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. 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). 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...

Stop Them Dead by Peter James - Pan Macmillan Stop Them Dead by Peter James - Pan Macmillan

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. 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. 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. 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 and Branson head out to investigate and realise the stolen dogs were worth several thousand pounds.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 (Roy Grace) by Peter James | Goodreads Stop Them Dead (Roy Grace) by Peter James | Goodreads

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.A farmer is killed when confronting intruders who complete the successful robbery of some unusual items. Organised criminal gangs have identified a new market and are willing to do what it takes to make money. Roy Grace is determined to stop it. 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. 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.

Stop Them Dead review: Roy Grace at the centre of canine capers Stop Them Dead review: Roy Grace at the centre of canine capers

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. I will honour the author’s desire for surprise and not mention what this new market actually is, even if it’s difficult to write a review without identifying it. Suffice to say that I was incredibly impressed by the author’s research and the easy way he makes all the pitfalls and the most extreme consequences realistic. This novel is not a wake up call, it’s a howling klaxon.The main villain is seen infrequently until the final pig slurry fight. The second killer is seen once waking up in bed. There are (as ever) several layers of plotting all circling puppy farming and the egregious criminality involved. Grace is not only following investigative leads but ensuring the reader understands what trail of evidence is required for any subsequent convictions. The style rarely moves away from sounding like a report except where it sounds like a newspaper article. 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? 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.

Stop Them Dead – Peter James Stop Them Dead – Peter James

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 😁 Stop them Dead by Peter James is book 19 in the Roy Grace series and another brilliant addition to it. 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. A trade which pits him against some ruthless people who will kill anyone who gets in their way, because where there is greed, there is murder. 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. 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.

Grace again refers to a weekly poker night, running with his dog, getting into office early and working late, having a role with Police rugby team while supporting Albion.