Reviewed by Patricia Simms-Reeve
Peter James is enormously successful. His crime fiction has been translated into 37 languages and together have sold over 21,000,000 copies.
This most recent novel, featuring detective Roy Grace stationed in the county of Sussex, is an example of how he continues to attract a worldwide legion of admirers.
It begins with the murder of a decent, hardworking farmer, trying to make his way in a challenging world. To provide for his family he breeds French Bulldogs which are much sought after, particularly during the isolation enforced by Covid 19.
The arch villain is Terry Jim, seething with anger, violent, greedy, a former boxer; he has no redeeming qualities. He controls his family to follow his ruthless path of criminal activities. His recent one is selling and exploiting popular breeds of dogs at inflated prices to meet the public demand. They acquire some by theft, others by illegally importing them from Europe.
Gecko, so called because of his unfortunate facial features, is a pathetic crook, compelled to follow Jim’s demands, but desperately attached to his love, Elvira, who is almost completely blind. In his striving to please her, he inadvertently is the key to the detectives’ arriving at the case’s solution.
While the team is focused on the growing number of dog-related incidents, a family is confronted by an unimaginable and unexpected horror. Their precious little daughter, Bluebell, is given a puppy, Moose, which she has long craved to have. Chris and Kate, her parents, buy Moose from whom they believe is a reputable breeder. The worst of outcomes ensues and the days that follow are nightmarish.
Peter James, with effortless skill, steers the two narratives until their parallel paths meet and a satisfying conclusion is met.
SIO Roy Grace is not like many other policemen pitching their experience and wits against the ever present strata of society determined to live by illegal means.
He is married to Cleo, has an adored daughter, and a much loved dog, Humphrey. He does not have a drinking problem, is admired by his colleagues and rarely consumes fast food – his diet is healthy home cooked fare. When not overburdened by the casework, humour surfaces both from Grace or one of his colleagues.
Stop Them Dead is a really enjoyable read. Although it is lengthy, it maintains a lively pace: because the reader realises the two plots are connected, this fact adds to the suspense of how the investigating team comes to realise that the illegal dog activities are more serious than they first thought.
Not having read any other Peter James thrillers, I am now keen to seek out others that feature Roy Grace. With James’s easy style, detailed research and likeable characters, as well as gripping narrative, it is no wonder that he is regarded as one of the best in the world, writing in this genre.
Stop Them Dead
[2023]
by Peter James
Pan Macmillan
ISBN 978 152908 997 4
$34.99; 448pp