Following on from the events of MURDER OF ANGELS, when an old friend of DI Declan Walsh is murdered and an old enemy restarts their vendetta against him, he's placed in charge of solving the case alongside his fellow detectives in the Last Chance Saloon Crime Unit, realising in the process that somewhere in Whitehall a new narrative is being written for the murder; one where the dead body is leaked to the press as an Extremist Terrorist, and Declan is being set up to be revealed as not only their terrorist handler in the UK, but also the prime suspect for the murder.
Now working against the clock and trying to find a way to find the real killer before being publicly 'outed' as a terrorist, in the process forced to abandon his family and home and escape from his own team, Armed Response units and Special Branch, Declan learns that the hunt is now being led by another old foe with a score to settle - and one that will happily kill Declan if it means capturing him.
Off the grid and running scared, Declan's forced to not only use his police skills but also his military background to survive, gaining help from unexpected sources and going deep undercover while fighting a vicious rival with unlimited resources - as he attempts to reveal the biggest conspiracy in Westminster and bring down a Government before he’s charged with terrorism and murder...
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.
I really think this is the best of this series so far. From the very start the excitement builds, with the attack on DCI Monroe and DI Declan Walsh’s attempt to find his attacker and get the corruption of the Met Office brought to light. As usual, there is a highly political element to this story, with the continuation from the previous stories gaining momentum. This time, the stakes are high and at every turn we are trying to work out what side everyone is on and who can be trusted. Declan is clearly being targeted as a terrorist, with someone keen to get him locked up or even killed. However, he is extremely good at fighting them off and, with his team aiding him at every turn, he seems to be succeeding. As we reach the end, everything seems to be concluding satisfactorily, even though Declan is no longer welcome in his village. Except, of course, there is a huge shock which I never saw coming, and which ensures that the reader immediately jumps into the next in the series.
I have to say that this author is certainly a fantastic find and these books just keep on getting better with every episode. I keep telling myself that I have so many other books to read, but to be honest I just can’t help myself from getting stuck into the next DI Declan Walsh to find out what is going to happen next.
Hard to grade this. It was well written, but too complicated by half and too much of a political thriller rather than the police procedural mystery I was expecting based on the previous entries in this series. I will read the next one just to make sure this was a one off.
The storylines of the DI Walsh books are entertaining, but the writing style would not pass a freshman high school English class!! The LONG, run-up sentences and redundant wording make the books almost unreadable. If the author really writes this poorly and the editor does nothing about it, then he or she should be fired. This is the third of eleven novels in the series. I've become exhausted a trying to muscle through the muddled writing that I'm giving up on the rest of them. Thank goodness I was able to read them for free...!
Jack Gatland’s Hunter Hunted is a solid, pulse-quick read that blends police-procedural grit with the taut pacing of a chase thriller. While it doesn’t fully land every punch it throws, the novel delivers enough tension and late-game payoff to make it a worthwhile read—especially thanks to an ending that elevates the entire story. Without that final stretch, this would have been closer to a two-star experience for me.
The premise is immediately engaging: a dangerous fugitive on the loose, law enforcement stretched thin, and a protagonist forced into an increasingly desperate game of hunter vs. hunted. Gatland keeps the stakes rising as the investigation widens, layering in political pressure, media scrutiny, and the psychological toll of the chase. The plot moves quickly, sometimes too quickly; there are moments where characterization feels brushed aside in favor of propulsion. A few twists are telegraphed early, and some of the mid-book pacing dips just enough to make you feel the pages rather than race through them.
Where the novel truly succeeds is in its atmosphere—Gatland captures that sense of narrowing corridors and dwindling time with skill—and in the final act, which brings an emotional weight and narrative sharpness that the earlier chapters occasionally miss. The ending is clever, satisfying, and makes the journey feel more cohesive in hindsight. It’s the kind of finish that retroactively smooths some of the book’s bumpier moments.
Overall, Hunter Hunted is an uneven but entertaining thriller: not Gatland’s strongest, but certainly not without merit. Fans of tense cat-and-mouse stories will find plenty to enjoy, even if the path to the payoff is sometimes rougher than expected. The conclusion, however, sticks the landing—and ultimately earns the book its third star.
DI Declan Walsh of the Last Chance Saloon Crime Unit must use his policing skills and his military background to survive while investigating the murder of an old friend and potentially being outed as a terrorist handler and murderer of that friend. The real suspects reach right up into the highest levels of government, and the investigation is being lead by someone who’d just as soon see him dead.
Holy moly, this was one action-packed, dark, gritty, fast-paced story packed with twists and turns and suspects out the ears. It was a hard read for me because of the extreme topicality of the plot (government corruption, people selling each other out, and “fake” news) and because Walsh was in such peril, both externally and internally. I almost gave up a couple of times, but I just had to find out what happened, and I’m glad I stuck with it.
I like the idea of the Last Chance Saloon Crime Unit, where flawed coppers either go to die or redeem themselves. I like how the members retain their human decency and mostly stick to a code of doing things right. I did not see the ending coming, and getting there was a wild ride. I will read more in this series.
I had a break between book 2 and this book, and I thought the author did a good job of bringing potential new readers up to speed with what had happened while keeping up a breakneck pace with the new story. I have a personal bias toward reading things in order, but if this happened to be your first experience with Gatland’s Declan Walsh, I think you’d probably enjoy it. I will read more in this series.
This book continues this series of DI Declan Walsh and the police unit he has joined recently with interesting characters to work alongside in what known as the last chance saloon.
The story continues with some characters from the previous books that continue the twists and turns of crimes, politics and other hidden agendas. Who is the Hunter and who is being hunted and the truth to be discovered or possibly not.
Fast paced and a page turner with lots of layers with police procedural involved trying to unravel the web of lies. But who to trust?
I found I struggled at some points keeping up with who was working for who, why and reasons behind it. This is why I only have giving it 3 stars as it just took the edge off it for me.
But I will certainly be reading the next book in the series as the main characters of the Police unit feel like friends and want to see how they develope. As well as seeing what they can still unravel from the threads from the previous books.
i don’t enjoy emotional manipulation in the books i read. i felt incredibly manipulated and bailed on this installment at about 30%
it’s the same reason i don’t watch law and order or NCIS, because they both allow you to meet the character who is being killed off- and in getting to know the character first, your emotions are heightened.
the death at approximately 3 hours into the audiobook is unnecessary and cruel to the reader and the characters. i was completely emotionally invested in her relationship with declan and her murder seems superfluous to the actual story: if she lived it wouldn’t have affected the outcome.
i gave it 3 stars for now. perhaps i’ll try it again later when i’m feeling less fragile. either way, i’m disappointed by the author for the first time in the series.
Hunter Hunted is book 3 in Jack Gatland's DI Declan Walsh series. Declan leads the Last Chance Saloon team and they are very loyal to him. Politicians are in the mix too. What a fabulous book and it is action packed all the way through and so entertaining. There are plenty of red herrings throughout to throw you off the scent but it all comes together in the end. I have read all the books in the series so far and enjoyed them all, but this is the best so far. I couldn't go to bed till I had finished it.
I’m really sorry but I cannot read this, book 1 was politics, it was dry, boring & had SO many characters it was plain mind bending.
But I persevered, I read book 2, it was better, still quite convoluted, but better than book 1, so I buy book 3, go to page 1 & it’s right back into politics.
I cannot do it for another book, I’m deleting the 3 I have & won’t buy more & I do NOT recommend these books, unless you like political storylines.
So, this one picks up where we left off. A narrative needs to be spun to save PMs that have had mud slung all over them. Declan is painted as a terrorist handler, Kendis, A reporter and one time girlfriend of Declan is painted the terrorists. Walsh is being hunted, his boss beaten and left for dead, and the whole team in shambles must all fight to clear Declan and bring the corrupt Cops, corrupt Government to justice. The Hunter Hunted is a 5 Star read. Great series so far.
I thoroughly enjoyed Hunter Hunted. 5 stars for the Audible narration, too. As usual with Jack Gatland there were plenty of twists and turns, exciting chase and fight scenes, and shenanigans galore among the characters. Politics is a dirty business, as previous and current exposés reveal. And there are , no doubt, ‘movers and shakers’ that we, the public, don’t hear about. Although fiction, the Star Chamber, might well exist, even today. Gatland leaves us with a real cliffhanger, so, for me it’s on to the in the series. I recommend this novel.
With the murder of Kendis Taylor I knew I wouldn't lay this book down until someone paid for her murder! I treat every woman as though they are fragile, (which they are not) and want anyone hurting a woman or child to be accountable. These stories of murder and mayhem where the murderer is either charged or otherwise " taken out"fits right at the top of my list. Jackfire
This was such a brilliant book. It kept you guessing all the way through & there were some shocks along the way. I like the way that there is a continuation of some of the story threads from book to book which makes you want to read the next one which I’m really looking forward to!
Cat one point in the second novel dci Monroe says something like 'I'm tired of overly complex narratives'. My sentiments exactly! But this. One moves along smoothly while still being complex. Garland has a device of explaining it all in the end, but it be a tough slog getting there! This third one not so much!
Great read, highly recommended. A very solid continuation of the early Declan Walsh adventures. Characters remain consistently portrayed, pace is strong and steady, plenty of twists and turns but no smoke and mirrors as the events are portrayed in a realistic true to life format. A very solid 4 stars.
DI Declan Walsh, another brilliant Detective story, continued from book 2
Di Walsh meets with an ex girlfriend, Kendris Tailor, a journalist chasing a story about covert security company.. When Kendris is suddenly outed as a terrorist, things get tough
The story from #2 continues in #3 and some incredible situations arise. An exciting who-dun-it with twists and turns but the ultimate twist is right at the end. #4 is a must read.
Well done! Intense and action-filled. It did get confusing at times about who was working for who but overall a great listen. Really enjoying the members of the team. Hopefully, they will continue in future books in the series.
Another roller coaster! Declan goes from being a detective to a wanted man and characters from previous books make a return. It’s a fast paced book and having read the others is a definite help in working out who’s who!
This book is the third book in this DI Declan Walsh series and the most interesting one so far. It was a bit confusing because Gatland uses so many characters. Going to start #4 tonight!
I almost gave this book two stars. How many times can Monroe and Walsh get beaten and/or kidnapped? We had a saying in the corporate world: some people had thirty years of experience and others had one, but did it over and over for thirty years. This series is beginning to feel that way.
More twists than a tornado utterly brilliant writing. Declan is an amazing character and your living every moment with him all the pain and excitement. Just fabulous from start to finish
An unusually gifted detective finds himself in hot water with superiors--not for a lack of success with investigations, but because he does not always follow the rules. Very good book.
An excellent read about everything from normal police work to international crimes. It was easy to track the characters because they were all so real. I couldn’t put this story down until I had read it to its crazy ending.
For me not as good as first two books….too many players and plots abounding…need easy reading detective novels…not a degree in mastermind….but overall still enjoyable….enjoy the Walsh character…onwards and upwards…
One of the most complicated plot lines that I have ever read. This series is outstanding & best read in series order. I have already bought the 17 that are released & 18 is pre-ordered. The last chance saloon unit are brilliant.
These books get harder and harder to put down! I’m never sure if I was frightened for the characters or seeing through them and their lies. Another brilliant book that I highly recommend and now I’m going to read book 4!
Good grief!! I almost had to find a pad and pencil.....
The twists, turns and shifts in this one almost gave me whiplash....where's my pad? Yikes! And yet to be continued?? I have to sit and ponder before I crack the next book open...figuratively speaking.