Buried

DC Jack Warr, Book 1

By: Lynda La Plante

Narrated by: Alex Hassell, Annie Aldington

Length: 10 hrs and 13 mins

Publisher's Summary

The first book in a brand-new thriller series by the Queen of Crime Drama, Lynda La Plante. A burnt-out cottage, a fortune buried in the ashes - and a body that could solve a decades-old crime....

Jack Warr is a young DC with the Metropolitan Police. Charming but aimless, Jack can't seem to find his place in the world - until he's drawn into an investigation that turns his life upside down. 

In the aftermath of a fire at a derelict cottage, a badly charred body is discovered, along with the burnt remnants of millions of stolen, untraceable bank notes - the hidden legacy of Dolly Rawlins and her gang of Widows. 

Jack's assignment to the case coincides with an investigation into his own past. As he searches for the truth about his identity, Jack finds himself increasingly drawn into a murky underworld of corruption and crime. Those millions have not been forgotten - and Jack will stop at nothing to find the truth.

An exciting and action packed new thriller, with roots in La Plante's best-selling novels, Widows, Widows' Revenge and She's Out. 

©2020 Lynda La Plante (P)2020 Bonnier Books UK

Critic Reviews

"Lynda La Plante practically invented the thriller." (Karin Slaughter)

"A compelling, clever plot with a brilliant cast of diverse characters. Utterly riveting." (Rachel Abbott, million-selling author of Only the Innocent) 

Boring Narrator

Have looked forward to this book for so long...Why oh why. Is a boring narrator reading such a great book. Alex is so boring, like he's not enjoying the book...
Annie brings the characters to life ! Such a shame!
Can't wait for the sequel. Dolly

Narrator does not do justice to the story

An excellent novel with rich characters and a good plot. Unfortunately, Alex, the narrator, sounded half asleep much of the time. I did give him three stars because he was good at accents and playing the different characters. But he sounded tired and bored at times which is why I could not give him five stars. Lynda La Plante deserves better.

Enjoyed It

I enjoyed the story but not the narrator. Annie should have continued done the performance. I would have enjoyed it much better.

Awkwardly written

The plot might be superb. I don’t know, because I couldn’t get all the way through the 2nd chapter. The writing is awkward and wooden.

Listening to this reminds me far too much of listening to students read out their works in progress.

Pleasantly surprised...

Tried this title because it was 'Included' ... I really enjoyed the story and the narration. Some reviewers felt that the narration was 'boring' or monotone, disinterested. I couldn't disagree more. The guy (Hassell) reminded me a bit of Douglas Adams reading his own books. I thought he was very good. Anyway...the story may have been a bit of a reach, and I found the style somewhat disjointed (timeline - wise). Several times I needed to back up a couple minutes to make the transitions work. Bottom line, I liked it...I hope you do too.

DRUG OUT

Story drug out my goodness. I took regular breaks and eventually just returned it. I couldn't even finish it.

Too many characters

There were too many characters in this book to follow what was going on. I gave up and didn’t finish it.

I can’t put my finger on it…

I enjoyed the writing, but for some inexplicable reason the book just wasn’t for me. It just never grabbed me and I kinda disliked Jake. I will definitely read other books by this author, but I doubt I will read any more novels in this series. It just wasn’t for me.

not your usual crime drama

I enjoyed the performance and the unique style of the narration.

lots of depth to the main character. I feel I really know him.

Couldn’t get into this at all …

This may be an okay story but I found myself struggling to follow it - boring story, too many different things going on at once, the dullest narrator I’ve ever heard - that may be why I could not keep track of it - my mind kept wandering off while he was talking … he made waiting for water to boil seem interesting!

I tried really hard but just couldn’t get past the first 90 minutes or so …

Fantastic start to a new series

Thoroughly enjoyed listening to this during my 'working from home' day. This is a new series and character for the author but it's intertwined with characters from the past, so previous knowledge of the Widows series will add to your enjoyment. Narration is spot-on, and having googled Alex Hassell he looks exactly like I was imagining Jack to be :D

Want to return this,

I am going to return this book, absolute shame as I know it's a good book, however the narration is absolutely terrible. There is no emotion at all, the voice is monotone, I think a computer robot has read it.
I am so annoyed. not impressed.

Exciting, tense but easy to listen to

This was a great read. The characters were believable and likeable, even the “baddies”. The characters stayed with you even when you were not listening to them. The tension lasted right up to the end. Like other Lynda la Plante books I found I was frightened to read parts because you dreaded that the characters were going to make stupid decisions. As long as you stopped reading they couldn’t do anything! Through her characters the author reveals great insight and sympathy. The narration was good though a little deadpan. I heartily recommend this book. I loved it. It will not disappoint.

Not really a detective story

Story is not really a detective novel, just a novel that happens to contain one

At her best!!!

Absolutely brilliant loved it!! Perfect tonic for lockdown listened while re decorating the house couldn’t stop!! Loved all the old characters getting a mention loved our new ones too!! Has made me dust of my box sets widows & she’s out & watch something groundbreaking, who says there are no strong rolls on telly for women there certainly was back then!! Bring on the next book & bring on the tv series please!!!

Disappointing

Enjoyed most of it. Good plot. By the time I was most of the way through, I felt the main character had undergone a metaporphasis and I did not like the characters I was sympathetic to previously. But, hey, it's just a book.

Ok But Not the Best

Its an ok book, but if you are wanting more of the earlier genre this isnt for you. Went on a bit too long for what was obvious to us all at the start. Maybe us older ones have read all the scenarios and nothing is exciting enough anymore? May be ok for new comers to detective thrillers though.
Reader was fine.

Lynda La Plante at her best

Fantastic i couldn’t stop listening to it. Cant wait for the next in this series

awful

could not get into this listen.... first time ever, i have abandoned a book. Dull storyline, narration total monotonous- unbearable!!

kept me going

Yes it did, and I had to rewind and listen all over again. Good plot confising at times but kept me interested, had to ration myself some times.