Hardly original but still a corking read

What did you like most about You Are Dead?

Very well paced and the characters are well rounded. Loved the procedural detail that adds realism to a nowadays contrived market.

What was the most interesting aspect of this story? The least interesting?

Serial killer POV was interesting as was the detail of Brighton. Like a Rebus or Bryant & May, Brighton is as much of a character as Edinburgh or London. The Sandy back story is wearing thin now Peter!

Which scene did you most enjoy?

The killer's lair was good - if a little contrived - and anything with Norman Potting in.

Did you have an emotional reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Yes! Norman putting the Malteasers on the coffin. Very touching

Any additional comments?

This was an odd one for me. I really liked the book despite being able to predict it from the very moment our killer first appeared. It was contrived and predictable but Peter writes so well and the characters are so good that it really didn't matter. Narrator, Daniel is now in my mind. I preferred David Baukham originally but Daniel has done the the most now so he's established in my head as the voice of Roy. I appreciate a literary detective needs a hangup and I'm grateful Roy's isn't alcohol but the whole Sandy back story - I'm getting bored of now - yet again it drags on.

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Brilliant!

if you love crime/thrillers you will want to listen to this. one of the best. pacy story, great characters and an intriguing plot.....fab!

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Poor Potting

Another good book in the series of DS Roy Grace, I found it a little slow in the middle due to all of the Police proceedures but it pick up really well and had a fantastic ending.

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Keeps you captive to the very last page!

Would you listen to You Are Dead again? Why?

Yes, given time. Gripping, fast paced story with excellent narration.

What was one of the most memorable moments of You Are Dead?

The end! Really made me want to read the next Roy Grace.

What does Daniel Weyman bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you had only read the book?

Helped the characters come to life and distinguished them as individuals.

Did you have an emotional reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Peter James definitely has a witty turn of phrase. Relationships between the main protagonists have a light and shade that echoes the human experience.

Any additional comments?

Want You Dead set the scene for future Roy Grace novels. I look forward to finding out what
happens next!

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Back on track!

Would you listen to You Are Dead again? Why?

No, but that's because I don't read any book twice!

Any additional comments?

I had made a fairly bold comment in my previous review of book 10 and I stand by it, enough was enough, but this book came back on track and didn't end up being far fetched as it did at times in the previous book, still totally love Roy Grace! "Keep um coming"

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As always another hit from Peter James

Great book, well read, honestly can this man do no wrong! Sad to get to last book in series, will wait patiently for book 12. Roy Grace is an amazing detective who both myself and my hubby have become massive fans!! Xx

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Roy grace

Love this series, this one is particularly good. Plenty of threads for the next..

Can't wait.

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Can't be faulted

An excellent story although I've seem to have missed earlier books with these characters? I shall have to investigate further and back track but it will be enjoyable judging by this novel packed with great characters and storylines

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Great Story

Another book in the series which didn't disappoint! The style of the author allows you to revisit his books and find things that were missed in the first listening. Yet another great listen for my library!

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A few plot holes that needed some filling.

First let us look at the narration - which we know can make or break an audio book. In the whole Daniel Weyman does a great job, maybe just the females let him down a little as most of them sound a little wishy-washy, but it's never easy for any narrator to do both male and female characters so all in all a good job. He's an easy voice to listen to.

Now to the story telling. It's a decent enough plot, and well put together. One niggle I have with Peter James' writing is his females, who he seems to manage to make sound just a bit too doe eyed and sweet - maybe it's the constant use of the endearments - not every female feels the need to constantly reaffirm their affection at the end of every sentence... It's a little mushy, but maybe that's just me.

The plot itself is okay and runs along well however as below there are some huge holes at the end (If you pardon the pun) that really did need filling which spoiled the end for me.

WARNING - SPOILER ALERT - DO NOT READ ON UNLESS YOU ARE HAPPY WITH THIS!
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So - the multiple personalities I suspected really early on, but there was no explanation in the final showdown. It had been played early in the book as Dissociative identity disorder, obviously we learn at the end that the people had actually existed but there was no reason given for the multiple 'conversations' we heard them having. This was an opportunity missed in my mind as it would have make cracking reading / listening to hear Grace talk to the four men and try and see if he could reason with any of them.
Secondly is the logistics of the tunnels - where did all the dug out earth go? And how did this one person manage to create this all on his own? Did he do it during the 30 year gap when he was married? "Hi Honey, I'll be back in time for dinner I'm just nipping out to dug a hole..."
And bigger plot hole still, how did the murderer get the presumably drugged victims down that ladder? And then how did he get them along that tunnel that Grace had to crawl along? There was no sense there it just didn't work. It would have been an easy fix to say that there was a kind of board with wheels and a chain on that he could have pulled them through but nothing was mentioned.

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