lewis. Now, many are discovering the series for the first time – or starting all over and reading it anew with actual characters in mind. My only reservations are it’s a bit over explained especially at the start and there is some repetition, however, once it gets going this issue fades away. I do have a little titter because as per usual the author gets gait analysis into the plot. - he sure loves that!

At the same time, Roy Grace and his team are working on a cold case of a murdered art dealer from 2015. Could there be a connection between their case and the appearance of this masterpiece? There is somebody out there that will stop at nothing to get their hands in this piece of art, and I mean nothing. There is murder, burglars, master forgers, a fire and so so much more. Michael Harrison's friends decided it would be funny to bury him alive as a stag night prank. Unfortunately, they were killed in a car accident before they could retrieve him, leaving the man buried in an unknown location just days before his wedding. DS Roy Grace sets out to help his beautiful, distraught fiancee.

There doesn't seem to be an upcoming book in The Roy Grace Series. The newest book is Stop Them Dead and was released on September, 28th 2023.This time, Grace is confronted with one of the most horrible crimes: making money of innocent animals. Of course, it starts with all those people who suddenly want a pedigree dog but are not willing to pay for it. In Picture You Dead we meet a couple of men who will do everything to get their hands on some priceless art, and the great thing about the story was for me Peter James makes it clear that you don't get to be a better person when you have an insane amount of money - let alone a happier person. The story of finding a priceless item at a car boot sale is not uncommon; I've watched several times the happy and suprised faces of people on television when being told this 'old painting they found in the attic' was in fact very rare and special. It always pleases me to see when people then decide to keep it, because it belonged to a loved family member. DS Roy Grace is sure Brian Bishop murdered his socialite wife. The only problem? He was sixty miles away, asleep in bed at the time of the murder. Has someone stolen Bishop's identity, or is he just a very clever killer?