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 Dead Man's Footsteps August 19, 2008
The fourth and newest book in the Roy Grace series by Peter James introduces the reader first to Ronnie Wilson, a Brit visiting the US and New York City to try to enlist financial assistance for his latest money-making venture, one hopefully not doomed to failure as were his past endeavors. His business meeting, after which he plans to fly back to the UK, is scheduled for 9 AM in the World Trade Center on the morning of September 11, 2001.
We next, in October of 2007, meet Abby Dawson, a 27-year-old woman who has just returned from Australia to her native England, and whose background is somewhat shadowy, as we are told she has done everything she can think of to disguise her identity, describing herself as a `fugitive.'
And then Detective Superintendent Roy Grace of the Sussex Police enters the tale, when he is called in as Senior Investigating Officer after a skeleton, probably that of a woman of about 30 years old, is discovered in a storm drain within his community of the City of Brighton and Hove. Just a run-of-the-mill murder investigation, it would seem, until Roy realizes that the description perfectly fits that of his adored wife, Sandy, who had disappeared nine years before, at age 28 and on his 30th birthday, and had apparently `vanished off the face of the earth.'
The characters introduced in the earlier books are still here: Glenn Branson, still having marital problems; Grace's lover, Cleo, Chief Home Office pathologist, who has always been sympathetic to Grace's lingering and continuing search and nightmares concerning his wife; his boss, Assistant Chief Constable Alison Vosper; and his surprisingly fast-rising fellow D.S., Cassian Pewe, all of whom are made real in the author's terrific depictions of these disparate personalities.
As a resident of the metropolitan NY area, I can attest to the accuracy of the depiction of the feel of the city on that horrendous day and in its aftermath, and will not comment further on this aspect of the novel. The author expertly weaves together all the disparate threads in a suspense-filled tale with the surprises, twists and turns typical of this author, and a particularly stunning final sentence, leaving me avidly awaiting its sequel. Highly recommended.
Another brilliant book! August 19, 2008
Another Fab book from Peter James! Brilliant read...couldn't put it down,...read it in 2 days!
Another winner for Roy Grace August 12, 2008
1 out of 2 found this review helpful
POSSIBLE SPOILERS!
Yet another excellent piece by Peter James with Detective Superintendent Roy Grace once again embroiled in a torrid and twisting case, with James continuing to place tantalising clues as to the whereabouts of Grace's missing wife Sandy.
This is the fourth in the series and takes up from the catastrophe that was 9/11. This could have been a mistake, after all we've read and seen so much about this world changing event, but James has done this so well that it didn't come across as a re-hash of what happened, it was more a feeling of actually standing there in New York when the towers disintegrated and feeling the heart breaking emotions of those who were.
Along with the trauma of 9/11, back in the UK we have Abby stuck in a lift in such a way I was beginning to feel claustrophobic myself - talk about switching pace!
The story stretches across the world from New York to Brighton and over to Australia but at no stage did I feel lost and while it wasn't the hardest of plots to follow, the way in which it unravelled kept me reading from start to finish without a break.
The worst and best part of the book came in the very last sentence. Worst because I have to now wait 12 months to find out what happens next and the best because James is going to take us a little bit closer to finding out more about Grace's past!
Write quicker please Mr James!
Another success for James August 2, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
This fourth Roy Grace novel finds Peter James at the top of his form. What I like about the book is the emphasis on police procedure, the believable cops and realistic dialogue, and the cross cutting cinematic style of writing which maintains the suspense throughout and keeps the reader turning the pages (and incidentally, will make dramatising the novel for the small or big screen very easy). I thought the earlier novels in the series could have done with some editing, but James is in control of his material here, moving easily across the years (2001 & 2007) and places (Australia, USA and Brighton, England) leading up to a barnstorming finish. The most impressive sections of the novel are those dealing with the 9/11 attack on the Twin Towers and its aftermath. James has caught the reality and horror of the situation better than any television news report could.
Fan-flipin-tastic! July 24, 2008
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
It was a long wait for this book to come out after becoming a fan of Peter James and, more specifically, Roy Grace. Each book has it's own brilliant storyline which have all made me not want to put the book down and just read 'one more chapter'.
This latest book doesn't disappoint, and keeps the story of Roy Grace and his own life going on in the background. I'd recommend that you buy all 4 in the Roy Grace series, read them in order and prepare to be sucked in.
And what was the best bit of the entire book? It was the last word. One little word that made my mouth fall open and take a sharp intake of breath. It was a definite -O-H- -M-Y- -G-O-D- moment. What a cliffhanger!!
Roll on the next one!!
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