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Detective Inspector Declan Walsh #21
Cheating My Destiny
The critically acclaimed, internationally bestselling Declan Walsh series continues...
"Anti-Aging doesn't mean Anti-Dying..."
In the cutthroat world of biohacking, where the quest to reverse aging teeters on the edge of madness, the line between success and disaster is razor-thin. Stephen Kline, a powerful sponsor of the Rejuvenation Royale Tournament, is found dead in his cryotherapy chamber—a brutal murder that sends shockwaves through the elite competition.
As DCI Declan Walsh and his team delve into the high-stakes world of biohacking, they uncover a labyrinth of cutting-edge science, where competitors push the boundaries of biology and technology in their quest to cheat time. This is a realm where DNA is rewritten, bodies are optimized, and death is merely an obstacle to overcome—for those who can afford it. But beneath the glossy surface lies a dangerous game of ambition, betrayal, and lethal rivalries, where the price of success is a two million dollar prize, and the price of failure is everything.
With each new body, the stakes climb higher, revealing a killer who’s always one step ahead. In this deadly contest, Walsh must navigate a world where biohacked bodies and AI-driven schemes are weapons, and time is running out. But in this ruthless game, survival means outsmarting the competition—or becoming the next victim...
"Anti-Aging doesn't mean Anti-Dying..."
In the cutthroat world of biohacking, where the quest to reverse aging teeters on the edge of madness, the line between success and disaster is razor-thin. Stephen Kline, a powerful sponsor of the Rejuvenation Royale Tournament, is found dead in his cryotherapy chamber—a brutal murder that sends shockwaves through the elite competition.
As DCI Declan Walsh and his team delve into the high-stakes world of biohacking, they uncover a labyrinth of cutting-edge science, where competitors push the boundaries of biology and technology in their quest to cheat time. This is a realm where DNA is rewritten, bodies are optimized, and death is merely an obstacle to overcome—for those who can afford it. But beneath the glossy surface lies a dangerous game of ambition, betrayal, and lethal rivalries, where the price of success is a two million dollar prize, and the price of failure is everything.
With each new body, the stakes climb higher, revealing a killer who’s always one step ahead. In this deadly contest, Walsh must navigate a world where biohacked bodies and AI-driven schemes are weapons, and time is running out. But in this ruthless game, survival means outsmarting the competition—or becoming the next victim...
380 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 7, 2024
1056 people are currently reading
86 people want to read
About the author
Jack Gatland
59 books235 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 - 24 of 24 reviews
December 29, 2024
I love this series of books, and the last one was really good, but I was so disappointed in this one. I got part way through and found I really didn’t care about the so called victims. Only bothered to finish it because I like to read all of the series and sometimes there is something that happens in a book which is referred to in a later book otherwise I probably would have given up on it.
December 4, 2024
Cheating My Destiny by Jack Gatland is book 21 in the DCI Declan Walsh series. Stephen Kline’s day, owner of Ionosphere, a cryotherapy business at Canary Wharf, doesn’t end well at all. The Last Chance Saloon take on the case working with Det. Superintendent Warren, from the Met, who is not a fan of Monroe’s. It is great to catch up with these characters, firm favourites of mine, and delve into their latest escapades. There is humour throughout, always a bonus in stories, and I learnt a bit about extreme anti-ageing methods in an effort for people to reduce their biological age. Why would you! And there is a tournament involving big money for the winner. Is that the motive for murder, or is there something else going on? I love the characters and my favourite changes each book. This time it was probably Billy Fitzwarren, usually sitting behind the computer. I enjoy the author’s storytelling immensely, very much like an adventure story.
January 8, 2025
Sorry
Couldn't get on with this one, too much science waffle, loved all the previous Declan books , will see if the,next is back on my radar
Couldn't get on with this one, too much science waffle, loved all the previous Declan books , will see if the,next is back on my radar
January 20, 2025
I love the Declan Walsh books but was a bit disappointed in this one. I usually finish the books in a day or 2 but found this one hard to keep me interested. hopefully the next one will keep me interested and it will be more exciting like all the others
Cheers
Phyllis
Cheers
Phyllis
December 18, 2024
Where Did the Fun Go?
Here comes yet another of my favorite detective series delving, far too much in my opinion, into AI.
Too many suspects to keep straight, which may have just my reaction to too much AI. But, what really bothered me was the lack of usual banter and fun amongst the detectives, while ultimately solving the crime.
I hope this trend of authors incorporating the newness of AI as a major plot line, falls back to become another investigative tool, or a component of crime soon.
I can get information on what is does, and it’s possibilities, from educating myself, please not as part of a work of fiction.
And please, bring back the humor.
Here comes yet another of my favorite detective series delving, far too much in my opinion, into AI.
Too many suspects to keep straight, which may have just my reaction to too much AI. But, what really bothered me was the lack of usual banter and fun amongst the detectives, while ultimately solving the crime.
I hope this trend of authors incorporating the newness of AI as a major plot line, falls back to become another investigative tool, or a component of crime soon.
I can get information on what is does, and it’s possibilities, from educating myself, please not as part of a work of fiction.
And please, bring back the humor.
January 16, 2025
Thoroughly confusing,too many suspects, daft police procedure with a top heavy team of investigators with the SIOs doing the work of lower ranks,nonsensical biological jargon,dull and uninteresting plot,no action all talk. I'd defy anyone to know what was going on in last few chapters. A real turkey.
December 22, 2024
The coppers of the Last Chance Saloon, a special unit of the City of London Police--not Scotland Yard--are back in action in "Cheating My Destiny." All of the usual coppers are back in action with Detective Chief Inspector Declan Walsh at the center of the action. As is sometimes the situation, this is a suspicious death that under most circumstances would not be their remit. On this case, as they "take over" the case, the senior officer that initially was assigned to the case stays on the team. Is the Last Chance Saloon assisting her, or is it the other way around? Either way, the "new" officer, Detective Superintendent Warren has a history with Detective Superintendent Munroe, and it isn't good.
What follows is a determination that it was murder, rather than accidental death, and there's not shortage of suspects. Before too long, another of the "suspects" is found dead in what could have been a tragic accident--or murder. There's a motley crew of interconnected techy health nuts, all scheming to help or hinder the others. Everybody's lying, but the question is which of them is murdering.
One of the things I really liked about this story is that all of the villains and victims are brand new to the Declan Walsh book series. There's no "recycling" of bad guys, as there has been in some of the previous stories.
One of the things I didn't like about this story is that the author, and therefore this reader, got bogged down in the infinite detail of technology and body chemistry manipulation. Since it was all central to the story as told, it needed to be there, but it did slow the movement of the story. That's unusual for a Jack Gatland book. They're usually tightly constructed and they move crisply.
It's still a good story, well told. I recommend the entire series, and this book is no exception. I'm waiting patiently for the next story.
What follows is a determination that it was murder, rather than accidental death, and there's not shortage of suspects. Before too long, another of the "suspects" is found dead in what could have been a tragic accident--or murder. There's a motley crew of interconnected techy health nuts, all scheming to help or hinder the others. Everybody's lying, but the question is which of them is murdering.
One of the things I really liked about this story is that all of the villains and victims are brand new to the Declan Walsh book series. There's no "recycling" of bad guys, as there has been in some of the previous stories.
One of the things I didn't like about this story is that the author, and therefore this reader, got bogged down in the infinite detail of technology and body chemistry manipulation. Since it was all central to the story as told, it needed to be there, but it did slow the movement of the story. That's unusual for a Jack Gatland book. They're usually tightly constructed and they move crisply.
It's still a good story, well told. I recommend the entire series, and this book is no exception. I'm waiting patiently for the next story.
October 6, 2025
My least favorite of all the books in the series so far. I get AI is hot topic right now, but I struggled to fully understand how it fit into the storyline with biohacking. The part of it hacking peoples phone and doing stuff like, sure.
The science in this one was just too crazy and mixing two crazy things, AI and people doing crap to live forever was too much shoved into one novel. I really didn't get how AI was helping these contestants...Sure the data from medical tests or readings from equipment could be imputed but how did AI actually make the physical changes in dosages and things like that. Maybe I zoned out but it was all just too much.
Not a single person was likable in the story. A lot of senior level coppers on the playing field. Warren and Monroe's past was nicely explained, but honestly felt there was no real need for Warren to be involved when outside Mile End, they usually just take cases over. Why was Warren, a DSup be there? I get Bullman's involvement but then that was also unclear. How could a copper of her stature not know the dead guy was 1. an CI back then 2. more of a criminal than she initially thought.?
I love Billy but has Sam really changed his spots? It's been alluded to that he hasn't. He should have been arrested several books back but wasn't on a technicality...Can't Billy have a normal, non-criminal boyfriend. But I guess the heart wants what the heart wants.
The science in this one was just too crazy and mixing two crazy things, AI and people doing crap to live forever was too much shoved into one novel. I really didn't get how AI was helping these contestants...Sure the data from medical tests or readings from equipment could be imputed but how did AI actually make the physical changes in dosages and things like that. Maybe I zoned out but it was all just too much.
Not a single person was likable in the story. A lot of senior level coppers on the playing field. Warren and Monroe's past was nicely explained, but honestly felt there was no real need for Warren to be involved when outside Mile End, they usually just take cases over. Why was Warren, a DSup be there? I get Bullman's involvement but then that was also unclear. How could a copper of her stature not know the dead guy was 1. an CI back then 2. more of a criminal than she initially thought.?
I love Billy but has Sam really changed his spots? It's been alluded to that he hasn't. He should have been arrested several books back but wasn't on a technicality...Can't Billy have a normal, non-criminal boyfriend. But I guess the heart wants what the heart wants.
February 9, 2025
As much as I've enjoyed this series, Cheating My Destiny was a disappointment. The use of science and technology in the search for immortality makes for a compelling premise, one that has been making the news for years in one form or another.
The dream of immortality IS being pursued in various degrees by the rich and powerful and is certainly a curiously intriguing current topic, but the plot is more complicated than necessary. There are too many suspects and minor/secondary characters and the plot suffers. The team members are usually the highlight in this series, but not this time.
Bryan Johnson, the tech CEO who is following his own path to immortality is a real live example (you can watch the Business Insider Youtube video to get an idea of Johnson's efforts).
The dream of immortality IS being pursued in various degrees by the rich and powerful and is certainly a curiously intriguing current topic, but the plot is more complicated than necessary. There are too many suspects and minor/secondary characters and the plot suffers. The team members are usually the highlight in this series, but not this time.
Bryan Johnson, the tech CEO who is following his own path to immortality is a real live example (you can watch the Business Insider Youtube video to get an idea of Johnson's efforts).
November 17, 2025
Cheating my Destiny by Jack Gatland 10/15/2025 Kindle
If you are into biotech you’ll enjoy reading about this group of wizards competing to see who can beat the odds and have a longer life. The Rejuvenation Royale Tournament offers big bucks to those who have the best formular for doing so, and can afford to buy in, for a chance at the two million dollar prize. When the competitors begin dying, DCI Declan Welch and his associates enter the scene.
The bodies keep pilling up as the killer eludes Welche’s team in this entertaining mystery. Yes, I’d recommend the book as the story is easy to follow and the story interesting.
If you are into biotech you’ll enjoy reading about this group of wizards competing to see who can beat the odds and have a longer life. The Rejuvenation Royale Tournament offers big bucks to those who have the best formular for doing so, and can afford to buy in, for a chance at the two million dollar prize. When the competitors begin dying, DCI Declan Welch and his associates enter the scene.
The bodies keep pilling up as the killer eludes Welche’s team in this entertaining mystery. Yes, I’d recommend the book as the story is easy to follow and the story interesting.
December 24, 2024
A great Read
I thought this was a brilliant book which was based around how advanced AI has become and also the lengths people will go to in order to cheat the aging process. Some have criticised for it being far fetched, but I found it both really fascinating and also quite scary as to how far technology has come and could go. Very good plot and the usual great twists and turns we have come to expect!
I thought this was a brilliant book which was based around how advanced AI has become and also the lengths people will go to in order to cheat the aging process. Some have criticised for it being far fetched, but I found it both really fascinating and also quite scary as to how far technology has come and could go. Very good plot and the usual great twists and turns we have come to expect!
December 19, 2024
The latest Declan Walsh detective novel continues this excellent series. Declan and the team investigate murders and espionage in a community of anti-aging scientists/competitors all trying to live forever.
January 11, 2025
Cheating Destiny
As usual another cracker of a read by Jack Garland . The Declan Walsh series just keeps getting better and better . I must admit I have missed Johnnie and Jackie Lucas so I am looking forward to seeing what develops in the next story line. Can't wait.
As usual another cracker of a read by Jack Garland . The Declan Walsh series just keeps getting better and better . I must admit I have missed Johnnie and Jackie Lucas so I am looking forward to seeing what develops in the next story line. Can't wait.
December 22, 2024
I eagerly await each new instalment of this series, but I found the plot of this one far too complicated, it’s only got 5 stars as I love the characters
December 27, 2024
Thought Provoking
Thought-provoking. It is scarily true as to where our crazy world is headed. Absolutely love it. More, more, more, please.
Thought-provoking. It is scarily true as to where our crazy world is headed. Absolutely love it. More, more, more, please.
January 11, 2025
A bit convoluted but probably because I don't really understand much about bio-engineering and AI.
January 12, 2025
Love the series and characters however this book was not to my liking. Generous 3 stars, but I found it too technical and not something I'm interested in. Did make it to the end.
January 17, 2025
Wow!
21 books read and loved. Always awaiting what will happen next. The series just has the ability to draw you in and leave you wanting more. I highly recommend this series.
21 books read and loved. Always awaiting what will happen next. The series just has the ability to draw you in and leave you wanting more. I highly recommend this series.
January 24, 2025
As good as all the others in the series but too scientific for me
May 27, 2025
Absolutely Awful, mistakes all over the place and a ridiculous storyline. By the way who was Marlowe?!
November 5, 2025
Interesting
I don't know if AI is advanced enough for all of the scenarios in this novel, but it was interesting, as well as
all of the biohacking methods.
I don't know if AI is advanced enough for all of the scenarios in this novel, but it was interesting, as well as
all of the biohacking methods.
November 15, 2025
The worst by far of all the DI Walsh books confusing rambling and so many different people it was a serious struggle to finish the book
November 22, 2025
good author but…
This book was not as good as usual for Jack, IMO. The storyline kinda dragged and the ending was a dud….
This book was not as good as usual for Jack, IMO. The storyline kinda dragged and the ending was a dud….
December 19, 2024
Not my Favourite
In general I love Declan Walsh and the Last Chance Saloon but not this one. The storyline did not interest me and all the DNA, medical, and AI references left me bored and confused with the convoluted plot.
In general I love Declan Walsh and the Last Chance Saloon but not this one. The storyline did not interest me and all the DNA, medical, and AI references left me bored and confused with the convoluted plot.
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews