THE HAWK IS DEAD, the exciting new novel by crime writing sensation Peter James, will be published by Pan Macmillan on Tuesday 21st October 2025. In THE HAWK IS DEAD, Queen Camilla will take a leading role alongside her favourite fictional detective, Peter James’ Roy Grace.

Combining Peter’s classic fast-paced thriller with extensive behind-the-scenes research at Buckingham Palace, and insights from members of The Royal Household, including from the Queen herself, THE HAWK IS DEAD is the not-to-be-missed publishing event of the autumn, and the perfect entry point into the world of Roy Grace for anyone yet to meet him.

Opening with a cinematic derailment of the royal train, THE HAWK IS DEAD takes Roy Grace deep into the heart of Buckingham Palace, when he is called upon to solve a murder and what looks to be a royal assassination attempt.

Queen Camilla, a well-known book-lover and reading champion through her charity The Royal Reading Room, has always been one of the very first people to receive each Grace novel, and is excited to have a starring role, alongside His Majesty King Charles, in Peter’s latest thriller.

Peter James says: ‘It’s a decade since I discovered Queen Camilla is my No.1 fan and we’ve since built up a great rapport. She asked me when I might set a Roy Grace novel in London … and the seed was sown. Where better in London than Buckingham Palace? It has been the most fascinating research I’ve ever done, learning about the inner workings of the Royal Household and the Palace.’

Francesca Pathak says, ‘Peter is much-loved by his legions of fans and has garnered an amazing twenty-one Sunday Times No.1 bestsellers. I’m delighted to publish THE HAWK IS DEAD, which sees Detective Superintendent Roy Grace taken from his home territory of Brighton and dropped into the heart of the establishment in Peter’s most thrilling tale to date. It’s the perfect place to start for anyone who hasn’t yet met Grace, and I can’t wait to introduce him to legions more new readers.’

Isobel Dixon says: ‘Peter James reaches an astonishingly broad range of readers, audiences and viewers worldwide through his much-loved novels, the touring play adaptations and the hugely popular Grace television series, streaming and broadcast in scores of countries. And after 20 years of bestseller-list stardom, Peter James and Roy Grace are about to reach even greater heights with this spectacular 21st title, THE HAWK IS DEAD. The stakes for this royal investigation are very high indeed, but as ever the journey will be a twisty thrill and the outcome supremely satisfying - I can’t wait to see even more readers joining the party at this exciting moment.’

To date, Peter has written an impressive total of 21 Sunday Times No. 1 bestsellers, sold over 23 million copies worldwide, and been translated into 38 languages. The fifth series of ITV’s hit adaptation of the Grace novels, starring John Simm, continues to delight audiences with significant ratings growth, and series six is currently in production. PICTURE YOU DEAD – the seventh play in Peter James’ successful stage franchise – is currently selling-out theatres on a nationwide tour. The latest Roy Grace novel, ONE OF US IS DEAD, was a UK Number One in paperback in April, with the hardback reaching Number Three when it was published last October.

About Peter James

Peter James is a New York Times and Sunday Times bestselling author best known for his crime thrillers featuring Detective Superintendent Roy Grace, who Queen Camilla recently named as her favourite fictional detective.

Praised by critics and 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 more than 40 awards for his work, including the WHSmith Best Crime Author of All Time Award and the Crime Writers’ Association Diamond Dagger. His books have sold over 23 million copies worldwide, achieved 21 Sunday Times No.1s, and have been translated into 38 languages.

His Roy Grace novels are currently filming their 6th season for the hit ITV drama, Grace, starring John Simm as the troubled Brighton copper and available to view on ITVX and on Britbox. Seven of his novels have been adapted into hit stage plays, with his most recent, PICTURE YOU DEAD, now on national tour in the UK. His plays have been named as ‘the most successful stage franchise since Agatha Christie’.

Praise for Peter James

‘If you have never read Peter James’ crime thriller series about the Sussex detective Roy Grace, I would highly recommend you give it a try.’ – Queen Camilla, Press and Journal

‘Peter James is one of the best crime writers in the business’ – Karin Slaughter

‘Peter James, Britain’s closest equivalent to Stephen King’ – The Sunday Times

‘A master plotter.’ – The Bookseller

‘James just gets better and better and deserves the success he has achieved with this first-class series.’ – Independent on Sunday

‘Peter James is one of the most fiendishly clever crime fiction plotters.’ – The Daily Mail

Visit Peter’s website.

Follow him on BlueSky, X (previously Twitter) and Instagram.

Following successful nationwide tours of the stage plays of THE PERFECT MURDER, THE HOUSE ON COLD HILL, DEAD SIMPLE, NOT DEAD ENOUGH, LOOKING GOOD DEAD and WISH YOU WERE DEAD, the stage adaptation of PICTURE YOU DEAD continues its 2025 tour – complete with an all-star cast.

National Television Award winning actor Peter Ash (Coronation Street, Footballers’ Wives, War Horse) and Ore Oduba (Pretty Woman, The Rocky Horror Show) return to the stage, joined by Fiona Wade (Emmerdale, 2:22 A Ghost Story, Going Dutch) and West End favourite Jodie Steele (Bonnie & Clyde, Wicked, Heathers, Six). George Rainsford (Casualty, Call the Midwife and All’s Well That Ends Well) returns to reprise the role of Detective Superintendent Roy Grace who he played in the 2023 stage adaptation of WISH YOU WERE DEAD. The play is written by Shaun McKenna and directed by Jonathan O’Boyle. Tickets can be purchased here: https://www.peterjames.com/plays/picture-you-dead-tour-dates/

The PICTURE YOU DEAD play has received rave reviews since its opening in February:

‘There is something thrilling about seeing a story set in Brighton on the stage in Brighton. Peter James’ detective mysteries featuring Roy Grace have become part of the fabric of how fans of the books and television series see Brighton, and it’s great to hear the references on stage to places we all know… The set is a glorious multi construction showing four different locations, all being so very distinct and different it is crystal clear at all times where the action is taking place. The attention to detail in each one is beautiful, leaving the Police offices where the discussions happen right at the front of the stage with no set: the effect is that of beckoning the audience in, giving us a private insight into the investigation and the current thinking of the Police, which is a lovely touch… If you are a fan of Peter James and Roy Grace, then this is absolutely for you.’ – Brighton Source

‘If you’ve seen any of the other Peter James pieces you’ll not be disappointed by this one. If you’ve never given them a try, go and see it – it’s a great introduction to the series. Suspenseful, energetic and surprisingly funny. The tension mounts to sweltering levels with superb direction from Jonathan O’Boyle. Did I figure out how it all unravels? Not a chance! But that is half the fun – you’ll be guessing until the end.’ – East Midlands Theatre

‘For those who love a murder mystery that keeps you guessing right to the last second this will be definitely right up your street!’ – Love London Love Culture

Hot off the heels of a hardback Number One, the paperback edition of THEY THOUGHT I WAS DEAD by Peter James flew straight to Number Three in the UK paperback bestsellers list after only 3 days on sale in November. This comes shortly after the twentieth instalment of the Roy Grace series, ONE OF US IS DEAD, hit Number Three in the hardback charts in October. It will be released in paperback on 10th April 2025. The 21st novel in the Roy Grace series will be published in October 2025.

Crime fans can also tune in to series four of GRACE on ITVX, starring John Simm and Richie Campbell. Recently announced, the much-loved tv series will return for series five in 2025, comprised of four feature-length episodes and will begin airing on ITV on 6th April.

Praise for Peter James’ plays

‘One of the best crime thrillers I’ve seen on stage… kill for a ticket!’ – Chichester Observer on DEAD SIMPLE

‘Gripping storytelling. Full of twists and turns.’ – The Reviews Hub on NOT DEAD ENOUGH

‘Will leave you breathless with suspense.’ – Whatsgoodtodo on THE HOUSE ON COLD HILL

‘A theatrical masterpiece.’ – Encore Reviews on LOOKING GOOD DEAD

‘This thrilling thriller had the audience on the edge of their seats.’ – Latest 7 on NOT DEAD ENOUGH

‘A great night in the theatre.’ – BritishTheatre.com on THE PERFECT MURDER

Praise for Peter James
‘If you have never read Peter James’ crime thriller series about the Sussex detective Roy Grace, I would highly recommend you give it a try.’ – Queen Camilla, Press and Journal

‘Peter James is one of the most fiendishly clever crime fiction plotters.’ – The Daily Mail

‘Roy Grace ... is fast becoming one of the more memorable coppers in modern crime fiction ... A first class police procedural.’ – The Times

‘James just gets better and better and deserves the success he has achieved with this first-class series.’ – Independent on Sunday

‘Peter James is one of the best crime writers in the business’ – Karin Slaughter

‘Probably the closest we’ll get to a British Stephen King’ – The Financial Times

‘Peter James is one of the most fiendishly clever crime fiction plotters’ – The Daily Mail

‘In uncertain times, I always tend to fall back on old, familiar favourites, so I’ll be reading Peter James’ Roy Grace series. They are thrillers with enough drama to keep you guessing. Reading a well-crafted mystery gives me a sense of accomplishment – almost as if I’ve solved everything myself!’ – Emma Shacklock, Books Editor, Women & Home Magazine

‘Peter James is one of the best crime writers in the business’ – Lee Child

‘A master plotter.’ – The Bookseller

‘James has been compared with Stephen King, but in many ways he's better’ – Daily Express

‘This compulsive horror story is a tale of the search for immortality . . . I cannot remember when I last read a novel I enjoyed so much’ – Sunday Telegraph

‘A thought-provoking menacer that’s completely technological and genuinely frightening about the power of future communications’ – Time Out

About Peter James
Peter James is the international bestselling author of many award-winning novels. Peter writes both thriller standalones and the hugely popular Brighton-set Roy Grace series. The opening episode of GRACE, based on the first Roy Grace novel, DEAD SIMPLE, was broadcast in March 2021 with John Simm starring in the lead role as the tenacious detective. It was a TV Pick of the Day across all the major UK newspapers, appeared on ITV 1’s prime Sunday night slot and viewing figures quickly reached more than 8.8 million, with glowing reviews.

Peter’s books have been translated into thirty-eight languages, with worldwide sales of over twenty-three million copies and his Detective Superintendent Roy Grace series, set in Brighton, has given him 20 Sunday Times Number Ones. In 2015 WH Smith customers voted him the Greatest Crime Author of All Time and in 2016 he was awarded the coveted CWA Diamond Dagger, a lifetime achievement award for sustained excellence. In 2018 he received a Specsavers Honorary Platinum Bestseller Award and in 2024 he won four Silver Nielsen Bestseller Awards. Peter James has also written two books based on true crime stories, with former senior detective Graham Bartlett.

Peter took part in the launch podcast of the Queen’s Reading Room in January 2024, having had the Grace series featured on the Royal Reading Room previously. He appeared on the podcast again in June 2024, where he was named one of Her Majesty’s favourite crime writers and Roy Grace her favourite fictional detective!

Visit Peter’s website.

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