Looking Good Dead: A Detective Superintendent Grace Mystery [Paperback]

Peter James (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 27, 2007

Tom Bryce did what any decent person would do. But within hours of picking up the CD that had been left behind on the train seat next to him, and attempting to return it to its owner, he is the sole witness to a vicious murder. Then his young family are threatened with their lives if he goes to the police. But supported by his wife, Kellie, he bravely makes a statemenet to the murder enquiry team headed by Detective Superintendent Roy Grace, a man with demons of his own to contend with. And from that moment, the killing of the Bryce family becomes a mere formality — and a grisly attraction. Kellie and Tom's deaths have already been posted on the internet; you can log on and see them on a website. They are looking good dead.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Starred Review. British author James dreams up a horrific intersection of extreme perversion and Internet technology in his frightening, expertly constructed second Det. Supt. Roy Grace novel (after 2006's Dead Simple). London marketing exec Tom Bryce makes the mistake of popping a CD he found on the train into his computer: it logs him onto a snuff film Web site, where he watches helplessly as a beautiful woman is butchered. Soon thereafter, Grace and his partner, Det. Sgt. Glenn Branson, find the mutilated body of the victim, Janie Stretton, a law student from Brighton, whose murder reminds him of the unsolved disappearance of his wife, Sandy, nine years earlier. While the lawmen pursue elusive leads, Bryce draws the ire of the twisted criminals behind the Web site and sees his family's comfortable suburban life unravel. The rapid-fire suspense builds to a terrifying, graphic conclusion that leaves tantalizing room for future installments in the series. (Mar.)
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Review

"The narrative builds to a satisfying climax, and the sense of place is almost palpable."

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Product Details

• Paperback: 336 pages
• Publisher: Carroll & Graf (February 27, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0786716428
• ISBN-13: 978-0786716425
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #505,625 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Second in the Detective Superintendent Grace Novels, August 16, 2007

By 

J. Chippindale (England) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Looking Good Dead: A Detective Superintendent Grace Mystery (Paperback)

Peter James is the author of several very successful thrillers, two of which have been made into successful TV films. More are in production now. He was born in 1948 and educated at Charterhouse. He lives in Sussex near Lewes.

I had forgotten how refreshing it was to read a crime thriller by a British author with British people and British places. I am a little tired of reading about New York `cops' or small American towns that have no meaning to the average British reader.

Tom Brice was doing what he assumed any other law abiding citizen would do, trying to return someone's lost property to them. The CD had been left on the train seat next to his own and in attempting to return it to its rightful owner he becomes the sole witness to a vicious murder. Worse it yet to come his young family are threatened with violence of the worst kind if he goes to the police. But supported by his wife, Kellie, he bravely makes a statement to the murder inquiry team that is headed by Detective Superintendent Roy Grace. The police make all the right noises, but could this be the worst mistake Tom has ever made . . .

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Falls a bit flat., March 23, 2009

By 

frumiousb "frumiousb" (Amsterdam, the Netherlands) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 500 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Looking Good Dead: A Detective Superintendent Grace Mystery (Paperback)

I think that this may be the last Peter James detective novel that I attempt to read. Although his work gets quite good reviews from fans, I don't find them to be my cup of tea. This is my second attempt at a Roy Grace book, and the second time that I've wound up disappointed.

It *was* reasonably entertaining. I often found the prose awkward, but that's not so unusual in detective novels. Unfortunately, I found the plot sadly predictable, and that's much more difficult for me to forgive. James is a reasonable hand at character, which is the only reason that I'm wavering on giving up on his books. Can anyone recommend a Roy Grace book by him that they really like?

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Couldn't put it down!!, November 7, 2008

By 

Helen Simpson (Leeds, England) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Looking Good Dead: A Detective Superintendent Grace Mystery (Paperback)

A great 'do-as-they-say-and-protect-my-family-OR-do-what-is-right-and-inform-the-police' storyline.

I wondered if it was going to be a bit 'waffly' with it being over 500 pages but it wasn't and I absolutely flew through it.

The murders were shocking enough to satisfy the gruesome but realistic enough to be scary and believable. How anonymous the Internet can be...and how your computer can both access information yet also have it's hard drive destroyed in seconds.

There is also a subplot where Detective Tom Bryce is contemplating a new relationship..ten years after his wife Sandy disappeared. This was nicely done and I'm looking forward to seeing how this develops in his next novel.