Lee Allen's Blog - Posts Tagged "jack-warr"

Buried by Lynda La Plante

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


The gripping first novel in a brand-new police thriller series from the queen of modern crime fiction, Lynda La Plante.

Fire investigators and police are called to the scene of a burnt-out cottage. Inside, they find a body and the remnants of bank notes, stolen in the most audacious train robbery of the nineties; a crime which remains unsolved, the perpetrators seemingly having disappeared without trace – undoubtedly the work of a criminal mastermind.

‘Buried’ introduces us to Jack Warr, a young DC recently transferred to the Met, having moved to London with his girlfriend, Maggie, to allow her to pursue her own career. Jack, however, is not similarly driven or ambitious with regard to his own career in the police force. He feels that something is missing. But he worships Maggie; more enthusiastic about her desire to pursue her career than he is of his own. Jack receives devastating news from his adoptive parents that knocks him entirely off-balance, but leads him to seek answers to questions he’s never asked before and find the identity of his birth father.

Part of the team called in to investigate the murder and possible connection to the unsolved robbery, Jack begins to feel an enthusiasm he has never felt before in relation to his job – something about this investigation may present the piece that has been missing so far. His personal and professional investigations into the criminal underworld become ever more entangled. The deeper he digs, the more he finds there may perhaps be no turning back from what he finds.

‘Buried’ is fantastic! As I was reading, I was reminded of how I felt when I read ‘Above Suspicion’ and ‘Tennison’, both first novels in series (Anna Travis and Jane Tennison respectively), newly released when I first read them. There is something special about the beginning of a series that Lynda captures so perfectly – by the end of ‘Buried’ I had no doubt that, much like those other two books, this one will evoke similar feelings of nostalgia in the future.

Jack is an incredibly endearing character – his relationship with Maggie is beautiful; you can feel it in their every interaction. There are also some deeply emotional moments between Jack and his adoptive parents. ‘Buried’ is telling the story of a period of intense upheaval for Jack – as well as finding himself, he is in danger of losing himself too.

‘Buried’ is deeply rooted in another of Lynda La Plante’s series – the murky criminal underworld of ‘Widows’ – featuring returning characters that it is a joy to become reacquainted with. While it isn’t necessary to have read the ‘Widows’ trilogy to enjoy ‘Buried’, there are many moments that feel so much more fulfilling having read those three incredible books and become acquainted with the characters and the twists of the series. Even now, Dolly Rawlins poses a powerful presence; her legacy continues and it is quite heart-warming to find that, in some ways, her dreams of opening a home for disadvantaged children have been realised. ‘Buried’ is as much a fond farewell to one series as it is the beginning of another.

After closing the book on the dramatic and poignant final chapters, I wished I could dive straight back in and experience it all over again. ‘Buried’ is the perfect blend of new and nostalgic that makes for pure enjoyment. Lynda is planning a television adaptation and I very much hope that comes to fruition. In the meantime, Jack will return in book two next year, which I will no doubt devour as eagerly as I did this first novel. I absolutely loved it.



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Judas Horse by Lynda La Plante

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Jack Warr returns in a gripping police thriller to hunt a dangerous gang of violent burglars.

Returning to work following paternity leave, DS Jack Warr is seconded to an inquiry in the Cotswalds – a series of audacious burglaries, recently increasing in severity, the perpetrators having needlessly killed a dog who was still at home.

Jack’s determination to apprehend the burglars and prevent their crimes escalating further affords him little patience for bureaucracy and leads to clashes with senior officers. Unfazed, he has no qualms about cutting through the red tape and bending procedure for the sake of the greater good.

When the burglaries are connected to the discovery of a body several months earlier, Jack knows that they have little time before these killers strike again. He also knows there is only one way to capture them – he needs to find an insider, his Judas Horse, to bring the gang to them before they are able to evade capture and escape justice for good.

‘Judas Horse’ is the second in Lynda La Plante’s series featuring Jack Warr, following the brilliant ‘Buried’ – a series which also has its roots in the classic ‘Widows’ trilogy. It grips you in its clutches from the opening page, before launching you into the investigation that quickly becomes a race against time, hurtling towards its dramatic action-packed finale. Featuring authentic characters, detailed police procedure and multiple twists and turns, I didn’t want to put it down. As with all Lynda’s books, I wanted to race through to the finale, yet simultaneously did not want it to end.

Jack makes for a brilliant lead character – both likeable and endearing. After pursuing his family history in ‘Buried’, he feels he has found himself, which shines through in his work; already a dogged and determined detective, skilled at reading evidence and tracking down the truth, but unafraid to cross over into the grey areas when he believes police procedure is impeding an investigation. At heart, he is a good man, while also possessing a roguish quality – a darker side that even Jack himself does not yet fully comprehend. Blended perfectly with the procedural narrative of the central crimes is Jack’s family life – his relationship with his partner Maggie is beautiful, their newborn daughter Hannah the perfect addition to their family. This is as much an emotional drama as a police procedural.

Thrilling and engaging, ‘Judas Horse’ is a superb slice of police drama and a fantastic sequel to ‘Buried’. I have been a huge fan of Lynda La Plante for the last two decades, having quickly devoured her back catalogue, eagerly anticipating every new book and TV drama, and she never fails to deliver! I cannot wait to see what will be next for Jack Warr.



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Vanished by Lynda La Plante

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


An intense, multifaceted case for Jack Warr in another engrossing entry in the series.

An eccentric widow continues to make increasingly bizarre reports to police that she is being terrorised. DS Jack Warr is assigned to investigate if there is any validity to her claims. Despite finding himself warming to Avril, Jack is unconvinced there is any crime to investigate.

But her shocking and brutal murder entirely changes the course of the investigation, which leads to potential links to a group of dangerous criminals and international drug smuggling operations.

As the investigation shifts focus and other issues pose increasing challenges for Jack, he remains committed to tracking down Avril's sadistic killers, determined that they will not escape justice.

'Vanished' is the third novel in Lynda La Plante's Jack Warr series, once again a relentlessly gripping police thriller, filled with procedural and forensic detail, twists and turns keeping you rivetted and hurtling through the pages. Beginning with Jack reviewing multiple reports of harrassment, break-ins and thefts from an isolated and eccentric elderly lady, she claims to be the victim of a campaign of obsession by her ex-lodger, who appears to have vanished without trace. The investigation spins off on an unexpected tangent when this escalates to murder, with more unforeseen lines of enquiry coming to light as the team investigate.

Jack is a great character - a dedicated and morally-driven police officer, but with a darker side that sometimes leads that morality into grey areas. He has a tendency to find procedure and bureaucracy tiresome when it obstructs the course he has fixed upon, but at heart he always strives to do the right thing, or at least to do it for the right reasons. Jack's personal life continues to drive the series as much as the criminal investigations - he is getting married to Maggie, while their daughter, Hannah, is already growing fast; his relationships with them both, as well as his other personal relationships, are heartwarming.

Featuring multiple characters that all have a vital role to play in the unfolding dramas, each is vividly well-developed, their individual stories cohesively driving the plot. With the surprise appearance of a face from the past also in the mix, the novel has everything you could want from an ongoing police procedural series and much more. I absolutely love these books; Lynda La Plante's novels (and TV dramas) are always pure escapism - each new release an event in itself and an indulgent, immersive delight. I cannot wait to be able to dive into the fourth in the series.

Gripping, fast-paced and rich in detail, 'Vanished' is an outstanding thriller; Lynda La Plante remains unrivalled and at the top of her game.



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Pure Evil by Lynda La Plante

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


An electrifying police thriller, unearthing horrors which may lurk closer than we imagine.

DS Jack Warr is assigned to finalise the case against Rodney Middleton, who has been arrested and charged with a serious assault. It should be a straightforward task, but something just doesn't fit. Not only was the crime senseless, but the suspect practically volunteered both himself and the weapon to police.

As Jack keeps digging, against the wishes of his senior officer, he receives some alarming and disturbing news from his friend and mentor DCI Ridley, who has been mysteriously absent from work. Ridley has been implicated in a crime, and implores Jack to help him prove his innocence.

As both investigations uncover ever more insidious crimes, Jack follows the remaining trails, uncovering chilling evidence of the most depraved of minds and darkest of souls.

'Pure Evil' is the fourth in Lynda La Plante's Jack Warr series, centring on the dedicated and skilled detective who struggles to be a team player and isn't averse to bending the rules when it comes to the pursuit of justice. Jack finds himself faced with the challenge of juggling two separate investigations, that without his habit of pursuing his own intuitions and enquiries may never be resolved; one official and escalating rapidly, the other under the radar in aid of his old boss and friend - both cases surrounding horrific crimes that by their nature appear intrinsically evil.

Entwining police procedure, forensic science and offender psychology, the plot unfolds at a lightning pace while adeptly juggling intricate detail and emotional depth. The nature of the crimes uncovered through the unfolding investigations is endlessly fascinating - some things are so horrifying that you cannot look away, and La Plante has effortlessly woven this into the story. Nevertheless, the victims and their loved ones are always treated with respect, while the effect of such horrific crimes on the investigators is also explored. With allusions to the COVID-19 pandemic and the war in Ukraine, it’s very much set in our current time – simultaneously feeling both modern and in the vein of a classic, often reminiscent of the best of two of Lynda's previous police procedural series (on both page and screen), 'Trial & Retribution' and the Anna Travis series.

One of the elements I've always loved about La Plante's police procedurals, which goes back to her very first with 'Prime Suspect', is how she delves into the personal lives of her characters; we get to know them as human beings, with all their trials and tribulations. Jack Warr's family life is as gripping as the police investigations - testament to Lynda's ability to create characters we both care about and cannot help but be drawn to and riveted by. Whilst being superlative police procedurals, these stories are also driven by the core characters, resulting in always very human stories. As well as this, and in juxtaposition to the horror of the crimes, there are also flashes of humour - I found myself laughing out loud at some interactions. As always, Lynda La Plante delivers an absorbing and exhilarating novel, leaving you in eager anticipation of the next.

Sinister and chilling, 'Pure Evil' is a relentlessly compulsive police procedural, packed with suspense, intrigue and mystery.



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Crucified: The brand new 2025 Detective Jack Warr crime thriller by Lynda La Plante

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


DS Jack Warr returns in a dark, compelling thriller.

Jack is currently taking some leave following the conclusion of a serial murder investigation, the case continuing to haunt him.

When he spots a familiar face in a crowded market, Jack is drawn into the art world, something that ignites in him that drive and passion that’s been missing for many months.

But a brutal murder soon derails Jack’s world once again, initiating an investigation which may unravel his entire life.

‘Crucified’ is the fifth novel in the Jack Warr series by Lynda La Plante. Picking up a year after the events of the previous novel, ‘Pure Evil’, Jack has been struggling, the serial murder trial having taken a toll on him following the traumatic impact of the case itself. As the killer’s trial comes to an end, Jack remains haunted by the nature of the crimes and the still unanswered questions concerning victims whose identities they’ll never confirm, suffering nightmares and fearing justice can never truly be found, as La Plante delves into the effects of investigating serious crime on police officers, the trauma they can experience second-hand through the victims and in undertaking forensic investigations.

Still feeling a little lost and dislocated, a chance encounter leads Jack into perilous territory. Adam Border, the art forger we last saw in the third book, ‘Vanished’, returns, it soon becoming clear he has another scheme in play. But events take a dark turn with a macabre, brutal murder, the victim currently identified, and Jack begins his own private investigation, getting dangerously close to being connected to the case by his colleagues. Adam is an undoubtedly cunning foe, playing a cat and mouse game with Jack, a villain intensely committed to his art and his amoral code. Jack fears Adam may be the murder victim, or that he might even be capable of committing this brutal crime.

Jack’s tendency to be a bit of a maverick and skirt the fringes of the law may be beginning to catch up with him; this influence from the darker side of his nature that he discovered when delving into uncovering the identity of his biological father. His family and personal life continues to be a major element of the plot, his relationships tested like never before. Jack’s friend and colleague from US law enforcement, Josh, also returns from ‘Vanished’, with a warning to police and prison services of a dangerous new drug that has been hitting the streets in the US and causing astronomical harm to those who abuse it, something that plays a pivotal role in the unfolding story. Meanwhile, Jack returns to work to find much changed and continues to feel unsettled, his passion for the job ebbing as it had done years earlier; his unofficial investigation where he finds his old fire.

Lynda has gifted us another gem of a novel; ‘Crucified’ is an engrossing entry in this fantastic series and I was once again gripped from start to finish. A riveting, character-driven thriller, with fascinating insights into the art world and art forgery and drawing on numerous plot threads, La Plante has woven a fast-paced, multi-layered narrative around an intriguing central mystery, navigating numerous twists and turns, painting a picture of a dangerous, unstable mind and the extremes to which they will go in the name of art; suspense building to an action-packed revelation with Jack at its heart, then leaving us with tantalising glimpses of what may be to come. I shall be eagerly awaiting book six and where Jack’s journey takes him!



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