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Jack Rutherford and Amanda Lacey British Detective #3-8
Jack Rutherford and Amanda Lacey 6 Book Set: A Thrilling British Detective Novel Set
“Move over Agatha Christie, there’s a new dame in town.” Amazon reviewer. Get six brilliant and captivating stories together featuring British detectives Jack Rutherford and Amanda Lacey by master storyteller Linda Coles.
Here’s what’s in this
The Hunted
They kill wild animals for sport. She’s about to return the favour…
Dark Service
Taylor never felt the blade pressed to her scalp. She wakes frightened and alone in an unfamiliar hotel room with a near shaved head and a warning… tell no one.
One Last Hit
The greatest danger may come from inside his own home.
Detective Duncan Riley has always worked hard to maintain order on the streets of Manchester. But when a series of incidents at home cause him to worry about his wife's behaviour, he finds himself pulled in too many directions at once.
Hey You, Pretty Face
London, Winter, 1999. An abandoned baby. Three girls stolen in the night. Two connected cases?
When an abandoned newborn baby is discovered, DC Jack Rutherford becomes involved.
Covering the holiday period almost singlehandedly, resources are at breaking point and he’s pushed to his limit.
While searching for the young mother, evidence of an organized crime ring almost breaks his heart leaving Jack wondering how he can put so many wrongs, right.
Can he solve the case before the girls are lost forever?
Welcome to the human race…
Scream Blue Murder
Two cold cases are about to turn red hot…
Detective Jack Rutherford’s instincts have only sharpened with age. So when a violent road fatality reminds him of a near-identical crime from 15 years earlier, he digs up the past to investigate both. But with one case already closed, he fears the wrong man still festers behind bars.
For Detective Amanda Lacey, family always comes first. But when a digger unearths a skeleton in her father-in-law’s garden, she has to balance her heart with her desire for justice. And with darkness lurking just beneath the surface, DS Lacey must push her feelings to one side to discover the chilling truth.
As the sins of the past haunt both detectives, will solving the crimes have consequences that echo for the rest of their lives?
Butcher Baker Banker
A cold Croydon winter’s night and pensioner Nelly Raven lies dead and naked on the floor of her living room. The scene bears all the hallmarks of a burglary gone wrong.
It’s just the beginning.
Ron Butcher rose to the top of London’s gangland by “fixing things”. But are his extensive crooked connections of use when death knocks at his own family’s door?
Baker Kit Morris will do anything to keep his family business alive. Desperate for cash, he hatches a risky plan that lands him in trouble. As he struggles to stay out of prison, he forges an unlikely friendship with an aging local thug.
And then there’s the Banker, Lee Meady, a man with personal problems of his own.
Just how does it all fit together?
As DC Jack Rutherford and DS Amanda Lacey uncover the facts surrounding the case, the harrowing truth of the killer’s identity leaves Jack wondering where the human race went so badly wrong.
Here’s what’s in this
The Hunted
They kill wild animals for sport. She’s about to return the favour…
Dark Service
Taylor never felt the blade pressed to her scalp. She wakes frightened and alone in an unfamiliar hotel room with a near shaved head and a warning… tell no one.
One Last Hit
The greatest danger may come from inside his own home.
Detective Duncan Riley has always worked hard to maintain order on the streets of Manchester. But when a series of incidents at home cause him to worry about his wife's behaviour, he finds himself pulled in too many directions at once.
Hey You, Pretty Face
London, Winter, 1999. An abandoned baby. Three girls stolen in the night. Two connected cases?
When an abandoned newborn baby is discovered, DC Jack Rutherford becomes involved.
Covering the holiday period almost singlehandedly, resources are at breaking point and he’s pushed to his limit.
While searching for the young mother, evidence of an organized crime ring almost breaks his heart leaving Jack wondering how he can put so many wrongs, right.
Can he solve the case before the girls are lost forever?
Welcome to the human race…
Scream Blue Murder
Two cold cases are about to turn red hot…
Detective Jack Rutherford’s instincts have only sharpened with age. So when a violent road fatality reminds him of a near-identical crime from 15 years earlier, he digs up the past to investigate both. But with one case already closed, he fears the wrong man still festers behind bars.
For Detective Amanda Lacey, family always comes first. But when a digger unearths a skeleton in her father-in-law’s garden, she has to balance her heart with her desire for justice. And with darkness lurking just beneath the surface, DS Lacey must push her feelings to one side to discover the chilling truth.
As the sins of the past haunt both detectives, will solving the crimes have consequences that echo for the rest of their lives?
Butcher Baker Banker
A cold Croydon winter’s night and pensioner Nelly Raven lies dead and naked on the floor of her living room. The scene bears all the hallmarks of a burglary gone wrong.
It’s just the beginning.
Ron Butcher rose to the top of London’s gangland by “fixing things”. But are his extensive crooked connections of use when death knocks at his own family’s door?
Baker Kit Morris will do anything to keep his family business alive. Desperate for cash, he hatches a risky plan that lands him in trouble. As he struggles to stay out of prison, he forges an unlikely friendship with an aging local thug.
And then there’s the Banker, Lee Meady, a man with personal problems of his own.
Just how does it all fit together?
As DC Jack Rutherford and DS Amanda Lacey uncover the facts surrounding the case, the harrowing truth of the killer’s identity leaves Jack wondering where the human race went so badly wrong.
2064 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 14, 2021
541 people are currently reading
113 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.
Ratings & Reviews
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Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
April 24, 2025
Jack Rutherford and Amanda Lacey
This is one of the most confounding " detective" stories I have ever read. The majority of the story revolves around a female serial killer who, as a result of a childhood trauma, goes after big game hunters. She insinuates herself into their lives and, thanks to to the author's graphic description, allows the reader to semi- participate in the actual killings. A multitude of female characters populate this first novel - all with long flowing hair and perfect bodies. I found it challenging to keep them all straight - they uniformly had no personality and their sole function in life appeared to be marrying a rich man.
Even worse, from the point of view of a detective story, was the absence of the 2 primary detectives, who showed up after the first killing...then disappeared, allowing the killer to set up for another killing. No attempt is made to follow any clues or even to decipher a possible motive for the killing.
The conclusion is an improbable jumble of events which end with the killer confessing to her deeds, the would- be victim handing over the would-be murder weapon and the group of attractive women, having solved the crime, retire to a restaurant. Who knew police work could be so easy?
This is my first ( and last) book in this series; apparently, judging by the number books written by the author, he has a devoted audience. More power to him. If I wanted to read about the inside workings of the mind of a serial killer, I would find an author who does not disguise his work by calling it " detective " fiction. The series about Dexter comes to mind - the author makes no pretense about his intentions - Dexter is a killer who hides in his position as an expert in a police department.... and the author does not pretend otherwise.
This was my first and will be my last reading anything by this author.
This is one of the most confounding " detective" stories I have ever read. The majority of the story revolves around a female serial killer who, as a result of a childhood trauma, goes after big game hunters. She insinuates herself into their lives and, thanks to to the author's graphic description, allows the reader to semi- participate in the actual killings. A multitude of female characters populate this first novel - all with long flowing hair and perfect bodies. I found it challenging to keep them all straight - they uniformly had no personality and their sole function in life appeared to be marrying a rich man.
Even worse, from the point of view of a detective story, was the absence of the 2 primary detectives, who showed up after the first killing...then disappeared, allowing the killer to set up for another killing. No attempt is made to follow any clues or even to decipher a possible motive for the killing.
The conclusion is an improbable jumble of events which end with the killer confessing to her deeds, the would- be victim handing over the would-be murder weapon and the group of attractive women, having solved the crime, retire to a restaurant. Who knew police work could be so easy?
This is my first ( and last) book in this series; apparently, judging by the number books written by the author, he has a devoted audience. More power to him. If I wanted to read about the inside workings of the mind of a serial killer, I would find an author who does not disguise his work by calling it " detective " fiction. The series about Dexter comes to mind - the author makes no pretense about his intentions - Dexter is a killer who hides in his position as an expert in a police department.... and the author does not pretend otherwise.
This was my first and will be my last reading anything by this author.
May 26, 2025
Picked this 6 book set up in keeping with my UK holiday and a desire to immerse myself in the culture. It was a long read. Normally, I would rather rate each individual book separately, but being away from my normal internet connection I opted for a single review of this book set.
A rather interesting approach to the adventures of our two protagonists. The stories focus much more on the villains and their crimes than our detectives. Our detectives are more of an afterthought. It was different and I am not sure I could appreciate the presentation. These books should be read in sequence order as the subplot relies upon the continuity.
Well, I had a most wonderful UK Holiday. These books did little to heighten the experience. You don't need to take your own UK Holiday to appreciate the writings.
Have a GoodReads.
A rather interesting approach to the adventures of our two protagonists. The stories focus much more on the villains and their crimes than our detectives. Our detectives are more of an afterthought. It was different and I am not sure I could appreciate the presentation. These books should be read in sequence order as the subplot relies upon the continuity.
Well, I had a most wonderful UK Holiday. These books did little to heighten the experience. You don't need to take your own UK Holiday to appreciate the writings.
Have a GoodReads.
May 24, 2025
Having read all 5 books, it becomes clear there is a writing pattern being followed. Some of the books have far too much "padding" i.e. the in depth thoughts of the characters, which had no real bearing on the story line. This gave the impression the author wasn't sure where to go with the plot so used fillers.
The stories are set in England. The author therefor should not use Americanisms like "Mom" for the English "Mother" "Mum" etc. or "Casket" when in England the word "Coffin" is used. Little things like this matter to a reader and help to set scenes.
Many of the endings seemed a little rushed, and you find yourself asking "why".
In conclusion this is not an author I would personally read again.
The stories are set in England. The author therefor should not use Americanisms like "Mom" for the English "Mother" "Mum" etc. or "Casket" when in England the word "Coffin" is used. Little things like this matter to a reader and help to set scenes.
Many of the endings seemed a little rushed, and you find yourself asking "why".
In conclusion this is not an author I would personally read again.
May 13, 2025
3* Review for book 2 The Hunted in box set.
This 6-box set strangely starts with book 2 The Hunted, not in order of 1 to 6.
A multitude of different characters all with their own POV. At times I didn't know who was talking and had to re-read to clarify. It really would have helped if the change of narrator was identified, merely a name heading would be enough.
The plot concentrated on the murderer and the victims, with very little involvement from Detectives Jack Rutherford and Amanda Lacey. The conclusion was a sudden and massive coincidence.
Certainly a good murder mystery even with my occasional confusion, another 5 books to read – sometime.
This 6-box set strangely starts with book 2 The Hunted, not in order of 1 to 6.
A multitude of different characters all with their own POV. At times I didn't know who was talking and had to re-read to clarify. It really would have helped if the change of narrator was identified, merely a name heading would be enough.
The plot concentrated on the murderer and the victims, with very little involvement from Detectives Jack Rutherford and Amanda Lacey. The conclusion was a sudden and massive coincidence.
Certainly a good murder mystery even with my occasional confusion, another 5 books to read – sometime.
May 1, 2025
nice read
This a nice little series that will help pass a few hours without too much effort. The stories are fairly simple but have a nice running background saga. The only problem is,unfortunately, very common these days. The episodes are not really books but a chapter in a long running saga with each story relying on all the previous media for completeness.
This a nice little series that will help pass a few hours without too much effort. The stories are fairly simple but have a nice running background saga. The only problem is,unfortunately, very common these days. The episodes are not really books but a chapter in a long running saga with each story relying on all the previous media for completeness.
August 22, 2025
Excellent story telling
All 6 books are exceptionally well done. They are all very different from each other. Some series are formulaic and become predictable, but not these. The detectives are the only steady thread and their characters are well developed and evolving. Really a joy to read.
All 6 books are exceptionally well done. They are all very different from each other. Some series are formulaic and become predictable, but not these. The detectives are the only steady thread and their characters are well developed and evolving. Really a joy to read.
May 18, 2022
Brilliant read!
Absolutely brilliant writing, I feel like I know each character personally. I’m sad that the book is done and now wish I’d read it slower.
Colourful, descriptive, funny,sad, thrilling and unbelievable all rolled into one.
Absolutely brilliant writing, I feel like I know each character personally. I’m sad that the book is done and now wish I’d read it slower.
Colourful, descriptive, funny,sad, thrilling and unbelievable all rolled into one.
June 8, 2022
I loved reading this series. The research the author did to get the crimes and police procedures correct must have been immense. The relationships are continued in each book. I will read more of these books as there are loose ends that hopefully the author will tie up!
February 8, 2022
excellent
Brilliant series, spoilt by the fact that the books were not in chronological order. Would like to read more of Linda’s books
Brilliant series, spoilt by the fact that the books were not in chronological order. Would like to read more of Linda’s books
May 5, 2025
A reviting read
I found this to be a very good set of stories and hard to put down. Kept me away from the tv for a while.
I found this to be a very good set of stories and hard to put down. Kept me away from the tv for a while.
June 8, 2025
Fantastic book. Couldn’t put it down
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews