The Hawk Is Dead
A Killer in the Palace
Published on 21. October 2025
Book
Paperback/Softback
512 pages
978-1-5290-9007-9 (ISBN)
Description
'What a fool I've been not to have read Peter James until The Hawk Is Dead! A great story' - JAMES PATTERSON
'A majestic treat!' - THE TIMES
Roy Grace never dreamed a murder investigation would take him deep into Buckingham Palace . . .
Her Majesty, Queen Camilla, is aboard the Royal Train heading to a charity event in Sussex when disaster strikes - the train is derailed.
A tragic accident or a planned attack?
When, minutes later, a trusted aide is shot dead by a sniper, the police have their answer.
Despite all the evidence, Roy Grace is not convinced The Queen was the intended target. But he finds himself alone in his suspicions.
Fighting against the scepticism of his colleagues and the Palace itself, Grace pursues his own investigation. But when there is a second murder, the stakes rise even higher, and Grace is at risk of being embroiled in a very public catastrophe - and in mortal danger.
Failure at this level is not an option. But time is running out before a killer in the Palace will strike again . . .
Roy Grace is back with his most difficult case yet in this gripping instalment from number one bestselling author Peter James.
THE NUMBER ONE BESTSELLER
23 million books sold.
Now a major ITV/BritBox show starring John Simm as Roy Grace.
Creator of Her Majesty Queen Camilla's favourite fictional detective.
'A right royal page-turner' - ANGELA RIPPON
'Wildly entertaining! - TESS GERRITSEN
'I couldn't put it down!' - ALEXANDRA POTTER
'Classic Peter James' - RACHEL ABBOTT
'One of the best British in the world' - LEE CHILD
'One of the best in the business' - KARIN SLAUGHTER
'James at his masterful best' - THE SUN
'Underlines just how consummate a crime novelist James is' - DAILY MAIL
'One of the world's most popular detective series' - THE GUARDIAN
'A majestic treat!' - THE TIMES
Roy Grace never dreamed a murder investigation would take him deep into Buckingham Palace . . .
Her Majesty, Queen Camilla, is aboard the Royal Train heading to a charity event in Sussex when disaster strikes - the train is derailed.
A tragic accident or a planned attack?
When, minutes later, a trusted aide is shot dead by a sniper, the police have their answer.
Despite all the evidence, Roy Grace is not convinced The Queen was the intended target. But he finds himself alone in his suspicions.
Fighting against the scepticism of his colleagues and the Palace itself, Grace pursues his own investigation. But when there is a second murder, the stakes rise even higher, and Grace is at risk of being embroiled in a very public catastrophe - and in mortal danger.
Failure at this level is not an option. But time is running out before a killer in the Palace will strike again . . .
Roy Grace is back with his most difficult case yet in this gripping instalment from number one bestselling author Peter James.
THE NUMBER ONE BESTSELLER
23 million books sold.
Now a major ITV/BritBox show starring John Simm as Roy Grace.
Creator of Her Majesty Queen Camilla's favourite fictional detective.
'A right royal page-turner' - ANGELA RIPPON
'Wildly entertaining! - TESS GERRITSEN
'I couldn't put it down!' - ALEXANDRA POTTER
'Classic Peter James' - RACHEL ABBOTT
'One of the best British in the world' - LEE CHILD
'One of the best in the business' - KARIN SLAUGHTER
'James at his masterful best' - THE SUN
'Underlines just how consummate a crime novelist James is' - DAILY MAIL
'One of the world's most popular detective series' - THE GUARDIAN
Reviews / Votes
What a fool I've been not to have read Peter James until The Hawk is Dead. A great story -- James Patterson, bestselling author of the Alex Cross series I've never read a detective novel before but what better place to start than this thumping new thriller from Peter James . . . Fast-paced and gripping, I couldn't put it down! -- Alexandra Potter, bestselling author of <i>Confessions of a Forty-Something</i> The Hawk Is Dead is classic Peter James, combining the trademark intricate plotting of his acclaimed Roy Grace series with a fascinating, behind-the-scenes exploration of life within the royal household -- Rachel Abbott, bestselling author of the Tom Douglas series Roy Grace swaps Brighton for Buck House to unravel a conspiracy of murder, revenge and betrayal. It all makes for a right royal page-turner -- Angela Rippon, award-winning broadcaster Endlessly fascinating, riveting and wildly entertaining! For the Anglophiles among us, a must-read -- Tess Gerritsen, bestselling author of the Rizzoli & Isles series The Hawk Is Dead is classic Peter James, combining the trademark intricate plotting of his acclaimed Roy Grace series with a fascinating, behind-the-scenes exploration of life within the royal household. -- Rachel Abbott, author of <i>Whatever It Takes</i> A majestic treat! * The Times * An utterly compelling thriller, this is James at his masterful best - one of the best writers around * The Sun * Packed with detail about the workings of the modern monarchy, the plot thunders along, underlining just how consummate a crime novelist James is * Daily Mail * One of the world's most popular detective series * The Guardian *More details
Series
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Pan Macmillan
Product notice
Paperback (UK-trade)
Dimensions
Height: 233 mm
Width: 152 mm
Thickness: 39 mm
Weight
625 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-5290-9007-9 (9781529090079)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Person
Peter James is a UK No.1 bestselling author, best known for his Detective Superintendent Roy Grace series, now a hit ITV drama starring John Simm as the troubled Brighton copper.
Much loved by crime and thriller fans for his fast-paced page-turners full of unexpected plot twists, sinister characters, and accurate portrayal of modern day policing, he has won over 40 awards for his work including the WHSmith Best Crime Author of All Time Award and Crime Writers' Association Diamond Dagger. In 2024, it was announced that he is the creator of Her Majesty Queen Camilla's favourite fictional detective.
To date, Peter has written an impressive total of 20 Sunday Times No. 1s, sold over 21 million copies worldwide and been translated into 38 languages. His books are also often adapted for the stage, with his six stage shows grossing over GBP17 million at the box office - the most recent being Wish You Were Dead.
Much loved by crime and thriller fans for his fast-paced page-turners full of unexpected plot twists, sinister characters, and accurate portrayal of modern day policing, he has won over 40 awards for his work including the WHSmith Best Crime Author of All Time Award and Crime Writers' Association Diamond Dagger. In 2024, it was announced that he is the creator of Her Majesty Queen Camilla's favourite fictional detective.
To date, Peter has written an impressive total of 20 Sunday Times No. 1s, sold over 21 million copies worldwide and been translated into 38 languages. His books are also often adapted for the stage, with his six stage shows grossing over GBP17 million at the box office - the most recent being Wish You Were Dead.