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DC Jack Warr #6
Sacrifice: DC Jack Warr, Book 6
Detective Jack leads Scotland Yard's fledgling art fraud unit, its survival hinging on exposing a suspected forgery - a multimillion-dollar Basquiat.
When his informant, gallerist Ester Langton, is brutally murdered, Jack's hunt spirals into obsession. Clues point to Adam Border, a reclusive genius hiding in a decayed Sicilian villa haunted by Mafia ties and violent secrets.
As Jack abandons family and duty to pursue him, he's drawn into a world where brilliance and madness collide, masterpieces mask psychosis, and death stalks every shadow. In chasing the truth, Detective Jack Warr must decide which side of the law he's on . . . once and for all.
When his informant, gallerist Ester Langton, is brutally murdered, Jack's hunt spirals into obsession. Clues point to Adam Border, a reclusive genius hiding in a decayed Sicilian villa haunted by Mafia ties and violent secrets.
As Jack abandons family and duty to pursue him, he's drawn into a world where brilliance and madness collide, masterpieces mask psychosis, and death stalks every shadow. In chasing the truth, Detective Jack Warr must decide which side of the law he's on . . . once and for all.
Audible Audio
Published March 12, 2026
About the author
Lynda La Plante
134 books1,880 followersLynda La Plante, CBE (born Lynda Titchmarsh) is a British author, screenwriter, and erstwhile actress (her performances in Rentaghost and other programmes were under her stage name of Lynda Marchal), best known for writing the Prime Suspect television crime series.
Her first TV series as a scriptwriter was the six part robbery series Widows, in 1983, in which the widows of four armed robbers carry out a heist planned by their deceased husbands.
In 1991 ITV released Prime Suspect which has now run to seven series and stars Helen Mirren as DCI Jane Tennison. (In the United States Prime Suspect airs on PBS as part of the anthology program Mystery!) In 1993 La Plante won an Edgar Award from the Mystery Writers of America for her work on the series. In 1992 she wrote at TV movie called Seekers, starring Brenda Fricker and Josette Simon, produced by Sarah Lawson.
She formed her own television production company, La Plante Productions, in 1994 and as La Plante Productions she wrote and produced the sequel to Widows, the equally gutsy She's Out (ITV, 1995). The name "La Plante" comes from her marriage to writer Richard La Plante, author of the book Mantis and Hog Fever. La Plante divorced Lynda in the early 1990s.
Her output continued with The Governor (ITV 1995-96), a series focusing on the female governor of a high security prison, and was followed by a string of ratings pulling miniseries: the psycho killer nightmare events of Trial & Retribution (ITV 1997-), the widows' revenge of the murders of their husbands & children Bella Mafia (1997) (starring Vanessa Redgrave), the undercover police unit operations of Supply and Demand (ITV 1998), videogame/internet murder mystery Killer Net (Channel 4 1998) and the female criminal profiler cases of Mind Games (ITV 2001).
Two additions to the Trial and Retribution miniseries were broadcast during 2006.
Her first TV series as a scriptwriter was the six part robbery series Widows, in 1983, in which the widows of four armed robbers carry out a heist planned by their deceased husbands.
In 1991 ITV released Prime Suspect which has now run to seven series and stars Helen Mirren as DCI Jane Tennison. (In the United States Prime Suspect airs on PBS as part of the anthology program Mystery!) In 1993 La Plante won an Edgar Award from the Mystery Writers of America for her work on the series. In 1992 she wrote at TV movie called Seekers, starring Brenda Fricker and Josette Simon, produced by Sarah Lawson.
She formed her own television production company, La Plante Productions, in 1994 and as La Plante Productions she wrote and produced the sequel to Widows, the equally gutsy She's Out (ITV, 1995). The name "La Plante" comes from her marriage to writer Richard La Plante, author of the book Mantis and Hog Fever. La Plante divorced Lynda in the early 1990s.
Her output continued with The Governor (ITV 1995-96), a series focusing on the female governor of a high security prison, and was followed by a string of ratings pulling miniseries: the psycho killer nightmare events of Trial & Retribution (ITV 1997-), the widows' revenge of the murders of their husbands & children Bella Mafia (1997) (starring Vanessa Redgrave), the undercover police unit operations of Supply and Demand (ITV 1998), videogame/internet murder mystery Killer Net (Channel 4 1998) and the female criminal profiler cases of Mind Games (ITV 2001).
Two additions to the Trial and Retribution miniseries were broadcast during 2006.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
April 20, 2026
1.0 / 5.0
I have no idea why Goodreads is struggling to allow reviews for this book. It got released and was available to reserve in my library, so folks in the UK can read this book now. Honestly this was a horrifically bad book, that lacked structure and consistency. Logic flew out the window for this one; and rather than having a very easy plot to follow this was like trying to fly a plane through a storm. I honestly don’t understand how all of what happened has happened, and how quick everything changed. One minute we have a proper procedure and investigation (but a tad dodgy) then next minute, Jack decides to YOLO and just go SOLO and Indiana Jones it out. It just lacks that credibility and logic, the plot was incredibly flawed and this was one massive disappointing read. I found how his existing personal relationships felt really surface level, maybe but I really struggled to understand his character and why he was behaving the way he was. Which all seems clear but it didn’t make any sense to me. The ending was just straight up bizarre, it just feels very random to have the events occur.
If I’m honest, I don’t think I will follow this series. Maybe it’s not for me, but it’s not clicking. Jack is a character I didn’t understand, his actions and behaviour in this book seemed very bipolar. The plot didn’t really have a lot of substance so me telling you what it’s about feels abit fraudulent. Long story short Jack gets his wish and opens his own ‘art squad’ and he’s out to prove himself and the fact that his new role will deliver. His informant dies, and jacks behaviour just goes manic and mad, he tries to find the elusive Adam Border who is hiding in a Sicilian Villa with a bunch of haunted and violet secrets. Jack just abandons everything even his own family, and maybe his shadows and past has come to haunt him?
Honestly, avoid this one because it was like waking into your local butcher shop for some steak and sausages and leaving the shop with flowers and new clothes. Incredibly disappointing to read a book that hasn’t lived up to its previous one. If I actually owned the book, I would just give it the local library or recycle it so it can be used for something better lol. This book incredibly chopped.
I have no idea why Goodreads is struggling to allow reviews for this book. It got released and was available to reserve in my library, so folks in the UK can read this book now. Honestly this was a horrifically bad book, that lacked structure and consistency. Logic flew out the window for this one; and rather than having a very easy plot to follow this was like trying to fly a plane through a storm. I honestly don’t understand how all of what happened has happened, and how quick everything changed. One minute we have a proper procedure and investigation (but a tad dodgy) then next minute, Jack decides to YOLO and just go SOLO and Indiana Jones it out. It just lacks that credibility and logic, the plot was incredibly flawed and this was one massive disappointing read. I found how his existing personal relationships felt really surface level, maybe but I really struggled to understand his character and why he was behaving the way he was. Which all seems clear but it didn’t make any sense to me. The ending was just straight up bizarre, it just feels very random to have the events occur.
If I’m honest, I don’t think I will follow this series. Maybe it’s not for me, but it’s not clicking. Jack is a character I didn’t understand, his actions and behaviour in this book seemed very bipolar. The plot didn’t really have a lot of substance so me telling you what it’s about feels abit fraudulent. Long story short Jack gets his wish and opens his own ‘art squad’ and he’s out to prove himself and the fact that his new role will deliver. His informant dies, and jacks behaviour just goes manic and mad, he tries to find the elusive Adam Border who is hiding in a Sicilian Villa with a bunch of haunted and violet secrets. Jack just abandons everything even his own family, and maybe his shadows and past has come to haunt him?
Honestly, avoid this one because it was like waking into your local butcher shop for some steak and sausages and leaving the shop with flowers and new clothes. Incredibly disappointing to read a book that hasn’t lived up to its previous one. If I actually owned the book, I would just give it the local library or recycle it so it can be used for something better lol. This book incredibly chopped.
March 23, 2026
Detective Jack Warr has persuaded Scotland Yard to let him lead a team investigating art fraud. From this premise the plot moves from credible to unbelievable.
Our detective has not chosen his team despite having offices and "state of the art" x ray equipment - really? Once he has his two mavericks in place he does not share information or lead the team in any way.
This is personal and although it follows the route of a police procedural - there is very little procedural about it and for me, it began to resemble a farce - all 3 of the team chasing their tails arounds the globe with, it seems, no brakes on spending without evidence.
I do love a Lynda LaPlante but this is just mad
Our detective has not chosen his team despite having offices and "state of the art" x ray equipment - really? Once he has his two mavericks in place he does not share information or lead the team in any way.
This is personal and although it follows the route of a police procedural - there is very little procedural about it and for me, it began to resemble a farce - all 3 of the team chasing their tails arounds the globe with, it seems, no brakes on spending without evidence.
I do love a Lynda LaPlante but this is just mad
March 23, 2026
Well ive just finished #Sacrifice by @lyndalaplantewriter published by @zaffrebooks ...it is the final book in the absolutely exceptional #JackWarr series and it was unputdownable! I was totally hooked from beginning to end...the deep knowledge of Art Fraud inside this crime fiction book banger made for really interesting reading. An explosive ending to a fabulous series, Jack Warr was such a complex and brilliant chrachter. I will miss him terribly. This is definitely one of my favourite crime fiction series. Lynda La Plante is as always on top of her game!
A huge 5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ read from me and indeed every book in the series has been 5 stars!
A huge 5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ read from me and indeed every book in the series has been 5 stars!
April 19, 2026
What a great final book in the Jack Warr series ... Lynda la Plante at her best.
I loved reading this novel ...it tied up nicely the story arc that la Plante developed over 6 novels in the Warr series as well as her previous Widows series that kickstarted her career over 40 years ago I'm the 1980s.
Warr has set up a special art fraud squad as part of Scotland Yard. He hand picks two sidekicks and looks for proof that a Basquiat painting 🖌️ is a fake leading Jack to finding again his nemesis Alan Border who has featured a lot in this series.
Climax is in Palermo Italy with Warr and Border meeting again and explosions 💥 and deaths abound.
A great ending to this series.
I loved reading this novel ...it tied up nicely the story arc that la Plante developed over 6 novels in the Warr series as well as her previous Widows series that kickstarted her career over 40 years ago I'm the 1980s.
Warr has set up a special art fraud squad as part of Scotland Yard. He hand picks two sidekicks and looks for proof that a Basquiat painting 🖌️ is a fake leading Jack to finding again his nemesis Alan Border who has featured a lot in this series.
Climax is in Palermo Italy with Warr and Border meeting again and explosions 💥 and deaths abound.
A great ending to this series.
March 21, 2026
I hate when a great series ends and in this one, a different side to Jack is revealed and right to the end which was one with endless possibilities for all the characters, anyway as usual it was a page turning read that introduced some new characters that we may get to meet again at some stage .
Review of advance copy
The final Detective Jack Warr novel in this enjoyable police procedural series. Former murder detective Jack is now heading up Scotland Yard's tiny art fraud unit. When his informant is murdered, Jack must finally decide which side of the law he is on. Not to be missed.
March 16, 2026
A intriguing novel and a satisfying end to the Jack Warr series
March 18, 2026
Good read
April 28, 2026
This book will have you hooked from start to finish
May 12, 2026
Loved it. Gets darker and darker for Jack. Can't wait to read the next one!
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews