Book #19: Dead Man's Grip by Peter James
Dead Man's Grip by Peter James
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
The seventh book in the Roy Grace series opens with a tragic accident in which a cyclist is killed. It starts off as a commentary on how every little decision we make has consequences, in this case one character's decision to cut up another vehicle instead of letting it pass. It seems like a simple case, but things are made more complicated when it transpires that the cyclist is the grandson of a Mafia don in America, and his family want revenge.
So, they hire a hitman who kills two of the people seem as responsible for the accident, and starts targeting the third person, Carla, who happens to be a single mother.
I thought this was one of the better novels in the series, particularly as it built to a climax involving Carla's son. I spotted one easter egg for the benefit of anyone who read the previous books, as the obsessive taxi driver from "Dead Like You" made a brief appearance. As usual, there were some very graphic moments, mostly involving the hitman's victims, and it will be interesting to watch the recent ITV adaptation, which I have saved up to watch, and see how much was broadcast in an 8pm timeslot.
There was also a subplot near the beginning involving Grace's lover Cleo falling ill, which caused some drama, but which ultimately seemed inconsequential. There was a surprise in the last chapter that made me want to read the next title sooner rather than later.
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