The main villain is seen infrequently until the final pig slurry fight. The second killer is seen once waking up in bed.

Stop Them Dead (Roy Grace) by Peter James | Goodreads Stop Them Dead (Roy Grace) by Peter James | Goodreads

Grace’s investigation into this deadly trade pits him against some of the most ruthless people he has ever encountered; people who will kill anyone who gets in their way, because where there is greed, there is murder.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! The style rarely moves away from sounding like a report except where it sounds like a newspaper article.

Stop Them Dead by Peter James | Waterstones Stop Them Dead by Peter James | Waterstones

Peter 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. Thank you, so much Beauty and Lace and Macmillan, not having read any Peter James books before I was keen to read book 19, and the excitement increased exponentially as the story unfolded and I was introduced to the main character Roy Grace, I happily devoured this book as a stand alone read. This book centres around the horrific increase during Covid of puppy theft, with often deadly results. Peter himself is a supporter of the RSPCA in the UK and wanted to highlight the ongoing issues with the exorbitant prices paid for puppies, not only purebreds, which attract those criminals wanting to profit at the cost of the animal. The investigation leads to a nail biting standoff between Grace, Potting and a brutish puppy farmer.The story is told in the typical Grace style, racing through the revelations and trying to stop anything else happening before its too late. The usual crew of Branson, E-J and Potting are there, along with some new faces who hopefully will feature in future stories. When a young farmer confronts intruders in the middle of the night he has no idea that just minutes later he will be left dying in a pool of blood. What’s more chilling is what the perpetrators were willing to kill for. I would like to thank Netgalley and Pan Macmillan for an advance copy of Stop Them Dead, the nineteenth novel to feature Detective Superintendent Roy Grace of Sussex Police. Thus we have the basis for the latest Peter James Roy Grace crime thriller. Tim Ruddle and his wife fed up living in London buy a farm in Sussex.

Stop Them Dead – Peter James Stop Them Dead – Peter James

We are treated to some great pieces of detective work by Grace and his team, and it was fun to have all the usual team together for this case – my favourite still must be Norman Potting who was there with his usual drole wit! I also loved the storyline of Bluebell, a young girl whose parents brought her a puppy. This was a sad turn to the case, but interesting watching it unfold. At the scene of the crime, Detective Superintendent Roy Grace soon realises this is no isolated robbery gone wrong but the tip of the iceberg of a nationwide crime wave, in which ruthless organised gangs are making more money from the illegal trade in dogs than drugs. A trade which pits him against some ruthless people who will kill anyone who gets in their way, because where there is greed, there is murder.When a woman linked to the farm they’ve been monitoring is killed in a road accident it soon comes to light that it was not an accident. There is no tension. Nothing is nail biting. Too much is included that does not move the murder story and does no more than explain the plight of puppies farmed without care who do not appear to get their happy ending. In this latest instalment we meet some nefarious, unpleasant and ruthless characters and I’m not going to pretend it’s an easy read for dog lovers. The case goes from bad to worse, danger levels rise and we follow one emotional storyline which drives home the reality of the horrific trade/ importation of dogs. It’s always solidly reliable storytelling, the plot is well thought out and the ending is a good one. There is plenty of tension and some suspenseful moments with some good twists. To add to the drama, Bluebell Fairfax, the young daughter of a local lawyer pesters her parents for a puppy and they buy one from a man in a pub car park. These criminal masterminds are ruthless and don't stop at murder when a farmer confronts intruders about to steal five puppies and the parent dogs - and pays with his life...