Love You Dead

12 books into a series, you know what to expect. In this installment, Roy Grace need to deal with a black widow (with a penchant for creepy-crawlies), finally faces the truth of Sandy's disappearance and seems to find a closure for another old case (or two). If I did not know that there are more books after this one, I would have been worried if this is the end of the series - too many lose threads are getting finally closed, some of them from the very first book.

It does not work as a standalone novel - the black widow plot is a standalone but everything around it is just the continuation of the series and if you don't have the backstory, they fall flat - the spare details added here are enough to understand what is going on but not to show more build the full picture.

And if you are coming from the previous books, the whole book works - the story-lines connect in weird ways and then diverge again, making one wonder if that connection was really there... and then they do it again. The solutions come slowly as they usually do in this series - but they are logical and without weird jumps around.

I will be very curious to see where we are going to go from here - pretty much all of the drivers of the series are closed now and James has an almost clean sheet (well... there are some figures on the board but no more long threads coming from the past). But as long as the supporting characters are still around and the crime stories keep up the tension, I am sure that some new connections will show up - after all, not every single thread got closed. Plus Roy Grace is very good at annoying people. show less

I am a huge fan of the DS Roy Grace series by Peter James and couldn't wait to get my hands on his new book, the twelfth of the series. We first meet newlywed Jodie Bentley at a ski resort in Courcheval, France, when she and her wealthy, much older husband are in search of “fresh powder”. Before long we realize the she's calmly tricked him into skiing over a cliff. She heads back to the ski lodge to enjoy a glass of champagne and pretend she lost him out on the slopes, while searching for a new husband on a dating website for millionaires. Did I mention Jodie also has a fascination with the venomous snake called the saw-scaled viper?

As usual, the author weaves together a blend of past stories, as well as current plots. I would show more recommend reading the book right before this, You Are Dead, because one of the diabolical killers from that book makes a significant appearance in this one. I loved getting back together with some of my favorite characters, including Roy's pet goldfish, Marlon. Regular readers of the series will be interested in the surprising subplot about Roy's first wife, Sandy, who had mysteriously disappeared ten years ago subsequently been declared dead. Every book in the series gets closer and closer to the truth of what really happened, and this book is no different.

This was my favorite book of the series so far, despite my question of why these elderly men have apparently never heard of a prenuptial agreement. This book was everything I could hope for. It has humor, pathos, incredulity and sadness. This will undoubtedly be in my Top Five suspense novels of the year and I'm so sad to be completely caught up on the series. I can't wait for the next one. show less

Much like Queen Camilla recently stated, the Peter James police procedural series about Roy Grace is her favorite, it is also one of mine. This is a roller coaster of a series as we follow the career of Detective Roy Grace and now after12 books he is the Detective Superintendent for the city of Brighton. Haunted by the disappearance of his first wife Sandy, this long running side plot has been resolved in this volume. There was also plenty of oher action going on as Roy and his team hunt down a black widow serial killer as well as tie up some issues left over from the previous book.

This author takes his time to develop his characters and story and always shows that the police work involved is a team effort. The narrative is straight show more forward and matter of fact but he keeps the series fresh with original story lines. In each book he juggles multiple story lines which also sometimes run from book to book. There can be a lot of violence but the author knows exactly how to draw his readers in and how much to actually add to the story.

Because of the nature of the crimes in this book and the use of deadly spiders and snakes this one is particularly blood curdling. I enjoyed this outing although I do feel that the “Sandy” subplot could have been concluded earlier. I am now looking forward to book #13. show less

Book 12 in the Roy Grace series centers around Jodie Bentley. She has a collection of dangerous reptiles and creepy crawlies. Jodie is a very unlucky person as all her new husband's, rich, old and wealthy all end up dead.

I like Roy Grace novels very much with the first, Dead Simple being the best one. The last few books have not been so good. If it had not been for the saga of Sandy, Roys first wife I think I may have given up. The Sandy storyline has kept me going. However this offering actually was very good. The storyline of Jodie, a black widow character really kept me hooked. Plus there is always Sandy in the background.

I feel that Peter James is back on track with this book. Even though for me the last few weren't the best I show more would recommend reading the series in order just because of Sandy. This book didnt seem as long as previous books which for me is good as the last few have been overlong.

Some of Roys traits seem to have disappeared over time. He no longer does that thing with the eyes, left or right. In earlier books he also seemed to show an interest in the paranormal.

Minor spoiler here, a main character dies.

I would recommend this book but read the series from the beginning. show less

This one was a lot of fun - the whole female serial killer thing actually worked (although highly unlikely) and the missing wife saga came to a non eye rolly end (thank goodness).

[Love You Dead] by Peter James
Roy Grace series Book #12
5 ★'s

From The Book:
An ugly duckling as a child, Jodie Bentley had two dreams in life - to be beautiful and rich. She's achieved the first, with a little help from a plastic surgeon, and now she's working hard on the second. Her philosophy on money is simple: you can either earn it or marry it. Marrying is easy, it's getting rid of the husband afterwards that's harder, that takes real skill. But hey, practice makes perfect . . .

Detective Superintendent Roy Grace is feeling the pressure from his superiors, his previous case is still giving him sleepless nights, there have been major developments with his missing wife Sandy, and an old adversary is back. But worse than all of this, show more he now believes a Black Widow is operating in his city. One with a venomous mind . . . and venomous skills. Soon Grace comes to the frightening realization that he may have underestimated just how dangerous this lady is.

My Thoughts:
Another great read in this series featuring DS Roy grace and his "Serious Crimes" team. The characters have so much depth and are so incredible in their dealings with their investigative abilities and their vulnerabilities in their everyday lives that you can't help but love and admire them.

Grace and Chloe have almost more on their plates than they can handle with Roy and his team investigating a series of murders that a highly unlikable character is perpetrating on rich, older men and the resurfacing of Roy's first wife, Sandy... who he had previously had declared dead. Along with Sandy comes more trouble that I'm sure will be the subject of a future book.

I would highly recommend this series to all mystery & suspense fans and have to say that it is just an all round compelling read...as is most everything this author writes. show less

I have long been a fan of Peter James and before the emergence of his Roy Grace detective series he had written some notable horror stories, most memorable Sweet Heart and Prophecy. Unfortunately Love You Dead (Roy Grace 12) has all the hallmarks of an author attempting to keep not only his fans happy (really?) but also his publisher content by writing a formulaic story with poor content and laughable plot.

A black widow Jodie Carmichael is set upon marrying the super rich and then immediately disposing of them thereby inheriting all their wealth. She is active in Brighton and our ever vigilant Roy Grace is tasked with the job of bringing her to justice. In a scene reminiscent of a 70's cop show detective Norman Potting is sent show more undercover as a rich single American to flush out the merry widow. Equally ridiculous a villain called Tooth has been sent by a group of Russian gangsters to retrieve a valuable memory stick (stolen by Mz Carmichael) which is said to contain information and addresses relating to gangsters throughout Europe.....his task to annihilate Mz Carmichael. In order to accomplish this he disguises himself as an elderly doting little old lady called Thelma Darby!

So a story that I presume is to be a half serious attempt as a Detective novel is turned into farce reminiscent of a British Ealing Comedy. If you add to this the fact that DS Roy Grace does not actually make a real appearance or contribution until 150 pages in then you can see why I am disappointed in an author I have great respect for producing such a mediocre piece of fiction. I am only thankful that I did not actually purchase this book but rather borrowed from my local library and I shall be returning it there post- haste!! show less