Stop Them Dead: New crimes, new villains, Roy Grace returns...: 19 (Roy Grace, 19)

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Stop Them Dead” is the latest novel in the long running Roy Grace series by Peter James. Offering very much the same as earlier novels in the series, this will please ongoing readers. It’s also very accessible to readers new to the series. This felt a lot more realistic and likely than some of the other Grace novels (which I have loved nevertheless) - but we have all become much more aware of puppy farms and the prices some people are willing to pay for a 'pedigree' . It isnt always an easy read, some of the settings for the puppies are heart-breaking and all too real. This time, Grace is confronted with one of the most horrible crimes: making money of innocent animals. Of course, it starts with all those people who suddenly want a pedigree dog but are not willing to pay for it. The novel presents a solid crime story. Although the broad form of the novel offers no surprises, there’s an interesting angle on the crimes being investigated, and the wealth of investigative detail will absorb crime fans.

Discover the darkness that lurks around every corner in the latest instalment of the award-winning Grace series, now a major ITV series. A ruthless crime. A race against time. 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. Cassian Pewe, or as I have renamed him, Cats Spewe, is the baddie you love to hate, he will never be a redeemable character, as many bad ones can be, his callousness & disregard for anyone else have proven that. James’ novels are notable for the great detail around the investigation. In particular, there’s a level of detail around the roles of particular police specialists, and the command structure, which I’ve rarely seen elsewhere. It adds both credibility and an interesting intellectual and practical level to the narrative.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. 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.

So Peter James clearly loves dogs. There's no other reason for the overrarching nonsensical plot line centred around illegal dog farming. There is simply no way that Sussez's best detective, its ACC and CC would prioritise a manslaughter during a dog theft with the same level of seriousness as we have previously seen reserved for serial killers. Detective Superintendent Roy Grace is well used to the rhythm of major crimes, and swings into action when a local farmer is murdered in the middle of the night. However, the circumstances surprise him. The farmer was murdered while trying to stop the theft of his dogs. This leads Grace into a new world: the highly lucrative world of stealing or illegally smuggling dogs. Grace is a character that it’s impossible to dislike, he’s honest, caring, dedicated & not afraid to show it all, either in regards to chasing down the criminals that chose a bad route when they neared him, but also in regard to his family & friends, Grace bares it all, unashamed to show his love & appreciation for what he truly knows is a blessed life.I've read all the Grace books and this one is by far the worst of the lot. In fairness the writing etc is up to the usual standard but you have to completely ignore reality to take any of it seriously. Spoilers below: 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. The book follows on the event of a farmer, Tim Ruddle who is killed trying to prevent a group of thieves kidnapping his dogs worth thousands of points. Roy is called into to action to investigate as senior investigating officer and bring justice where Tim leaves behind a wife and two young kids. The book delves into the depth of dog breeding/ kidnapping and illegal imports in the UK, which I am surprised is not spoken about or covered in the news much. Honestly reading this book felt like I was watching an TV episode - it’s written well but researched to a tee. You can tell the level of detail James has put in to make the plot realistic and credible. Overall, Stop Them Dead is a highly entertaining, disturbing, edgy thriller by James that once again highlights his exceptional ability to write police procedurals that have well-drawn characters and timely storylines. It is the nineteenth novel in the Roy Grace series and definitely one of my new all-time favourites.

Grace’s investigation into this deadly trade pits him against some of the most ruthless people he has ever encountered; people who will kill anyone who gets in their way, because where there is greed, there is murder. 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. A farmer is murdered by intruders on his property. In the middle of the night, 4 men come and steal his dogs and the litter of puppies they have had. This leads Roy and the team into the murky depths of the world of puppy farms, illegal trade, dogs being stolen from their owners and so much more. The people involved will do anything to protect themselves, anything.The style rarely moves away from sounding like a report except where it sounds like a newspaper article. 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. The minor, but centrally placed, comical thief is switched off long before end. He has nothing to do with the murders. His shop thieving is totally irrelevant and his appearance at the Amex just stretches the word count. Why do we need to hear about Norman's social life?