Dead Like You

Detective Superintendent Roy Grace, of Brighton, England, is struck by the apparent reappearance of the "Shoe Man," a rapist/murderer who committed crimes in 1997 and then disappeared. Is the current killer a copycat, or has the Shoe Man resurfaced? Grace works against the clock as he seeks to head off the next crime. David Bauckham's British accent and measured pacing lend credibility to the diverse characters--from victims to serial rapists to law enforcement. Grace has a personal tragedy of his own--his wife disappeared with no explanation 10 years earlier. One can hear the pain in Bauckham's voice as Grace delves into twists of fate and coincidences that link his current investigation with past events. The suspense and violence mount until the parallel timeframes shockingly merge. A.W. (c) AudioFile 2011, Portland, Maine

October 4, 2010
Det. Supt. Roy Grace and his major crimes team discover disturbing similarities between two Brighton rapes in the thrilling sixth entry in James's popular U.K. crime series (Dead Simple, etc.). In particular, the rapist used the women's shoes to violate his victims. In 1997, a similar series of rapes occurred in Brighton, committed by someone known only as the "Shoe Man." The Shoe Man had five confirmed victims, but Grace always suspected that 22-year-old Rachael Ryan, who disappeared soon after the rapes ceased in 1997, was the Shoe Man's only murder victim. Grace's failure to find Rachael's body has haunted him since. James ably shifts between the present-day investigation, with its numerous suspects, who all appear guilty of something, and the earlier inquiry. The disappearance a decade earlier of Grace's wife, Sandy, is another ongoing mystery that will leave readers eager for the next installment.