Stop Them Dead: New crimes, new villains, Roy Grace returns...: 19 (Roy Grace, 19)

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Discover the darkness that lurks around every corner in the latest instalment of the award-winning Grace series, now a major BRITBOX series. Grace again refers to a weekly poker night, running with his dog, getting into office early and working late, having a role with Police rugby team while supporting Albion. There is no tension. Nothing is nail biting. Too much is included that does not move the murder story and does no more than explain the plight of puppies farmed without care who do not appear to get their happy ending. As will Sandy, I don’t know if there’s a forgiveness for what she did, but it appears we are going to be given a chance to find out, as at the end of this book, it’s said ‘Sandy’s story’ will be the next book to come out. The main villain is seen infrequently until the final pig slurry fight. The second killer is seen once waking up in bed.

This is an excellent crime novel. The wealth of technical detail around the investigation is fascinating, the new kinds of crime are interesting, and the sub-plot will emotionally engage most readers. I really enjoyed this, and I think most crime readers would too. As always with this author, the book is well written and expertly plotted. The police investigation is realistically portrayed. I love Roy Grace and his team, who all seem like old friends now., and I can't help having a bit of a soft spot for Norman Potting who has grown on me throughout the series. At one point the case comes a little too close to home for Roy and his family, who are dog lovers, and I loved the way that Cleo dealt with the matter 😁 The style rarely moves away from sounding like a report except where it sounds like a newspaper article.At the scene of the crime, Detective Superintendent Roy Grace soon realises this is no isolated robbery gone wrong but the tip of the iceberg of a nationwide crime wave, in which ruthless organised gangs are making more money from the illegal trade in dogs than drugs. A trade which pits him against some ruthless people who will kill anyone who gets in their way, because where there is greed, there is murder. Bruno was a weird story line which PJ suddenly didn’t know what to do with. I was convinced he was a future serial killer but he just got taken out with a few half hearted chapters is just weird. We are treated to some great pieces of detective work by Grace and his team, and it was fun to have all the usual team together for this case – my favourite still must be Norman Potting who was there with his usual drole wit! I also loved the storyline of Bluebell, a young girl whose parents brought her a puppy. This was a sad turn to the case, but interesting watching it unfold. Discover the darkness that lurks around every corner in the latest instalment of the award-winning Grace series, now a major ITV series. A new Peter James will always jump straight to the top of my reading list, I love the Grace series and have enjoyed them all; I am always engrossed by the imaginative storylines and the criminal acts that he can dream up.

A farmer is killed when confronting intruders who complete the successful robbery of some unusual items. Organised criminal gangs have identified a new market and are willing to do what it takes to make money. Roy Grace is determined to stop it. Careful investigation and planning lead to a nail-biting conclusion and I was on the edge of my seat, seriously worried about more than one of the police team. I know that Peter James does meticulous research for all of his novels but he has excelled himself this time.

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Grace is a character that it’s impossible to dislike, he’s honest, caring, dedicated & not afraid to show it all, either in regards to chasing down the criminals that chose a bad route when they neared him, but also in regard to his family & friends, Grace bares it all, unashamed to show his love & appreciation for what he truly knows is a blessed life.

This felt a lot more realistic and likely than some of the other Grace novels (which I have loved nevertheless) - but we have all become much more aware of puppy farms and the prices some people are willing to pay for a 'pedigree' . It isnt always an easy read, some of the settings for the puppies are heart-breaking and all too real. I will honour the author’s desire for surprise and not mention what this new market actually is, even if it’s difficult to write a review without identifying it. Suffice to say that I was incredibly impressed by the author’s research and the easy way he makes all the pitfalls and the most extreme consequences realistic. This novel is not a wake up call, it’s a howling klaxon. This time, Grace is confronted with one of the most horrible crimes: making money of innocent animals. Of course, it starts with all those people who suddenly want a pedigree dog but are not willing to pay for it.In the dead of night, a farmer hears a suspicious noise. It’s everyone’s worst nightmare: a break-in. When he confronts the intruders, he has no idea that just minutes later he will be left lying in a pool of blood. But the chilling truth lies not in the act itself, but what the perpetrators were willing to kill for. It happens in many countries and sadly our local paper is also full of reports about this too, because there are a lot of big farmhouses in the area, perfect for hiding stolen dogs and illegal breeding. The story in this book could have been set here, not far from my home. Grace’s investigation into this deadly trade pits him against some of the most ruthless people he has ever encountered; people who will kill anyone who gets in their way, because where there is greed, there is murder.