Murder of Angels

Detective Inspector Declan Walsh #2

by Jack Gatland

The critically acclaimed, internationally bestselling Declan Walsh series continues...

One murder... One suspect... One victim... Yet two identical bodies have been found...

For DI Declan Walsh, life is finally returning to normal. Finding a home at DCI Alexander Monroe's Last Chance Saloon Crime Unit, Declan is still recovering from the fallout connected to their most recent case, while cleaning out his late father's home in order to move in.

But when Declan's old mentor, now terminally ill with cancer confesses to a gruesome murder, on the condition that Declan himself takes on the case, Declan and his colleagues find themselves in a race against time to find the real killer before a violent gang war breaks out over it.

But then another witness appears, claiming that he knows where the body is buried; in the process revealing another body, identical in every way - including DNA, tattoos and injuries.

Now, with both North London and South Birmingham becoming battlegrounds and with vendettas reaching boiling point, Declan Walsh must delve back into the world of Johnny and Jackie Lucas, the East End ‘Twins’ as he tries to discover how one victim can have two identical bodies.

And at the same time, he has to deal with a deadly secret involving his late father's murder, an ex-girlfriend with a very personal request and his daughter's first date...

The second book in the critically acclaimed, internationally bestselling series of procedural crime thrillers featuring DI Walsh and the team of the Last Chance Saloon, Murder Of Angels 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 enjoyed the suspenseful thrillers of these authors, you won't be able to put down Murder of Angels. PICK IT UP NOW before the price changes!

Genres: Mystery, Audiobook, Fiction, Thriller, Crime, Detective, Mystery Thriller

372 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 7, 2004

About the author

Jack 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.

Reviews

[Elizabeth Tafoya · Rating 2 out of 5]

Employ a competent editor, for Pete's sake!

Although I liked the story and found the plot extremely engaging, the numerous spelling, grammar, and syntax errors in the text truly detracted from my enjoyment of this Kindle book. There were also several plot and factual errors, as though whoever was tasked with proofreading this version merely rushed through their task with little or no care for producing a readable end product. Not sure I'm going to continue reading this author as I am that disenchanted with the level of unreadability caused by the aforesaid errors.

[Klaus Yde · Rating 3 out of 5]

To complicated and messy story by far 🙈

[Sunny Willow · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read the police procedural by Jack Gatland, not part of the Silk series that is referred to in some of the other reviews.

[Maureen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Murder of Angels by Jack Gatland is book 2 in the DI Declan Walsh series. It grabs you and pulls you in from the beginning and then releases you, before slowing pulling you back into the story. Declan and his team are referred to as The Last Chance Saloon and form part of the Major Crime Unit. There are a few different strands to the book and they are cleverly woven through and keep you interested to the end, where they come together. Great writing. This is released on 10 January and is available for pre-order now.

[Doreen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow!

Nonstop excitement, thrills, bodies, lies, corruption, and confusion! The group of police personnel, exiled because of " unacceptable" behavior in the eyes of the upper echelon of the police, investigate cases no one else really wants! This one is really different! The author spins such an intricate mystery that the true events only come to light in the last chapter! Captivating!

[☼Bookish in Virginia☼]

Sometimes the first book of a series doesn't engage me so I'll decide to abandon it and try the second in the series.

Got to the 20% point and nope. Just not in the mood apparently for a hard-boiled detective novel. The review that made me try this series said something to the effect that the secondary characters were the book's strengths. I never really felt like I found these intriguing people.

[Anke · Rating 1 out of 5]

Absolutely hare-brained, at least I finished it.

[Maria Robinson]

Utterly confusing

This was my first foray into the Declan Walsh series and will be my last....probably. I am reasonably intelligent but found myself completely bogged doen with all the different aspects of the plot. I admire the author who obviously could keep track!! I stopped reading the book about three quarters of the way through in exasperation and found I didn't really care about any of the characters except perhaps the little boy. In fact that was the final straw- I didn't really warm to the main characters either. Sorry!!!

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

DI Declan Walsh and the entire Last Chance Saloon crew are ack in action. A former boss and mentor or Walsh, now retired and in the final stages of terminal cancer, has confessed to a murder. He's also demanded the case and he be handed to DI Walsh. I private conversation with Walsh, the former Detective Chief Inspector and confessed murderer declares to Walsh that he didn't really do it, but that he was acting on instruction of one of the London crime bosses who promised financial aide to his family after he's dead. From this point forward, nothing is as it seems.

In what unfolds into an extremely complicated plot, Walsh and his fellow coppers are thrown into the middle of the London and Birmingham underworlds, family dynamics and jealousies, and more crooked policemen than you can count. I like involved plots as well as most readers, but it seems to me that this one is overdone. Maybe the twists and turns are more than my mind can handle. Maybe it's my fault, but it's why I rated Murder of Angels as Four Stars, instead of Five.

Don't get me wrong. It's a great story, well told. I'm glad I read it, and I recommend it. There are lots of interesting characters--some new ones, along with furthering our understanding of the repeats. Gatland has a good balance of background coloring and plot movement. He uses dialog effectively, which serves to dual purpose of telling the story, and of identifying the characters. Well done.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

After reading the first in this series, I thought I would never encounter such a complicated plot again, however I was so completely wrong. This story about gangland wars and multiple bodies had so many sides to it that it really took a lot of concentration to read. That is what made it so intriguing and exciting for me as I never really knew what was coming next or where the story was leading to. Once more we see Declan Walsh getting involved with corruption in the police force, gang leaders running rings around law enforcement, and people being forced to provide information to the criminals. It certainly is a guessing game as to who is telling the truth and working out what side anyone is on. The pace is fast moving and very tense in places and there are several occasions when we fear for the lives of the “Last Chance” team. Towards the end we also have a reminder of the previous case that Walsh solved with a threat that this is not going away as easily as was hoped for. I am really enjoying this series of brilliant books and am so pleased I discovered this excellent author who has the ability to take me on a captivating journey through the world of crime.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Twins galore and the old guard

Book 2 in this series.
New day and another crime to solve but this time it's a bit closer to home and many twists and turns and lots of names.
From the first page you are pulled into the story trying to understand did going on.
Who are the good guys and who are taking back handers from a crime family of 2. How would you be able to tell who to trust ?

Multi layered easy read and lovely flow to the story but you have to keep a keen head on. To recall the collection of people and who is who and there connection to each other. At 1 point I felt like a a writing them down with connection arrows to aid the story line especially when reading late at night.

You get to understand more about the Police unit and more individuals and there past that have made them the people they are and the morals and code of honour they have or not.

Looking forward to reading book 3 in the series .

[Jordan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I got to know the characters better in this one and they're growing on me. Another very elaborate mystery with a bunch of players and conflict. The slightly weaker area for me are the endings. Things wrap up and generally make sense which is all good, but both have had a long unrealistic scene where they all (heroes and villains) stand around going through every little step explaining everything. They're not terrible, but that type of setup seems old fashioned and a bit cliche (it would be less so in a police debrief after the fact or something, but all the players, still in danger, just having a 15 minute chat taking turns filling in every detail of the case...). I just don't buy that. (And both were quite similar as well). But, like I said, the conclusion doesn't come out of left field, and I suppose some people will enjoy having everything all laid out again and are happy to suspend their disbelief during.
Overall I was entertained and liked it above average.

[Pete Ffrench · Rating 5 out of 5]

Declan and his team get to the bottom of a murder of twin girls who are the same person plus another of a priest Father Lawson or his twin brother I'm still a bit confused on this one. Birmingham police seems to be run by gangsters and Anjli is working for the brothers crime syndicate to help out her mother who has cancer. The story is a bit complicated with a lot going on but Walsh sorts it out at the end with all the families in one place, now he has to find who killed his dad. Doctor Marcos deserves a medal for her part in the story as she saves him a few times with her reckless bravado and Monroe deserves one for putting up with them all.

[Jim Bean · Rating 5 out of 5]

Confusing

To me, most of the entire story was confusing. Three different mob gangs, two of which had children who wanted to be the next leaders but hated their parents, fell in love with the same girl who was the daughter of another mob leader but she was the biological daughter of a nun and priest. The priest had a twin brother. The daughter had a twin sister.

The best part of the confusing story is at the end everything was explained,
I was going to give a four star only because of the confusion factor but accidentally gave the story a five star. A five star is okay with me. I hope you enjoy the read

[Violet · Rating 3 out of 5]

Better Than Book 1

This is the 2nd book in this series, I gave it a go after reading the first book & finding it a little dry, but it was placed in the political realm, whereas this is more a typical police procedural.

The characters have ‘fleshed out’ a little more, some good, some so-so & some bad, but still all in interesting ways.

The book is still a little on the drier side, don’t get me wrong, it reads better than the other one, but it’s just not quite grabbing me. The books however area good price & are still a good read, so I’ll give book 3 a hopeful thumbs up & see where we go.

[Alan · Rating 2 out of 5]

I bought the first three of this series as a bundle from Amazon.
I don't think I will be reading the third book. The stories have potential, but they are very messy and confusing. Plus, there are loads of characters to try and keep up with. The biggest thing that put me off was the Miss Marple type end to the first two books when all the main characters were gathered together, and they all explained their role in the plot before the final unveiling the main baddie.
I liked the main character, Declan Walsh.
Maybe the later books in the series get cleaned up and have a more understandable plot.
Sorry not for me.

[William Orr · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought I had found a new detective to follow, one I could read about every month until the author grew tired. And I do like Declan Walsh. But the plots are too convoluted. I say this with some sadness, because the writing is good, the descriptions interesting, some of the characters are promising. But I think the author disrepects the reader when plot twists depend on quirks of timing, twins (and more twins!), and every cop but Declan seems to be corrupt.

Every good protagonist needs a good antagonist, but Declan just can't catch a break.

[Anthony Brooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another 5 Star Book.

Declan Walsh and The Last Chance Saloon get a case from the least likely of people, A former, disgraced Cooper that us dying, and one of the last things he wants to do is confess to a murder. A murder of a young girl with organized crime ties. But as the start to unravel this case, things are never what they seem. She was dug up, vat the sane time, she was dug up at another location. Two bodies, same girl? Both Angela or Angel, A Murder of Angels is a gripping page turner that I know you will enjoy.

[MR MD LITTLEMORE · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mystery throughout

I enjoyed this novel. However, maybe it’s just me, but I wish I had made some notes as I read. With the number of characters and the (sometimes baffling) twists and turns, I got totally lost at points and had to go back to re-read and check who’s who. Not surprising since the plot revolves around characters who turn out to be not who we think they are.
If you are set on reading Murder of Angels and don’t read or listen to it in one session, I advise you to make notes to help you with Jack Gatland’s superbly crafted British Murder Mystery. Recommended.

[Michelle Nash · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 but still rounding up to give the benefit of the doubt.

This novel was better than the first since it was free from political players, but omg, is every cop corrupt and are the gangs/ organized crime/ bad guys truly leading England. This series makes me feel that the bad guys are in charge and I shouldn't bother calling a cop if I needed one.

The actual storyline was great and pretty well fleshed out with lots of things you have to pay attention to to follow the story. Gatland should try to have a few redeeming cops that we can trust, count on, and root for.

[Mary Ryan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a brilliant and very complicated read. I won't rehash the blurb. There's so many different strands here, and I must admit that there were lots of times I wasn't fully sure what was going on and who was setting up whom.

The characters were great and Declan has his work cut out trying to figure out who to fully trust even on his own side. There is a small thread here that is leading up to the next book and we get a glimpse of the start of the next book which makes me want to read it as soon as possible.

[Mary Johnson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a good but overly complicated story made confusing by the numbers of characters whose names begin with M: Marcos, Macha; Monroe - to name but a few…….. I like these characters but for goodness sake, pick names that begin with letter that are different…… that would at least give me a chance to catch up!

Spoiler Alert
Then there are the two sets of actual twins and a dual personality- all who take over each other’s roles at some point.

[B.E. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another awesome installment of DI Walsh's stories. So deliciously twisty-turny and delightfully suspenseful. You can never tell who to trust in this. Wickedly awesome storytelling that kept this reader on her toes, on the edge of her seat, flipping pages to the exclusion of pretty much everything else. I love Declan Walsh and his team of tarnished cops. And in this story, I also loved the unexpected side character of Stripe. Darn good stuff all around.

[Ed Napiorkowski · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good but at times complicated story.
Had me scratching my head at a number of points trying to keep up with the details of the characters involved but that is deliberate and part of the twists, turns and ultimate revelations.
I do like the characters and their personal complexities, I do like the pace of the unfolding drama, I do like the attention to detail, I enjoyed the book.
Easy to rate at 3 stars, and easy to recommend.

[jack mccoy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Murder of Angels

First, I like reading police books based in England. PO, PC, DI, are terms I read all the time . Detective Inspector Declan is one of my favorites. He always gets his criminal, man or woman. The characters are detailed to a point I feel I know them. I feel vindicated, that is, I feel I had something to do with the solving. Love the series! Jackfire

[Anne Hill · Rating 3 out of 5]

Needs less characters

So confusing, whose kid is whose, which crime boss had which son, it goes on and on. You need a chart to keep everyone straight. But it does muddle its way to the end, where it is all explained. Really would have enjoyed it more if I wasn't trying so hard to keep everyone sorted.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great story

Lots of twists and turns and way too many sets of twins. Three crime syndicates come to the brink of war and Walsh and company have to not only sort it all out but stop the bullets from flying. Great characters that become more complex and engaging as the series progresses.

[Helen Dixon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great plot line

The plot in this book was quite complicated with many twists & turns which left you guessing. It was a bit ‘Line of Duty’ but that made it even more enjoyable with a few shocks thrown in. The characters are being devel oped really well leaving you wanting to know more. Really looking forward to reading the next one.

[Gill Appleyard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another excellent read.
Declan is finding his feet in the Last Chance Saloon having solved an old case where someone was wrongly convicted when his old mentor confesses to a crime.
The team investigate, getting injured, held hostage and crossing lines that maybe the shouldn’t be crossing.
It’s another fast paced book and I’m looking forward to reading more.

[rebecca O. webber · Rating 2 out of 5]

I found this book hard to follow, both characters and plot lines. Plus, I didn’t care enough about the plot character to care. They were all scumbags. I felt nothing for Angela, so that was a lack of development. Too many twins!

Declan and gang are great, so no complaints there. They were just locked into a convoluted plot.