Peter James's "Left You Dead" is an enthralling adventure that plunges you into a whirlwind of mystery, emotion, and suspense. This novel earns a well-deserved five-star rating for its ability to keep me on the edge of my seat and its profound exploration of human emotions.

At the heart of the story are Niall and Eden Paternoster, a couple whose lives are shattered when Eden mysteriously disappears. Niall's journey is both gripping and heartbreaking as he navigates through despair and confusion, determined to uncover the truth. His character is beautifully portrayed, making his struggles and unwavering love for Eden deeply relatable. Peter James brilliantly captures the emotional turmoil and suspicion that surrounds Niall, creating a character you can't help but support.

The pacing of "Left You Dead" is spot on, ensuring that every twist and turn in the narrative keeps you fully engaged. The story is complex yet clear, with a perfect balance of characters that enrich the mystery without overwhelming the reader.. With "Left You Dead," Peter James has once again demonstrated his prowess in crafting a suspenseful and emotionally resonant thriller that leaves readers eagerly anticipating his next novel.

As usual, a great storyline that kept me on my toes. Love the humor and mystery. Peter James never fails!

This is a very clever and engaging book. It is very gripping and twisty.
I felt that there was some repetition in this book.
Otherwise a great book

Another superb read in this gripping series. I have read some of these books more than once, I have enjoyed each and every one. I also recently watched the tv series which made me check if i was up to date on this series, I realize I've read a few out of sequence, it hasn't taken anything away from the stories.
A series once started you really wont rest until you have read them all.
The author knows what his readers expect and delivers each and every time.

This is my first book by Peter James, considering it is book 17 in the series, it can be read well as a stand alone. I love the character Roy, and feel some sympathy for him as it seems as a character he’s been through so much. I found it an easy read and loved the twists and turns throughout the book. This has definitely made me want to read more of the series by this author.

Any Peter James book is always a winner for me. I adore the Roy Grace series. These books always have me wanting more. The characters and storyline can’t help but pull you in. Fantastic

Left You Dead Peter James
I really enjoyed this book. I part read part listened to it, and loved it both ways, the narrator is fantastic and I am delighted to see he has narrated more of the series. Peter James and Daniel Weyman are the perfect combination.

I love the Roy Grace series, and enjoyed this book as much as the rest of the series. If you are a Grace fan, you should enjoy this.

As usual this author has created a fast paced engaging thriller with a main character who is completely perfect for this role. A great gritty crime drama as usual!

Thanks to the publisher and netgalley for approving me for this book!

I really wanted to love this book as I’ve heard fab things but unfortunately it wasn’t for me.

Okay I am still really on the fence with these last couple of Roy Grace books. I love this series but I have to say the decisions made in this book I think were a cop out! I don’t want to use filler to pad out a review to make it seem longer, most people will read the synopsis for more details of the storyline. However, a lot of the pull of this series are the recurring characters.

The main storyline around a missing woman to me fell a little flat and it all felt a little unrealistic and forced. However, pushing that to one side you can always rely on character development and Roy Grace’s home life is always the main start of the show. I will not put too much in my review as I cannot bear spoilers. However, what I will say is that the decisions made for certain characters in this book shocked me, I had an idea they may go in a completely different direction as there was so much scope. Sadly, the authors decision in this latest instalment felt like an easy option and not one that sat well with me. I am now wondering where the series goes from here, and the way I am feeling after the last two books I am not entirely sure whether I will continue reading them.

As expected an extraordinary thriller from Peter James.
I've read all of the Grace books as this is another asset to the series. Brilliantly written and full of suspense. I couldn't put it down as finished it within a couple of days
Highly recommended.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this copy in exchange for an honest review.

As always another truly remarkable read in the Grace series.

I love this series not sure how many books there are but I know I've missed one, just never managed to work out which one!

As always the characters are believable and the story well written and great to follow.
Unputdownable (is that a word? if so not sure of the spelling! as always and definitely recommend.

Disaster!! Despite pressing work to do ... and despite some digressive talk among the cops embellishing their characteristics (perhaps for too great and irrelevant purpose).. I could not put this down . Detective Grace seemingly unconvincing hunch that the husband did it, you become more and more persuaded .. and alongside tragic tale of his son.. I truly was on edge .. he's a master storyteller ..

Niall Paternosters only concern when he drops his wife Eden at a local supermarket is that her insistence that they buy cat litter will mean him missing the climax of a Grand Prix. But then she doesn't come back. No one in the store saw her. Somewhere between their car and the store she just vanishes. Soon he finds himself in a nightmare situation. Only he saw her. And the police have different ideas about what really happened.

I always enjoy Roy Grace novels, the last one was good but lacking enough Grace. This is mainly a return to form. But whilst enjoyable it was a bit too easy to work out, it was fairly obvious what had happened from very early on. Also Peter James is ruthless! It feels he knows his audience and wants to please them. So if we don't like a character they're conveniently disposed of. And it feels just that...a convenient way of getting rid of an unpopular storyline or character. But after the time invested in reading these characters it's a bit of an anticlimax!

If you like this series you're bound to like this too. There's still life in this character yet.

Yet another sure fire winner starring detectives Grace and Branson. I really love these books and have read every one in the series. The characters are believable, the stories are accurate in detail and the books are extremely well written. If you’ve not had the pleasure of reading this yet, I can highly recommend it so grab a copy now. You won’t be able to put it down,

I really enjoyed this book. It was a great storyline with excellent characters. I would highly recommend this book as it was a great read.

#LeftYouDead #NetGalley Another superb book in the Detective Superintendent Roy Grace series. Fast paced, with plenty of action and twists and turns, I read this in virtually one sitting. alongside the criminal investigation there is also plenty of drama going on in the personal life of Roy Grace which added to the tension in this book. A few unresolved clues left for the reader to figure out on their own - for example who placed the the original tracker on the Paternosters car and why. However this did not detract from my enjoyment of the book. A superb 5 stars and can't wait for the next in this series!

Corruption, abduction, suspicion and a search fir the truth filled the pages of Left You Dead.

This was a real page turner: emotive, gripping and unputdownable.

It had been far too long since I read a Roy Grace novel and this was a great return for me.
Full review will be posted on my blog and link updated.

Rating 3.5 stars

Niall and Eden Paternoster go out as usual on Sunday, with a drive to visit a country house. Then a quick stop at the supermarket on the way home.

But this Sunday ends differently – because while Niall waits patiently in the car park for Eden, Eden never comes back. He checks in the store and asks staff members if they have seen her: no one has. Eventually, he goes home but Eden is not waiting for him there, and none of their family or friends have heard from her.

Niall contains the police to report her missing but before long Niall is arrested on suspicion of her murder. When DS Roy Grace is called in to investigate, it doesn’t take long to realize that the case is not quite as it seems.

I've read a number of these novels over the years, and whilst this case is interesting I had figured out some of it before part of the reveal happened, though one bit was a surprise! It's a quick read, mainly enjoyable. I was done in less than a week.

However...some of the investigations they can carry out are mentioned, such as checking for pollen against car peddles or the finding of a private tracker on the Paternoster's car - nothing ever comes of it - it's like they have been forgotten. If it was important enough to mention then surely it's important enough to tell us about it and wrap it all up nicely thank you very much.

Another part that didn't seem realistic was the journey time taken from Croydon to Brighton - leaving at 5.45 pm and back by 6.35 pm - unless the traffic has improved since I worked up there it does not seem possible to make a trip that quickly or even by train as whilst the train time is about that you also have to get home. I know I'm nit-picking but it needs to feel real.

It also deals with Roy's personal life, which I won't go into too many details so not to spoil it, but it didn't bring a single tear to my eyes, and I'm a baller when it comes to sad stuff! Something was rather to clinical about the whole thing.

I received this book from Netgalley in return for an honest review.

My co-editor and I are much-wedded to the rule that the only person who could use silly names in their crime fiction was the much-missed Dick Francis. We may, though, have to give Peter James a pass.

I spent the start of Left You Dead faintly distracted by the names Niall and Eden Paternoster. This may be because of being traumatised for life by an incident getting out of a paternoster (one of those moving series of compartments now outlawed on health and safety grounds) at the University of Leicester …

If you’ve never seen one before, go and look here. No self-respecting UK university was without one in the 1980s and 1990s …

OK, I digress. Once I was past the names, I was on firmer ground with the 17th book in Peter James’ Detective Superintendent Roy Grace series. This is one of the few ongoing sagas that still has me gripped, although the previous outing, Find Them Dead, left me feeling rather dissatisfied as the main character seemed to have been sidelined.

I can report that this has been remedied in Left You Dead. Grace and his wisecracking sidekick DI Glenn Branson are back centre stage and faced with a distinctly rum case where they’re convinced that a murder has been committed, but there’s no body to be found.

And that’s where Mr and Mrs Paternoster come in … They’ve done their usual weekend tootling around stately homes and then stop off at a supermarket to stock up on cat litter. Eden goes in to buy it – but never reappears, and there’s no sign of her on any of the security cameras. And the charmless Niall is definitely on the shady side of suspicious.

In a nutshell, it’s a did he/didn’t he set-up, but James, one of the best storytellers around, keeps the clever plot motoring. And the very scary ending will put you off going out on a dark night …

Meanwhile, there’s the usual sideshows that we associate with a James novel – his private life with wife Cleo and strange young son Bruno, problems for his loyal supporting cast of hard-working cops, and the malign presence of ACC Cassian Pewe looming over it all.

Except, Roy thinks he’s got evidence to bring down Pewe once and for all, and that hovers tantalisingly in the background during Left You Dead. And on the personal front there is a punch in the gut moment part way through that has left me not being able to decide whether it’s a genius bit of drama or a dirty great cop-out!

James is back to his imperious best in Left You Dead, with a plot that will keep you on your toes, plus a decent balance of the other ingredients that have made this series one of the strongest and most reliable police procedurals around.