Detective Superintendent Roy Grace can’t help but think of his lost wife and her unexplained fate when a young woman’s body is discovered butchered in Brighton.
While Tom Bryce merely attempts to do the right thing and return the disc to its owner when he finds it left on a train somewhere else in the city.
Yet because of this misguided gesture of generosity, he is the only person who saw that brutal murder.
The killers are forced to take action after discovering that Tom has spoken with Grace’s squad.
When they conspire to kill the Bryce family, it’s not just for retaliation; it’s also for entertainment.
A stunning celebrity has passed away. Although her husband, who is Roy Grace’s prime suspect, was sixty miles away the moment she died, every other factor points to him.
Has his identity been stolen, or is he just an extremely skilled liar?
Grace’s inquiry and his developing new relationship are put on hold when his wife Sandy, who has been missing for nine years, is reportedly seen.
As his inner distress and the dead count increase, Grace attempts desperately to reveal the real story in both cases.
Pros
Well-plotted story that is engaging.
Cons
Some readers found that there are too many descriptions of every action, which slows the story down.
Upon entering her room after a wild New Year’s Eve party, a woman is attacked. Another woman was abused a week later. The perpetrator removes both victims’ shoes.
Roy Grace quickly understands that these recent cases are strikingly similar to a string of unsolved crimes that occurred in the city during 1997.
The offender, known as “Shoe Man,” is thought to have assaulted five women before killing his sixth and then fleeing.
Has Shoe Man returned or is this a copycat? When more women are attacked, Grace and his crew are forced to find the new sixth victim and save her life.
Grace is responsible for Gaia Lafayette’s security because she has to make a movie at her home.
However, a nightmare materializes before Grace’s eyes when a ruthless gangster is let out of jail and an unidentified headless torso is discovered.
Gaia is the target of an obsessive stalker, and Grace is aware that they could be hiding in his city, patiently awaiting, observing, and preparing for their next step.
Pros
Compelling story.
Cons
Some readers feel that the mention of Sandy is a bit overused and redundant now. The character doesn’t serve a purpose anymore.
An elderly resident of a remote Brighton mansion is struggling for her life after a brutal robbery there.
Valuables worth millions of dollars have been taken.
Within days, Grace is tracking a murderer who is motivated by the need for one man’s money and the rage of another.
He is pursuing a murderous trail that takes him from the shadowy antique industry of England, across Europe, and back to the gang wars on the New York waterfront in 1922.
Grace, Chloe, and their infant boy recently relocated to a country house after getting hitched.
Yet Grace has received a gift from his first wife, who had been gone for a long time.
Nevertheless, the authorities require Grace’s assistance since a Black Widow is leaving a trail of dead bodies throughout the globe after effectively bleeding them dry.
Also, there is an escaped murderer who shot Grace who is back on the scene.
The Black Widow has now traveled to Brighton in search of her next wealthy prey.
Pros
This story feels real and links nicely to previous books.
Cons
Glenn Branson is barely mentioned in this book. Many readers have enjoyed the friendship between Glenn and Roy.
Lorna Belling, who is yearning to leave her marriage of woe, is seduced by a guy who makes her false promises.
However, as Lorna quickly discovers, life rarely goes according to your plan.
Grace is called to the location of a woman’s body after it is discovered. At first glance, the case appears to be closed, with a definite primary suspect.
Grace doesn’t realize there is a darker, even more, terrible alternative until later.
Pros
There are a lot of red herrings in this story, thus you can’t be sure who the killer is.
Cons
The violence is quite graphic, which isn’t ideal for anyone a bit squeamish.
A man waits for the arrival of his true love at a London airport.
While a retired police officer in Florida’s Key West waits in a bar for his first date with the woman who is the love of his life.
The two guys are soon to learn that neither woman exists and that they have been conned out of practically all of their money.
The same week, Roy Grace is asked to look into a woman’s apparent suicide in Brighton, which is not what it looks like.
A dashing motivational speaker steps forward as his investigations go on. He has learned that eleven separate women are being defrauded online using his name.
Eventually, one of these eleven women is found dead.
Therefore, Roy Grace understands that he is only seeing the very tip of the iceberg. Can he stop the empire created by cruel yet clever online scams?
Pros
All characters are thought through, and the story contains plenty of twists and turns.
Cons
The plot is quite complicated and can become slightly confusing to keep up with.
The same as every Sunday, Niall and Eden Paternoster begin their day with a long journey.
This is a trip to a country estate and a quick stop at the neighborhood grocery store on the way home.
However, this Sunday’s conclusion is different. Despite Niall’s persistent waiting for Eden to pick up groceries in the parking lot, Eden never shows up.
No one in their family or circle of acquaintances has heard from her, and she is not waiting for him at home.
Niall is detained on accusations of Eden’s murder after going missing.
It doesn’t take long for DS Roy Grace to discover that nothing about the case is as it looks when he is brought in to look into it.
Pros
Fast-paced plot with lots of suppression to keep you interested.
Cons
Certain crime details are repeated numerous times for no reason, and there are small details mentioned which add nothing to the case.
Ordinary couple Harry and Freya decide to buy a dull painting for twenty pounds because of its lovely frame.
Then, after analyzing the frame they uncover a second painting underneath. Is this the long-lost masterwork from 1770? It might be worth millions if it’s real.
A collector is positive it is real. Roy Grace, the detective superintendent, is thrust into the mysterious and exclusive world of fine art.
It presents itself as dignified, and gentlemanly. However, he soon discovers that beneath the surface, violence, deceit, and greed go hand in hand.
Harry and Freya are soon to realize that their dream is a nightmare. However, will they be able to keep their painting and their lives?
Unaware that he will soon be found dead in a pool of blood, a young farmer faces strangers during the night.
What the culprits were prepared to kill for is even more horrifying.
Detective Superintendent Roy Grace quickly learns at the crime scene that this is not a single instance of a heist gone wrong.
Instead, the beginning of a statewide crime wave in which vicious organized gangs are generating more cash from illicitly trading in dogs.
He is forced to compete with very brutal individuals in this trade, and they will kill anyone who stands in their way.
Thus, he needs to be careful to not get on the receiving end of the culprits.
Pros
Plenty of suspense and twists to keep you wanting to read more.
Cons
While there is lots of action, certain details are quite graphic.
Final Thoughts
Roy Grace is a captivating crime thriller series created by Peter James. You follow the life of Detective Roy Grace, who has had an unpleasant life.
There is great character development of Grace throughout the series. Since each book may focus on a new and different crime, you also learn something new about Grace.
In every book you are introduced to a different crime, and there are well-thought-out characters to meet.
Usually, each crime is solved by the end of the book, so that you can easily pick up any book anytime.
While you could easily read these books in any order that you like, to be able to understand the character of Roy better, it is best to read the books in order. The best order to read them is chronological or publication order.
How Long Will Peter James Be Writing Roy Grace For?
Peter James has been writing the Roy Grace series since 2005, with a book being released yearly. There is expected to be a new Peter James book until at least 2027.
What Is The Best Roy Grace Book?
Each Roy Grace book is considered magnificent, although certain books in the series do better than others. The top-rated Roy Grace books within the series include Picture You Dead, Dead Simple, and Looking Good Dead.
Noah Burton works as a Librarian full time, and is a blogger in his spare time. His goal is to write compelling recommendations for all of the most popular books he can find, from science fiction to romance.
With a passion for books, a drive to find new reads to get stuck into, and a love for sharing book recommendations with others, Noah can help you find the next novel for your bucket list.
