To Hunt A Magpie

Name: To Hunt A Magpie
Author: Jack Gatland

One for sorrow... Two for death.

Thirty years ago a group of five child detectives; Tommy, Luke, Tess, Jane and Daniel, along with their dog, Dexter made the national press with their crime solving. Nicknamed the Magpies, their adventures were written up as novels by author Reginald Troughton and released to children around the world, including a ten-year old Declan Walsh.

But now, someone is targeting the Magpies, with Reginald brutally murdered while writing a last, 'lost' adventure. And DI Declan Walsh and the team of the Last Chance Saloon must not only solve Reginald's murder with the 'help' of these rusty amateurs, but at the same time save the surviving members of the Magpies from a devious and determined killer with a chilling connection.

But while they do this, the team will also delve into a decades old conspiracy - one that suggests that the Magpies were created as a Government PR stunt gone wrong, and that there were more Magpies, missing ones, dying intragic circumstances but never acknowledged...

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Published: June 6, 2021

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Detective Inspector Declan Walsh

The series

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In the gritty, rain-soaked streets of London, Detective Inspector Declan Walsh hunts for justice in a world where nothing is ever quite as it seems. The Detective Inspector Declan Walsh series follows Walsh and his team of skilled investigators as they navigate a maze of cold cases, twisted motives, and dark secrets that threaten to unravel everything they believe in. The series is a thrilling journey through the city's underworld, where morality is murky and the lines between right and wrong are constantly shifting.

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What sets this series apart is its unflinching realism and the emotional depth of its characters. Walsh is no ordinary detective; he’s a man marked by the weight of his past, driven by an unrelenting desire for justice that borders on obsession. His team, including the sharp and compassionate DS Anjli Kapoor and the ever-resourceful DC Billy Fitzwarren, adds layers of complexity to each case, bringing their own struggles and personal demons into the investigation. Their chemistry, the highs and lows of their relationships, and their relentless pursuit of the truth form the emotional backbone of each book.

The Detective Inspector Declan Walsh series explores more than just crime—it delves into the psychology of those who commit it and the toll it takes on those who chase after it. The mysteries are not just puzzles to be solved, but reflections of human nature, fear, and the sometimes terrifying choices people make when pushed to their limits. Every case is more than a murder or a missing person; it's a window into the darkness that exists in all of us.

From the first chilling moment in Letter from the Dead, to the complex web of deceit in Murder of Angels, each book is a masterclass in suspense. The series doesn’t shy away from the brutal realities of policing and the moral quandaries that come with seeking justice. As Walsh and his team peel back the layers of each case, they uncover far more than they ever bargained for, leading them to questions that challenge their own identities and sense of duty.

For readers who crave gritty, character-driven mysteries with a touch of psychological depth, the Detective Inspector Declan Walsh series offers an unforgettable experience. With each page, the stakes grow higher, the mysteries more entangled, and the characters more real. Get ready for a journey that will stay with you long after the last page is turned.