A return to great form with an engrossing story

I was disappointed by by the author's previous book, Dead Tomorrow, but am delighted to say that the present book is the best yet. A intricately plotted detective story that never flags with just the right amount of personal details about the main players to flesh out their characters. For those who have been following the life and career of DCI Grace there is an intriguing side story about his wife Sandy who disappeared a decade earlier. The narrator is very good and does a variety of convincing accents. Recommended.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

25 people found this helpful

James at his best

Where does Dead Man's Time rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

This book ranks high amongst my 'listens'. Fist of all the narration is excellent. The story is probably the best of all the Roy Grace books and it has the distinction of eliciting sympathy for one of the shadier characters. I was willing him to commit not one but two murders by the end of the book. I was also pleased that one other man got away with murder too.So that says something about how unusual this story is. There is also quite a delightful twist in the tail. I have a few unanswered questions but all in all a five star book.

Who was your favorite character and why?

The old man because I was on his side from page 1 line 1.

What does Daniel Weyman bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you had only read the book?

Daniel Weyman's narration brings the characters to life much more vividly than mere reading ever could and greatly enhances the listening experience. His change of voice and accent for each character never waivers throughout the story and Peter James must be delighted to have such an excellent reader of his book.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes, but also wanted to make it last as long as possible. Quite a dilemma!

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

11 people found this helpful

Back on form

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

This was Peter James back on form with a good solid interesting read with all our favourite characters.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Dead Man's Time?

Lots of suspense and a worrying plot-line about Roy's girlfriend and new baby to keep the personal interest alive.

Any additional comments?

I have loved all the Peter James Roy Grace books and this is one of the best so far so all fans will really enjoy and new comers should start at book 1 and work their way through, they would not be disappointed.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

8 people found this helpful

No insight into women

The author seems to frame women in a stereotypical light, throughout the series. Or rather, the female characters are written to be how a *man* imagines them to be. They are often "psychos" or "horny"... A postnatal mum who a) has time to read several books. b) is endlessly understanding when her partner fails to prioritise her. c) gets "horny" after reading the fifty shades books whilst her stitches are still healing, and asks about handcuffs for when she's feeling better.... I'm a midwife and I guarantee that's the worst insight into the female mind I've ever heard. It's very distracting to constantly have women subtly stereotyped. Multiple references to the way women look and how sexy they would or wouldn't look in certain clothes. Yet I have no idea what Roy Grace himself actually looks like 🙄 Total shame as the stories themselves are often clever. Shame the author doesn't apply that intelligence to understanding women.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

6 people found this helpful

Bit tired

disappointed was really looking forward to book but very predictable plot and characters were getting annoying. Not up to his usual standards and his ex wife thing has gone on too long and lost momentum
Very well read that was all that kept me going really

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

6 people found this helpful

Back to form

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

I would recommend to a friend. Feel that Peter James is back on form as a crime writer.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Just love Norman - he is so un pc! However Grace is always good value.

What does Daniel Weyman bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you had only read the book?

I enjoyed his reading - felt he brought the characters alive - even if you were not a Grace fan before.

If you made a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

Brighton goes gangland.

Any additional comments?

Enjoy listening to books very much - especially now that my sight is impaired. Have always been an avid reader. Thank you Audible for making books so accessible.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

5 people found this helpful

The story continues

I have read all the Roy Grace novels and enjoyed them all I thought this was a good story and held my interest as usual. I am sick sick SICK of the Sandy story now and I really wish it was over. Perhaps she could go the same way as Ali (wife of Glen Branson) I was quite glad with that outcome as I was so sick of Branson going on about his life and misery
I enjoyed the way the story progressed and the ending was good Its nice when Grace travels around and makes for more interest.
I would like to get a break from Cleo but dont think that is going to happen as they have a baby together etc. She is like a wet dishcloth and dull as ditch water but I guess that is the way it is
The narration was good and would recommend.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

4 people found this helpful

Graceful Recovery

This series needed a good episode and with Dead Man's Time it got it. We've had our ups and downs with Roy Grace and this is certainly one of the former. It trumps the previous book in a number of ways; it's less gimmicky even if the author's fascination with the US continues, Daniel Weyman is definitely a step up from the previous narrator though I still wish that there was more differentiation between Branson and Grace while probably most important of all are the improvements in plot and pacing. This is a much tighter and well crafted story, the reduced length certainly helps making less most definitely more.

The tie-in from the start to the conclusion of the main storyline I found particularly impressive giving the book a genuine symmetry. The truly chilling Apologist is a step up from some of the previous villains and there is also a deliciously inadequate old nemesis gunning for Grace too. The Sandy storyline provides one real punch to the gut moment late on too.

In all a very satisfying return to form.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

3 people found this helpful

Great company for my bout of pneumonia

Where does Dead Man's Time rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

I don't think you can answer this question since one judges a book according to its genre. However, I thought that as far as detective novels go, this certainly ranks high.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Dead Man's Time?

What was memorable was Daniel Weyman's impeccable rendering and, although I live in Switzerland I was born and bred in Brighton and Hove, which I left in 1969. So a novel that brings to life my childhood haunts so well is memorable just for that alone. Perhaps, in answer to this question, I found myself feeling such fear for Cleo and baby and had somehow intuited that her possible killer would die before reaching her but I just had to find out before going to sleep

What about Daniel Weyman’s performance did you like?

Wonderfully modulated voice, never intrusive and extremely pleasant on the ear. He read every word with the same degree of engagement all the way through and did an excellent job with the accents too. Above all such a PLEASANT voice. I was rather ill with pneumonia at home in bed and he really kept me company for several days. Thank you Daniel.

If you made a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

Dead Man's Time: life is ticking away for an old man, whose last desire is to avenge his long dead father. Obsession with this desire is what keeps this old man's ticker ticking to the last

Any additional comments?

My only problem with Mr. James is the rather cruel nature of the violence, but I guess that if you want to sell, you have to play the violence up rather than down.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

3 people found this helpful

Welcome Return for Grace

I'm glad this series still continues to grab your attention. Grace is suffering from lack of sleep, being a new dad has its problems. Another father/son combo are at loggerheads in the criminal world over stolen antiques. When Grace is brought in to oversee a murder investigation, he doesn't realise how close to home this job will be.

There was a great sense of foreboding all the way through this as you knew either his wife or a vengeful ex con was out to get him - the tension was played brilliantly.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

3 people found this helpful