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hayesstw's review against another edition
4.0
At one level this book is a conventional whodunit, one of a series of crime novels by the same author, with Detective Superintendent Roy Grace of the Brighton Police as the protagonist. But, unlike many crime novels, it lacks the disclaimer that all the characters are fictitious and bear no resemblance to living persons. Some of the characters are fictitious, while others are not, and are clearly based on living persons.
While the events in the story are fictitious they are based on things that are happening in the world today, where the fastest-growing criminal industry is human trafficking. Human trafficking is defined in the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime as
The novel deals primarily with the removal of organs, and to a lesser extent with prostitution.
Kidnapping and abduction can take place in other circumstances, and often seem remote from everyday life, but in the last couple of weeks I've been receiving neighbourhood crime reports and warnings that include the following:
In case anyone hasn't noticed the period referred to above is that of the football World Cup, and there are thousands of foreign football fans in the country, and criminals wanting to prey on them and others. Special courts have been set up to bring swift justice to anyone committing crimes against foreign visitors during the World Cup, and it is interesting that most of those who have been convicted of such crimes are themselves foreigners. Transnational crime is no joke, and it is more than just an urban legend.
The point of all this is that this book is not simply a good crime novel, but also a way of learning about a form of crime that is rapidly growing in the world today. It is one that has not left South Africa untouched. The novel describes a human organ trafficking ring, and there was such a ring operating in South Africa a few years ago
While the events in the story are fictitious they are based on things that are happening in the world today, where the fastest-growing criminal industry is human trafficking. Human trafficking is defined in the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime as
The recruitment, transportation, transfer, harbouring or receipt of persons, by means of the threat or use of force or other forms of coercion, of abduction, of fraud, of deception, of the abuse of power or of a position of vulnerability or of the giving or receiving of payments or benefits to achieve the consent of a person having control over another person, for the purpose of exploitation. Exploitation shall include, at a minimum, the exploitation or the prostitution of others or other forms of sexual exploitation, forced labour or services, slavery or practices similar to slavery, servitude or the removal of organs. The consent of a victim of trafficking in persons to the intended exploitation set forth [above:] shall be irrelevant where any of the means set forth [above:] have been used.
The novel deals primarily with the removal of organs, and to a lesser extent with prostitution.
Kidnapping and abduction can take place in other circumstances, and often seem remote from everyday life, but in the last couple of weeks I've been receiving neighbourhood crime reports and warnings that include the following:
Children will be extremely at risk during the period 09 June to 11 July. Parents should ensure that their children are under constant supervision and that they do not go to cinemas or shopping malls unless properly supervised. Remember that Mr. Price and Open Door Crisis Centre has safe places with trained staff at all the shopping Malls where there are Mr. Price shops.
In case anyone hasn't noticed the period referred to above is that of the football World Cup, and there are thousands of foreign football fans in the country, and criminals wanting to prey on them and others. Special courts have been set up to bring swift justice to anyone committing crimes against foreign visitors during the World Cup, and it is interesting that most of those who have been convicted of such crimes are themselves foreigners. Transnational crime is no joke, and it is more than just an urban legend.
The point of all this is that this book is not simply a good crime novel, but also a way of learning about a form of crime that is rapidly growing in the world today. It is one that has not left South Africa untouched. The novel describes a human organ trafficking ring, and there was such a ring operating in South Africa a few years ago
At least 30 Brazilians have sold their kidneys to an international human organ trafficking ring for transplants performed in South Africa, with Israel providing most of the funding, says a legislative commission in Brazil.
baileybird's review against another edition
4.0
The usual gripping read from Peter James with several intriguing storylines woven together into a tense outcome.
judefire33's review against another edition
5.0
Omg this instalment of Roy Grace has so many surprises and is so gripping I've just finished it at 0453! Best one so far!
thebookmouse's review against another edition
3.0
I was originally going to give this a two star rating as apart from the Lynn and Caitlin parts of the book I didn't really enjoy it. It had a good plot and definately a very engaging and meaningful issue within it, however I just found it too slow paced.
Maybe I would have enjoyed it more if I had read the previous 'Roy Grace' novels, but I didn't and I encountered no problems delving right into the middle of a series with other novels.
One thing I did love was how much it made me think about the issues that come up in the book. For that I gave it an extra star.
Maybe I would have enjoyed it more if I had read the previous 'Roy Grace' novels, but I didn't and I encountered no problems delving right into the middle of a series with other novels.
One thing I did love was how much it made me think about the issues that come up in the book. For that I gave it an extra star.
yowlyy's review against another edition
3.0
Somehow less gripping than its precedent book. Still, it's a decent story. And more development in the Sandy issue...
louisebray's review against another edition
5.0
I’d forgotten just how good this series is. I love the way you see the point of view of everyone, even the “bad guys”, so I genuinely don’t know how the story’s gonna turn out until the very end. A real page-turner.
clarehitchens's review against another edition
5.0
As much as I love it, I rarely give 5 stars to detective fiction. This book, however, rose above the rest for me. Gripping throughout.
undomiel's review against another edition
5.0
My favourite crime series, no doubt about it!
James' professional experience in the police force is what puts this series far above any others out there, not to mention is Stephen King-like flare for creating suspense and mystery.
Like all others in this series, the plot is well-developed, and follows a gripping growth as more clues unfold. What i especially value in the Roy Grace series are the under-lying narrative arcs of Roy and his fellow colleagues that last all the way up until the present/most recent instalment; allowing some space from the criminal world, giving us sometimes comic relief, sometimes romance, and sometimes heartache; like all the Roy Grace novels, this is a cut above the rest of the crime-authors out there!
James' professional experience in the police force is what puts this series far above any others out there, not to mention is Stephen King-like flare for creating suspense and mystery.
Like all others in this series, the plot is well-developed, and follows a gripping growth as more clues unfold. What i especially value in the Roy Grace series are the under-lying narrative arcs of Roy and his fellow colleagues that last all the way up until the present/most recent instalment; allowing some space from the criminal world, giving us sometimes comic relief, sometimes romance, and sometimes heartache; like all the Roy Grace novels, this is a cut above the rest of the crime-authors out there!
lnatal's review against another edition
4.0
Just arrived from Greece through BM.
This is my first book of the Roy Grace series and I really enjoyed it. The plot describes a very actual problem involving the black-market organ.
This is my first book of the Roy Grace series and I really enjoyed it. The plot describes a very actual problem involving the black-market organ.
ladywriter55's review against another edition
4.0
A solid 4.5! Of course I love this book, it's Roy Grace! The characters continue to develop, A LOT happens that I can't talk about because spoilers! But wow, I loved the back stories in this book. I had to dock half a star from my previous reviews, just because of the crime in this one. Give me a bloody cold blooded vicious murder by a crazy person any day! But human trafficking and organ stealing? It just wasn't the same! I found it difficult to keep up with at times, with all the Romanians having similar names!
Even so it's still an awesome book and everyone should read it!
Even so it's still an awesome book and everyone should read it!
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