4.5-STAR REVIEW: THEY THOUGHT I WAS DEAD by Peter James

Roy Grace Series: Book 20
Publication Date: July 2, 2024

Peter James, the number one multimillion-copy bestselling author of the Grace series, returns with a thrilling new novel: a Roy Grace story told from a different perspective.

Some will know how it begins . . .

My name is Sandy.

My husband is Detective Superintendent Roy Grace.

But when I disappeared, even he couldn’t find me.

This is my story.

There’s more to Sandy than meets the eye. A woman with a dubious past, a complicated present and an uncertain future. Then she was gone.

Some will think they know how it ends . . .

Her disappearance caused a nationwide search. Even the best detective on the force couldn’t find her. They thought she was dead.

But nobody knows this . . .

Where did she go? Why did she run? What would cause a woman to leave her whole life behind and simply vanish?

For the first time, the truth behind Sandy Grace’s dramatic disappearance is revealed. They Thought I Was Dead will thrill fans and new readers alike with its gripping account of a woman on the run. This is Sandy’s story.

Since 2008, author Peter James has been captivating readers with Detective Superintendent Roy Grace and his many adventures. Now, the U.K. bestselling author shifts to a mystery embedded in the series.

They Thought I Was Dead marks the 20th installment of the series and details the back story of Roy’s wife, Sandy, and her abrupt disappearance of more than a decade. With over 400 pages, this first-person account delivers an action-packed adventure.

As someone new to the series, I found value in the book as a standalone. However, I also believe that the storyline will resonate more with those who have been invested in the series, wondering why Sandy disappeared.

It’s a complicated story but maintains a solid level of suspense. While the ending took me by surprise, it seemed destined to unfold exactly as written.

They Thought I Was Dead fills in the gaps for fans of the Roy Grace series, providing a twisty tale of a woman whose past destroys her future.

PETER JAMES is a New York Times and internationally bestselling author best known for his Detective Superintendent Roy Grace series, now a hit ITV drama, starring John Simm as the troubled Brighton copper. Praised by critics and fans for his gripping crime thrillers and accurate portrayal of modern-day policing, he has won scores of awards for his work, including the WHSmith Best Crime Author of All Time Award and the Crime Writers’ Association Diamond Dagger. His books have sold more than 21 million copies worldwide, have been translated into 38 languages, and include, to date, 19 number-one Sunday Times bestsellers.