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Detective Inspector Declan Walsh #15
Kill Your Darlings
Spike the story - before it spikes you...
It's a time of change for the Last Chance Saloon - recent promotions have changed the focus of the Unit, and when a Fleet Street Legend, Hunt Robinson, is kidnapped from Heathrow Airport and found close to death in the crypt of Fleet Street's St Bride's Church, DI Declan Walsh and his colleagues need to put the past behind them, and unite to take on the case.
But things aren't that simple, as an old colleague appears from Declan's past, offering a transfer opportunity to a new post, and one that is impossible to refuse, considering a rapidly approaching deadline.
But as the Unit delve deeper, they discover a long-standing conspiracy connected to a spiked story ten years earlier, and Declan finds himself in a world of blind turns, changed pages and hanging indents, as London's media elite do anything they can to stop him finding out one of their darkest secrets - including putting Declan himself back on the front page.
Can Declan and his team solve the case - before they become the story?
And is this DI Declan Walsh's last case with the Last Chance Saloon?
It's a time of change for the Last Chance Saloon - recent promotions have changed the focus of the Unit, and when a Fleet Street Legend, Hunt Robinson, is kidnapped from Heathrow Airport and found close to death in the crypt of Fleet Street's St Bride's Church, DI Declan Walsh and his colleagues need to put the past behind them, and unite to take on the case.
But things aren't that simple, as an old colleague appears from Declan's past, offering a transfer opportunity to a new post, and one that is impossible to refuse, considering a rapidly approaching deadline.
But as the Unit delve deeper, they discover a long-standing conspiracy connected to a spiked story ten years earlier, and Declan finds himself in a world of blind turns, changed pages and hanging indents, as London's media elite do anything they can to stop him finding out one of their darkest secrets - including putting Declan himself back on the front page.
Can Declan and his team solve the case - before they become the story?
And is this DI Declan Walsh's last case with the Last Chance Saloon?
344 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 23, 2023
893 people are currently reading
116 people want to read
About the author
Jack Gatland
60 books241 followersJack Gatland is the pen name of #1 New York Times Bestselling Writer Tony Lee, who has been writing in all medias for over thirty years including comics, graphic novels, middle grade books, audio drama, TV and film for DC, Marvel, BBC, ITV, Random House, Penguin USA, Hachette and a ton of other publishers and broadcasters on licenses such as Doctor Who, Spider Man, X-Men, Star Trek, Battlestar Galactica, Doctors, Wallace and Gromit and Shrek. As Tony, he’s toured the country talking to reluctant readers with his ‘Change The Channel’ school tours.
He’s currently a member of the Writer’s Guild of Great Britain, the Society of Authors, The Worshipful Company of Stationers and Newspaper Makers and the Crime Writer’s Association.
As Jack, he’s writing a new series of Crime Thrillers starring Detective Inspector Declan Walsh, recently seconded to the City of London Police department known as the Last Chance Saloon.
The first twelve of these, LETTER FROM THE DEAD, MURDER OF ANGELS, HUNTER HUNTED, WHISPER FOR THE REAPER, TO HUNT A MAGPIE, A RITUAL FOR THE DYING, KILLING THE MUSIC, A DINNER TO DIE FOR, BEHIND THE WIRE, HEAVY IS THE CROWN, STALKING THE RIPPER and A QUIVER OF SORROWS are available now, with book thirteen, MURDER BY MISTLETOE released in December 2022 – with further adventures continuing throughout 2023.
In addition to that, the first book in a new series of Adventure Mysteries starring Robin-Hood style con-man forger-turned treasure hunter Damian Lucas, THE LIONHEART CURSE was released in January 2022, and he has both a new series of crime procedurals, spinning out of the DI Walsh series and featuring ‘Cop for Criminals’ Ellie Reckless including PAINT THE DEAD and STEAL THE GOLD, and a new spy series, spinning out of the DI Walsh series and featuring burned MI5 agent Tom Marlowe including SLEEPING SOLDIERS and TARGET LOCKED.
He can be found at www.tonylee.co.uk and www.jackgatland.com.
He’s currently a member of the Writer’s Guild of Great Britain, the Society of Authors, The Worshipful Company of Stationers and Newspaper Makers and the Crime Writer’s Association.
As Jack, he’s writing a new series of Crime Thrillers starring Detective Inspector Declan Walsh, recently seconded to the City of London Police department known as the Last Chance Saloon.
The first twelve of these, LETTER FROM THE DEAD, MURDER OF ANGELS, HUNTER HUNTED, WHISPER FOR THE REAPER, TO HUNT A MAGPIE, A RITUAL FOR THE DYING, KILLING THE MUSIC, A DINNER TO DIE FOR, BEHIND THE WIRE, HEAVY IS THE CROWN, STALKING THE RIPPER and A QUIVER OF SORROWS are available now, with book thirteen, MURDER BY MISTLETOE released in December 2022 – with further adventures continuing throughout 2023.
In addition to that, the first book in a new series of Adventure Mysteries starring Robin-Hood style con-man forger-turned treasure hunter Damian Lucas, THE LIONHEART CURSE was released in January 2022, and he has both a new series of crime procedurals, spinning out of the DI Walsh series and featuring ‘Cop for Criminals’ Ellie Reckless including PAINT THE DEAD and STEAL THE GOLD, and a new spy series, spinning out of the DI Walsh series and featuring burned MI5 agent Tom Marlowe including SLEEPING SOLDIERS and TARGET LOCKED.
He can be found at www.tonylee.co.uk and www.jackgatland.com.
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
April 10, 2024
The Last Ride for DC Walsh and The Last Chance Saloon
A book of secrets held by a notorious journalist can prove to be very damning if it were to fall into the wrong hands. Well, Hunt Robinson is that journalist and it appears that he has lost his book. After waking up stabbed, tied up and left for dead in a church and his satchel gone so are all of the secrets. Secrets that are against celebrities, politicians and police. Secrets, that if revealed will bring down all, and will harm the Royal family.
As Walsh is on his last days, due to budget, this is his last case, to catch a killer (rival journalists murdered) retrieve the book, and hopefully find a new job.
This installment has twist (10 year old plane crash, politicians, mistresses, drugs) turns and at the end, A bloody good ending.
Read all these books in this series, you will not be disappointed
A book of secrets held by a notorious journalist can prove to be very damning if it were to fall into the wrong hands. Well, Hunt Robinson is that journalist and it appears that he has lost his book. After waking up stabbed, tied up and left for dead in a church and his satchel gone so are all of the secrets. Secrets that are against celebrities, politicians and police. Secrets, that if revealed will bring down all, and will harm the Royal family.
As Walsh is on his last days, due to budget, this is his last case, to catch a killer (rival journalists murdered) retrieve the book, and hopefully find a new job.
This installment has twist (10 year old plane crash, politicians, mistresses, drugs) turns and at the end, A bloody good ending.
Read all these books in this series, you will not be disappointed
June 19, 2024
Brilliant
Another cracker. What more can l say without giving anything away. More tangled webs woven and the untangled. Another victory for The Last Chance Saloon. Bless !!!
Another cracker. What more can l say without giving anything away. More tangled webs woven and the untangled. Another victory for The Last Chance Saloon. Bless !!!
October 15, 2025
Jack Gartland’s Kill Your Darlings is a clever, propulsive literary thriller that digs into the dark corners of ambition, authorship, and obsession. It’s one of those novels that grabs you with its concept and keeps you hooked through sheer narrative momentum, even if its final act doesn’t quite live up to the intensity of what came before.
At its core, the novel follows a frustrated, down-on-his-luck writer who can’t seem to finish his next book—or get anyone to care about his last one. When a strange opportunity arises that could reignite both his career and his ego, he takes it… but the consequences are far greater than he imagines. What begins as a story about creative frustration quickly spirals into something darker, more psychological, and at times, unsettlingly surreal.
Gartland plays with the boundaries between fiction and reality in a way that feels both unsettling and exhilarating. The book within the book becomes a mirror for the protagonist’s unraveling mind, and the deeper he goes into his own story, the more the reader questions what’s real. It’s a fascinating exploration of how far a writer might go for inspiration—or validation—and it hits close to home for anyone who’s wrestled with perfectionism or self-doubt.
The pacing is exceptional. The chapters are tight and cinematic, moving between moments of quiet introspection and bursts of nerve-tightening tension. Gartland’s prose has a lean, confident rhythm, filled with sharp dialogue and just enough wit to balance the darkness. There are scenes that read like a slow burn of dread, followed by sudden twists that make you reassess everything you’ve just read.
The supporting characters—an enigmatic editor, a rival author, and a few others who drift in and out of the protagonist’s orbit—each serve a purpose, either feeding his delusions or puncturing them. Through these interactions, Gartland builds a layered commentary on the literary world: the cult of genius, the hunger for recognition, and the fine line between authenticity and self-destruction.
Where the book stumbles slightly is in its final stretch. After such a steady escalation of tension, the ending feels somewhat abrupt and less impactful than expected. It’s not unsatisfying, but compared to the razor-edge pacing and psychological precision of the earlier chapters, it lands a bit flat emotionally. Still, it closes the loop in a way that’s thought-provoking, if not entirely explosive.
Despite that minor shortcoming, Kill Your Darlings is a sharp, stylish, and immensely readable novel. It’s both a gripping thriller and a sly meditation on creativity and ego—a story that understands the strange, often destructive passion behind making art.
Verdict: A real page-turner with a brilliant premise, taut writing, and a deeply human protagonist. The ending might falter, but the journey there is thrilling, tense, and unforgettable. Gartland has delivered a debut that’s as self-aware as it is suspenseful—an absolute must-read for fans of literary thrillers like The Plot or The Silent Patient.
At its core, the novel follows a frustrated, down-on-his-luck writer who can’t seem to finish his next book—or get anyone to care about his last one. When a strange opportunity arises that could reignite both his career and his ego, he takes it… but the consequences are far greater than he imagines. What begins as a story about creative frustration quickly spirals into something darker, more psychological, and at times, unsettlingly surreal.
Gartland plays with the boundaries between fiction and reality in a way that feels both unsettling and exhilarating. The book within the book becomes a mirror for the protagonist’s unraveling mind, and the deeper he goes into his own story, the more the reader questions what’s real. It’s a fascinating exploration of how far a writer might go for inspiration—or validation—and it hits close to home for anyone who’s wrestled with perfectionism or self-doubt.
The pacing is exceptional. The chapters are tight and cinematic, moving between moments of quiet introspection and bursts of nerve-tightening tension. Gartland’s prose has a lean, confident rhythm, filled with sharp dialogue and just enough wit to balance the darkness. There are scenes that read like a slow burn of dread, followed by sudden twists that make you reassess everything you’ve just read.
The supporting characters—an enigmatic editor, a rival author, and a few others who drift in and out of the protagonist’s orbit—each serve a purpose, either feeding his delusions or puncturing them. Through these interactions, Gartland builds a layered commentary on the literary world: the cult of genius, the hunger for recognition, and the fine line between authenticity and self-destruction.
Where the book stumbles slightly is in its final stretch. After such a steady escalation of tension, the ending feels somewhat abrupt and less impactful than expected. It’s not unsatisfying, but compared to the razor-edge pacing and psychological precision of the earlier chapters, it lands a bit flat emotionally. Still, it closes the loop in a way that’s thought-provoking, if not entirely explosive.
Despite that minor shortcoming, Kill Your Darlings is a sharp, stylish, and immensely readable novel. It’s both a gripping thriller and a sly meditation on creativity and ego—a story that understands the strange, often destructive passion behind making art.
Verdict: A real page-turner with a brilliant premise, taut writing, and a deeply human protagonist. The ending might falter, but the journey there is thrilling, tense, and unforgettable. Gartland has delivered a debut that’s as self-aware as it is suspenseful—an absolute must-read for fans of literary thrillers like The Plot or The Silent Patient.
August 12, 2023
Just keeps getting better.
What can I say? The Declan murder mysteries are above and beyond. They are a must read. Throughout the 15 novels you become one with the Last Chance Saloon family of misfits. They're die hearted devotion to each other saves each others butts more times than not. Lets look forward to another dimension as their new promotions lead them into more truths and untruths and down the rabbit hole of murder.
What can I say? The Declan murder mysteries are above and beyond. They are a must read. Throughout the 15 novels you become one with the Last Chance Saloon family of misfits. They're die hearted devotion to each other saves each others butts more times than not. Lets look forward to another dimension as their new promotions lead them into more truths and untruths and down the rabbit hole of murder.
August 20, 2023
Another example of me wanting to finish a book, but not wanting it to finish. I love the Walsh series, and have 'fleshed' out some of the characters in my mind so much so that I now have Sean Connery (as he was in the rock) as Monroe, Emma Thompson as Sophie, Max Beesley as Declan, Jamie from the band Collabro as Billy...... cannot wait for the next installment!
August 29, 2023
Damn good book!
You want to know what these books are about? Pick them up and read them!
Love Hack Gatland’s style of writing, absolutely love these characters, and I always know that he will have me standing in my chair, desperately trying to figure out what Declan Walsh is going to do next!
Worth the read!
You want to know what these books are about? Pick them up and read them!
Love Hack Gatland’s style of writing, absolutely love these characters, and I always know that he will have me standing in my chair, desperately trying to figure out what Declan Walsh is going to do next!
Worth the read!
August 31, 2023
Love, love this authors book. Every page you get drawn further into their lives. I love the fact it intertwined with real places and history but also what is happening today. Really believable. Can’t wait for the next episode. As soon as finished reading this pre ordered the next episode. Cannot wait
July 17, 2023
This is the 15th book in this particular series and it’s the best yet. I didn’t want to put it down! I’ve given it 5 stars because I think it deserves every single one of them and can’t wait for the next.
July 30, 2023
Declan Walsh and the last Chance Saloon continue in there investigations with a political twist. Conspiracy and determination to keep political and monarchy secrets abound and start getting into the public domain. But the team sort it out and everyone gets what is satisfactory to them.
August 12, 2023
Loved this
Superb book from the beginning to the end. Walsh is such a gritty honest detective with dry wit. I'm liking Jess in the books more as well she's becoming a great character. Just brilliant.
Superb book from the beginning to the end. Walsh is such a gritty honest detective with dry wit. I'm liking Jess in the books more as well she's becoming a great character. Just brilliant.
August 26, 2023
Kill your Darlings. (Review)
As usual Jack Gatland absolutely knocked it out of the park. Couldn’t put the book down and can’t wait for the next DCI Declan Walsh book. Would recommend this series to anyone who loves a great crime novel.
As usual Jack Gatland absolutely knocked it out of the park. Couldn’t put the book down and can’t wait for the next DCI Declan Walsh book. Would recommend this series to anyone who loves a great crime novel.
September 14, 2023
Thrilling, exciting and one heck of an adventure
Declan in the midst of losing his job, has one last case to close before his time is up. Lies, deception and murder come full force in this amazing thriller book.
Declan in the midst of losing his job, has one last case to close before his time is up. Lies, deception and murder come full force in this amazing thriller book.
October 14, 2023
Kill Your Darlings
Another cracker of a read from Jack Gatland. These books keep getting better and better. Can't wait for the next outing for Declan Walsh and the Last Chance Saloon.
Another cracker of a read from Jack Gatland. These books keep getting better and better. Can't wait for the next outing for Declan Walsh and the Last Chance Saloon.
July 18, 2023
Kill Your Darlings by Jack Gatland is book 15 in the DI Declan Walsh series. I always look forward to a new book in this series. I have been reading them from the beginning and they are usually complex storylines with different threads, which add to the intrigue and interest of the story. Set in London, the main characters in this series are members of the City of London Police. Hunt Robinson, a journalist, is rumoured to have a little black book full of secrets he has gained over the years. These secrets affect members of the Royal Family, politicians and even police officers and secrets can lead to murder. This series is best read in order.
August 15, 2023
I hate you, Jack Gatland!
I stay up all night finishing your books! The characters are compelling and the plots race along. I am losing sleep but it's totally worth it!
I stay up all night finishing your books! The characters are compelling and the plots race along. I am losing sleep but it's totally worth it!
August 16, 2023
Love this series
September 22, 2023
These just keep getting better , can’t wait for the next one
September 23, 2023
Fab Read
Last Chance Saloon never fails to deliver. Can't wait for the next adventure.
Onwards and upwards for the gang that no one wanted
Last Chance Saloon never fails to deliver. Can't wait for the next adventure.
Onwards and upwards for the gang that no one wanted
March 16, 2024
4.5 stars
August 12, 2024
GREAT!!!!!
April 1, 2025
Declan is out the door in a few days...a journalist, who has a black book with scandals he's collected and used as blackmail, is found tied up and bloody in a church. Solving who did this will be Declan's last case with the Last Chance Saloon...or is it. Really good book!
May 30, 2025
An investigative journalist is left to die in a church. But the secrets and truths he’s always written about are making headlines without him.
August 13, 2025
The Last Chance Saloon group with DI Declan Walsh triumph again.
September 11, 2025
3.5 but rounded up.
The story was slightly convoluted but still enjoyable. The drama around Declan’s final case is anticlimactic when you know there’s more stories to be read. 😂
The story was slightly convoluted but still enjoyable. The drama around Declan’s final case is anticlimactic when you know there’s more stories to be read. 😂
September 16, 2025
Enjoyed this one
It is definitely convoluted, but I able to keep track of most of this tale. On to the next one ...
It is definitely convoluted, but I able to keep track of most of this tale. On to the next one ...
September 17, 2025
Great read
I really enjoyed this book . I have read all the books in the series and I would recommend them to read
I really enjoyed this book . I have read all the books in the series and I would recommend them to read
November 21, 2025
They always have a rabbit in a hat!!
Really??? Did I miss something? I just might have to read the last few chapters over again!!! What just happened??? Yay!!!
Really??? Did I miss something? I just might have to read the last few chapters over again!!! What just happened??? Yay!!!
August 4, 2023
I really enjoy Jack Gatland’s books and am always impatient for the next one to come out. Fortunately he has the different series going, so I usually don’t have to wait long.
Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews