BookBingeRoy Grace Books in Order
The short answer
Peter James · 21 books
- How many books?
- There are 21 books in the Roy Grace series, published 2005–2025.
- Is it finished?
- No — it's ongoing.
- Next book
- Dead in Three Two One, scheduled for 20 October 2026.
- Where to start
- Start with Dead Simple (2005).
About 10,300 pages — roughly 170 hours of reading
A Brighton detective haunted by his missing wife pursues the city's most twisted criminals with dogged, meticulous instinct.
Here is the complete Roy Grace reading order — all 21 books by Peter James, in the order you should read them:
Reading order
- Dead SimpleA stag-night prank goes horrifyingly wrong when the groom is buried alive, and Detective Superintendent Roy Grace races against time to find him.2005480 pages
- Looking Good DeadA seemingly innocent good deed pulls Roy Grace into a dark web of murder and organized crime in Brighton.2006336 pages
- Not Dead EnoughRoy Grace investigates a brutal murder while still privately haunted by the unresolved disappearance of his own wife.2007611 pages
- Dead Man's FootstepsA body linked to the 9/11 attacks resurfaces years later, forcing Roy Grace to confront a man who faked his own death.2008592 pages
- Dead TomorrowRoy Grace uncovers a horrifying organ-trafficking ring while investigating the disappearance of a teenage girl.2009727 pages
- Dead Like YouA string of new attacks eerily mirrors an unsolved serial rape case from years earlier, forcing Roy Grace to revisit an old nemesis.2010664 pages
- Dead Man's GripA hit-and-run death spirals into a deadly game of revenge involving organized crime and Roy Grace's own team.2011416 pages
- Not Dead YetA Hollywood star's arrival in Brighton to film a movie brings a stalker's obsession to a dangerous boiling point.2012646 pages
- Dead Man's TimeA jewel heist gone wrong and a decades-old vendetta collide, drawing Roy Grace into New York's criminal underworld.2013506 pages
- Want You DeadRoy Grace tracks an online relationship that spirals into a terrifying campaign of stalking and arson.2014400 pages
- You Are DeadA series of disappearances suggests a killer once thought caught is still at large, putting Roy Grace's own family at risk.2015408 pages
- Love You DeadRoy Grace investigates a glamorous con artist who seduces and kills wealthy men for their fortunes.2016400 pages
- Need You DeadA wealthy woman's disappearance during a bitter divorce leads Roy Grace into a tangled case of deception and greed.2017512 pages
- Dead If You Don'tA teenager's kidnapping at a football match sends Roy Grace racing against a ransom deadline and encroaching gang violence.2018419 pages
- Dead at First SightAn online romance scam turns lethal, drawing Roy Grace into the dangerous world of internet catfishing.2019400 pages
- Find Them DeadA high-stakes jury trial and a missing-persons case converge as Roy Grace hunts someone determined to silence witnesses.2020400 pages
- Left You DeadA missing wife and a body discovered years later force Roy Grace to reexamine a case he thought was long closed.2021400 pages
- Picture You DeadA lucky flea-market discovery draws a couple, and eventually Roy Grace, into a deadly conspiracy over a lost painting.2022400 pages
- Stop Them DeadA father's fight to protect his daughter from a predatory ex-boyfriend spirals into a case of obsession and violence for Roy Grace.2023560 pages
- One of Us is DeadA glittering high-society anniversary party turns deadly, and Roy Grace must work out which of the guests is a killer.2024560 pages
- The Hawk is DeadWhen a royal train is attacked with Queen Camilla aboard, Roy Grace pursues a threat that turns out to be far more personal than anyone realizes.2025
Good news: for this series, reading order and publication order are the same — just read straight down the list.
Upcoming: the next book, Dead in Three Two One, was scheduled for 20 October 2026. BookBinge Pro can notify you the day it drops.
On our lists: Long-running mystery series
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Get BookBingeFrequently asked questions
How many Roy Grace books are there?
There are 21 books in the Roy Grace series by Peter James, from Dead Simple (2005) to The Hawk is Dead (2025). Book 22, Dead in Three Two One, was scheduled for 20 October 2026. Together they run to about 10,300 pages.
Is the Roy Grace series finished?
No. Peter James is still writing it: book 22, Dead in Three Two One, was scheduled for 20 October 2026, following The Hawk is Dead (2025).
What is the first Roy Grace book?
Dead Simple (2005) is book one, at 480 pages. A stag-night prank goes horrifyingly wrong when the groom is buried alive, and Detective Superintendent Roy Grace races against time to find him.
Should I read the Roy Grace series in publication order?
Yes. For the Roy Grace series, reading order and publication order are the same — Dead Simple (2005) through The Hawk is Dead (2025).
How long does it take to read all Roy Grace books?
About 10,300 pages across 21 books — roughly 170 hours at a page a minute. The longest is Dead Tomorrow (727 pages); the shortest is Looking Good Dead (336 pages).