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Want You Dead: Detective Superintendent Roy Grace    by Peter James Amazon.com order for
Want You Dead
by Peter James
Order:  USA  Can
Minotaur, 2014 (2014)
Hardcover, e-Book
* * *   Reviewed by Hilary Williamson

Peter James' Want You Dead is the tenth in his Dead series starring the very likeable (and competent) Detective Superintendant Roy Grace. Roy's wife Sandy disappeared over nine years before and has finally been declared dead (but plays a part here). Now Grace is happily living with mortician Cleo, who accepts the demands of his job. They have a new baby son and are about to tie the knot.

The mystery opens on a golf course immolation by fire, but was it really suicide? Turns out this is a tale of online dating gone badly awry. After Red Cameron posted an entry ending 'Seeks new flame to rekindle her fire', she met Bryce Laurent. Handsome, wealthy, charming - he seemed the ideal lover until he turned controlling and constantly belittled and abused Red. Now flames have begun to engulf everything - and everyone - around her, as her stalker, skilled in close magic, watches her very closely.

It's an engrossing read as Bryce makes - and executes - his plans, while Roy and his team work hard to figure out his next moves, and to track him down before he does even more damage. As all this goes down, Roy and Cleo prepare for their wedding and honeymoon. Sandy lurks, with her son Bruno, and fulminates. And Roy worries about his new boss, who is his deeply arrogant old nemesis Cassian Pewe.

Peter James ties up all these fascinating threads into a very satisfactory conclusion, though fans will still have to wait to see what trouble Pewe will cause for DS Roy Grace. This is a very engaging series, which I hope will continue for a long time to come.

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