Book Review: Looking Good Dead

Reviewed By: Catherine Thompson - RAM

Looking Good Dead     Amazon US TPB Amazon US HC Amazon UK HC Amazon Canada TPB Amazon Canada HC
Peter James
Class/Genre:   Mystery   Thriller
Series: Detective Superintendent Roy Grace # 2
Macmillan, 400 pages

When Tom Bryce picked up the CD left behind on the train, he intended only to find its owner. Instead, he found a link to a website where he saw the film of a murder.

Detective Superintendent Roy Grace has his hands full. He’s being charbroiled by the press for his involvement in a high-speed chase that left two civilians injured and two villains dead, and his superiors are threatening to transfer him to Yorkshire or some other distant post. Now he’s caught a huge murder investigation. Janie Stretton, a young law student, has been found in a field just outside of Brighton. Well, her torso, legs, and one hand have been found. Grace knows that this case may very well be his last in Brighton if he doesn’t solve it quickly. Then Tom Bryce comes to his team with his disturbing discovery, which sends Grace on a whole new tack.

You can tell that Looking Good Dead was written by someone with a background in film. It moves like so many jump-cuts: now here, now there, now somewhere else, dashing from cops to innocent bystanders to villains. That might work in film, but it doesn’t work on the page. Worse, I found myself not liking any of the characters. If a reader can’t find at least a little something to like about your characters, you might as well give up writing and take up farming or something. The capper came when I read the high-speed chase and smash scene set in the middle of Brighton. I’ve been to Brighton, and if there’s a less likely place to set a police chase, I can’t think of it.

Catherine Thompson - RAM

Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, Catherine Thompson - RAM