this book sees Roy coming to terms with life with his son. The son he never knew existed until recently, so not only that but the new baby in his life too. A family life we never thought he would ever achieve but one I'm glad he now has. A series of books its best to keep up with to get a true sense of the characters , but I must admit to not reading them all in order. The streets of Brighton come to life within the pages a place you get to imagine in wonderful colour even from the comfort of your sofa. The author keeps the tension going all the way through, never letting you catch a breath. From first page to last its a brilliant read, worthy of place on the bestsellers list of 2019.

Another wonderful Roy Grace book from Peter James, I just love the way he keeps Roy Grace relevant to current issues. This story tackles the fast growing business of internet romance scammers. There are many broken hearts, broken bank accounts and broken people - and the unexpected return of a past adversary. There is also a welcome update on his family including the ever more difficult Bruno. I found the book absorbing, fast paced and exciting and have the greatest respect for the amount of research involved. I now know a lot more about internet scammers than I ever thought possible. Well done Peter James, I am looking forward to the next instalment.

This book was just ok for me, I do enjoy the Roy Grace books but I didn't find this one as gripping or realistic at times, seems a little far out there. But overall it was a fast read and a good palette cleanser.

As a long time reader of Peter James's Roy Grace detective novels I have always looked forward to the appearance of the next in the series. In many ways this latest offering does not disappoint - many old familiar characters in the local Sussex Constabulary are back to entertain, although the reappearance of the American hitman, Tooth, stretches readers' credulity just a little too far, and it's not clear that the somewhat cliched return really adds anything to the plot. However, the central theme is timely, involving the increasingly brazen internet scammers who prey on lonely, mainly older single people who crave a little love and affection in their lives. James constructs a reasonably tense narrative around this basic theme and readers will enjoy the denouement insofar as Grace's nemesis, ACC Pewe, is involved in a way that will provoke a smile on the faces of James's many fans. James's writing is up to its usual standard - very easy to read, with a pleasing rhythm and momentum as the story reaches its satisfying ending. Highly recommended.

I love Peter James and I adore Roy Grace. I was so so looking forward to the latest installment in this series and it certainly didn't disappoint.. the scamming and victims of scamming is very upto date as this stuff goes on in the real world all the time these day. Peter James just has an amazing way of writing books that you simply can not put down . Once you turn that first page your hooked and there's no turning back. If you haven't read the series I'd definitely start at the beginning and grow to love Roy Grace as I have over the years

Roy Grace is back! And this time he's investigating internet dating and the perils of being scammed and of course murder!
I have read all the other books in the Roy Grace Detective series and was very excited to be able to read book no.15 thanks to Netgalley .
Roy is a character l have grown to love and its great to catch up with him and his family and colleagues again.This book didn't disappoint,the story was well paced and l didn't want to put it down a great read..Highly recommend Peter James as an author

A brilliant installment to the DS Roy Grace series with some old foes appearing. This was a methodical story and a fabulous read. #DeadAtFirstSightRoyGrace15 #NetGalley

Roy Grace is back in this 15th installment of the series. Roy and his team are investigating internet dating scams and the death of a woman who found out she was scammed.
The multitude of characters made it hard to follow the story at first. But once you were familiar with them it was easier to keep track. The description of police procedure is strong as always. We meet the old gang and some new additions. The story concentrates strongly on criminals and those who hunt them. I would have loved a deeper look into Roy's personal life, especially with his son Bruno. You know who the bad guys are from the start, so the story concentrates on the hunt.
I loved the chase and the suspense.
Thank you NetGalley and Pan Macmillan for a copy of this book.

Found this book really hard to get into and I have read all of this series. Jumping around different characters seemed to go on for ages just didnt find it gripping enough. But I do love Roy Grace. Hopefully the next will be better.

I’ve read all of Peter James books but I didn’t really think much of this one. It was an average read but nothing unexpected along the way . Sorry this one was just ok for me

I love the Roy Grace series so couldn’t wait to read this latest instalment. It was just as brilliant as the previous 14. It’s about how internet and dating fraud can be so easily done and is still being done in the world today. Very scary when you stop and think about it. It’s such a good crime thriller but with a modern twist on it. It can be read as a stand-alone but I recommend reading the series from the beginning as you get all the back story on the characters especially the main character Grace. Bring on number 16!!!

Roy Grace has to deal with a very modern and increasingly common crime in this book. Lonely people who have joined dating sites are being cruelly defrauded by would be romantic partners. The story was good but some aspects of this series are starting to get a bit stale. I thought that when the missing wife story that developed through the first dozen books was wound up Grace's homelife would settle down but now he has the annoying Bruno in his life. The boy clearly has psychiatric problems but he is such an unpleasant character that you really don't care what happens to him. Personally I'd ship him off to a boarding school in Germany and try to forget he exists.
I think the antagonism between Grace and the odious Cassian Pewe is played out too. While it is always nice to see Roy get the upperhand, this storyline has got really.boring. I think it is time Pewe moved on. I'd like to see Roy get some support at work becausee his homelife is obviously going to become more challenging. In my opinion he has a potential serial killer living under his roof.
Review will be posted to Goodreads.com and Amazon.co.uk when book is released.

This is an interesting book looking at a crime that is not often publicised. The story revolves around only be dating fraud where older members of the Brighton community are being conned out of money by people they meet on the internet. The story links up with America and Germany as well. The story is obviously well researched and Peter James acknowledges the scale of this crime in the back of the book.
I have read all the previous Roy Grace novels and this lives up to its predecessors. The only aspect of the story I don’t like is that of Roy Graces son Bruno as he’s not likeable but I think deliberately so.
Can’t wait for book 16.
Thanks to Pan MacMillan and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
#DeadAtFirstSightRoyGrace15 #NetGalley

Peter James’ books are reliably solid police procedurals and this is no exception. Roy Grace always does the right thing, there’s a multiplicity of plot strands at the start that all weave together by the end, there’s a topical theme, ACC Cassian Pewe is a supercilious twit (I reckon he’s based on a real officer that one of James’ advisors knows) and something’s left hanging for the next book.

This book covers the growing menace of romantic fraud - primarily older people being conned online to hand over more and more cash to someone they think they’re in a relationship with. As Grace uncovers victims of this crime the network and professionalism of the fraudsters becomes clear.

I sometimes feel I underestimate Peter James because he does make it look easy - but this is the fifteenth in the series and it’s some triumph to pull this off. Good summer holiday read, it’ll keep you turning the pages.

Roy Grace's latest investigation takes us into the world of internet dating and associated financial fraud; a despicable crime aimed at those in their later years, ruining lives and families. However, it's just not that gripping... There are a few bodies in the story but I found it quite slow going. Can't help feeling that Roy Grace is sounding rather like an old man himself nowadays.

Interesting to find out about how large (and growing) a crime this is, and seriously underfunded to fight; how the defrauded sums involved are mind boggling, particularly to those who may originate from 3rd world and 'poorer' countries. It just didn't grab me this time - no particular characters stood out ( such a huge range of police involved, I had to make a list in case any of them became important later on!) apart maybe from Toby Seward who I empathised with, but still wanted to know more about. The characters seemed to all be glossed over so quickly as a means to an end.

I enjoyed the growing character of Bruno - but this book failed to deal with this apart from introducing the problems of having a young dictator in the house! Presumably waiting for the next book to take this up. Not one of Peter James' best, for me.

Acing been recommended the author i eagerly waited to read this book. I have not read any of the previous books and I think this makes a difference. Despite the story being stand alone I think it would have felt more intimate if I had already known the characters.

I can’t say I disliked this book. I liked the haracters and really felt for the victims, it justcfelz a bit slow to me -often I can’t tear myself away from a book but I just didn’t get that feel here. It’s a shame but I think I will read one of the earlier books and see if that makes a difference.

Overall an interesting read, but not thrilling or amazing

Well here we are already up to number fifteen in the Roy Grace series. I have followed Roy’s story from the very first book and my patience has been rewarded because following the author’s move to Jersey to live, our little island is a location used within this novel.

The initial crime is one of those where the victim is perhaps is afforded less sympathy, that of the internet romance scam. We’ve all read the stories where a woman or man of advancing years is romanced and before they have a chance to meet in person some awful event unfolds where money is required to be sent to ensure that cupid’s arrow can complete its journey. When the money runs out or the victim becomes suspicious, they then suffer the indignity of realising the romance wasn’t real, and they’ve been fleeced.

I have to admit despite the appearance of Jersey (including a very good scene in a restaurant that I visit) I wasn’t quite as hooked with this book as I have been in the past. Perhaps it was that age old problem I have when the perpetrators are known to the reader – I just don’t get the same kind of enjoyment from novels written this way – or maybe it was the other issue I have with criminal gangs – again this kind of offending doesn’t quite capture my interest in the same way as figuring out an individual’s motivation. Those minor personal preferences aside there is no doubting that there is plenty of action within Dead at First Sight, the romance scam only being the opener for far bigger and more exciting crimes to come!

One of the aspects that I enjoy in this series is seeing Roy Grace’s life outside the office although sadly Cleo was reduced to a bit part within this novel with no important scenes in the mortuary this time. We do have the development of Roy’s sons and there is definitely potential in that arena to keep the personal aspect of the book as interesting in the future as they’ve been in the past.

Peter James has to be commended for his ability to keep the books real without boring the reader stupid with adherence to policy and procedure. Again within this book I got the feeling that the author has really listened to the older and experienced detectives and gives a real flavour of what they find difficult in modern policing without ignoring the reasons why some of the changes were vital. As always this just stays the right side of real especially as our fictional detective is still having problems with his superior Cassian Pewe! Could Roy be becoming jaded with Brighton and Hove? Only time will tell.

So even though this probably was my least favourite of all the Roy Grace novels, I wouldn’t (and couldn’t) have missed it for the world. I love meeting up with the ‘old friends’ on the team, having a credible plot with a thoroughly nice detective at its centre and I therefore begin my countdown to the sixteenth book in the series!

I’d like to say thank you to Pan Macmillan for allowing me to read a copy of Dead at First Sight before publication on 16 May 2019.. This unbiased review is my thanks to them and the talented author Peter James for another entertaining foray into crime fiction in Brighton & Jersey!

First Published UK: 16 May 2019
Publisher: Pan Macmillan
No of Pages: 448
Genre: Crime Fiction – Crime Series
Amazon UK
Amazon US

Roy Grace Series in order
Dead Simple
Looking Good Dead
Not Dead Enough
Dead Man’s Footsteps
Dead Tomorrow
Dead Like You
Dead Man’s Grip
Not Dead Yet
Dead Man’s Time
Want You Dead
You Are Dead
Love You Dead
Need You Dead
Dead if You Don’t

Dead at First Sight by Peter James

A retired army major waits at Gatwick Airport to meet the love of his life off a flight from Munich. John Fordwater met Ingrid Ostermann using an online dating agency. They’ve communicated for months, grown so close, John has even helped Ingrid out with some sizeable loans. And now they’re to meet at last. But, no matter how long he waits, Ingrid doesn’t show up. There’s a very good reason, as police are about to reveal to John. Ingrid doesn’t exist. He is just one of many men and women, usually retirees, to fall victim to organised scammers. It’s a scam that reaps in millions of pounds.

But something is upsetting this fraudulent world. People are starting to die. A woman is found hanged in Brighton but Detective Superintendent Roy Grace does not believe it’s suicide, particularly when he discovers that the woman’s sister has just been thrown to her death from her apartment building in Germany. As Roy and his team investigate a stream of scams and ruined lives, they find themselves caught up in a tangle of murder, treachery and broken hearts. And Roy is about to become reacquainted with a killer from his past.

Dead at First Sight is the fifteenth novel in Peter James’ hugely popular series featuring Brighton senior detective Roy Grace. Each of these novels stands alone well. Roy’s private life, particularly his relationship with his recently discovered young son, is a recurring theme but it’s easy to catch up. A notorious figure from Roy’s life also stirs the muddy water here but, again, it doesn’t matter if you’ve not met him before. This is a self-contained story and what a timely and topical story it is. The novel takes us into the horrible world of identity theft and online fraud. These are not victimless crimes, as the ruined, broken lives we encounter here make very clear indeed. It’s so hard not to feel for these people, to crave justice for them. Roy is determined to provide it but he’s not going to have it all his own way.

I’ve read a fair few of these books over the years and I’ve grown very fond of Roy Grace. He’s a kind, earnest and clever man and detective who gets results, partly because he knows how to treat people – unlike his superior officer. Dead at First Sight is a particularly detailed police procedural. Everything is laid out meticulously before us. While I did enjoy it, I don’t think that this is one of the stronger books in the series. I think that there is a little too much detail. It does hold things up. And a lot of time is spent with Roy as he reasons things through, sometimes repeatedly. The pace does stall on occasion. I also found a thread or two a bit implausible, and a couple of the baddies surprisingly ineffectual. Some of the jokes are really cheesy!

Nevertheless, Dead at First Sight is a good police procedural with an entertaining and very topical theme. There is such a sadness to some of the stories described here and I liked the way in which the victims are placed at the heart of everything. This is just the sort of crime that Roy Grace is driven to fight and the reader cheers him on, just as we also cheer on some of the victims to take their own vengeance. Things are also coming to a head for Roy Grace as his dislike of his superior increases. And then there’s the matter of how to deal with his son. We suspect there may be trouble in store for Roy Grace, one of my favourite fictional detectives.

Other reviews
You Are Dead (Roy Grace 11)
Love You Dead (Roy Grace 12)
Dead If You Don’t (Roy Grace 14)
The House on Cold Hill
Absolute Proof

A very current storyline in the Roy Grace series. The possible dangers of the use of the internet for extorting money from desperate and lonely people through internet dating preyed upon but dangerous cross national individuals. Alongside this the continuous battle Roy Grace has withhis boss Cassian and the difficulties associated with bringing his antisocial son Bruno into his life in Brighton. A delightful mix of police procedural and family lines.

Another superb Roy Grace story, Peter James at his best, a crime thriller with a modern twist, relevant to the internet technology of today. Too good a story line to give away any of the plot, just read it and enjoy.