Ripped Into

by Jack Chandler

Find the girl. Get her out. Bring her home. What could go wrong?



‘My heart was pounding as I read the last few chapters. Ripped Into is an electrifying crime thriller. Great book!’ Reedsy Discovery  ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

As a private investigator, Fin has built a successful career by reuniting families with their lost runaways. Then a stranger appears at his door with a cash-filled envelope and a newspaper clipping. The man's stepdaughter, sixteen-year-old Sarah Matthews, disappeared a year ago after emptying her mother's bank account, and allegedly torching her family home.



Now her stepfather wants Fin to find her, but everyone Fin approaches – from classmates to the police – is unwilling to talk about the missing girl, and independent witnesses with no incentive to lie are corroborating stories that can’t possibly be true.



As Fin fights to discover the truth, he finds himself sucked into an unforgiving world of violence and sexual obsession that becomes more deadly with each revelation.



A British fast-paced action thriller with shocking plot twists and compelling characters, don’t miss the heart-pounding first book in the Stuart Finlay thriller series. Perfect for fans of David Baldacci, Robert Crais, and Harlan Coben.

‘Kept me hooked from beginning to end. Highly recommended.’ Susan Ivarr ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

‘A gripping, fast paced thriller.’ Nicky Downes ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Genres: Thriller, Mystery, Novels, Suspense

359 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 1, 2025

About the author

Jack Chandler is a sleep-deprived parent, wife, author, and willing participant in an unbalanced cohabitation contract with a cat. She spends her time writing, playing strategic board games, doing puzzles, and turning the house and garden into a jungle.
Her first thriller, Ripped Into, became a Hot New Release within five days of publication, and a Bestseller on Amazon within two weeks.
Check out her website for a free story in the series.

Reviews

[Daniel Werner · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is exactly the type of book I hope to find when I'm in the mood for a great thriller: fast-paced and gripping.

It's a true page-turner, once you start it's difficult to stop. I had the same rush reading this as I’ve experienced with authors like Dan Brown or Harlan Coben. The story is very engaging and suspenseful. I had difficulties to leave the book aside for too long. Just wanted to keep reading.

The descriptions are vivid and make you feel like being right there, present in the scene, or inside the characters' minds. The emotions and atmosphere are exceptionally well crafted. You can only enjoy some subtle little details that make this world and characters feel real.

I will definitely read the next in the series. Can't wait.

[Jacqueline · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this as a preorder to review and it was a fantastic read. The author did a great job developing the characters. The storyline was detailed and it was hard to put down to get any sleep until it was finished. I'm hoping there's a sequel for an update as to how things work out with the main characters.

[Lesley Hart · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gripping

Set in and around Crawley, West Sussex, Ripped Into is a fast paced, no holds barred thriller based around, Fin, an ex-army private investigator who's been employed to find a missing girl by elusive step-father, Staunton.

Before Fin knows it his life is in a noose and his girlfriend's life is also being threatened. Jack Chandler puts her characters in seemingly impossible situations - ones they can't walk away from - and manages to find a twist but no one is ever completely off the hook - until they're dead.

All of your unanswered questions, I had one major one, will be cleverly dealt with. This is a pretty faultless, satisfying read and the first book in a series I feel compelled to continue reading.

Characters are well crafted and with believable agency which creates nail-biting conflict. Recommended.

[Royalty Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ripped Into is an absolutely gripping thriller! The story had me on the edge of my seat from start to finish. Fin is a compelling protagonist, and the twists and turns kept me hooked the entire time. The pacing is relentless, and the suspense is expertly crafted perfect for fans of crime thrillers and action-packed mysteries. Highly recommended for anyone who loves a story that’s impossible to put down!"

[Bob Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

Recommend

I hadn't read this writer's work before but I shall be checking out what else is out there shortly.
Loved the pacing and the way the really heavy themes were handled.
Very much enjoyed reading this one. Looking forward to the next in the series.

[Shirley Baerken · Rating 5 out of 5]

WOW WOW WOW, what a fabulous book. There were so many twists and turns that my head was spinning. A GREAT read from the first page until the last. I highly recommend this action-packed book AAAAA+++++

[Ceresse Gardner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Time-deprived, I seldom read novels in one sitting or over a day, especially if I have to give up my late hour of Netflix binging. For this novel, I did. The writing flowed. I became immersed in the plot, began to care deeply about the characters and found myself needing to know how the story ended. If you enjoy reading well-written action-thrillers, then this one is a winner.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Completely unexpected rollercoaster

What a book this is. It's not something I would usually go for but wow I'm so glad I did. People mention the tension and edge of your seat description, well this has those in abundance. There was a part where I had to skip through to see what happened so my heart rate would stop the static pace it was going at. Then I sent back to read what happens. Highly, highly recommend this book. Now downloading the second book of this charachter

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Adrenaline packed

This was a good story but I felt that it ended very abruptly. Too many things were left unfinished. I guess I need to read the next in the series to find out.

[Guy Hamilton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Incredible, certainly in my top 3 series this year.Brilliant dark grown up plot, with a flawed hero, who is everyman, no fancy martial arts etc, just one man trapped in a moral quandary , trying to protect the innocent and himself.
This is a great series , superbly written .
You must read if you like thrillers that are actually thrilling.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must read. Loved Ripped Into. Couldn't put it down. Can't wait to start the others.

[Sue Archer · Rating 5 out of 5]

A page-turner from beginning to end. I thoroughly enjoyed this gritty thriller. The fast- paced plot is full of unexpected twists and turns, and the characters are compelling, well written and slowly unpeeled as the book progresses. Highly recommended.

[patricia sendelbach · Rating 4 out of 5]

Stuart Finlay gets himself into a complicated case and escapes incredible odds to survive. The next book should reveal more of his personal life.

[Sandy S · Rating 4 out of 5]

RIPPED INTO is the first instalment in Jack Chandler’s contemporary, adult STUART FINLAY suspense, thriller series focusing on twenty-nine year old, private investigator Stuart Finlay.

NOTE: Due to the nature of the story line premise, there may be triggers for more sensitive readers.

Told from several omniscient third person perspectives including Stuart Finlay, RIPPED INTO follows former British soldier turned PI Stuart Finlay as he is tasked with finding a missing sixteen year old girl. Approximately one year earlier, following a deadly fire at her home, sixteen year old Sarah Matthews disappeared without a trace, and in the ensuing time, law enforcement stalled in their search for the truth. Fast forward to present day wherein PI Stuart ‘Fin’ Finlay has been contracted to locate the missing young woman, a young woman who does not want to be found but all is not as it appears to be, and our hero finds himself with a target on his back, and the people he loves on the run or in hiding in the face of threats against everyone involved.

The world building focuses on the hunt for s missing girl, and the search for the truth. There is more to the story of the missing girl than Fin could have ever imagined, including several people willing to kill to get their hands on a young woman who is nowhere to be found but Fin has acquired some information and power over the people who want him dead, power that will keep him alive, if only for a short time. Stuart Finlay is not the perfect hero but he is a man determined to protect the people he loves

The colorful and energetic secondary and supporting characters including Fin’s girlfriend of two years Gail, and pub owner, Fin’s friend George. The requisite evil has many faces.

RIPPED INTO is a story of secrets and lies, betrayal and vengeance, power and control, obsession and madness, and dysfunctional family value. The premise is dramatic, dark, edgy and suspenseful; the characters are desperate, determined, dangerous and lost. The overall conflict has yet to be resolved-the story continues in book two 13 CHANCES.

copy supplied for review

[Pearl Gasaway · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ripped Into is a gripping, fast-paced crime thriller that keeps the tension high from start to finish. Stuart Finlay is a compelling, flawed private investigator, and the mystery surrounding Sarah’s disappearance is layered with moral ambiguity and unexpected twists. The pacing is sharp, the characters feel purposeful, and the final chapters are genuinely heart-pounding. A strong, atmospheric start to the Stuart Finlay series highly recommended for crime thriller fans

[Henry Martin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I got an Advanced Reader Copy from the author. I was sceptical initially, as detective stories usually lack any form of reality. This one was different. The plot was well developed and believable. There was enough action to keep me reading. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It's a good read and tackles a subject no one wants to discuss, as if pretending it doesn't happen will make it go away!

[Cherie Melbourne · Rating 5 out of 5]

A new author to me who had me sitting on the edge of my seat the whole time. So many twists and turns in this story at a pace that was relentless which made it into a story I could not put down.
I'm looking forward to the next book in this series.
I received a free advance review copy and I am voluntarily leaving my honest review.

[Laura Norris · Rating 2 out of 5]

This had so many good reviews that I felt like I must have been reading a different book to everyone else? I just didn't care for the storyline or where it was heading, it didn't feel fast past, nor were there any plot twists, in my opinion. Took me ages to get through as I just wasn't interested. Think I would've enjoyed it as a TV show, but not as a book. 2.5 ⭐

[Nicky Downes · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fabulous, exhilarating thriller. Well drawn, strong characters make the story believable and relatable. Plenty of twists and turns to keep you on the edge of your seat. A must read for fans of Harlan Coben or Lee Child. Highly recommend!

[Tracy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stuart is a great character, smart and brave but flawed enough to be realistic. The characters came to life on the page and the plot kept me up reading when I should have been sleeping. Excellent mystery with fast action and suspense! Looking forward to the next book!

[Stephanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ummm, I liked it. This was Epstein files come to life. Maybe too much current events overlap. I will reread this and may come away with a different perspective.