One Of Us Is Dead by Peter James

 

Two cases of accidental death by poisonous mushrooms in a short space of time triggers suspicion in the Major Incident Team. As Roy Grace investigates he is surprised that the main suspect, Rufus Rorke, is a man who died two years ago. Grace isn't the only person to begin to wonder if Rorke really is dead.

One Of Us Is Dead by Peter James is the twentieth book in the Roy Grace series. Anyone who's read my reviews of some of the previous novels by  Peter James will know that I've long been a fan of the series. Nothing is ever going to beat the opening chapter of Dead Simple, the first book in the series, but I eagerly await each addition to the series.

The opening to  One Of Us Is Dead is slow as the author takes his time to build the complex storyline. We are introduced to pilot James Taylor at the funeral of one of his close school friend, Barnie Wallace, who died by mistaking field mushrooms for death cap mushrooms. Taylor is surprised to spot another close friend in the congregation, Rufus Rorke. The surprise is because Rorke died at sea two years ago. At the end of the service, the man disappears before Taylor can confront him.

Death by ingesting poisonous mushrooms has also piqued the interest of Roy Grace as it's the second case in a short space of time. Pretty quickly Grace also begins to wonder if Rufus Rorke is still alive. Rorke was close to being arrested for murder when he disappeared at sea.

Rorke is a highly intelligent sociopath who uses his acumen for financial gain. Through the dark web his main business is the sale of 3D-printed handguns. Murder is a sideline but one he relishes. Rorke excels at carrying out murders that appear to be tragic accidents, meticulous planning and execution avoid any suspicions. 

Peter James works closely with the police when researching his novels. After reading One Of Us Is Dead I'm intrigued to know how much is based on actual cases and how much is simply down to the imagination of the author. Attention to detail is shown in the dogged investigation by the police. Analysing CCTV and questioning suspects is just the tip of the iceberg. The thought of going through rubbish bins is enough to turn the strongest stomach.

Being hunted from two different sides would be enough to make anyone with the means flee, but Rorke is filled with hubris. Having got away with things almost undetected for so long gives him a sense of invulnerability and this leads to his downfall in quite a dramatic way.

One Of Us Is Dead by Peter James will be published on 24th September 2024 in hardback, ebook and audio format. My thanks to NetGalley and Pan Macmillan for a review copy.

Author Details

Peter James is a UK No.1 bestselling author, best known for his Detective Superintendent Roy Grace series, now a hit ITV drama starring John Simm as the troubled Brighton copper.

Much loved by crime and thriller fans for his fast-paced page-turners full of unexpected plot twists, sinister characters, and accurate portrayal of modern day policing, he has won over 40 awards for his work including the WHSmith Best Crime Author of All Time Award and Crime Writers’ Association Diamond Dagger.

To date, Peter has written an impressive total of 19 Sunday Times No. 1s, sold over 21 million copies worldwide and been translated into 38 languages. His books are also often adapted for the stage – the most recent being Looking Good Dead.