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John Grebble Is Gone

Not yet published
Expected 1 Aug 26
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John Grebble wakes up to discover he’s been declared dead. His bank account is frozen, his car repossessed, and his entire existence erased. Someone wants him gone—permanently.

Within hours, his world unravels. His debit card is declined. His car is towed away. His office locks him out. The police treat him like a criminal. According to every system, every database, every official record—John Grebble is no more.

But John is very much alive. And as he tries to uncover who could have pulled off such an elaborate erasure of his identity, he realises this isn’t just a mistake—it’s personal. Someone with intimate knowledge of his life has gone to extraordinary lengths to scrub him out completely. And this is just the start…

In this gripping short thriller laced with dark humour, Number One Sunday Times bestselling author Peter James can John Grebble uncover who would go this far to destroy him before it’s too late?

73 pages, Kindle Edition

Expected publication August 1, 2026

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About the author

Peter James

262 books3,807 followers
Peter James is a global bestselling author, best known for writing crime and thriller novels, and the creator of the much-loved Detective Superintendent Roy Grace. With a total of 21 Sunday Times No. 1s under his belt, he has achieved global book sales of over 23 million copies to date and has been translated into 38 languages.

Synonymous with plot-twisting page-turners, Peter has garnered an army of loyal fans throughout his storytelling career – which also included stints writing for TV and producing films. He has won over 40 awards for his work, including the WHSmith Best Crime Author of All Time Award, Crime Writers’ Association Diamond Dagger and a BAFTA nomination for The Merchant of Venice starring Al Pacino and Jeremy Irons for which he was an Executive Producer. Many of Peter’s novels have been adapted for film, TV and stage.

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5 stars
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579 (32%)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 167 reviews
Profile Image for Vicki Herbert.
788 reviews198 followers
July 6, 2026
D.O.A...

JOHN GREBBLE IS GONE
by Peter James

5 stars. John Grebble learned of his own death when he opened a letter from his bank. Up until then, he was a boring man living a mundane life in the shadows...

Mostly, he just wanted to stay under the radar as he'd done all his life...

He was a happily single man living in a hilly suburb of the seaside city of Brighton. His 1950s house had a nuclear fallout bunker in the cellar...

John Grebble worried about everything...
And now, he was D.O.A....

The bank letter announced that due to his death, his checking and savings accounts were frozen...

Things spiraled from there...

His ATM card wouldn't work for his bus fare, his car was repossessed, and his fingerprint entry ID at work wasn't working...

Making him late for work for the first time...

He was at a loss to explain why "the system" had declared him null and void, but he was determined to find answers...

I rarely rate a short story 5 stars because the author has to work extra hard to tell his story in fewer words while making readers feel like they'd experienced a full-blown novel. Mission accomplished here.

This was an Amazon First Reads selection, and for once, I didn't feel like I was thrown a bone. The story was a humorous mystery with a great ending.

Recommended!
Profile Image for Ceecee .
2,873 reviews2,412 followers
June 11, 2026
A short story.
Imagine waking up one morning to receive a letter from your bank informing you that you are in fact, deceased. Dead. Brown bread. That’s exactly what happens to John Grebble, who by his own admission is a mouse like man, a bit faded, not unlike a sepia photograph. However, dead he most certainly is not and his day is going to get a whole lot worse as he tries to sort out the error.

This is a really good short story with John‘s dilemma coming across loud and clear with some well placed humour interspersed with the frustrations he confronts. John is a very interesting character despite his “ greyness”, he’s quirky, a loner but he has a determined spirit and he certainly needs it here. I feel his pain when confronted by the inevitable AI and its inability to comprehend some issues - gah!!

Writing short stories is not easy but Peter James has constructed a page turner here and his skill at telling a lot in a few words is very apparent. I like the way it flows and it gives me a wry chuckle at the end. It’s great fun and very entertaining for less than an hour of your time. Recommended.

With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Amazon Publishing for the much appreciated early copy in return for an honest review.
Profile Image for Katie.
120 reviews13 followers
June 28, 2026
3.5⭐️ The premise & shifting morality of the characters kept me engaged. The writing style was well executed. The story was suited towards being a short story/ novelette. I love when an author chooses the best form for the story they are telling!

However I wasn’t totally convinced by the ending. Can’t say more without spoilers. Several points of continuity issues & questions left unanswered… it did give my best friend & I a lot to talk about though!
Profile Image for Richard.
2,437 reviews204 followers
June 20, 2026
Clever title. Perfect crime.

Trouble is, there was a witness left ‘alive’. He needs to be silenced quickly; any delay could be fatal.

Fortunately, no-one believes his evidence or really listens to him. Why would they? He’s dead!

An intriguing premise.

Initially I thought John Grebble was dead.
That he woke up a ghost and the short story would be his attempts to work out how he died and find his murderer.

Then it dawns on me and to this excellent protagonist that he has been the victim of identity theft.

Loved the preamble which sets the story up so well.

Peter James is a capable and engaging author but what marks out his writing is his careful and detailed plotting. All the information is given seamlessly in the narrative with creative language and imagery building up a sense of place and character.

As the story comes to its conclusion these matter of fact references are collected to bring excitement and completion to the piece. It all fits to together and we are in no doubt over motive and resolution.

Surely, John Grebble is a good man. He provides for his Mum, cares for his animals and deserves some happiness.

A pleasure to read and a wonderful introduction for new readers to this supreme writer in this genre of crime fiction.
Allows everyone to see what some of us already knew.
Profile Image for LISA.
262 reviews4 followers
July 6, 2026
Good, quick read

Interesting, fast paced short story. Well drawn characters, and a satisfying ending. Easy to read in an hour or so.
Profile Image for Kristine .
153 reviews1 follower
June 10, 2026


John Grebble is notified that he has been declared dead and all of his accounts are frozen pending the estate process. I could feel his panic and frustration in this story as his attempts to convince everyone that he is still alive. The tension was high, the story compelling, and the ending very satisfying. Overall enjoyable quick thriller read.
Profile Image for Breana Jobin.
28 reviews2 followers
July 6, 2026
The short story wasn’t exactly gripping or exciting - I was going to give 2 stars but the author was a sweet, cute old man so I gave 3 stars 😭😭
Profile Image for Casey Reads 🌸.
487 reviews499 followers
July 2, 2026
Yeah… no. Didn’t like the writing style and was just a very weird story..

Thank you (or not so much) to Amazon First Reads for this free copy.
Profile Image for Alan (the Lone Librarian) Teder.
2,857 reviews295 followers
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
July 6, 2026
A Long Time Gone
A review of the Prime First Reads Kindle eBook edition (July 1, 2026), released in advance of the official publication by Amazon Original Stories (AOS) in eBook format & by Audible Originals in audio format (August 1, 2026).
A while back he’d come across something Oscar Wilde had said, with which he completely concurred: Other people are quite dreadful. The only possible society is oneself.

I have had a fairly good run with the AOS First Reads of bonus short stories this year and happily that continues with this month's entry by Peter James. This is a standalone and does not feature any of his series characters.

At first, you won't warm to the character of John Grebble. He is both a miser and an misanthrope who hoards his money (although paying for his elderly mother in care) and avoids human contact. He works as a compliance officer at a law firm by day and goes home at night to a friendly budgie and a standoffish cat named Winston Smith (yes, named after the character in Orwell's 1984).

One morning, Grebble awakens to receive a notice that he is deceased and that all his funds have disappeared from his bank account. His bank card no longer works and his pass no longer lets him into his workplace and his car is repossessed. As he faces the cold world of the bureaucracy that stands against him, your sympathies begin to turn in Grebble's favour. Will he discover the truth behind what has happened to his life and identity?

John Grebble is Gone was an entertaining and suspenseful read which took you on a rollercoaster ride where a dystopic world of bureaucracy builds a seemingly insurmountable wall to one man's efforts to prove his own identity.

Trivia and Links
Author Peter James is a crime and suspense novelist and occasional short story writer. He usually writes books with series characters and his most popular work is Dead Simple (2005) which is the first in the CID Detective Superintendent Roy Grace series (2005 - ongoing) which has also been adapted for the Grace TV series (2021 - ongoing) starring John Simm as Roy Grace. His next published work will be Dead in Three, Two, One (expected October 20, 2026) which will be #22 in the Roy Grace series.

Amazon Prime First Reads advance reading copies (ARCs) are available to Amazon Prime subscribers. They offer advance reads of books in Kindle eBook format one month before the date of official release. The current month's selection is available here (Link goes to Amazon US, adjust for your own country or region).

You can watch for current and past Amazon Original Stories which are usually paired with their Audible Original narrations at an Amazon page here (link goes to Amazon US, adjust for your own country or region).
Profile Image for Brian Stabler.
220 reviews17 followers
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
June 27, 2026
What would you do if the world suddenly decided you didn’t exist?

John Grebble Is Gone takes that chilling premise and runs with it: one morning, John Grebble wakes up to discover he’s been officially declared dead. His bank account is frozen, his job gone, his car repossessed, and even the police begin treating him as a suspect rather than a victim. As systems systematically erase him, he is forced into a rapidly escalating nightmare where proving he is alive becomes harder than anyone should ever have to imagine.

The story is strongest in this growing sense of paranoia and helplessness, as bureaucracy and digital infrastructure become indistinguishable from active threats. The escalating erosion of John’s identity is effective at sustaining tension and creating a claustrophobic, unsettling atmosphere.
John is a fairly subdued protagonist, which keeps the focus on the central concept. His passivity reinforces the theme of erasure, though it also limits emotional dynamism. A brief romantic subplot feels underdeveloped and slightly disconnected from the main narrative tension.

Where the story struggles most is in its ending. After a careful, escalating build-up, the resolution arrives abruptly, with key explanations and character shifts that feel only partially earned. The mystery is resolved, but without the depth or structural buildup needed to fully satisfy the premise.
Ultimately, John Grebble Is Gone is an engaging, unsettling thriller built on a strong hook and an effectively claustrophobic middle section. While the ending doesn’t quite land, the core idea is compelling enough to make it a worthwhile, if somewhat frustrating, read.

Thanks to NetGalley, Amazon Publishing UK and the author for an advance copy.
Profile Image for Elainedav.
197 reviews13 followers
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
July 2, 2026
Hmmm - I tend to think short stories are a bit disappointing and this is honestly how I felt about this book. Peter James is a great author and I always enjoy his longer books.

The premise of the storyline is interesting. John Grebble wakes up one day to find that he has been registered as dead. He has a letter from the bank, his bank card no longer works, he can't access his workplace and his car is towed away. These events are described really well and you feel his frustration and distress. But it left me with so many questions. There has to be a body to register a death - how was this overcome? The registry office's 'do it once' process is presumably how all the oganisations learned of the supposed death. I've used this service, it's clunky and slow and not every organisation is notified, so this also felt unrealistic. However, this part of the story is good, compelling, interesting and even funny at times.

The ending was disappointing too. Serveral times in the narrative, John Grebble's mother is mentioned. She is in a care home and he is paying the bills. At the end, I felt as though she had been abandoned and this didn't fit with the characterisation of John throughout the story. I felt that had this story been developed into a full size novel my questions and disappointments would have been addressed and it would have been a much more enjoyable read.

Many thanks to NetGalley for an early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Profile Image for Cc Readsss.
305 reviews5 followers
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
July 3, 2026
Release: August 1, 2026
Author: Peter James
Publisher: Amazon Publishing
Pages: 73

Rating: 3 ★ 

This was a brilliantly original conspiracy thriller with a premise that immediately grabs your attention. The idea of waking up to find your entire identity erased is both terrifying and fascinating, and the escalating stakes promise a relentless, edge-of-your-seat read. If the execution matches the concept, this has all the makings of an addictive page-turner.

This book suits someone in the mood for something: mysterious, tense, dark

Pace: fast

Mainly plot or character driven? plot

Is there strong character development? yes

Do you find the characters loveable? it’s complicated

Is the cast of characters diverse? it’s complicated

Are character flaws a main focus? yes

Main themes, topics, tropes: identity theft, conspiracy, race against time, psychological suspense, hidden secrets

John Grebble’s ordinary life collapses overnight when he discovers he has been legally declared dead. Locked out of his finances, his workplace, and even his own identity, he becomes a stranger in the eyes of the world. As he desperately searches for whoever orchestrated his disappearance, John uncovers a calculated conspiracy that suggests his erasure was no accident—and that someone intends to ensure he stays gone forever.

Favorite Quote:
“According to every system, every database, every official record—John Grebble is no more.”
Profile Image for Shannon Moeser.
541 reviews196 followers
Review of advance copy
July 6, 2026
JOHN GREBBLE IS GONE by Peter James is a short story in the July 2026 Amazon First Reads collection. I think it is the author's best work in years. 4.5 stars.

John Grebble is plunged into a Kafkaesque nightmare when he receives a letter from his bank that is addressed to "the Estate of John William Grebble".

The strength of this short story lies in its description of John and his life:

A small, mouse-like man, all John Grebble's clothes seemed one size too big, as if, like life itself, they somehow overwhelmed him.

In the first few pages we have the complete setup for the ultimate denouement—for careful readers.

After John reads the letter addressed to his estate, he discovers that not only his bank, but also every other agency presumes he has died, due to a Kafkaesque world of interconnected AI programs. And that people working at these agencies don't believe that he is the "real" John Grebble. It is not until John's only friend comes to the rescue that he understands what has happened. (But the reader can guess who the villain of the story is—long before John knows; it is not a surprise twist, more a natural unfolding as John gains a better understanding of his situation.) Once John understands, "what happens next" is also not a surprise to a reader who has paid attention to details so carefully laid out in the first few pages. Not a surprise, but a satisfactory conclusion.
60 reviews2 followers
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
June 10, 2026
Massive thanks to Peter James, Amazon Publishing UK and NetGalley for this advanced copy of John Grebble Is Gone. This review is being left voluntarily and all opinions expressed are my own.

This was such a great short story from start to finish. The premise grabbed me immediately - the title character receives a letter from his bank informing him that he has died, a fact he very much disputes.

We as readers are witness to John's life essentially falling apart as the consequences of his 'death' spread and he struggles to convince anyone of any importance that he is in fact still alive.

I really enjoyed the author's writing style. It felt like I was inside John's head, which gave a really strong sense of his personality and quirks. You could see the character was inspired by Winston Smith, the protagonist in George Orwell's 1984 (a character after whom John has named his dog).

There were plenty of comical elements also, as we saw John's dry and sarcastic sense of humour in full effect.

I had a slight inkling as to what I thought might be going on but I ended up bring wrong. Without giving too much away, I found the actual ending very satisfying.

Entertaining, engaging and intriguing - I can't give this short story anything less than 5 stars. A brilliant read.
Profile Image for Linda Galella.
1,137 reviews115 followers
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
July 2, 2026
AMAZON FIRST READS - JULY 2026


John Grebble is having a very bad day. Short story short - he’s been declared dead! Not only did the bank close out his sizable account but his office deleted him and his car was repossessed…a very bad day indeed.

John’s a fastidious guy with no friends, a mom with Alzheimer’s and a derelict brother he hasn’t spoken to in three years. A trip to the police station is no help. They think HE might be a fraudster. Yes, yes - a VERY bad day for sure.

John doesn’t know what to do. No one answered his calls or texts. He does have an acquaintance who’s concerned but she also has ideas that don’t appeal to John. What’s a dead man to do?

Author, Peter James does a nice job writing short fiction. Minimal characters, simple storyline, snappy dialogue and relevant to most reader’s experience. No foul language, sex or violence seals the easy reading deal.

What didn’t work for me was the got’cha and ending. I figured both out well before the reveals. Still, the possibility of this happening to most everyone, makes this story highly readable.

From personal experience, I can testify - it CAN happen to you. I wasn’t dead but I was buried by a friend’s son. Pay attention, readers. You could be next📚
Profile Image for Al.
146 reviews3 followers
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
June 11, 2026
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley

Thank you to NetGalley, Amazon Publishing UK, and Peter James for this advance copy in exchange for an honest review!

The title first caught my eye, but it was the opening paragraph of the blurb that sealed the deal for me. The story didn’t go in the direction I expected, but that is fine because I was still thoroughly entertained and satisfied by the end.

John’s situation is a total nightmare, especially for someone living a secluded life like he does. I could really feel his frustration, and it genuinely made me sad to see how the circumstances were stacked against him, especially during those moments when he broke down in tears.

Having never read Peter James before, I cannot tell if this is his signature style or if it was specific to John, but John is such an intriguing character. Even when I felt uncomfortable reading his inner thoughts about his coworker (and his denial of those feelings), I could not deny that it felt like a very natural part of his character development.

This book really gave me some things to think about. Despite its flaws, it is definitely a book worth reading.
Profile Image for Georgia Williams.
118 reviews3 followers
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
June 17, 2026
5/5 Stars: A high-octane nightmare that I finished in a single sitting.
As a dedicated thriller reader, I’m always looking for stories that hook me from the very first page, and John Grebble Is Gone delivered exactly that. This was my first time reading Peter James, and he absolutely nailed the kind of tension that keeps you glued to the screen.
The premise alone is enough to spike your anxiety—waking up to find your identity wiped, your bank accounts frozen, and your life systemically erased is the ultimate "wrong man" scenario. Because it’s a short story, there is zero fluff; it is pure, fast-paced adrenaline. I honestly devoured the whole thing in under an hour.
What I really loved was how quickly the tension escalated. James manages to turn the mundane (like a declined card or being locked out of your office) into a terrifying race for survival. It’s tight, it’s frantic, and the dark humor sprinkled throughout really adds that extra layer of personality that I look for in a good suspense read.
If you’re looking for a quick, punchy thriller that doesn't waste a second, this is a must-read. I’m definitely going to be checking out more from Peter James after this.
Profile Image for Jerri Bosley.
38 reviews2 followers
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
June 22, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an advance review copy. All opinions are my own.

John Grebble is Gone is a short story about a quirky Compliance Officer, John Grebble, who wakes one morning to discover a letter from his bank, stating he is dead. His car is being taken, his work pass declined, the police believe he is committing fraud and isn't John as he states he is. What can he do to prove he is very much alive?

This story of 73 pages gripped me from the very beginning. Short enough to read in one sitting, the pacing and suspense was very well written, and I felt myself feeling terrible for John. Wanting him to have a person on his side, someone to help him.

Geoffrey might just be my most hated character I've ever read. Also the ending of this story was rather silly in my opinion, it just did not make sense given John's character throughout the book. Why would he want a record?

I would love to read more of Peter James work, as I loved his style of writing. I will aim to read a longer book of his next, so hopefully there will be more of an explanation behind the ending!
Profile Image for Stephanie Bull.
171 reviews4 followers
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
June 15, 2026
What an absolute gem!

John Grebble receives a letter from his bank telling him he is dead. In a very short space of time his debit card is declined, his car repossessed, his work pass no longer works and that is just for starters. John is though, very much alive, however things quickly go from bad to worse as he battles to understand and sort out this error. Despite its short length, this book packs in plenty of intrigue and leaves readers questioning far more than they might expect.

Peter James has written a gripping page turner that had me hooked from the first sentence. The author proves that he doesn't need hundreds of pages to tell an engaging story. This short story is tightly plotted, cleverly paced and manages to balance mystery with moments of dry humour. Every chapter moves the story forward, making it incredibly easy to read in a single sitting. The writing is crisp and economical, yet still creates a strong sense of atmosphere and curiosity.

A quick but thoroughly entertaining read, John Grebble Is Gone demonstrates Peter James's versatility beyond his longer novels. Perfect for fans of clever mysteries who are looking for an absorbing story that can be enjoyed in an afternoon.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Amazon Original Stories for my advanced reader copy in return for my honest and unbiased review.
Profile Image for Bookish Millennial.
88 reviews6 followers
Review of advance copy
July 6, 2026
This had such a great premise, and it hooked me right from the first chapter. I was completely invested in finding out what had happened to John. The only thing that pulled me out of the story early on was how unbelievably fast the bureaucracy seemed to move...it required a bit of suspension of disbelief.

I actually think this would have worked even better as a longer novel. There was so much potential to dig deeper into the characters and the investigation, and I would have loved more time for everything to unfold naturally.

The "whodunnit" was fairly easy to figure out, but I didn't see how it all happened, so that part still managed to surprise me. Unfortunately, the ending didn't quite land for me. It felt at odds with the way John's character had been portrayed throughout the rest of the book, which made the resolution feel a little disappointing.

Overall, it's an engaging, fast-paced mystery with a compelling setup, but I was left wishing it had been given more room to breathe.
Profile Image for Manuella.
384 reviews1 follower
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
June 10, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley, Amazon Publishing UK and Peter James for the opportunity to read this book early in exchange for an honest review!

Can you imagine waking up one day, losing access to your bank information, car, job and more because you were proclaimed dead? Well, that's what happened to John Grebble – which, quite frankly, seems like my worst nightmare. John Grebble Is Gone was a wild ride, from the moment I read the synopsis to the ending. It took me a minute to get into the book (though I am not sure if that was because of the main character or the writing itself) but I was intrigued enough on the premise to keep going. And I am glad I did. Despite the fact the ending felt a bit rushed, I still had a good time. John was not the best character ever, but he did not deserve what happened to him. His brother, however... Well, I hope he is having fun with the cash he so desperately wanted.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for ObscureVi.
73 reviews34 followers
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
June 12, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review!

Imagine waking up one day just to find out that you have been declared dead and everything you were using until now like your credit card or ID is no longer active, because well, you're dead... right? It's not like you will need it anymore.

It's definitely easier to declare someone dead than to bring them back to life. Especially if you're not really social and the only people who could vouch for you are either dead, away or not a fan of yours.

That's exactly what happens to John, who in fact is very much alive, at least to his own knowledge and would prefer to stay that way.

I really, really liked this one and I wish it was longer, but it probably wouldn't work out the way it did, if we made it into the full-length book.

Overall, I had a very good time with this thriller (the dark humor was the cherry on top) and I will definitely check the author out in the near future.
Profile Image for Maureen .
1,768 reviews7,542 followers
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
June 16, 2026
Grumpy, unsociable John Grebble, awakens to another very ordinary boring day - well that’s what HE thinks anyway!

John’s day is about to get a whole lot worse. He opens his post, only to discover a letter from his bank declaring him dead!

His bank account is frozen, (a very healthy bank account it is too), his car repossessed, and to all intents and purposes he doesn’t exist!

Can you imagine the panic and frustration, trying to persuade the powers that be, that you’re not dead, and you are who you say you are?

As John’s life falls apart, he decides to take some drastic steps to reclaim what is rightfully his.

Though short in length, this story was full of tension, and despite the terrible situation John finds himself in, the storyline is peppered with humour, making it a very entertaining read.

*Thank you to Peter James, Netgalley and Amazon Original Stories for my ARC in exchange for an honest unbiased review *
Profile Image for Jayme C (Brunetteslikebookstoo).
1,651 reviews4,911 followers
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
June 23, 2026
Stories like this one are far scarier to me than your classic horror stories…

John Grebble wakes up to discover he’s been declared dead.

Within hours his bank account is frozen, his car repossessed, and an appraiser tries to enter his home to determine its value.

Going to the Police is no help-they treat him like he is the criminal. According to every system, every database, every official record—John Grebble is gone!

If this isn’t a clerical error-WHAT IS GOING ON?

I had my theories-but I was imagining something far different from the truth. Three stars because I wanted a bit “more” from the ending.

About 73 pages

Short stories are a great way to sample an author’s work, and though this popular UK author has written almost 50 books-most notably the 22 book DS Roy Grace crime series, he isn’t as well known in the U.S. so I jumped at the chance to read this.

Available August 1, 2026.

Thank You to Amazon Original Short Stories UK for the gifted copy provided through NetGalley. As always these are my candid thoughts.
Profile Image for Ciara Hartman.
Author 21 books59 followers
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
July 5, 2026
✍️ Brief Synopsis: John Grebble is dead. Only problem with that is, he’s actually alive. But according to the bank, his car leasing company, his credit cards and, oh yes, his death certificate… he’s dead. Now to find out who has upended his life and stolen his money…

📝 ARC Review: I had the ‘who dunnit’ part figured out almost right away, however, I enjoyed seeing how the MC found that out and I enjoyed the ending of the story.
It would definitely be scary to wake up one day and find out that according to the institutes, you’re dead. And then, if like John, you don’t have many people in your life to vouch for you, well then it might be even scarier.

Genre: Thriller; Short Story
(Amazon Original Stories)
POV: Third Person; Single
My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 3.5/5
Release Date: August 1, 2026

CW’s 👇

- Parent with dementia
- Mention of sibling bullying

Thank you to Amazon First Reads for this ARC!
Profile Image for Sue.
961 reviews
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
June 10, 2026
I love novellas and short stories that pack a punch.
This one is perfectly paced, and the horror of finding himself declared dead shines through the pages.

It is an absolute nightmare, and living in a secluded manner, he hasn't got anyone to turn to, apart from his brother from who he has been estranged for years.
Big mistake.

Everything in his life has been affected, his bank, his car lease, his home, and the police don't believe him either.

Ugh!! We don't realise how the digital world would affect each of us in such a situation!

Short, sharp and tense, this book grabbed my attention and kept me glued to the pages. It wasn't too short, and it wasn't too long, it was just the perfect length, and Peter James has woven a tale that gives you insight to the characters and develops their personalities in few words.

I definitely have to give this a 5 star rating.

Profile Image for Ney oh the thrill of it  FN.
268 reviews9 followers
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
June 17, 2026
This a super short, quirky little story about a man named John Grebble, who seems quite an odd fellow. 

He tends to keep himself to himself, he is quite frugal good with money and has a semi-distrust of banks, which leads him to keep some of his hard-saved money tucked away at home.

He wakes up one day to find he has been declared dead. At first it feels like a minor and somewhat amusing inconvenience, untill the enormity of it sinks in. 

His day goes from bad to worse when the money in his bank is gone and it's as if he never existed. John embarks on a mission to prove he's not dead and to hopefully get this money back. 

It was an entertaining read. I did guess the twist but I still enjoyed it.

Thank you to Peter James and Amazon Publishing UK for this complimentary advanced copy via Netgalley. This review is being left voluntarily and all opinions expressed are my own.
Profile Image for Liz Fully Booked.
618 reviews22 followers
Review of advance copy
July 4, 2026
Picked up this short story as part of the Prime First Reads and read it right away. I found it to be humorous and entertaining, despite also being very frustrating.

John Grebble wakes up one morning to find that he’s dead. Well, not really dead, but declared dead and as the day goes on, his bank cards stop working, his bank accounts are closed, his car is repossessed, he can’t get into his work building and the police think he’s impersonating himself, unless he can prove he is who he says he is!

With the help of a work friend, he tries to figure out who is behind his identity theft and why they’ve done it. The MMC is an odd character and it’s his idiosyncrasies that make this book quite amusing.

If you’re looking for something fast and fun and doesn’t take itself seriously, this novella is it. I really enjoyed reading it.
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209 reviews5 followers
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
June 19, 2026
John Grebble wakes up one morning to find himself declared dead.
The problem with that is, he is very much alive, but others think differently.
In the space of a couple of hours he has had his car repossessed, he’s bank accounts frozen, his work access has been revoked and a locksmith is about to change the locks on his home.
Determined to get to the bottom of what’s going on, John goes on the offensive. Who knows him intimately, and who would benefit from him being dead. The list is short, so John devises a plan, and even he can’t believe the outcome.
It turns out being dead really isn’t as bad as he expected.
What a fantastic short story. It’s a fast-paced, gripping and dark humoured story.
I read this in one sitting and loved every minute of it.
Highly recommend.
674 reviews5 followers
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
June 23, 2026
John Grebble is Gone is a gripping short story by Peter James that shows just how powerful a shorter read can be. At 73 pages, it’s a quick but highly engaging story.
The premise is both simple and chilling John Grebble wakes up to discover he has been declared dead. From there, the story unfolds in a way that feels surprisingly believable in today’s world, making it all the more unsettling.
Peter James delivers strong suspense throughout, with detailed writing and touches of humour that balance the tension. The pacing is tight, keeping you hooked from start to finish.The ending is especially satisfying and memorable, rounding off the story perfectly.This is a clever, suspenseful, and thought-provoking short read—definitely worth picking up.
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