The latest Jack Warr novel and this series just gets better with each book. The characters are well realized especially Jack and his struggles. Plotting is excellent as you'd expect form Lynda La Plante books and this will keep you reading till the early hours. Now waiting for the TV series. Thanks to Bonnier books UK and Netgalley for this review ARC.

A great addition to the Jack Warr series. More of a slow burn beginning than some of the author’s other books, as we see Detective Jack Warr still recovering from the aftermath of catching serial killer Rodney Middleton and the nightmares still haunting him from that case.
I really enjoyed the world of art forgeries setting and the author’s style, characterisation and plotting is as strong as ever.

It feels like an age since I was last in the company of Jack Warr and the rest of his team. Things have most definitely changed for Jack. A new father, his old boss and mentor Simon Ridley has moved on, and his new boss is not quite so keen to give him loose reign like their predecessor. On top of all of that, he is taking a bit of a bruising at the trial of a certain serial killer who we all know and likely hate, and the impact of whose work has left a real mark on Jack. It's fair to say that he could use a distraction and that is what he finds in the form of a blast from his past - Adam Border. Now, I'm no art expert but even I can understand that there is a significant difference between chasing down a brutal murderer and getting under the canvas of a great art heist or two.

Or so you'd think. This is a Lynda La Plante novel. We should be prepared for the unexpected, and that is exactly what we get. although, through the actions and confession of Border, we get the gist of most of the what is going to happen in this book, there is a very significant twist in this particular investigation, perhaps one of the biggest being that no-one, other than Jack and perhaps his wife, Maggie, being convinced that there even is an investigation. There is a rather grotesque case of life imitating art, although that is not exactly what Jack is focused on, and it does add a lot of mystery to what I thought would be a rather straightforward situation. Firstly who is the victim, and secondly what does it have to do with Jack's new art 'tutor'.

Now, if you think for a moment, you can probably guess what might have happened to the victim in this novel, and, being honest, although the act itself takes place off the page, the descriptions alone were enough to make me pause for a moment. But this does feel like a very different kind of case for Jack and, based on the ending of the book, marks a step change in the direction this series may well take. He does engage with his team, albeit in a far reduced capacity, partly due to being sidelined by his new DI, Armani. But he is back to doing what Jack does best - flying solo and acting in a slightly maverick way that, at one point, sees the finger of suspicion pointed directly at him. Now, knowing what we know about Jack's past, it didn't come as much of a surprise but as to how that pans out for him, you'll only know if you read the book.

I liked the blend of mystery, police investigation, murder and art in this book. I certainly find myself aware of a few more painters and artists than I knew previously, even if I still couldn't pick out a Picasso from a Rembrandt. (Actually I probably could with those two examples, but you get my meaning ...) There are times when I wished Jack would play it a little straighter, but then would he have been the Jack we love if he had? What I did really enjoy this time was how intrenched Maggie was in the investigation, and not just because of the mess Jack finds himself in. She is smart as anything and almost as intrigued by Jack's latest 'case' as he is himself, which leads to some very canny and clever team work between them. They're a great partnership and I would love to see their new joint interest in the art world serve us well in future cases.

A welcome return for a brilliant character. Perfect pacing, mystery and a healthy dose of culture besides, I loved the back and forth and the challenge between Jack and Adam Border, the chemistry with Maggie, and just the tender moments when Jack stops to appreciate all that he has in his life. Doesn't stop him pushing things to their limits mind, just how I like it.

The 5th book about maverick Detective Jack Warr book does not let you down. I advise you to read the previous 4 books.
A good detective you often often walks a tightrope between the right and wrong sides of the law, in this book we see Jack on leave from work, struggling with domestic life, and haunted by past cases.
A great police procedural novel.

This one keeps you in the edge of your seat, lots of characters to both like and dislike, a plot that grips from the start and a hero and his family you want to know more about.
Interesting characters and a fascinating storyline. Another masterclass in mystery writing from Lynda La Plante. I would thoroughly recommend.

Detective Jack Warr is living on the edge, reeling from his latest case and all the others that have left their imprint on his mind. The story details Jack's battle with disabling insomnia and dangerous night terrors that threaten the safety of those he loves. It is characters from the past that help him gain closure and set the path for his future career. In the meantime, he becomes involved in the dark world of art forgery and risks everything when a gruesome murder occurs. As usual, he blurs the lines of legality with the need for justice and his success. The complex cast of characters supports and tests Jack. I enjoyed the insight into the complex detective that makes you invest in him, the suspenseful plot, and the immersive, intense ethos which keeps you reading.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher.

What a gem this woman is. I never get bored of her books and I adore Jack Warr...how human he is. Pure genius again.

This was the first book in this series that I’ve read after somehow the first four passing me by. I have read previous series by Lynda LaPlante and can see her effortless style and compelling characters coming through in this story.

I enjoyed the plot which revolves around Detective Jack Warr who becomes involved in a gruesome murder investigation whilst his interest is peaked in learning more about art forgery.

All the characters are well written and have depth, I would be interested in reading the previous books in the series to see how they have developed. The story of Jack’s home life and mental health struggles are a strong sub plot which added to the main plot and kept me interested and invested.

Overall a great police procedural.

Crucified by Lynda La Plante is the 5th book in the DS Jack Warr’s series and it was another excellent book within this series, especially as this is one of the best series you can read, and they just get better and better. It is full of great twists and turns throughout and you will end up turning your pages to you kindle quickly to find out what happens next! It will not disappoint!

Detective Jack Warr is haunted by the gruesome legacy of serial killer Rodney Middleton and reeling from a series of events that has left him deep in depression. He is now refusing the Met-offered counselling service, Jack instead finds solace instead through renewing a dangerous friendship with the artist and master forger, Adam Border.

A body is discovered nailed to a giant cross in a framer's shop, Now, Jack feels there is a connection to the case even though it is not in his jurisdiction. But is his involvement that of a detective or witness?

Crucified can be read as a standalone, but I do recommend you go back and read the other 4 books. DS Jack Warr is an excellent character and I have loved reading all these books, everyone has been a superb read.

I am so looking forward to book 6 within this series.

Big Thank you to NetGalley and especially Bonnier Books UK | Zaffre for my ARC.

Another well written and brilliant read from the author, featuring DS Jack Warr, one of my favourite characters! I love reading more about his home life and the impact the job has on his mental health, as well as family life. I really look forward to seeing what life has in store for Jack in the next episode. I am sure fans will love this read as much as I did. Thanks to Net Galley for my ARC.

Detective Jack Warr, haunted by nightmares after catching a serial killer, is drawn into a new case involving a gruesome murder at an art shop. The reappearance of forger Adam Border complicates matters. Jack must uncover a corrupt art world and face his own hidden secrets.

Crucified is the fifth novel by Lynda La Plante to feature Detective Jack Warr. Although there isn’t strictly a need to have read any of the proceeding books, you’re likely to enjoy this one more if you have. For me, Crucified is a book heavy on character development and relatively light on plot.

I’ve greatly enjoyed the other books in the series but struggled with this one a little at first. The plot is really quite slow to get going – I’m not sure there was a need to spend quite so many, many chapters exploring Jack’s PTSD. Nevertheless by the second half of the book, I found myself quickly turning the pages to find out what happened next.

Not the strongest entry in the series for me, but an enjoyable return to these characters nonetheless.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers, Zaffre, for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Lynda la Planta continues her long reign as a master writer and in this Detective Jack Warr series, she surprises yet again. I did wonder if the beginning was a little slow, but it is the writer’s way of giving us sufficient information and clues which became necessary later in the story. While he’s just going back to work after the previous case was more than enough for anyone, he’s befriended by a criminal, who has clearly brought Jack into his knowledge band and this helps Jack over the new case that he is partly involved with and partly trying not being see to be involved with. Unfortunately, other police offices think he’s up to no good and while his wife covers for him, he leads a very clever campaign to stay on the right side of the law, or does he? There’s a lot, but not too much, of his family and how they interact with him. This shows a real side to the detective and gives hints as to his planning for the future. I suggest you don’t eat or drink before the brutal murder takes place as you might be seeing the contents of your stomach soon after. This novel is very cleverly written, while being an easy read and you’ll want to see how everything gets resolved and be surprised yet again.

Crucified is another gripping addition to the Detective Jack Warr series. Jack is still haunted by past cases and struggling with his mental health, which adds depth to his character. I enjoyed how the story slowly built up to the shocking murder—it kept me hooked! His connection to Adam Border, the forger, adds another layer of danger and suspense. Although the murder comes in a bit late, the buildup was worth it. The ending was intense and left me wanting more. Jack is a flawed but fascinating character. Overall, a solid crime thriller with emotional depth and twists!
Very grateful to the publisher for my copy through NetGalley, opinions are my own.

Another DS Warr book that delves deeply into his battle with the demons caused by his previous investigation into a serial killer. Nightmares and dark moods are affecting his whole family and something has to give. Meanwhile his obsession with a man, Adam Border, who fraudulently paints fake art leads him into further danger that once again puts him and his family at risk. A good story that highlights the devastation that can affect police who have to deal with the worst of humanity every day. My only slight complaint is that in the synopsis of the book, the murder is mentioned but doesn’t occur until almost halfway through the book. I understand the need for the build up however. Another enjoyable book from Lynda La Plante that promises further investigations from this complex but dedicated detective.

This is the 5th book in this series featuring DC Jack Warr and, as always, I would recommend starting from book one and reading in order. He's a troubled, complicated soul, is Jack and you really need to know what makes him tick for maximum enjoyment...
So... when we catch up with Jack, he is still suffering the fallout from his previous outing. He is very much suffering mentally but has resisted all forms of help. Instead, a chance encounter has him reconnecting with an old friend. You'd think this to be a good thing, until you realise that said friend is artist, master forger, and all round bad egg, Adam Border...
Things get worse when there's a rather violent and sadistic murder which occurs in the framer's shop that Adam uses. Jack had already flagged the premises for other potential nefarious shenanigans but not murder. He also fears that it could be Adam as the victim, but he is not on the case, so he has to inveigle himself in in some way... luckily, as we that know him, know he is not a fan of rules and boundaries...
He also has a new boss to get to grips with and to say that their working practices don't align is a bit of an understatement.
I love this series. Actually I love all this author's series. Especially Tennison which has sadly finished and which I also wholeheartedly recommend.
Jack is just the right side of maverick for me. I love his wiles and how he takes no prisoners in getting where he needs to be. His only voice of reason coming from Maggie who tries to keep him on a even keel but also knows when to just let him go and support what he does. I guess her main motivation for this is that he then feel guilty when he tries to not let her make the house renovations she wants!
And the case that Jack ends up assisting on is an absolute doozy and had me frantically turning the pages to find out what was happening, all the time wondering when Jack would slip up and get found out.
And then how the book ended, with what is mooted to be next for Jack. I can only wait with even more baited breath to find out what happens next. My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.

Really loved this book, It is part of a series featuring Jack Warr and his long suffering wife and mother but can be read as a stand alone. It is a fast paced read with lots going on in both his work and family life. Jack is a bit of a maverick who sails close to the wind. Looking forward already to the next instalment!

My thanks to Lynda and NetGalley for allowing me to read Crucified before the publication date.
This is the fifth book in the series. It can be read as a standalone book, but I chose to read the 4th book, Pure Evil, first.

Warr is a bit of an enigma, a dedicated family man one minute and an inconsiderate character who puts his own interests first.

Returning to work, he finds that the management have changed.
DCI Ridley, Warr’s former friend, has been replaced by DCI Morrison with whom there is no love lost.
The new D.I., Brianna Armani, is authoritarian and promptly assigns a Domestic Violence case to Warr, a decision she might live to regret.
Jack Warr continues to be one step ahead of his bosses, but can the same be said about the motley
crew of fraudsters he is associating with?
This would make a good option for a book club.

I really enjoyed this book. The suspense built throughout the book, and it kept my guessing until the end.
I loved the different characters that appeared, and felt that I would enjoy books based on their own individual stories. I had not read any of the previous books in this series , but I felt that this didnt retract from my enjoyment of the book, and it was easy to pick up and read.

Crucified is the third of the five Jack Warr books I have read by Lynda La Plante and the seventh in all I have read but I do have 30 of her books still to read. A fast paced book read in a day that kept me gripped. Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the chance to ARC this book.

I am a massive series reader. Series are my go-to, as are police procedurals. And Lynda La Plante ticks both boxes for me. She has written so much and so well, that anything she writes I am there, at the front of the queue.

Here we have Jack Warr, in his 5th book of the series, back to his nearly best - recovering mentally from the last case, which saw him on sick leave. So much character building in these books that we empathise with Jack immediately, and really want to know how he is feeling and dealing with everything.

Lot's of trauma to unpick and nightmares to get through, but our protagonist is of course going to push on through and deal with the latest mystery.