‘Do you know what a Judas Horse is? When the wild mustangs are running free, you corral one and train it. When he’s ready, you release him and he’ll bring his team back into the corral – like Judas betraying them…’
Violent burglars have been terrorising residents across the English countryside. But when a mutilated body is discovered in a Cotswolds house, it becomes clear that this is no ordinary group of opportunist thieves.
As Detective Jack Warr investigates, he discovers locals with dark secrets, unearths hidden crimes – and hits countless dead ends. With few leads and the violent attacks escalating, he will have to act as audaciously as the criminals if he hopes to stop them.
When Warr meets Charlotte Miles, a terrified woman with links to the group, he must use her to lure the unsuspecting killers into one last job, and into his trap. But with the law already stretched to breaking point, any failure will be on Warr’s head – and any more blood spilled, on his hands…
My thoughts: So, so good, another excellent outing for DI Jack Warr. This time he’s on loan to the police force in the Cotswolds, helping to investigate a string of burglaries that have escalated to violence, and butting heads with the Oxford murder squad.
He suspects someone local is giving the gang insider information on the homes that have been targeted and that this person may now be at risk themselves as the gang turn nasty and assault an autistic man in his home. They’ve also committed at least one murder. He goes undercover to find out a bit more about them.
On the home front, his partner Maggie is pregnant and her colleague is as well. With his mum Penny living with them, Maggie is happy for him to be off chasing the criminals. He’s anxious about becoming a dad, but knows solving cases like this make his future child’s world safer.
Gripping and clever, Jack is a brilliant protagonist in a case that sees him pit his wits against a mastermind and his gang of thugs.
*I was kindly gifted a copy of this book in exchange for taking part in this blog tour, but all opinions remain my own.
ramblingmads 