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The Takedown  By  cover art

The Takedown

By: Carlie Walker
Narrated by: Sarah Naughton
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Publisher's summary

"I can’t remember the last time I smiled so much while reading a book.”—Annabel Monaghan, author of Nora Goes Off Script and Same Time Next Summer

An undercover CIA agent is sent home for Christmas to investigate her sister's criminal fiancé but the last thing she expects is to fall in love with his bodyguard along the way.

It’s been a long time since Sydney Swift has gone home. An unrelentingly successful CIA field officer, she has spent the last three years pretending to be someone—anyone—other than herself.

But this year, the festive season is coming with some added surprises. Sydney’s beloved little sister has just announced that she’s engaged to Johnny Jones, the heir of an organized crime dynasty. With her built-in cover and her best-in-class reputation, Sydney is approached by the FBI as their way to infiltrate the Jones family at last.

Sydney has until Christmas to gather enough evidence on Johnny to take him down before he pulls off his most dangerous heist yet, all without losing her sister forever. But she hasn’t counted on the challenge of pulling this off right under her family’s nose or the complications of a romantic entanglement with Johnny’s handsome friend and bodyguard, Nick. Sydney always gets her man—but this time love is a target she can’t afford to miss.

©2023 Carlie Walker (P)2023 Penguin Audio
  • Unabridged Audiobook
  • Categories: Romance

Critic reviews

"I absolutely loved this super-fun, believably romantic, and emotionally thoughtful novel. In fact, I can’t remember the last time I smiled so much while reading a book. Carlie Walker will be an auto-buy author for me.”—Annabel Monaghan, author of Nora Goes Off Script and Same Time Next Summer

"Steamy, swoony and laugh-out-loud funny, The Takedown is part-Finlay-Donovan mystery, part-Emily-Henry-rom-com—and 100 percent perfect. The clever dialogue! The hot bodyguard! The twists I didn't see coming! I couldn't turn the pages fast enough, and can't wait to see what Carlie Walker writes next."—Colleen Oakley, USA Today bestselling author of The Mostly True Story of Tanner & Louise

"Carlie Walker's debut novel is an absolute knockout! Her sparkling wit and keep-em-guessing plot had me totally smitten and also dreaming of a new career as a spy. One minute I was laughing, the next I was swooning, the next I was gasping in shock at the brilliant plot twists. This book is for everyone who (correctly) insists that Speed is a romance!"—Falon Ballard, author of Just My Type

What listeners say about The Takedown

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  • Overall
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    5 out of 5 stars

Finally something different!

Very cute story but what I loved most was that it wasn’t the usual romance tropes. Fun audiobook to listen to

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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  • V
  • 12-26-23

Thriller rom-com!

I absolutely loved this book. Great banter, crime/thriller-type suspense, humor, and romance. Perfect narrator too. Please write more books!

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

A fun thriller romance

This was a fun book to read, definitely a good book if you’re in a slump!

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  • HT
  • 10-08-23

Well written and narrated

A delightful listen. Combines espionage, romance and comedy. Well written with a fast paced plot. Narrator was perfect for the story.

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Perfectly Entertaining

This is not your typical romance. The story is funny and light hearted with a good plot. Best part is that the characters are not whiny women.

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Fun

Quick listen. Fast pace. Fun to listen to. Enjoyed a mystery twist for a holiday book.

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Love these characters so much.

Such a fun rom com just in time for the holidays! The characters and the storyline are just so loveable.

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Meh

This was the toughest book to get through because the narrative is just terrible. The characters do not have good chemistry and some of the plot is forgotten? And so it was really confusing.

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