Letter From The Dead

Detective Inspector Declan Walsh Series, Book 1

By: Jack Gatland

Narrated by: Robin Laing

"By the time you read this, I will be dead.... "

When Victoria Davies was pushed off her stately home's roof in 2001, all evidence pointed to her husband Michael. But now, 20 years later a letter has appeared, written by Victoria before her death; a letter that was never received, and a letter that brings new suspects into the fray; Labor MPs Shaun Donnal, Andrew MacIntyre, and Charles Baker.

But two decades on, life has changed for these men. Donnal is now a paranoid alcoholic living on the streets of London, "Andy Mac" is a popular YouTube evangelist, and Charles Baker is the current Conservative Home Secretary, and the bookie's choice for next Prime Minister in the upcoming leadership election.

Now Detective Inspector Declan Walsh, saved from permanent suspension and newly transferred to the Temple Inn "Last Chance Saloon" Crime Unit, must navigate a minefield filled with political intrigue, adulterous affairs, social activist aristocrats, and brutal, bloody murder, as each suspect leads his new team to another problem, and skeleton to fall out of the closet....

©2020 Jack Gatland (P)2021 Tantor

Complex story line

I liked the fact that the actual crime arc was interesting, but some of these characters are so woefully unimaginative; the intelligent but darkly intense and imperfect lead detective, the female suspect who is intrigued by him alone, even though she pushes other men aside like so much detritus, the avuncular older Chief detective who gives him a job with a twinkle in his eye when no one else will, it's all been so done so many times by other authors. But, it's entertaining, pretty well written and helps when I need to get my mind off real life and take a trip into another british police procedural to wonder about. ;-)

Enjoyed listening

The book held my interest, I enjoyed listening, and that’s all I look for in a book. It was no nail biter but for more importance to me was it didn’t use sex andc profanity fill the costed.

Very impressed by the author and the reader

Five stars for story and performance. I love this new protagonist. The plot is complex but the continuity flows very well.

Loved it!

I liked all of the characters, especially Declan and Monroe. I love the mix of politics and covert undercurrents in addition to police procedural. Very MI6.
Narrator is brilliant!

Good not great

Hmmm. This wasn’t bad. I love the genre and the narration was well done. Maybe because I listened to the audiobook that I had a hard time remembering some of the characters. In fact, there is one in the Epilogue that I can’t recall at all. I wish I could do a search.

Subsequent storylines are definitely hinted at. I will probably follow this series but not just yet.