Thoughts

There have been real highs and lows with this Roy Grace series, but it keeps pulling me back for another go. The audiobook I listened to was narrated by William Gaminara rather than the previous ones by David Bauckham, so it was a bit of an adjustment, particularly with the voice of Branson. I did get used to it after a couple of hours, but Branson felt like a different character because of it.

The story was split between Brighton and California, which was another change on previous outings. Where Brighton usually becomes another character in the stories, this one felt more exotic and kept us at arm's length. On top of that, there was a headless torso discovered, and a main storyline around a US actress being stalked, neither of which was relatable.

If I'm being perfectly honest, I can't actually recall the intricate details of the plots and how they wove together after a longer than normal page count. The start of the book dragged, and then it seemed to whip to a conclusion before I was ready. The pacing was all over the place.

What I do remember is that we got the smallest amount of movement in the over-arching missing ex-wife story, with Sandy popping up in person this time. But it doesn't feel like we're getting anywhere near a resolution and I have to wonder how long this can be dragged on for. A couple of books ago, the big reveal had my mouth physically drop open, but now I just want the drama over with.

Peter James isn't afraid of writing a grisly moment, so be prepared for some detailed descriptions of murder scenes and bodies. The mystery plot within is standalone, but the ongoing Sandy drama means you'd benefit from reading the series through in order.

For a plot that takes us out of Brighton too often, this is a 2 out of 5.

Rating: 3 / 5