I loved it. It’s a bit of a diversion from the usual DCI Roy Grace novels in that it features real figures such as the King and Queen but I found it fascinating. Rich in detail and kept me guessing.
Thanks to the author, publisher and to netgalley for providing me with this advance digital copy in exchange for my honest and unbiased opinion.

I have been a long-time supporter of Peter James’ DS Roy Grace, although have passed on his most recent books. This was a fun diversion with the inclusion of the Royal Family. When the royal train is derailed and one of the key entourage is shot dead, it’s initially assumed that Queen Camilla is the assassination target. As Grace investigates, it soon becomes clear that there is much more going on at Buckingham Palace than initially assumed.

The book goes into considerable detail of the historic nature of the artwork in Buckingham Palace and the mechanics of the royal household. Personally, I enjoyed this and the somewhat sycophantic relationship that the police had with the King and Queen, although for non-royalists I expect this will be grating. It's a quick read, an excellent murder investigation and an interesting detective thriller.

Thank you to Peter James, Pan Macmillan and Netgalley for my advance copy.

I have read, admired and enjoyed the entire Roy Grace series of Brighton based police procedurals. You know what to expect and you rejoice in meeting up again with a familiar cast of characters.

This book however breaks the mould and breathes new life into a familiar format as most of the action takes place in and around Buckingham Palace. Apart from a twisty teaser of a plot which fascinated throughout I learned much about the inner workings and political machinations of working for the royal household.

Grace is as calm, poised and competent as ever and now that he seems to have King Charles as his new best friend on speed dial I cannot wait for where his next book will take us!

It is difficult to give an introduction to this latest Roy Grace thriller without giving too much of the plot away. Suffice it to say that Grace has his greatest ever police responsibility when an attempt is made on the life of Queen Camilla after the derailment of a train carrying her to Brighton. For once, unlike previous novels, the bulk of the action does not take place in Brighton but centres on Buckingham Palace where Grace has many meetings with staff and even a few conversations with their Majesties themselves.
James gives us an insight into how the Palace is run and the hierarchy of staff working there. He has villains who bring tension to the plot, some cryptic coding and a vivid chase to raise the pace, ensuring the thrilling page- turner his readers have come to expect.

Thank you very much to the publishers for the ARC.

Two books in one, each fighting for cover rights.

This is a tricky book to review as it felt like it was two types of books rammed not very eloquently together. If I separate them then it becomes easier to see why:

AS A HISTORICAL BOOK
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Lots of detail, insight and knowledge. James has really allowed his love of the monarchy to flow and his depth of knowledge and passion really shines. If you ever wanted to learn more about the UK’s monarchy, Buckingham palace and the inner workings of those who maintain it. This is the book for you.

AS A CRIME FICTION NOVEL
⭐️⭐️
Lacking depth, pace and much airtime. The story took a major step back in order to please James’ fascination with Charles and Camilla. Take away the historic element of this novel and the plot is weak, the investigation slow and the crime itself not so much of a mystery.

Shame, as I really enjoy the Grace series. But this particular book felt like a step away from his usual style (and story) to fulfil a passion/hobby.

Thanks to NetGalley for my advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

An author and character new to me and certainly it won't be the last I read. I liked the setting of, essentially, Buckingham Palace and the feeling of just how complex thigs are running that establishment. Grace's conversations with the King and Queen seemed realistic to me, with absolutely no idea how they behave in real life of course. Descriptions of the initial lead up to the train accident and subsequent shooting were spot on. The political, greasy pole aspirations of some of the senior police felt true while Grace continued as a thorough and dedicated officer. I'm afraid that I guessed the 'mastermind' from very early on but that didn't detract from the route to the finale. There are plenty of modern twists to life in there - PTSD, bullying, fear, greed and it was a read I just kept reading. None of this, oh lord I must finish this chapter before doing something more interesting. I just kept going. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy.

When the royal train is derailed in a tunnel Queen Camilla is cool headed and helps to get everyone out safely. That is until one of those in her entourage who are closest to her is shot dead by a sniper, just outside the mouth of the tunnel. Was the bullet meant for the Queen and missed, or is there something sinister going on in the royal household? Detective Roy Grace is set the task of finding out and thus begins an investigation full of twists and turns, characters who are not as they seem and an insight into the workings of the royal family. The story is gripping, each character real and very well drawn, including the King and Queen. And the book well paced to keep the reader enthralled.

This is another triumph for Peter James and a new setting for his detective Roy Grace. These books are such a pleasure to read and keep the reader guessing until the end as all good crime writers do.

I adore the Roy Grace series and this book was phenomenal! Peter James is an unbelievable writer and I just love all his books!

This was a gripping, fast-paced thriller that ramps up the tension with every chapter it was unputdownable… literally. I shouldn’t have started it because that was my day gone!

A really gripping read, I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough and now my brain is scrambled! The twists just kept rolling in. The plot unravels like clockwork and the characters were intriguing, and well- developed.

This book was a standout! What a thrilling finale had me gasping for breath and on the edge of my seat!!

I absolutely love the Grace series and have read every one and loved them all. I enjoyed this as well but I have to say it wasn’t one of my favourites. It’s still a good storyline with a few twists but the worship of the royals was a little OTT for me. I still can’t wait for the next book though.

Rounding up to 3 🌟


When you have a long running series, there's always going to be a book or two that aren't your favourite.
This was one for me.
What I enjoy about a series is ALL the characters we come to know and loce/loathe.
I felt everyone got shoved aside in this one for the king and queen.
Branson was there occasionally but without the usual banter, but the others? Barely showed up.
Perhaps if I was a royal enthusiastic, I'd have enjoyed it more, there's quite a lot of detail in how things are run, that could be interesting.
Unfortunately I'm a bit indifferent.
Happy to keep up with Roy, and wheres he's at ready for book 22, but not one I'll be recommending.

Peter James has delivered one of Roy Grace’s most gripping cases yet—and it’s nothing short of explosive.

The story opens with a shocking derailment of Queen Camilla’s Royal Train, and within moments, a trusted aide is shot by a sniper. That’s not just dramatic—it’s deadly serious. Grace is convinced the Queen wasn’t the intended target, but no one seems to agree. As pressure builds from every side—including the Palace itself—he’s forced to pursue the truth alone, risking not just his career but his life.

What I loved is how Peter James layers political tension with real emotional stakes. It’s high-profile and high-pressure, but the pacing is smooth, the twists sharp, and Grace’s determination feels deeply personal. There’s something especially satisfying about watching a seasoned detective trust his instincts, even when the world doubts him.

This isn’t just a murder investigation—it’s a race to stop something far worse. And James keeps the suspense tight until the final page.

Elegant, thrilling, and full of quiet defiance. A must-read for fans of smart crime fiction with royal intrigue.

Thank you to Peter James, NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read an ARC of this book.

I have enjoyed all of Peter James' DS Roy Grace series and The Hawk is Dead is the latest exciting episode which carries on the story bringing Grace into the royal sphere as he is asked to investigate what appears to be an attempt to assassinate the Queen. As with his other books, the writing is excellent. Quite vivid and well developed characters, a complex and unfolding plot line and a momentum in the story which keeps you turning the pages. Not many authors have these qualities but Peter James has them in abundance. In this story Grace has to manage the expectations and demands from the King and Queen starting with convincing them, and Scotland Yard who are trying to takeover the investigation, that Camilla was not the intended target. Yet another example of Grace going out on a limb with his hypothesis based on instincts and the gathered evidence but this time the stakes could not be any higher! It has a lot of twists and turns but needless to say he prevails with his detecting prowess and catches the bad guys which gets him a lot of appreciation from the Royal Household as a result. I wander, should we expect a little something for Roy in the New Years Honours List?!! Peter James is clearly a fan of the Royal Family and portrays Charles and Camilla in a very favourable light. From what we hear, Camilla is quite a fan of Peter James so maybe it will be him as well as Roy in the NYHL?
I certainly would have no problem with that!

Many thanks to Net Galley and Pan Macmillan for pre publication access to this book.

I have absolutely loved all of the previous books in the Roy Grace series but unfortunately The Hawk is Dead is not in the same league as the author’s previous novels.
As I’m not a fan of the Royal family I did wonder if I’d enjoy the novel but I hoped that the author would bring his skill in writing a cleverly plotted and well characterised novel to this one. However I found it to be very slow paced with little mystery or intrigue to draw me into the plot and found it to be a tedious read.
Hopefully the series will get back on track with the next novel.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this digital ARC.

Many thanks to NetGalley, Pan Macmillan and Peter James for the ARC in return for an honest review. I have read all of this author’s novels and can honestly say they have been brilliant. Character development and interactions have added to this.

I did not enjoy this one and did not finish it. I thought I would be able to ignore the ‘love-in’ with royalty but it grated too much which was a shame. If you love Charles and Camilla you will probably love this.

When the royal train is derailed in Sussex all the passengers walk to safety through a tunnel. A royal aide is then shot by a sniper and Roy Grace is brought in to solve the case. Was the Queen the target? During the investigation Grace has to work with the difficult and opinionated Det. Sup. Mosse from the Met. Fortunately Glenn is around to share some humorous banter. We are treated to a fascinating insight into royal life. although at times it reads more like a palace guidebook than a murder mystery. The intriguing plot involves murder, fraud at the palace, the dark web and secret codes. Who would have guessed that Cleo has a talent as a code-breaker?
Not my favourite book of the series but still an enjoyable read.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an arc in exchange for an honest review.

As a keen reader of Peter James's books over many years, having the good fortune to know the "real life Roy Grace", it's always a highlight when there's a new one to read. The Hawk Is Dead is, to my mind, the most enjoyable Grace of all, or at least, for quite some time. As with all thrillers, it's difficult to go into too much detail in a review without revealing spoilers, and the plot outline should give prospective readers enough information to start with.

The book gives fascinating detail on the whole Royal setup, locations and staff, how the organisation works, and involves the King and Queen in an entirely suitable way. I felt conversations involving them were realistic, and clearly the Queen wholeheartedly loved the book, from comments Peter James made on a TV interview this week. Grace is one of her favourite fictional characters, and it sounds like she provided inspiration to Peter James for this latest book in the series.

The story itself builds in an intriguing way, which keeps you guessing, with the odd twist coming when you don't necessarily expect it. It never veers into sensationalistic realms of overt fantasy, being an entirely believable storyline.

For any fans of thrillers, who fancy a well paced, fascinating look at a world that most of us never get to see, The Hawk Is Dead should definitely be on your list.

Being a huge Detective Grace fan, I am thrilled to see how Mr James can always find ways to reinvent this character. I loved to see Grace's interactions with the King and Queen and the more hands-on approach he had on this book. Although the ending didn't surprise me as I had guessed who the "mastermind" was, I am still in awe of the complexity and compelling approach throughout all the book. I also love when Mr James gives us some bones to bite about art (or dogs) so I cannot recommend this book enough! You will also learn about the wheels behind the royalty which I found very interesting, what can I say except keep up this extremely good work, and I as always cannot wait for another Grace book! Thank you so much NetGalley for allowing me an advanced review of this jewel of a book!

I have read/listened to all the grace books and have thoroughly enjoyed every single one of them to some varying degree degree but I struggled with this book, not because it’s not written well, we have our favourite characters taking part what I did not enjoy was the sycophantic/hero worship of Charles and Camilla, for me just far too over the top

I've always been a big fan of the Roy Grace series, but this book number 21 in the series felt like a shift in the style of writing. The detail was far too much and made it feel as if the story was padded out, so it lost some of its usual spark.
The banter between Roy and Glen is always an added treat, and thankfully, there is still more of the same.
As for Det.Supt. Gregory Moss from the Met he is a very unlikeable man, though I'd enjoy seeing him go head to head with Roy again, hopefully in the future.
The final two lines of this book definitely set up book 22, which I hope returns to the gripping, fast-paced style we've come to know and love in this series.
This one just lacked that special something we've had in earlier books.
Thanks to Netgalley and Pan Macmillian for the Arc.