Dead Simple by Peter James discussion.

[tinamoo]

I hope nobody minds me starting a new thread for this but I felt the actual discussion of the book might have got lost in the other thread.

Okay back to the book. I enjoyed the book even though I did not think that I would. Even though it is a genre I would normally go for I did not like the sound of the story at all. I had to put aside my feelings that the plot was slightly unbelievable. I have to say that I feel in reality there is no way that character would have survived so long in those circumstances.

I really liked the main character and really wanted to know the truth behind what had actually happened to his wife. Had she left him? Been murdered? I am sure that this will will be revealed in another book.

I guessed very early on that the fiancee was involved in the crime. It did tug at my heart that the person who was keeping the victim going whilst he was in the coffin was the person who was behind it in the first place, (although I did not know for sure at this point).

I loved the fact that Roy Grace consulted psychics and it was frowned upon. This is a subject that interests me but did not focus on it so much that anyone who has strong negative feelings on the subject would have the book spoilt for them.

It is hard to remember all my thoughts and feelings on the book to be honest. I remember thinking that it was not very believable that a man would be able to pick another man up and throw them over a balcony but perhaps that is me being picky. Was it explained how he got in? I cannot remember it doing but i no longer have the book so cannot say for sure.

I hated the last chapter. I thought that it was just there for the hell of it. It felt very contrived and rushed, almost as if the author himself was not sure how the book should finish. I very nearly put the book down in protest as I did not feel that chapter had been thought through.

I think what I am trying to say is |I did not like the ending It spoilt the book for me. I think he should have let them go on the run.

In conclusion I thought this book was okay. It was definately a pageturner. Right up until the last chapter (when I just wanted it to end) I looked forward to reading it. I would give another of his books in this series a go but I will not be running out to get hold of a copy for a while.[/font]

[skhwoody]

sounds interesting book, but not one i have read...

[Hobert Castanado]

(01-31-2010 11:13 PM)tinamoo Wrote:  I think what I am trying to say is |I did not like the ending

Sorry to butt in, just that one sentence grabbed my attention. I think very few books I have ever read have had a satisfying ending for me, practically every one i've read the ending just seems like the author got bored and thought ok that's it, lets wrap things up. The ones I can think of off the top of my head all seem to end with various different ways of saying 'and they all lived happily ever after'.

I have had this Peter James series in my TBR list for ages and ages, but never seem to get around to it!

[ruth]

Just popped on to say that I started this book this morning (lost track of days and thought I had another week to read this before the end of the month). I won't be reading the thread till I've finished, for obvious reasons

[PollyPips]

I love Peter James' stuff but had only read the horror. I never seemed to get round to the Roy grace stuff (Hence the reason i suggested it)

Like Tina I didn't like the sound of the story either but i was determined to read it. I'm so glad i did i absolutely loved it. I found myself falling a tiny bit in love with Roy (sorry Woody) and was desperate for him to find out what happened to his wife although I get the impression that maybe we never will. I felt sorry for the guy who was supposed to be best man though i know i should'nt have and hoped he might ,if not get away with it then at least stay alive. I have to disagree with Tina and say I'm glad it ended the way it did. The other two both deserved to die especially the girlfriend.

It is possible to pick up a fully grown man and throw him. Unfortunately I've seen it happen. I will definately be reading the rest of the series as soon as possible.

[ruth]

I've just finished this book, somewhat belatedly! I do like crime fiction, but it's hard to find really good books in that genre (I used to read a lot of it, and could often guess how a book would end). I enjoyed this one a lot, and really liked the character of Grace.

I will l say that I thought that most of the other characters were like cardboard cutouts - not a lot of great characterisation, but this didn't especially bother me; the story was plot, rather than character driven and maybe some of them will be expanded on further in the later books of the series (i.e., Grace's colleagues).

It would be interesting to know what had happened to Grace's wife, but as this was first book in a series, I guessed we wouldn't find out in this one. If she does turn up in the future, will it affect his possible relationship with Cleo?

I did feel a bit sorry for Mark - not initially, but as time went on. He had got in over his head and been taken in as spectacularly as Michael was. However, I had no sympathy whatsoever for Ashley and thought what happened to her was a fitting ending for her.

Even though the novel only took place over a short period of time, it was pacy and moved along at a quick rate, and I didn't want to put it down. I'd definitely be interested in reading more of the series.

This book had been on my tbr shelf for well over two years, so it was good to have finally read it!

[Tedster]

When I started this book I could not put it down and could feel the claustrophobia but as it continued it picked up a fast pace and I felt that it skirted over some things, like the discovery of the boy who had found the radio, I really wanted him to get involved in the search. The writing style reminded me of James Herberts' books where the chapters finish on a cliffhanger and then switch to a different story/character that get you thinking and frantically turning the pages but they eventually come together.
Grace is an interesting character and I can't wait to find out more about him when I read further books from the series.
All in all I did enjoy this book, it was fast paced and an easy read.