Buried: Volume 1 (Detective Jack Warr)

Buried by Lynda La Plante is the debut novel of DC Jack Warr series. This is the author's first new series in five years and Lynda La Plante is currently working on the script for Buried. I found Buried to be well-written with complex characters and an intriguing crime. DC Jack Warr and his partner, Maggie have moved to London. The made the move because Maggie will have more opportunities in London to further her career as an orthopedic surgeon. Jack's career has been stagnant thanks to his lack of ambition and he has not found an area of police work that excites him. DCI Simon Ridley decides to give Jack a chance and gives him a place in his Serious Crime Squad. Then a case from Aylesbury is brought to the unit's attention and Jack cannot wait to dive into the investigation. When investigators were able to enter the remains of Rose Cottage, they found a body along with over a million pounds in burnt currency that is now obsolete. The money was from the 1995 robbery of a train where over 30 million pounds were stolen. Police never identified the robbers nor had any solid leads. Jack is quick to dive into the case which takes him into the murky criminal world where a person can quickly find themselves breaking a few rules while searching for answers. Jack is also dealing with the death of his adopted father who provides him with a file of information that will help him find information on his biological father. Jack begins digging into the past and uncovers some surprising information. I found the case to be interesting, though, I was disappointed that the answers are revealed as the book progresses instead of at the end. One of the reasons I like to read mysteries is because I like solving the case. The story plays out with flashbacks into the past revealing key details of the crime and about Jack. Buried is a police procedural story involving the Serious Crime Squad which consists of DCI Ridley, DS Laura Wade, DC Anik Joshi, and DC Jack Warr. There is intrigue, tricky characters, gangs, stolen money and much more. It is a multifaceted novel with everything tying together into a cohesive whole. The ending was unresolved (cliffhanger). I wonder if the case will continue in the next DC Jack Warr novel. I did like the epilogue. I was confused, though, at times and felt I was missing something. I did not know that this series ties into the Widows series by this author. I believe it would have been beneficial if I had read Widows, Widow's Revenge and She's Out. I do want you to know that there is foul language and intimate innuendos (and comments) in this book. Buried is a fascinating mystery with a flaming fire, police procedures, a by-the-book boss, clever criminals, and a conflicted character.