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runilareads's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Title: Dead Simple
Author: Peter James
Series: Roy Grace, 1
Release Date: December 2005
Publisher: Pan Macmillan
Rating: 3.5 stars
Favourite character: Emma-Jane
Least favourite character: Mark
Mini-Review: I'm not entirely sure what to make of this. I didn't hate it, but the writing felt... all over the place in some ways. Or maybe it was just me, but there were a lot of plot twists that were explained in a passing sentence. Other than that and some of the more scandalous descriptions of sex or an autopsy, I did enjoy this. Numerous plot twists had me going: EXCUSE ME?!?!!?
Fan Cast:
Roy Grace - Matt Smith
Glenn Branson - John Boyega
Nick Nicholls - Dino Fetscher
Bella Moy - Charlie Murphy
Emma-Jane "EJ" Boutwood - Erin Kellyman
Cleo Morey - Vanessa Kirby
Alison Vosper - Jemma Redgrave
Michael Harrison - Harry Treadaway
Ashley Harper - Samara Weaving
Mark Warren - Harry Lloyd
Gill Harrison - Miranda Richardson
Phil Wheeler - Sean Gilder
Joe Tindall - Jason Watkins
Harry Frame - David Bradley
Vic - Noah Taylor
Sandy Grace - Juno Temple
Author: Peter James
Series: Roy Grace, 1
Release Date: December 2005
Publisher: Pan Macmillan
Rating: 3.5 stars
Favourite character: Emma-Jane
Least favourite character: Mark
Mini-Review: I'm not entirely sure what to make of this. I didn't hate it, but the writing felt... all over the place in some ways. Or maybe it was just me, but there were a lot of plot twists that were explained in a passing sentence. Other than that and some of the more scandalous descriptions of sex or an autopsy, I did enjoy this. Numerous plot twists had me going: EXCUSE ME?!?!!?
Fan Cast:
Roy Grace - Matt Smith
Glenn Branson - John Boyega
Nick Nicholls - Dino Fetscher
Bella Moy - Charlie Murphy
Emma-Jane "EJ" Boutwood - Erin Kellyman
Cleo Morey - Vanessa Kirby
Alison Vosper - Jemma Redgrave
Michael Harrison - Harry Treadaway
Ashley Harper - Samara Weaving
Mark Warren - Harry Lloyd
Gill Harrison - Miranda Richardson
Phil Wheeler - Sean Gilder
Joe Tindall - Jason Watkins
Harry Frame - David Bradley
Vic - Noah Taylor
Sandy Grace - Juno Temple
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol, Car accident, Kidnapping, and Murder
Moderate: Suicide and Gore
atriasbookshelf's review against another edition
2.0
The fact that the reader knows who is the murderer from the start tells you how bad this book is.
Should have stopped reading midway.
Should have stopped reading midway.
colindalaska's review against another edition
1.0
It’s been a long time since I was this angry at a book.
For about two hundred pages this was a taut thriller possibly worthy of 5 stars. A prank has gone wrong leaving a groom to be in a coffin and the best man refusing to say where he is. Turn-paging goodness.
Then comes a twist that becomes increasingly silly as the book plays out.
And:
1) the police do nothing to check the emails of the people involved,
2) the police do nothing to investigate land owned by the groom and best man, where a body might be hidden
I was willing to let this slide until two of the protagonists do think to investigate/cover up the evidence.
And how is it resolved? By magic. A stupid, stupid ending that would have been more palatable if it had come at 250 pages and ending the rest of the nonsense before it began.
Last review of 2020, and I’m cross.
For about two hundred pages this was a taut thriller possibly worthy of 5 stars. A prank has gone wrong leaving a groom to be in a coffin and the best man refusing to say where he is. Turn-paging goodness.
Then comes a twist that becomes increasingly silly as the book plays out.
And:
1) the police do nothing to check the emails of the people involved,
2) the police do nothing to investigate land owned by the groom and best man, where a body might be hidden
I was willing to let this slide until two of the protagonists do think to investigate/cover up the evidence.
And how is it resolved? By magic. A stupid, stupid ending that would have been more palatable if it had come at 250 pages and ending the rest of the nonsense before it began.
Last review of 2020, and I’m cross.
patchworkbunny's review against another edition
4.0
It was refreshing to read a crime thriller where the dectective doesn't become personally embroiled in the case! I imagine this is much more like the real thing. Not very fast paced but still gripping, there is, after all, a man buried alive by his friends at the start...
sunflowers_reading_corner's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.0
soyyslut's review against another edition
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
picklebread's review against another edition
4.0
This book somehow managed to include an insane number of plot twists and clichéd moments without ruining the readability or enjoyability at all.
beastreader's review against another edition
4.0
I started out with the most recent book in this series and have now started back to the beginning. While, I liked the most recent book; I now see what this series is all about...Detective Superintendent Roy Grace. He is quick witted, commands respect from his co-workers, and does not stop until the case is solved.
Speaking of cases, this one had me from the beginning. In fact, I lost some sleep over it. Yet, I would gladly lose sleep for this book. Warning to self "don't ever agree to be the prankee in a prank". When the four friends got in that car accident and dead, I think I forgot to breath for a few. My next thought was "oh shit", now the stakes have just gotten higher. The story kept me hanging on until the end. Which took me a bit by surprise. I can't wait to continue this series with book two.
Speaking of cases, this one had me from the beginning. In fact, I lost some sleep over it. Yet, I would gladly lose sleep for this book. Warning to self "don't ever agree to be the prankee in a prank". When the four friends got in that car accident and dead, I think I forgot to breath for a few. My next thought was "oh shit", now the stakes have just gotten higher. The story kept me hanging on until the end. Which took me a bit by surprise. I can't wait to continue this series with book two.