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In the dead of night, a farmer hears a suspicious noise. It’s everyone’s worst nightmare: a break-in. When he confronts the intruders, he has no idea that just minutes later he will be left lying in a pool of blood. But the chilling truth lies not in the act itself, but what the perpetrators were willing to kill for. I could not put this book down. The subject matter of puppy farming and dog theft is very upsetting but was treated as sensitively as possible and really brings home the horror of this disgusting trade and how innocent people are caught up in it. James honed in on this and his research in Police procedures is so accurately portrayed, in particular gait analysis, and the highly effective use of drone surveillance delivering outstanding results. When a young farmer confronts intruders in the middle of the night he has no idea that just minutes later he will be left dying in a pool of blood. What's more chilling is what the perpetrators were willing to kill for. At the scene of the crime, Detective Superintendent Roy Grace soon realises this is no isolated robbery gone wrong but the tip of the iceberg of a nationwide crime wave, in which ruthless organised gangs are making more money from the illegal trade in dogs than drugs. I love the Roy Grace books and have read every single one. This latest instalment was a great read and had me hooked from the very beginning. We have a couple of storylines running parallel to each other, with the investigation into the murder of a farmer who was trying to prevent his puppies being stolen, the subsequent trail into who was illegally importing puppies from abroad and the sad hospitalisation of a young girl. The storylines were gripping and, whilst it wasn’t really a “whodunnit”, I was kept on edge wondering how it was all going to end.
Stop Them Dead review: Roy Grace at the centre of canine capers Stop Them Dead review: Roy Grace at the centre of canine capers
When a woman linked to the farm they’ve been monitoring is killed in a road accident it soon comes to light that it was not an accident. As always with this author, the book is well written and expertly plotted. The police investigation is realistically portrayed. I love Roy Grace and his team, who all seem like old friends now., and I can't help having a bit of a soft spot for Norman Potting who has grown on me throughout the series. At one point the case comes a little too close to home for Roy and his family, who are dog lovers, and I loved the way that Cleo dealt with the matter 😁 As soon as the story begins, you can feel some horrible things are about to happen. It's very wise Peter James choose to tell us this story without very graphic descriptions of the conditions these poor animals are kept. There are ruthless criminals in this story, but also loving parents, happy children and of course Grace and his team. There is murder and violence, but also love, even in some people you wouldn't expect. There are grim parts and very moving parts in this book, and it all together makes for a great story. Crimes are solved through a combination of perseverance and perspiration rather than inspiration- just as is the case in real life. This is book 19 but can easily be read as a standalone. I love Peter James and his Roy Grace series, it is a must read for me personally. The plots are always current and the authors research make me feel like I’m actually reading real life not fiction. The dark crime and the sinister criminals are the main focus but the police teamwork/procedures and the glimpses into life outside the station make this a totally enjoyable and engrossing read. As always there’s a glossary at the end with all the police terminology. The book topic is illegal dog trade and I hope it helps raise awareness.Peter James is a global bestselling author, best known for writing crime and thriller novels, and the creator of the much-loved Detective Superintendent Roy Grace. With a total of 16 Sunday Times No. 1s under his belt, he has achieved global book sales of over 20 million copies to date and has been translated into 37 languages.
Stop Them Dead – Peter James Stop Them Dead – Peter James
A new Peter James will always jump straight to the top of my reading list, I love the Grace series and have enjoyed them all; I am always engrossed by the imaginative storylines and the criminal acts that he can dream up. Discover the darkness that lurks around every corner in the latest instalment of the award-winning Grace series, now a major BRITBOX series.When a young farmer confronts intruders in the middle of the night he has no idea that just minutes later he will be left dying in a pool of blood. What’s more chilling is what the perpetrators were willing to kill for. This book centres around the horrific increase during Covid of puppy theft, with often deadly results. Peter himself is a supporter of the RSPCA in the UK and wanted to highlight the ongoing issues with the exorbitant prices paid for puppies, not only purebreds, which attract those criminals wanting to profit at the cost of the animal. Other incidents soon come to light of dogs being stolen and also imported illegally and treated badly and Grace knows this is a big case.
Stop Them Dead by Peter James | Waterstones Stop Them Dead by Peter James | Waterstones
These criminal masterminds are ruthless and don't stop at murder when a farmer confronts intruders about to steal five puppies and the parent dogs - and pays with his life... In the story arc, Sandy Grace, Roy's first wife, vanishes before the story begins but now we can find out what happened to her in the next book They Thought I Was Dead - Sandy's Story (out on May 23, 2024). In the dead of night, a gang of thieves steal a litter of puppies. The owner is killed as they drive off. Roy Grace and his team investigate the murder and discover that criminals have realised that there is a lucrative trade in dogs. As the team dig deeper into the illegal trade, things hit close to home for Grace. There is no tension. Nothing is nail biting. Too much is included that does not move the murder story and does no more than explain the plight of puppies farmed without care who do not appear to get their happy ending. Never happy when a real life person supposedly interacts with the fictional. Not likely to be responsible for the outcome of treatment because the patient lives in the imagination of the author. So filler.Stop them Dead by Peter James is book 19 in the Roy Grace series and another brilliant addition to it. Tim Ruddle is woken by the noise of vehicles in his yard and when he goes down to investigate he is crushed to death by two vehicles as the thieves make good their escape. To add to the drama, Bluebell Fairfax, the young daughter of a local lawyer pesters her parents for a puppy and they buy one from a man in a pub car park.
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