Cassandra Dewell can’t leave Montana’s Lewis and Clark County fast enough for her new job as chief investigator for Jon Kirkbride, sheriff of Bakken County. I just loved the investigation that followed Lorna’s death, what a cracking story this is, so many times I thought I had it all sussed and have since come to the conclusion that I would make a dreadful detective. Roy Grace has moved with the times, but his occasional introspection allows the reader insight into the difficulties faced by 21st century policing.

With the paperwork of the three previous cases to clear up the last thing Grace needs is a who-dun-nit murder of a married women in a flat she rented away from her husband. For another, the job she turns out to have been hired for—leading an investigation her new boss doesn’t feel he can entrust to his own force—makes her queasy. Also, representative of the series, you should have read previous ones to fully enjoy (and not suffer spoilers of previous books needed to explain the current one). I have only one disappointment; after a pleasurable day in the sun, absolutely engrossed, I have to wait a while for the next instalment.Peter’s novella, ‘ The Perfect Murder’ (2010) went straight in at No 1 in the iBooks chart and spent 40 consecutive weeks in the iBooks Top 10. I didn't have a clue who the killer was and was surprised, so that's something going for this novel I guess. There appears to be some animosity between himself and one of his superior officers, which I’m sure has an interesting backstory, but the one feature that does stand out in this book is his absolute concern for his co-workers.

There are enough twists and turns to keep the reader guessing but I did feel that some of the plot lines had loose ends that were never explained properly. That early human beings communicated entirely by telepathy, and we only learned to speak so that we could lie. I think that the next book will hopefully explore this element of Roy's life in greater detail as I feel like this is potentially a great contribution to revving up the series. Need you Dead is a straight-up, no nonsense police procedural with all that is expected from this genre. bestselling author, best known for writing crime and thriller novels, and the creator of the much-loved Detective Superintendent Roy Grace.Roy Grace at work comes across as a man who cares deeply for his team and yet also has a tone when he means business with them. A pretty cool character that has seen his fair share of the worst of people in his career and at times personal life. Then other scenarios begin to present themselves, each of them tantalizingly plausible, until, in a sudden turn of events, and to his utter disbelief, the case turns more sinister than Grace could ever have imagined. We are introduced to Lorna Belling, a woman that is in an incredibly abusive relationship, but who is being offered another chance with another man to start over. ABOUT THIS BOOK: Lorna Belling, desperate to escape the marriage from hell, falls for the charms of another man who promises her the earth.

Like a game of chess, Grace is forever moving from square to square seemingly one space behind all the time.

Roy Grace, Detective Superintendent and head of the high crime unit, faces a dilemma in the latest in this wonderful police procedural series, now numbering thirteen: evidence that one of his own squad may be a murderer. The Readers of Need You Dead will follow the twist and turns in the investigation of the death of Lorna Belling. Not Dead Enough, the third of Peter’s books to be translated to stage, is currently touring the UK to critical acclaim, starring Shane Ritchie as Roy Grace and Laura Whitmore as Cleo Morey.

However, it becomes clear pretty early on this will not be straightforward and the book itself leans heavily on the police procedural. The latest in the Roy Grace series, this adventure sees him and his team hunting the killer of a woman whose body is found in a bath.I have no preconceptions of a Peter James novel, so for me I was very intrigued by the technology utilised by the police. James strikes a good balance between the professional and personal sides of Roy Grace's life, each enhancing the other. As popular internationally as in the UK, he won the US Barry Award, for Best British Crime Novel in 2012.