Pretend to be Dead

Detective Inspector Declan Walsh #17

by Jack Gatland

It's all fun and games - until somebody dies...

When a body is found beside the Roman Fort Gate on the London Wall, dressed as a Roman Soldier and with an antique Roman Gladius stabbed into their chest, it's tasked to DCI Declan Walsh and the team of the Last Chance Saloon to investigate the murder, leading them into a rabbit hole of similarly themed attacks - as re-enactors perform real-life battles at various locations for a "History of London" celebration during the day, with some taking a darker and more brutal approach at night.

With the clock ticking and the body count rising, can Declan and his team find the reasons for the murders and stop them, before the celebration's showpiece - a recreation of the Londinium Boudicca uprising, with over a hundred re-enactors on either side - ends in disaster?

And can they do all this while D Supt Monroe, preparing for his upcoming wedding, discovers he's still married - but not to the woman he thought he once was?

Genres: Fiction, Mystery, Crime

352 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 24, 2023

About the author

Jack 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.

Reviews

[rebecca O. webber · Rating 2 out of 5]

This series has its ups and downs and this was a down. It was way too convoluted for my taste. And, now we learn the Red Reaper is still alive. Enough with this story line.

[Michelle Nash · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall good story but a lot of characters and some with similar names which is more difficult using audio vs paper books. The amount of characters did kind of make the book convoluted.

Liz has been blaming Declan for everything for almost every book but for Jess to do it this time really, really irked me. I’ve said it in an earlier review that he’s a good cop and not his fault what the bad guys do.

But let’s close the book on the Red Reaper soon. And don’t let the reformed bad guy die.

[Jill Gibbs · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pretend to be Dead

Omg i always thought the Reaper was out there somewhere. Cant wait for the next book to see where this story goes. Will the Reaper escape again. Will Declan finally get him behind bars. Will the CIA magically didappear him again. Many senarios or perhaps even a different ending. Declan Walsh books just keep getting better and better.

[Kirsten · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love this series. However, this book was a let down compared to previous books. The ending was repetitive, the crimes and the perpetrators were clear the first time, no need to spell it out again.

The Red Reaper. Again. Let it go. I hope the next book begins with Tony escaping, killing the reaper and that story arc for good.

[Odette Forbes · Rating 4 out of 5]

Normally always a 5 star from me for every book in this series but found this one just far too confusing and a tad too long. Not sure I’m really looking forward to the next given I feel this story has been done to death but I’ll give it a go only because I love the Walsh/Monroe and whole team dynamics.

[Lee · Rating 3 out of 5]

Took a long time to get through this

It was kind of boring to me, and back to the too many characters and subplots, including the Red Reaper, making it confusing as well. The bad guys almost all get away with no consequences. Not the best Walsh tale. Of course he knows Krav Maga ...

[Denise · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love this series but this book isn’t up to the normal 5 star standard for me. The storyline seemed to ramble and was a bit boring. Looking forward to the next book and hopefully it will be back to Gatland normal standard.

[Tracy Greenwell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you

You always thank the readers for reading but I want to say thank you for writing. I read a lot and you have definitely become one of my favourites. I love your characters and always look forward to the next book. I highly recommend all of your series ♥️

[Neely Powell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reenactors may have taken things a little too far. Two of them are found dead in hidden places on the field of honor. Confusion reigns as Declan and the crew try to make modern-day sense of medieval feuds. Good read.

[beverley hunter · Rating 3 out of 5]

pretend to be dead

I found this book really hard to get going, not Jack Gatlands best in my opinion and I love this author.

[p b leigh · Rating 5 out of 5]

excellent

Well worth a read. Though a lot of suspects to try and guess. But nice easy reading. Whole series has been good.

[Kenna R. Cavnar · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love Gatland and Walsh. This book was hard to follow. Can’t wait for more Red Reaper!

[Andrea · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars??

[Maureen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretend To Be Dead by Jack Gatland is book 16 in the DCI Declan Walsh series. With gladiators, duels, sword fights involved as Roman re-enactments occur, this book has a lot to offer. There are two different storylines as Detective Superintendent Alex Monroe’s stag night and Dr Marcos’ hen night are brought to a premature end. Bodies are found and the answer might lie in the past. Such a fascinating mix of characters with Chivalry Fitzwilliam also helping with antiquities found. It is best to read this series in order as there are previous storylines that reappear in this book.