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The Taken

A gripping detective thriller with a heart-stopping twist
By Martina Murphy
Series: DS Lucy Golden
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4.46 goodreads logo

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Check link for latest rating. ( 56 ratings, 5 reviews)
Brief Description
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... Read More
Format: Paperback / softback
$3999
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Releases 17th November 2026 (Approx. Date) Pre-order  "The Taken" now to secure your copy from our first shipment

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DS Lucy Golden is back with her final case! A cold case in Dublin, involving children snatched from their homes and years of secrets and lies that Lucy and her team haul into the light in their quest for justice. A truly exhilirating read that hits all the right notes for a superlative police procedural thriller!

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

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 Gardai 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, ★★★★★

Series: DS Lucy Golden

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  • The Taken
    Pre-order
    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...
    By Martina Murphy
    Paperback
    $3999
    Pre-order
    Out 17 Nov 2026

Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780349000824

Publisher: Little, Brown Book Group

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 06 August 2026

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Constable

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 28.0mm

Width: 152.0mm

Height: 232.0mm

Weight: 413g

Pages: 336

Collections

Coming Soon in Fiction Crime & Thriller Fiction General Fiction Martina Murphy Police Procedural Pre-order Books Pre-Order Crime & Thriller Pre-orders Pre-orders by Release Date Series: DS Lucy Golden

About the Author

Martina Murphy is a bestselling author based in County Kildare, Ireland. She has written under the names Tina Reilly, Martina Reilly and Martina Murphy. Her books have been sold internationally and translated into a number of languages.

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