Jack Gatland

This is the first in a new series of British police procedural murder mysteries from comics and TV writer Tony Lee writing under the pen name of Jack Gatland.

It’s a definite departure from what I know of Tony’s work, but he carries it off in style, laying the foundation for what promises to be an entertaining an engaging series. If you are a fan of contemporary British murder mysteries then this will definitely appeal.

I had this as my phone-read over the last couple of months and dipping into it on a sporadic periodic basis probably didn’t do it justice as it occasionally took me a while to get caught back up with the various characters and their complex interwoven relationships. But that’s not a reflection on the text, more on my approach to reading it. This book will reward a more focused read.… (mais)

I'm glad I followed the advice of a fellow blogger and read this book. Letter from the Dead has a very interesting lead character, excellent pacing, and a marvelous twisty plot.

Now known as "the Priest Puncher" (you'll have to find out about that for yourselves), DI Declan Walsh is a character I want to learn more about, so it's a foregone conclusion that I'll be coming back to this series. His father, Patrick, was the recently retired Detective Chief Inspector (DCI) of the Metropolitan Police, and Declan is convinced that he was murdered, so readers will have that subplot to follow in subsequent books. Walsh is a flawed character, but not the type that's become rather cliché in police procedurals. I enjoyed seeing how his mind worked as he led the investigation.

In many ways, I find myself enjoying cold case mysteries more than those involving current investigations. I guess there's just something about righting an old wrong. It's all about justice and closure. isn't it? DCI Moore, the quirky head of the Last Chance Saloon, has created an excellent team from those who have been rejected (for one reason or another-- like the Priest Puncher) by other squads.

With such interesting characters and excellent storylines, I'm looking forward to many visits to the Last Chance Saloon.… (mais)