Crooked Was His Cane

Detective Inspector Declan Walsh #19

by Jack Gatland

Waiting for a taxi can be murder.

Someone is killing London "black cab" taxi drivers.

Seemingly unconnected, but all with the same MO, bodies are being found across the City of London, and only two clues connect them; an unknown killer with a crooked walking cane, and the title to a folk song placed on rolled paper inside their mouths.

Now, DCI Walsh and his team, still reeling after the end of Harvest For The Reaper must hunt down the killer, falling into a world of taxi apps, cab driver tribalism, a map of death related to "The Knowledge," and a cold crime from decades earlier, while fighting the potential closure of their unit...

Is this the last case for the Last Chance Saloon - no matter what happens?

Genres: Mystery, Crime, Fiction, Audiobook

356 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 30, 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

[Denee Logan]

Love the Declan Walsh series. Can't wait to continue reading more by Jack Gatland

[Andrea · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars?? 🥱

[Maureen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Crooked Was His Cane by Jack Gatland is book 19 in the DCI Declan Walsh series. Stuart Laws is killed on a wet day by a black London cab, the first cab driver to die in a seemingly random accident in London. The deaths continue and the Last Chance Saloon takes on the investigation. Declan crosses paths again with Jennifer Farnham-Ewing, who wants to close down the Unit. Declan will fight tooth and nail to prevent that from happening. I love this series and this book is a great addition. Great characters that, after 19 books, we have learned so much about, but they still surprise us at times. The story races along, to me both a police procedural and a thriller. It is an engrossing and exciting read which involves murder of course, and plenty of political intrigue. I find that with Jack’s books I usually learn something fascinating. This time it is information about what is required to be done to get the license to become a London cabbie, how much work and study is involved. This is well written, fast-paced and I found it a gripping read.

[Michelle Nash · Rating 4 out of 5]

OMFG, I am so sick of people blaming Declan for what happens because of his job. Declan is a good cop, and sure that will piss criminals off to retaliate but it's not like Declan is causing these things to happen. But when Faroe (or however his name is spelled) blames Declan too, that just pissed me off. I really would like Jack/Tony to stop with this because it's over the top now.

How as to the actual storyline, 3.5 but rounded up. Jack/Tony tends to have a lot of characters and occasionally his storylines are a bit convoluted, and sadly this one was a bit too. The crimes, execution of them, and such was very clever, but so many intertwining threads made it a bit difficult.

I will say the bit about The Knowledge was fascinating. I've traveled to London and did learn that it takes cabbies about 3 years before they can get their license or medallion, badge, plate, whatever it is called, but that was it. I arrived at my destination before i could ask my cabbie anymore questions about it. So this book sent me down a Google rabbit hole, which is always fun.

[Helen Dundas · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is not my ideal mystery/crime book. I didn’t like the story. Period. Far too many characters and different plots going on. I found I was bored most of the time with the different black cabbie/ knowledge stuff, DCI Declan Walsh was my 1st try in this series. However I must admit to preferring the DCI Warlow series by Rhys Dylan to this. We all have different tastes. Thankfully! Would I read bother in this series….probably not.

[Lee · Rating 4 out of 5]

very convoluted

Sometimes I didn't know who a character was referencing because sometimes the phrasing is just wrong. But I figured put who the bad guy, or at least the baddest guy, well before the story wrapped up. Ended on a cliffhanger, which I generally dislike, but will of course read the next one. This one took me a while to get into - but what I liked about it was finding out what the Knowledge is. That was very interesting.

[Barbara Chance · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent author. I have read many of his books before but I found that this story was very confusing. There were far too many charactors. When I put the book down and then picked it up again a few hours later I found I had lost the thread and couldnt remember who the characters were as each time I picked the book up, yet another character was introduced in the next chapter. Its fine if you could read it non stop, but for me it was confusing., for others they would probably think it was great.

[Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Declan Walsh series is one of my favorites. One think of interest in this one was The Knowledge of black cab drivers. Martha Grimes was my first exposure to the remarkable memory of London's black cab drivers. Look up The Knowledge to get an idea. It was interesting the way it was embroidered into the novel.

[David Nash · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tied up in its own complexity

The plot is overloaded in detail. The players have to spend lots of pages explaining it to each other towards the end. Rather tiring to read. Always a fault of this series, this book takes it to a new damaging level. Where the f... was the editor? Asleep in the back of a cab?

[Neely Powell · Rating 5 out of 5]

There was a crooked man…actually there were several. The gang of detectives not only have to solve a puzzling murder, but they have to save their jobs. Jennifer is back in the picture, manipulating people to her will. It appears her latest mission is for the good guys. In the midst of this, someone in London is murdering cabbies.

[Erin Gilmore · Rating 3 out of 5]

A solid entry in the Declan Walsh series. While solving an series of interconnected murders, Declan and the Last Chance Saloon have to stop Malcolm Gladwell from releasing a book that will burn the Prime Minister. 3.5 stars.

[Jane Cowley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Convoluted

By the end of this book, my head was like spaghetti. I don't know how Jack weaves his webs. Another absolutely brilliant book. I just need to get to the next book, having been left dangling by a thread.

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

I enjoy the characters in this series, but not the plots. A story never ends, the bad guys never go away, the dead don’t stay dead. It is tiring to read. The author loves his cliffhangers, but they do nothing for me.

[Deborah Hughson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hate to put it down!

I really enjoy this author. Some books you can skim through and still know the plot But with this author, you will read every single word! Can’t wait to read the next one!

[Jill Gibbs · Rating 5 out of 5]

Crooked was his cane

As usual a,fantastic read from Jack Garland l have followed Declan from the very beginning and the books just keep getting better and better. Looking forward to the next in series.

[M R B Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Confusing

Too many people involved and getting murdered. The detail was all there, but going over it left my head swimming. The parallel story 're: the future of the last chance saloon was also a distraction, but necessary for the next instalment.

[Debra Whisson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this , could barely put it down.

[Ruth · Rating 3 out of 5]

Super complicated so stopped reading about 58% and jumped to last 4-5 pages. Too much going on to keep up with things, esp the political stuff.

[karen chesworth · Rating 5 out of 5]

As always a great read, but I found the plot a little confusing at times

[Mr S · Rating 3 out of 5]

Long Winded

A new author for me and very disappointing. I nearly gave up half way through the book. Confusing and needlessly complex.

[Lee Betts · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my God, need the next book the second it comes out!!!

[Malcolm Fox · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jack Gatland

All 19 books have been excellent. Brilliant stories with great characters. A must read series. Can’t wait to read book 20.

[Maya Morikawa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Complicated

Too complicated for me and not interesting,stories within stories.
Most not connected,is it this person ,is it that one.
Struggled to the end.