Reading order · 23 books · 2005 to 2026 · Set in Brighton
Roy Grace Books in Order
Detective Superintendent Roy Grace works murders in Brighton and Hove, while living with the mystery of his wife Sandy, who vanished years before. Gripping procedurals rich in Brighton life, with his friend Glenn Branson and his partner Cleo Morey.
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Series facts
- Books
- 23
- Published
- 2005 to 2026
- First book
- Dead Simple
- Latest
- Dead Three Two One (2026)
- Setting
- Set in Brighton
The reading order
Every Roy Grace book in publication order. Choose a title for its cast and summary.
23 books · Set in Brighton
- 1Dead Simple2005With Roy GraceOn his stag night, Michael Harrison is buried alive in a coffin as a prank by his friends.Buy on Amazon
- 2Looking Good Dead2006With Roy GraceTom Bryce picks up a disc left on a train, and finds it contains a recording of a murder.Buy on Amazon
- 3Not Dead Enough2007With Roy GraceA woman is murdered in her Brighton home while her husband was in London, but the evidence says he did it.Buy on Amazon
- 4Dead Man’s Footsteps2008With Roy GraceBones found in a Brighton storm drain lead Roy Grace to a man who used the attacks of September 11 to disappear.Buy on Amazon
- 5Dead Tomorrow2009With Roy GraceThe bodies of teenagers are found in the sea off Brighton, and a mother desperate to save her dying daughter is drawn into a dark trade.Buy on Amazon
- 6Dead Like You2010With Roy GraceA serial attacker known as the Shoe Man, unseen for twelve years, seems to have returned.Buy on Amazon
- 7Dead Man’s Grip2011With Roy GraceA student is killed in a road accident in Brighton, and his mother’s Mafia family want revenge on everyone involved.Buy on Amazon
- 8Not Dead Yet2012With Roy GraceA Hollywood star filming in Brighton is being stalked.Buy on Amazon
- 9Dead Man’s Time2013With Roy GraceAn elderly woman is killed in a burglary, and a valuable antique watch is stolen.Buy on Amazon
- 10Want You Dead2014With Roy GraceRed Westwood ends a relationship with a man she met online, and he will not let her go.Buy on Amazon
- 11You Are Dead2015With Roy GraceA young woman is abducted from her car park in Brighton, and Roy Grace fears a serial killer is at work.Buy on Amazon
- 12Love You Dead2016With Roy GraceA beautiful woman marries rich men, and they keep dying.Buy on Amazon
- 13Need You Dead2017With Roy GraceA woman is found dead in her bath in Brighton, and her husband is the prime suspect.Buy on Amazon
- 14Dead If You Don’t2018With Roy GraceA businessman’s son is kidnapped at a football match.Buy on Amazon
- 15Dead at First Sight2019With Roy GraceFraudsters are using stolen identities on dating websites, and a victim turns up dead.Buy on Amazon
- 16Find Them Dead2020With Roy GraceRoy Grace is a witness in the trial of a dangerous gangster, and the jurors are being threatened.Buy on Amazon
- 17Left You Dead2021With Roy GraceA woman disappears from a supermarket car park in Brighton.Buy on Amazon
- 18Picture You Dead2022With Roy GraceA couple discover that a painting they bought may be a lost masterpiece, and people are willing to kill for it.Buy on Amazon
- 19Stop Them Dead2023With Roy GraceA young farmer confronts intruders in the night and is fatally wounded, and Roy Grace hunts a gang willing to go much further.Buy on Amazon
- 20They Thought I Was Dead: Sandy’s Story2024With Sandy GraceThe story of Roy Grace’s wife, Sandy, and why she vanished.Buy on Amazon
- 21One of Us Is Dead2024With Roy GraceAt a funeral, a man glimpses someone he recognises who should no longer be alive, and Roy Grace learns how dangerous a dead man can be.Buy on Amazon
- 22The Hawk Is Dead2025With Roy GraceThe Royal Train is derailed on its way to a Sussex event and a trusted aide is shot dead, and Roy Grace’s investigation leads him to Buckingham Palace.Buy on Amazon
- 23Dead Three Two One2026With Roy GraceDuring Brighton Pride, an Albanian crime boss’s right-hand man checks into a seafront hotel, bringing a threat to the city’s biggest event.Buy on Amazon
Do you need to read them in order?
Read in order, starting with Dead Simple. The mystery of Sandy runs through the series.
Who appears in which book
The series’ main characters, book by book. Lead means the book is told around them; minor covers cameos.
| Book | Roy Grace | Sandy Grace | Glenn Branson | Cleo Morey | Norman Potting | Bella Moy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Dead Simple | LLead | ·Minor | MMajor | MMajor | ·Minor | ·Minor |
| 2 Looking Good Dead | LLead | ·Minor | MMajor | MMajor | ·Minor | ·Minor |
| 3 Not Dead Enough | LLead | ·Minor | MMajor | MMajor | ·Minor | ·Minor |
| 4 Dead Man’s Footsteps | LLead | ·Minor | MMajor | MMajor | ·Minor | ·Minor |
| 5 Dead Tomorrow | LLead | ·Minor | MMajor | MMajor | ·Minor | ·Minor |
| 6 Dead Like You | LLead | ·Minor | MMajor | MMajor | ·Minor | ·Minor |
| 7 Dead Man’s Grip | LLead | ·Minor | MMajor | MMajor | ·Minor | ·Minor |
| 8 Not Dead Yet | LLead | ·Minor | MMajor | MMajor | ·Minor | ·Minor |
| 9 Dead Man’s Time | LLead | ·Minor | MMajor | MMajor | ·Minor | ·Minor |
| 10 Want You Dead | LLead | ·Minor | MMajor | MMajor | ·Minor | ·Minor |
| 11 You Are Dead | LLead | ·Minor | MMajor | MMajor | ·Minor | ·Minor |
| 12 Love You Dead | LLead | ·Minor | MMajor | MMajor | ·Minor | ·Minor |
| 13 Need You Dead | LLead | ·Minor | MMajor | MMajor | ·Minor | ·Minor |
| 14 Dead If You Don’t | LLead | ·Minor | MMajor | MMajor | ·Minor | ·Minor |
| 15 Dead at First Sight | LLead | ·Minor | MMajor | MMajor | ·Minor | |
| 16 Find Them Dead | LLead | ·Minor | MMajor | MMajor | ·Minor | |
| 17 Left You Dead | LLead | ·Minor | MMajor | MMajor | ·Minor | |
| 18 Picture You Dead | LLead | ·Minor | MMajor | MMajor | ·Minor | |
| 19 Stop Them Dead | LLead | ·Minor | MMajor | MMajor | ·Minor | |
| 20 They Thought I Was Dead: Sandy’s Story | MMajor | LLead | ·Minor | ·Minor | ||
| 21 One of Us Is Dead | LLead | ·Minor | MMajor | MMajor | ·Minor | |
| 22 The Hawk Is Dead | LLead | ·Minor | MMajor | MMajor | ·Minor | |
| 23 Dead Three Two One | LLead | ·Minor | MMajor | MMajor | ·Minor |
Characters in the Roy Grace books
6 characters from Peter James’s chart, with the number of Roy Grace books each appears in.
| Character | Books | First in this series |
|---|---|---|
| Roy GraceDetective Superintendent in Sussex CID | 23 | Dead Simple 2005 |
| Sandy GraceRoy’s wife, who vanished years before the series | 23 | Dead Simple 2005 |
| Glenn BransonDetective and Grace’s closest friend | 23 | Dead Simple 2005 |
| Cleo MoreyMortuary manager and Grace’s partner, later his wife | 23 | Dead Simple 2005 |
| Norman PottingDetective Sergeant | 22 | Dead Simple 2005 |
| Bella MoyDetective Sergeant | 14 | Dead Simple 2005 |