I’d like to thank Joffe Books and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read ‘Judas Horse’ by Lynda La Plante in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.

DS Jack Warr is based at London’s Metropolitan Police and following success in catching the Wimbledon Prowler he’s been asked to head to the Cotswold where houses owned by affluent members of society have been broken into. When one burglary involves the killing of a pet dog and another a violent and unnecessarily brutal attack on a young man, Jack needs to find a pattern and catch those responsible with the help of a young woman who’s going to act as his ‘Judas Horse’.

The story starts with two brothers who make a grim discovery in a lake but this isn’t mentioned again until much later on. Then Jack moves from police force to police force until eventually heading to the Cotswolds where he works alongside two detective inspectors from the Oxford robbery squad neither of whom like Jack’s attitude. As engaging as ‘Judas Horse’ is, the story is very much a slow burner until we reach the latter part where the excitement starts to build and it becomes more gripping. I haven’t read the previous book in the series but don’t feel I’ve missed anything as enough information has been given in ‘Judas Horse’. I like the down-to-earth descriptions the author gives of her characters and despite wanting more excitement in the first two-thirds, the final part more than makes up for it by being so exciting I couldn’t put the book down. I hope there’s going to be another thriller with DS Jack Warr and look forward to it.

Judas Horse is the second book in the Jack Warr series. This series is the only one that I have read by this author and I need to make a determined effort to catch up with a few others. Whilst I liked the previous book, Buried, I enjoyed this one a lot more. It proved that it could stand on its own without the connection to the Widows series. You could read this without reading the former but I would recommend reading them in order.

Jack has calmed down a lot since the events in Buried. He has just become a father and has come to terms with finding out his own father’s identity. He is settled into his new home with the wonderful Maggie, young Hannah and his mother. He enjoys his job more and appears to be less of a hothead and in this novel he is helping a team in the Cotswolds solve a series of house crimes that are getting increasingly violent. But he is no walkover and there is a power struggle within that team that causes more problems than it solves.

I think Jack is a great character. He is encouraging to the less experienced officers and handles the team from Oxford brilliantly. I would love to see that ‘partnership’ in further novels. I can see a lot of animosity ahead! The way he was with the witnesses and the victims showed compassion but a determination not to be ignored or patronised.

Maggie is also a great character. Grounded and loving and she knows that her man isn’t a saint. But she is prepared to let him think that he believes everything she is told because she knows that what he does is done is with a good heart.

It is quite brutal at times but I feel it is more intimidating because of the rural, usually peaceful setting and also because of who is on the receiving end. Nobody is safe from these criminals.

Judas Horse is a great addition to this new series and I’m looking forward to book three and keeping my fingers crossed that like the other books that it will be televised

Judas Horse is a typically compelling Lynda La Plante crime thriller, right from its gruesome beginning. The thoroughly likeable DS Jack Warr, who now lives in London and becomes a father during the course of this book, is loaned to the Chipping Norton police department to investigate a series of burglaries targeting the super-rich.
There’s a real sense of yin and yang throughout this book, as we get glimpses of Jack the intuitive, brilliant copper, and Jack the not-very-comfortable partner to a very pregnant Maggie; of Jack the scrupulously just citizen, and Jack the son of a notorious gangster. As in the first book in this series, Buried, Jack’s character continues to develop as he learns to embrace both sides of himself. As the author herself explains, Jack “is a complex character who is still figuring out exactly who he wants to be.”
Jack has excellent intuition and operates according to his instincts. He cuts through all the nonsense, the kowtowing and political pressure. He marches in where angels fear to tread, and thus actually gets the job done. It’s wonderful to see how he handles everyone from insufferable bosses to arrogant members of high society. I disliked Jack’s very anal boss, DCI Simon Ridley, in the previous book, but their relationship has matured and the two now make a formidable team.
In Chipping Norton, Jack hunts a group of burglars whose MO is becoming dangerous. Violence is escalating and Jack fears what could happen if they’re allowed to continue. Before we even get to this main action of the book, however, we’re plunged into two other fascinating serial robbery cases.
I enjoyed the insights into Jack’s home life, which flesh out his character. La Plante takes us to the birth of his baby, Hannah—pain, swearing, screaming and all. And we’re treated to Jack’s utter embarrassment when Maggie blithely FaceTimes him to talk to Hannah, blithely unaware that he’s with colleagues in the pub.
We meet an array of fleshed out, interesting characters, including witnesses with mental challenges and wonderful cameo characters such as Canteen Barbara who keeps the police team supplied with pastries. Jack knows instinctively how to deal with them all. He’s not a paragon of virtue, however, and his dark side comes out in the difficulty he has dealing with authority figures, and his Robin Hood tendencies.
There are twists and turns as Jack is stumped and misled throughout this fast-paced read. It is clever, fun and entertaining. Its mix of police work, family life, love, horror and blood, all wrapped up in a totally satisfactory crime novel, really appealed to me.

I received this book from the publishers via Netgalley for a review. The second Jack Warr novel another hit for Lynda La Plants well plotted and great characters. Loved the book

This is a really good follow up in the Jack Warr series by Lynda La Plante, although it can be read as a stand alone. It starts off with a gruesome discovery by two small boys but then it takes a while for scene setting. The storyline is compelling, with excellent character development and an interesting plot which held my attention to the end. There are plenty twists to keep you guessing and a host of wonderful characters. It's a quick and easy read. Thanks to Net Galley for my ARC.

I absolutely adore Lynda La Plante so instantly jumped at the chance of this blog tour. Especially after reading Buried which I devoured very quickly.

This is well-written and pulled me within pages. I haven't been disappointed with this book and absolutely need more in this series. The book starts off with a grim discovery which really captured my attention. This has been a book which I have been completely unwilling to put down.

La Plante has filled this one with a range of interesting characters and a plot which builds slowly. This makes it both exciting and intriguing. I have been completely unable to predict where this one was going.

I adore Lynda La Plante, I'm always completely captivated by the writing style and fascinated by the plots that she is able to create. This is a definite five star read which I highly recommend, I cannot wait for more.

This is the second book in the DC Jack Warr series and I can say it works very well as a standalone, I have not read the first one.

It has been a while since I have read any of this authors books, and I am delighted to see that she has lost none of her magic when it comes to writing. There is something mesmerising about her writing and the ability to draw the reader into a story so quickly.

Jack Warr is a character I already have a soft spot for. He is one of those intrinsically good guys, but there is something a little more to him. He shows not only great instincts when it comes to his work, but has a way with people, they either respect him or think he is above himself.

The story sees Jack join a team that has run out of ideas for a series of burglaries. Jack has superiors who believe in him and his abilities to get to the bottom of cases, so he becomes the ideal officer to send to the wealthy area of Chipping Norton.

The ability of the author to create such a complex and yet easy to understand the story is something else. There are layers upon layers to the story that seems to get deeper and deeper the further the story goes. It takes a while for all the threads to emerge and for them to get linked. This means the reader gets a wonderful story that is full of intrigue, plots, subplots and as if this isn't enough there are some wonderful personal stories that have been woven in as well.

This was such a brilliant crime novel to read and has made me realise how much I used to enjoy reading this authors books. I thought that Jack was such a good character and is one that has more to him than meets the eye. I can't wait to get to know him more. This is one for police procedural fans and lovers of crime thrillers. I thoroughly enjoyed it and would definitely recommend it.

The second thrilling outing for Detective Jack Warr.

Although this is the second investigation for Detective Jack Warr, it certainly reads well as a standalone. I must say that I warmed to his character immediately, because he is certainly “old school” and sticks with his gut feeling until the bitter end. I also like the warm relationship with his partner and their baby.

Jack lives in London and is investigating some violent robberies in Wimbledon. We soon learn that a similar pattern of crimes are occurring in The Cotswolds, so Jack’s knowledge and expertise is required to assist the Police with the Cotswold burglaries. It is interesting that the local Police don’t immediately take to Jack’s methods, but he soon wins them round.

The beginning of the book doesn’t “fit” to start with but stick with it and the relevance of a dead body found in a submerged horse box becomes clear as the investigation proceeds. Only the expensive properties are targeted in these violent burglaries, sometimes leading to murder.

Soon a pattern emerges and Jack uses an informant to round up the most dangerous and audacious criminals. The title “Judas Horse” is very apt because Lynda La Plante does explain the significance of the term, but I’ll let you discover for yourself! There are many twists and turns in this thriller so I’ll lookout for the next Jack Warr investigation.

Galadriel.

Elite Reviewing Group received a copy of this book to review.

Lynda La Plante just keeps getting better and better (and long may she continue to do so!)
Jack Warr is a great new character, written with honesty, humanity and passion. It would be impossible not to have a lot of empathy for Jack and his family. When he occasionally steps out of line it just adds to his charm.
The plot slowly builds to a rollercoaster of a crescendo that puts lesser crime writers to shame. It even has a hint of Dick Francis. I eagerly await the next book in the series.

This is the second book in the DS Jack Warr series from Lynda Is Plante

Another gripping storyline
A slow burner to start and then faster paced towards the end
Plenty of twists and turns
With great characters that you are finding more about from the first book
Loved widows and love this series that keeps you intrigued to find out how Jack's connection to Harry Rawlings is going to pan out

Thank you netgalley, Lynda Is Plante and Bonnier Books UK

This is the second in this series featuring DC Jack Warr and, although the main story is self-contained, you would be doing yourself a favour if you started from the beginning and read Buried first.
Jack is seconded to another force to assist with a spate of burglaries which have recently increased in frequency. Someone is targeting high value victims, most of whom don't want a fuss, just a crime number for their insurance. All absent from home when the deed is done so there's some insider knowledge probably. Jack is well versed in this sort of investigation having successfully achieved good results in the past. He has just become a first time father and is rather looking forward to getting stuck in with something not baby related... Oh and don't forget who his own father is, although that's really a job for a whole other series of books.
I am still a little unsure about Jack. I said in my review for Buried that he was a "funny fish" and I think this is also true in this book. He seems to contradict himself quite a lot as a character. He has accepted his lineage and what that means for him, he is a good cop but also lives off ill gotten gains. That said, he is a good, solid and wholly believable character, just not one I have fully connected with yet - but I think I will, given time.
The Judas Horse of the title is also quite intriguing a concept - tame one wild thing to go back and lead their pack to capture. All Jack needs is an "in". Someone to feed him information, and to feed them disinformation. The skill is finding that person and finding out what will turn them.
We start with something that remains unconnected to anything else for quite a while. To be honest, when it eventually came to the part it was drawn into the main plot I had quite forgotten it had happened in the first place! Not sure if that says more about me than the author as it is quite shocking an opening!
The whole thing is also a bit episodic in nature. By that I mean that I can see it being played out on the small screen as a miniseries with not too much effort in converting to a screenplay. Not that that's a bad thing, just something I did notice along the way.
Jack is a bit before his time insofar as the methods he employs to catch the bad guys. He does come across as arrogant at times and not always a team player. That said, he gets results, mostly by being able to turn others into doing things his way but I guess if that's what you need to do to get there...
All in all, a well plotted and executed sequel to what looks like it's shaping up to be a good series. Roll on next time. My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.

Detective Jack Warr is asked to help out on an inquiry into a spate of high profile burglaries in the Cotswolds.
The local force have been trying to catch the culprits for years but are not getting any closer. Jack knows that he will be seen as an outsider so quickly sets about getting the local team onside and getting himself up to speed with the increasingly violent crimes.
The gang are clearly very organised, getting in and out quickly, knowing when properties will be empty
and avoiding any CCTV.
When two Detectives from the Robbery squad are brought in to help Jack instantly butts heads with them but they are going to have to put aside their differences if they are going to catch the culprits before anyone else gets hurt.
I think it’s great that Jack has a stable and happy home life, you don’t often get that. Also that he’s not perfect but he knows that and he does his best to help others be better than they think they are.

I would like to thank Netgalley and Bonnier Books UK for an advance copy of Judas Horse, the second novel to feature DS Jack Warr of the Met.

Jack is sent on secondment to the Cotswolds to help the local team solve a spate of high end burglaries, which are getting more frequent and violent and he soon ends up investigating murder as well.

I enjoyed Judas Horse which is a police procedural full of twists and turns, told mostly from Jack Warr’s point of view. I found the first 60% of the novel absolutely gripping and couldn’t put it down whereas I found that I couldn’t get interested in the last 40%. This is extremely strange and I have a partial explanation for it. The first part is a slow burner, describing the crimes and Jack’s approach to solving them. It is made up of small snippets of information that gradually coalesce into a logical scenario. The second part involves the planning of how to capture the gang. I love the buzz of the information gathering and the thought processes that put it together, but the second part sees Jack acting like a prima donna and alienating his colleagues by taking on a lone wolf role and not sharing. Yes, it’s exciting when it all kicks off and there are a few action scenes and a couple of twists but, by then I didn’t feel invested the way I did in the first part.

I’ve come to the conclusion that I don’t like Jack Warr, because it’s always all about him. He can’t wait to get out of the house and away from the fuss surrounding his new born daughter and volunteers to go to the Cotswolds to boot. He causes strife with his superiors because he knows best and his loose affinity with the law means he’s heading for trouble. All this is a shame because he’s a smart detective, but the there’s a hint of psychopathy in him (not the mad serial killer kind, the alternative wiring kind).

Judas Horse is a good read, just not as appealing to me as it will be to other readers.

DS Jack Warr returns in Lynda La Plante’s Judas House and after taking a little while to warm up it ends up being a page turning police procedural that is thoroughly enjoyable.

This is the second book in the series and the author allows the main characters to grow whilst not distracting from the main underlying storyline which is told well

Recommended

Oh I do love Jack Warr. He's such a refreshing character. Devoted family man, determined and focused Police Officer and with just enough of a hint of menace and independance to keep him on the right side of being must too perfect, he's the kind of character I love to read about and to spend a tension, action and thrill filled afternoon with. I ate this book up in a single day and as satisfying as it was, it just leaves me hungry for more from the series too.

This time around we find meet up with Jack with his circumstances somewhat changed and still changing. His fiance is on the cusp of giving birth, a time that fills him with a touch of dread more for the fact he may have to engage in meaningful discussions over how to decorate the nursery as it does the through of impending fatherhood. Despite this, he still finds himself caught up in a couple of truly meaty cases. His reputation from his previous cases precedes him and he finds himself invited to assist on the case of the 'Wimbledon Prowler', a man who has been targeting homes around the Wimbledon area and burgling them whilst the owners are away. He doesn't arrive empty handed, and the experience he gains from working with former Detective Mike Haskin proves invaluable when he takes a temporary transfer to Wiltshire to help in the case that will prove to be an absolute killer.

Very wealthy homes in the town of Chipping Norton are being targeted but burglars intent of the biggest of paydays (think David Cameron, Anne Diamond, Jeremy Clarkson kind of digs and you'll get the picture). This is well beyond the scope of the Wimbledon Prowler's top hauls, and the victims are not the kind of people to want their private lives made public, just adding to the challenges the local team face. When the case turns violent, it is DI Simon Ridley they turn to for help, and from there to DS Jack Warr. And this is where it all starts to get ... interesting.

Lynda la Plante has done a brilliant job of creating this new team and this new dynamic for Jack to work in. Whilst his presence is initially met with hostility, his natural way of charming, maybe manipulating people, turns in his favour and he has. the local team eating out of his hands. That doesn't necessarily extend to his superiors and there is much conflict to be found just within the investigating teams, conflict which keeps things fresh and keeps the tension high, even when the investigation keeps hitting dead ends. I love the duality of Jack's nature, and it you have read the first book you will know there is good reason to be excited to see this explored in more detail this time around. You never get the feeling that he will cross to the dark side, but his determination so see wrongs ut right means that he's not afraid to bend the odd rule, or push his toes across the odd dangerously red line. But for every moment his anger erupts up see the absolute tenderness of his nature when he is with his family, the love and trust they have for each other which makes me root for him even more.

The tension in this tale is pitched just right. Although it is sometimes hard to feel sorry for one of the victims, the pomposity of his nature, you are still aware of the fact that he is ultimately still a victim and the empathy and sympathy will come. The escalation from simple breaking and entering to violence, whilst explored with a certain sense of detachment and kept largely off the page, is no less shocking and still made me angry as a reader, all the while realising how authentic that scene and that emotion felt. There is a perfect blend of character and story here, and there is nothing to fear from having to meet a whole new team of Detectives as their personalities are set out so clearly that I felt as though I already knew them, or at the least, characters like them. They aren't all likable, although some do redeem themselves eventually, but it was fun watching Jack get the better of the worst of them. Ridley is growing on me too. He's still very straight, a counter to Jack's more maverick style, but we see him human side emerge, even if it is only after a healthy portion of Pimms.

There is a very cinematic feel to the story, making me feel like I was really in the thick of the action and feeling every moment of tension as it grew. With a very dramatic final chase to catch the perpetrators, and one humdinger of a showdown between Jack and the most violent of the team, I was left with a big smile on my face and an overwhelming sense of satisfaction. I am loving this series and can't wait to see what Jack gets up to next.

I loved this book and read it in one sitting. I haven't read the first DS Jack Warr book, but it is definitely going on my list.
The story starts with two young lads discovering a body in a lake. The story then switches tack and we see Jack Warr assisting a team in Wimbledon with the capture of a serial burglar. Then his boss is asked to assistance on a strange burglary case in the Cotswolds. Jack volunteers himself and is transported to the world of the rich and famous and understands why the team there are not getting any further forward with their enquiries. In his usual manner he ruffles feathers and bruises egos in his search for the culprits. The reader does find out the significance of the body at the beginning of the book (it bothered me!).

Rating: 2.3/5

This the second in the series of books featuring DS Jack Warr. If, like me, you haven't read the first one, then I am happy to say that it will not adversely affect your enjoyment of this one. Sufficient background information is made available in the early chapters to ensure that any new readers are armed with any pertinent details.

In "Judas Horse" (the term will be explained in the course of the novel) London-based Detective Jack Warr is sent on secondment and tasked with putting an end to a series of audacious burglaries, which have now also started to become increasingly violent. Will Jack's skills and experience provide the key to solving the crimes, or will "the man from the Met" prove to be too much of an outsider for his new colleagues?

Lynda La Plante is an experienced crime writer and you sometimes suspect that she could churn this sort of stuff out in her sleep. There is an ease to her writing style that seems to effortlessly depict everyday scenarios and dialogue. The flip side of this is that it sometimes comes across as overly mundane and stereotypical, or even edging perilously close to trashy, pulp fiction on occasion.

As with any police procedural series, its success relies on it having a lead protagonist with a backstory and character traits that are sufficiently differentiated from the competition. Detective Jack Warr certainly meets that brief (for the sake of remaining spoiler-free, I won't go into detail here), though even by the standards of a fictional, maverick police officer, some of his aptitudes and actions do require a significant suspension of disbelief. Similarly, a number of the plot devices employed by the author are a touch on the convenient side and do stretch credulity at times. It is only really in the final 20% of the book that the story moves into the territory that best suits Lynda La Plant's writing style and becomes markedly more impactful as a result.

This is perhaps not the most appealing offering that Lynda La Plant has brought to market, but fans of her work and avid readers of this genre in general should find enough to please them.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for supplying an ARC in return for an honest review.

Definitely my favourite Lynda LaPlante book so far. Many of her books are from the 80’s and 90’s (but I have only come to them recently) so it was different to read one set in the present day, albeit with a few inspired references to her previous very successful novels. The Jack Warr series leave scope for many more as Jack’s character is developed further, as too are his colleagues. A daring heist is what LaPlante writes best and this is no exception. Plenty of action and cunning, smart references and new developments, enough to keep you turning the pages right to the end.

This is the second in the new Jack Warr series from La Plante, following on from Buried last year.

Another great book from this masterful writer. She never fails to deliver and I am a MASSIVE fan of hers. Ever since I read Above Suspicion, La Plante has been my go to author for police procedural novels, as this one didn't disappoint.

Jack is called on to investigate a robbery. He has an informer up his sleeve, and as the title suggests, this informer gets sent into the criminal gang as a Judas Horse....

There's the usual amount of detail and plotting here, where La Plante uses her obviously extensive research to tell the tale of the notorious criminal underbelly of the seemingly calm Cotswolds. Jack has a new child and I find it refreshing to read that his home life isn't all crumbling beneath him in the background, as with so many protagonists in the genre.

I would recommend this to fans of crime fiction, police procedurals, Lynda La Plante's earlier series' and anyone looking for an action packed book.

It took me slightly longer to read this than it usually would, but that is no reflection on the book itself. I loved it!

‘Judas Horse’ is the second book in a new series from the experienced pen of Lynda LaPlante, revolving around D.S. Jack Warr. There is sufficient material in the opening chapters to ensure that you have the required background, if like me, you have not read the first book in the series. Although for fans of the popular ‘Widows’ series, the familiar name of Harry Rawlins will make a reappearance but only by name so no need to have any knowledge of that series either, just a fun ‘Easter egg’ for fans.
The book is rather a slow burn as we are introduced to Jack via his secondment to a team in Wimbledon to assist with a long running series of unsolved burglaries. This section of the novel seemed to serve solely to familiarise the reader with our hero and his working style. A perfect lead into the second part – and main body of the novel – but I did feel that the initial section ran on for rather too long and could have been shortened. However, one positive aspect was that characters were all well developed, including the side characters and there were plenty of light hearted moments involving Jack’s family which distracted nicely from the seriousness of the job.
Judas Horse was certainly a thrilling book, and I enjoyed the scenes where Jack used to his more maverick tendencies, combined with sympathy to ensure that he got his way. The gritty scenes and voilence that are so often present in LaPlante’s work, mainly took a back seat in Judas Horse, which allowed the characters to shine for their own skills, rather than shock tactics.