Set in Brighton, the Roy Grace series revolves around Detective Superintendent Roy Grace, a dedicated and skilled officer working for the Sussex Police Force. Readers describe Peter James’s series as an excellent police procedural that keeps them riveted.

Peter James is known for his attention to detail and accurate depictions of modern-day policing (he’s written several acclaimed true crime books, including Death Comes Knocking: Policing Roy Grace’s Brighton). He also has a talent for crafting gripping suspense, which he employs to great effect in this series. Grounding the books are his well-developed characters, who grow and change throughout the stories.

Roy Grace is featured in a few short stories, including Footloose (with Val McDermid) and In the Nick of Time (with Ian Rankin). A Twist of the Knife includes Roy Grace’s first-ever case as well as the story that inspired Dead Simple (Book 1).

They Thought I Was Dead: Sandy’s Story (2024) is a novel about Roy Grace’s wife. We recommend reading Dead Simple before this book to avoid spoilers, as the mystery surrounding Sandy is one of the central recurring elements in the series.