Hawk is Dead: Peter James

A first scene that sets your mind in motion that danger awaits Queen Camilla who was it that was watching for her train?

The author allows us to get to know why the Queen is on the train, the king and her extensive schedule. Her charity work dealing with hospice patients is extensive and requires a special care and understanding. 

Roy Grace is introduced in chapter 3 as his background is described, understanding the need for Royal Protection and that the Royal Train departs from Brighton at 12:30 for her first stop and the rest to follow. The events and how the different cars on the Royal Train are placed and who is in each car, why, and how come the driver has no idea he’s been chosen to drive it until the last minute. This driver is a fan of the Queen and hoped it went smoothly. Chapter 5 describes it in more detail as the author does a description of each car and more. 

The next two chapters take us into the heart of the novel as we hear the voice of the driver examine each car before the passengers and quern enter then a tragic scene and is it an accident that causes serious injuries and possible danger that the queen and the others have leave train before a second crash takes their lives. 

Then the author explains each branch of government, security and protection that will be involved in the investigation and finding out how and why the train derailed. Plus where is the Queen and her staff. Many involved and Roy grave created his team long way to go. Then talking with the chief constable, they discuss who is primary on the case. Glen Branson has another take can he send help? Is this an act of terror or anti- monarchists? 

Them as the queen is lead out of the tunnel and then hopefully 

To safety who killed Sir Peregrine Greaves and why? Then what is next as the sound of rotor blades might save the rest. 

Then events get dangerous as the queen sees the body of her protection officer and then Grace has ever law enforcement agency on the case as Jon Gillhall faces many decoys and Grace now at the crime scene. 

Ian College is the inspector in charge, but first Grace must think out loud and hypothesize what really happened. The crime scene was protected, and more than just emergency vehicles were deployed. 

Transport police are where College was from and the observing the body and the scene. Then College stated that he is responsible for the derailment and Grace for the tunnel and the rest officers from counter terrorism command, protection hierarchy, plus those that wanted to feel the competition for ownership of this case and fighting to get in you won’t believe how.

The protection of the Queen is quite hard as her schedule might not be able to be followed because of the murder of her protection officer and the danger surrounding the area and more. A special place has been secured for her as the author allows us to understand the process used to protect the queen. Roy Grace is now going to view the body. But the queen will adhere to her schedule and visits. No police leave and armed vehicle will they try again? Was the queen the target?

This is interesting the Ballistic expert and how he takes apart and describes how the murder took place, where weapon and more you’ll be fixed to the pages and wish you were there to witness what he reveals to Roy. The author’s research is extensive and so is how. the team created tells the members from each branch of police, investigators, royal protection and more. He started his talk; what caused the derailment, and who will assist them from Royal Transport Police. Online key inquiry to establish whether there is a link between the derailment and the shooting or two separate incidents. Who was stare of the timetable for the train. more as More about the team and then the Medical Examiner and her results how he was murdered. Speculation about the biker and shooting location plus cause of death. 

Emotional trauma and tension and an author who creates a picture of the Queen and royal protocol and fraud with the palace plus including the dark web and codes and what we learn about how they are broken. Far from over. 

Then the press conference what will they reveal?  The Master and those involved had long discussions and each one gave him their thoughts and speculation about the shooter and how the murder took place but how did the rail get lifted? More to follow as they assess the scenes decide in how Greaves was killed and was the queen the queens place before and during the murder as we enter the palace and will be in awe. The queer is being questioned and her responses graphic, intense and on point. Did anyone on her team know the derailment going to happen? 

Then talking about the shoot and his shot. Did the shooter miss his main target? Her personal security and the king’s needs to be at the highest level and did Greaves have enemies?

The palace is described, and I wish I could have taken the tour too. Then the author tells us of how a young 19-year-old was taught to be a shooter and how he seems to be or might be involved in the murder then two chapters that follow we get to know him in the past.

As the investigation moves ahead there are many experts that Roy and Bransen meet with as different takes on the position of the shooter and where the derailment takes place and how. The author has Norman take Roy to meet with someone who knows why it happened and wait until you learn how. Then let’s not forget face to face with the King. 

Roy feels the pressure will this ever be solved and netting Polly the wife of the security officer who was killed is heartfelt. 

Then who has the 350-carat diamond to sell? The information is now getting to Grace and the gravity of the situation high as now he must find someone to crack the code left by Greaves and uncover what had him upset. Then the possibility of find out and the hidden thieves among the staff. 

So many areas involved and one who broke part of the codes but the main ones not yet plus Branson is seeing someone in prison will she take the offer they gave her?

Both Roy and the other detective talk about both murders why is the other one so pompous? The Master of the House will work with Roy, but will they find out who killed then both as we witness a scene that you won’t forget. 

Geoffrey Bailey was upset about not getting a medal. It gets more involved, and they talk about what was supposed to be given to Tommy by his staff and then it all comes back to the code that must be broken. Who is Sir Tommy covering for and Roy and Glenn talk about it.

Then Grace and the other lead detective buried their differences and will start working like a team to solve two murders: 

Rose was with Lorraine and told the entire staff will be looking for misplaced items, but Rose thought she’d get her first hit oh well Rose!

Then it gets more intense as both Roy and the other investigator share information about who might be involved and then Rose is taking charge of all the things in the palace that are valuable such as daggers, jewelry and other things of interest and will anyone stop her? What about Lorraine?

You hear the king and Timmy talking about Roy and it gets interesting. Then back to Rose and wanting to the Royal Collection and is Smoke next on her hit list?

Then Shannon shocks them and now reveals the one piece of information about a specific piece of art that is up for bid ad might be why Peregrine was killed. Then back to Roy and Shannon tells the history of the dark web and Roy must ask Tommy for help. 

The note that Greaves left explains what he learned but did not tell who was behind the thefts who will find that information?

As Roy briefs the others involved the media had it in capitals. Listen to his meeting with Rose and Corbin. An action scene with Rose will Roy survive and just who was the real mastermind?

Confronted major players arrested and others too as Roy figures it out and you won’t believe how. Will the possessions be recovered that are missing and an ending only Peter James can create as the lies, deceptions and conspiracy is revealed as Hawk is revealed and why is he dead you have to read it to find out. But it’s not over yet why?

Fran Lewis just reviews