Peter James

Author

Peter James is one of Britain's most successful crime and thriller writers, best known for the long-running Roy Grace detective series set in and around Brighton. With over twenty million copies of his books sold worldwide, translated into thirty-seven languages, he has earned a reputation as a master of the modern police... procedural. Born in Brighton in 1948, James has deep roots in the city that features so prominently in his fiction. His father was a prominent local accountant, and Peter grew up with a fascination for crime and the macabre — interests that would eventually define his career. Before turning to writing full-time, he had a varied career that included working in the film industry, where he produced several films and developed a keen eye for dramatic storytelling. His first novel, Dead Letter Drop, was published in 1981, but it was the launch of the Roy Grace series with Dead Simple in 2005 that transformed his career. The series follows Detective Superintendent Roy Grace of Sussex CID as he investigates complex, often chilling crimes in the Brighton area. Dead Simple — in which a man is buried alive in a coffin as a stag-night prank gone wrong — immediately gripped readers and established the series as a must-read for crime fiction fans. The Roy Grace novels now number over twenty, with titles including Looking Good Dead, Not Dead Enough, Dead Man's Grip, and Picture You Dead. Each book is meticulously researched — James spends considerable time with Sussex Police and takes pride in the procedural accuracy of his fiction. He has been praised by serving officers for the authenticity of his portrayal of modern policing. The audiobook editions of the Roy Grace series have been hugely popular, with narrators bringing the tension and atmosphere of James's Brighton to vivid life. The books translate exceptionally well to audio, with their tight plotting and cliffhanger chapter endings making them compulsive listening. The series has also been adapted for television as Grace, starring John Simm, which has brought the character to an even wider audience. James is a patron of numerous charities and has received the CWA Diamond Dagger, the highest honour in British crime writing, for his sustained excellence. He lives near Brighton and continues to write with the same energy and commitment to his craft that has made the Roy Grace series one of the most dependable pleasures in British crime fiction. Read more Show less