The paperback edition of ONE OF US IS DEAD, the twentieth book in Peter James’s internationally bestselling Roy Grace series, is a UK Number 1 bestseller – his 21st Number One.
Upon publication, ONE OF US IS DEAD went straight to Number 3 and now, after a full week of sales, it has reached Number 1 – a rise of 48.1%. The hardback edition was also a UK bestseller, hitting Number 3 in the charts when it was published in October last year. All the books in the Roy Grace series are published by Pan Macmillan in the UK and the US.
When James Taylor arrives late for a funeral, he has to stand at the back of the small church. But as the service progresses, Taylor notices a man six rows in front of him. At first he thinks he must be mistaken, but the more he looks at him, the more convinced Taylor becomes that this is his old schoolfriend, Rufus Rorke. Except it couldn’t be him, could it? Because two years ago, Taylor attended Rufus Rorke’s funeral. He even delivered Rufus’s eulogy...
On the other side of Brighton at Police HQ, Detective Superintendent Roy Grace has been alerted to a number of suspicious deaths that he can’t get out of his mind. But how are they linked? And how could they possibly be connected to Rufus Rorke? Roy Grace is about to find out just how dangerous a dead man can be...
In other exciting news, the fifth series of Grace returned to screens this month. It continues to dominate viewing figures, with the first episode (DEAD IF YOU DON’T) achieving a consolidated 4.8 million viewers after only seven days. Episode 2 (DEAD AT FIRST SIGHT) reached even higher, with consolidated figures of 5.1 million. Both episodes surpassed ITV1’s slot average of 2.6 million viewers. Season Six begins shooting in Brighton very soon too!
Peter is working hard on the next pulse-pounding novel in the Roy Grace series which will be published in October, with more details coming soon.
Photo credit: Mark Dixon
About Peter James
Peter James is the international bestselling author of many award-winning novels. Peter writes both thriller standalones and the hugely popular Brighton-set Roy Grace series.
Peter’s books have been translated into thirty-eight languages, with worldwide sales of over twenty-three million copies and his Detective Superintendent Roy Grace series, set in Brighton, has given him 21 Sunday Times Number Ones. In 2015 WH Smith customers voted him the Greatest Crime Author of All Time and in 2016 he was awarded the coveted CWA Diamond Dagger, a lifetime achievement award for sustained excellence. In 2018 he received a Specsavers Honorary Platinum Bestseller Award and in 2024 he won four Silver Nielsen Bestseller Awards. Peter James has also written two books based on true crime stories, with former senior detective Graham Bartlett.
Peter took part in the launch podcast of the Queen’s Reading Room in January 2024, having had the Roy Grace series featured on the Royal Reading Room previously. He appeared on the podcast again in June 2024, where he was named one of Her Majesty’s favourite crime writers and Roy Grace her favourite fictional detective!
Praise for ONE OF US IS DEAD
‘All hail the Queen’s favourite detective as the indefatigable Peter James returns with the 20th Roy Grace mystery (already).’ – The Times
‘Another just-one-more-page-thriller.’ – Anna Bonet, i newspaper, ‘The best new books to read in September 2024’
‘First the smash-hit TV series, now the 20th novel – Detective Superintendent Roy Grace is going flat out, sirens and all… a simple case spirals into a complex soup of ego and murder in this twisty page-turner.’ – Bill Todd, The Sun, Pick of the Week, 5-Star Review
‘DS Roy Grace returns in the twentieth gripping instalment in Peter James’ bestselling series, as links to a man supposedly dead and buried start cropping up in an ongoing investigation into a series of suspicious deaths.’ – Waterstones, ‘September’s Best Books’
‘ONE OF US IS DEAD is a fabulous thriller... Loads of twists and turns… a great holiday read.’ – Kym Argo, The Citizen
‘The long-time British mystery and procedural writer Peter James has done it again with his newest novel, ONE OF US IS DEAD. The book starts with James Taylor attending the funeral of a friend. But weirdly enough, he recognizes a man in the front row of the church, and this man also happens to be Taylor's friend. But Taylor eulogized his friend two years ago, so how can this be? That anomaly is enough for Detective Roy Grace of Brighton; his curiosity is peaked while, at the same time, he's working several homicides as any police detective does. A pattern develops, which is fascinating and delicately connects the deaths. Peter James is a solid procedure writer; I recommend ONE OF US IS DEAD. And I also suggest you check out his long and well-written backlist.’ – Great Mysteries & Thrillers
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