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Peter James
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Dead Simple: Meet Roy Grace in This Pulse-Pounding Crime Thriller from the Multimillion-Copy Bestselling Author Kindle Edition

by Peter James (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.4 out of 5 stars 20,486 ratings

‘Peter James is one of the best British crime writers, and therefore one of the best in the world’ - LEE CHILD, author of the Jack Reacher series

Meet Detective Superintendent Roy Grace on his unforgettable first major case, in this TV tie-in edition of Dead Simple, the first instalment in the award-winning series by Peter James. Now a major ITV show starring John Simm.

*****

It was meant to be a harmless stag-night prank. But a few hours later, the groom has disappeared and his friends are dead.

With only three days to the wedding, Roy Grace is contacted by the man’s distraught fiancée to unearth what happened on that fateful night.

The one man who ought to know of the groom’s whereabouts is saying nothing. But then he has a lot more to gain than anyone realizes, for one man’s disaster is another man’s fortune . . .

Although the Roy Grace novels can be read in any order, Dead Simple is the first thrilling title in the bestselling series. Enjoy more of the Brighton detective’s investigations with Looking Good Dead and Not Dead Enough.

*****

23 million copies sold.

Creator of Her Majesty Queen Camilla’s favourite fictional detective.

'Peter James is one of the best crime writers in the business' – Karin Slaughter, author of the Will Trent series

'One of the world’s most popular detective series' – The Guardian

‘The master of the craft’ - Daily Express

'Ruthlessly efficient entertainment. Pedigree fun' - The Times

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  1. Book 1 of 21
    Roy Grace
  2. Print length
    481 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Publisher
    Pan
  5. Accessibility
    Learn more
  6. Publication date
    4 Sept. 2008
  7. Reading age
    18 years and up
  8. File size
    4.7 MB
  9. Page Flip
    Enabled
  10. Word Wise
    Enabled
  11. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
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There are 21 books in this series.

In this series (21 books)

Kindle Edition
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  1. ‘We don’t rise to the level of our abilities, we fall to the level of our excuses.’
    Highlighted by 689 Kindle readers
  2. ‘It’s not what you eat, it’s worrying about what you eat. Worry is the killer.’
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  3. The jury looked the way all juries did, like a bunch of tourists stranded in a coach station.
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From the Publisher

peter james, roy grace, dead if you don't, pan macmillan

peter james, roy grace, dead if you don't, pan macmillan

peter james, roy grace, dead simple

peter james, roy grace, dead if you don't, pan macmillan

peter james, roy grace, dead if you don't, pan macmillan
peter james, roy grace, grace

Product description

Review

'This is the first in a new crime series which promises to be both fascinating and destined for the bestsellers.' --Independent on Sunday

Review

A terrific tale of greed, seduction and betrayal ― Daily Telegraph

Ingenious plotting, high suspense and tight writing ― Daily Mail

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B003GK21VW
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Pan
  • Accessibility ‏ : ‎ Learn more
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ 4 Sept. 2008
  • Edition ‏ : ‎ New Edit/Cover
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 4.7 MB
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 481 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 9780330434195
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0330462716
  • Page Flip ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Book 1 of 21 ‏ : ‎ Roy Grace
  • Reading age ‏ : ‎ 18 years and up
  • Customer reviews:
    4.4 out of 5 stars 20,486 ratings

About the author

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Peter James

Peter James

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Peter James is a UK No.1 bestselling author, best known for his Detective Superintendent Roy Grace series, now a hit ITV drama starring John Simm as the troubled Brighton copper.

Much loved by crime and thriller fans for his fast-paced page-turners full of unexpected plot twists, sinister characters, and accurate portrayal of modern day policing, he has won over 40 awards for his work including the WHSmith Best Crime Author of All Time Award and Crime Writers’ Association Diamond Dagger.

To date, Peter has written an impressive total of 19 Sunday Times No. 1s, sold over 21 million copies worldwide and been translated into 38 languages. His books are also often adapted for the stage – the most recent being Looking Good Dead.

Visit Peter James www.peterjames.com

Follow Peter on Instagram > @peterjamesuk

Follow Peter on Twitter > @peterjamesuk

Follow Peter on Facebook > www.facebook.com/peterjames.roygrace

Customer reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars
20,486 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find this crime thriller engaging and well-written, with believable twists and turns that keep the story moving at a good pace. Moreover, the characters are easy to visualize and the book serves as a great introduction to the Roy Grace series. However, opinions about the book's enjoyment are mixed, with some finding it exciting while others describe it as unbearably awful.

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1,409 customers mention ‘Readability’1,398 positive11 negative

Customers find the book highly readable, describing it as a real page turner and fantastic novel, with one customer noting it's a brilliant book series to get into.

"The books are better than the TV series. Love Grace and his sidekick. The parallel story of Grace's wife adds to the read and keeps it real...." Read more

"This is the first in the best-selling series featuring Detective Superintendent Roy Grace and his team. A stag night prank goes wrong...." Read more

"...So, all in all an excellent read, & Peter has certainly set a new benchmark for gritty & heart-stopping modern crime fiction." Read more

"...Fast paced, enjoyable and demanding little engagement or consideration by readers there is a real mass market thriller appeal to Dead Simple, the..." Read more

1,110 customers mention ‘Twists and turns’977 positive133 negative

Customers enjoy the twists and turns in this crime thriller, finding them believable and not too complicated.

"...The parallel story of Grace's wife adds to the read and keeps it real. Nicely penned and planned" Read more

"...the equivalent of being on a rollercoaster ride in that there are plenty of twists, turns and stomach churning moments...." Read more

"...bit about this books is that it is the first in the series of books following Detective Superintendent Grace so I am over the moon that I have lots..." Read more

"...The Brighton setting is used well, as Peter uses his local knowledge of his favorite English seaside town - seeming almost prosaic in contrast with..." Read more

334 customers mention ‘Writing style’285 positive49 negative

Customers appreciate the writing style of the book, finding it well described and easy to read with a twist.

"...Nicely penned and planned" Read more

"...Despite my criticism, Dead Simple is a solid read, albeit seeming oddly lacking in any detail of the police procedure of Grace and his colleagues...." Read more

"...progressed and returned to the victim in the coffin, it became easier to read so I'm glad I persisted...." Read more

"...I really enjoyed this novel and I admire the author's writing talent. I will definitely be reading more in the series...." Read more

187 customers mention ‘Character development’159 positive28 negative

Customers appreciate the character development in the book, finding them very believable and easy to visualize, with one customer noting how the protagonists are well-established.

"...I loved how all the characters were well conceived & portrayed. There were a mixture of different personalities and I took to some more than others...." Read more

"...The characters in this book are strong, interesting and while they have pasts that are going to be worth exploring through later books in this..." Read more

"...The plot was twisty and Grace is a very interesting character that I am looking forward to reading more about in this series!" Read more

"...feel like you're being taken along on the journey, the characters are well written and you feel that you can really sympathies with them...." Read more

133 customers mention ‘Pace’104 positive29 negative

Customers enjoy the book's pace, describing it as fast and action-packed, with one customer noting that the short sharp chapters made the pages fly by.

"...as they are making introductions etcetera but this book hit the ground at speed and kept up the pace throughout...." Read more

"...Dead Simple is a non stop, fast paced read which by the end I could not get through the pages quick enough to see how things were going to end...." Read more

"...Fast paced, enjoyable and demanding little engagement or consideration by readers there is a real mass market thriller appeal to Dead Simple, the..." Read more

"...Overall, this was a fast-moving novel, with some great lines, which will have you turning the pages. 9/10" Read more

103 customers mention ‘Page turner’91 positive12 negative

Customers describe this book as a real page-turner, with one review noting it's a complete page turner from start to finish.

"...author a second chance, because it was an easy book to read and the pages turned, in the hope of a more solid plot." Read more

"...This is a page-turner with clever ideas and a couple of twists I didn’t see coming...." Read more

"...What a fab new discovery. It really is a page turner as others say...." Read more

"Brilliant story. Keeps you wanting to turn the page. Good cliff hanger with enough twists to keep you interested...." Read more

79 customers mention ‘Start’79 positive0 negative

Customers praise the book as a great beginning to the Roy Grace series, effectively hooking readers in.

"The books are better than the TV series. Love Grace and his sidekick. The parallel story of Grace's wife adds to the read and keeps it real...." Read more

"...Dead Simple starts off brilliantly and just does not stop...." Read more

"...I thought the book started reasonably promisingly, but after about a third of the way through wondered where it was heading...." Read more

"Wow, what a book. The start was cool with lots of information and getting to know part of Roy Grace's life...." Read more

121 customers mention ‘Enjoyment’71 positive50 negative

Customers have mixed reactions to the book's entertainment value, with some finding it exciting and enjoyable with twists and turns, while others describe it as unbearably awful and disappointing.

"...I honestly feel like I have just got off one of the best roller coaster rides of my life...." Read more

"...Roy Grace, and on the basis of this first outing, he appears disappointing bland, undoubtedly providing Peter James with ample opportunity to add..." Read more

"...A thrill packed car chase and some seedy sex scenes make this a book not to be missed. Peter James is my new go to author." Read more

"...The final chapter in particular annoyed me as it seemed such a cop-out and really out of place in this sort of novel...." Read more

Interesting start to the series!
5 out of 5 stars
Interesting start to the series!
Dead Simple - Peter James So the lovely @readrosieread lent me this book. She loves this series so I wanted to give it a go. I was not disappointed! This crime thriller has you hooked from the beginning, taking unexpected twists and turns throughout! I love a book that can keep me guessing and this does just that! We follow multiple character perspectives in this book but the main viewpoint is Roy Grace a detective pulled on to a missing person case by a colleague. Five men have gone on a stag do, 4 of them die in a horrific car crash, but where is the groom? The bride contacts Grace as the groom is no where to be found, has he done a runner or has something happened to him? There are only three days until the wedding to discover his whereabouts. One man seems to know something about his disappearance but isn’t saying anything, but he does seem to have a lot to gain by his friends death. There is an element of the supernatural with this book, Grace believing that a psychic can help him find the groom, I enjoyed this part of the story and I am intrigued to see if this continues with the further books in the series. I am also very interested to find out about Grace’s wife’s disappearance. Will we find out what happened to her when she vanished in to thin air 9 years earlier? I will definitely be continuing the story with the next book! 5/5 ⭐️ Recommend ✅ #peterjames #deadsimple #thereisalwaystimeforbooks #bookworm #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #booklover #booknerd #books #reading #mummyreads #book review #crime #thriller #goodread
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Top reviews from United Kingdom

  • S K Marshall
    5.0 out of 5 stars Great read
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 13 May 2025
    Verified Purchase
    The books are better than the TV series. Love Grace and his sidekick. The parallel story of Grace's wife adds to the read and keeps it real. Nicely penned and planned
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  • Ginger Book Geek
    4.0 out of 5 stars A thrilling read
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 20 February 2016
    Verified Purchase
    This is the first in the best-selling series featuring Detective Superintendent Roy Grace and his team.
    A stag night prank goes wrong. Michael is a known practical joker and his friends decide to turn the tables on Michael and play a practical joke on him. His friends decide to bury him in a coffin underground for a matter of hours. Then something happens which changes things and Michael’s fate appears to be sealed. Roy Grace has to investigate the case and try to locate the groom. Michael’s best man is keeping schtum but it is clear that he has something to hide. Roy has his own demons to contend with as his wife Sandy has walked out on him and disappeared apparently without a trace.
    Normally I find that that the first book in a series can be slow initially as they are making introductions etcetera but this book hit the ground at speed and kept up the pace throughout. I liken it to the snowball effect in that the story starts off slow but as it goes down the slope it gathers pace and increases in size.
    Peter James is one heck of a writer. Certain chapters are written from the point of view of Michael, the groom and Peter James is able to accurately convey the sense of claustrophobia from being in the coffin. At times I felt that I was buried in the coffin with Michael.
    I loved how all the characters were well conceived & portrayed. There were a mixture of different personalities and I took to some more than others. I loved Roy Grace & his team, although I did have to cringe at Norman, who seems to be a relic from the era of DCI Gene Hunt and he does seem to be stuck in a time warp.
    I likened reading this story as being the equivalent of being on a rollercoaster ride in that there are plenty of twists, turns and stomach churning moments. At times I literally had to hold my breath as I feared what was coming next.
    Peter James is a popular writer and on the strength of this book, it is easy to see why. I really did enjoy reading this book and would definitely recommend it to others. I look forward to reading further books in this series.
    10 people found this helpful
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  • Sarah H.
    5.0 out of 5 stars A brilliant novel in what looks set to be a great series.
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 7 November 2015
    Verified Purchase
    I was lucky enough to be able to read an ARC of the authors latest book The House On Cold Hill which I loved. I hadn't actually read anything else by the author even though I had already bought Dead Simple a while back but just not got round to reading it. Well after reading The House On Cold Hill I had to bump Dead Simple up my reading pile and boy am I glad I did.

    Wow oh wow oh wow! That is how I felt when I finished this novel. The adrenalin is still coursing through me now whilst writing this review. I honestly feel like I have just got off one of the best roller coaster rides of my life.

    Dead Simple starts off brilliantly and just does not stop. This really is a story of a race against time and the reader very much feels the pressure that Detective Superintendent Grace is under to try and find missing groom to be, Michael.

    It is really hard to say to much about this story with out giving to much away. I do have to say what happens to Michael at the beginning of the story is most peoples worst nightmare but what is even worse is that things get even worse for him which I would never have thought possible.

    Dead Simple is a non stop, fast paced read which by the end I could not get through the pages quick enough to see how things were going to end. Be prepared from picking up this book to not being able to put it back down until you have read it, that's how good it is.

    The best bit about this books is that it is the first in the series of books following Detective Superintendent Grace so I am over the moon that I have lots more books to look forward to reading by Peter James who I am now becoming a huge fan of.
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  • Steve Cann
    5.0 out of 5 stars Simply The Best!
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 15 November 2014
    Verified Purchase
    Peter James certainly knows how to write gripping, tense & original crime stories, & this first book in the celebrated Brighton-based Roy Grace detective series is a real corker that ticks every box for the discerning reader.
    I actually came to this book after starting with the seventh book in the series (Dead Man's Grip) - I'd randomly come across it, not knowing it was part of a series, & thoroughly enjoyed it. So, could this first book possibly be as good... the answer is an emphatic yes!!

    For anyone who's coming to this as their first experience of the detection skills of Roy Grace, it really is the best place to start, as the books follow a timeline that charts Roy's own life - as well as the often bizarre & elaborate homicides that are his job to solve.

    This first book concerns a crazy stag-night (Bachelor Party) prank at the outset that goes horribly wrong, as serial-joker Michael Harrison's four male friends take a rather unwise route to exacting 'revenge' on him for them all being on the receiving-end of his past pre-wedding pranks.
    What follows is a tense & (literally) claustrophobic story that twists, turns & becomes ever-more desperate as Peter piles on the suspense & keeps the reader guessing right to the end.

    I absolutely loved the book - it's totally absorbing & you're never ever quite sure where it's headed. I love Peter's elegant research on police matters & procedures (a hallmark of this series) that give the books a very uneasy sense of realism, as the relative drudgery of Roy's life plays out against the backdrop of the grave crimes he's determined to solve. The Brighton setting is used well, as Peter uses his local knowledge of his favorite English seaside town - seeming almost prosaic in contrast with the the (often quite far-fetched) extremities of what Roy Grace has to deal with in these stories.

    So, all in all an excellent read, & Peter has certainly set a new benchmark for gritty & heart-stopping modern crime fiction.
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Top reviews from other countries

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  • Andrew
    5.0 out of 5 stars Great read!
    Reviewed in Canada on 29 September 2021
    Verified Purchase
    Very well written, such a cool story. I thought the characters were interesting and easy to imagine. Certainly hope he is still writing new books in this series, just started the second one and it’s also great so far.
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  • JohnnyApril
    5.0 out of 5 stars Intense Thriller From Start To Finish
    Reviewed in the United States on 3 July 2015
    Verified Purchase
    What starts out as a revenge prank suddenly turns into a thriller. That is the basis of Peter James’ first book in the series of Roy Grace, Dead Simple. The prank in this case is four friends of Michael Harrison locking him in a coffin during a drunken spree, which leads to the four friends being killed while Michael is in a coffin, days away from an uncertain death.
    Roy Grace is the detective who has to find Michael but what he doesn’t know is that the prank has led to more questions from Michael’s friends, leaving the reader to wonder if any of Michael’s friends are trustworthy. All this seems to make it even harder for Grace to figure out what happened to Michael.
    There are several things that make this book even more dynamic. Peter James writes from different points of view in the book, that being the criminals, the victim, and the police. By doing this, James fills the book with even more suspense since the characters drive the story, making me wonder what was going to happen next.
    Another great point of creating multiple points of view made the characters even more memorable because the characters are more developed. People might argue that the point of view switches too much but in this book, it’s still easy to follow since Dead Simple is more of a thriller than along with being a mystery. I have read books in multiple viewpoints. Some were done well. Others weren’t. In Dead Simple, it was a great part of the story.
    Some people on Kindle may feel differently about this, as well as Grace’s involvement with a Medium. That made the book better for me since I’m a big fan of the TV series, Medium, and other TV shows of that nature.
    I have to say that this was one of the best books I have read this year based on the unique type of plot and the multiple viewpoints, which in this case gave the story a tremendous amount of suspense. I wish I can give this book more than five stars.
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  • 洋書の友
    5.0 out of 5 stars 警察物としては第一級のエンターテイメント作品
    Reviewed in Japan on 30 October 2015
    Verified Purchase
    　サセックス署のグレイス警視のシリーズ第一作。結婚する友人をお祝いと称して悪ふざけをする習慣stag party(普通はストリップ・ショーなんかに連れてゆく）が暗転し、花婿予定者が行方不明になってしまうところから事件が始まる。事件を担当するグレイス警視は恋人が謎の失踪をするというトラウマを抱えていることがやがてわかってくる。そのことがきっかけで妙なオカルトに走る。と一風変わった設定になっている。
    　はじめは少し展開がゆっくりでちょっと我慢だが、中盤以降おもわぬ展開が続くと俄然面白くなる計算されたエンターテインメント構成で、ここいらは見事で最後まで一気に読まされた。作者は映画やテレビドラマ化を念頭に置いているのだろう。シーンが細かく分かれていたり、ハラハラさせるところなど、脚本のような作品である。一方、人間心理や、殺人の動機といった文学的側面は少し不足なので星1減も考えたが、十分楽しめたので、5星。
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  • Kindle Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars A very original story
    Reviewed in Australia on 8 October 2024
    Verified Purchase
    Really enjoyed the book. Recommend it to anyone who loves twists and turns in their mysteries.can't wait to start the next one.
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  • Billi Baloo
    5.0 out of 5 stars Unglaublich!
    Reviewed in Germany on 24 September 2014
    Verified Purchase
    Als ich zu lesen anfing, habe ich erst mal geschluckt. Will ich wirklich lesen, wie einer lebendig begraben wird? Ich konnte mich an die Inhaltsangabe des Films erinnern und wusste, die Freunde, die Mike begraben, kommen kurze Zeit später um. Eigentlich wollte ich das nicht lesen, schon gar nicht Mikes Version davon - aber ich konnte nicht aufhören.

    Nach einem Drittel steht Mike das Wasser bis zum Hals und man denkt: Was soll da noch kommen? Entweder finden und retten sie ihn oder er stirbt. Und dafür brauchts dann zwei Drittel des Buchs? Und dann geht's eigentlich erst richtig los! Unglaublich!

    Was Peter James da konstruiert hat, ist so ziemlich das Spannendste, was mir seit langem untergekommen ist. Jede Spur, sei sie auch noch so klein oder kurz, wird verfolgt und zu Ende geführt. Roy Grace ist eine sehr sympathische Figur, er gehört schon jetzt zu meinen Favoriten.

    Mich hat aus ausnahmsweise mal nicht gestört, dass ich als Leser sehr viel mehr wusste als die Polizei. Im Gegenteil: Zeigt es doch die Realität, ohne langweilig zu werden. Einzig die vielen Details, Beschreibungen, wer was anhat, etc. fand ich übertrieben. Aber das Buch war so spannend, dass ich einfach drüber hinweg gelesen habe. Ich freue mich schon auf Band 2!
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