When a young farmer confronts intruders in the middle of the night he has no idea that just minutes later he will be left dying in a pool of blood. What’s more chilling is what the perpetrators were willing to kill for. When a young farmer confronts intruders in the middle of the night he has no idea that just minutes later he will be left dying in a pool of blood. What's more chilling is what the perpetrators were willing to kill for. 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. The range of different crimes covered are nothing new, but the way in which they are all brought together is done well and is a timely reminder to people about some of the dubious practises criminals are involved in. We see the myriad of ways in which the unsuspecting and trusting public can be conned. Grace is a character that it’s impossible to dislike, he’s honest, caring, dedicated & not afraid to show it all, either in regards to chasing down the criminals that chose a bad route when they neared him, but also in regard to his family & friends, Grace bares it all, unashamed to show his love & appreciation for what he truly knows is a blessed life.

The only ‘bad’ part I could really say about this book, & some others, is it felt very cut short & I was a little disappointed that the Bluebell side was not completed a little more, perhaps by a trip to the airport… Stop Them Dead” is the latest novel in the long running Roy Grace series by Peter James. Offering very much the same as earlier novels in the series, this will please ongoing readers. It’s also very accessible to readers new to the series. In the dead of night, a farmer hears a suspicious noise. It’s everyone’s worst nightmare: a break-in. When he confronts the intruders, he has no idea that just minutes later he will be left lying in a pool of blood. But the chilling truth lies not in the act itself, but what the perpetrators were willing to kill for.The book follows on the event of a farmer, Tim Ruddle who is killed trying to prevent a group of thieves kidnapping his dogs worth thousands of points. Roy is called into to action to investigate as senior investigating officer and bring justice where Tim leaves behind a wife and two young kids. The book delves into the depth of dog breeding/ kidnapping and illegal imports in the UK, which I am surprised is not spoken about or covered in the news much. Honestly reading this book felt like I was watching an TV episode - it’s written well but researched to a tee. You can tell the level of detail James has put in to make the plot realistic and credible. 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. 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. Discover the darkness that lurks around every corner in the latest instalment of the award-winning Grace series, now a major BRITBOX series. 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" by Peter James delivers another thrilling addition to the acclaimed Grace series that will leave you on the edge of your seat. Set in a world where darkness lurks at every turn, this book plunges readers into a heart-pounding race against time. When a seemingly routine confrontation turns deadly for a young farmer, the story takes an ominous twist. Detective Superintendent Roy Grace uncovers a sinister underbelly of crime beyond the initial robbery, revealing a nationwide wave of illegal dog trade controlled by ruthless organized gangs. So Peter James clearly loves dogs. There's no other reason for the overrarching nonsensical plot line centred around illegal dog farming. There is simply no way that Sussez's best detective, its ACC and CC would prioritise a manslaughter during a dog theft with the same level of seriousness as we have previously seen reserved for serial killers. 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.Grace never loses sight of the fact he’s investigating a murder, which underlines how ruthless the criminals he’s seeking are. They’re only interested in profit, and don’t care who gets hurt along the way. 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.

I’m not sure how I feel about that, I do know I felt the author should of given more time & ‘fleshed out’ her character as well as Bruno’s, it felt to me like the author had just gotten bored of them & just killed them off, so to speak. Careful investigation and planning lead to a nail-biting conclusion and I was on the edge of my seat, seriously worried about more than one of the police team. I know that Peter James does meticulous research for all of his novels but he has excelled himself this time. The novel presents a solid crime story. Although the broad form of the novel offers no surprises, there’s an interesting angle on the crimes being investigated, and the wealth of investigative detail will absorb crime fans. 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.”

The way he portrays how a 7 year old would speak in a pool (more like a 2-3 year old) jars and also that parents would leave a child who has been declared critically ill to go to the office to cancel appointments/ go home have a shower (well Roy and Cleo would, but just doesn’t add to any emotional journey). Maybe I am unique but I’d be being sedated. Bruno was a weird story line which PJ suddenly didn’t know what to do with. I was convinced he was a future serial killer but he just got taken out with a few half hearted chapters is just weird.