I hadn't realised this book is midway through a series, but that didn't spoil my enjoyment at all and I'll be going back to read the previous three. DC Jack Warr is a great character, enjoyed the tension between his work and his family life, plus his not always admirable personality traits. Good, twisty plot. Kept me reading and guessing.

Another brilliant book from Lynda La Plante an author who grips you grips you from start to finish with great characters and a story that have you wanting more.Excellent 5*

Jack Warr is back in this excellent thriller.
He’s investigating a man who has been been arrested for assault Rodney Middleton , Jack is warned by DCI Ridley that there is more to this case than meets the eye and he needs to dig further in to the case.
Ridley is suddenly removed from his post of DCI under a cloud of secrecy .
Ridley needs help and the only person he can confidently rely on is Jack .
He is caught between two investigations helping Ridley and unearthing the shocking crimes of Middleton.
The writing is excellent as always and Jack as a character has developed from the last book although he remains a complex character , we learn that juggling work and home life isn’t always easy and this leaves him at odds with his wife Maggie at times .
The story is dark and unearthing a serial killer takes it toll on Jack .
Excellent narrative , writing and characters .
Looking forward to the next instalment in the Warr series
Highly recommended!
Thanks to NetGalley and Bonnier Books UK.

This is the fourth book in the DC Jack Warr series by author Lynda LaPlante and is another excellent read. I have enjoyed this series right from the start and this one is the best yet.

DC Jack Warr is dealing with the case of a young man arrested for armed assault with a knife but it is far from the simple case it appears to be. Jack’s friend and colleague DCI Simon Ridley is suddenly suspended, accused of corruption that would end his career. With no one else for Ridley to turn to he reaches out for his friend Jack to help clear his name. Very little is said of the accusations and Jack is risking his own career by trying to help him.

At the same time Rodney Middleton faces trial for a serious offence but DCI Ridley is sure they have a lot more to learn of his crimes. Jack is now investigating both Middleton and his friend Simon, one of these men is ‘Pure Evil’, but which one.

Great characters, especially Jack Warr and so well written. I really enjoy the authors writing, plenty of detail and nothing is rushed, but at the same time riveting.

I would like to thank both Netgalley and Zaffre for supplying a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

A good well paced serial killer tale with plenty of interest and compelling narrative. There is a sub storyline about a senior ranking police officer requiring help as he is under investigation for a serious crime he did not commit. Both storylines are cleverly written and intriguing and I raced to be end of the book.
The main police characters are well rounded and likeable and the narrative of the stresses and strains they’re under along with the conflict of their home versus work life were accurate and well written. Very entertaining and enjoyable would recommend.

I’d like to thank Bonnier Books UK, Zaffre and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read ‘Pure Evil’ by Lynda La Plante in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.

Detective Sergeant Jack Warr is missing his old boss and friend DCI Ridley who’s been removed from his position and whose desk has been taken over temporarily by DCI Clarke. When the body of a women Ridley’s been dating is found in the boot of his car he contacts Jack to ask for his help but if Ridley is innocent, and Jack believes he is, he needs to search for answers in his own time. This is difficult for him as Jack is working flat-out looking for proof that Rodney Middleton is the serial killer he believes him to be before he’s released from prison to carry on with his crimes.

‘Pure Evil’ is a compelling police procedural thriller with an intricately woven plot that covers two crimes, one of which needs to be kept strictly under cover. I like the down-to-earth descriptions of the characters who are far from perfect yet work together well, and bringing Jack’s family into the story shows that he has a human side as he tries to keep the women in his life happy. It’s a good solid detective novel with suspense, intrigue and twists and turns, with Jack coming up trumps as he ties all the loose ends together. I’ve enjoyed this novel that’s definitely worth reading.

This is book 4 of the series and so, for best enjoyment, you really need to start from book one and read in order. That said, the main story is self contained so you could read stand alone, but you would be missing out on all the character background and development if you do this. And anyway, books 1-3 have all been great so...
We start with a conundrum for Det Jack Warr when he and his fellow officers are told that their boss (and his mentor) DCI Simon Ridley has been removed from his post and they are not to contact him. This confuses them and also, being at the trial stage of Rodney Middleton's case, is not really ideal as the are over worked and now have to welcome a new boss. Especially when Jack is not convinced they have the full picture or Middleton's antics. And then there's Jack home life - his wife is over worked and his mother (who lives with them and provides a lot of their child-care) is acting strange. Then Simon calls Jack begging for his help to escape a murder charge...
Blooming heck - what a lot going on, many balls for both Jack and us readers to juggle. But Lynda La Plante is Queen of this stuff and definitely knows how to keep all the balls in the air. And in Jack Warr, she has yet again created another character that is easy to get to know and love. Well, for me anyway. He is real and human and not really beholden to any vices or other tropes that many crime writers rely on. He is not always the best husband or son but that is more avoidance rather than malice. He's not the best at domestic stuff. Again, all of which makes it real. And long suffering Maggie who not only has to put up with him at home but also has issues at work - overstretched and under staffed - bit political but a fair reflection of what is really happening so wholly allowed and respected.
And then we have the crime - or crimes. The dual thread of Middleton and Ridley. And apart from saying that both are well plotted and executed and kept me on the edge of my seat, I'm saying no more about either. Oh, apart from bot came to very satisfying conclusions.
All in all, a cracking addition to an already well established series. Roll on next time. My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.

This is my first Lynda La Plante book in decades and sadly, I have to say I won’t be rushing to read any others.
I realise that my experience of this author’s books are in direct conflict to most of the brilliant reviews that it has already received but I was given an advanced e-reader copy of this book and I always give an honest review.

This is the fourth book in the DS Jack Warr series but I have read it as a standalone.

I enjoyed the storyline, a young man watches for runaways arriving at a station in London. They are visible by their youth, their look of apprehension, indecision and slight fear of being in an unknown city with nowhere to go………….when he spots Amanda …………a young teenager running from Liverpool…..he moves in, all smiles and friendliness and offers her a coffee and then a place to stay. This same young man has been arrested more than once is awaiting trial for an armed robbery in his local shop. It’s not his first offence but he has always been given leniency because of his troubled childhood. Jack’s not convinced and wants to investigate further.

At the same time, all of a sudden DCI Ridley, Jack’s boss, disappears from work and is replaced with no explanation. Jack then decides to find out what has happened to his friend and boss.

I did not enjoy the author’s style of writing at all. It felt extremely stilted to me. The parts of the book in direct speech, flip from one speaker to the another with no indication of who is saying what and the actual dialogue felt like it had been written by someone with a lot less talent and experience than Ms La Plante!

Jack lives with his wife (a doctor), his mother and his pre-school child. It’s written during the aftermath of the pandemic where everyone is still supposed to be wearing masks but in truth some are, some aren’t and I tired of the dialogue surrounding this. I didn’t take to Jack Warr at all. He’s impatient, rude at times, arrogant and definitely not a team player. He thinks nothing of drinking and driving. He and his wife (an esteemed hospital doctor) think nothing of taking sleeping tablets before going on an early shift the next day!! His moral compass when it comes to work is decidedly questionable, as are his interview techniques, which ultimately solve the case.

Just not for me, I’ve read far more exciting murder/police procedural books by much less acclaimed writers (to date), such as Neil Lancaster & Charlie Gallagher that leave this book looking like a ‘Midsomer Murder’.

My thanks, however, still go to the author, the publishers and NetGalley for the advance e-reader copy of this book.

Another excellent thriller in the DS Jack Warr series, a great character who has a big heart but sometimes spreads himself too thinly in order to be all things to all people. In Pure Evil his work rate is exhausting when he tries to uncover further crimes by Rodney Middleton who has already been convicted of assaults but following his instincts Jack is certain there is more to him than is a first apparent. Meanwhile his old boss, Ridley is mysteriously absent from work and his replacement DCI Clarke tells the staff not to try and contact him and won’t explain any further. Jack of course doesn’t take this instruction lying down and is concerned about his friend and mentor. His intrusion and curiosity in both men leads him on a trail that excalates in ways he couldn’t have predicted. Burning the candle at both ends begins to take its toll and his wife Maggie, herself a busy surgeon is becoming increasingly frustrated at Jack’s inability to put his family before work. A well written story that gradually evolves into a horrifying tale of, as the title says, Pure Evil.

This was the 4th book in the series but it was not dependent upon having read the other books. I loved the home interactions of Maggie, jack and Penny as these were so believable. It was well written but with two main stories intertwined it did in places seem a bit of the slow side but it did not take long for the 2 stories to meld and bring back the ful blown enthusiasm for trying to Sid over what will be th ending of both stories. This intertwining of stories is typical of Lynda La Plante and she certainly knows how to bring it all together.

'Pure Evil' by Lynda La Plante.
I must admit I've only read the Widows book by Lynda La Plante, which I loved, so was looking forward to reading this. It didn't disappoint.
Usually when there is two big storylines in a book I'm not a huge fan as I find them confusing. But the way this was done was phenomenal. Detective Jack Warr struggles with a seemingly simple case to another case (off the books) to help his friend and mentor. Both cases keep you gripped and keep you guessing right till the end. There was a combination of warm and funny scenes to harrowing and shocking scenes. I binge read the last half in 1 sitting.
I will definitely be reading more by Lynda La Plante. I fully recommend this book.
Thankyou to NetGallery, the author Lynda La Plante and the publishers for letting me read a copy in return for an honest review.

The Jack Warr series is getting better with each book. This time the simple assault case he is dealing with spirals into darker areas, not helped by his boss and mentor, DCI Ridley being replaced by an inexperienced senior officer trying to micro manage his staff. When Ridley calls and asks for Jacks help, things get almost too much for him but he is so driven he just won’t give up.

This is such a good book, so tense and dark, with multiple storylines woven skilfully together, making it a compulsive read. I love the interaction between Jack and wife Maggie, with both of them trying to juggle intense work situations as well as caring for their daughter, with the help of Penny, Jacks mother, and also keeping their marriage alive. Jack is a complex character, at times almost working outside the law, but determined to get to the truth of whatever case he is dealing with. He also comes across as very human, not always easy work with, often unaware of the offence he causes or how people react to him, but all the more real for it. The police procedures and staff are all obviously well researched, and you feel as though you are part of a real investigation taking place, with no idea of how it’s going to play out. Loved it.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher and author for this eARC.

Wow, this is a great addition to the authors Jack Warr series and I found this to be a very compelling read, one which grabbed my attention from the first page and never let it go until I reached the end. Pure Evil is written well and flows effortlessly. Jack Warr investigates a knife crime where his gut feeling tells him the perpetrator is guilty of much, much more. Alongside this case he looks into another matter for his boss. I really like Warr, and love how his character has developed since the first book. He is tenacious, gets results although he is definitely not a team player. There is an array of characters here, some likeable, some not and a lot going on in this story through several threads that certainly piqued and held my interest throughout. The last quarter of the book is a very riveting read, Lynda La Plante certainly knows how to connect with her readers and create tension and suspense through her writing that made me desperate to know more. I thought current issues in todays society were tackled sensitively, with care and believably wrote. I loved the little glimpses into Jacks home and personal life which I feel give his character more depth, and thought the ending very fitting for the story. Overall a very, very thrilling read which I found hard to put down. I’d recommend this if you like police procedurals although if you’re new to this series I’d say read them in order.

I would like to thank Netgalley and Bonnier Books for an advance copy of Pure Evil, the fourth novel to feature DS Jack Warr of the Met.

DCI Ridley, Jack’s boss and mentor, suggests that he looks more closely at Rodney Middleton, currently on remand for an open and shut case of assault with a deadly weapon. Ridley believes that Middleton is a dangerous man, so Jack takes his word for it and starts digging. Then Ridley disappears from the workplace and no one is to contact him, except he contacts Jack for help in clearing him of a potential murder charge.

I thoroughly enjoyed Pure Evil, which is an absorbing read with many twists and turns. It is mostly told from a very harassed Jack Warr’s point of view with the occasional contribution from other characters.

This is my favourite novel in the series so far as it sees Jack as an investigator, rather than the fly by night he has been. Ok, he has the odd lapse but nothing too serious. He has his work cut out for him, trying exculpate Ridley and finding enough evidence for an official deep dive into Middleton, never mind his mother’s strange behaviour and his wife trying to get him to find a work life balance. He gets quite shirty at times. I like this new Jack, focused on his investigations and trying to be team player, emphasis on trying.

I found the plot very engrossing. There are new developments at every turn and a lot of lies to be exposed, so there is little time to breathe or even fully digest the information before something else crops up. I was astonished at the imagination in the Ridley plot, or to put it more bluntly, the unlikelihood of it, although there is precedent for some of it. The Middleton case, on the other hand, is more straightforward in the sense of only requiring some proof, although practically that is easier said than done. I thoroughly enjoyed the hoops he and the team have to jump through to get that proof and the politics involved in getting a result. I even liked Jack’s annoyance at the lack of recognition he receives for putting it all in motion. I can identity so easily with it.

Pure Evil is a good read that I have no hesitation in recommending.

Lynda La Plante is a master story teller, once I started reading i was fully into the story and couldn’t put the book down. Glad to find this is a book with Jack Warr at the centre who is not only tasked with solving one mystery but then has to find out what has happened to his ex boss. This is not only a tense and gripping plot but yet again Jack has to bend the rules to achieve the right result while juggling his family life. The pleasant surprise at the end will only mean more juggling for Jack in his private life - is being made an inspector on the cards in Future books I wonder.

It doesn't matter what Lynda La Plante writes I will read
Was so excited to be able to get to download the new Jack Warr book Pure Evil
Luckily I was able to get comfy and get lost in the plot
And I am certainly not disappointed, once again another rollercoaster ride
And with Jack investigating two cases, there was no way I could put it down
Can't wait for the next installment

Thank you netgalley, Lynda La Plante and Bonnier Books

This is tense, gripping and completely addictive. I have felt as though I have been watching the events of this one play out. This is realistic and believable, guaranteed to send shivers down the spine of the reader.

This has been completely unpredictable and been a book I have devoured. I literally thought I had this figured out then BANG, a twist thrown in that completely pulls the floor from under you.

Pure Evil by Linda La Plante

Another great read by this wonderful author. In total awe of the ideas , character development and plots that she has brought to us over the years .
Another outing for Jack Warr , and what a fantastic read it was.
A man is is arrested for an knife crime but things pan out and the truth is much , much worse.
Lots of characters for us to get our teeth into and just when you see it going one way , you are swerved into another.
The plot is dark and builds up with tension until the very end.
Brilliant.

DS Jack Warr returns in Pure Evil and it is a typical Lynda La Plante novel well paced and full of twists and turns.

There are 2 distinct plot lines within this book but due to the expertise of the author no confusion arises and they seem to bounce off each other to the overall benefit of the book.

If you’ve read any of the series before you will know that Warr has many flaws which keeps it interesting for any reader whether new or previous and helps propel the story along.

So if you like well paced crime novels then this is the book for you.

Another well written read from the author. it's cleverly plotted, with excellent characterisation and Jack Warr is becoming a favourite character! We find him investigating the murders of young girls but also the disappearance of his boss, DCI Ridley, who seems to be off work but nobody knows why. The two investigations worked well and I loved the insight into Warr's home life. The ending worked very well with both cases resolved and it's another great read from Lynda La Plante which I highly recommend. Thanks to Net Galley for my ARC.