Harvest for the Reaper

Detective Inspector Declan Walsh #18

by Jack Gatland

He's back.

When new victims of the still-at-large serial killer known as the Red Reaper start to appear in London, DCI Declan Walsh and his team are placed back on the case - but everything isn't what it seems. For a start, the deaths are different, and the calling card is new. It could be a copycat, apart from one thing...

They know what Declan did to the real Red Reaper a year earlier. Something only Declan and the closest members of his team keep secret.

Is this the real Reaper, back to gain revenge on Declan and his family - or is this a protégé, staking his own claim to the serial killer name? And can Declan stop this new run of murders before the unit's secret is found out, and his own daughter is added to the list - with the unlikeliest of allies by his side?

Genres: Mystery, Crime, Fiction, Detective, Audiobook

354 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 16, 2024

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

[Andrea · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.35 stars?? I still strongly dislike Angie

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love this author and both his series. Normally I'd give any of his books a 5 star rating. The plot here was convoluted. Dead people alive. Cops gone bad. Betrayal by old family friends. I followed the plot but didn't really enjoy it.

[Maureen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Harvest for the Reaper is book 18 in the DCI Declan Walsh series by Jack Gatland. It is published on 24 March. We first met the Red Reaper earlier in the series in book 4, Whisper For the Reaper. It would make a difference to your enjoyment if you read the earlier book first. Detective Superintendent Alexander Monroe is due to be married in a few days, but these plans are thrown into chaos when his best man, Derek Sutton, is abducted and tortured. It was thought for a long time that the Red Reaper was dead, but the subterfuge was uncovered and he may have returned, or is it a copycat. His real target is Declan Walsh and anyone connected to him and the previous hunt for the Red Reaper. The tension is right through the story as the reader follows all the characters through to the conclusion, which brings it all together. Declan and his Last Chance Saloon team are great characters. They are all so different but make the unit what it is. I really like De’Geer who is known as the Viking. I love this series and always look forward to the next book. You never know what’s going to happen.

[Michelle Nash · Rating 4 out of 5]

Don’t hate and this maybe an unpopular opinion but I don’t hate, hate Carl (Karl, audiobook listener) Schniter.

I accept I may have a morally gray area where justice and vigilante justice is concerned but for the most part, Karl only dealt with bad people who escaped justice a la Dexter, if you will.

Karl told Declan he was safe and by and large, Karl kept his word throughout all his episodes on the series.

I get Declan has a strong sense of justice but he’s forgiven his father, Monroe, the Lucas twins/or just Johnny, or at least can work with them so idk maybe give Karl the benefit of the doubt because Karl could have killed them all by now.

Ok, so that's how I felt while listening to the book and notes I took during. Of course, I was proved wrong and it was good that Declan didn't give him the benefit of the doubt. It looked from the beginning that it was a copycat situation and that's why I didn't want immediately blame Carl. But his daughter is another story altogether. But I am glad it has come to an end...or has it?
Anjli needs to chill.

[Quentanna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Was hoping Karl changed in a weird Stockholm syndrome way I guess Declan wasn’t the only one sympathetic. The plot was underwhelming just like the original reaper case but the personal fallout was impactful. My one complaint which became a recent trend in the books is to blame Declan for everything. I guess everyone got selective amnesia of how Karl was taken down and escaped. If anything Declan did his job everyone else dropped the ball. Even Angili annoyed me and became a very nagging character recently like of course Declan going to make sure his daughter protected no matter the cost I go get a gun too since nobody wanna handle business had to give him a round of applause 👏🏾

[Guy Hamilton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Having discovered the Last Chance squad a couple of years ago,I devoured this series , thoroughly enjoying the characters .Boyd,Billy Monroe et al and their various adversaries.I moved on to other authors.
I found by chance a couple left on my TBR pile on my kindle and have to say it was a comfortable delight to rediscover that my enjoyment of this series has not dimmed.A easy and enjoyable read for Boxing Day to relax with.Perfect for this.

[Jill Gibbs · Rating 5 out of 5]

Harvest Reaper

As usual another cracker of a book from Jack Gatland. Binged it in a couple of days because unfortunately i have to work. But Declan you should have gotten rid of Ilse. Thank heaven Rosanna and Alex managed their wedding they deserve it. Cant wait for the next chapter cant believe its book 19 already. Long may they solve crime.

[Lora King · Rating 5 out of 5]

Declan and the team at Last Chance Saloon will go up against the Red Reaper once again....for the last time. His daughter is still around in jail, the Reaper is supposedly dead in Chicago but a warning has been given to Declan that all his friends and loved ones will be paying a price. Who will survived the Red Reaper and who will fall to the side....

[Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Has the Reaper returned? The possibility was hinted at previously, but is this the real Reaper or a copycat? For those who follow the series and have connected with the characters, the possibility that any or all of them are under attack increases the tension. Whether or not this is a return of the Reaper or a copycat, members of the Last Chance Saloon are in danger.

[John Terrence · Rating 5 out of 5]

At last Book 18, long awaited and well up to the standard of the series. I feel I have got to know the characters and sweated through their cases with them. Looking f0rward to book 19. Many thanks.

[M R B Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Intense

Declan and the last chance saloon follow another spate of killings by the reaper. Others are drawn into the Reaper s web. And the whole team are in danger. What happens next?

[Helen Wright · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another excellent book in this series!

[Lee Betts · Rating 5 out of 5]

OMG, simply brilliant, and a great way to finally put the red reaper to bed.

[Neely Powell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wedding plans are again interrupted as the best man is kidnapped. Is This Reaper back? Another complex and entertaining story.

[Lee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Egad it was complicated, but also interesting. It sorted out the good guys from the bad guys, and resolved it once and for all ... hopefully.

[Denise · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have loved this series but found the last book not so good. Thankfully this one is better.