"The Hawk is Dead", by Peter James

Roy Grace #21

Peter James in this latest mystery takes us deep into Buckingham Palace where Roy Grace never thought his latest murder investigation would take him.

The story in a few words:

Queen Camilla aboard the Royal Train is headed to a charity event when disaster strikes and the train derails. Minutes later an aide is shot dead by a sniper… everyone jumped to the assumption her Majesty was the intended target but debonair Inspector Grace was not on the wave link and finds himself alone with his suspicions…….is he right?.....

My thoughts:

The book can be read on its own but you will appreciate the characters more if you have read the others. Although I have read many books in this series, not all were read in sequence and I never felt lost.

In his investigation Grace takes us on a tour of the Palace and describes its opulence décor and history behind some paintings and “objet d’art” While meeting the monarchy and the various roles of the staff James gives us all the fluff that goes which such an encounter. Really it was a bit much. IMO, this took over the crime and who was behind. Having said this, it still a fun read once the investigation took wings and getting to the arrests and finding out the whodunit is and the why. Definitely a lot more procedural in this one.

I do question: would an attempt on the Queen’s life be handle by the local police or handed over to a squad expert in terrorism?

In a few words:

The plot is well paced and engaging, the characters are well drawn and the setting is vividly described. A good story I enjoyed passing time with.

My thanks to Pan Macmillian and Netgalley for this ARC.