- Paperback: 400 pages
- Publisher: Pan; Reprint edition (26 Nov 2009)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0330446126
- ISBN-13: 978-0330446129
- Product Dimensions: 17.4 x 11.4 x 4.2 cm
- Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars See all reviews (97 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 13,850 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
Not Dead Enough: Three Murders. One Suspect. No Proof
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Product Description
Amazon.co.uk
Peter James came to many readers’ attention via his immense success as a horror novelist, but his more recent career as a writer of effortlessly ingenious and readable crime novels has – perhaps unfairly -- eclipsed his earlier work. (The author has claimed that he was, in any case, always essentially a crime writer – even in the days of his earlier acclaim).
Not Dead Enough marks another welcome appearance for the author’s quirkily characterised policeman Roy Grace (who we’ve already met in Dead Simple and Looking Good Dead). Here, Grace is investigating the bizarre slaying of a member of Brighton’s social elite, Katie Bishop. Her husband, Brian, appears to be in the clear – he was in another town at the time, sound asleep. But Grace begins to suspect the presence of a doppelgänger: is someone else -- nigh-identical to Bishop – involved? As in his previous cases, Grace’s diligent exhuming of murky secrets soon demonstrates that the Bishops’ outwardly settled lives had darker corners. And as Grace gets close to the truth, he finds – paradoxically – that it’s his own beleaguered private life which is on the line.
. With Not Dead Enough, we’re soon reminded that Peter James’ métier has long been machine-tooled plotting, and that particular skill doesn’t desert him here. James himself spends time with the police of the Brighton area (his own beat) and that research is seamlessly freighted into the narrative here.
Readers are confronted with a dizzying variety of tales of murder and deception these days, but this one has an individual strand that marks it out from the crowd. --Barry Forshaw --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.
Independent on Sunday
'James just gets better and better and deserves the success he has achieved with this first-class series'
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
71 of 75 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Not Dead Enough is the third outing for Peter James' troubled detective, Roy Grace. In a complex plot, Grace's sanity is not only threatened with three murders, one suspect and little in the way of evidence, but the fact that he is still coming to terms with a wife who walked out on him nine years previous and has never been seen until ... possibly ... now, in a remote corner of Germany: add to that, a threat on the life of police mortician Cleo Morey, Grace's new girlfriend, and you have the trappings of a very tense and sophisticated novel, which, in the hands of a master story-teller like Peter James, offers you a very compelling read, full of plot twists and turns that come so thick and fast you barely have time to draw breath before the author gives you something else to think about. In the style of Dead Simple and Looking Good Dead, the book races towards an unexpected and chilling outcome, with well defined, 3D characters, something that has always been a trademark of James as readers of his previous novels like Denial and Faith will remember. Not Dead Enough comes very highly recommended: the only crime any reader would be guilty of is not rushing out and buying a copy.
27 of 31 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
I enjoyed the first two Roy Grace thrillers immensely and found them difficult pull myself away from. The third is even better. The writing style is much tighter and, consequently, the suspense a notch or two higher.
Attention to detail and the nature of obsession seem to be very close to the author. The whole series is highly recommended but don't buy just one - it won't last very long.
Attention to detail and the nature of obsession seem to be very close to the author. The whole series is highly recommended but don't buy just one - it won't last very long.
13 of 15 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
I just finished NDE. What a book! I had to put my life on hold for 4 days to finish it! I haven't done anything for 4 evenings except read this novel. I really couldn't put it down.
As always, it had everything I look for a PJ novel: detailed research; brilliantly developed characters; pace; smooth, flowing writing; sparkling dialogue; and an interesting, engaging plot. But of course it's more than the sum of these factors that make me addicted to James' books. It's the X factor that so many lack. I noticed it for the first time when I read Dreamer all those years ago. I don't really think it would matter what type of novel the author penned, in whatever genre. It would still grip me. It's the STYLE, man...
This is crime writing at its very best. As other reviewers have pointd out, James is never one to stint on trivial but important details. For instance, I loved reading about Grace's trip to Munich. Reminded me of my own visit a few years ago, though under rather different weather conditions (i.e. freezing cold). He could have just described the visit in a short chapter, but the details and descriptions of settings and people made it really come to life. The same thing applies to all the little details he puts into his books - character traits and faults that make people human. Their ambitions and shortcomings. I esp. love the fact that he's always willing to surprise the reader and that there are no easy answers or solutions; and few coincidences. The people in a PJ story have human failings and don't always get things right. Grace is a pretty average, intelligent bloke, and all the more likeable for it. I also love the Branson and Potting characters. I hope they're going to be around in future Grace novels. Great team spirit and camaraderie in this particular police force!
There's a particular kind of character that James has always written about - you recognise them straightaway. Brian Bishop is one such character: confident, wealthy, a touch arrogant, assured etc. However, in NDE he proves that he can deal with some truly memorable low-lifes too. Witness the fascinating Skunk, someone who we follow for a good part of the book and end up feeling sorry for when ... well, that would be giving it away, wouldn't it?
This is likely to be one of the best novels of 2007, at least in my opinion. It deserves to sell by the bucket-load. Here's till the next Grace novel!
As always, it had everything I look for a PJ novel: detailed research; brilliantly developed characters; pace; smooth, flowing writing; sparkling dialogue; and an interesting, engaging plot. But of course it's more than the sum of these factors that make me addicted to James' books. It's the X factor that so many lack. I noticed it for the first time when I read Dreamer all those years ago. I don't really think it would matter what type of novel the author penned, in whatever genre. It would still grip me. It's the STYLE, man...
This is crime writing at its very best. As other reviewers have pointd out, James is never one to stint on trivial but important details. For instance, I loved reading about Grace's trip to Munich. Reminded me of my own visit a few years ago, though under rather different weather conditions (i.e. freezing cold). He could have just described the visit in a short chapter, but the details and descriptions of settings and people made it really come to life. The same thing applies to all the little details he puts into his books - character traits and faults that make people human. Their ambitions and shortcomings. I esp. love the fact that he's always willing to surprise the reader and that there are no easy answers or solutions; and few coincidences. The people in a PJ story have human failings and don't always get things right. Grace is a pretty average, intelligent bloke, and all the more likeable for it. I also love the Branson and Potting characters. I hope they're going to be around in future Grace novels. Great team spirit and camaraderie in this particular police force!
There's a particular kind of character that James has always written about - you recognise them straightaway. Brian Bishop is one such character: confident, wealthy, a touch arrogant, assured etc. However, in NDE he proves that he can deal with some truly memorable low-lifes too. Witness the fascinating Skunk, someone who we follow for a good part of the book and end up feeling sorry for when ... well, that would be giving it away, wouldn't it?
This is likely to be one of the best novels of 2007, at least in my opinion. It deserves to sell by the bucket-load. Here's till the next Grace novel!
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Peter James does it again
His favourite detective in another exciting page turner. Keeps you entertained all the way with sufficent twists to throw you off the scent. Read more
Published 1 month ago by David Slater
Enjoyed this and not my usual cup of tea
I must say crime novels are not really my thing I like supernatural/ghost stories hence my getting this one second hand to try and I could not put it down- 2am finishes! Read more
Published 1 month ago by Ichabod
Excellent read.
I really enjoy these Peter James books. The DS Roy grace stories have lots of interwoven plots and are a really good read.
Published 5 months ago by Chris
Cliched
I read one of the more recent Roy Grace "dead" novels on holiday a year or so back and have started reading from the beginning of the series. Read more
Published 6 months ago by NOTiFY
interesting detective
Have only just discovered this author and am enjoying getting to know his detective. He shows lots of promise but I haven't started this book yet!
Published 7 months ago by D. Cannon
Another great James book
Had missed this one in the set and was kept up all night with it. Can't wait for the new paperback end of Sept - Peter James is simply amazing!
Published 8 months ago by Moscot
Dead predictable...
Maybe I've watched too many Hollywood films, but I sensed what was going to happen in this storyline from about page 30, which was such a shame as I've really enjoyed the other two... Read more
Published 8 months ago by Nicola F (Nic)
entertaining enough
an easy entertaining if improbable story . At times I wanted to shout "He s behind you " or "Oh no hes not " . As ususal James story is exciting . Read more
Published 10 months ago by cartoon
Grabs you immediately
I'm from the U.S. and amidt I didn't know this author but ordered the book because it looked promising. After just a couple chapters, I was hooked. Read more
Published 12 months ago by rumkat
Riviting read
Another excellent read, this is the fifth book I've read of Peter James and like all the others thoroughly enjoyed it, just one book to read "Dead tomorrow" and to round it off... Read more
Published 12 months ago by P. Spicer
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