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Product Description
Amazon.co.uk Reviews
It's a tricky proposition, changing horses midstream. And with Looking Good Dead, Peter James continues to do just that. The author’s reputation as a purveyor of subtly chilling horror and fantasy had been carefully built up over many years, and James had few British peers in this field. But that is not quite the compliment it sounds, for the horror field is in one of its frequent slumps at present, and apart from a few American giants such as Stephen King, some highly talented figures have languished, in some cases even forfeiting their publishers. It's possible that Peter James saw the way the wind was blowing, and decided to move on from his hitherto lucrative horror work, returning to the crime arena (in which he’d worked before) with the adroit Dead Simple, the inaugural book in the series featuring Detective Superintendent Roy Grace. If DS Grace was cut from a familiar cloth (copper struggling with psychological problems), the plotting was innovative and fresh.
And so it’s proved to be once again with Looking Good Dead. Tom Bryce picks up a CD which has been left behind on a train seat, but when he attempts to track down the owner, he finds himself the only witness to a savage killing. Reporting the crime to the police has disastrous consequences for Bryce, and the lives of both he and his wife are threatened--by a notification on the Internet, no less. When DS Roy Grace becomes involved, he finds himself up against a malign group of very well organised criminals.
As in Peter James’ previous outing for Roy Grace, the plotting here is the thing. James addresses the crime genre as if he had never been away, and although Grace is, to be frank, not strikingly different from any other literary coppers, few people will complain when James’ storytelling acumen is as authoritative as it is here.
--Barry Forshaw
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Daily Express
'Sharply plotted, suitably sordid'
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
21 of 21 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
Not read any Peter James before but will definitely be reading more of his work now!
Fast moving, gripping, could NOT put it down. Yet another one that spent time cooking with me I'm afraid. You know what I mean? Stirring pots with one hand while holding book in t'other.
Only two things to say against the w-h-o-l-e book in fact. One was the odd Americanism that crept in now and then but having learnt that the author has spent a fair bit of time in North America, I suppose I can forgive him for those. Didn't spoil my enjoyment of the book in the least.
The second thing was that I don't think he had the TV news quite right as to the best of my knowledge, the 9 o'clock news ended some while back, which if you put this together with the rest of the events mentioned in the book, seemed to make the timing a little bit off? Suppose we just put that down to poetic licence?
I shall be looking to read some more Peter James in the very near future. He will now be up there in my list of favourite authors along with Kathy Reichs, Lee Child, P.J. Tracy, Karin Slaughter, Tess Gerritsen, James Patterson and my newly accquired love of Simon Kernick and Stuart Macbride to name but a few. If you also like works by those authors, you'll LOVE Looking Good Dead!
Fast moving, gripping, could NOT put it down. Yet another one that spent time cooking with me I'm afraid. You know what I mean? Stirring pots with one hand while holding book in t'other.
Only two things to say against the w-h-o-l-e book in fact. One was the odd Americanism that crept in now and then but having learnt that the author has spent a fair bit of time in North America, I suppose I can forgive him for those. Didn't spoil my enjoyment of the book in the least.
The second thing was that I don't think he had the TV news quite right as to the best of my knowledge, the 9 o'clock news ended some while back, which if you put this together with the rest of the events mentioned in the book, seemed to make the timing a little bit off? Suppose we just put that down to poetic licence?
I shall be looking to read some more Peter James in the very near future. He will now be up there in my list of favourite authors along with Kathy Reichs, Lee Child, P.J. Tracy, Karin Slaughter, Tess Gerritsen, James Patterson and my newly accquired love of Simon Kernick and Stuart Macbride to name but a few. If you also like works by those authors, you'll LOVE Looking Good Dead!
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Another brilliant read from Peter James, couldn't put it down. It was fast paced, gritty, sordid in places but very,very readable. Peter manages to take a simple event like picking up a cd on a train and turn it into a gripping thriller. Excellent !
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
The second in the `Roy Grace' Detective series is another resounding hit in my opinion, with superbly developed characters, realistic Sussex settings and intriguing, compelling crimes to keep you on the edge of your seat. I couldn't put it down and I'm already relishing the fact that I have so many more of this series left to read- and books three and four ready and waiting.
This story starts off as more of a slow burner than book one, in which the reader was immediately plunged into the action. This time the author concentrates more on scene setting and character development which is effortlessly done, so you really feel a connection with the protagonists. What seems to be a bit of a mundane scenario is then suddenly turned completely on its head however and the story picks up a fast pace from there.
This novel sees thirty something businessman Tom Bryce picking up a CD left behind on a commuter train. With no significant details on it, he loads it into his computer, thinking there will be some kind of identification on it so he can dutifully return it to its rightful owner. What he sees on the CD however leaves him reeling and his life is immediately pulled into a shocking nightmare...
This gritty story really is no holds barred and some details of the crimes involved are a bit gruesome, but nonetheless the story remains fascinating and believable given all the little details added by the author. There's a couple of little twists thrown in which make it all the more enjoyable as a reader.
A couple of other reviewers have picked up on the minor Americanisms that seem to filter into the authors writing, and given that he's spent time across in the States writing, I suppose this is a given fact, but it doesn't detract from your enjoyment of the story. I didn't quite enjoy this as much as book one but it was still a very worthwhile read.
If you like gritty thrillers that don't hold back on all the lurid details and well-done detective dramas then this is definitely the book for you. What are you waiting for?
This story starts off as more of a slow burner than book one, in which the reader was immediately plunged into the action. This time the author concentrates more on scene setting and character development which is effortlessly done, so you really feel a connection with the protagonists. What seems to be a bit of a mundane scenario is then suddenly turned completely on its head however and the story picks up a fast pace from there.
This novel sees thirty something businessman Tom Bryce picking up a CD left behind on a commuter train. With no significant details on it, he loads it into his computer, thinking there will be some kind of identification on it so he can dutifully return it to its rightful owner. What he sees on the CD however leaves him reeling and his life is immediately pulled into a shocking nightmare...
This gritty story really is no holds barred and some details of the crimes involved are a bit gruesome, but nonetheless the story remains fascinating and believable given all the little details added by the author. There's a couple of little twists thrown in which make it all the more enjoyable as a reader.
A couple of other reviewers have picked up on the minor Americanisms that seem to filter into the authors writing, and given that he's spent time across in the States writing, I suppose this is a given fact, but it doesn't detract from your enjoyment of the story. I didn't quite enjoy this as much as book one but it was still a very worthwhile read.
If you like gritty thrillers that don't hold back on all the lurid details and well-done detective dramas then this is definitely the book for you. What are you waiting for?
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Brillant
This is another brillant book by Peter James in the Roy Grace series. This is very fasted paced and keeps you gripped all the way through. Read more
Published 9 days ago by Karen Gooderham
Detailed
Reading through the other reviews- must admit should write my own first- have to disagree=it is the detail, the mundaneness of ordinary lives which made this book unputdownable for... Read more
Published 1 month ago by Ichabod
Looking good dead
Yet another thoroughly good read from the Roy Grace series. All the characters are brought to life in Peter James' brilliant writing style. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Jan C.
BETTER THAN HIS FIRST - BUT ONLY JUST!
The problem with this book is that lots of it was just copied and pasted from 'Dead Simple'.... At one point I honestly thought that my Kindle had developed a fault and I had... Read more
Published 2 months ago by Wendy63
Looking Good Dead
A very good read. A Real page turner, the action moved a long quickly and it was easy to feel part of the story.
Published 2 months ago by martind
MINI
Working my way though the Roy Grace series and this one does not dissapoint.Yet another great read from Peter James.Im addicted cant wait to start the next one !
Published 3 months ago by MON
looking good dead
excellent read from cover to cover. Only just disovered this author.Like his style of writin and shall look forward to reading the rest of his work
Published 6 months ago by porgiwil1
Menacing Stuff
I know that I'm really late in finding Peter James and his DS Grace series, my friends encouraged me to give them a go and I'm really hooked. Read more
Published 7 months ago by Lincs Reader
most entertaining
As the second book in the Grace series I found that I enjoyed this so much more . Very easy to read back to back , as only a week has past . Read more
Published 9 months ago by cartoon
An Excellent Read
Peter James is a very accomplished writer. As with his other books; I couldn't put it down. His books include fascinating characters, fast moving plots, and many twists and turns. Read more
Published 12 months ago by Bernard Boyland
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