Detective Jack Warr should be resting on his laurels. He's just put sadistic serial killer Rodney Middleton behind bars and he's ready to enjoy some time at home with his young family.
Instead, Jack is having violent nightmares that leave his wife Maggie terrified.
What Jack needs is a break, but instead he finds himself sucked into another grisly case as a man is found horrifically murdered in an art-framer's shop. Jack becomes fascinated by the elaborately staged killing - especially coming straight after the surprise reappearance of charismatic forger Adam Border.
Could Adam be the victim?
Or the murderer?
Finding the truth will unveil a shocking portrait of a corrupt art world - but will it also expose the secrets Jack is so desperately trying to keep hidden?
What did I think?
Crucified is the fifth book in the fantastic Jack Warr series and I absolutely loved it. It can be read and enjoyed as a standalone but I loved the references to previous cases so I think it is outstanding when read as part of the series.
If I thought Jack Warr couldn't be more flawed in the previous books then I was wrong. He is at breaking point and there is so much going on at home and at work that's it no wonder he is having nightmares. It's great to have a less than perfect main character as it's much more realistic and it only makes me love Jack more. I think if I hadn't read the earlier books though I would think Jack was well dodgy.
I loved the art forgery storyline and the highly imaginative crime that made me feel a little queasy. Even just thinking about it now is making me grimace! As it says in the synopsis, Jack isn't sure whether his old nemesis/acquaintance Adam Border is the victim or the murderer, so that gives you a clue as to the state in which the body is found. Yikes!
As with all of the books in the series, Jack's personal life drives a large part of the narrative and I almost feel like part of the family as I'm so eager to see how they're all getting on. They certainly have a lot of challenges to face in this instalment and Maggie's patience is severely tested but, as the saying goes, what doesn't kill you makes you stronger.
Incredibly compelling and impossible to put down, Crucified is gripping from start to finish and after his surprising announcement I can't wait to read what Lynda La Plante has in store for Jack. I loved this book (even the grisly parts) and would highly recommend it.
I received a gifted ARC to read and review as part of the Compulsive Readers blogathon and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.
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