This is the 6th novel in the British "Roy Grace" series and it also works well as a stand-alone novel. Plenty of twists and turns. Moderate violence and sex. Focus on autism and parental child abuse by mothers. If you are into shoes, this may especially appeal to you as the crime centers around their appeal to both the victims and the criminal(s).

Another installment of the Roy Grace series. I didn't like this one as much as the others, but I still found it interesting. My enjoyment of the book was lessened because, to be honest, I found the back and forth in time periods distracting and confusing at times. I wasn't particularly fond of the way that Sandy was portrayed, considering that this woman was the love of Roy's life until he met Chleo. She seemed rather unforgiving and bitchy to me. The crimes were, as always, horrific and the police procedure, as always, was fascinating. Looking forward to the next installment, hoping the story is more like the other Roy Grace stories.

"Dead Like You" by Peter James is a chilling crime novel that plunges readers into the dark underbelly of Brighton. Detective Superintendent Roy Grace is faced with a perplexing case involving a series of brutal attacks on young women. James skillfully weaves together multiple plot threads, keeping readers guessing until the very end. The pacing is brisk, with each chapter driving the narrative forward with relentless momentum. James' attention to detail shines through in his vivid descriptions of both characters and settings, immersing readers in the gritty world of police work and criminal psychology. "Dead Like You" is a gripping and atmospheric thriller that will leave readers eagerly turning pages late into the night. James' nuanced exploration of themes such as obsession, revenge, and redemption adds depth to the story, making it a standout addition to the Roy Grace series. Fans of crime fiction will find much to love in this intricately plotted and suspenseful novel.

I only read a little bit of it and could not get into the book.

I can't stick with this series any more. The first few books I genuinely enjoyed but I haven't been able to finish the last two books so I am giving up.

Roy Grace is so proud that he has moved on, yet he mentions Sandy more than ever.
Branson is a whiner. I cannot stand his morose wallowing anymore.

The dialogue is so awful that I actually cringed when Cleo was talking to Grace about the Shoe Rapist case. Maybe I don't know the right people but no one that I know speaks so woodenly.

I hated the flicking between past and present. I couldn't keep up, I had to keep checking where I was and what date it was. It felt like James didn't even know where he was, he had to keep talking about the events of 1997 like he knew that he needed to oreintate us. I've read books about the Royal Family that mentioned Princess Diana less.

One of the final straws is the way that James writes women. All of the women - bar Cleo (so far) - are written as bitches. We finally get a look back at Sandy and Grace's marriage in this book, but guess what? She's a moany bitch. How dare she want her husband around at Christmas. Selfish.
Branson's wife is a bitch. Of course.

Then there was a whole section about Roxy who was squealing over shoes and a bag because god knows every woman cannot help but squeal over shoes and a bag. She actually at one point calls herself 'Sex on legs' repeatedly, when wearing the shoes. The shoes make her look younger than 37. They'll make her lover Iannis gleeful - because like all the other women she is a bitch and cheater. Everything she said ended in an ! As though she was about to have a crisis over these shoes...


I just didn't like it at all. Maybe my negativity has made me overly harsh, there are definitely a lot of good reviews and rates to suggest so, but this series just isn't for me at all.

This so far is the most uncomfortable Roy Grace to read . I worked through it so quick like always but I had to stop a few time especially towards the end because it was so intense. Peter James doesn’t disappoint when it comes to crime novels and I can’t wait to work through the rest of the series