Pretend To Be Dead

Name: Pretend To Be Dead
Author: Jack Gatland

It's all fun and games - until somebody dies...

When a body is found beside the Roman Fort Gate on the London Wall, dressed as a Roman Soldier and with an antique Roman Gladius stabbed into their chest, it's tasked to DCI Declan Walsh and the team of the Last Chance Saloon to investigate the murder, leading them into a rabbit hole of similarly themed attacks - as re-enactors perform real-life battles at various locations for a "History of London" celebration during the day, with some taking a darker and more brutal approach at night.

With the clock ticking and the body count rising, can Declan and his team find the reasons for the murders and stop them, before the celebration's showpiece - a recreation of the Londinium Boudicca uprising, with over a hundred re-enactors on either side - ends in disaster?

And can they do all this while D Supt Monroe, preparing for his upcoming wedding, discovers he's still married - but not to the woman he thought he once was?

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Published: December 24, 2023

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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.