Peter James has shared how thrilled he is with the reaction to Roy Grace after a “phenomenal” year for the character on page, stage and screen.
The author from Brighton has praised the reaction to the latest series of ITV’s hit adaption of his novels ,which aired for a second season in 2022, as well as the release of his latest story, Picture You Dead.
Now, Peter is looking ahead to a new year for the story which is set to see a third series of the detective drama as well as a new book and stage show.
The author said: “It has been phenomenal, I’m really happy about it. I have been able to speak to readers about the new book and reaction has been really good.
“It was a gamble to move the release from May to the Autumn but so far it has been very encouraging.
“I’m always nervous when a new book comes out. When you finish a book all the time it hasn’t come out it’s brilliant and then you wait for the Amazon reviews. It’s doing really well.”
Picture You Dead, released in September, is the 18th story in the Roy Grace detective series which is based in and heavily influenced Brighton, where Peter grew up.
In the latest novel, Peter delves into the dark underworld of art forgery, with elements of the tale largely based on Saltdean art forger David Henty, a personal friend of the author.
As part of the story, the novel attempts to pull back the veil on the elite world of the profession and explore the criminal dealings that come with these often-expensive purchases.
After meeting David while writing a non-fiction book on crime, David spoke of the ways in which he was able to forge paintings in the style of some of the most revered artists in the world.
To recreate a painting in the style of painters such as Van Gogh and Fragonard, David would take steps including using frames from the period of the artist and mixing all the paints by hand using the same methods as the artists.
David would also wear a smock from the period and would make sure to get fibres from the garment in the painting, as well as leaving the painting by a fire in order to give it the cracks and the patina reminiscent of 18th century artwork.
The pair struck up a friendship and Peter was invited to open an exhibition of the artist's forgeries displayed under his own name.
The author added that he was then given a painting in the style of L.S. Lowry as a thank you which was so good that even the top experts on the painter could not tell it was a fake.
Peter said: “I think the art world for most people is a rather exclusive club of people in suits with short ties whereas the art world is actually not far from the second-hand car business.”
The synopsis for the book follows Harry and Freya, a couple who find a priceless painting at a car boot sale.
After buying the painting for cheap, the story develops as the couple are “are about to discover that their dream is turning into their worst nightmare”.
In the book, Roy Grace “finds himself plunged into an unfamiliar and rarefied world of fine art. Outwardly it appears respectable, gentlemanly, above reproach. But beneath the veneer, he rapidly finds that greed, deception and violence walk hand-in-hand.”
Alongside the success of Picture You Dead, Peter also praised his on-screen characters who are currently shooting the third season of the show in Brighton.
After the second season of the show, Peter said that actor John Simm had now embodied the role of his titular detective.
Peter said: “If I had done a photo fit of Roy Grace I would have come up with something quite similar to John Simm.
“John has grown into the role of Roy Grace and so has Richie Campbell as Glen Branson.
“I’m really happy with the filming it’s going really well. We recently launched the show in Germany and it is already smashing the ratings.”
Filming for the third season has been spotted across Brighton and Sussex ahead of the next release of the show in 2023.
Based at the Brighton racecourse, filming for the show has also been seen in shops, residential roads and abandoned supermarkets.
In the next season, Peter said that viewers can try to spot him in Grace in a cameo appearance in the show.
The next season of Grace is expected to air in 2023. The character is also set to appear on stage in the dramatization of Wish You Were Dead, which comes to the Theatre Royal in May and stars George Rainsford and Giovanna Fletcher.
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