Dead Simple by Peter James is the first Detective Superintendent Grace novel. There are currently twenty-two books in the series set in Brighton, England. I love police procedurals, and I liked Roy Grace of the Sussex police, so I’ll try the next one, although this one was a little creepy at times.
Michael Harrison and four buddies are celebrating his stag night by drinking at various pubs. Harrison has always been the joker of the bunch, coming up with elaborate pranks before his friends’ weddings. This time, the joke is on him. When he’s drunk, his friends bury him in a coffin in the woods, leaving him with an air tube. But, they’re in a car accident as they leave the scene, so they’re unable to tell anyone where they buried Michael. They leave behind his best man, who wasn’t with them, and his fiancee, Ashley.
DS Grace is brought into the case when Ashley reports Michael is missing. Grace’s own wife disappeared, so he immediately feels sympathy for Ashley. But, as he and his team investigate, he begins to wonder about the stories told by Harrison’s business partner and fiancee.
The descriptions of Michael Harrison’s suffering during his burial are a little too graphic for me, but they’re easy to skip. However, I appreciated the portrayal of Grace with his unrelenting determination to find the missing man, and discover the truth. James develops his sympathetic character well in this first in the series. It’s been years since Roy’s wife disappeared, and he’s used every means possible to find her. In fact, he’s known for his unorthodox methods in working a case, even going so far as to use psychics. He’s a solid police detective, who works well with a team, and believes in getting out into the field.
I’m looking forward to future suspenseful cases, and the continuing development of Roy Grace as a character. I may have to check out the TV series on BritBox.
Peter James’ website is https://www.peterjames.com/
Dead Simple by Peter James. Carroll & Graf Publishers, 2005. 404p.
FTC Full Disclosure – Library book
As you know, Lesa, I love police procedurals, too, and I also like starting series at the beginning, so this book sounds right up my street.
It probably is, Kim.
John Simm does a nice job as Grace in the TV series.
I’m going to try it, Jeff. Safe travels!
I hate the whole buried alive trope. Can’t stand reading it, especially when the author decides to do POV from the buried alive victim. I am very claustrophobic and have a hard time on elevators. Even the ones that have glass where you can see out get me.
Then there is the fact that one of the kids in the neighborhood had this sort of thing done to him when I was ten or so. Several of the neighborhood kids stuck him a refrigerator that was out for pickup and turned it over so he could not get out. One of the neighborhood moms came home, heard something when she had the dog out, got the fridge turned over, and rescued him.
The Neighborhood Mom Switchboard lit up as the Moms talked and the culprits were found. Dads heard about it when they got home. We kids, even the ones not involved like me, were lectured like crazy. Made a huge impression on me.
Have not read this or the other books. Am a fan of the TV series on BritBox.
I have no problem on elevators, but the idea of being buried alive?
No, I’m with Kevin on that.
I totally agree with both Kevin and Jeff on this one about being buried alive. I am going to try the second book and the TV series.
Put this on my list, although the burial thing creeps me out. Kind of stuff that brings on nightmares.
Finishing up BUCKEYE. Many mentions of familiar places in Ohio, right downtown Fremont and Sandusky River. Pretty good. NThen I will have no books. I continue to send lists but the books are extremely slow coming.