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The Judge, the Jailer and the Thief
Alex has a plan for a heist. She’s had it for years and so after her release from prison, it’s the perfect time to carry it out. There’s a secret vault on the top floor of the most prestigious building in the city and she knows how to crack it, but it has to be now…
She must rebuild relationships with the people she lost while she was inside and convince them to help, all whilst being chased by a disgraced cop whose case from years before is being scrutinised as the now notorious thief he put away, who always maintained his innocence, died in prison on the same day Alex was released.
The barrister of the historic case is now an ambitious high court judge who attempts to side-step the scrutiny as she supports her long-term girlfriend, the architect of the prestigious building as she prepares to host the 20th anniversary celebration of it being built.
All three of them will cross paths, uncover truths about what happened all that time ago, and find out if it will impact Alex’s plan, and the outcome of her carefully crafted, meticulous heist.
She must rebuild relationships with the people she lost while she was inside and convince them to help, all whilst being chased by a disgraced cop whose case from years before is being scrutinised as the now notorious thief he put away, who always maintained his innocence, died in prison on the same day Alex was released.
The barrister of the historic case is now an ambitious high court judge who attempts to side-step the scrutiny as she supports her long-term girlfriend, the architect of the prestigious building as she prepares to host the 20th anniversary celebration of it being built.
All three of them will cross paths, uncover truths about what happened all that time ago, and find out if it will impact Alex’s plan, and the outcome of her carefully crafted, meticulous heist.
408 pages, Paperback
Published December 10, 2024
3 people are currently reading
23 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
January 3, 2025
I didn't know how Gemma was going to write a book with three different main characters. Authors could really mess up weaving three stories together; it could get too muddy and hard to keep up... but that was not the case here. You were able to follow each story easily and Gemma wrote it in a way that made you root for the good guy and not so much for the unfavorable... then she hits you with their backstory and then you question whether the good guy is a bad guy.
The twist at the end though... AAHHHHH!!!! I didn't see that coming, which is a pleasant surprise! Gemma hinted a lot throughout the story, but I didn't piece together ONE of the twist until right before the reveal and the other was a REAL emotional rollercoaster!
Definitely a good read and would highly recommend.
The twist at the end though... AAHHHHH!!!! I didn't see that coming, which is a pleasant surprise! Gemma hinted a lot throughout the story, but I didn't piece together ONE of the twist until right before the reveal and the other was a REAL emotional rollercoaster!
Definitely a good read and would highly recommend.
January 27, 2025
Excellent debut novel with a great twist. If you enjoy a fast paced thriller, give this one a go!
July 26, 2025
This is absolutely amazing!! Would definitely recommend if you like a bit of a thriller 🥰
Such a fantastic debut, Gemma’s writing is brilliant and kept me hooked throughout.
Perfect twists and turns and I LOVE that there’s three main characters! Amazing idea ❤️
Such a fantastic debut, Gemma’s writing is brilliant and kept me hooked throughout.
Perfect twists and turns and I LOVE that there’s three main characters! Amazing idea ❤️
July 26, 2025
OMG THIS BOOK HAD ME HOOKED LIKE MAJORLY HOOKED.
So I love a good heist movie, and this book has everything I love in those movies in book form. Gemma Walker you are fricking genius!!
So I love a good heist movie, and this book has everything I love in those movies in book form. Gemma Walker you are fricking genius!!
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July 22, 2025OMG for a debut book I want to shout it from the rooftops for everyone to grab at. A book that has multiple characters all with their own back story essential to the main plot. 3 seperate main plots and cleverly brought together with twists I didn't see coming. A must read for any dans of Oceans 8. I loved aunt pol she reminded me of fagan from Oliver Twist.
July 24, 2025
twist and turns that I weren't expecting, slow started for my taste, but one it gets into it I just couldn't put it down
February 4, 2025
Why would I spoil it? Buy it and find out for yourselves!
A gripping thriller with interesting characters to say the least, including the heist of the century. Who can actually be trusted?
If you love a good thriller and crime story this is the one for you.
Think you can resolve the who done it? Or will you be rendered speechless as I was with the reveal.
A real page turner, twists and turns, cliff hanger chapters, I could not put it down.
I want to see this as a film! It has potential.
The only downside, I was gutted when I finished it, I wanted more. Lets hope there is a book two. Cracking debut!
A gripping thriller with interesting characters to say the least, including the heist of the century. Who can actually be trusted?
If you love a good thriller and crime story this is the one for you.
Think you can resolve the who done it? Or will you be rendered speechless as I was with the reveal.
A real page turner, twists and turns, cliff hanger chapters, I could not put it down.
I want to see this as a film! It has potential.
The only downside, I was gutted when I finished it, I wanted more. Lets hope there is a book two. Cracking debut!
February 16, 2025
Disclaimer: I was sent this book to read and review, and am reviewing this honestly.
As an avid fantasy reader I wasn’t sure if I was going to enjoy this book as it isn’t what I would usually read myself, but I was pleasantly surprised!
The Judge, the Jailer and the Thief is an impressive debut, blending suspense, intricate character dynamics, and a high-stakes heist into a compelling narrative. The story follows Alex, a recently released convict with a long-planned scheme to infiltrate a high-security vault, all while navigating past betrayals and a determined detective on her trail.
One of the novel’s strongest elements is its well-drawn characters. Alex is a flawed but fascinating protagonist, and the intertwining storylines—including the ambitious high court judge with her own secrets—add layers of depth and intrigue. The pacing is strong, with tension building steadily as the heist unfolds and past mysteries resurface.
The novel is full of unexpected twists, some of which genuinely caught me off guard. Walker does a great job balancing action with character development, making it easy to invest in the stakes of the story.
My only minor critique is that some sections, particularly in the middle, could have been tightened to maintain the momentum, and I did feel that some of the conversations between characters dragged on in my opinion.
Overall, The Judge, the Jailer and the Thief is a well-crafted thriller with an engaging plot and strong character work.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4/5)
As an avid fantasy reader I wasn’t sure if I was going to enjoy this book as it isn’t what I would usually read myself, but I was pleasantly surprised!
The Judge, the Jailer and the Thief is an impressive debut, blending suspense, intricate character dynamics, and a high-stakes heist into a compelling narrative. The story follows Alex, a recently released convict with a long-planned scheme to infiltrate a high-security vault, all while navigating past betrayals and a determined detective on her trail.
One of the novel’s strongest elements is its well-drawn characters. Alex is a flawed but fascinating protagonist, and the intertwining storylines—including the ambitious high court judge with her own secrets—add layers of depth and intrigue. The pacing is strong, with tension building steadily as the heist unfolds and past mysteries resurface.
The novel is full of unexpected twists, some of which genuinely caught me off guard. Walker does a great job balancing action with character development, making it easy to invest in the stakes of the story.
My only minor critique is that some sections, particularly in the middle, could have been tightened to maintain the momentum, and I did feel that some of the conversations between characters dragged on in my opinion.
Overall, The Judge, the Jailer and the Thief is a well-crafted thriller with an engaging plot and strong character work.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4/5)
February 15, 2025
Loved it! It’s exciting and fast paced. Gemma is great at detailing body language and really knows how to make you feel the emotion in the scene. She goes beyond simple visual descriptions to really help you connect with these characters in a short space of time.
It was great fun to read and i struggled to put it down I can’t wait for the sequel 😁
It was great fun to read and i struggled to put it down I can’t wait for the sequel 😁
January 19, 2025
It is hard to say but I didn’t like this book. I felt it jumped back and forward too much and became too confusing. I felt that there were too many characters and they weren’t described enough so I had no attachment to them. Furthermore, I felt this book had the same/similar plot to Oceans 8 which was disappointing in its self. There were a lot of grammatical errors as well. It just fell flat for me as I knew how ended about a few chapters in. This is the down side to reviewing books but I am a 100% honest reviewer and every author deserves that good or bad. 3 🌟🌟🌟
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews