Peter James Books In Order – Complete List

Last Updated on October 6, 2023

Reading the New York Times bestselling author Peter James books in order means picking up his main big series – Roy Grace – a crime thriller series that currently includes 19 released books, with the latest one, Stop Them Dead, published in 2023, and his two shorter series, Cold Hill and Max Flynn.

I have put together the list of Peter James books in order of publication for all his detective novels, standalone novels, short strories, novellas, collections, and anthologies released so far. I hope this list will help you too. If you do like thriller mysteries and want to pick up a new one for your reading pleasures, I can highly recommend the Roy Grace series by Peter James.

New Peter James Books

Roy Grace Books In Publication Order

1. Dead Simple (#1), 2005
2. Looking Good Dead (#2), 2006
3. Not Dead Enough (#3), 2007
4. Dead Man’s Footsteps (#4), 2008
5. Dead Tomorrow (#5), 2009
6. Dead Like You (#6), 2010
7. Dead Man’s Grip (#7), 2011
8. Not Dead Yet (#8), 2012
9. Dead Man’s Time (#9), 2013
10. Want You Dead (#10), 2014
11. You Are Dead (#11), 2015
12. Love You Dead #12), 2016
13. Need You Dead ( #13), 2017
14. Dead If You Don’t (#14), 2019
15. Dead at First Sight (#15), 2019
16. Find Them Dead (#16), 2020
17. Left You Dead (#17), 2021
18. Wish You Were Dead (#17.5), 2021
19. Picture You Dead (#18), 2022
20. Stop Them Dead (#19), 2023

Roy Grace Short Stories in Publication Order

• Wish You Were Dead, 2021
• Footloose, 2018 (with Val McDermid, in the MatchUp Collection series)

Why Should We Read The Roy Grace Books In Order?

Reading the Peter James Roy Grace books in order can enhance your overall reading experience and provide several benefits.

1. Character Development: One of the key advantages of reading a series in order is that it allows you to follow the development of the main characters over time. In the case of the Roy Grace series, you’ll get to know Detective Superintendent Roy Grace and other recurring characters more intimately as their stories unfold from book to book. Their personal and professional growth, relationships, and backstories will become more meaningful if you read the series in sequence.
2. Continuity of Storylines: Many mystery and crime series have overarching storylines that span multiple books. Reading in order ensures that you don’t miss out on any crucial plot points, subplots, or character arcs. You’ll have a better understanding of ongoing investigations, mysteries, and the progression of larger narrative arcs.
3. References and Callbacks: Authors often make references to events, cases, or characters from previous books within a series. These callbacks can add depth to the story and provide a sense of continuity. By reading in order, you’ll be better equipped to catch these references and appreciate their significance.
4. Chronological Events: Some series incorporate chronological elements, where events in one book may influence or set the stage for events in subsequent books. Reading out of order might lead to confusion regarding the timeline and the sequence of events within the fictional world.
5. Suspense and Surprise: Peter James may introduce twists, revelations, or developments in earlier books that have a significant impact on later installments. Reading the series in order allows you to experience these surprises as they were intended, preserving the suspense and the thrill of discovery.
6. Thematic and Emotional Arcs: In addition to character and plot development, some series explore overarching themes or emotional arcs that build over time. These thematic elements can be more resonant when experienced in order, as you witness the gradual evolution of the narrative.
7. Author’s Evolution: Authors often evolve in their writing style and storytelling techniques as a series progresses, and Peter James is no different. Reading in order allows you to appreciate how Peter James’s writing and storytelling may change or mature over time.

While it’s possible to enjoy individual books within a series as standalone stories, reading the Roy Grace series in order offers a more comprehensive and immersive experience. It allows you to fully engage with the characters and their evolving world, making the series more rewarding as a whole.

Cold Hill Series In Publication Order

1. The House on Cold Hill, 2015
2. The Secret of Cold Hill, 2019

Max Flynn Series In Publication Order

• Dead Letter Drop, 1981
• Atom Bomb Angel, 1982

Standalone Books In Publication Order

• Billionaire, 1983
• Possession, 1988
• Dreamer, 1989
• Sweet Heart, 1991
• Twilight, 1991
• Prophecy, 1993
• Host, 1994
• Alchemist,  1996
• The Truth, 1997
• Denial, 2000
• Faith, 2000
• The Perfect Murder, 2010
• Perfect People, 2011
• Absolute Proof, 2018

Short Stories in Publication Order

• Propellor, 1992
• Virtually Alive, 1995
• One Extra for Dinner, 1997
• Christmas Is For the Kids, 2011

Novellas and Short Story Collections in Publication Order

• The Perfect Murder, 2010
• A Twist of the Knife, 2014
• Footloose, 2018 (with Val McDermid, in the MatchUp Collection series)
• Wish You Were Dead (Roy Grace story), 2021

Anthologies in Publication Order

• Dark Voices 4, 1992
• Cyber-Killers, 1997
• Dancing with the Dark, 1997
• The Sounds of Crime, 2010
• Venice Noir, 2012
• The Killer Cookbook, 2012
• OxCrimes: 27 Killer Stories from the Cream of Crimewriters, 2014
• FaceOff, 2017
• MatchUp, 2017
• Ten Year Stretch: Celebrating a Decade of Crime Fiction at CrimeFest, 2018
• Afraid of the Shadows, 2021 (in the Afraid of the series)

Non-Fiction Books in Publication Order

• Death Comes Knocking, 2016 (with Graham Bartlett)
• Babes in the Wood, 2020 (with Graham Bartlett)

Peter James Books Adaptations

The Roy Grace books by Peter James have been adapted into an ITV series simply titled Grace, which currently includes four seasons. It stars John Simm as Roy Grace and Richie Campbell as DS Glenn Branson

The first season, which premiered in 2021, was made based on the author’s first book in the series, Dead Simple.

The second season, which aired in 2022 with four episodes, includes four Roy Grace books: Looking Good Dead, Not Dead Enough, Dead Man’s Footsteps, and Dead Tomorrow.

The third season, airing in 2023, has three episodes, and are based on the following books: Dead Like You, Dead Man’s Grip, and Not Dead Yet.

A fourth season is set to air in 2024, and it will include four episodes. It is based on the novels Dead Man’s Time, Want You Dead, You Are Dead, and Love You Dead.

Peter James Biography – About the Author

Peter James is a British award-winning author born in Brighton in 1948, who has written to date more than 30 books, produced (or helped produce) 26 movies, including The Blockhouse with Peter Sellers, Spanish Fly and The Bridge of San Louis Rey with Robert de Niro.

His mother was working as a glovemaker to the Queen, and his father helped run the family business, so they were never lacking financially. They also had a cook, a nanny, and a maid, so the early years of Peter James were quite privileged. In an interview, he mentioned that if he didn’t write to write books, he didn’t need to as he was never lacking money. Money definitely brought independence and financial freedom, although he loves writing books, so he will not stop any time soon.

He first started writing at the age of seven as he wanted to become a writer or a scriptwriter. When he was 17, he won a national short-story competition that was hosted by the BBC. He realized he wanted to seriously become a writer at the age of 14 when he read Brighton Rock by Graeme Greene. This book was also one of the reasons why the Roy Grace series is set in Brighton.

He first attended Charterhouse School, followed by  Ravensbourne Film School, a London University with Undergraduate and Postgraduate courses in fashion, design, and broadcasting. While in school, to be able to have some money, for some time he was the house cleaner of the famous Orson Welles, the famous American actor. During that time he also worked as a tour guide driving American tourists around London.

Later on, he moved to Canada in 1970 where he worked as a gopher and then a writer for the Polka Dot Door TV show. He also worked as a screenwriter and film producer for 26 films over the years, prior to him returning home to the UK.

In his twenties, he wrote and published two spy thrillers, but they didn’t really sell. He began writing earnestly in the early 1980s, but he had his first major breakthrough with Possession in 1988, followed by Dreamer in 1989.

At one time, some burglars broke into his home, and when the policeman arrived to investigate and take fingerprints, he noticed Peter’s books lying around. This is when he told him that if he needed help with research, he could always contact him. Peter James started to realize that there must be a lot of stories in the long life of a cop, and since then, crime mysteries began to interest him. This is when he turned to write crime fiction.

Absolute Proof, his standalone novel from 2018 actually began many years ago, in 1989, when an older man, Harry Nixon, called in on the phone and told him that he has been given proof of God’s existence, and Peter James was the person to bring this to light. For his 30-years of research for the story, Peter James not only spoke with religious leaders about proof of God’s existence but he even went as far as living for five days as a monk at the Mount Athos monastery in Greece, where women are banned from entering the place.

His books have been translated into over 30 languages and have been sold 17 million copies all over the world.

Peter James is also the founding father of electronic books. In 1994 his book Host was published not only the traditional way but also on two floppy disks. You can read more about what happened next in this Peter James interview.

The author still lives in the UK dividing his time between his house in Brighton and his apartment in London (Notting Hill).

Peter James Awards

Peter James received several awards for his books, including being the first-ever recipient of the Rheinbach Glass Dagger Award in acknowledgment of merits for crime fiction in 2017. He also received numerous other international awards, including:

• Book of the Year award, Horror Category for The House on Cold Hill in Poland in 2017
• Dead Good Readers Tess Gerritsen Award for Best Series in 2016 for his Roy Grace series
• CWA Diamond Dagger Award in 2016
• Dead Good Readers Dr Lecter Award for Scariest Villain for You Are Dead in 2015
• WHSmith, The Best Crime Author of All Time in 2015
• Sainsbury’s eBook of the Year for Want You Dead in 2014
• Outstanding Public Service Award by Sussex Police in 2012
• US Barry Award in Best British crime novel for Dead Man’s Grip in 2011
• ITV3 Crime Thriller Awards and People’s Bestseller Dagger for Crime Novel Of The Year  in 2011
• Sounds of Crime Award for best abridged novel for Dead Like You in 2011
• Quick Reads Readers’ Favourite Award for The Perfect Murder in 2010
• Honorary Doctorate by the University of Brighton for his ongoing contribution to the arts and to the status, infrastructure and culture of Brighton and Hove in 2009
• Le Prix Coeur Noir French award for Dead Simple in 2007
• German Krimi-Blitz for best crime writer of the year in Germany in 2005