STOP THEM DEAD (2023) ***
by Peter James
This paperback edition published by Pan Books, 2024, 460pp
© Really Scary Books/Peter James, 2023
ISBN: 978-1-5290-0426-7
Blurb: In the dead of night, a farmer confronts the intruders of a break-in, having no idea that the encounter will leave him dead. What’s more chilling is the truth of what the perpetrators were willing to kill for. At the scene, DS Roy Grace senses that this is no mere botched robbery; it’s the tip of the iceberg of a nationwide crime epidemic. Ruthless gangs, operating with military precision, have discovered a new black market flourishing in the shadows – an unthinkable source of wealth even more profitable than drugs. Grace’s investigation into this deadly trade pits him against people who will kill anyone who gets in their way.
Comment: We are now up to book 19 in Peter James’ ever-popular DS Roy Grace series. In this latest instalment, we see Grace and his team hunting down illegal dog traders who have taken to murder to protect their business. Alongside this, a little girl fights for her life after contracting rabies from one of the dogs. Fans of the series will still find much to like here, but this time, the mystery elements are missing as we are clued into the villains very early in the story. The focus therefore shifts to the procedural activities undertaken by the police and the worries of the infected little girl’s family. As such the story feels less challenging and tends to coast on the reader’s familiarity with the lead characters. James also relies on some coincidences to advance the plot which feels contrived. The banter between the detectives also feels a little more forced than usual, resulting in perhaps one of the lesser books in the series. That said, James keeps us turning the pages through his use of short chapters and punchy prose.
