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Jack Rutherford and Amanda Lacey British Detective #1
The Controller
“The Controller is the start of a wonderful series!” Amazon review
It takes courage to change sides.
They’re making big money. When a group kidnapping dogs for ransom hits South London, local detective Amanda Lacey investigates after an acquaintance alerts her she isn’t the only victim of the upsetting crime.
But what starts out as a way to make quick money for the gang, quickly turns sinister when a local hard-man gets involved. And Pete didn’t sign up for what happens next. With a past record, can he put his personal fears aside and involve the police before it’s too late?
Find out what Pete does next and read The Controller today.
This is the first installment of the British detective series featuring DS Amanda Lacey and DC Jack Rutherford. Meet two characters you can’t help but enjoy as they solve crimes involving ordinary people in extraordinary circumstances.
(Note from the fear not the subject matter, you’ll be pleasantly surprised by this story)
The complete
The Controller
Hot to Kill
The Hunted Dark Service One Last Hit Hey You, Pretty Face Scream Blue Murder
Also by Linda Coles
Tin Men
Walk Like You
It takes courage to change sides.
They’re making big money. When a group kidnapping dogs for ransom hits South London, local detective Amanda Lacey investigates after an acquaintance alerts her she isn’t the only victim of the upsetting crime.
But what starts out as a way to make quick money for the gang, quickly turns sinister when a local hard-man gets involved. And Pete didn’t sign up for what happens next. With a past record, can he put his personal fears aside and involve the police before it’s too late?
Find out what Pete does next and read The Controller today.
This is the first installment of the British detective series featuring DS Amanda Lacey and DC Jack Rutherford. Meet two characters you can’t help but enjoy as they solve crimes involving ordinary people in extraordinary circumstances.
(Note from the fear not the subject matter, you’ll be pleasantly surprised by this story)
The complete
The Controller
Hot to Kill
The Hunted Dark Service One Last Hit Hey You, Pretty Face Scream Blue Murder
Also by Linda Coles
Tin Men
Walk Like You
136 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 1, 2019
214 people are currently reading
229 people want to read
About the author
Linda Coles
34 books65 followersHi, I'm Linda Coles and I write British crime novels. #GreatBritishCrime. #BritishCrimeDrama
An English woman myself, I now reside in New Zealand with my husband, 1 cat and 6 wonderful goats. Google Earth and two UK based editors ensure I keep my stories and language, accurate. I’m the author of 17 books including four non-fiction and two of a very different genre published under a pen name.
I currently have three different series published:
Detectives Jack Rutherford and Amanda Lacey set in Croydon, south London.
Private investigator Chrissy Livingstone set in the upmarket areas of Surrey.
Amateur sleuth, mini-cab driver and part-time grave digger Will Peters, set in the Midlands.
There’s something for everyone!
A #1 Amazon bestselling author, I’ve been writing since 2011
A full-time writer, I also write newsletter content for accountants across the country, something to ‘cleanse my palette on’ and the polar opposite of dead bodies on the other side of the world. My claims to fame include having a cuddle with Lee Child, sharing a New York cab with Heather Graham, and interviewing Karen Slaughter as a podcast guest.
My latest book and series, Where There’s a Will is the first in a trilogy and sees Will Peters insert himself into the investigation of a young homeless man found dead in the woods. There’s a message written on his chest: Your Move. With the help of some of his elderly mini-cab customers, the unlikely group endeavor to solve the case, any way they can. With a serious message, it’s often amusing. Think Man on the Street and Thursday Murder Club rolled into one. I know you’ll enjoy it.
You can find out more of my work at lindacoles.com and all the usual social channels.
Drop me a line and say hello.
An English woman myself, I now reside in New Zealand with my husband, 1 cat and 6 wonderful goats. Google Earth and two UK based editors ensure I keep my stories and language, accurate. I’m the author of 17 books including four non-fiction and two of a very different genre published under a pen name.
I currently have three different series published:
Detectives Jack Rutherford and Amanda Lacey set in Croydon, south London.
Private investigator Chrissy Livingstone set in the upmarket areas of Surrey.
Amateur sleuth, mini-cab driver and part-time grave digger Will Peters, set in the Midlands.
There’s something for everyone!
A #1 Amazon bestselling author, I’ve been writing since 2011
A full-time writer, I also write newsletter content for accountants across the country, something to ‘cleanse my palette on’ and the polar opposite of dead bodies on the other side of the world. My claims to fame include having a cuddle with Lee Child, sharing a New York cab with Heather Graham, and interviewing Karen Slaughter as a podcast guest.
My latest book and series, Where There’s a Will is the first in a trilogy and sees Will Peters insert himself into the investigation of a young homeless man found dead in the woods. There’s a message written on his chest: Your Move. With the help of some of his elderly mini-cab customers, the unlikely group endeavor to solve the case, any way they can. With a serious message, it’s often amusing. Think Man on the Street and Thursday Murder Club rolled into one. I know you’ll enjoy it.
You can find out more of my work at lindacoles.com and all the usual social channels.
Drop me a line and say hello.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews
December 13, 2018
*** Free on author's homepage 😉 ***
From all dog-lovers -> death to animal abusers!!!
Well and engaging written crime mystery, different approach, light but still poignant read.
Looking forward to the 2nd book :-)
From all dog-lovers -> death to animal abusers!!!
Well and engaging written crime mystery, different approach, light but still poignant read.
Looking forward to the 2nd book :-)
January 5, 2018
My thanks to Linda Cole for a Kindle pdf of The Controller - a novella, easy to read in one sitting.
Pete uses a drone to spy on owners walking their dogs. Establish where they live and leave it to his cohorts to nap the dog and hold for ransom. Pam is a delightful lady, ready for retirement, when her dog is stolen. Like any pet owner she is totally bereft until she receives the 'phone call demanding money for her dogs safe return. Pam pays up. But the crime takes a much nastier turn when the gang see a way to make more money...
The Controller introduces Detective Sergeant Amanda Lacey and her sidekick DC Jack Rutherford. He has spent many years as a Detective Constable and is happy with his lot. These are two very likeable coppers and get stuck into this dastardly crime.
Well written, likeable characters (well, the good ones!) and a very satisfying read.
I loved it.
Pete uses a drone to spy on owners walking their dogs. Establish where they live and leave it to his cohorts to nap the dog and hold for ransom. Pam is a delightful lady, ready for retirement, when her dog is stolen. Like any pet owner she is totally bereft until she receives the 'phone call demanding money for her dogs safe return. Pam pays up. But the crime takes a much nastier turn when the gang see a way to make more money...
The Controller introduces Detective Sergeant Amanda Lacey and her sidekick DC Jack Rutherford. He has spent many years as a Detective Constable and is happy with his lot. These are two very likeable coppers and get stuck into this dastardly crime.
Well written, likeable characters (well, the good ones!) and a very satisfying read.
I loved it.
March 7, 2019
The Controller is skillfully written by Linda Coles. The artful narration is provided by Nathaniel Priestley. The audiobook has a total running time of 2 hours and 34 minutes. This gives the listener a small but very enjoyable sample of the world in which the Detective Amanda Lacey series takes place. The story is set in the U.K. and is a really enjoyable tale of how new technology can be used to take mans best friend in a ransom scheme.
Pete is part of a small crew. He uses his drone to scope out the local dog park to find likely victims for his dog-napping scheme. Pete then uses the drone to follow the victim home to find their address and scope the neighborhood to guess the worth of the animal. Cruel and clever scheme overall. The story does an excellent job of holding the listener's attention with the twists and turns throughout the story.
The narration provided by Nathaniel Priestly sets the perfect tone for this suspense-filled story. This is the first time I have heard an audio performance form Mr. Priestly but I truly enjoyed this one. Each character was given a unique voice and they were memorable. The production quality of this audiobook is also the highest quality. I heard no problems during the entire performance. There were not any detectable flaws that I was able to hear during the entire performance such as loops, breaks, or buzzing. The production was crisp and clear. Blue Banana delivered an excellent audiobook production. I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
Pete is part of a small crew. He uses his drone to scope out the local dog park to find likely victims for his dog-napping scheme. Pete then uses the drone to follow the victim home to find their address and scope the neighborhood to guess the worth of the animal. Cruel and clever scheme overall. The story does an excellent job of holding the listener's attention with the twists and turns throughout the story.
The narration provided by Nathaniel Priestly sets the perfect tone for this suspense-filled story. This is the first time I have heard an audio performance form Mr. Priestly but I truly enjoyed this one. Each character was given a unique voice and they were memorable. The production quality of this audiobook is also the highest quality. I heard no problems during the entire performance. There were not any detectable flaws that I was able to hear during the entire performance such as loops, breaks, or buzzing. The production was crisp and clear. Blue Banana delivered an excellent audiobook production. I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
January 23, 2018
Really enjoyed this. I’m a huge dog lover so loved the story and the characters x
August 23, 2021
I had a few of this author's books downloaded so thought it was time for me to get round to one at long last but sadly I won't be bothering with anymore. I was spending more time highlighting mistakes than actually reading it....
The story is based here but begins using American spelling-recognized/realized-yet a little further in they revert to their correct spellings......she uses quite a lot of commas but other sentences left me breathless for want of one !! There were questions asked but no question marks....this sentence didn't need a word repeated twice, "Then we'll meet you down there then Niles" and she randomly capitalised Jasmine, Spaniel and Chamomile where there's no need.....then doesn't. It just smacks of lazy editing. There were also apostrophes misplaced, such as in TV's, which was my breaking point at 40%, I'm afraid. I just could not be bothered highlighting any more.
There's also some confusion over which series this book is and which book number this is in the series. Some say the Amanda Lacey series, then there's a Jack Rutherford series but Fantastic Fiction lists them together. Then Amazon have removed this story as number 1 and made book 2 the first one !! So it would help if someone tidied that mess up as well.
The story is based here but begins using American spelling-recognized/realized-yet a little further in they revert to their correct spellings......she uses quite a lot of commas but other sentences left me breathless for want of one !! There were questions asked but no question marks....this sentence didn't need a word repeated twice, "Then we'll meet you down there then Niles" and she randomly capitalised Jasmine, Spaniel and Chamomile where there's no need.....then doesn't. It just smacks of lazy editing. There were also apostrophes misplaced, such as in TV's, which was my breaking point at 40%, I'm afraid. I just could not be bothered highlighting any more.
There's also some confusion over which series this book is and which book number this is in the series. Some say the Amanda Lacey series, then there's a Jack Rutherford series but Fantastic Fiction lists them together. Then Amazon have removed this story as number 1 and made book 2 the first one !! So it would help if someone tidied that mess up as well.
February 25, 2019
A drone, missing dogs, and ransoms. This book was unique and interesting in that it kept you guessing what was going to happen. The story starts out with Pete scoping out targets for a dognapping scheme, however, when things start to go downhill, Pete quickly begins to question himself and the people he’s become involved in. When ransoms are paid and dogs aren’t being returned to their owners, Pete realizes something is wrong and dives headfirst into danger.
The thing I loved the most about this book was the transition we see Pete take from a naïve kid to a serious individual ready to right his wrongs. His change of heart at the end of the book was heartwarming and just what the book needed.
The narration is smooth and gave the story a suspenseful undertone which only added to the vibe.
If you’re a fan of suspense works, this is for you!
This book was given to me for free at my request and I provided this voluntary review.
The thing I loved the most about this book was the transition we see Pete take from a naïve kid to a serious individual ready to right his wrongs. His change of heart at the end of the book was heartwarming and just what the book needed.
The narration is smooth and gave the story a suspenseful undertone which only added to the vibe.
If you’re a fan of suspense works, this is for you!
This book was given to me for free at my request and I provided this voluntary review.
March 17, 2019
The controller is totally not what I thought it to be. Crazy how you can read into a story and find it's so different then what u expected. A drone to spy, kidnapping of dogs and using them as ransome. If you have pets and love them as much as your kids believe me you will pay the ransome. (Plot for a money scheme) I would! I have to say I did tear up a bit when finding that the dogs were being used as fighting dogs towards the end and some dogs found dead. Thanks to detectives Lacey and her sidekick Rutherford coming to the rescue. Thanks for saving everyone's fur babies(well the ones that survived the dog fights)😔Great book! Page turner. Awesome read! Look forward to reading many more of your books. A new Author added to my list of favorites. Yay! Thanks! Inda Coles I Received as an ARC and voluntarily leaving a review.
March 28, 2019
I really liked this book. I can’t wait to read more in the series. The characters were well developed and I cared about the good ones.
February 3, 2020
Audio book. Story of dog nappers. Sad, scary. Poor dogs. Animal abusers should be hung!
September 3, 2017
This book is "up to date" on the new things we have now....like drones. They are used in this book to find kidnapped dogs.But the dogs are used in a most frightening way.....for dog fights! Can Detective Lacey and Pete find and save these dogs? Detective Lacey doesn't take any prisoners and isn't afraid to get in the thick of things. Anxiously waiting for the next installment of this series. I received ARC of this book. The review is voluntary and of my own opinion.
January 26, 2018
Well written thriller with protagonists I could immediately like, the guys wearing badges, and the bad guys, snatching dogs, extorting their owners, selling the dogs for fight club. Well written, quick read. I loved the book, in spite of subject matter. I have dogs, and wow I could imagine! Recomended.
January 12, 2019
The plot held promise, but the delivery seemed lacking in both detail and character development. I'm still wondering what Lacey looks like, as well as Ruth, even though they seem to have a thing for each other. I think. The writing feels amateurish and rushed. The one emotion that did come through was the compassion for the animals. Unfortunately, I need more than that in the stories I read.
October 3, 2017
Good cozy mystery. Looking forward to reading book 2
October 19, 2019
I think I was generous with the three stars. It is the story of a dognapping ring that gets caught because they get greedy. Some of the character were rather sympathetic if crooked.
April 3, 2019
This book starts with an elderly woman whose dog has been taken for ransom, from her home, whilst she was at her part time job. It seems there are a gang of dog thieves in the area, one of whom is Pete. He is recently released from detention for minor crimes and is trying to see about getting his life back on track. But, it’s hard to do with a record. Kidnapping pampered pets for money, from an area just outside London, seems an easy way to make money. He traces and tracks the dogs and their owners, whilst the other two do the rest of the job.
He carries on, until he realises that the others have made different arrangements for the dogs. They have been contacted by someone who wants dogs for an underground dog fight organiser. Pete loves animals and can’t wait to leave the others and has to do something to save man’s best friend. A local community online posting site organiser was contacted by one of the owners and this brings in a visit by Detective Amanda Lacey. Another dog is now missing from the local area and there are others reported from neighbouring areas as well.
Detective Lacey will need to move fast if she has any chance of rescuing the small dogs, from those that have been trained to fight and kill them. Pete uses his feelings of guilt about what he has become entangled in, to try and rectify his mistakes and help to save the dogs after a tip off from another drone user friend. There may not be many twists in this story, but the book manages to tell the full tale from both the dog owner’s side as well as from one of the main criminals, Pete’s side.
This is the first book in the Jack Rutherford and Amanda Lacey series. You get to know a little bit about Detective Amanda Lacey and her old fashioned work partner, Jack. I first came across this author from their book Dark Service, which was an amazing read and totally throws you, with activities drawing users to the Dark Web and all the weird things people can come up to do to others. I will certainly read some more of their books. I received an ARC copy of the book from Hidden Gems and I have freely given my own opinion of the book above.
He carries on, until he realises that the others have made different arrangements for the dogs. They have been contacted by someone who wants dogs for an underground dog fight organiser. Pete loves animals and can’t wait to leave the others and has to do something to save man’s best friend. A local community online posting site organiser was contacted by one of the owners and this brings in a visit by Detective Amanda Lacey. Another dog is now missing from the local area and there are others reported from neighbouring areas as well.
Detective Lacey will need to move fast if she has any chance of rescuing the small dogs, from those that have been trained to fight and kill them. Pete uses his feelings of guilt about what he has become entangled in, to try and rectify his mistakes and help to save the dogs after a tip off from another drone user friend. There may not be many twists in this story, but the book manages to tell the full tale from both the dog owner’s side as well as from one of the main criminals, Pete’s side.
This is the first book in the Jack Rutherford and Amanda Lacey series. You get to know a little bit about Detective Amanda Lacey and her old fashioned work partner, Jack. I first came across this author from their book Dark Service, which was an amazing read and totally throws you, with activities drawing users to the Dark Web and all the weird things people can come up to do to others. I will certainly read some more of their books. I received an ARC copy of the book from Hidden Gems and I have freely given my own opinion of the book above.
April 13, 2019
Pam (HS English teacher) loved taking Gemma (Golden Springer Spaniel) to the park.
Pam threw the ball several times.
1 day she came home & couldn’t find Gemma.
Her neighbor June hadn’t seen her either.
The desk Sergeant told Pam he would make a report but there wasn’t much they could do it wasn’t a police matter. He did give her several suggestions.
Pete (19) job as the Controller was to have a drone hover/find the right targets.
He needed to call Niles, & Vic & tell them what he found.
June was going to help Pam look for Gemma.
Pam got a call from a male he wanted some ransom money £500 for the return of Gemma.
Lorna (wife) couldn’t figure out where Bubbles (poodle) had run off to.
The price had skyrocketed £4000.
Lorna couldn’t tell her husband.
Pam Davies, Lorna, & Ruth McGregor (founder/administrator online community site The Daisy Chain) went to tell the police their story.
DS Amanda Lacey came to interview Ruth.
A Jack Russell is still missing.
Jim was headed out to take Duke (Alsatian) for a run.
What did they run across?
I did not receive any type of compensation for reading & reviewing this book. While I receive free books from publishers & authors, I am under no obligation to write a positive review, only an honest one. All thoughts & opinions are entirely my own.
A very awesome book cover, & great font/writing style. A very well written cozy crime thriller book. It was very easy for me to read/follow from start/finish & never a dull moment. There were no grammar/typo errors, nor any repetitive or out of line sequence sentences. Lots of exciting scenarios, with several twists/turns & a great set of unique characters to keep track of. This could also make another great crime thriller movie, or better yet a mini TV series. There is no doubt in my mind this is a very easy rating of 5 stars.
Thank you for the free Blue Barnes; HiddenGemsBooks; PDF book
Tony Parsons (Washburn; MSW)
Pam threw the ball several times.
1 day she came home & couldn’t find Gemma.
Her neighbor June hadn’t seen her either.
The desk Sergeant told Pam he would make a report but there wasn’t much they could do it wasn’t a police matter. He did give her several suggestions.
Pete (19) job as the Controller was to have a drone hover/find the right targets.
He needed to call Niles, & Vic & tell them what he found.
June was going to help Pam look for Gemma.
Pam got a call from a male he wanted some ransom money £500 for the return of Gemma.
Lorna (wife) couldn’t figure out where Bubbles (poodle) had run off to.
The price had skyrocketed £4000.
Lorna couldn’t tell her husband.
Pam Davies, Lorna, & Ruth McGregor (founder/administrator online community site The Daisy Chain) went to tell the police their story.
DS Amanda Lacey came to interview Ruth.
A Jack Russell is still missing.
Jim was headed out to take Duke (Alsatian) for a run.
What did they run across?
I did not receive any type of compensation for reading & reviewing this book. While I receive free books from publishers & authors, I am under no obligation to write a positive review, only an honest one. All thoughts & opinions are entirely my own.
A very awesome book cover, & great font/writing style. A very well written cozy crime thriller book. It was very easy for me to read/follow from start/finish & never a dull moment. There were no grammar/typo errors, nor any repetitive or out of line sequence sentences. Lots of exciting scenarios, with several twists/turns & a great set of unique characters to keep track of. This could also make another great crime thriller movie, or better yet a mini TV series. There is no doubt in my mind this is a very easy rating of 5 stars.
Thank you for the free Blue Barnes; HiddenGemsBooks; PDF book
Tony Parsons (Washburn; MSW)
February 26, 2019
Taking the wrong path. The Controller is the one who finds the targets, but this controller is the low-man of the group. Niles is the boss with Vic the side-kick. They have a great scam set –up. Things are going well They think that they’ll be able to stay a few more weeks before moving on, when a new opportunity arises. Meanwhile, Pete, the controller is becoming unhappy with what they are doing. Meanwhile the community is getting suspicious about dogs going missing and they want to help. In another part of the city, a horrible discovery is made. The drones are used to find information that finds its way to the police. Read to find what is discovered and how the problem is resolved. Tragic, but hopeful.
February 17, 2019
What happens when you bend the rules..just a little...and stumble onto a real crime? What happens when a small town community has the advantage of neighborly communication 24/7 via an online switchboard - a place to go when bad things happen? Answer: Amanda Lacey, Ruth, and The Controller.
This story is an expertly woven tale of small-town life and 21st-century technology together for a fascinating whodunnit and an introduction into the world of Detective Amanda Lacey. If you’re looking for a light read with well-developed characters, and plot twists which make you cringe a little, this is the book for you.
This story is an expertly woven tale of small-town life and 21st-century technology together for a fascinating whodunnit and an introduction into the world of Detective Amanda Lacey. If you’re looking for a light read with well-developed characters, and plot twists which make you cringe a little, this is the book for you.
April 20, 2019
This book details the growth of a young man as he discovers the life he has started will lead him to a bad place. As the controller, he operates a drone to spy on dog owners to identify pets to be stolen and held for ransom. When his gang decides to sell the stolen dogs after the ransom has been paid, he becomes quite uncomfortable is his endeavor. When he discovers how the dogs are used after they are sold, he is forced to take action. The style of writing allows for easy reading, although the characters are all single dimensional. The book ends abruptly, though on a hopeful note.
March 28, 2019
The Controller is a cozy mystery-style introduction(grittier subject matter, though) to the Det. Amanda Lacey character. While the book was fairly well written, with mostly-believable characters, hardly any of them made much of an impression—I kept confusing the main elderly character with the one who runs the neighborhood message board because their names and characters felt interchangeable. It’s not really something I’d recommend.
I received a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I received a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.
March 28, 2019
This was a good quick read, it can be done in a few commutes. It's the story of a ring of dog-nappers who take it up a notch and it causes others in the group to be uncomfortable with it. The narrator does a good job with the voices and overall narration.
I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
August 15, 2019
Very informative story
This book started out as a missing dog tale (he, he) but turned into so much more. I truly enjoy the author's writing style and look forward to reading more of her books. P.S. I also like the length of her story...readable in a couple hours but still meaty story.
This book started out as a missing dog tale (he, he) but turned into so much more. I truly enjoy the author's writing style and look forward to reading more of her books. P.S. I also like the length of her story...readable in a couple hours but still meaty story.
October 20, 2019
This is a fast paced book with a great plot. I enjoyed the characters and how they solved the crime. It has many surprises that will keep you on edge. As an animal lover I was glad how the book turned out at the end. I believe this is a great start to a wonderful series.
March 30, 2020
The Controller is the start of a wonderful series! Dogs in the town have gone missing and the townsman want answers. Who is taking these dogs and for what purpose. Will the use of the drones be enough to help solve this case before it is too late? Looking forward to the next book in the series.
February 7, 2021
I really enjoyed this book as it was a totally different crime story to what I am used to. Do not want to put any spoilers in but the way this was all put together was very clever. A good introduction to Detective Lacey.
March 18, 2019
I'm very proud of this book, the first in the series and I think it's worth 5 stars :)
April 11, 2019
Wow, what a story. Dog napping seemed easy money, but then Pete finds out what really happens to the dogs. Different and intriguing.
August 13, 2019
Very interesting book.
Sad in some places and I learned some things that I did not know.
Sad in some places and I learned some things that I did not know.
December 7, 2019
a good detective thriller centered around a drone and some dognappers. i read it in a single afternoon.
June 29, 2020
A truly suspenseful story with the use of a drone.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews