About the Author

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.

Reviews

Det. Supt. Roy Grace and his major crimes team discover disturbing similarities between two Brighton rapes in the thrilling sixth entry in James's popular U.K. crime series (Dead Simple, etc.). In particular, the rapist used the women's shoes to violate his victims. In 1997, a similar series of rapes occurred in Brighton, committed by someone known only as the "Shoe Man." The Shoe Man had five confirmed victims, but Grace always suspected that 22-year-old Rachael Ryan, who disappeared soon after the rapes ceased in 1997, was the Shoe Man's only murder victim. Grace's failure to find Rachael's body has haunted him since. James ably shifts between the present-day investigation, with its numerous suspects, who all appear guilty of something, and the earlier inquiry. The disappearance a decade earlier of Grace's wife, Sandy, is another ongoing mystery that will leave readers eager for the next installment. (Dec.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.

In the latest entry in James's Roy Grace series of police procedurals (Looking Good Dead), a brutal rape at Brighton's Metropole Hotel reminds Detective Superintendent Grace of a similar series of rapes from 12 years ago. The similarities become obvious when the rapist strikes again, following the same pattern, and Grace and his team are certain that they are looking for the Shoe Man. His criminal career was thought to have ended in 1997 around the time Rachael Ryan, possibly one of his victims, disappeared. James's novel takes place in the present but is interspersed with flashbacks from the time of Rachael's disappearance and Grace's original investigation. Grace's personal past with his wife, Sandy, who also disappeared in 2000, is revealed in the flashbacks in contrast to his present life with Cleo, who is expecting his child. Verdict This intriguing series addition (and James's first book for Minotaur) offers a tantalizing look at Grace's past and a mystery that will keep readers guessing until the end and anticipating James's next book. Fans of British police procedurals, if they haven't discovered James already, will want this one. [See Prepub Mystery, LJ 7/10; Minotaur First Edition Selection; library marketing campaign.]-Lisa Hanson O'Hara, Univ. of Manitoba Libs., Winnipeg (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.