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The Taken
Fourteen years ago, one hot Dublin summer, a little boy was snatched from his garden. Six weeks later, a girl was abducted from her mother's car. The case of these stolen children has haunted DS Lucy Golden ever since.
But now, a breakthrough...
DNA recovered from a recent robbery is matched to the missing boy. Lucy begs to reopen the case, even though it means returning to Dublin, which she left in disgrace over a decade ago. She'll have to face people who betrayed her... but now, with her trusted team at her side, she feels ready.
But she's not prepared for her personal life to fall apart. As she digs into the past, long-buried secrets begin to surface, and Lucy's trust and belief in those closest to her shatters.
As she closes in on the truth of what happened that terrible summer, she vows this will be her final case. The stakes are perilously high and she's desperate for answers, justice, and closure.
But Lucy's final ride with the Gardaí is twistier than she ever could have imagined, and takes her to a destination she could never have foreseen.
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Readers love the DS Lucy Golden series!
'10 out of 10 - would recommend! Tense, twisty, surprisingly moving!' - Amazon reviewer, ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
'If you want to start a new crime series, make it this one. It's one of the best I've ever read 😍' - Goodreads reviewer, ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
'Brilliant... superb - Lucy Golden is a flawed heroine and mother but a brilliant detective... The plots are gripping and complex and the solutions are believable. Peppered with humour and great characters, these books are a pleasure to read. They deserve all the praise' - Goodreads reviewer, ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
'Taut, gripping, brilliantly plotted. Lucy Golden gets better and better. With each book in this gripping series the reader is drawn in to a deftly spun web of half-truths and hidden betrayals' - Amazon reviewer, ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
'It gripped me right from the start... I could empathise with Lucy, she is very relatable and completely dedicated to finding justice... the descriptive passages pull you right in to Achill island and I found myself transposed right there' - Amazon reviewer, ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
But now, a breakthrough...
DNA recovered from a recent robbery is matched to the missing boy. Lucy begs to reopen the case, even though it means returning to Dublin, which she left in disgrace over a decade ago. She'll have to face people who betrayed her... but now, with her trusted team at her side, she feels ready.
But she's not prepared for her personal life to fall apart. As she digs into the past, long-buried secrets begin to surface, and Lucy's trust and belief in those closest to her shatters.
As she closes in on the truth of what happened that terrible summer, she vows this will be her final case. The stakes are perilously high and she's desperate for answers, justice, and closure.
But Lucy's final ride with the Gardaí is twistier than she ever could have imagined, and takes her to a destination she could never have foreseen.
----------
Readers love the DS Lucy Golden series!
'10 out of 10 - would recommend! Tense, twisty, surprisingly moving!' - Amazon reviewer, ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
'If you want to start a new crime series, make it this one. It's one of the best I've ever read 😍' - Goodreads reviewer, ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
'Brilliant... superb - Lucy Golden is a flawed heroine and mother but a brilliant detective... The plots are gripping and complex and the solutions are believable. Peppered with humour and great characters, these books are a pleasure to read. They deserve all the praise' - Goodreads reviewer, ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
'Taut, gripping, brilliantly plotted. Lucy Golden gets better and better. With each book in this gripping series the reader is drawn in to a deftly spun web of half-truths and hidden betrayals' - Amazon reviewer, ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
'It gripped me right from the start... I could empathise with Lucy, she is very relatable and completely dedicated to finding justice... the descriptive passages pull you right in to Achill island and I found myself transposed right there' - Amazon reviewer, ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
320 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 6, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Sonstiges
"The Taken" is the sixth and final book in the crime series featuring DS Lucy Golden, and the crowning conclusion to one of the best crime series I have ever read.
This time, the story revolves around a cold case, that is two children who disappeared in Dublin fourteen years ago and were never found, despite DS Lucy Golden, who was in charge of the investigation at the time, doing everything in her power to solve the case. But all the leads came to nothing, and eventually Lucy was transferred to the west of Ireland as a disciplinary measure due to personal circumstances.
However, when DNA left behind by one of the perpetrators of a robbery matches that of the boy who disappeared all those years ago, the case is reopened. In Dublin, Lucy Golden and her team must fight their way through a web of lies and manipulation to uncover the truth. But time is running out, as the young perpetrator himself appears to be in grave danger...
Together with her charismatic protagonist Lucy Golden, Martina Murphy ingeniously guides us readers through an incredibly gripping plot that once again delivers plenty of surprising twists, lots of action, and exceptionally complex, well-developed characters. There isn't a single page that isn't suspenseful. Dramatic events, both professional and personal, constantly alternate, and I literally flew through the pages, completely caught up in Lucy and her team's story.
One of the reasons for the success of this crime series certainly is the immensely likeable team of investigators surrounding Lucy. Dan, Kev, Ben, Susan, William, Louis, Larry... as different as they all are, they each contribute to making the reader emotionally invested in everything they experience, both professionally and personally. Added to this is a well-balanced dose of (dark) humour, which repeatedly brought a smile to my face. This time, Lucy's family life is turned upside down once again, as a long-kept secret is finally revealed, shaking her world to its very foundations. And in the end, Lucy is faced with perhaps the most difficult decision of her life.
Another reason why this crime series is among the best I have ever read is the incredibly realistic portrayal of police investigations. The interrogations alone are an absolute delight. So I was utterly shocked and incredibly sad when I read that "The Taken" would be Lucy Golden's final case. To be honest, I am not ready to let this wonderful, courageous woman, who wears her heart on her sleeve, and her fantastic team disappear from my life. But without giving too much away: The final page revealed a very thin silver lining on the horizon. I can only hope that this silver lining isn't merely wishful thinking on my part or a mirage, but that it will actually become reality.
In a nutshell: I wholeheartedly recommend not only "The Taken", but the entire Lucy Golden crime series. Lucy and her team will captivate you all and keep you on the edge of your seat until the very last page.
This time, the story revolves around a cold case, that is two children who disappeared in Dublin fourteen years ago and were never found, despite DS Lucy Golden, who was in charge of the investigation at the time, doing everything in her power to solve the case. But all the leads came to nothing, and eventually Lucy was transferred to the west of Ireland as a disciplinary measure due to personal circumstances.
However, when DNA left behind by one of the perpetrators of a robbery matches that of the boy who disappeared all those years ago, the case is reopened. In Dublin, Lucy Golden and her team must fight their way through a web of lies and manipulation to uncover the truth. But time is running out, as the young perpetrator himself appears to be in grave danger...
Together with her charismatic protagonist Lucy Golden, Martina Murphy ingeniously guides us readers through an incredibly gripping plot that once again delivers plenty of surprising twists, lots of action, and exceptionally complex, well-developed characters. There isn't a single page that isn't suspenseful. Dramatic events, both professional and personal, constantly alternate, and I literally flew through the pages, completely caught up in Lucy and her team's story.
One of the reasons for the success of this crime series certainly is the immensely likeable team of investigators surrounding Lucy. Dan, Kev, Ben, Susan, William, Louis, Larry... as different as they all are, they each contribute to making the reader emotionally invested in everything they experience, both professionally and personally. Added to this is a well-balanced dose of (dark) humour, which repeatedly brought a smile to my face. This time, Lucy's family life is turned upside down once again, as a long-kept secret is finally revealed, shaking her world to its very foundations. And in the end, Lucy is faced with perhaps the most difficult decision of her life.
Another reason why this crime series is among the best I have ever read is the incredibly realistic portrayal of police investigations. The interrogations alone are an absolute delight. So I was utterly shocked and incredibly sad when I read that "The Taken" would be Lucy Golden's final case. To be honest, I am not ready to let this wonderful, courageous woman, who wears her heart on her sleeve, and her fantastic team disappear from my life. But without giving too much away: The final page revealed a very thin silver lining on the horizon. I can only hope that this silver lining isn't merely wishful thinking on my part or a mirage, but that it will actually become reality.
In a nutshell: I wholeheartedly recommend not only "The Taken", but the entire Lucy Golden crime series. Lucy and her team will captivate you all and keep you on the edge of your seat until the very last page.
August 6, 2026
The Taken by Martina Murphy publishes today August 6th with Constable | Little Brown and is described as ‘a truly exhilarating read that hits all the right notes for a superlative police procedural.’ This is the final instalment in this series as DS Lucy Golden handles her final case, one that has become very personal and has haunted her for years.
In The Wrath (book 5) Lucy inadvertently discovers a vital lead linking back to a cold case that has plagued her for the last fourteen years. When stationed in Dublin during the early stages of her career, she had been involved with a missing children investigation that has remained a mystery – until now. DNA from a separate case that her team are actively following matches that of one of the missing children. Lucy inveigles her way back onto the case knowing that it will take a toll on her as she will need to return to the Dublin station where her life, both personal and professional, had imploded over a decade ago.
Lucy has to eat a certain amount of humble pie the day she walks back into the station but she soon sets her stall and is back in action searching for any clues that she may have missed the first time round. With new insights and new technology now available to the team, they slowly begin to uncover deeply entrenched secrets unravelling a mystery that has perplexed the nation for years.
As Lucy digs deep into the past she also learns something about her own history which cuts her deep to the bone. Has she the capacity to forgive? Can she walk forward into her future with a clean slate and a healthier mental state? For years Lucy has had questions about her own past but now as she picks the scab, is she ready for what she will find?
Lucy Golden is highly regarded among her current peers so she does now struggle at times when she accepts that she may have overlooked something or made an error of judgement when working on this missing persons case all those years ago. Secrets can be buried but they always find a way of resurfacing and when the truth is finally revealed, everyone involved is shocked by what unravels.
Martina Murphy, throughout this series, beautifully captures the landscape, the people, the community and the sense of pride that encapsulates Mayo. Is there a future for Lucy Golden in a different capacity? I hope so. Her realistic characterisation, her humanity, her sense of justice all combine capturing the vitality of this ordinary person who really does extraordinary things in the search of the truth. The Taken is an epic wrap-up to this riveting series and one I highly recommend to all who enjoy a top-class authentic police procedural. Congratulations Martine Murphy!
In The Wrath (book 5) Lucy inadvertently discovers a vital lead linking back to a cold case that has plagued her for the last fourteen years. When stationed in Dublin during the early stages of her career, she had been involved with a missing children investigation that has remained a mystery – until now. DNA from a separate case that her team are actively following matches that of one of the missing children. Lucy inveigles her way back onto the case knowing that it will take a toll on her as she will need to return to the Dublin station where her life, both personal and professional, had imploded over a decade ago.
Lucy has to eat a certain amount of humble pie the day she walks back into the station but she soon sets her stall and is back in action searching for any clues that she may have missed the first time round. With new insights and new technology now available to the team, they slowly begin to uncover deeply entrenched secrets unravelling a mystery that has perplexed the nation for years.
As Lucy digs deep into the past she also learns something about her own history which cuts her deep to the bone. Has she the capacity to forgive? Can she walk forward into her future with a clean slate and a healthier mental state? For years Lucy has had questions about her own past but now as she picks the scab, is she ready for what she will find?
Lucy Golden is highly regarded among her current peers so she does now struggle at times when she accepts that she may have overlooked something or made an error of judgement when working on this missing persons case all those years ago. Secrets can be buried but they always find a way of resurfacing and when the truth is finally revealed, everyone involved is shocked by what unravels.
Martina Murphy, throughout this series, beautifully captures the landscape, the people, the community and the sense of pride that encapsulates Mayo. Is there a future for Lucy Golden in a different capacity? I hope so. Her realistic characterisation, her humanity, her sense of justice all combine capturing the vitality of this ordinary person who really does extraordinary things in the search of the truth. The Taken is an epic wrap-up to this riveting series and one I highly recommend to all who enjoy a top-class authentic police procedural. Congratulations Martine Murphy!
August 9, 2026
An unputdownable book. Taking the story of DS Lucy Golden further both professionally and personally. Definitely a must read for the fans of the author and of the detective- if you want to read this one - read the others first though!
August 10, 2026
I read a lot of throwaway mysteries. This series is not one of them. I am deeply aggrieved at the 6 of 6 qualifier on Amazon. I love this series and love these characters. I am not ready to leave them!!!
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews