Kathmandu Killers

Leo Keane International Thriller #1

by Luke Richardson

THE PERFECT PLACE FOR A KILLER TO HIDE...

Ex-journalist Leo Keane thought finding a missing woman in Kathmandu would be an easy payday. But when his search leads him to the doors of the notorious Himalayan Lamb restaurant, he realizes he's stumbled upon a dark secret that powerful people will kill to keep buried.

With corrupt politicians and ruthless criminals on his trail, Leo must risk everything to uncover the truth and find the missing woman before it's too late.

Can he navigate the treacherous backstreets of Kathmandu and expose the restaurant's sinister operation – or will he end up as just another victim?

Luke Richardson's gripping international detective series begins with KATHMANDU KILLERS, a heart-stopping thriller that will leave you gasping for breath. If you're looking for a pulse-pounding adventure set in a foreign land, this is the book for you.

Genres: Thriller, Mystery, Fiction, Mystery Thriller, Contemporary, Adventure, Action

Unknown Binding

First published May 4, 2019

About the author

WANTED, adventure lovers for hazardous journey. Must be prepared for nail-biting action, constant danger, fear around every corner, with safe return doubtful.

If that sounds like your sort of thing, in your choice of books at least, then come with me...

Hey there, I’m Luke Richardson, and I’m applying for the job as your next favorite author!

As an Amazon bestselling author, I've had the honour of sharing my stories with readers all around the world. Whether you're a history buff, a travel addict, or just looking for a little excitement in your reading, my books are sure to keep you on the edge of your seat.

I write books that take you on a journey to foreign and exotic places, blending history, adventure, and suspense into a gripping tale.

In my books, you'll find yourself transported to places like the Pyramids of Giza in Egypt, the glitzy skyscrapers of Hong Kong, or the shady backstreets of Kathmandu in Nepal. But it's not just about the locations; my stories are also filled with fascinating characters, unexpected twists, and edge-of-your-seat action.

It was visiting India for the first time that actually made me want to start writing. The sun had just risen as we landed at Mumbai airport. The taxi journey that followed was one of the most incredible of my life. I watched the city unfold like a story. People washing, children playing, chickens, cows, goats, all beside an eight-lane motorway.

I love sharing my stories and am proud to say that my books have been well-received by readers and reviewers. One of the greatest compliments I get is when people say that my books transport them to a new place. Although people often comment on the loveable characters, intricate plots, and fast-paced storytelling too. And I'm always working hard to bring you even more thrilling adventures.

So, if you're looking for a page-turning read that will take you on a journey to far-off lands, look no further than my books. I guarantee you won't be disappointed!

Reviews

[Mark · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kathmandu is the first in a ( so far ) 4 book series, Hong Kong and Berlin are also out now and Koh Tao, which is the prequel to all 3 is due for release in August

Leo, a poorly treated young journo who suffers panic attacks and whose girlfriend disappeared 2 years ago ( he also runs an online Missing Persons forum/bureau ) is going to Kathmandu to look for a Lord’s missing daughter who was last sighted there and basically the story follows this through, however there are so many shoot off’s from this initial story that all weave into the 2 main stories, these keep you on your toes and keep the book forever changing and interesting
I liked Leo and his ‘normality’ and that he had issues and suffered panic attacks yet was determined, not your usual hero, it was a good change
The writing is easy to follow and the descriptions of Kathmandu are enticing as well as off putting, there are definitely 2 sides to this City and both come together well in this book
There is a part of the story that is eye waveringly grim but will leave that for you to discover
There are a few editing issues that need ‘adjusting’ but this is a good, robust start to what I think will be a very interesting series, well written and in the main enjoyable

8/10
5 Stars

[Alex Mellor · Rating 5 out of 5]

The more difficult it is to get somewhere, the better it is when you do.

Having lived alongside Gurkha families in Hong Kong, I’ve always wanted to visit Nepal and was drawn in by the book’s title. I was intrigued by Leo’s first impressions of Kathmandu; a city of opportunity for some, but of misery for others. A sprawling expanse of life and love, of pain and money. I really enjoyed Luke Richardson’s layered style of writing, with its many twists, turns and secrets, although I was somewhat frustrated by the cliff hanger ending... I’ll be now be reading Hong Kong!

[Nicola Richardson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lots of twists and turns to keep the story moving. Descriptions that made me feel like I was there. A grossly funny part made me laugh- no spoiler!

[Ellen White · Rating 4 out of 5]

New author and new series. Leo has lost the girl he loved. How to find her and get her back he starts a blog. Then a billionaire wants him to find his missing daughter. With all the twists this takes us through the back streets trying to keep them safe. He ponders to keep searching for lost love, or stay with Allissa . A good thriller, the setting and characters were well described. Also the audio narration was enjoyable. Given audio for my voluntary review and my honest opinion

[Glen · Rating 3 out of 5]

A British reporter with anxiety attacks travels to Kathmandu to find the daughter of a wealthy man, or so he thinks.

[Margaret · Rating 5 out of 5]

Luke Richardson's Katmandu is quite a thriller! Leo, our erstwhile hero loses his girlfriend Mya and starts a blog to help find her. After 2 years, still no luck. Then, out of the blue, a wealthy father offers to hire him to go to Katmandu to find his daughter Alissa. Leo is not a brave man and really has no idea how to go about it. He's timid and shy and prone to panic attacks. Will he go anyway? Can he possibly do any good? Things are not always what they seem and the plot twists are rampant. This story builds and builds to a terrific climax.

I was given a copy of his first book Katmandu by the author. I am voluntarily posting an honest review.

[Fiona · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just finished Kathmandu. It was a very gripping well written book. The story is interesting and has twists and turns. I have only taken one star off as the ending is not the ending! You have to read the next book to find out what happens, and I always feel thats a bit of a cheat. Having said that I was very taken with the book and couldnt put it down, so I guess it has me gripped for book 2! I enjoyed how well it was written too. This is not true of many books, so big plus there. Great new writer.

[Claudete Takahashi · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first book by Luke Richardson and it is a great book! It´s a page turner and it has a great description of the action as well as of the several places where the action happens in Kathmandu. It feels like everything is happening in front of you ! Really enjoyable reading and the end leaves you thinking what happens next!?! So hopefully we´ll have book number 2 being published soon! Highly recomended.

[Lora · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an action filled thriller. Leo the protagonist is very interesting because he has low confidence and panic attacks yet he grows through the course of the book. This makes him relatable and yet surprises you when he is faced with difficult circumstances.

The characters he meets along the way are well developed as well. The plot is good and you get to experience a place, and a lifestyle that you may not ever in real life.

[Deborah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kathmandu comes alive in this fast-paced thriller! I dove right in and enjoyed the ride! Great first book. I look forward to reading the author's next book.
I received this book from the author and have posted my honest review.

[Julie Howard · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed the novella and the start of the series Koh Tao and jumped right into the next book to find out more about what was going to happen to Leo. I am glad I did because it was another great adventure. I like Leo as a character he is damaged and haunted by his lose, like most people would be but is also stronger than he thinks. Your are introduced to a number of new characters including Allissa, who I think will be a great addition to the series. This means the story does jump from different perspectives as you are given clues as to want is going on by several characters and to some flashbacks to the time Leo spent with Mya and the reason he is on this adventure. I am not sure what happened would encourage you to travel because you certainly see the seeder side of life but it makes for an interesting story line. The only thing that disappointed me was the ending it just ran out of steam, does it continue onto the next book? I guess I will have to read the next book to find out.
Still struggling to cope with his girlfriends disappearance two years later, Leo is barely coping with everyday life so when he gets fired for something he didn't do he packs up his desk and says goodbye to the job he loves. When a rich politician stumbles over his website set up to find the missing, he offers to pay for Leo's trip to Kathmandu to look for his missing daughter. With nothing holding him back and no strength of will power to say no, Leo finds himself well and truly out of his comfort zone. How can be possible find one woman in a country where he doesn't even speak the language? And if he can't find her what hope does he have of ever finding his own girlfriend? Allissa the missing daughter is not missing, she is thriving and helping the locals but at the same time leaving behind breadcrumb that Leo can follow. She travelled to get away from her past but is Kathmandu far enough? And just what does the streets of Kathmandu have in store for them? Because someone is following them.
I like the fact that the author is also the narrator. He is enthusiastic enough to keep the story bouncing along nicely.
I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.

[Em · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book took me 2 days to read, I couldn’t put it down! I can’t believe this is the authors first book, very well written and engaging. If I wasn’t busy writing my dissertation I think I would have read this in one go. Absolutely fantastic!

[Betty Panick · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this enough to want to read the next one in the series!

[Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

Binge-worthy❣️

You are hooked as soon as you start reading...Binge-worthy❣️
Very anxious to read more . . .
Next please⁉️ More and more difficult to put down . . .

[Barry Edstene · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a most pleasing surprise, the story was fast paced, involving a great group of characters who keep things moving. Defiantly leaves you wanting more, what good writing is meant to do.

[Stephen Heiner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Video book review available here: https://youtu.be/CfIwlTU71Mg

Authors do know when a character's tics and personality quirks can irritate readers, but in the case of Luke Richardson's Leo, this effect is intentional. Leo is not at all a conventional hero: he even struggles to just get by. Yet, here he is on the other side of the world from his home, helping to find a missing person because he deeply knows what it's like to never know what happened to someone who has gone missing.

Even though I knew that this book was a setup to a series, I did not expect the twists that came at the end that would lead me to almost immediately buy the next book in the series.

For those who are missing travel, this series will take you to faraway places but still involve you with characters you want to get to know better.

[The Mare · Rating 5 out of 5]

Being an avid traveller myself (& this year having a planned trip to Kathmandu postponed due to COVID), I was very interested to read the first book in this series by this new author. You can tell the author Luke Richardson clearly has a love of travelling and has experienced many cities in Asia, as his descriptions were very vivid (and accurate from my own experience) and really helped to create that sense of hustle and bustle of traffic and people, and continuous dust whilst in a city in Asia. This is the first in the series of Leo Keane books. (There is a prequel, 'Koh Tao', but in my opinion it is not as good as this and does not need to be read in order to understand the events in this first book). We are first introduced to Leo, who lives alone in a flat in Brighton, working as a journalist for a local newspaper. We find him reflecting on the fact that when he first left university to embark on the career of a journalist, he had such high hopes and expectations, but sadly not a position he now finds himself in. We learn he has also been searching for his missing partner, Mya, who disappeared two years ago whilst they were travelling in Thailand. He has an online missing persons website set up, and although has no clear leads to finding Mya, he is approached by a wealthy politician to find his daughter Alissa, who is believed to be in Kathmandu. It is for this reason that Leo then finds himself sent out to Nepal in order to find this missing daughter, and report back to her father of her safety. However, on arrival he finds himself mixed among the world of travellers, which not only helps to bring leads to the whereabouts of Alissa, but also other revelations of people, places and events he was not expecting. This book had me gripped from the beginning and throughout, with great descriptions of places and events occurring in Kathmandu. I thought the characters were well portrayed and the events described kept you wanting to know more. I would definitely recommend this book if you're a fan of thrillers, but also love to travel and read descriptions of places and people travelling. I now cannot wait to read the second book in the series, 'Hong Kong' (where my husband and I met 18 years ago).

[Saundra Wright · Rating 5 out of 5]

I started this series after the first two books were already out. Now after finally reading the first book, I'm kicking myself. The series is so much better starting with Kathmandu! I really loved this. If you are looking for a thriller series that spans the globe, with wonderful characters look no further. This series is awesome.

[Ruth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Can a mediocre loser find a missing person? Leo Keane, journalist of uncertain employee status finds he is unable to redeem his job after a dirty trick from a fellow journalist seeking to uproot him. His days and nights are bland, his only activity is maintaining a missing persons site for those trying to connect with missing ones. Leo is seeking news of a former, free-spirited but domineering girlfriend Mya. His thoughts, dreams, and existence continually replay their conversations and actions, each time leading Leo into frequent panic attacks. His internet site receives notice from a man called Stockwell, father of missing daughter Alissa. Leo learns she too has been gone for two years, just as Mya. Stockwell delivers the needed information on his daughter and Leo decides to see if he can find her in person. Alissa, hidden in Kathmandu, has set up a hostel with the help of Chimini, a Nepalese girl also escaping a past life. Together with Fuli, an prostitute escapee hiding from her owner, the three women bind together into a functioning unit. Stockwell has sent several others to also locate Alissa. Leo finding he is out of his comfort zone, must learn a new set of tracking skills as he too must dodge others who are tailing him. Interesting descriptions of life in everyday settings of a Nepalese working class. Hints about Mya's real intentions and Alissa's secrets that threaten her father's reputation become a basis for future series. This was a free book to read and review. I have no connection to anything involved. I thought at times it was slow but that was what I believe the author meant to show how Leo must shift from a life of no expectations to an active choice to change his future. Good read, good settings, and beginnings of good characters.

[Anja Peerdeman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Magnificent novel, I enjoyed it very much !
Leo is a great main character. He’s doing the things that must be done, despite all his inner demons he needs to battle.
Maybe I’ll learn how to do that myself while reading this series.
Looking forward to reading more! ‘Hong Kong’, here I come!

[Rishi · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is all about Leo, from Brighton, who inadvertently finds himself in the eponymous city searching for someone he knows little about. He wasn’t supposed to be in Kathamandu, Nepal’s capital city, at all. His day job used to be, (begrudgingly) working as a newspaper journalist. Due to some misfortune at work and an offer from a concerned parent, he visits the bustling city in the foothills of the Himalayan mountain range.

Luke Richardson has done a brilliant job of introducing the protagonist, his quirks as well as the tragedy that has had a lasting impression. I really enjoy travelling – not least because it allows me to experience culture, food and people first hand. This book has all of that, plus more! From the colourful street markets, to the restaurants serving special lamb curry to the native Nepalese. Luke has a way of writing with such succinct description, that you will feel like you’re there – without too much imagination.

For Luke’s first book, I was very impressed. So much so, I’ve read the following two books, excited to follow Leo on his next adventures. If you like seeing how normal people behave in challenging circumstances, or exciting cities, or action/thriller stories with twists and turns, give this a go!

[Sandra Barker · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is different than the run-of-the-mill suspense or international thriller. It's a bit of a mash-up on how to describe it, but it held my interest (at least after the first few chapters) and I kept wondering how it was going to end. The main character is Leo and in this book, he's not a confident person and a bit of a loser for the most part. He does evolve slowly, as one would hope, and since I found out there is a book 2, I assume he evolves further later. But, in this book, he is offered a job (he's jobless and drifting) to find a wealthy man's daughter in the ancient land of Kathmandu. That part of the book is quite interesting, although there is a disturbing incident that is truly disturbing and involves a certain restaurant advertised by a bare light bulb. There is also an annoying back story that keeps popping up every few chapters about Leo searching for his old girlfriend Mya and about their life together. That part actually gets in the way of the real story to my way of thinking. Anyway, it kind of ends, but encourages the reader to go right into book 2, which I don't plan to do. This book was good, but a lot to trudge through.

[Kelli · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was very fast-paced. As I read it, I felt like the pages were coming to life. The descriptions were so well done that this read like a movie. The plot was great. Character development was definitely there. I was interested in not only Leo and Allissa, but the secondary book characters as well. The only thing that irked me about the book was Leo's devotion to his disappearing girlfriend. Dude, she left you 2 years ago. If she wanted to be found, she would have made herself known. Build that bridge and get over it. (Besides she sounded like a total drag and he could do so much better)

I read this in a matter of days, and I was not disappointed. It seems like it took me forever to get to this book because my TBR is out of control. Now I'm kicking myself for having waited so long. Don't sleep on this book-it's definitely worth the read. Hong Kong-the second book in the Leo Keane timeline is out now. If you have Kindle Unlimited you can read it for free.

[Kathleen Becker]

Leo is a frustrated London journalist who seems to be at the bottom of the pecking order in getting newstories. He has spent the last two years attempting to find his lost girlfriend. Mya. She disappeared after his proposal in Asia.
He has set up an Internnational net site where he helps families locate their lost members who were overseas & just vanished.
Leo seemed to me to be at a loss without his girlfriend, who was much more adventurous in traveling. He also seems stuck - he spends most of his spare time on the internet.
At first I thought this would be the story of a neurotic & almost set it aside. Character development is excellent. The mysteries are riveting & descriptions of Nepal are wonderful.

[Jane Dunk · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fantastic read this was.
Drew me in from page one, and kept me engrossed until the end.
It was so interesting reading all about Kathmandu and imagining the places that were described.
The story itself was so original, and for me, made a change from my usual diet of psychological thrillers.
I won't describe the plot, as other reviewers have covered that already. I actually rang in sick to work as I couldn't wait to read on!
I am excited about the next instalment later this year, and hope for plenty more from this author in the future.

[Rosemary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kathmandu - a review by Rosemary Kenny

Turn off your phone and cancel your appointments for the next few days, as you won't want to interrupt your epic journey to the exotic Kathmandu for a moment, once you delve into Luke Richardson's mighty saga.

Murders, mystery, kidnappings, international skulduggery, the list goes on, in a dual timeline that proves (rather lengthily), that sometimes the underdog will yap and eventually he may just bite!

Get your ticket to ride off into an Asian sunset, to see if Luke Richardson's 'Rough Guide' to Kathmandu leads to an HEA - or not!

[Marcy Silverstein · Rating 2 out of 5]

I personally could have done without the constant going back to background story of Maya disappearance and the whole part of the book that dealt with that. He started the book with the work of his life at the time to help people find missing persons. A short reason why would have been ok but the continual part was really unnecessary. He did a good job on the rest of the book and kept my interest but I doubt I will go forward since he probably will continue the back and forth that I find not to my liking

[Pam Merrill · Rating 4 out of 5]

A daughter of a rich man disappears for two years. A shy reporter gets interested in missing people after his girl friend disappears. He ends up being hired by the rich man to find his daughter. That is the beginning of a twisted adventure. A couple other things are happening at the same time that makes the story more complex. I received a copy of the book from the author for taking his news letter. Be sure to read the Epilogue.

[Dave and Joan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Luke Richards has done the unforgettable.
He has taken me by surprise and transported me past my wildest dreams.
I thought that this book would be about one thing and I was totally surprised as to where it went.
The stirring story of travel, revenge, searching and disbelief takes you to the back streets of Kathmandu and beyond.
If you have not read this book make an effort to at least start. You’ll not put it down.
I can hardly wait for his next book. Best wishes.

[Roger · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kathmandu (Leo Keane International Thriller #1), my first enjoyable mystery/suspense read from author Luke Richardson. Well-written with captivating & intriguing characters. Sometimes a book is just enjoyable, wait no spoilers here, buy the book, read & review the book. "I received a free review copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review." I'll definitely be reading more from this author. (RIP Marley January 20, 2014 - July 24, 2018).