Not Dead Enough

Roy Grace, Book 3

By: Peter James

Narrated by: David Bauckham

Length: 15 hrs and 44 mins

Publisher's summary

Detective Superintendent Roy Grace thinks he's found a serial killer, but not everything is as it seems in Not Dead Enough, by award winning crime author Peter James.

A beautiful socialite is dead. Roy Grace’s leading suspect, her husband, was sixty miles away when she died, but all other evidence points to him. Has someone stolen his identity or is he simply a very clever liar?

Grace’s investigation and his budding new relationship are derailed after a reported sighting of his wife, Sandy, who has been missing for nine years. Grace desperately tries to cast light on the truth in both cases as his emotional turmoil – and the body count – grows...

Although the Roy Grace novels can be listened to in any order, Not Dead Enough is the third thrilling title in the bestselling series. Enjoy more of the Brighton detective’s investigations with Dead Man's Footsteps and Dead Tomorrow.

Now a major ITV series, Grace, starring John Simm.

©2007 Really Scary Books/Peter James (P)2016 Pan Macmillan Publishers Ltd.

Too Silly Even For Fiction

I have read two of his previous books (Dead Simple and Dead Mans Footsteps) and thoroughly enjoyed them. This one, however, I thought was too long (about 100 pages) and too wordy. It wasn't hard to figure out who did it as you went along.

His Roy Grace books are long, detailed, slow, and, at least here, predictable. There are major clues in plain sight which this supposedly intelligent detective really ought not to miss, but does. Far too often I found myself shouting “get on with it” as James goes into excruciating detail on police or forensic procedure. How many times do we need to read the police caution? I see other reviewers have also found this book too long.

It becomes clear quite early on that the classic plot device of identical twins is being deployed, however, I suspect that using identical triplets is a new device and a step too far. While it become apparent around two-thirds of the way through that there are triplets, it takes Grace far to long to come around even to the idea of twins and the thought of triplets is beyond his imagination. It becomes too silly even for fiction.

David Bauckham was excellent with the delivery of the story

seriously in need of a good editor

There is too much description of every kind.Chapter 91 and still on day 3 of murder enquiry, which is hardly touched on.

Great story and fantastic listen.

This was the first Peter James novel I had listened to. Before discussing the book, David Bauckham's voice characterisations are amazing. He gives it everything, going from plummy voiced financial advisor to delinquent drug dealer and his hilarious girlfriend with obvious relish. The book is brought alive by this. The story itself is thoroughly enjoyable, although it has weak sections, and the "twist" is painfully obvious. The characters are marvellous though, and most of the story is rivetting, well told, and there's enough action and suspense to keep it going. Not PJ's best, but a really, really good listen.

Difficult

First, I feel obligated to say, I absolutely couldn't get through this entire audiobook. I tried more than once, because at first I just thought the accents were throwing me off. Then I realized, it's just boring. I found myself truly wanting something interesting to happen, and when it did, it didn't last long. I finally just couldn't waste anymore time. It was just to difficult.

always a good listen

some predictable moments but overall a good listen and worth the time and credit

okay

The story was okay, the vehicle a little dented and used , but well written and decent listen for the credit.

Not my favorite.....

Although I love the Roy Grace series and all of the recurring characters, this one just wasn't my favorite. I started reading the series in the middle, read to the last book at that time and now I've started filling in the ones I missed. This one was just too easy to figure out.

Unique

I enjoyed this book, never did I expected the end. Had to listen to it twice...

Graphic

As a mystery lover I'm disappointed that this potentially great story line was so heavily polluted by graphic scenes - violence, sex, language and gore - that I just had to give up on it. Good stories aren't made better by gross or pornographic filth.

I enjoyed it

It was a nice easy read. Narration was very good. I will definitely read the rest of the series.

Not Dead Enough

I thoroughly enjoyed this book, as you are constantly trying to piece the plot together until the very end.
The narrator was excellent.

Great listening

Thoroughly enjoyed it. Good reader. Fascinating plot that kept making me change my mind about what had really happened. Exciting right to the end.

Not Dead Enough but Good Enough!

A quality series continues with a book that has many of the hallmarks of the previous two but also manages to show a different character of plot and mystery to the previous two. It has the same hard edge as the previous books but this is a clever mystery with the twisted plot slowly unraveling and then seeming to question itself before the final reveal.

It's once again very nicely done, the ongoing character stories develop making it best read in order, though the books stand well enough alone I am sure.

Three books in and I can only say that this series is well worth investing in.

Good story with some surprises

A long book, but it didn't flag, even though I guessed early on what the solution would be it didn't matter as I was just as interested in the description of how the police and forensic service gradually put together the necessary concrete evidence. The tying together of the various threads of the mystery was neater than most.
The book's characters have what now seems to be a prerequisite requirement of fictional detectives: personal marital problems, a lot of heavy drinking and smoking; and a female boss who's a bit of a bitch.
I felt that the book was slightly tilted to appeal more to men with rather a lot of female characters who were gorgeous blondes, and/or were eager for sex even after a long day at work!

fantastic thriller

Fantastic listen,good plot and well written.
I really enjoyed this audio book,and I love a good thriller.

Fantastic

Took a flyer at this after an email from Audible suggesting trying some new authors. The feedback from others seemed good (thanks!) and now I agree the rave reviews are totally justified.

Excellent plot that keeps you guessing all the way. Whether it was the author/writing or both I am usure; but the detail brought this book vividly to life in my mind all the way through. I can still picture the scenes and characters.

Am downloading another Peter James right now !

Entertaining

Having read this author before and enjoyed the characters I sort of knew what to expect and I wasn't disappointed. Enjoyed both the story and the narration and had to keep listening to it at every opportunity to get to the end. Recommendable

Terrific

This is the third 'Roy Grace' book that I have read now, although I had to read the paperback version of book two because audible do not have the unabridged version. Initially I thought that this volume was a little bit on the slow side, but I needn't have worried; the pace soon picked up. As with the previous two stories, after the half way point I was unable to stop listening until I had reached the end. Peter James has the ability to lead you by the nose through the world that he's created. What a time thief! Can't wait to download story number four.

Very dated

I have to confess that I gave up on this. With phrases like 'she wasn't beautiful in a conventional way, but was very sexy, ' 'she was dangerously horny,' and 'she couldn't understand which petrol to use because it was written in 'bloke',' this feels incredibly dated. The plot was intriguing but the characters were so two dimensional, with such a clichéd heterosexual male gaze, that I packed it in.

Not as good as the last, but still worth while!

The change from the "brilliant" book 2 to the "not so good" book 3 is mainly as a result of changing the narrator.

I do think this narrator, David Bauckham needs some getting used to. Hopefully, I'll find out in the next book.

However, if you're like me and tend to visualise the characters based upon the narrators impression, you constantly end up picturing Rick Mayal in Bottom. No matter how much you try to avoid it, his head ends up on my character.

Eventually, I managed to get past it, but it took a while.

The story is about two former students who flat share in London and spend their time trying to find "birds" and get "sloshed". Hold on... sorry, that was "Bottom."

This story is about a murder taking place and all the evidence pointing in one direction. Can Grace get to the bottom of it, or is it maybe a little too simple?

I did enjoy the book, and, narrator aside, I'm determined to finish this series. don't get me wrong, I have heard much worse.

on to the next...