I love Peter James’s Grace series and his writing but I am divided on Sandy’s story, because as much as I wondered what and where Sandy had been all the years Roy had been looking for her this story just had an air of unbelievability to it. Certain key points were briefly mentioned and then glossed over and other parts were just dragged out and unlikely, I won’t say what and why as that will give away key points in the story, As to Bruno her son he gets a bit of the limelight as to his upbringing and why he was like he was but not to much insight to him. I’ve always felt it was a shame he was written out of Roy’s life so abruptly as he would have been an interesting character to see develop but that’s another story.
All in all I’m glad I’ve read it and if you too are a die hard Grace fan then read it but I do not feel it’s not a must read novel.

I have been reading Peter James' novels for years and have read most of the Roy Grace series. So I am familiar with the fact that Sandy Grace disappeared many years ago and Roy has never known what happened to her. Which made this book an intriguing 'must read'.

I liked the fact that the book is written in Sandy's voice as a first person narrative. The storyline was good tackling some big issues, such as addiction. I spent the entire book wondering whether Sandy and Roy would reunite, partly willing it to happen and partly not. And also wondering whether the poor decisions Sandy makes along the way would catch up with her.

I felt as though the storyline around Nicos was unfinished in a way. Surely Sandy would have tried to claim some inheritance or his legitimate business in Jersey?

This is a great read, which sits alongside the Roy Grace series and fills in some background information which many readers have been curious about for a long time.

Many thanks to NetGalley for an early copy in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this spin off Roy Grace book that allows us to really find out from Sandys point of view why she disappeared and what she was doing all those years. Great writing from Peter James as always. It made me think of Sandy as a more in depth character and there were real reasons for her disappearance. The book follows her as she makes her escape from Brighton and who she has been involved with in the decade since she went. Their are topics covered such as addiction and gambling and also who she can trust as she is always looking over her shoulder. I love that parts of the book ties in to the previous series and things start to make a lot more sense when you put it altogether. We also find a bit more out about Bruno, his upbringing and psychological issues. I cant wait for the next in series and I will be recommending to others.

This is a story about the life of the very troubled wife of detective Roy Grace and how she managed to get herself into so much trouble with some very dangerous people and finally to disappear whilst all the time still holding a candle for Roy. This sad tale is well written and I am sure readers of the Roy Grace series will love it.

Oh Sandy! Having read all of the books in the series I was pretty captivated by the story of Sandy and her mysterious disappearance. I always assumed there could be so much more to her story and felt the need to know all the answers so, in that respect, this book was to be a real treat. It was, however, so much more than just the answers Sandy’s own story is far more complex than I outdoor ever have dreamed and deservedly needed to be told. I’m aware I’m actually writing this as though she’s a real person because I’m so engaged and invested in the whole saga that I (almost) feel that way. Granted she doesn’t always make the right decisions along the way but who does? Her vulnerability and love for those around her, however, really shine through in this story and I’ve smiled but cried probably in equal measures. As ever the author makes the most foreboding and sinister of ‘bad guys’ and I felt lots of very real threat looming. Domestic abuse and coercive behaviours are also tackled headlong and sensitively and honestly. This book and definitely the ending will one hundred percent stay with me and in my thoughts for a very long time. Truly feel privileged to have been on the rollercoaster ride.

I enjoyed this book as it gave an interesting view of things from Sandy's point of view. As a long-time fan of the Roy Grace books I really appreciated this clever addition to the series.
I will definitely be recommending this book.

3.5 stars rounded up.
I've not read any of the Grace series but have watched them on TV. I love them, so I was intrigued to read Sandy's story.
I'm probably in the minority here, but I really didn't love this at all. I didn't know what to expect, but it wasn't the car crash that is Sandy.
Sandy leaves Roy (as we all know, no surprise there). Her life goes from one crisis to another. The dodgy men she meets. Never learning the first time. Heading into disaster after disaster. I know there has to be a good story, but for me, it was disappointing. I felt a lot that happened was over the top. It was certainly a rollercoaster of a ride.
I'm still mulling over the ending. I'm not sure if it was the right decision.
Thanks to Netgalley and Pan Macmillan for the ARC in return for an honest review.

I have read all Roy Grace series when I started with Dead Simple which was probably my favourite overall then I went on to read the rest of the series.

I enjoyed this book and it was good to read more about Sandy which we only got smatterings of in the Roy Grace series. It was well written as usual from Peter James and I was involved in the storyline from the beginning until the end.

Thank you to Netgalley and Pan Macmillan for this ARC which I can thoroughly recommend.

Sandy Grace, wife of detective Roy Grace, simply disappears one day. There are no clues and at one point suspicion even falls on her husband. As the story unfolds, we discover her reason for disappearing and what happens to her over the next decade.

To date, Dead Simple, the first book in the Roy Grace series, remains my favourite. At the start of the series Roy’s wife, Sandy, is already missing. Over the next decade, and the proceeding books, author Peter James kept his fans wondering about exactly what happened to Sandy. We had possible sightings but nothing concrete until the twelfth book in the series, Love You Dead.

They Thought I Was Dead is Sandy’s story. We find out about her upbringing and early years married to Roy. More importantly, we discover exactly why she disappeared. Sandy was a gambling addict and had run up debts with an unauthorised money lender. Worried about the repercussions and the shame she would bring to Roy she felt the only solution was to disappear.

Sandy was fortunate that she met a rich man with the connections she needed to escape, including changing her identity. What she didn’t realise was that she was exchanging one life-threatening situation for another.

As a long-time fan of the Roy Grace series, I’ve always wondered what happened to Sandy, and why she would leave what appeared to be a happy marriage. They Thought I Was Dead answers those questions and Sandy doesn’t come out of it well. Author Peter James has done a fantastic job writing from Sandy’s perspective, giving her a distinct voice, unfortunately, I found her to be shallow, self-absorbed, ungrateful and weak. Sandy never seemed to be content with what she had, always wanting more.

We are given a glimpse into the personality of Sandy’s son, Bruno. In the Roy Grace series, it is obvious that he isn’t a “normal” child and we discover exactly why. I was hoping for a little more about Bruno, particularly as I was always on edge when he was featured in the Roy Grace books.

Overall, the book gives us answers and what I consider to be a satisfying, and suitable, conclusion.

I just assumed this would be another installment in the series but omg, it's finally Sandys story!!! This is a must read for any fans of the series and finally gives us the story of what happened to Sandy in all the time she was gone. Its well written, Peter James is an amazing author with cleverly plotted out books full or original and interesting characters. It's all of the highest quality storytelling you could imagine. This could easily work as a standalone but it is 100% a must red for fans of the series. And as always with Peter James books, nothing is ever straight forward and simple and it's just impossible to out down

I have to be honest this is the first Peter James book I have read, my friends have read them all so that here goes... I was not disappointed at all, great storyline, characters you could relate to and there are some great funny moments.. won't say as it will spoil it. I am now going to start reading Peters books, brilliant author, thank you Netgalley and publishers

I’ve read all the Roy Grace books so was familiar with Sandy. This book gives us her back story from her point of view rather than from Roy’s. Sandy gets herself into all sorts of trouble with debt, gambling, drugs and the wrong sort of people. People that Roy would be very interested in but Sandy can’t tell him. She is obviously an adrenaline junkie - only really alive when things are getting exciting. Various men take advantage of her in different ways. She makes bad decisions and has to live with the consequences. And all the time, Roy is in the dark as to her whereabouts and circumstances. I enjoyed the book hugely. Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for an ARC.

This is a must read for fans of DS Roy Grace in the 'Dead' series, the first novel published in 2005. The disappearance of Sandy (Roy's wife) was something that haunted him, despite being a great detective he was unable to fathom where she had gone. It also was something Peter James inserted in to most of the 'Dead' series, whether it was a new line of enquiry, a sighting or a tip-off, the enigma ran and ran. I am not going to be a plot spoiler as we have waited so long to discover what happened. What I can say it is a chronologically linear story and is a compelling read. I am unsure as to whether it would mean much to a reader who had never read a DS Roy Grace novel but to those that have it is catnip.

A very welcome addition for loyal fans of the Roy Grace series, They Thought I Was Dead is a very clever tale of the back story surrounding the disappearance of Grace's wife, Sandy; a disappearance that became a long-running feature of the series, weaving in and out over the years, as both Grace and, by default, the reader, learnt a little of how and where, but never really why.

The title of this story gives us one huge clue, so it's not exactly a secret even to newcomers to the series that Sandy Grace didn't die when she vanished - so what did exactly happen and, more importantly, why? So much has happened to the recurring characters in the intervening years and numerous plot threads have given hints, but here Peter James has very cleverly (extremely cleverly, in fact) been cunning enough to now take those hints one more time, throw them in the air, and drop them in perfect order, as well as create a pretty darn memorable story about what Sandy Grace did that led to her disappearance all those years ago.

I can't pretend to remember each and every Grace novel word for word, having read them more or less as they were published, but I do remember enough to suggest that They Thought I Was Dead works so well as both a standalone novel as well serving the purpose of answering some "Sandy" questions that the reader didn't know they had. Yes, some of the events seemed just a tad implausible at times, considering we're not talking about a career criminal, but run with it and just enjoy the antics.

I was delighted to receive this ARC from NetGalley as Sandy has loomed large in all the books and I needed answers! This is a decent read. Sandy is as frustrating and irritating as I believed and to be honest the only doubt is how a man like Roy Grace could be duped.
Still, this is an important read, for those of you addicted to the Grace series. I just found it slow at times but a good read overall.

Thanks to NetGalley and PanMacmillan for the opportunity to preview.

Followers of Peter James’ “dead” series featuring Detective Roy Grace are very familiar with Sandy, Roy’s wife who suddenly went missing prior to the start of the first book and is presumed dead….until she makes an appearance in book 11 or 12. We find out she is alive and has been living in Germany with her son but we only get snippets of her life’s tale, Now, in book 21 we finally get to hear the story of what happened to her and why, with no warning, she disappeared on Roy’s 30th birthday leaving no explanation effectively condemning him to prolonged anguish as he sought clues of her disappearance, enduring suspicion that he might have disposed of her himself and many years with his life on hold reluctant to abandon hope of her return. I was certainly curious to find out what had happened to her and whether there was any reasonable explanation for her having put our friend Roy through such pain and suffering.
It turns out Sandy has quite the story to tell!
Peter James’s has long demonstrated his skill at creating interesting and unpredictable characters though this is usually reserved for the most villainous of villains. In this book Sandy is the star character whose actions and decisions and thought processes are presented to the reader for close scrutiny……and they are nothing short of chaotic! Perhaps this is because Sandy, who is being treated by a Psychiatrist in the story, demonstrates a lot of psychotic behavior and the Author is trying to creates a real picture of the world inhibited by someone with such illness. Or perhaps it is just that he is portraying her as the villain? Certainly from Roy’s perspective that could be the case. Some would say, the day she disappeared was his lucky break!
Apologies for being cryptic with this review but I do not want to give anything away! I did find it yet another page turner from Peter James and his wonderful gift at story telling. I would recommend this book to most readers even if you have not read any of the series. In fact, this book might be a good place to start!
Many thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for providing access to this pre publication edition.

Loved, loved, loved this.

Raced through it, but also didn't want to end.

Sandy is a character who has 'appeared' in every Roy Grace novel as he dealt with his wife one day being there, the next day vanished. We, as loyal readers have been there as his garden was dug up as he was suspected of her murder, false leads and then finally declaring her dead after 10 years enabling Roy to finally move on and remarry.

We think we know Sandy, we think we'll hate her for what she put Roy through... We know nothing!

I found myself strangly rooting for Sandy as she finds herself in an unimaginable position. Almost understanding why she did what she did and the reason that caused her disappearance. We are then taken on a whirlwind journey of what her life without Roy was... It's dark, it's hard hitting and at times you feel so much sympathy for Sandy and wonder how she manges to keep that sarcastic humour.

This is a must for any Roy Grace fans... Just one comment though... Cassian Pewe, just ew, ew ew! 😉

Thanks to netgalley for the opportunity to review this book this is my honest opinion.

For over a decade, the mystery of what has happened to Sandy Grace after she disappeared has perplexed readers of the Roy Grace books. Now, we finally have the answer - this is the tale of what happened in the hyphen, why Sandy left and what happened to her before she appeared in a German hospital.

I will say that I was very excited to find out what had happened - it's been one of the long-running mysteries of the series and it doesn't disappoint necessarily. However, Sandy is - to put it politely - not exactly the most sympathetic character, and it does occasionally veer into the territory of there being no one to really root for in the story. A solid 4* book for me.

Finally - finally, we have found out what happened to Sandy when she disappeared out of the blue. She has been a recurring theme throughout the series with small hints about what transpired.

Now we know and this is a fascinating and unexpected tale of how she literally fell from grace which can be read as a standalone but will be welcomed by the many fans of this wonderful series of police procedurals.

Been waiting to read Sandys story for a long time now! Finally, the answer to the question on everyone's lips (not least the husband she left behind), what happened to Sandy Grace when she disappeared from Brighton on her husband's thirtieth birthday…. Yes we finally get to know what was going through sandys mind. The kind of book you will find yourself saying urgently, over and over, to friends: 'Have you read it?