Some book launches are discreet. This one featured a jazz trio.
On 27 June 2026, readers gathered at Masarykovo náměstí 35 in Uherské Hradiště, the Czech Republic, for an evening that felt more like a celebration than a signing. Around twenty guests settled in as a live jazz group set the mood. By the end of the night, the local bookstore had sold out sixteen copies of Prey for Revenge, the acclaimed thriller by British author Peter Roche.
A Thriller That’s Already Turning Heads
Published earlier this year, Prey for Revenge has been building a devoted readership through word of mouth alone. The novel follows Dr Cathy Meer, a widow drawn into a world of conspiracy and vengeance after a failed assassination attempt on the terrorist Asif Badawi leaves her family in the crosshairs. With the help of the enigmatic Captain Marcus de Vere, a former SAS officer, Cathy is drawn deeper into the orbit of The Summer Hunt, a secret society whose members believe they answer to no one.
It’s a book built on authenticity. Roche is a competitive pistol shooter who trained alongside SAS veterans while researching the novel, and that hands-on knowledge shows in every tactical detail on the page. One guest at the Uherské Hradiště signing, who’d already read the novel, put it simply – she called it a genuine page-turner.
Behind the Pages: Q&A Highlights
Between signatures, Roche took questions from the floor, and the conversation ranged well beyond Prey for Revenge itself.
Asked how his writing career began, Roche traced the path from short stories to children’s fiction, including his book Little Dragon, which also found new readers on the night the bookstore sold four additional copies straight off the shelf. From there, the conversation moved to his two comedy stage plays, with Roche revealing that the full-length production is currently awaiting a producer.
He also opened up about his process, explaining that his ideas come from a mix of imagination and personal experience rather than any single source of inspiration. The audience was especially curious about what comes next, and Roche confirmed his second novel is nearly complete, giving Prey for Revenge fans a release to look forward to.
The evening’s centrepiece was a reading from the opening chapter of Prey for Revenge, the same tense, character-driven opening that’s been drawing comparisons to the best of the British thriller genre.
Haven’t Read It Yet?
If a sold-out signing table and a room full of first-hand recommendations aren’t reason enough, here’s the pitch: Prey for Revenge delivers authentic SAS-level action, a heroine worth rooting for, and a conspiracy that gets darker with every chapter. It’s the rare thriller that earns its tension honestly.
