Customer Reviews

DEAD SIMPLE

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This is a book one should start with plenty of time to finish it in one sitting. Gripping is the word which comes to mind. James' background as a screenwriter and producer are evident in his ability to create strong characters and relationships, his ear for dialogue, and the pacing of the story. James' previous books look to be more in the horror or psychological suspense category, where this is a solid police procedural. My one slight criticism is the authors years in Los Angeles show as I kept having to remind myself the book is set in England; the style is more American than British. But the good news is this is the first in a series. The second book, "Looking Good Dead," is due out soon and is on my "must buy" list.

This was my first Peter James book but it certainly will not be my last. This page turning thriller that starts off as a stag night stunt gone horribly wrong turns out to be far from what the reader expects. Roy Grace is one fine new lead character...flawed but determined, intelligent but superstisous..he will be one to be reckoned with.

Michael Harrison is a soon-to-be groom who is buried alive by his joker friends as a gag. A terrible road accident leads the reader to an assumption of where this thriller is headed. The reader will soon find out that he it completely wrong.

James creates distinctive players in this game of who is good and who has hidden motives. This is a pure definition of page turner.

The reader will imagine watching this on the screen with appropriate scary music and moments of great shock and surprise.

My only quibble with James is the insertion of a phsycic late in the story that detracts from a nearly perfect conclusion.

Despite that I would recommend this book to nearly anyone who enjoys a great page turner and doesn't mind a "late night can't put it down" piece of suspense.

I finished this book in a single day and you will too!

There are so many unexpected twists and turns you need a seatbelt!!! My jaw doesnt often drop when reading a book, but this one has done it. Ive read about three book from this author and always have my radar out for more, so when i saw this one i grabbed it!! Dont miss this book.....You will defintly be looking for more books by this author also. this is one of the books where you want the character to hear you yelling Do It!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

" Dead Simple" is a frustrating book. It starts with an interesting plot that quickly reels the reader in, continues as a police procedural, albeit with some supernatural elements, and ends as a cliche thriller.It seems that author couldn't make up his mind which way to go. So, he did it all and padded the book to 336 pages.
The weakest spot are the endlessly annoying cardboard characters.And writers neurotic need to repeat every point at least dozen times. Yes, we know that Ashley is seriously good looking, that Grace is traumatized with the dissappearance of his wife, that police officers have no life and etc. etc.Those few of us left in this world that still read books, usually get the point after third repetition. So, Mr. James knock it off. Hopefully the rest of the books in this series, and yes, I bought them all on blind trust, will overcome beginners neurosis and insecurity.

This mystery, the start of a series, involved complex characters, a well-layered plot and quite a riveting premise: a bachelor party prank (or, more properly, a stag night stunt) gone horrible wrong leads to a twisty plot that keeps getting crazier and crazier. I certainly did not predict where the story went. And the main character, Detective Superintendent Roy Grace, was likable with an interesting backstory that I hope will continue to develop throughout the series. This overall frame, combined with a hint of the supernatural, is very reminiscent of John Connolly's Charlie Parker series. James' writing, however, is more detail-oriented than lyrical. Still, I am very curious to see where the series goes.

I wasn't sure about this book when I first picked it up. I liked the sound of the idea but it had a lot of room to get corny. But it didn't. I was pretty excited and had a lot of twists in it. Things you didn't really think about happening at first but after it did then you were left thinking why didn't I think of that before. I really enjoyed the interactions of the different characters and how Mr. James keeps your attention hanging every couple chapters. This book was pretty hard to put down. I had no clue who Peter James was before this book but I think I need to pick up a lot more of his books if the rest are like this. I highly recommend this new book.

Peter James gives the 'British police procedural' genre a revitalizing shot in the arm with this novel! James' attention to detail, and the time he spent actually working with the Brighton police and studying their methods, give the reader some fresh insights into modern police work, something that's been missing from many recent 'cop books'.

DI Grace has all the characteristics of the next 'big thing' in crime fiction. His personallife and backstory read something like 'Adam Dalgiesh meets Jim Slider'(and fans of both P.D. James and Cynthia Harrod Eagles need no explanation!)

Grace's personal and professional life have plenty of drama for several future volumes. As for this first entry, it has loads of twists and turns, yet, unlike many authors, James changes things up in ways which actually make sense to the plot, and which can be easily tied up by the end of the story-though some might have a niggle with the last chapter.

And without getting too specific, it's kind of nice to see the baddies really get what's coming to them...read the book to find out for yourself!

I have read almost all of Peter James' books, and was disappointed when he began to pursue his other career as a film producer at the expense of his writing. Now he's back, better than ever, with Dead Simple. It's a real page-turner, especially as Mr James' modus operandi is to write short, electrifying chapters. I just couldn't put it down, but of course this means that, with a mixture of great excitement and reluctance, one gets to the end far too quickly. Fortunately, by all accounts, there are going to be many more books featuring his new hero, Chief Supt Roy Grace. Bring them on Peter - I can't wait!

I have rarely read a book this ludicrous. It moves forward entirely on unbelievable plot twists and coincidences, coincidences, and more coincidences. Ultimately the lead policeman comes off as a bumbling boob. The only reason I finished it was that I was curious to see how much more ridiculous it could get. I scanned the second half so I wouldn't waste too much time on it.

I enjoyed this book and surprised myself by reading it all in only 3 days. The plot moved along nicely and there were only a few places where you knew what was going to happen next. The characters are developed enough to make them believable but not enough to bore you to tears. And there is a moral - don't be a prankster when your friends are drunks and hold a grudge :) Oh - and be sure to do a background check on your fiancee! I definitely recommend this book and I can't wait to read the next one by Peter James.