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Hunter & Chase #1
Salt Marsh Bones: The new Hunter & Chase case from the New York Times #1 Bestseller
Welcome to the first book in a brand new rural crime series by bestseller Jack Gatland!
"Suffolk's marshes keep their dead – until the tide turns..."
One body, one bullet, and a family that's run the Suffolk coast for generations — now its patriarch lies face-down on the salt marshes at dawn, laid out beneath a wrong tide.
Whoever killed Michael Sullivan wanted the town to know.
When freshly-promoted DCI Chloe Hunter pulls into Halewick station for her first day back in the town she left behind as a teenager, she finds a CID gutted by a corruption clean-out, a team half-new and half-suspicious, and the biggest criminal name in East Suffolk dead on her patch before she has unpacked her bags. She came home to prove herself. Instead, the past has come for her first... including the reappearance of her father.
DCI Donovan Chase vanished fifteen years ago without explanation, leaving a sixteen-year-old Chloe and a mother who never recovered. Now he's been reinstated as her subordinate — demoted to DI, watchful, and closer to the Sullivans than any copper in Suffolk.
He claims he left to protect her. She doesn't believe a word of it.
As the Sullivans close ranks behind their smiling heir, every question leads back to the old smuggling routes that still run across the marshes. And somewhere in Chloe's own station, something is being kept from her.
An outsider in the very town she grew up in, Chloe has to work out who she can trust, and what her father really knew... before the Sullivans decide she's the next problem to bury...
The first book in a new series of procedural crime thrillers featuring DCI Chloe Hunter and DI Donovan Chase, and spinning out of the critically acclaimed Declan Walsh series of books
"Suffolk's marshes keep their dead – until the tide turns..."
One body, one bullet, and a family that's run the Suffolk coast for generations — now its patriarch lies face-down on the salt marshes at dawn, laid out beneath a wrong tide.
Whoever killed Michael Sullivan wanted the town to know.
When freshly-promoted DCI Chloe Hunter pulls into Halewick station for her first day back in the town she left behind as a teenager, she finds a CID gutted by a corruption clean-out, a team half-new and half-suspicious, and the biggest criminal name in East Suffolk dead on her patch before she has unpacked her bags. She came home to prove herself. Instead, the past has come for her first... including the reappearance of her father.
DCI Donovan Chase vanished fifteen years ago without explanation, leaving a sixteen-year-old Chloe and a mother who never recovered. Now he's been reinstated as her subordinate — demoted to DI, watchful, and closer to the Sullivans than any copper in Suffolk.
He claims he left to protect her. She doesn't believe a word of it.
As the Sullivans close ranks behind their smiling heir, every question leads back to the old smuggling routes that still run across the marshes. And somewhere in Chloe's own station, something is being kept from her.
An outsider in the very town she grew up in, Chloe has to work out who she can trust, and what her father really knew... before the Sullivans decide she's the next problem to bury...
The first book in a new series of procedural crime thrillers featuring DCI Chloe Hunter and DI Donovan Chase, and spinning out of the critically acclaimed Declan Walsh series of books
364 pages, Paperback
First published May 31, 2026
About the author
Jack Gatland
82 books260 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 - 10 of 10 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Author
Salt Marsh Bones by Jack Gatland is book 1 in the new series Hunter and Chase. DCI Chloe Hunter has returned to Halewick in Suffolk after spending more than 10 years in the Met in London. What a homecoming she gets. A body is found in the Marshes by Terry and Colin, who get themselves into all sorts of trouble with their lies about what they were doing there at the time. Chief Superintendent Cooke brings a new DI into the team which Chloe is certainly is not happy about. There is a great sense of anticipation in the opening chapters as to the back story about Chloe and the new DI. There are curve balls that come Chloe’s way as she sets out to investigate her first case, her first murder, in Halewick and it’s a very high profile case too. I enjoyed the characters in this first book and I’m looking forward to seeing how they develop. A thoroughly enjoyable read with a devilish and intricate plot.
June 4, 2026
An eventful start for DCI Chloe Hunter
We find at the start, DCI Chloe Hunter embarking on her 1st day in post as a DCI in the Suffolk Town of Halewick,where she is replacing most of the previous team due to vorruption. No one knows she used to live in the town as a youngster, and has returned to do the best job possible.
Before she can settle in she is faced with a murder of the local 'godfather' shot dead and displayed on the marshes that lay alongside the town.
Her newly formed team is missing a DI and she is presented with DI Donnie Chase, a former DCI who has come back in a lesser role to help the investigation..... unfortunately Donnie Chase is also the estranged father of Chloe, disappearing when she was in her teens,and the only contact was Christmas and birthday cards which she ignored.
Amazingly they end up working well together to solve not one but two murders ... I cannot waIt for the next book in this series to see how the team gell together on their next crime scene ..... a great book well worth the 5🌟 rating given
We find at the start, DCI Chloe Hunter embarking on her 1st day in post as a DCI in the Suffolk Town of Halewick,where she is replacing most of the previous team due to vorruption. No one knows she used to live in the town as a youngster, and has returned to do the best job possible.
Before she can settle in she is faced with a murder of the local 'godfather' shot dead and displayed on the marshes that lay alongside the town.
Her newly formed team is missing a DI and she is presented with DI Donnie Chase, a former DCI who has come back in a lesser role to help the investigation..... unfortunately Donnie Chase is also the estranged father of Chloe, disappearing when she was in her teens,and the only contact was Christmas and birthday cards which she ignored.
Amazingly they end up working well together to solve not one but two murders ... I cannot waIt for the next book in this series to see how the team gell together on their next crime scene ..... a great book well worth the 5🌟 rating given
June 21, 2026
Enjoyable read
An interesting new series set in Suffolk, with the recently promoted DCI Chloe Hunter fresh from her stint with the DCI Walsh and team at Temple Inn.
Chloe was a returning to her home town, a place she left fifteen years earlier when her father left home and she and her Mum moved to London. The police station was recovering from a clear out of staff due to corruption being uncovered, a lot of new people in post and a few of the old ones, it was going to be a challenge.
She expected a difficult first few days but couldn’t have imagined that a body would be discovered just as her day was starting and that it would be that of a prominent member of an local crime family. To compound the bad start, she was introduced to her new DI, who turned out to be her father.
The story has lots going on, enough to keep you interested and for Chloe to finally uncover secrets from the past, which lead to her father leaving.
An interesting new series set in Suffolk, with the recently promoted DCI Chloe Hunter fresh from her stint with the DCI Walsh and team at Temple Inn.
Chloe was a returning to her home town, a place she left fifteen years earlier when her father left home and she and her Mum moved to London. The police station was recovering from a clear out of staff due to corruption being uncovered, a lot of new people in post and a few of the old ones, it was going to be a challenge.
She expected a difficult first few days but couldn’t have imagined that a body would be discovered just as her day was starting and that it would be that of a prominent member of an local crime family. To compound the bad start, she was introduced to her new DI, who turned out to be her father.
The story has lots going on, enough to keep you interested and for Chloe to finally uncover secrets from the past, which lead to her father leaving.
June 16, 2026
Another good read
What a great start to a new series. I really enjoyed learning a bit about DCI Hunter and her father DI Chase. The rest of the team are going to be interesting too, particularly Elliott. I wonder when the truth about him comes out and what repercussions it may have. Looking forward to the next book and what trouble the Sullivan's will bring.
What a great start to a new series. I really enjoyed learning a bit about DCI Hunter and her father DI Chase. The rest of the team are going to be interesting too, particularly Elliott. I wonder when the truth about him comes out and what repercussions it may have. Looking forward to the next book and what trouble the Sullivan's will bring.
July 21, 2026
First impressions are good.... Little slow to start, good plot with some interesting characters that will be around in future books in the series. Some relationship building ongoing so that keeps an interest within the team and enough indirect characters to keep in the wings until required in the future.
Not too heavy a read but not entirely predictable either. Would recommend
Not too heavy a read but not entirely predictable either. Would recommend
July 26, 2026
The first DCI Chloe Hunter mystery begins with Hunter arriving to be the DCI in Halewick, which is where she grew up. The Halewick station saw a big shakeup when corrupt officers were removed and replaced. Hunter gets a huge surprise when she meets her new DI. Meanwhile, a local crime boss is murdered, and it’s up to Hunter and her new team to solve the case. A solid start to this new series.
July 10, 2026
A good tale.
A new author for me and I enjoyed it. A few errors but a good storyline, good characters who you want know more about....
A new author for me and I enjoyed it. A few errors but a good storyline, good characters who you want know more about....
July 14, 2026
It was an enjoyable read and I will gladly get the next in the series.
July 15, 2026
Brilliant!
As good as Declan Walsh, maybe even better? I can't wait for the next instalment and to see how Chloe gets on in her next case.
As good as Declan Walsh, maybe even better? I can't wait for the next instalment and to see how Chloe gets on in her next case.
July 28, 2026
One of the best story lines I have come across in a long while. The characters are well established and very believable. I am looking forward to the next book.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews