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Joseph Reid

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Takeoff (Seth Walker Book 1) Kindle Edition

by Joseph Reid (Author) Format: Kindle Edition

4.1 18,013 ratings

Book 1 of 3: Seth Walker

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High-octane action, celebrity glamour, and endless possibilities for danger meet in this fast-paced debut for fans of John Sandford and Lee Child.

Still reeling from a devastating personal tragedy, air marshal turned investigator Seth Walker embarks on his first case. All he has to do is accompany female pop star Max Magic to Los Angeles and deliver her to the FBI. But when their routine flight ends in a hail of gunfire at LAX, Walker has no choice but to take the frightened diva on the run.

After a second attack leaves him battered and bloody, Walker realizes he cannot trust the FBI. To keep his client alive, he must use a patchwork of trusted aviation contacts to get her home to Austin, where the key suspects await.

But as they race to stay one step ahead of their deadly pursuers, the biggest danger of all may be what they’re heading toward—the dark secrets that Max herself has been keeping…

Editorial Reviews

Review

“Joseph Reid is a blazing new talent in the action-thriller arena. Takeoff does exactly that from page one, and it doesn’t land until the end. You’ll be breathless!” —Raymond Benson, bestselling author of 007, The Black Stiletto, and In the Hush of the Night

“Joseph Reid’s novel Takeoff is aptly named. This fast-paced novel takes off with a bang, and only gains speed from there. Reid’s protagonist, federal air marshal Seth Walker, is much more than a sky cowboy. When not saving lives (or taking them), Walker works on circuit drawings. Those drawings have earned him a number of patents, and might be the key to a new life, that is if Walker can survive his current travails, as well as past baggage. Assigned to guard sixteen-year-old pop phenom sensation Max Magic, Walker finds himself in the middle of deadly power struggle. To keep his charge alive, Walker needs to navigate currents most treacherous, and distinguish the good guys from the bad guys. Reid writes like a seasoned pro, and yet this is his first novel. I am looking forward to more.” —Alan Russell, bestselling author of Burning Man

“Takeoff is a blast. From the first explosive scene to the last page, this story pins you to your seat and never lets you go. Seth Walker, the hero of this riveting tale, is a man worthy of many books. It’s a good thing he’s so well-armed with highly unique skills and street smarts and a charming wit, because Seth is on the frontlines in a very dangerous world. My money’s on this guy in the battles to come.” — James W. Hall, Shamus and Edgar Award–winning author

“Fast paced and adrenaline filled, Takeoff is a wild ride that never lets up for a single moment. A thrilling debut by a terrific new storyteller. Joseph Reid is a name to know!” —Chad Zunker, Kindle bestselling author of The Tracker

From the Publisher

I fly a lot for work—West Coast to East Coast—and I sometimes hope I’ll see a celebrity sipping champagne in first class, or maybe spot the burly air marshal assigned to protect my flight.

Seth Walker, a former air marshal turned investigator/liaison to law enforcement, is exactly who I would want on my airplane. He has the body of a surfer, the mind of an engineer, and the toughness of a cop. Of course, I am nothing like Max Magic—the scantily clad, bratty pop sensation with no ability to mix in—whom Seth is assigned to protect on a flight from New York to Los Angeles while investigating threats against her.

Once they land at LAX, their story unwinds at a breakneck pace. They find themselves on the run from nearly everyone, including Seth’s employers and Max’s entourage, because they have no idea why they are being relentlessly pursued. The investigation will take them all over the map—as they flee their pursuers and get closer and closer to the source of the threats against Max.

Perhaps the next time I fly, I will look around at my fellow passengers a bit differently. Are any of them disguised investigators or celebrities—or maybe on the run? It just might make the long-haul flights a bit more interesting.

- Liz Pearsons, Editor

Product details

ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0743BR9TZ
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Thomas & Mercer (July 1, 2018)
Publication date ‏ : ‎ July 1, 2018
Language ‏ : ‎ English
File size ‏ : ‎ 4171 KB
Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
Print length ‏ : ‎ 302 pages
Page numbers source ISBN ‏ : ‎ 1503949125

Best Sellers Rank: #215,545 in Kindle Store (See Top 100 in Kindle Store)
- #1,044 in Military Thrillers (Kindle Store)
- #1,411 in Mystery Action Fiction (Kindle Store)
- #2,272 in Kidnapping Thrillers

Customer Reviews:
4.1 18,013 ratings

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Joseph Reid

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Joseph Reid is the author of the bestselling Seth Walker series, featuring the air marshal-turned-investigator who solves crimes in and around aviation. Under the pen name Parker Adams, he has also published the high-tech heist novel THE LOCK BOX.

The son of a navy helicopter pilot, Reid chased great white sharks as a marine biologist before becoming a patent lawyer who litigates multi-million-dollar cases for high-tech companies. A graduate of Duke University and the University of Notre Dame, he lives in San Diego with his wife and children.

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4.1 out of 5

18,013 global ratings

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DD Gott - Donadees Corner

Don’t pick this up unless you're ready to read the night through, UNBELIEVABLE AND ADDICTING!!!!

Reviewed in the United States on July 14, 2018

Verified Purchase

Takeoff - Seth Walker Bk 1 - Written by Joseph Reid

High-octane action, celebrity glamour, and endless possibilities for danger meet in this fast-paced debut for fans of John Sandford and Lee Child. Still reeling from a devastating personal tragedy, air marshal turned investigator Seth Walker embarks on his first case. All he has to do is accompany female pop star Max Magic to Los Angeles and deliver her to the FBI. But when their routine flight ends in a hail of gunfire at LAX, Walker has no choice but to take the frightened diva on the run. After a second attack leaves him battered and bloody, Walker realizes he cannot trust the FBI. To keep his client alive, he must use a patchwork of trusted aviation contacts to get her home to Austin, where the key suspects await. But as they race to stay one step ahead of their deadly pursuers, the biggest danger of all may be what they’re heading toward—the dark secrets that Max herself has been keeping..

What did I like? The best high flying, action-filled, hot read that I have read in ages. Seth Walker is the kind of character that everyone will fall in love with. He’s awesome and resourceful with that touchable personality that every woman would like to meet, and every man would hate but here he is one of a kind! The right kind!!!!

What will you like? The unbelievable action that does not take a break, each page filled with a mind-bending and incredible addicting storyline. The story grows and excels as each page turns and takes you for a ride of a lifetime. Characters that are remarkable and some that will leave you hating them. This story shows the authors experience in the field with all the research and details that keep you high flying. An excellent read and I am looking forward to book two, Joseph Reid is not on my favorite author's list! He is going places and I want to go with him! Great Kindle First read.

2 people found this helpful

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Phil P.

Entertaining

Reviewed in the United States on January 3, 2024

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What could be easier than being a protective escort on a commercial flight from JF
K to LAX?
What follows is a shoot'em up involving the FBI, DEA, a drug cartel, corrupt family, and more.

Helpful

Dee Arr

Action-Based Story with Over the Top Scenes that Would Make James Bond Blush

Reviewed in the United States on June 3, 2018

Verified Purchase

“Takeoff” is a thriller filled with mixed elements that don’t always gel. I have no doubt that many people will like this book. Author Joseph Reid fills it with plenty of action, a sure way to keep readers turning the pages (myself included). However, action alone will not carry a book.

Characterization is a major factor for other readers. The book is told in first person, so we are permitted to peek inside Seth Walker’s mind. I say peek, because much is hidden from us except for the small chunks that come off in clunky bits for the author to foreshadow what will happen to Seth later. Used gracefully, this can propel a book forward. In “Takeoff,” it felt more like hammer blows. Thus, when the big hammer finally falls later in the book, it is anticlimactic. Even worse, it is combined in a scene which focuses on Seth’s morals, thus clouding the potential impact.

The many twists Mr. Reid inserts in the book will keep you guessing, although this leads to questions concerning motives. For instance (and without revealing major pieces of the plot) it is unbelievable that the ultimate motive for the “killers” would convince people to break international laws and put their own lives on the line. Seth Walker’s motives were on display yet very basic, revealing only superficial details. As such, it was difficult to have empathy for him. I found myself reading more to find out how the author was going to bring the plot to a satisfactory end than anything else.

I thought the dialogue was realistic and the action was over the top. Even James Bond would blush at some of the exploits that are pictured (even the thought of shooting at a flying helicopter from an airborne plane causes my credibility quotient to stretch to unbelievable heights).

Bottom line: If you like action/thrillers and aren’t too concerned about characterizations or whether or not the probabilities of science and human nature are pushed to the point of breaking, you will probably enjoy this book. If you are looking for a book with well-rounded characters and one that imparts a feeling of “that makes sense,” you may experience periods of dissatisfaction during the reading. While I was kept interested with all the action scenes, by the end I felt like I had eaten a dinner of desserts and realized I was wishing for at least a bite of something with more substance. Three stars.

8 people found this helpful

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WindRider

What a great story- 5+ Stars

Reviewed in the United States on September 22, 2018

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Dramatic start from the very beginning pages. And it was action, action, action all the way after that. It kept me on the edge of my seat all the way through. It had twists, turns, surprises and plenty of dangers.
I liked the unusual appearance of Seth Walker, he was not the usual cookie cutter style air marshal turned investigator. And I liked that even though he appeared to be unconventional guy, he was also an honorable one. The more the story went on, the more I liked him. I liked his quirks and his engineering intelligence all backed up with quite a few patents. Even the fact that he had hit a dry spell when it came to drawing up something new. It made him even a more well rounded person. It didn't take long to be rooting for him. He also had some interesting friends and acquaintances who added support and flair to the story. Because of some of the issues that crop up in the book it is definitely a book for adults.
Max Magic, oh dear that girl was messed up! A couple of times I almost typed that her name was "Mad" Max. But as her "story" starts to unfold, you can begin to see why. But there will be plenty of deceit, cover-ups and flat out using of her before those truths come out.
I usually like my stories of action thrillers with a romance in it but to be honest, this one just kept going so strong, I barely even missed it. Part of that might have been because there definitely was emotions of affection, and caring demonstrated in the book.
I hope to read another book by this author because I really enjoyed this one. I thought the author did a great job when it came to the details of every place Seth went just to name one. He actually did a great job when it came to the details of planes and battles. I guess that is called good world building. Who knows maybe in the future Seth will get his romance in another one of the books in the series? Although, he has suffered losses of people he cared about and loved.

2 people found this helpful

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Top reviews from other countries

Flaplarue

Good read!

Reviewed in Canada on August 19, 2020

Verified Purchase

Fast paced, well written. Great characters & descriptions.
Enjoyed reading this novel at the beach this summer.
I read this based on Nick Pirog's recommendation.

The Passionate Writer

Story and characters are intriguing in this spills and thrills chase

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 9, 2018

Verified Purchase

Great story, great read. Excellent for a debut novel.

Seth Walker is an ex air marshall, moved to a new role as an armed escort to Max Magic, a teen pop star with attitude.

The problem is, someone wants Max dead and the only person standing in the way is Seth Walker.

Full of thrills, spills and gore from the outset, the story and characters are intriguing and will keep you reading to find out what happens next. I only deducted a star because some of the details, especially technical and political niceties, are a little far-fetched. Not that it will bother most readers, but I felt it detracted a little from what was otherwise a realistic and gritty chase with plenty of violence thrown in.

Great debut, and I look forward to reading more stories involving Seth Walker.

One person found this helpful

Kindle Customer

Good story - interesting leading character

Reviewed in Australia on August 24, 2021

Verified Purchase

Chose four stars due to exiting fast moving story.
Not as much depth of characters as say De Mille or as much depth of story as Grisham but still an entertaining read.

J-M

Loved it

Reviewed in Canada on August 3, 2018

Verified Purchase

Even though a lot more shoot'em ups than real life, this story was still totally plausible and contained enough hooks and turns to keep you on the edge.

Vladimir Kocjancic

Great story, a bit unlikely though

Reviewed in Germany on August 17, 2018

Verified Purchase

I truly enjoyed the story and read it in a day. I loved the pace of the book, the characters and descriptions. Plus, it made me look up a DCT again.
However, the story is shallow, predictable and at points stupid. Thankfully positives more than outweigh negatives.

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Takeoff (Seth Walker Book 1) Kindle Edition

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