With Jack's help and guidance, the team is successful in finally catching the criminal.
Jack’s success prompts DI Gifford of Chipping Norton in the Cotswolds to reach out to Jack’s boss, DCI Ridley for help with another similar investigation.
Recently back at work after the birth of his daughter, Jack volunteers for the job.
For the last three years, areas around Chipping Norton have been plagued by an experienced gang of burglars robbing the properties of the wealthy local residents. The gang are professionals, elusive and plan their jobs well.
Thanks to a local informant, they have information about which houses to target and when to attack.
Targeting the affluent, the gang have stolen items worth several million pounds. They always choose homes where the owners are either out or away on vacation.
With the recent spike in burglaries being committed, the crimes have taken on a deadly edge, resulting in the horrific assault of the autistic son of one of the homeowners.
Links to the gang are found in a neighbouring county and two DI’s (Lee and Mason) from Oxford Robbery are sent to take over the investigation in Chipping Norton. The violence that started with the assault intensifies even further when the gang retaliate to being compromised in a brutal way, torturing and then murdering to send the police a message.
The gang are working on a final big job before leaving the area.
Jack figures out who the informant is and, with time running out, he uses them as a ‘Judas Horse‘ to set up a trap for the gang.
The main character Jack is very likeable. A bit of a maverick, he is a driven and talented Detective who doesn’t mind bending the rules to suit the needs of the investigation. He is able to easily read people going on his gut feeling and following his instincts.
However, he has some trouble with authority and his superiors, but he is extremely good with those of a lower rank and has the ability to bring the best out of them.
When required Jack can be tough, but he also has a softer side when dealing with his family.
Overall, Judas Horse is a page-turning, suspenseful and entertaining book.
