Quantum of Menace by Vaseem Kahn  

Q is out of MI6 . . . 
. . . and in over his head 

After Major Boothroyd (aka Q) is unexpectedly ousted from his role with British Intelligence developing technologies for MI6's 00 agents, he finds himself back in his sleepy hometown of Wickstone-on-Water. His childhood friend, renowned quantum computer scientist Peter Napier, has died in mysterious circumstances, leaving behind a cryptic note. The police seem uninterested, but Q feels compelled to investigate and soon discovers that Napier's ground-breaking work may have attracted sinister forces... Can Q decode the truth behind Napier's death, even as danger closes in? 

The Hawk is Dead by Peter James  

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 . . . 

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