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Luke Sackville Crime Thrillers #1
Taken to the Hills: A Fast-paced British Crime Thriller
Abductions and murder are not what ex-DCI Luke Sackville expected when he left the police after tragedy struck his family. Luke’s return to the workplace was meant to be a soft landing but when a woman vanishes after being accused of taking bribes, he is assigned a disparate team and tasked with tracking her down. Their search becomes more urgent when her disappearance is linked to the death of a second woman. When a third goes missing the hunt becomes a race against time. Luke’s return to work presents him with the most challenging case of his career as the murder victims mount. Murder and intrigue are peppered with humour in this fast-paced crime thriller set in and around the beautiful city of Bath in the southwest of England. Taken to the Hills is the first in the Luke Sackville crime series. If you like a team you can root for then you’ll love this page-turner. Perfect for fans of JD Kirk, LJ Ross, JM Dalgleish and David J Gatward.
310 pages, Paperback
First published October 3, 2023
2045 people are currently reading
937 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 214 reviews
September 26, 2023
This was a highly enjoyable fast paced thriller with short chapters, gripping writing and detailed characters.
I was addicted from the first page and I ended up reading it in two sittings. The clues and details that you pick up throughout keep you wanting more and most chapters ended in cliffhangers so the reading continued! I needed to know what was happening next!
I thought I knew who the person behind the disappearances was from quite early on, but I was very wrong! There were quite a few twists in the story that kept me hooked, including the culprit - so that was fun!
I have so many unanswered questions, particularly on Luke's family and the back story with them, then I realised that this is actually the first book in a series so I definitely need to pick up the next!
While I didn't feel there was anything that made this book particularly different to others in this genre, I still really enjoyed the story, it was immersive and entertaining. If you're after an easy and interesting read, definitely give this one a go!
I was addicted from the first page and I ended up reading it in two sittings. The clues and details that you pick up throughout keep you wanting more and most chapters ended in cliffhangers so the reading continued! I needed to know what was happening next!
I thought I knew who the person behind the disappearances was from quite early on, but I was very wrong! There were quite a few twists in the story that kept me hooked, including the culprit - so that was fun!
I have so many unanswered questions, particularly on Luke's family and the back story with them, then I realised that this is actually the first book in a series so I definitely need to pick up the next!
While I didn't feel there was anything that made this book particularly different to others in this genre, I still really enjoyed the story, it was immersive and entertaining. If you're after an easy and interesting read, definitely give this one a go!
June 28, 2023
You are immediately dropped into a story and I usually don’t like that but.. you get to know the characters as you go along. I really enjoyed the writing style and story building as you go. Also, why did I hate bur love Josh at the same time. It was a great read full of twists I honestly did not see coming and I don’t want to give anything away but definitely GO READ THIS!!!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily, all thoughts/opinions above are my own.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily, all thoughts/opinions above are my own.
July 1, 2023
I received this book as an arc from the author.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading the first book in a new detective series. The main characters were interesting, and I enjoyed learning their back stories. The plot had enough twists and turns to keep me guessing till close to the end. It’s always a good sign when I finish a book and wish I had the next in the series to read.
I would definitely recommend this to lovers of detective/ crime books.
Wish I didn’t have so long to wait for the next one.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading the first book in a new detective series. The main characters were interesting, and I enjoyed learning their back stories. The plot had enough twists and turns to keep me guessing till close to the end. It’s always a good sign when I finish a book and wish I had the next in the series to read.
I would definitely recommend this to lovers of detective/ crime books.
Wish I didn’t have so long to wait for the next one.
April 22, 2024
My Thoughts:
Promising start to a new-to-me series!
Luke's world is chuck full of bad guys! If I say anymore it would be spoilery-ish. So, I'll stop there. I am definitely a fan of this series now!
This is my first S J Richards book and I would definitely look out for more works by this author.
Interesting perspective for a story from a, sort of, outside point of view. Luke is no longer police. So that is an added challenge to his investigation. He no longer have access to things he usually had as police and he has to get used to that.
I'm an old Aubrey Parsons fan. So, of course, his narration was wonderful!!
Quantitative Evaluation:
Story telling quality = 4.5
Character development = 4
Story itself = 4
Writing Style = 4.5
Ending = 4
World building = 4.5
Cover art = 4.5
Pace = (7 hrs and 30 mins listening time)
Plot = 4.5
Narration = 5
Overall Rating: 4.5 out of 5
Promising start to a new-to-me series!
Luke's world is chuck full of bad guys! If I say anymore it would be spoilery-ish. So, I'll stop there. I am definitely a fan of this series now!
This is my first S J Richards book and I would definitely look out for more works by this author.
Interesting perspective for a story from a, sort of, outside point of view. Luke is no longer police. So that is an added challenge to his investigation. He no longer have access to things he usually had as police and he has to get used to that.
I'm an old Aubrey Parsons fan. So, of course, his narration was wonderful!!
Quantitative Evaluation:
Story telling quality = 4.5
Character development = 4
Story itself = 4
Writing Style = 4.5
Ending = 4
World building = 4.5
Cover art = 4.5
Pace = (7 hrs and 30 mins listening time)
Plot = 4.5
Narration = 5
Overall Rating: 4.5 out of 5
October 2, 2023
Taken to the Hills is book 1 in the Luke Sackville series by S J Richards. I love reading the first book in a good series and finding out about the new characters in particular. I know that as each book comes along you are learning more about them. After a tragedy Luke resigns from the police – he was a DCI – and moves to the private sector to a company called Filchers. It is set in Bath and he is soon looking into disappearance of a woman accused of taking bribes and then a murder and more disappearances. There were a couple of characters I couldn’t warm to but plenty of other great characters to make up for them. Luke finds that the team working for him – Sam, Helen, Maj and Josh – work really well together. Particularly like Josh. Look forward to the next book.
August 29, 2023
A free book from Voracious Readers thank you
A well rounded first series book with strong, likeable characters.
So many twists with unexpected outcomes. A great read
A well rounded first series book with strong, likeable characters.
So many twists with unexpected outcomes. A great read
July 31, 2024
Picked this up on a whim and very glad I did too. It makes a change to add corporate espionage to the usual mix of kidnappings and murders, something to change the scene a bit, keep things fresh.
Short chapters made for a nippy read and the characters were interesting enough that I cared what happened. Will the author be able to keep it up for a full series? Well, I've got the next two ready to go so I'll let you know 😉
Short chapters made for a nippy read and the characters were interesting enough that I cared what happened. Will the author be able to keep it up for a full series? Well, I've got the next two ready to go so I'll let you know 😉
June 6, 2025
This was an easy read- mystery was solved very quickly. Great escapism.
October 21, 2023
This was such a great thriller read. It was fast paced and had me gripped from the beginning, which I like. I nearly finished this in 1 day but was distracted with a bit of TV and so finished it the next morning. The chapters are not too long and had lots of cliffhangers wanting me to keep reading more. The characters were good, and I loved Josh, he was annoying at times but so cute and brought in the comedy element needed when you are feeling you are on the edge of your seat.
A great first book to the Luke Sackville Series. I am looking forward to reading the next one to see how the characters develop.
A great first book to the Luke Sackville Series. I am looking forward to reading the next one to see how the characters develop.
October 11, 2023
I absolutely loved this thriller!!!
The first chapter gripped me up like a vice, so brutal, I loved it..
This story is so well written and very detailed that you just read on to find out "who did it".. it does get abit wwwooohh like especially when you find out what happened to Jess..
Still very engrossing and action packed to the point where it is hard to put down.. so I would suggest a yummy pack of biscuits and a pot of tea.. yes I said pack!
The first chapter gripped me up like a vice, so brutal, I loved it..
This story is so well written and very detailed that you just read on to find out "who did it".. it does get abit wwwooohh like especially when you find out what happened to Jess..
Still very engrossing and action packed to the point where it is hard to put down.. so I would suggest a yummy pack of biscuits and a pot of tea.. yes I said pack!
March 10, 2024
The main character in this novel was quite likable. It was interesting that he struggled with a change of career & authority level that differed from his previous duties prior to retiring. I really enjoyed the twists & turns that solved the multiple mysteries. It was fun trying to determine the villains versus semi-decent characters involved.
There was of plenty of description involving the characters and environment. None of this left you overwhelmed nor confused. Just the balance I love in any novel. If you’re not used to UK or European slang & jargon you may have to work around those phrases but it’s well worth the effort.
Another aspect I was thrilled with was a decent conclusion to the book. Most of the plot threads were covered and brought to reasonable conclusions. I consider this a plus since other stories can be anticlimactic or tend to have abrupt endings which leave me frustrated.
I’m definitely looking forward to listening to other books in this Luke Sackville series. I plan on reading his other novels too. The narration was colorful with lots of unique voices for the variety of characters.
Even though this was an ARC copy on audio, I would have paid a decent price for it. I recommend it for anyone who enjoys police procedurals, crime capers or a good old British mystery.
There was of plenty of description involving the characters and environment. None of this left you overwhelmed nor confused. Just the balance I love in any novel. If you’re not used to UK or European slang & jargon you may have to work around those phrases but it’s well worth the effort.
Another aspect I was thrilled with was a decent conclusion to the book. Most of the plot threads were covered and brought to reasonable conclusions. I consider this a plus since other stories can be anticlimactic or tend to have abrupt endings which leave me frustrated.
I’m definitely looking forward to listening to other books in this Luke Sackville series. I plan on reading his other novels too. The narration was colorful with lots of unique voices for the variety of characters.
Even though this was an ARC copy on audio, I would have paid a decent price for it. I recommend it for anyone who enjoys police procedurals, crime capers or a good old British mystery.
November 17, 2023
This was the first in a new suspense series, I would normally call it a police procedural, but the main character retired from the police force. I was hooked from the moment I was dropped into the story. There was no real lead in, but it had a killer hook and snared my attention right away. I enjoyed getting to know about the characters as we went on. Most of the time I had no idea who was behind it all, and that is usually a great time for me. I can’t wait to continue this series!
Luke retired from the police force after he ran out of grievance time and didn’t have his head on straight after the accident. But he needs to get back into the work pool, and landed an interview for Head of Security. Once he gets settled into his new job, he is looking into an alleged incident of a woman whose email claimed she was getting paid for information about the company. And now she’s missing. And another previous employee that just didn’t show up one day turned up posed in a suicide attempt, which was a badly covered up attempt by the murderer. What is happening at this high and mighty company, and how many employees are in danger?
Thank you to Love Book Tours for the copy, all thoughts are my own.
Luke retired from the police force after he ran out of grievance time and didn’t have his head on straight after the accident. But he needs to get back into the work pool, and landed an interview for Head of Security. Once he gets settled into his new job, he is looking into an alleged incident of a woman whose email claimed she was getting paid for information about the company. And now she’s missing. And another previous employee that just didn’t show up one day turned up posed in a suicide attempt, which was a badly covered up attempt by the murderer. What is happening at this high and mighty company, and how many employees are in danger?
Thank you to Love Book Tours for the copy, all thoughts are my own.
July 26, 2025
This series is brilliant! I have been completely drawn into following the adventures of the team created by Luke Sackville and absolutely love the different characters and especially Josh! I confess that I usually read 'free' English detective novels - as they become available on daily email sites and rarely do I feel the need to buy one - however this series has been a gamechanger for me! I started by reading the third book in the series (as a free book), then had to read the first one to see how the team got together and have just bought the second one - and also books 4 - 6. Each book (so far!) follows a different but equally fascinating storyline and I'm so looking forward to reading them! As a 'free book junkie' reading lots of English detective series this has never happened to me before however the series uniqueness sets it apart from all others.
July 22, 2023
I was so intrigued to read a story featuring an ex-cop (Luke Sackville) and Taken to the Hills exceeded my expectations.
Luke ends up working as head of ethics in the private sector, his team consists of the company misfits, and they are dragged into more than they bargained for!
The characters descriptions are spot on, and I could really visualise them as I was reading. I have a soft spot for a couple of characters and cannot wait to see how they grow in the next book.
Enjoyed the whole storyline, kept me totally gripped throughout, a real page turner. Nicely paced with plenty of twists.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book about Luke and his team, and I cannot wait to read the next book in the series.
Highly recommend, you will not be disappointed.
Happy Reading.
Luke ends up working as head of ethics in the private sector, his team consists of the company misfits, and they are dragged into more than they bargained for!
The characters descriptions are spot on, and I could really visualise them as I was reading. I have a soft spot for a couple of characters and cannot wait to see how they grow in the next book.
Enjoyed the whole storyline, kept me totally gripped throughout, a real page turner. Nicely paced with plenty of twists.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book about Luke and his team, and I cannot wait to read the next book in the series.
Highly recommend, you will not be disappointed.
Happy Reading.
December 19, 2024
*1.5 stars
I didn’t enjoy this unfortunately. I can’t remember any of the characters’ names apart from Josh. He was the best part of it. Sometimes he felt a little exaggerated too, but he was still the best part.
I didn’t enjoy this unfortunately. I can’t remember any of the characters’ names apart from Josh. He was the best part of it. Sometimes he felt a little exaggerated too, but he was still the best part.
October 3, 2023
This is the first book in the Luke Sackville Crime Thriller series and the first book that I've read by this author.
It is however, the third or fourth book that has been a murder/crime novel set in the South West England - not too far from me - I need to be very careful when I'm out and about 😬
I loved that this book was quite unique in both it's writing style and our main character.
Luke is an ex DCI having left the force after a family tragedy. When he comes back into the workplace, he's taken a job heading the security team of a large company.
I loved this idea.
He has all the skills of a detective, but taking it a bit easier at work for now.
When a woman from the office goes missing, Luke and his team are tasked with tracking her down but things get more complicated as time goes by.
I liked that he also has an interesting back story that will hopefully be explored more over the series.
There was quite a cast of characters but it was quite easy to keep track of who was who - and of course they all seemed as though they had something to hide and I had no clue who the abductor was at all.
There was also a great twist at the end that completely surprised me.
I absolutely loved Josh - and the whole team - but Josh just had me cracking up.
The banter between him a d Luke was priceless at times and I thought they developed a brilliant working relationship by the end - really great to see as it morphed.
I loved all his crazy words and phrases too!
There was a lot of humour in the writing style which is quite different for a novel of this genre. I often find humour in the cosy crimes but not in this kind of crime thriller.
I found this really refreshing and thought it added a little something to this fast-paced story.
As the tension built and had me racing ahead and on the edge of my seat - there would be an injection of humour that would just stop me dead and have me chuckling.
A really quick read with a refreshing unique style, relatable characters and a great storyline.
I can't wait to see what book 2 holds for the team.
I also listened to this on audio book a d thought that the narrator was brilliant!
He really captured the characters brilliantly and projected the sense of tension and humour well.
I couldn't stop listening to this one!
It is however, the third or fourth book that has been a murder/crime novel set in the South West England - not too far from me - I need to be very careful when I'm out and about 😬
I loved that this book was quite unique in both it's writing style and our main character.
Luke is an ex DCI having left the force after a family tragedy. When he comes back into the workplace, he's taken a job heading the security team of a large company.
I loved this idea.
He has all the skills of a detective, but taking it a bit easier at work for now.
When a woman from the office goes missing, Luke and his team are tasked with tracking her down but things get more complicated as time goes by.
I liked that he also has an interesting back story that will hopefully be explored more over the series.
There was quite a cast of characters but it was quite easy to keep track of who was who - and of course they all seemed as though they had something to hide and I had no clue who the abductor was at all.
There was also a great twist at the end that completely surprised me.
I absolutely loved Josh - and the whole team - but Josh just had me cracking up.
The banter between him a d Luke was priceless at times and I thought they developed a brilliant working relationship by the end - really great to see as it morphed.
I loved all his crazy words and phrases too!
There was a lot of humour in the writing style which is quite different for a novel of this genre. I often find humour in the cosy crimes but not in this kind of crime thriller.
I found this really refreshing and thought it added a little something to this fast-paced story.
As the tension built and had me racing ahead and on the edge of my seat - there would be an injection of humour that would just stop me dead and have me chuckling.
A really quick read with a refreshing unique style, relatable characters and a great storyline.
I can't wait to see what book 2 holds for the team.
I also listened to this on audio book a d thought that the narrator was brilliant!
He really captured the characters brilliantly and projected the sense of tension and humour well.
I couldn't stop listening to this one!
September 26, 2023
I firstly want to thank @sjrichardsauthor for this #giveawaywin and thank you so much for sending me a signed copy of your debut novel!
I read this book whilst driving the French Alps and let me tell you, it was a thrilling, gripping read. I started it whilst sat early in the morning, surrounded by fog and mountains waiting for the road to open after road works… that set the scene, itself but the book, was brilliant.
The reader is thrown into the drama and we meet a lot of characters quite early on - it can be a bit overwhelming - but once I was further into the book, the characters started falling into place and the moral of the story started to become clear.
Luke Sackville is an ex-DCI who has just started a new job and is investigating a woman’s disappearance. Sackville becomes more invested in the disappearance and before we know it, we have a murder and more disappearances.
There was so many whodunnits throughout the book and I think I had my suspicion of everyone at Filchers at one point throughout the book - I never guessed it and at the end, it all made sense, how did I not see it from the beginning!? Mac is a very twisted man but I think also troubled (maybe?) and following ‘orders’ but not to the extent that was wanted.
SJ Richards keeps the reader gripped from the start. I’d like to know more about Luke Sackville and his background, I think he is a strong MMC who brings a lot to the table. He has a good relationship with his kids (that was seen throughout) but quite a troubled relationship with his parents… I wonder why? It was touched on but I hope we get more in book two…?
Thank you again, Steve for this book. I am looking forward to reading more of Luke Sackville!
I read this book whilst driving the French Alps and let me tell you, it was a thrilling, gripping read. I started it whilst sat early in the morning, surrounded by fog and mountains waiting for the road to open after road works… that set the scene, itself but the book, was brilliant.
The reader is thrown into the drama and we meet a lot of characters quite early on - it can be a bit overwhelming - but once I was further into the book, the characters started falling into place and the moral of the story started to become clear.
Luke Sackville is an ex-DCI who has just started a new job and is investigating a woman’s disappearance. Sackville becomes more invested in the disappearance and before we know it, we have a murder and more disappearances.
There was so many whodunnits throughout the book and I think I had my suspicion of everyone at Filchers at one point throughout the book - I never guessed it and at the end, it all made sense, how did I not see it from the beginning!? Mac is a very twisted man but I think also troubled (maybe?) and following ‘orders’ but not to the extent that was wanted.
SJ Richards keeps the reader gripped from the start. I’d like to know more about Luke Sackville and his background, I think he is a strong MMC who brings a lot to the table. He has a good relationship with his kids (that was seen throughout) but quite a troubled relationship with his parents… I wonder why? It was touched on but I hope we get more in book two…?
Thank you again, Steve for this book. I am looking forward to reading more of Luke Sackville!
October 11, 2023
This crime thriller provides an exhilarating and fast-paced story that will keep readers on the edge of their seats. The protagonist, Luke Sackville, is a former DCI who returned to the police force for a seemingly easy re-entry into the workforce. However, the case he becomes involved in turns out to be far from straightforward.
The plot revolves around the disappearance of a woman who has been accused of accepting bribes. As Luke and his team start delving deeper into the investigation, they discover that her disappearance is connected to the murder of another woman. With each subsequent disappearance, the urgency to solve the case intensifies.
The novel effectively balances the serious nature of the crimes with moments of dry humor. The inclusion of humor adds an interesting layer to the story, giving readers some relief from the tension and adding depth to the characters. The setting of Bath in the southwest of England is also well-utilized, providing a picturesque backdrop to the unfolding events.
The author skillfully weaves together a complex and intricate plot, keeping readers guessing and eager to uncover the truth. The pacing is tight, making it difficult to put the book down as each chapter ends with a new development that drives the story forward.
Overall, this crime thriller is an engaging and compelling read that combines murder, intrigue, and humor. With its well-crafted plot, fast pace, and intriguing characters, readers will find themselves thoroughly immersed in the world of Luke Sackville and his challenging case.
The plot revolves around the disappearance of a woman who has been accused of accepting bribes. As Luke and his team start delving deeper into the investigation, they discover that her disappearance is connected to the murder of another woman. With each subsequent disappearance, the urgency to solve the case intensifies.
The novel effectively balances the serious nature of the crimes with moments of dry humor. The inclusion of humor adds an interesting layer to the story, giving readers some relief from the tension and adding depth to the characters. The setting of Bath in the southwest of England is also well-utilized, providing a picturesque backdrop to the unfolding events.
The author skillfully weaves together a complex and intricate plot, keeping readers guessing and eager to uncover the truth. The pacing is tight, making it difficult to put the book down as each chapter ends with a new development that drives the story forward.
Overall, this crime thriller is an engaging and compelling read that combines murder, intrigue, and humor. With its well-crafted plot, fast pace, and intriguing characters, readers will find themselves thoroughly immersed in the world of Luke Sackville and his challenging case.
October 11, 2023
What a brilliant book! I listened to the audiobook version and I loved Luke and Josh the Joker as I called him. Josh is the inexperienced newbie but Luke takes him under his wing and helps him to progress in the case. What a brilliant story for Luke and Josh to follow up on! The disappearance of two women. What's the motive, who's taken them and what do they gain from it? Luke and Josh are on the case.
I could quite happily re-listen to this as soon as it finished, it was well thought out, well written and flowed. Loved the description with the interviews or "interrogations".. thanks Josh! His catchphrases made me laugh and his endearment for Luke as "Guv" was nice to hear. He's a young guy that needs guidance and Luke is there help him on the way.
I cannot wait to read/listen to more Luke Sackville stories in the future!
I could quite happily re-listen to this as soon as it finished, it was well thought out, well written and flowed. Loved the description with the interviews or "interrogations".. thanks Josh! His catchphrases made me laugh and his endearment for Luke as "Guv" was nice to hear. He's a young guy that needs guidance and Luke is there help him on the way.
I cannot wait to read/listen to more Luke Sackville stories in the future!
October 16, 2023
This is an engrossing suspense thriller with ex-DCI Luke Sackville basking in the limelight with his superb detective skills. Sackville was appointed Head of Ethics instead of Head of Security of the Filcher Company but was able to solve the mystery of the abduction of three of its female employees. The writer skillfully constructed an intriguing and riveting plot that unravels quickly with the murder of one of the missing women. The pace of the story picked up in the middle where the subtle rising action grabs the reader's undivided attention. This book is likely to spawn an exciting sequel or generate a series of Luke Sackville adventures which will be highly anticipated by its growing followers.
October 20, 2023
What a treat! I always love a good mystery/thriller, especially because I can never guess who the bad guy is. And what a plot twist of an end! I enjoyed the foundation that this one was building, how the whole rag tag team was put together from all different parts of the company. Essentially outcasts brought together— and what a team they make! Also Josh—sweet, innocent Josh. He was definitely the humorous character of the book. I can’t wait to read future installments of this series and see what new mysteries the Ethics gang gets up to solving! That in itself is a fun twist— they’re not even police, just the Ethics department 😂
Thank you Love Books Tours for the copy!’
Thank you Love Books Tours for the copy!’
July 5, 2023
This is the first book that I have read by this Author and I Absolutely enjoyed reading it. and would definitely recommend to other avid readers like me. With twists and turns I never saw coming. congratulations on a brilliantly written book. I will look forward to reading many more books by this Author.
October 29, 2023
This is one of those books you just can’t lose with, so just grab a copy and enjoy the ride!
April 5, 2025
Ex detective Luke Sackville now works for a private company as head of Ethics where he and his new team look into the disappearance of an employee and soon the death of another.
An entertaining and well-written modern mystery with its interesting characters. A good start to this series.
An entertaining and well-written modern mystery with its interesting characters. A good start to this series.
July 1, 2023
I received this as an ARC. Thoroughly enjoyed it. Read it in one sitting. Love the concept. As a first in a series you get to meet the team. I love Josh, he's special. Plenty of suspects and the story rolls along keeping you interested. Anticipating the next one not so patiently.
October 18, 2023
What a great investigative thriller. Getting into the story, you’re immediately in it. There is no fluff or background at the beginning in order to set it up. You do get the explanations that you need throughout the book, but I appreciate being dropped right into the plot.
The team that comes together to figure out what was happening within the company, and the numerous disappearances, is a team that you can root for. Each character has their place and has a point to the plot.
When it comes to the mystery, Richards tricked me! And the thing is, I know he did it on purpose! I thought that I was SO smart (and I was slightly annoyed) that I had “figured it out” early on. Well, jokes on me because I was dead wrong!
The only reason this wasn’t a 5 star for me was because it wasn’t as fast paced for me, I had to suspend my belief a little further than I like, and because I thought the reasoning was lackluster. However, this didn’t take away from my enjoyment of the book at all. As this will be a series I’ll be sure to read the next one!
The team that comes together to figure out what was happening within the company, and the numerous disappearances, is a team that you can root for. Each character has their place and has a point to the plot.
When it comes to the mystery, Richards tricked me! And the thing is, I know he did it on purpose! I thought that I was SO smart (and I was slightly annoyed) that I had “figured it out” early on. Well, jokes on me because I was dead wrong!
The only reason this wasn’t a 5 star for me was because it wasn’t as fast paced for me, I had to suspend my belief a little further than I like, and because I thought the reasoning was lackluster. However, this didn’t take away from my enjoyment of the book at all. As this will be a series I’ll be sure to read the next one!
October 5, 2023
‘Taken to the Hills’ is an engaging and engrossing thriller that is packed full of action! This is the start of a brand new series from S J Richards and I found it to be a great beginning. I will definitely be looking out for the upcoming releases in the series as I thoroughly enjoyed reading this one. It was like a poloce procedural but just with no police if that makes sense!
Abductions and murders was not what ex-DCI Luke Sackville was expecting when he took up a job in the private sector after the death of his wife. Luke has taken a job as ‘Head of Ethics’ of a firm which provides outsourcing for government contracts. But he didn't think he was going to jump into the deep end right off the bat as a young woman has gone missing and its his job to track her down. It doesn't help that his team have no experience in this type of work but it is a race against time as the murder of a young woman is linked back to his firm. Luke has a horrible case to deal with and hopefully he will find the murder in time!
Now do you see what I mean about it having the feel of a police procedural! It's has all the hallmarks of this type of book due none of its advantages! I mean by that access to CCTV outside the firm, tracing of phones etc. This gives it an old-fashioned feel of a classic whodunit as there isn't as much reliance on technology. It's more about the clues and rational thinking.
The book has a great cast of characters, all well formed and perfectly balanced to give a great team. They might not have much detection nuances to begin with but I think they got there in the end! The stand out for me was Josh - he was just Gucci! But Luke was a great protagonist and I am looking forward to seeing how his character develops! The book was well-paced, the first half a bit slower as we were introduced to all the characters and backstory. But this is always the case in the first book in a series I find. It ramped up the tension and action in the later half and the narrative was well thought out and plotted.
Let me know if you pick this one up!
Abductions and murders was not what ex-DCI Luke Sackville was expecting when he took up a job in the private sector after the death of his wife. Luke has taken a job as ‘Head of Ethics’ of a firm which provides outsourcing for government contracts. But he didn't think he was going to jump into the deep end right off the bat as a young woman has gone missing and its his job to track her down. It doesn't help that his team have no experience in this type of work but it is a race against time as the murder of a young woman is linked back to his firm. Luke has a horrible case to deal with and hopefully he will find the murder in time!
Now do you see what I mean about it having the feel of a police procedural! It's has all the hallmarks of this type of book due none of its advantages! I mean by that access to CCTV outside the firm, tracing of phones etc. This gives it an old-fashioned feel of a classic whodunit as there isn't as much reliance on technology. It's more about the clues and rational thinking.
The book has a great cast of characters, all well formed and perfectly balanced to give a great team. They might not have much detection nuances to begin with but I think they got there in the end! The stand out for me was Josh - he was just Gucci! But Luke was a great protagonist and I am looking forward to seeing how his character develops! The book was well-paced, the first half a bit slower as we were introduced to all the characters and backstory. But this is always the case in the first book in a series I find. It ramped up the tension and action in the later half and the narrative was well thought out and plotted.
Let me know if you pick this one up!
October 12, 2023
This is the first book in the Luke Sackville Crime Thrillers series and this is the debut novel by this author.
I really liked the group of people Luke had working for him on his team. My favourite character had to be Josh he just made me laugh with the things he said and the way he got words mixed up. The banter between Luke and Josh was great too.
There were lots of different characters and pretty much everyone seemed suspicious to me so I honestly had no idea who was the abductor. There were some excellent twists at the end too!!
I really enjoyed the author’s writing style and I enjoyed the humour throughout too.
I am already looking forward to the next book in the series.
Thank you to Love Book Tours and the author for having me on the tour and for my gifted copy of the book.
I really liked the group of people Luke had working for him on his team. My favourite character had to be Josh he just made me laugh with the things he said and the way he got words mixed up. The banter between Luke and Josh was great too.
There were lots of different characters and pretty much everyone seemed suspicious to me so I honestly had no idea who was the abductor. There were some excellent twists at the end too!!
I really enjoyed the author’s writing style and I enjoyed the humour throughout too.
I am already looking forward to the next book in the series.
Thank you to Love Book Tours and the author for having me on the tour and for my gifted copy of the book.
December 11, 2023
I think this was probably one of the funniest thrillers I’ve ever read. Overall, it wasn’t funny in a general sense – like the storyline wasn’t funny. But the writing and the characters offered comic relief in just the right places to make a darkly comedic story that was thrilling, kept me turning pages, and wanting more. Which is good, because it’s billed as a series. And it’s always horrible when you want more of something and can’t ever get it.
While like most thrillers and crime fiction stories, there was a main detective and a main crime to be solved, this story was much more of an ensemble cast than some others I’ve read. I really enjoyed this and look forward to seeing more of the team that was built in this first installment. Each of our characters is trying to overcome something – from the death of a beloved spouse to “the menopause” and everything in between. It’s a great collection of characters with personal issues ripe with storylines.
I really appreciate the interesting angle this story is taking as well. It’s not unusual for detective stories to utilize the ex-cop trope. But I’ve not read one that places the cop within a company like this as an ethics investigator. It’s a unique take, and I really enjoyed it. The only complaint I can somewhat lodge is the motivations of the villain seemed off, but that is unfortunately life sometimes. And it’s what makes life so scary. Stories like this help remind us to be kind, but also that sometimes even that isn’t enough.
If the author has any other books I’ll definitely be checking those out. If not, I’ll be (probably not-so) patiently waiting for the next adventure in this series.
If you’re a detective novel lover, this is a great read. This is the start of an exciting new series with a great detective in the lead. He is unique, has his quirks, and his specialties. His supporting team is awesome, his family is great, and he has a sweet pup.
Content Warnings: Kidnapping, Abusive Language, Adult Language, Partner and Parent Death, Murder, Suicide, Hostile Workplace Environment, Sexual Assault, and More
While like most thrillers and crime fiction stories, there was a main detective and a main crime to be solved, this story was much more of an ensemble cast than some others I’ve read. I really enjoyed this and look forward to seeing more of the team that was built in this first installment. Each of our characters is trying to overcome something – from the death of a beloved spouse to “the menopause” and everything in between. It’s a great collection of characters with personal issues ripe with storylines.
I really appreciate the interesting angle this story is taking as well. It’s not unusual for detective stories to utilize the ex-cop trope. But I’ve not read one that places the cop within a company like this as an ethics investigator. It’s a unique take, and I really enjoyed it. The only complaint I can somewhat lodge is the motivations of the villain seemed off, but that is unfortunately life sometimes. And it’s what makes life so scary. Stories like this help remind us to be kind, but also that sometimes even that isn’t enough.
If the author has any other books I’ll definitely be checking those out. If not, I’ll be (probably not-so) patiently waiting for the next adventure in this series.
If you’re a detective novel lover, this is a great read. This is the start of an exciting new series with a great detective in the lead. He is unique, has his quirks, and his specialties. His supporting team is awesome, his family is great, and he has a sweet pup.
Content Warnings: Kidnapping, Abusive Language, Adult Language, Partner and Parent Death, Murder, Suicide, Hostile Workplace Environment, Sexual Assault, and More
August 15, 2023
I was lucky enough to receive an ARC of this book , not knowing what to expect. Having read this , I was very glad I did. A wonderful debut in a new series , which hopefully will just be the 1st of many in this series. We're introduced to a group of characters , who I'm looking forward to learning much more about.
Strongly recommend this book to others.
Strongly recommend this book to others.
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