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Detective Inspector Declan Walsh #26
Tears Of A Clown
The critically acclaimed, internationally bestselling Declan Walsh series continues...
"No one's laughing now..."
Every February, the clowns of Britain gather at All Saints Church in Haggerston for the Grimaldi Memorial Service. When this year's service ends, one Joey remains seated in a pew near the back. By the time anyone realises he isn't sleeping, he's been dead for over an hour.
Over a hundred witnesses. Every one of them in full clown makeup. And a murderer among them.
When DCI Declan Walsh and the Temple Inn team scrub the makeup from the victim, the mystery deepens – his face is nowhere on the Clown Egg Register. He's not a clown at all. What he is, and why he died holding a slice of cake from a service held a decade ago, pulls the team into the secretive world of Britain's clowning fraternity – to a musical grave in Islington where mourners still dance, to a two-hundred-year-old story of a daughter ordered to sever her father's head, and to a theft from the Clowns' Gallery in Dalston that was never reported to the police.
While Doctor Rosanna Marcos receives a visit from a face she hasn't seen in years – and is forced to face a promise she thought she'd already repaid – in a church full of laughter, the killer is sitting in plain sight.
Declan has faced killers who hide in shadows before. But this one is hiding behind a smile – and the show isn't over yet...
The twenty-sixth book in the critically acclaimed, internationally bestselling series of procedural crime thrillers featuring DCI Declan Walsh and the team of the Last Chance Saloon, Tears Of A Clown is perfect for fans of J.D. Kirk, L.J. Ross, Ian Rankin, Alex Smith, Rachel McLean, J.M. Dalgliesh, and Ann Cleeves, among others.
If you've enjoyed the suspenseful thrillers of these authors, you won't be able to put down Tears of A Clown. PICK IT UP NOW before the price changes!
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What people are saying about Jack
" ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ This is one of those books that will keep you up past your bedtime, as each chapter lures you into reading just one more."
"⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ My wife is in such a bad mood with me because I can't leave the story until the end... can't wait for the next one ."
" ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Fantastic book, if you’re a fan of crime and police procedurals, oh boy, you’ll love this one."
" ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ I have read all the books in the series so far and enjoyed them all... I couldn't go to bed till I had finished it."
" ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Outstanding. Full of twists and turns, false leads and an ending so brilliant I was gasping out loud. Amazing."
" ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ This book is better than anything on the telly. Very entertaining."
"No one's laughing now..."
Every February, the clowns of Britain gather at All Saints Church in Haggerston for the Grimaldi Memorial Service. When this year's service ends, one Joey remains seated in a pew near the back. By the time anyone realises he isn't sleeping, he's been dead for over an hour.
Over a hundred witnesses. Every one of them in full clown makeup. And a murderer among them.
When DCI Declan Walsh and the Temple Inn team scrub the makeup from the victim, the mystery deepens – his face is nowhere on the Clown Egg Register. He's not a clown at all. What he is, and why he died holding a slice of cake from a service held a decade ago, pulls the team into the secretive world of Britain's clowning fraternity – to a musical grave in Islington where mourners still dance, to a two-hundred-year-old story of a daughter ordered to sever her father's head, and to a theft from the Clowns' Gallery in Dalston that was never reported to the police.
While Doctor Rosanna Marcos receives a visit from a face she hasn't seen in years – and is forced to face a promise she thought she'd already repaid – in a church full of laughter, the killer is sitting in plain sight.
Declan has faced killers who hide in shadows before. But this one is hiding behind a smile – and the show isn't over yet...
The twenty-sixth book in the critically acclaimed, internationally bestselling series of procedural crime thrillers featuring DCI Declan Walsh and the team of the Last Chance Saloon, Tears Of A Clown is perfect for fans of J.D. Kirk, L.J. Ross, Ian Rankin, Alex Smith, Rachel McLean, J.M. Dalgliesh, and Ann Cleeves, among others.
If you've enjoyed the suspenseful thrillers of these authors, you won't be able to put down Tears of A Clown. PICK IT UP NOW before the price changes!
-------
What people are saying about Jack
" ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ This is one of those books that will keep you up past your bedtime, as each chapter lures you into reading just one more."
"⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ My wife is in such a bad mood with me because I can't leave the story until the end... can't wait for the next one ."
" ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Fantastic book, if you’re a fan of crime and police procedurals, oh boy, you’ll love this one."
" ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ I have read all the books in the series so far and enjoyed them all... I couldn't go to bed till I had finished it."
" ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Outstanding. Full of twists and turns, false leads and an ending so brilliant I was gasping out loud. Amazing."
" ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ This book is better than anything on the telly. Very entertaining."
332 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 23, 2026
About the author
Jack Gatland
154 books281 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.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
September 10, 2026
This book frustrated me:
1) there were too many characters with names starting with B, and too many with more than one name
2) there were too many references to plot points from previous books, which I haven’t read. It was confusing.
3) the clown story was unusual, but the way the struck off clowns, the eggs and THAT backstory was described left a lot to be desired.
4) the police characters make a good team and that was nice.
5) the “barracuda” story was superfluous. I get that it tied up loose ends from another book or two, but it added nothing but distraction to this story.
1) there were too many characters with names starting with B, and too many with more than one name
2) there were too many references to plot points from previous books, which I haven’t read. It was confusing.
3) the clown story was unusual, but the way the struck off clowns, the eggs and THAT backstory was described left a lot to be desired.
4) the police characters make a good team and that was nice.
5) the “barracuda” story was superfluous. I get that it tied up loose ends from another book or two, but it added nothing but distraction to this story.
August 29, 2026
The latest Declan Walsh thriller features the world of professional clowns and preservation of their legacies. Quite unusual for a police thriller, but the mystery was well done. A character from the past returns and causes heartache for a member of the team. Jess is threatened with a move to Scotland. Another great entry in the series!
September 9, 2026
This was an awesome story!! Tied up many loose ends and my favorite people can carry on in peace!
As Declan Walsh stories go, I think this was my favorite! Things so often go sideways, hurting the characters that I care about the most. This one worked out for the best for everyone, well at least most of them. Looking forward to the next saga...
As Declan Walsh stories go, I think this was my favorite! Things so often go sideways, hurting the characters that I care about the most. This one worked out for the best for everyone, well at least most of them. Looking forward to the next saga...
October 19, 2026
Perfect!
Another Declan story with familiar faces, emotion and feeling. A story with a difference...as usual. One you could just sit and read...and want to keep on reading when you get to the end. Only to see that you've got to wait until next month before you can!
Only a few weeks more😅
Another Declan story with familiar faces, emotion and feeling. A story with a difference...as usual. One you could just sit and read...and want to keep on reading when you get to the end. Only to see that you've got to wait until next month before you can!
Only a few weeks more😅
November 10, 2026
What a great read! The first chapter had me hooked. The complexities of the clown's real life were plausible. The characters who were suspects were suspicious enough but the actual murderer was a bit surprising. Good read.
August 28, 2026
Absolutely loved the plot and the intertwined personal stories in this book. Can’t wait for the next one
August 31, 2026
Love this series
September 11, 2026
read them all
This last one was brilliant! Really enjoyed it. Can hardly wait for December! Interesting plot and liked Billy’s story very much.
This last one was brilliant! Really enjoyed it. Can hardly wait for December! Interesting plot and liked Billy’s story very much.
September 11, 2026
Like a lot of Tony Lee's books, I found this one interesting and entertaining. I learned a lot about Clowns in the UK.
October 3, 2026
Another winner
It was great to catch up with the members of the Last Chance Saloon again. There were the same familiar characters and a good story, perfect.
It was great to catch up with the members of the Last Chance Saloon again. There were the same familiar characters and a good story, perfect.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Tears of a Clown by Jack Gatland is book 26 in the DCI Declan Walsh series. Crispin Peregrine has attended the annual Grimaldi Service for clowns for years, but a chance encounter has tragic consequences. Declan and his Last Chance Saloon are called in to investigate. They must dig deep to have any chance of solving this. At the same time, Rosanna Marcos has a very difficult decision to make, and this develops through the story. The cases the team investigate are always fascinating and a little different. There are usually various threads to unravel and the cases are complex. There is also some historical information in this author’s books, which I love learning about. The writing builds the tension slowly but quickly draws you in. I love the back story of Jess, Declan’s daughter. We have seen her develop throughout this series. A great story.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews