Roller-Coaster

This article is about the novel. For other uses of the term Roller coaster, please see Roller coaster (disambiguation).

(CC) Photo: Jerry Bauer
Michael Gilbert on the back cover of Mr. Calder and Mr. Behrens, 1982

Roller-Coaster is a suspense-police procedural novel by the British crime writer Michael Gilbert first published by Hodder & Stoughton in England in 1993 and by Carroll & Graf in the United States in 1994. It was Gilbert's 27th novel and the second and last of those featuring his recurring character Inspector Petrella. After taking a long convalesence recuperating from serious injuries incurred in the course of duty, Petrella returns as a newly promoted Superintendent. Chief Superintendent Morrissey is a character, now promoted to commissioner. Wilfred Wetherall, the protagonist of Gilbert's 1953 novel Fear to Tread, has a role. Gilbert, who was appointed CBE in 1980, was a founder-member of the British Crime Writers' Association. The Mystery Writers of America named him a Grand Master in 1988 and in 1990 he was presented Bouchercon's Lifetime Achievement Award.