‘You are Dead’ Peter James

Published by Pan Macmillan,
21 May 2015.
ISBN: 978-1447255741

DI Roy Grace is busy: he has a wife and a new-born son, and they’re moving house. Then a  young woman is abducted...

This search for a serial killer is a riveting read, told alternately from the points of view of Grace, the abducted girl and the killer himself. Grace is a likeable, committed officer surrounded by vividly-drawn characters, like the grieving Norman Potting, who’s just managing to hold his life together after losing his fiancee, and the chilling killer. We’re given all the details of the police operations, interspersed with the continuing personal lives of the characters, which makes the story feel real. The Brighton setting is a strong and enjoyable part of the story. The killer is revealed gradually with no sudden surprises; the interest is in the police work that tracks him down, and the final confrontation scenes are breathlessly exciting. There’s a final twist in the personal life of a key character, drawing you into the next episode of this police serial.

An absorbing PP which really takes you into the heart of the operations; a treat for James’ many fans. You are Dead reads well as a stand-alone but it’s the eleventh in the series, so new readers might like to start right at the beginning with Dead Simple.

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Reviewer: Marsali Taylor

Peter James was educated at Charterhouse and then at film school. He lived in North America for a number of years, working as a screen writer and film producer, before returning to England. His multiple award-winning, Sunday Times Top Ten bestselling novels have been translated into thirty-three languages. His writings reflect his deep interest in medicine, science and the world of the police. He has produced numerous films, including The Merchant of Venice, starring Al Pacino, Jeremy Irons and Joseph Fiennes. He also co-created the hit Channel 4 series Bedsitcom, which was nominated for a Rose d'Or. Peter James won the Krimi-Blitz 2005 Crime Writer of the Year Award in Germany, and Dead Simple won both the 2006 Prix Polar International award and the 2007 Prix Cœur Noir award in France. Looking Good Dead was shortlisted for the 2007 Richard and Judy Crime Thriller of the Year award, and has been shortlisted for both France's SNCF award and Le Grand Prix de Littérature Policère. He divides his time between his homes in Notting Hill in London and Sussex.

Marsali Taylor grew up near Edinburgh, and came to Shetland as a newly-qualified teacher. She is currently a part-time teacher on Shetland's scenic west side, living with her husband and two Shetland ponies. Marsali is a qualified STGA tourist-guide who is fascinated by history, and has published plays in Shetland's distinctive dialect, as well as a history of women's suffrage in Shetland. She's also a keen sailor who enjoys exploring in her own 8m yacht, and an active member of her local drama group.  Marsali also does a regular monthly column for the Mystery People e-zine.