One of the storylines that seemed to be irrelevant might have been because it was a major point in a previous book? I’m not sure. I haven’t read any of the other books and understood this one could be read as a standalone, but maybe some of the side stories tie into the series as a whole? Left you Dead is much more than a police procedural. Grace's personal life plays a huge part in this one and it is an extremely emotional read. No spoilers, but it will break your heart. Grace is a character that I love to read about, his wit and sarcasm gives me a giggle. His commitment to his job is amazing, even at the hardest times of his life. How can you not love him. I am excited to see John Simms play him when it comes to Australian TV.

His interests include criminology, religion, science and the paranormal, as well as food and wine. He has written many restaurant columns. He is also a self-confessed "petrol head," having owned many fast cars over the years, including four Aston Martins, AMG and Brabus Mercedes, a Bentley Continental GT Speed and two classic Jaguar E-Types. He holds an international racing licence, and has in the past competed in the Britcar series in both a Honda Accord and a former British Touring Car Championship SEAT Toledo. His 1965 BMW 1800 Ti, with his co-driver Steve Soper, came 10th overall in the St Mary's Trophy in the Goodwood Revival in 2013. James currently races a 1962 C1 Corvette and a 1964 Mini Cooper S. He has donated two police cars to Sussex Police, which bear his name, and a police car to States of Jersey Police. This book presented us with a very clever and engaging mystery that shape shifted every time we looked at it. Niall Paternoster reports his wife missing the morning after she disappeared. They were on their way home from a day out visiting a stately manor when Eden, the wife, wanted to stop on the way for some kitty litter. An argument ensued but they finally stopped at a Tesco superstore and Eden dashed in while Niall looked for a parking space. When she had not returned after 45 minutes he first searched the store then went home thinking she may got a lift with someone else. She wasn’t home either so Niall finally went to bed thinking she’d gone off in a huff as she had done once before. In the morning he went to the police.As the main plot is the police procedural Grace's colleagues feature heavily and I enjoyed the natural banter and friendly ribbing between the workmates and getting to know more of their personal life.

The writing is effortless and smooth. The characters are devious, astute, and committed. And the plot, including all the subplots, unravel and intertwine into a mysterious tale full of twists, turns, manipulation, deception, desperation, red herrings, police politics, familial drama, and personal tragedy. I spent the start of Left You Dead faintly distracted by the names Niall and Eden Paternoster. This may be because of being traumatised for life by an incident getting out of a paternoster (one of those moving series of compartments now outlawed on health and safety grounds) at the University of Leicester …

What is the next book in Peter James's Roy Grace series?

Peter James is a British best selling writer of fictional crime novels. He has written 25 novels that have been translated into over 35 languages. His series featuring Detective Superintendent Roy Grace have sold over 14 million copies world wide. He has had six UK Sunday Times #1 books consecutively due to this series. Peter James was born on August 22, 1948 in Brighton, Sussex, England. His mother Cornelia James was the Queen’s Glovemaker.

Gone without a trace, Niall is arrested on suspicion of her murder. When DS Roy Grace is called in to investigate, it doesn’t take long to realize that nothing in this case is quite as it seems . . . Dagger in the Library UK Crime Writers' Association award for an author's body of work in British libraries (UK) [10] shortlisted What made this book special and entertaining is not just the mystery, but the relationship dynamics between the characters. I loved the witty banter between the investigators. There’s also a tragedy in the life of one of the investigators that brings an added heartbreaking dimension. I like my detectives complicated and enjoy hearing some of their stories apart from the investigation. Although a bit long, the short chapters and a riveting plot kept the story moving along at a brisk pace.If you are after a compelling police procedural with a likeable main character you can't go past Left You Dead. Running alongside this storyline, Roy has a lot going on in his work and personal life. Unusually for these books, I went through a range of emotions as the story focussed on these other stories and found myself moved to tears at times. I loved Roy and Cleo’s moments together, and Roy’s friendship with Branson is exactly how best friends should be! All the familiar characters which we’ve come to either love or hate return as well! Cassian Pewe continues to rub Grace up the wrong way, and I shall be interested to see where the storyline goes for my favourite character, Norman Potting. Gone without a trace, Niall is arrested on suspicion of her murder. When DS Roy Grace is called in to investigate, it doesn’t take long to realize that nothing in this case is quite as it seems.... Roy Grace is toiling away as happy as he can be with a supervisor he can’t stand, in the Sussex Police. If only he could be left alone to run his investigations how he wants. He’d happily do it quietly before heading home to the love of his life Cleo (medical examiner), and his children, having recently gotten to know Bruno, an older son he didn’t know he had, when his ex died. There’s two main plot lines at play in Left You Dead - the police investigation and a secondary plot that strikes the core of Grace’s family. Suffice to say I rarely get teary in books, most certainly not crime fiction, but I’ll admit to some sniffles in this one. And I’ll remember a quote from this book as well “I heard a quote today that I love, .... about how it’s hard to forget pain, but harder to remember happiness - because we don’t have scars for happiness”.