Picture You Dead Review by Nina Jervis-Green

July 23, 2025

Thanks to Nina Jervis-Green from www.ninathewriter.com for this review.

Ever wished you could be THAT person, who goes to a car boot sale and unwittingly returns with a masterpiece worth millions? Picture You Dead might make you wish again.

The 18th novel in Peter James’s best-selling Roy Grace series takes us into the world of fine art, through married couple Harry and Freya Kipling (no relation to the famous purveyor of cakes). They’ve just discovered that their cheap car-boot painting, bought for its beautiful frame, is hiding what could be a long-lost 18th century masterpiece.

We’re also introduced to a roguish art forger-turned (almost) respectable artist, Dave Hegarty, who is based on the real-life forger David Henty. His believable copies of classic paintings come in extremely handy as the twisty-turny plot unfolds… so much so, that this is less a tale of “whodunnit” than “who’s got it”.

Along with his trusty colleague Bella Moy, it’s down to the now-Detective Superintendent Roy Grace to tie up the story’s many odds-and-ends, which includes a long-unsolved murder. This seems like a near-impossible job, given the murkiness of the art world and the flimsiness of the evidence to hand.

Deftly played by Casualty’s George Rainsford, Grace is a much-needed calm and authoritative presence throughout. Fans of James’s novels will appreciate the subtle, well-written nods to this much-loved character’s own complex backstory, and his relationship with Moy (Gemma Stroyan, reprising the stage-role she herself originated) is believably strong.

Ore Oduba shines as Stuart Piper, the sinister art collector who’s desperate to get his grubby hands on the Kiplings’ new-found masterpiece – though I personally found him way too likeable for a villain! Luckily, his magnetic sidekick Roberta ‘Bobby’ Kilgore, played by Jodie Steele in fabulous stiletto boots, is every inch the violent, heartless baddie a show like this needs.

Forger Dave Hegarty is played by Mark Otoxby, with a healthy dose of cheeky- chappy energy and comedic quips. He does a fantastic job of lightening the mood at key points, as well as leaving you constantly unsure about whose side he’s really on. Meanwhile, Ben Cutler and Fiona Wade play the Kiplings in a familiar, heartfelt way that’s sure to resonate with many married couples.

Designed by Adrian Linford, the set is both clever and classy, with dark wood- panelling and exquisite framed paintings evoking a suitably refined atmosphere. The music and lighting are completely on point, and there are several laugh-out-loud moments I wasn’t expecting, given the darkness of the plot (see: the Kiplings’ appearance on ‘The Antiques Show’, with a charismatic performance from Adam Morris as art expert Oliver De Souza).

“It’s nice to see a traditional piece of theatre with a story someone’s actually thought about,” muttered the person in the seat behind mine, after the cast had taken their final bows and the rousing audience cheers had stopped. I couldn’t help but agree.