5 books into this series and I have to say that I am enjoying it. I am however, still seeking the elusive 5 star novel that always feels so tantalizingly close. Of them all so far, this one feels as though it got the closest. This story about human trafficking and organ harvesting was both fascinating and horrific at the same time. This was one of those rare stories where I neither wanted the police or the villains to win as both cases were going to end badly for someone. Peter James did a masterful job of crafting a situation in this book where I felt genuine attachment to the story and the end of the story really triggered some genuine, strong emotion in me which has been missing in these books so far. That said, why the loss of a star?The answer is simple, the book is too long. This has been the case with every novel I have read in this series so far. This isn't because I don't like reading long books, that is far from the case. I genuinely enjoy reading long books on one condition, they need to be long for good reason. There needs to be extra story and events that warrant those extra chapters and in these books I don't think that this is the case. These books all feel as though the extra chapters are put in simply to pad out the story and by the last quarter of the novel I am a bit fed up of reading filler and eager just to get it over and done with. I think with good editing these books could easily be 5 star books but a as it is I will have to settle for a very enjoyable 4.5 star experience that I found in this book. That 4.5 star experience is more than enough for me to recommend this book and this series to anyone looking for some enjoyable UK based crime procedural, especially considering that these books seem to get better with each edition. The 5th in the Roy Grace series...& another gritty, liverish & quite gruesome tale of human frailties & failings.My paperback copy of 660 pages was a page-turner; but there were moments when Peter James's real feelings seeped through between the lines.There is quite a lot more formulaic scene-setting than perhaps is necessary but generally,James manages to keep all his character-full sub-plots in the Brighton (& Bucharest!) air & ties-up & sutures the dangling blood-vessels quite neatly at the finale.This won't stop me following Roy Grace, but I need some compassionate leave after this gut-wrenching human drama.
Do You like book Ten Dode Opgeschreven (2009)?
thrilling and although the story itself is quite predictable I like the ending of this book
—bryana
A very good plot which keeps your interest right up to the end.
—ralph
Slow to start but picks up speed and has a gripping finish.
—ankitap
