871 books
—
80 voters
Goodreads helps you keep track of books you want to read.
Start by marking “Scared to Death (Detective Kay Hunter, #1)” as Want to Read:
Scared to Death
(Detective Kay Hunter #1)
by
A serial killer murdering for kicks.
A detective seeking revenge.
When the body of a snatched schoolgirl is found in an abandoned biosciences building, the case is first treated as a kidnapping gone wrong.
But Detective Kay Hunter isn’t convinced, especially when a man is found dead with the ransom money still in his possession.
When a second schoolgirl is taken, Kay’s worst ...more
A detective seeking revenge.
When the body of a snatched schoolgirl is found in an abandoned biosciences building, the case is first treated as a kidnapping gone wrong.
But Detective Kay Hunter isn’t convinced, especially when a man is found dead with the ransom money still in his possession.
When a second schoolgirl is taken, Kay’s worst ...more
Get A Copy
Kindle Edition, 380 pages
Published
December 3rd 2016
by Saxon Publishing
Friend Reviews
To see what your friends thought of this book,
please sign up.
Reader Q&A
To ask other readers questions about
Scared to Death,
please sign up.
Recent Questions
Community Reviews
Showing 1-30

Start your review of Scared to Death (Detective Kay Hunter, #1)

Scared to Death is the first book in the Kay Hunter series. It is a crime thriller. I really enjoyed this book. It was very disturbing and had me on the edge of my seat from the very beginning to the end. It should satisfy any lover of serial killer fiction. It is so gripping and fast paced. This was dark and gritty with twists I didn't see coming. Lots of surprises in this one.
Melanie is missing and her parents are distraught because she is nowhere to be found. When she is found the case is fir ...more

Find more reviews on my blog: https://thesuspenseisthrillingme.com
Date Read: 12/09/16
Pub Date: 12/06/16
4 STARS
When the body of a snatched schoolgirl is found in an abandoned biosciences building, the case is first treated as a kidnapping gone wrong.
But Detective Kay Hunter isn’t convinced, especially when a man is found dead with the ransom money still in his possession.
When a second schoolgirl is taken, Kay’s worst fears are realised.
With her career in jeopardy and desperate to conceal a distu ...more
Date Read: 12/09/16
Pub Date: 12/06/16
4 STARS
When the body of a snatched schoolgirl is found in an abandoned biosciences building, the case is first treated as a kidnapping gone wrong.
But Detective Kay Hunter isn’t convinced, especially when a man is found dead with the ransom money still in his possession.
When a second schoolgirl is taken, Kay’s worst fears are realised.
With her career in jeopardy and desperate to conceal a distu ...more

Scared to Death is the first book in the Detective Kay Hunter series. The story pulled me in from the very beginning. The suspense is gripping and each scene is vividly described making the events spine-chillingly real.
DS Kay Hunter is dedicated. She doesn’t dwell on the problems in her life and the backstory tells us she has plenty of personal problems she could be dwelling on.
It’s a nice change to have a detective that’s not a divorced alcoholic. The reader is not heaped with Hunter’s personal ...more
DS Kay Hunter is dedicated. She doesn’t dwell on the problems in her life and the backstory tells us she has plenty of personal problems she could be dwelling on.
It’s a nice change to have a detective that’s not a divorced alcoholic. The reader is not heaped with Hunter’s personal ...more

Jun 22, 2020
Sharon
rated it
it was amazing
Shelves:
aussie-authors,
crime,
2020-reading-challenge,
mystery,
5000-2020,
read-on-kindle,
thriller
Scared to Death is the first book in the Detective Kay Hunter series by Aussie author Rachel Amphlett. This book had me hooked right from page one all the way to the very last page.
If you enjoy fast paced, edge of your seat mystery/thrillers then grab a copy of this book and be prepared for a very entertaining page turner. With twist and turns you won’t see coming, this book is a must read for anyone who loves this genre. Highly recommended,
If you enjoy fast paced, edge of your seat mystery/thrillers then grab a copy of this book and be prepared for a very entertaining page turner. With twist and turns you won’t see coming, this book is a must read for anyone who loves this genre. Highly recommended,

'The girl had knocked her head on something, and he didn't know what. There was blood on the side of her face, and while she was still unconscious, he checked and found a cut under her hair. Satisfied that it wasn't life threatening, he relaxed. He wanted her on his terms.
He reached into the bag and pulled out the contents, lining them up along the plastic covering of a narrow brick shelf that ran along the wall next to him.
Lipstick, mobile phone, purse - no notes, just change - a small box of ...more
He reached into the bag and pulled out the contents, lining them up along the plastic covering of a narrow brick shelf that ran along the wall next to him.
Lipstick, mobile phone, purse - no notes, just change - a small box of ...more

What a great start to a new series. Scared to Death grabbed me from the very first page and I stayed up very late to finish it.
I really enjoyed the character of Kay Hunter. She was realistic, intelligent, organised and in a satisfactory and normal relationship. She was not an alcoholic, a mother who was not coping with family/work arrangements or an idiot who keeps putting herself in dangerous positions. In other words in this genre she is a breath of fresh air.
The story is dark and quite brutal ...more
I really enjoyed the character of Kay Hunter. She was realistic, intelligent, organised and in a satisfactory and normal relationship. She was not an alcoholic, a mother who was not coping with family/work arrangements or an idiot who keeps putting herself in dangerous positions. In other words in this genre she is a breath of fresh air.
The story is dark and quite brutal ...more

Nov 11, 2016
Brenda
rated it
it was amazing
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
aussie-authors,
arc,
own-read,
gift-from-author,
read-on-kindle,
2016-release,
reviewing-by-request,
crime,
thriller,
mystery
The terror that Yvonne and Tony were feeling as they raced to save their daughter was immense – when Detective Kay Hunter arrived on the scene she was horrified at what the police had found. And so began a case as brutal as any the detectives had encountered in a long time. The kidnapping of seventeen year old Melanie was shocking; the police initially thought the kidnapper had made a mistake. But Kay wasn’t convinced; the anomalies in the case struck her and her team and they were determined to
...more

“Scared to death.” Most of us have heard the phrase, haven’t we? Perhaps we’ve even said it. But what if it actually happened? Melanie Richards is not an unusual teenage girl. Her mother is a successful businesswoman; her father is a man who is unable to control his mouth, and it has cost him a job or two. His daughter, unfortunately, has learned by example. When her mom goes away on a business trip and dad tags along on holiday, Melanie stays home alone. This was the opportunity her stalker was
...more

This is a good introduction to a new crime series featuring Detective Kay Hunter of the Kent police. When a body of a schoolgirl is found in a drain of a disused building, it looks like a kidnapping gone wrong. Then a man is found hanging from a tree with a suicide note and the ransom money in his apartment and it looks like the case can be closed. However, Kay feels that something isn't right and that a second man must be involved.
This was quite a dark book, with some nasty perpetrators who thr ...more
This was quite a dark book, with some nasty perpetrators who thr ...more

I've been dying to read a book by this author for a while now after seeing many positive reviews. I decided to wade in with the first in a new crime series featuring Kay Hunter and I was not disappointed. If I have a checklist of things I enjoy in a book then Rachel Amphlett managed to tap into it. Scared to Death started with a bang and inserted me into the story from the first page. The fast pace of the story kept me glued to the story of Melanie's kidnapping. I am a fan of short chapters and
...more

SYNOPSIS
A serial killer murdering for kicks. A detective seeking revenge.
When the body of a snatched schoolgirl is found in an abandoned biosciences building, the case is first treated as a kidnapping gone wrong.
But Detective Kay Hunter isn’t convinced, especially when a man is found dead with the ransom money still in his possession.
When a second schoolgirl is taken, Kay’s worst fears are realised.
With her career in jeopardy and desperate to conceal a disturbing secret, Kay’s hunt for the kille ...more
A serial killer murdering for kicks. A detective seeking revenge.
When the body of a snatched schoolgirl is found in an abandoned biosciences building, the case is first treated as a kidnapping gone wrong.
But Detective Kay Hunter isn’t convinced, especially when a man is found dead with the ransom money still in his possession.
When a second schoolgirl is taken, Kay’s worst fears are realised.
With her career in jeopardy and desperate to conceal a disturbing secret, Kay’s hunt for the kille ...more

There is no messing around with Scared to Death by Rachel Amphlett. Despite being the first in a new series, it immediately kicks off at a frantic pace. This novel is not for the faint hearted, it is a gutsy, fast and dark book that is packed full with unsuspecting twists. Scared to Death is a must read for the crime fiction fan or those who appreciate a solid mystery-thriller.
The action begins from the opening page in Scared to Death. The Richards, parents of kidnapped daughter Melanie, are on ...more
The action begins from the opening page in Scared to Death. The Richards, parents of kidnapped daughter Melanie, are on ...more

Apr 21, 2019
Rob
rated it
really liked it
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
aussie-authors,
serial-thrillers
Number 1 in the Kay Hunter series.
My first Rachel Amphlett book White Gold left me relatively unimpressed but this is a real set up from that.
This is a top notch police procedural thriller.
The main protagonist ‘Detective Sergeant Kay Hunter’ is a breath of fresh air. Inasmuch as she is basically a normal person in a loving marriage who happens to be good at what she does which is catching baddies. That’s not to say that her life is without problems, she has her fair share, like most of us, of pr ...more
My first Rachel Amphlett book White Gold left me relatively unimpressed but this is a real set up from that.
This is a top notch police procedural thriller.
The main protagonist ‘Detective Sergeant Kay Hunter’ is a breath of fresh air. Inasmuch as she is basically a normal person in a loving marriage who happens to be good at what she does which is catching baddies. That’s not to say that her life is without problems, she has her fair share, like most of us, of pr ...more

Scared to Death is book one in the Detective Kay Hunter series by Rachel Amphlett. Detective Sergeant Kay Hunter thought her career in law enforcement was over when Professional Standards investigated her. However, this was not the case her supervisor Detective Inspector Devon assigned her to the murder investigation of a young girl. The readers of Scared to Death will continue to follow the twist and turns in the investigation into the killing of Melanie by Detective Kay Hunter.
Scared to Death ...more
Scared to Death ...more

All of my reviews can be found on www.novelgossip.com
Oohhh what a fantastic beginning to a new series! I love nothing more than getting caught up in a new series and I’m so excited about this one featuring detective Kay Hunter. She’s intelligent, capable and tough, but she has enough skeletons in her closet to keep things interesting. She also has a keen intuition which makes her a sharp and formidable detective.
The book starts out with a bang, a couple is racing against the clock to try and sav ...more
Oohhh what a fantastic beginning to a new series! I love nothing more than getting caught up in a new series and I’m so excited about this one featuring detective Kay Hunter. She’s intelligent, capable and tough, but she has enough skeletons in her closet to keep things interesting. She also has a keen intuition which makes her a sharp and formidable detective.
The book starts out with a bang, a couple is racing against the clock to try and sav ...more

This is the first novel I have read by this author and will certainly be reading more after reading this one!
Scared To Death is the first book in a brand new crime series introducing us to Detective Kay Hunter.
I have to say this was without a doubt one of those novels that you could easily devour in one sitting. As soon as I started it I knew I was in for a great reading experience, sadly real life got in the way and I ended up having to reluctantly read it over a few days instead. Believe me wh ...more
Scared To Death is the first book in a brand new crime series introducing us to Detective Kay Hunter.
I have to say this was without a doubt one of those novels that you could easily devour in one sitting. As soon as I started it I knew I was in for a great reading experience, sadly real life got in the way and I ended up having to reluctantly read it over a few days instead. Believe me wh ...more

Nov 14, 2016
Magdalena aka A Bookaholic Swede
rated it
really liked it
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
read-2016
Scared to Death is the first in a new series by Rachel Amphlett. I had not read anything by Rachel Amphlett before I read this book, but as a big time crime fan was I intrigued by the premise and the cover of the book. So, what makes this so special that you should pick it over other crime books?
Personally, I just love when I instantly like the main character and Kay Hunter was just the kind of tough female cop that I like to read about. And, it was quite nice that she seems to be quite stable, ...more
Personally, I just love when I instantly like the main character and Kay Hunter was just the kind of tough female cop that I like to read about. And, it was quite nice that she seems to be quite stable, ...more

Nov 23, 2016
Carol - Reading Writing and Riesling
rated it
really liked it
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
own
My View:
Once you have been introduced to Detective Kay Hunter you will be firm friends. She is conscientious, driven, intelligent and hardworking and the author has generously provided a home life and a relationship that is strong and credible. Kay Hunter may have some personal and work issues that she is dealing with but these add to her credibility and make her a very well developed and realistic character. There is none of the desolate, drug addled or alcoholic traits that are so prevalent in ...more
Once you have been introduced to Detective Kay Hunter you will be firm friends. She is conscientious, driven, intelligent and hardworking and the author has generously provided a home life and a relationship that is strong and credible. Kay Hunter may have some personal and work issues that she is dealing with but these add to her credibility and make her a very well developed and realistic character. There is none of the desolate, drug addled or alcoholic traits that are so prevalent in ...more

It's a bit different from all the mystery novels I've read prior to this. Felt like it's a bit more...realistic I would say. I really enjoyed it, and would certainly continue with the next book on the series in the future.
...more

My first book by this author-it was decent read. I have not had wild success with British writers. I can not click with them for some reason. This story was ok but a little bland. It moved at a decent pace and most of the characters were ok .I do not like it when I know who the bad guy is and what they are thinking. I would give this book a 3.0 on the dot barely escaping the 2 star rating. the ending was ok but nothing to write home about. I would say skip pass this book and not give it a spin u
...more

Returning home from holiday, Tony and Yvonne Richards receive a terrifying phone call. Their daughter Melanie has been taken, the kidnappers only willing to reveal her whereabouts on the payment of a ransom. Keeping the kidnapping from the police, their only focus is to bring their daughter back safe and sound.
When their search turns to tragedy, Detective Sergeant Kay Hunter and Detective Constable Ian Barnes are called to the scene. Fighting back from a difficult turn in her career, Hunter is ...more
When their search turns to tragedy, Detective Sergeant Kay Hunter and Detective Constable Ian Barnes are called to the scene. Fighting back from a difficult turn in her career, Hunter is ...more

SCARED TO DEATH is the first in a new series from author Rachel Amphlett. It's a switch from the earlier espionage styled Dan Taylor novels, to a police procedural featuring Detective Kay Hunter.
From the opening scenes with parents Yvonne and Tony racing to provide the ransom money and recover their daughter Melanie, through to the police investigation that follows, there's plenty of intrigue and pace built into SCARED TO DEATH. It is a novel structured in form of police procedural precisely, b ...more
From the opening scenes with parents Yvonne and Tony racing to provide the ransom money and recover their daughter Melanie, through to the police investigation that follows, there's plenty of intrigue and pace built into SCARED TO DEATH. It is a novel structured in form of police procedural precisely, b ...more

Oh my god I absolutely loved Scared To Death from the first chapter I just knew it was going to be a crime thriller I would devour in a couple of sittings, and I was right. Scared To Death by Rachel Amphlett is the first book in a new series featuring Detective Kay Hunter, and the authors started the series with an humongous bang. A young girl is kidnapped and held hostage, but things take a sinister and deadly turn when the young girl is found dead, this is followed shortly by the disappearance
...more

This is the first novel I have read by this author and will certainly be reading more after reading this one!
Scared To Death is the first book in a brand new crime series introducing us to Detective Kay Hunter.
I have to say this was without a doubt one of those novels that you could easily devour in one sitting. As soon as I started it I knew I was in for a great reading experience, sadly real life got in the way and I ended up having to reluctantly read it over a few days instead. Believe me wh ...more
Scared To Death is the first book in a brand new crime series introducing us to Detective Kay Hunter.
I have to say this was without a doubt one of those novels that you could easily devour in one sitting. As soon as I started it I knew I was in for a great reading experience, sadly real life got in the way and I ended up having to reluctantly read it over a few days instead. Believe me wh ...more

Fast paced crime fiction that had me hooked from the first chapter. A great start to a new series. I can't wait to learn more about Kay when she tackles her next case.
...more

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.

Scared to Death is a fast paced intriguing crime thriller that I read in one huge gulp of a sitting, addictive and occasionally quite hard hitting this is the start of a new series from Rachel Amphlett and one that I will be following along with.
Things I really liked: Or main protagonist Kay Hunter. A genuinely strong female character with, yes, some flaws and a semi mysterious backstory, but realistically so which made her highly believable and sucked you into the ongoing story. The opening for ...more
Things I really liked: Or main protagonist Kay Hunter. A genuinely strong female character with, yes, some flaws and a semi mysterious backstory, but realistically so which made her highly believable and sucked you into the ongoing story. The opening for ...more

This book gets off to a fantastic start. It delivers a double whammy to the reader, leaving you reeling from the shock and feeling terrible about what has just happened to the characters.
Great stuff.
Probably I was expecting too much after this, because I found myself turning the pages very quickly but the tension gradually leaked out of the story. In the end, I was reading just to find out what happened (though the plot became clear halfway through).
If only that same punch from the beginning ...more
Great stuff.
Probably I was expecting too much after this, because I found myself turning the pages very quickly but the tension gradually leaked out of the story. In the end, I was reading just to find out what happened (though the plot became clear halfway through).
If only that same punch from the beginning ...more

Setting: Kent, UK. This is the first in a UK-based crime series featuring Detective Kay Hunter. Trying to recover from an internal investigation that nearly cost her her job and did cost her her unborn child, Kay is immediately thrown into a kidnapping of a teenage girl that has turned into a murder - but as the investigation proceeds, it appears that the girl's death may have been an intentional murder rather than a kidnapping that went wrong...
Really enjoyed this story and the characters - fou ...more
Really enjoyed this story and the characters - fou ...more
topics | posts | views | last activity | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Aussie Readers: June 2020-Final Thoughts-**spoilers allowed**- Scared to Death | 13 | 16 | Jun 26, 2020 12:40AM | |
Kindle British My...: Spoiler Discussion (May 2018) Value Read - Scared to Death, by Rachel Amphlett | 7 | 13 | May 21, 2018 02:07PM | |
Aussie Readers: WIN 1 of 3 ebooks of Scared to Death by Rachel Amphlett, closes midnight Friday 9 December 2016 | 8 | 23 | Dec 13, 2016 01:41AM |
Before turning to writing, Rachel Amphlett played guitar in bands, worked as a film extra and freelanced in radio as a presenter and producer for the BBC.
She now wields a pen instead of a plectrum and is a bestselling author of crime fiction and spy thrillers, many of which have been translated worldwide.
Her novels are available in eBook, print, large print and audiobook formats from libraries and ...more
She now wields a pen instead of a plectrum and is a bestselling author of crime fiction and spy thrillers, many of which have been translated worldwide.
Her novels are available in eBook, print, large print and audiobook formats from libraries and ...more
Other books in the series
Detective Kay Hunter
(9 books)
Related Articles
Mateo Askaripour is a Brooklyn-based writer whose debut novel, Black Buck—which Colson Whitehead calls a “mesmerizing novel, executing a high...
68 likes · 7 comments
No trivia or quizzes yet. Add some now »