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Readers who enjoy James Patterson, Elmore Leonard, and Robert B. Parker should love every moment of this book.

Book Description: Danny Acuff, a Memphis Detective and prior Force Recon Marine, figures his life can't get much worse.

His marriage is on life support. And he's been forced to quit the Memphis Police Department, which means he's just shit-canned his dreams of joining the FBI.

He's left his great career and future dreams in a final, desperate attempt to save his marriage. Moving from Memphis to East Tennessee, he takes a detective job beneath his talented abilities. He'll be working in a quaint, sleepy, little town, which should give him time to focus on his marriage.

Or so he thinks. It turns out, Danny couldn't be more wrong. About saving his marriage. Or about having more time. Or how safe (and slow) he thinks this job will be.

(Note: This book was originally released as a six-part serial in 2016 called the Detective Danny Acuff series.)

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Published February 18, 2016

241 people are currently reading
118 people want to read

About the author

Stan R. Mitchell

24 books69 followers
My name is Stan R. Mitchell, and I write exciting, fast-paced thrillers. Both military action and mystery whodunnits. I’ve written ten books to date, and been really fortunate to have sold more than 70,000 books. If you’re one of those readers, thank you.

Some of my favorite authors and influences are Tom Clancy, Vince Flynn, Robert B. Parker, and Stephen Hunter. If you enjoy reading them, then more than likely you’ll enjoy my writing.

Please note, I also write about foreign policy, as well as publish veteran interviews, here: http://stanrmitchell.substack.com.

#USMC #KindleUnlimited

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5 stars
194 (56%)
4 stars
100 (28%)
3 stars
39 (11%)
2 stars
8 (2%)
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4 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
Profile Image for Sheila Myers.
Author 16 books21 followers
December 20, 2018
A very good action packed mystery with some interesting characters. Be warned - If you haven't read any of these books yet, don't waste time or money reading the books marked as individual books. This one - marked Books 1-6 - is a complete story. I'm not sure how the individual books would make any sense unless you enjoy reading a serial series in which each book has no sensible conclusion.
Profile Image for Marsha.
1,495 reviews11 followers
August 6, 2017
Take Down by Stan R. Mitchell started as a serial about Detective Danny Acuff. I am ashamed to admit that I read, and enjoyed, the first episode in the series, but then became side-tracked and didn't find my way back to read the rest. I was very happy to recently discover that all six of the first episodes had been merged into this one book. Danny Acuff is a serious mess, but a very insightful and detail oriented detective. This book follows him on his journey through small town American crime that unfurls into some pretty major felonies. The bonds that he breaks and forms along the way are an interesting back-story. But the real story is the mystery, raising as many questions as it answers. I hope there will be plenty more to come as true, realistic crime story/mysteries are difficult to find.
"I received an advance readers copy of this book from the author at my request."
Profile Image for Ann.
1,117 reviews19 followers
May 17, 2021
Danny was in the service before becoming a police officer. He was married but his wife wanted him to go back to college and become a lawyer like her. He just wanted to be a cop. They lived in this little town and was usually boring duties as a cop. Till Danny started doing some police work for real. But some people told him to leave it alone. He chose not to and kept of investigating. He finds that he came across a multi- million dollar drug smuggling situation . Now all he had too do was prove it without people getting killed or him getting fired from his job.
Profile Image for Sandra Burns.
1,805 reviews42 followers
May 29, 2021
Great read

Former Marine, turned detective, and his lawyer wife, move to her hometown. He gets a job, as a detective in the small town police department. She, goes to work in her Dad's law firm. Marriage falls apart. He gets involved with a major case, making enemies all the while. While investigating, his best buddy at the TBI, is murdered. Also a fellow officer when a bomb meant for him, goes off. Lots of action.
Profile Image for PWA Allen .
423 reviews6 followers
November 25, 2020
Really really good! Danny moves to a small town and finds that most of the town is corrupt. He's not only solving murders, trying to blend in, going thru a divorce, and trying to take down the richest,most dangerous man in town. It's fast moving with very interesting characters. Well written and entertaining. Can't wait to read the next book in this series.
62 reviews1 follower
August 19, 2021
Couldn't put it down!

This is a terrific book! I'm not sure why there were no reviews. This book had me hook line and sinker. Couldn't put it down. I look forward to the next book, and the next, and then another couple.
The only criticism I have is that the book could use some proofreading for spelling errors. I notice these and it's a curse
5 reviews2 followers
August 29, 2021
Small town crime thriller

Great lead character and entertaining story. The pacing kept the pages turning, and the story unfolded well. A little repetitive at times, but a good debut overall!
1,471 reviews7 followers
October 7, 2022
Great police thriller

This story kept you on your toes until the end. Loved the main character Danny. What a bad ass! Can't wait to read the next book and see what kind of new trouble finds him .
59 reviews1 follower
February 22, 2023
A stubborn big city detective in a small town.

A powerful story Of a divorcing Detective Moving into a small town And helping A non corruptible chief of police Take down a huge corporation. Cannot wait for book #2!
262 reviews2 followers
December 15, 2023
A very exciting story about Marine Danny Acuff who becomes a detective in a very small town in Tenn. There he discovers corruption and murder. Using his Marine ethos “Adapt and Overcome” he does just that. SEMPER FI Danny!
Profile Image for Charlene Davis.
1,144 reviews5 followers
February 18, 2021
Danny self portrait


A lot of action. A little romance. A stubborn cop. Makes for a very interesting book. If you like book with non stop action this is the book for you
135 reviews1 follower
April 25, 2021
Lost Me on the First Page

Too full of himself. Reads like many Brit retired SAS or SBS thrillers full.if ex special forces who only want to kill it terrorize. Bull Pucky
5 reviews1 follower
April 26, 2021
Kept my attention to the end
Great book, joined my favorite authors.
Profile Image for barbara pint.
193 reviews3 followers
August 22, 2021
Review

Great storyline! Enjoyed this book and thought the main character was very likeable. Once I started reading this book I couldn't put it down. I recommend it highly. If
Profile Image for Jim Chancey.
26 reviews1 follower
December 16, 2021
Exciting

This book offers not only a great story and plot but with action where you just don’t want to stop reading . Danny is a great character in this book
126 reviews3 followers
January 1, 2022
Good read

This book kept me interest. A good mixture of characters and the plot was different than most mysteries. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes detective stories.
126 reviews1 follower
October 13, 2021
Wonderfully twisted detective novel with fascinating characters.
Profile Image for Thrillers R Us.
501 reviews34 followers
September 27, 2021
Take Down, Detective Danny Acuff 1-6 Complete Series by Stan R. Mitchell

Straight from the line of departure, the point is clear - you can't go home again. Ever. And that should be pretty simple. Alas, it's complicated. Nothing is what it seems. TAKE DOWN guides you to a place like MILLER'S CROSSING (1992); up is down and black is white. Stan R. Mitchell has a tight grasp of small town politics and the inherent frustrations of go-getters in a bureaucratic hell hole, delivering the inevitable result: a rogue Marine in a china shop.

Actually, TAKE DOWN features a detective from bustling Memphis (who happens to have a history as a Force Recon Marine) in a small town with big visions of the future; a gig with the TBI, FBI or DHS...something exciting, something dangerous. But what is more dangerous than those who wield power and influence in rural America? Along the way, issues like systemic injustice, societal bias, and insurance fraud fuel Danny Acuff's quest for justice and the protagonist's dislike for cliques and small town politics.

Danny is dumped smack dab in the middle of a police department deep in the throes of internal war. It appears that the former Marine landed the job against everyone's wishes and the only ally he has, the actual Sheriff, is constantly on trips to conferences & conventions. That leaves the only other friendly face to get work done in Akin, TN: detective Colette Foster, who feels like a newer version of Kima Greggs in THE WIRE (2002). The story shines in the interplay between Danny and his new found partner, well grounded Colette, reasonable and in the know to a gung-ho former Marine. Through sheer will and casting aside constant lamentations that state all Marines are the same, like a McDonald's cheeseburger or a Starbucks latte, Danny Acuff has seen enough and must take action when a sinister cabal plots to take him out of the picture and barely misses. It's a kinder, gentler thriller, where the hero is given the crummiest car in the motor pool and still
worries about his adopted pup putting scratches on the run down unmarked.

The big city detective in a small town has the feel of any of the Lee Child's Jack Reacher thrillers and Ridley Pearson's KILLER WEEKEND (2007) Walt Fleming series, and Stan R. Mitchell pulls it off with aplomb. A well plotted yarn that unravels with a bang, set in a place where nothing is what it seems. To crack this case, Danny Acuff has to be on top of his game, constantly watch his back and just go wherever the clues lead. This one is well worth following.

Profile Image for Marsha.
1,495 reviews11 followers
September 25, 2020
Take Down by Stan R. Mitchell

Take down is a great book. It is huge in every way. I happened to have read the first episode when it was written as a series, but never managed to get back to it. Now that they are all together in this one edition, the pages just flew. I was on the very edge throughout this book. The characters are terrific and the plot is outstanding. I also love the few tiny unanswered questions, not a cliffhanger, that lead into book 2 of the series. Danny Acuff is going to be fun to read for as long as this series lasts.
182 reviews1 follower
August 18, 2020
Small Town Corruption

Drama, deception, divorce, depression, all experienced by Detective Danny Acuff. He deals with major personal problems while trying to solve crime in a small corrupt town. I loved every single minute and can't wait to read the second novel.
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews

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