In Peter James' You Are Dead, the last words Jamie Ball hears from his fiancée, Logan Somervile, are in a terrified mobile phone call from her. She has just driven into the underground car park beneath the apartment block where they live in Brighton, and seen a man acting strangely. Then she screams and the phone goes dead. The police are on the scene within minutes, but Logan has vanished, leaving behind her neatly parked car and cell phone.
That same afternoon, workmen digging up an old asphalt path in a park in another part of the city, unearth the remains of a young woman in her early twenties, who has probably been dead for 30 years.At first, to Detective Superintendent Roy Grace and his Major Crime Team, these two events seem totally unconnected. But then another young woman in Brighton goes missing and another body from the past surfaces. At the same time a strange man visits an eminent London psychiatrist, claiming to have a piece of information on the missing woman, Logan, that turns out, at first, to be wrong--or so it seems. It is only later Roy Grace makes the chilling realization that this one thing is the key to both the past and the present--and now, beyond any doubt, he knows that Brighton has its first ever serial killer.
That same afternoon, workmen digging up an old asphalt path in a park in another part of the city, unearth the remains of a young woman in her early twenties, who has probably been dead for 30 years.At first, to Detective Superintendent Roy Grace and his Major Crime Team, these two events seem totally unconnected. But then another young woman in Brighton goes missing and another body from the past surfaces. At the same time a strange man visits an eminent London psychiatrist, claiming to have a piece of information on the missing woman, Logan, that turns out, at first, to be wrong--or so it seems. It is only later Roy Grace makes the chilling realization that this one thing is the key to both the past and the present--and now, beyond any doubt, he knows that Brighton has its first ever serial killer.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
I've read and reviewed some of Peter James' work before, so I was delighted when the publisher sent me a review copy of You Are Dead. The synopsis immediately had me intrigued and trying to solve the mystery myself before I had even cracked the book.
DS Grace, the main character, is a shrewd individual: not quite a Sherlock Holmes but much better than a DI Lestrade. He has a quick mind and a good team behind him. It is a great joy as a reader to watch him solve crimes, and to solve them right alongside him.
Psychology also makes its way into this novel in a small, almost underhanded way that adds a bit of modern American lit to a book that really reminds me of classic British mysteries. This book was fast-paced and over far too soon for my tastes. While some may guess the mystery, many will not, and even if you do, I can guarantee you that you will enjoy this book nonetheless.
I am officially a fan of Mr. James and am craving more Detective Roy Grace books!
5/5--Brilliantly written!
Purchase You Are Dead via Amazon!
No comments:
Post a Comment