BLOGATHON: Judas Horse (DC Jack Warr book 2) - Lynda La Plante

SOME KILLERS CAN'T BE TAMED . . .

The brand new Detective Jack Warr thriller from the Queen of Crime Drama, Lynda La Plante - now available in hardback, eBook and audiobook.

'Do you know what a Judas Horse is? When the wild mustangs are running free, you corral one and train it. When he's ready, you release him and he'll bring his team back into the corral - like Judas betraying them...'

Violent burglars have been terrorising residents across the English countryside. But when a mutilated body is discovered in a Cotswolds house, it becomes clear that this is no ordinary group of opportunist thieves.

As Detective Jack Warr investigates, he discovers locals with dark secrets, unearths hidden crimes - and hits countless dead ends. With few leads and the violent attacks escalating, he will have to act as audaciously as the criminals if he hopes to stop them.

When Warr meets Charlotte Miles, a terrified woman with links to the group, he must use her to lure the unsuspecting killers into one last job, and into his trap. But with the law already stretched to breaking point, any failure will be on Warr's head - and any more blood spilled, on his hands...

What did I think?

Having recently been introducted to the Jack Warr series I couldn't wait to read the second book, Judas Horse, and it was every bit as good as I expected it to be.  

Jack has more balls to juggle than ever now that he is a dad but he becomes laser focussed when a new case lands on his desk.  It's just as well that Maggie knows and loves him as he would test the patience of a saint when he forgets his family responsibilites.  It's great to have such a flawed character though as it really brings Jack to life.

This book is set in the Cotswolds where the peace and quiet of the idyllic countryside has been disrupted by a gang of burglars who always seem to be one step ahead of the residents and the police.  The burglars didn't account for Jack Warr though as he pushes the boundaries of his official role to solve the case.

Clever, gripping and twisty, Judas Horse had my pulse racing and my palms sweating as I galloped through the book as fast as I possibly could.  I absolutely loved it and I'm totally hooked on this series now.  Very highly recommended. 

I received a gifted copy to review for the Compulsive Readers blogathon and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

My rating:

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BLOG TOUR: Intruders - E. C. Scullion

"There is a safe, in a house, inside a secure compound in South America.

Your job is to bring me the contents of that safe."

Disgraced security consultant Tom Holt accepts a job from a mysterious lawyer, on behalf of a client named Capricorn.

Holt's team comprises Anil, a safe-cracking ex-con; Ray, a disgruntled logistics man, and Becca, a fiery red-headed thief with as much attitude as she has talent for picking pockets.

On arrival in the alluring Argentine city of Buenos Aires, Holt's past swiftly catches up with him. As he begins to question the client's motives, he finds there are darker, more sinister characters who show loyalty to his employer.

Who is Capricorn?

What's inside the safe?

Tom Holt is about to discover how far he will go to expose the truth, even if it means risking everything, including his own life...

What did I think?

Intruders is an absolutely brilliant novel; it's a literary white knuckle ride that had me on the edge of my seat, holding my breath with my heart pounding and my palms sweating.  E. C. Scullion's writing is so very vivid that I felt as if I was actually in South America with Tom Holt and his team.  It's so good that I've got my fingers and toes crossed that this is the first of many Tom Holt novels.

Tom has been tasked with the impossible: break into a safe on a house in a secure compound in Uruguay and return the contents (without looking at them) to the client, mysteriously named Capricorn.  A team of three are already awaiting his arrival in Argentina: Ray a former policeman, Anil a safe breaker and Becca a light-fingered thief.  It's not Tom's first visit to Argentina though and some of the locals are not pleased to see him, which could put a spanner in the works.

The tension and excitement increases as the unlikely quartet make their plans to break into the safe.  How each part of the plan comes together is nothing short of genius and I loved how things never seemed to go to plan which not only kept Tom and his team on their toes but the reader too.  Intruders is so full of surprises that it's an eyebrow raising, jaw dropping twister of a thriller. 

Intruders is an outstanding and very accomplished debut from E. C. Scullion.  It's compelling, tense and heart poundingly thrilling and I have the sweaty palms to prove it!  This is one novel that I wouldn't be surprised to see snapped up for the big screen; Hollywood take note, you don't want to miss this one! 

I chose to read an ARC and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

My rating:

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