Roy Grace is back and looking at deaths which look to be accidental, however Grace has a feeling something isn’t just quite as it should be .
On further investigation it would seem that a previous murder suspect as come back from the dead, he was apparently lost over board in Barbados and his body never found , although some of his clothing was recovered which looked to be bitten by a shark.
Grace is not the only person who thinks Rufus Rorke is still alive , one of his school friends James Taylor also believes he saw him at a funeral .
Taylor then embarks on his own investigation in to Rorke’s apparent death putting himself in danger .
This book is the best Grace book yet , I say this every time a new one is released but this is definitely my favourite to date .
The story is fast paced and the writing is excellent .
Both Peter James and Roy Grace at their best !
Thanks to NetGalley and Pan Macmillan.

We must at all costs protect and cherish Peter James. Just when you think you've reached your fill of mysteries/thrillers/police procedurals, he comes out with a banger of a novel like this. It should be ridiculous. Dead men turning up at funerals, highly elaborate assassinations (the diet coke is genius), and the fact no one has shot Norman Potting yet. But it all works. And I actually love Norman. I shouldn't, but I can't help it. Dad jokes are a soft spot for me.

Since the end of the Sandy Saga (great story but a bit too stretched for me), the series has gone from strength to strength. Here's hoping for another 20. And if we can't have that many, please God let Cassian Pewe end up going over a cliff.

Detective Superintendent Roy Grace is back in another thrilling instalment. James Taylor is attending the funeral of a childhood friend and notices someone familiar. However, he knows it can’t be Rufus Rorke, as he read a eulogy at their funeral several years ago. James is determined to find out who this shadowy character is.
Meanwhile, forensics notify Grace of several mysterious deaths, that to the less detailed eye, could have gone unnoticed and put down as accidental and not suspicious deaths. The world of mushroom poisoning and the dark web result in a familiar name arising and soon Grace starts to see a connection between the two situations.
A complex and twisty plot from the beginning will keep your attention as Grace and Branson sleuth away trying to pin down a dangerous sociopath whose ego makes him think he is untouchable. Grace is hindered by a run in with Cassien Pew, but oversees his treacherous behaviour. Another well executed book, and hope the Grace series to continue with another instalment.

A new Roy Grace is always a big deal to me. Whenever a new one comes out the rest of my tbr is put aside to read it! I was particularly excited to read this one as I was due to see Peter James at Bloody Scotland. There I managed to not only get this proof signed but I also got an insight into Roy Grace and how many of his storylines have come about. James often gets people coming up to him with ideas for his books but it was only recently that he took one of them up with the offer. Someone he knew had been to a funeral and spotted someone there he recognised, but they had died years ago. This then became the start to One of Us is dead what a way to start a thriller.

I find with Roy Grace books that they open my eyes to all the different crimes people can commit and how everyday people can unwittingly become embroiled in situations that can spiral out of control. However with this book it was actually difficult to ascertain the good from the bad as the lines were very blurred and noone was entirely innocent. Luckily we can always depend on Roy Grace to separate the wheat from the chaff and get to the bottom of things. Despite this being book 20 the cases are as fresh and relevant as ever and I am continually surprised with each book just what the criminal element can get up to. I have said this many times before and will continue to say it many more, if you have not been introduced to Roy Grace yet what are you waiting for...but do start at the beginning

I cannot believe this is book 20 already! The new Roy Grace book is always one of my most anticipated reads of the year and as always Peter James did not disappoint.

James Taylor is attending the funeral of a school friend when he notices a man he recognises except it couldn’t be because James gave the eulogy at his funeral 2 years ago.

Roy Grace and his team are investigating some unusual deaths that are soon connected to a supposedly dead man.

Like the rest of the series, I flew through this book. Now to wait for book 21!

This is a story about a chameleon—a very clever and deadly one!

Not only did Rufus Rorke fake his own death very convincingly (and got away with it), but he is also a facilitator helping people to get rid of nuisances (or bad people as he calls them). They all look like accidental deaths, leaving no trace of foul play, and no one is none the wiser.
He is always one step ahead, and everything is planned meticulously.
However, when people get too cocky, they start making mistakes.

Peter James is a highly reliable author whose books consistently meet expectations. Before even starting a new Roy Grace novel, you know it will be an awesome read, and this book definitely lived up to that expectation!

Thank you to NetGalley and Pan Macmillan for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion

At a funeral for a friend, James Taylor is amazed to see another friend sitting a few rows in front of him heavily disguised. He is amazed as he read the eulogy at the man's funeral two years before. The man who's funeral it is died of mistaking normal mushrooms for death cap mushrooms, an easy enough mistake it appears until someone else dies from the same thing shortly after. Roy Grace and his team become involved and discover a can of worms involving the dark web, murder to order and the 3D printing of illegal firearms.
As the investigation progresses there seem to be more bodies added to the murder board and not enough answers.
A real page turner.

‘One of us is dead’ is spoken by one of the main characters that we get to know very early in this story and my oh my, how absolutely right he is. The whole story of James Taylor who believes he saw an old friend at the funeral of another old friend is a remarkable complex and simple a t the same time. We, the readers, get to know said friend too – but was he a real friend? And is he really dead? In between the sad story about three friends who fell out spectacularly we find a new story of friendship and even love.
For Roy Grace and his team the story begins with seemingly unrelated deaths by mushroom poisoning and the death of a very rich man who bought himself a flashy expensive car. Roy wouldn’t be Roy if he didn’t act on the hunch he feels that both cases are indeed connected, and with the help of his team and a lot of patience and clever thinking it all ends well. For the good people, that is. Remember? One of the characters dies a rather unexpected and gruesome death.
It’s been great to read this 20th book in an excellent series, with likable characters and clever plots – not to mention the brilliant writing style of the author.
Looking forward to the next title in this series!
Thanks to Pan MacMillan and Netgalley for this review copy.

A new Roy Grace novel is always a treat, the characters are so real, the plots exceptional and the writing draws you in and doesn’t let go. Peter James is a crime writing genius.

Another great Roy Grace crime thriller that I really enjoyed.
The story is told from different perspectives and is cleverly woven together.
James is at an old friend’s funeral when he’s sure he spots another friend, but is confused as he read the eulogy at his funeral two years ago.
He tries to find him afterwards but he’s nowhere to be found.
Roy and the team are made aware of his friend’s death as he died from mushroom poisoning. This is the second case they’ve heard about and something about this one doesn’t sit right with Roy.
We then have another death which looks accidental, but Roy knows they are looking for a killer.
We also have chapters from Rufus who was the person James saw at the funeral. He hears that James is asking questions about him and starts planning how to stop him digging into his life for good.
This is a great crime thriller that I really enjoyed.
Thanks to Pan Macmillan for the opportunity to read this book.

I love this series and I've yet to be disappointed by any instalment and this the 21st is no different.
As always you are drawn in from the first page and gripped to the very last line.
Original unusual plot. Imagine attending the funeral of your friend, indeed reading a heartfelt eulogy for them, only to see them in attendance at a mutual friend’s funeral two years later! And so begins the clever tale.
A brilliant twisty tale and a delightful catch up with the characters that we've become to feel are friends.

The first book in the 'Dead' series, Dead Simple, was the one that got me started with police procedurals and thriller books, the grittier side of fiction after many years of reading either horror stories or "fluff" (aka chick-lit). Regular readers of my blog will know that I only occasionally dip back into the lighter side of fiction as a palette cleanser these days so I'd say Mr James has been substantially influencial when it comes to my reading tastes.
This, the 20th instalment in the 'Dead' series, I am delighted to say is equally as good -if not better - than that first instalment all those years ago. Few series manage to last the test of time but this one just keeps on giving and feels like it still has plenty more to offer.
This book starts with a funeral service. It's for the second of a group of school friends who branded themselves the Three Musketeers back in the day. Barnie sadly passed away after a mix up with some mushrooms he was cooking for his culinary blog. The last of the trio, James Taylor, is in attendance to pay his respects despite not having been close to Barnie for a good while. He is however shocked when he becomes convinced one of the other mourners at the church that day is the other member of their crew, Rufus Rourke. But it can't possibly be, because James read his eulogy after his tragic passing two years previously. It soon transpires that James isn't the only one who believes that Rufus is alive and well, living and "working" in the vicinity of their old stomping ground near Brighton.
Peter James has as skilfully as always interwoven the current storyline among the backstory of the team of detectives investigating the potential re-emergence of Rufus. The politically incorrect, but somehow loveable rogue, Norman Potting makes a predictable reappearance in the team, as well as Roy Grace's reliable sidekick Branson. Roy's slimy adversary Cassian Pewe also gets a chapter but I was pleased that this part of the story didn't take up too many pages whilst not being forgotten about.
Huge kudos to Peter James for keeping the momentum going - at no point have I ever felt it was time to close the series down. The characters have continued to grow and develop without ever getting tired or boring. The cases they investigate are relevant to today's society and the forensics and other investigative tools have moved with the times as the books have been released. The detail in the scenes building to the climax of this story is exemplary, and had my heart racing at one particular point. Just how many bodies would Roy and the team be visiting at the mortuary as part of this investigation??
How does Peter James keep up the quality of this series? Who knows?! 5 stars once again, sir.

As a long-time fan of Roy Grace, One of Us is Dead does not disappoint! Peter James delivers another gripping mystery that had me turning the pages. In this latest installment, Roy Grace becomes increasingly suspicious of a series of deaths that initially seem accidental. But as he digs deeper, it becomes clear that something far more sinister is happening. The tension builds beautifully, and let’s just say I won’t be looking at mushrooms or cans of Coca-Cola the same way again! 😅
I've been following this series for years, and once again, James perfectly balances action, humor, and a satisfying investigation. The return of familiar characters, like Norman Potting with his usual bad jokes, adds charm to the dark twists. If you’ve enjoyed the previous books, you’ll definitely appreciate this one. Highly recommended for mystery lovers and Roy Grace fans alike!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!

I always enjoy a crime book that makes you feel like you're reading something fresh and interesting, rather than a retread of everything that's gone before, even when there are familiar elements. That was certainly the case for me in One of Us Is Dead.

It begins with an intriguing premise. Viewpoint character James Taylor attends a funeral of an old school friend, only to see the third member of their former trio in the crowd. The twist? James had already attended that man’s funeral years earlier. Okay you've probably seen the 'back from the dead' trope before if you read a lot of crime fic, but it's fairly swiftly revealed (so not a spoiler) that this particular dead/not-dead person is a criminal, setting up an intriguing plot. The details come out over the course of the book, so I won't go into them, but suffice it to say that his activities soon gain the attention of the police and Detective Superintendent Roy Grace.

Grace serves as a key viewpoint character, along with the girlfriend of the not-so-dead man, creating three interconnected storylines that race to meet in the middle. Along the way we learn a lot about interesting concepts such as 3D printing and the dark web.

So yes, I've probably read books with all these elements in them, but author Peter James really made this one work for me. The pacing is brisk, and the characters, for the most part, feel grounded and realistic, making it an enjoyable and satisfying read from start to finish.

Another brilliant addition to the series - I will never tire of these books!

The plot for this one was very interesting; a man attends a funeral and sees a friend who died 2 years earlier, how is that possible?

It follows 3 different perspectives and it's so clever how they were woven together. I loved the continuation of the character development for Roy and the team as well as Roy and Cleo's relationship.

Such a clever book, highly recommend!

You can't go wrong with a Roy Grace novel.
This one features a resurrected criminal, plenty of believable characters and a gripping midair finale.
Peter James has that uncanny knack of penning page turners and never dropping the quality over the series.

A cleverly written storyline. Well written characters. Overall an intriguing well put together read. My thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my copy. A well earned five stars from me.

I love this series and was so chuffed to get the next book in the series to review. I devoured it in one sitting thank you so much for the opportunity to review.

James Taylor stands at the back of the church is at his friend’s funeral. When he sees a man six rows in front of him, which he recognises him of his old friend Rufus Roarke’s. But he must be mistaken as two years previously he read out a eulogy at Rufus Roarke’s funeral. Rufus is dead.
Meanwhile DS Roy Grace is investigating a row of suspicious deaths. Which he can’t get out of his mind. Some clues reveal that the death are somehow linked to Rufus Roarke. But how and when he gets further near the truth he also could be in danger.
One of us is dead is another fabulous episode of the Roy Grace series. His books never disappoint. This has another intriguing story line, with several plot twists to keep you guessing throughout. 5 stars

This is book #20 of the Roy Grace series and whilst it is part of a series it stands alone well. I would suggest reading them in series order though to avoid spoilers. The beloved Roy Grace returns, and even at the 20th installment, his story doesn't falter. Focusing on the crime and investigation, Roy's personal life is less prominent this time. The tale starts at a funeral where a friend spots someone who supposedly died two years prior. Concurrently, Roy's team investigates a series of suspicious deaths. Are these events connected?

I thoroughly enjoyed this book! The plot immediately plunges into the enigma of Rufus Rorke's apparent resurrection from his own funeral. The unfolding mystery is compelling, especially as we wonder if James Taylor really saw his old friend. Grace and Branson's relationship is a highlight, and it's interesting to see Branson lead the investigation with Grace's methodical support. I loved seeing Norman Potting again and loved how his banter with the rest of the team injects humour into the dark storyline.

The story is enthralling, and moves steadily deepening the intrigue. The identity of the killer is not hidden, but the motives and methods unfold later, adding to the suspense. The plot is cleverly crafted, especially the inventive causes of death. Fascinating details about the dark web, 3D printing, and cryptocurrency enrich the story. With its twists and turns, the book captivates until the final page. I can't wait to see what happens in the next book!