Books like 'Hard Knocks'
Readers who enjoyed Hard Knocks by Zoë Sharp also liked the following books featuring the same tropes, story themes, relationship dynamics and character types.
mystery action / adventure thriller suspense crime female-mc alpha-mc
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Smoked Out by Jeff Carson
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 18 ratingsWith over a dozen mending bones and other injuries wreaking havoc on his body, along with a shredded spirit twisting his sanity, former sheriff David Wolf is in no shape for any sort of action. But when FBI surveillance units move into the valley and surround his house, it seems he's about to have no choice... -
![Judgment Cometh (And That Right Soon): A Legal Thriller by Scott Pratt]()
Judgment Cometh (And That Right Soon): A Legal Thriller by Scott Pratt
Rated: 4.42 of 5 stars · 24 ratingsA Supreme Court Justice is found cut into pieces in the back of a pick-up truck. Three other judges have already gone missing. In the eighth installment of Scott Pratt’s bestselling Joe Dillard Series, Dillard is hired to represent the man driving the pick-up. As Dillard delves into the case, he comes to believe his client is not guilty... -
![The Trapped Girl by Robert Dugoni]()
The Trapped Girl by Robert Dugoni
Rated: 4.37 of 5 stars · 30 ratingsWhen a woman’s body is discovered submerged in a crab pot in the chilly waters of Puget Sound, Detective Tracy Crosswhite finds herself with a tough case to untangle. Before they can identify the killer, Tracy and her colleagues on the Seattle PD’s Violent Crimes Section must figure out who the victim is. Her autopsy, however, reveals she may have gone to great lengths to conceal her identity... -
![Final Option by Clive Cussler, Boyd Morrison]()
Final Option by Clive Cussler, Boyd Morrison
Rated: 4.44 of 5 stars · 18 ratingsIn Final Option, Juan Cabrillo fights the worst enemy from his past to the terrifying and unexpected ending created by the Grand Master of Adventure, Clive Cussler, in the latest action-packed thriller in his #1 New York Times-bestselling series... -
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![Damned by Jana Deleon]()
Damned by Jana Deleon
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsWhen young priest Nicolas Chatry took his vows, he thought the hardest thing he’d have to deal with was accomplishing his duties from a wheelchair. Until a murderer steps into the confessional. Unable to recognize the voice or maneuver quickly enough to get a look at the killer, Nicolas has no way of identifying who admitted to such a horrific deed... -
![Dark Highway by Lisa Gray, Amy Landon]()
Dark Highway by Lisa Gray, Amy Landon
Rated: 4.39 of 5 stars · 18 ratingsAn isolated highway in the middle of the desert - the perfect place to hide a secret.LA-based artist Laurie Simmonds disappeared two months ago, her camper-van abandoned on the isolated Twentynine Palms Highway, miles from anything - or anyone. With the police investigation stalled, her parents put all their faith in private investigator Jessica Shaw to find out the truth of what happened... -
![Fire Dancer by Linsey Lanier]()
Fire Dancer by Linsey Lanier
Rated: 4.43 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsA honeymoon in Maui. A luxury beachfront resort. A handsome wealthy new husband. A vicious murder. After all, this is PI Miranda Steele we're talking about. And where Miranda goes, trouble follows. That lovely honeymoon gets hijacked when she finds the body of a popular fire dancer on the beach. Of course, she has to investigate... -
![One Way by Tom Barber]()
One Way by Tom Barber
Rated: 4.43 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsNYPD Detective Sam Archer is on his way home on a Sunday afternoon in New York City. He’s been out of the field for over three months due to a broken ankle and a nasty case of pneumonia, but has just been given the all clear to get back out there again, starting tomorrow. Archer takes a seat on a bench in the Upper West Side, enjoying a cold drink and soaking up the last remaining sun of the day... -
![Cowboy in the Crosshairs by Em Petrova]()
Cowboy in the Crosshairs by Em Petrova
Rated: 4.63 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsThey’re total opposites. That doesn’t mean he won’t lay down his life for her.Silas Shanie is ready for action. Now that his medical leave is over, he’s more than capable of being back on the WEST Protection team. His first assignment? Easy. His new ward? Not at all. But he’ll keep the gorgeous, shallow heiress safe because it’s his job. He doesn’t have to like her. Except…he does. Maybe too much... -
![Cerberus Tactical K9: Team Alpha Boxed Set by Fiona Quinn]()
Cerberus Tactical K9: Team Alpha Boxed Set by Fiona Quinn
Rated: 4.63 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsEx-Special Operators join the Cerberus Iniquus Tactical K9 Team Alpha with three action adventure novelsSurvival InstinctMilitary training won’t help when the enemy is a force of nature…All Major Dani Addams wanted when she started up that trail was to mourn and honor her fallen friend... -
![Bedlam by L.J. Ross]()
Bedlam by L.J. Ross
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 18 ratingsFrom the international best-selling author of the DCI Ryan mysteries.In a world gone mad, who can you trust?Fresh from a high-profile case in the Paris fashion world, elite forensic psychologist and criminal profiler Dr Alexander Gregory receives a call from the New York State Homicide Squad... -
![The Watcher by Linsey Lanier]()
The Watcher by Linsey Lanier
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 10 ratings"Another wonderful book with great story and characters." Amazon reviewerHigh in the mountains of southeastern Brazil a killer lurks.An old friend calls.She’s getting death threats.Once again PI Miranda Steele feels the call of her destiny.When she and Parker get to Brazil and discover grisly human remains near a mountain resort, she knows those threats are very real... -
![Rules of Engagement by Camilla Chafer]()
Rules of Engagement by Camilla Chafer
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsWhen her fiancé is shot in an apparent assassination attempt, private investigator Lexi Graves’ world is thrown into chaos and turmoil. With the list of suspects growing by the minute, and the hit man still on the loose, there’s no way Lexi can sit idly by Solomon’s bedside and hope he survives when she could be out hunting for the person or persons responsible... -
![Best Served Cold by Rebecca Deel]()
Best Served Cold by Rebecca Deel
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsU.S. Marshal Stella Grayson always wanted to be a cop, but after an ambush, she's framed for murder and forced to surrender her gun and badge. Targeted by law enforcement and a killer seeking revenge, she may lose everything she values, including her freedom and the man she loves... -
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![Missing Persons by James Patterson, Adam Hamdy]()
Missing Persons by James Patterson, Adam Hamdy
Rated: 4.30 of 5 stars · 20 ratingsIn Afghanistan, a US Special Forces pilot is shot down during a covert mission.In New York, a mother is forced to flee with her two young children.A wealthy businessman approaches Jack Morgan, head of Private - the world's largest investigation agency - with a desperate plea to track down his daughter and grandchildren, who have disappeared without a trace... -
![ARCADIA: A Case For Willows And Lane by Peter Grainger]()
ARCADIA: A Case For Willows And Lane by Peter Grainger
Rated: 4.42 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsSir Roger Parkes is a man of some influence in the West Country. When he loses touch with his youngest daughter, he has a word with the Assistant Chief Constable of the local force. It’s not a police matter, he is told, but if Sir Roger wants to pursue it privately, there is a lady who might be able to help – two of them, actually... -
![Landfall by Dawn Lee McKenna]()
Landfall by Dawn Lee McKenna
Rated: 4.36 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsAs a hurricane gathers its power just off Apalachicola’s shore, another storm comes to a head in Lt. Maggie Redmond's home.Held prisoner by a man bent on avenging the death of a son, Maggie must find a way to save herself and her two children.No one knows where they are. No one is coming to help... -
![Redemption by Stephanie St. Klaire]()
Redemption by Stephanie St. Klaire
Rated: 4.67 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsJessie Clarke has worked hard for almost a decade to overcome the trauma of her past, and building her career as a fireman in McKenzie Ridge has helped her become a strong, independent woman. But, underneath her fowl mouth and tough exterior, Jessie hides a secret that could not only endanger her but all those she loves in her small mountain town... -
![Cut and Run by Fern Michaels]()
Cut and Run by Fern Michaels
Rated: 4.31 of 5 stars · 16 ratingsThe Sisterhood: a group of women from all walks of life bound by friendship and a quest for justice. Armed with vast resources, top-notch expertise, and a loyal network of allies around the globe, the Sisterhood will not rest until every wrong is made right... -
![The Wife Upstairs by Freida McFadden]()
The Wife Upstairs by Freida McFadden
Rated: 4.21 of 5 stars · 28 ratingsVictoria Barnett has it all.A great career. A handsome and loving husband. A beautiful home in the suburbs and a plan to fill it with children. Life is perfect—or so it seems.Then she’s in a terrible accident… and everything falls apart.Now Victoria is unable to walk. She can’t feed or dress herself. She can’t even speak. She is confined to the top floor of her house with twenty-four-hour care... -
![Dangerous Lady by Martina Cole]()
Dangerous Lady by Martina Cole
Rated: 4.28 of 5 stars · 18 ratingsMartina's explosive first novel of corruption and... -
![Midnight Rendezvous by Rebecca Deel]()
Midnight Rendezvous by Rebecca Deel
Rated: 4.40 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsWhen the past and present collide, the result could be fatal. Fortress Security operative Lily Stanton survived life on Nashville's streets and thrived in the Army. Abandoned as an infant, her Fortress teammates have become family, so her world is rocked when a woman claiming to be her mother begs to meet her... -
![Enduring Charity by Wayne Stinnett]()
Enduring Charity by Wayne Stinnett
Rated: 4.57 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsWhen her position with the government is eliminated, Charity Styles is faced with an uncertain future. The only part of her previous life that she truly enjoyed was sailing her classic sloop. The cruising lifestyle is wonderful and helps keep her mind centered, as she sails from one anchorage to another, looking for her true calling... -
![One By One by Freida McFadden]()
One By One by Freida McFadden
Rated: 4.19 of 5 stars · 26 ratingsOne by one, they will get what they deserve...A night spent sleeping on dirt and leaves is not how Claire Matchett expected to spend her vacation.She thought this would be a break from the stresses of work and raising her young children. A chance to repair her damaged marriage. A week of hiking and hot tubs with two other couple friends. It sounded like heaven... -
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![Truth and Justice by Fern Michaels]()
Truth and Justice by Fern Michaels
Rated: 4.29 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsFern Michaels is a national treasure, and her latest in the Sisterhood series finds the stalwart friends bringing justice—and hope—to families devastated by a greedy con artist. The Sisterhood: a group of women from all walks of life bound by friendship and a quest for justice... -
![Little Girl Lost by Cheryl Bradshaw]()
Little Girl Lost by Cheryl Bradshaw
Rated: 4.29 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsFor the past two years, former detective Georgiana "Gigi" Germaine has been living off the grid, until today, when she hears some disturbing news that shakes her. Georgiana's brother-in-law has been murdered, her seven-year-old niece kidnapped. As the hours waste away, Georgiana races back to a town she left behind, and a former life she's still not ready to face... -
![Only the Brave by Mel Sherratt, Anne Flosnik]()
Only the Brave by Mel Sherratt, Anne Flosnik
Rated: 4.29 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsWhen one of the notorious Johnson brothers is murdered and a bag of money goes missing, a deadly game of cat and mouse is set in motion.DS Allie Shenton and her team are called in to catch the killer, but the suspects are double-crossing each other and Allie has little time to untangle the web of lies... -
![In Safe Hands by J.P. Carter]()
In Safe Hands by J.P. Carter
Rated: 4.29 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsHow far would you go to save the ones you love? The first book in a gripping new crime series featuring DCI Anna Tate.When nine children are snatched from a nursery school in South London, their distressed parents have no idea if they will ever see them again. The community in the surrounding area in shock... -
![Tell No One / Gone For Good by Harlan Coben]()
Tell No One / Gone For Good by Harlan Coben
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 16 ratingsFrom New York Times bestselling author Harlan Coben comes an unforgettable duet of classic novels—two top-notch thrillers filled with the author’s signature storytelling genius.TELL NO ONEFor Dr. David Beck, the loss was shattering. And every day for the past eight years, he has relived the horror of what happened. The gleaming lake. The pale moonlight. The piercing screams... -
![The Advocate's Felony by Teresa Burrell]()
The Advocate's Felony by Teresa Burrell
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 16 ratingsSabre Brown’s phone rings at 2 a.m. It’s her brother Ron. After seven years in the Witness Protection Program, someone has discovered his whereabouts, and has tried to kill him. He’s called to warn Sabre that she is in imminent danger. Sabre and her private investigator, J.P., leave sunny San Diego to search for her brother in the cold, wintry Northwest... -
![Ana Rocha: Shadows of Justice by Ammar Habib, Glenda Mendoza]()
Ana Rocha: Shadows of Justice by Ammar Habib, Glenda Mendoza
Rated: 4.22 of 5 stars · 18 ratingsAvailable in paperback, Kindle, and Kindle Unlimited!#1 Bestseller in Crime Thrillers!Co-written by award-winning author Ammar Habib and an accomplished police detective comes this riveting crime novel!Ana Rocha is a woman on fire. Being talented and from a well-off family, Ana could have become anything. But driven by her sister's murder, Ana chose the path of an undercover narcotics officer... -
![Dead Tomorrow by Peter James]()
Dead Tomorrow by Peter James
Rated: 4.20 of 5 stars · 20 ratings*Lynn gripped the sides of the armchair, trying to put aside her own inner terror. 'I can't believe I'm thinking this, Ross. I'm not a violent person, even before Caitlin's influence, I never even liked killing flies in my kitchen. Now I'm sitting here actually willing some stranger to die... -
![The Trapped Ones by Stacy Green]()
The Trapped Ones by Stacy Green
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsShe raced across the woods. Cold wind hit her face, and her heart pounded so fast she could almost feel the panic rushing through her veins. She knocked on the door knowing she didn’t have much time. Fear gripped her. “Please, help,” she whispered.Rushing to the scene of a homicide at a farmhouse surrounded by thick, dark woodland, Special Agent Nikki Hunt is shocked to find four victims... -
![Locked In by Lori Matthews]()
Locked In by Lori Matthews
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsIn the quaint town of Cedar Bluff Maine lies a mystery that even the most secure locks can't contain.Flynn O'Connor, a top-tier operative from the Lock and Key Society, is dispatched to the enigmatic Everlasting Manor—a property whispered to be haunted. Guests report unsettling voices and inexplicable disappearances... -
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![Next Exit, Three Miles by C.W. Browning]()
Next Exit, Three Miles by C.W. Browning
Rated: 4.38 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsAlina Maschik was one of the best. She never missed. Yet, two years ago in Cairo, she missed her shot at one of the world’s most wanted terrorists. Now, he’s back. This time, he’s on US soil.Given the opportunity to redeem herself, Alina’s objective is simple: find the terrorist and complete her mission... -
![The Fragile Ones by Jennifer Chase]()
The Fragile Ones by Jennifer Chase
Rated: 4.44 of 5 stars · 16 ratingsWhen the bodies of eleven and twelve-year-old sisters, Tessa and Megan, are found at the bottom of a ravine—dressed in matching pastel summer outfits, their small bodies broken from the fall—Detective Katie Scott is called to one of the most shocking and heartbreaking crime scenes of her career... -
![Snow Blind by Lori G. Armstrong]()
Snow Blind by Lori G. Armstrong
Rated: 4.30 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsThe frigid winter months are mighty slow in the PI biz for Julie Collins and her partner, Kevin Wells—until the duo is hired by a young woman to investigate problems at her grandfather’s assisted living facility, where they encounter lax security, unqualified healthcare personnel, and a shady senior volunteer organization... -
![Snow Blind by Cindy Gerard]()
Snow Blind by Cindy Gerard
Rated: 4.30 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsWinter storm Holly is the worst in eighty years bringing high winds, subzero temperatures and snowfall better measured in feet than in inches. The weather paralyzes everything in its path, but, in this storm, weather isn't the only threat. It started out as a simple recon mission – then the worst happened... -
![Sins of the Father by Jen Blood]()
Sins of the Father by Jen Blood
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsAlternate Cover Edition for ASIN B008OKBNOK. Sins of the Father finds Erin Solomon continuing her quest to find her father by investigating a convicted murderer's claim of innocence. Her investigation leads her down a path of dark secrets, painful truths, and deadly obsessions, as she struggles to reconcile her memories of her father with the cold, ruthless portrait others paint... -
![Wanting by Calle J. Brookes]()
Wanting by Calle J. Brookes
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsShe saw herself in the missing little girl, and Special Agent Carrie Sparks would do whatever she had to do to find that child. Even pair up with Unit Chief Sebastian Lorcan. Lorcan always watched her, judging every move she made. And Carrie knew she always came up short with him. Still...there was a little girl out there who needed them both.. -
![Once a Thief by Christopher Reich]()
Once a Thief by Christopher Reich
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsFacing enemies at every turn, private spy Simon Riske dashes across Europe to find the truth behind a mysterious investor in this high-stakes international espionage series: "comparison to the Bond novels is apt in many ways." (Booklist)Simon Riske sits in sun-dappled Napa Valley, toasting the record hundred-million-dollar sale of a rare 1963 Ferrari which he restored himself... -
![The Perk by Mark Gimenez]()
The Perk by Mark Gimenez
Rated: 4.19 of 5 stars · 16 ratingsBeck Hardin returns to his Texas hometown - and his estranged father - after the death of his wife leaves him with two children to raise. The town is still reeling from the murder of sixteen-year-old Heidi, whose father - Beck's old college friend - asks Beck to help him find Heidi's killer before the statute of limitations runs out... -
![Pitch Black by Elise Noble]()
Pitch Black by Elise Noble
Rated: 4.18 of 5 stars · 17 ratingsEven a Diamond can be shattered… After the owner of a security company is murdered, his sharp-edged wife goes on the run. Forced to abandon everything she holds dear - her home, her friends, her job in special ops - she builds a new life for herself in England. As Ashlyn Hale, she meets Luke, a handsome local who makes her realise just how lonely she is... -
![Lost Charity: A Charity Styles Novel by Wayne Stinnett]()
Lost Charity: A Charity Styles Novel by Wayne Stinnett
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsAfter a long hiatus, Charity Styles is itching to get back into the fray. She’s had a succession of minor assignments, none of which provided her with the action she craves.After months of recharging and rethinking her position in the Armstrong organization, she’s on the verge of walking away, returning to what could be a more normal life... -
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![Shadow Tyrants by Clive Cussler, Boyd Morrison]()
Shadow Tyrants by Clive Cussler, Boyd Morrison
Rated: 4.23 of 5 stars · 29 ratings"Nearly two thousand years ago, an Eastern emperor charged a small group with safeguarding secrets powerful enough to change the history of mankind. They went down in legend as the Nine Unknown Men--and now two rival factions of their descendants are fighting a mighty battle. Both sides think they are saving the world, but their tactics could very well bring about the end of humankind... -
![Dark Purpose by Mary Stone]()
Dark Purpose by Mary Stone
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 18 ratingsEveryone has a purpose. Some are just darker than others.Always calm, cool, and collected, Savannah PD Detective Charli Cross compensates for her petite five-foot frame with an impenetrable exterior and pragmatic competence. It’s an approach that catapulted her to the rank of detective at twenty-three and contributes to her and her partner’s unequaled murder clearance rate... -
![Shift Burn by Jerusha Jones]()
Shift Burn by Jerusha Jones
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsAfter weeks of fire danger warnings and several wildfire flare-ups, the residents of Sockeye County, Washington, are on edge. When a fire threatens the Imogene Museum, curator Meredith Morehouse realizes the frequency and increasing size of the conflagrations aren’t as random as they seem... -
![Major Crimes by Janie Crouch]()
Major Crimes by Janie Crouch
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsWorking together would bring down a killer But her secrets could tear them apart… Hayley Green never wanted to see Omega special agent Cain Bennett again. Ever. He seduced her, then sent her to prison for hacking, and Hayley’s only just started piecing her life back together. Except now Cain needs Hayley’s help to catch a murderer... -
![Blame it on Paris by Lise McClendon]()
Blame it on Paris by Lise McClendon
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsPARIS, SECOND CHANCES, CHERRY BLOSSOMS, AMERICANS ACTING BADLY-- DID I MENTION PARIS? When Francie Bennett, 4th in the line of lawyer/sisters, comes under serious allegations of wrongdoing at her law firm, she is mortified to learn she must take a leave of absence. Just a formality, they say, but she is sure this is the end of her reputation and her law career... -
![Retaliation by Mimi Barbour]()
Retaliation by Mimi Barbour
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsA virgin librarian with hot-chick potential, the conflicts in her story won’t let you put the book down. Be prepared for an all-nighter… She watches the mob kill her twin and is too frozen with fear to stop them. How can she live with that cowardice eating away at her self-respect? Revenge claws at her sheltered existence until she can’t breathe. Though she’s naïve, she isn’t stupid...
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