It might be harsh to label DS Jack Warr as a ‘Bad Cop’, but it’s close at times, but frequently in a good cause to solve a case. He’s so likeable, incredibly plausible, and programmed to talk himself out of trouble at work and home. Indeed, he could easily fight his way out of a paper bag. He’s suffering nightmares from a previous case at the start, which sounds like PTSD. I was also interested in the sub-theme about Fentanyl. I’ve read in other books about people taking them, but I wondered what they were. President Donald Trump has also mentioned this medication.

I enjoyed the mix of home life and the detective cases. When the couple converts their home, Maggie exerts her female wiles to enhance the decor, which amuses me. Jack is so involved with the children, Hannah and Charlie, that it’s moving.

Jack is like a moth to a flame over the talented but dubious Adam Border. It’s hard not to admire the fraudster’s talent as an art forger. I don’t think we’ve seen the last of him. The Crucifixion was sickening and gruesome. It makes you realise what evil prevails in the world. I loved how the author started calmly, heated the momentum, and then exploded the plot, causing you to take a breath. When Jack later finds himself on the naughty mat at work, his wife, Maggie, is supportive and craftily saves his skin. The incident ultimately makes him take stock of his future. Thank you to NetGalley and Bonnier Books for the honour of reading a great new novel.

Detective Jack Warr is still recovering from the aftermath of catching serial killer Rodney Middleton. The case may be over, and Middleton safely locked up, but Jack is still having nightmares that terrify him and his wife.
Then Jack bumps into an old adversary, Adam Border. Suddenly Jack has a new interest. The world of art forgery.
When a man is discovered brutally murdered in a framers shop that Jack has seen Adam frequenting, Jack wonders if Adam could be the victim, or could he be the killer?
Jack can’t help becoming involved, he has a grudging respect for Adam and needs to know the truth. But getting involved could put not only his career at risk but also his life and his family.
This book takes you into the shady side of the art world, but it also lets you get to know more about Jack Warr both as a man and as a Detective. It’s well written and is another hit from the incomparable Lynda La Plante.

This is an unusual book in that early on respected detective Jack is suggested to be corrupt as he has been staching away large numbers of banknotes. He also cannot resist tinkering in cases that are none of his business and that leads to questions being asked at work about his trustworthiness. On his side, he has just finished solving a complex case and his experience in court left him with mental health issues. He also, with Maggie, has a lively home life which is a welcome relief from the intense parts of the book. Eventually he does get himself into difficulties at work when he turns up on television as the hero at a reception in London which goes wrong. The figures behind the event are under scrutiny by detectives. The problem is he has become fascinated by art forgery and has got too close to some of its main figures. There are many strands to this story and many figures to keep your mind active! I recommend it.

You'd think that, having cleared up a particularly nasty case and put a serial killer in prison, Jack Warr could put his feet up and relax, wouldn't you?

But he's not.

He's having nightmares, and they're leaving his wife Maggie terrified.

And, of course, Jack picks up another horrible murder case

Another excellent addition to this brilliant series