Airborne Archaeological Series
Sierra Byrd’s Airborne Archaeological Adventures
Retired air force pilot Sierra Byrd wants nothing more than to be left in peace — but the world has other plans. Drawn back into the skies on a series of high-stakes archaeological adventures, she’ll face ancient mysteries, ruthless rivals, and danger at every turn.
This collaboration with John Hopton starts with Shadow of the Sunstone.
Series overview
About the Nora 'Sierra' Byrd's Airborne Archaeological Thrillers
Sierra Byrd first appeared in The Atlantis Agenda, flying Eden Black and her crew out of a very tight spot. A retired air force pilot who wanted nothing more than a quiet life — a collection of vintage planes, a clear runway, and no one asking her for favours — she had more skill in the air than sense in staying out of trouble, and she was only ever meant to grace a single scene before disappearing off into the sunset.
But readers wouldn’t let her go. She’d stolen too many scenes, and before long it was clear that Sierra demanded a series of her own, so I gave her one.
Working alongside John Hopton, we’ve put Sierra exactly where she swore she’d never end up — back in the thick of it. These days she’s running a flight school in the Caribbean, surrounded by sunshine and turquoise water and all the quiet she always wanted, but of course nothing is ever as simple as it seems, and trouble has a way of finding the one pilot who’s done her very best to outrun it.
Clean fiction
Archaeological Thriller
Series at a glance
- Books in series: 3
- Published: 2025 and ongoing
- Main Characters: Nora 'Sierra' Byrd
- Genre: Archaeological thrillers with planes!
- Content rating: Clean / 12+ Thriller
- Formats: Print · Ebook
Main character
Meet Nora 'Sierra' Byrd
Her name’s Sierra Byrd. Some people call her Nora — that’s her real name — but they only make that mistake once. She hates it.
What she loves is planes: fixing them, flying them, or just admiring the way the sunlight catches a vintage tailfin. That, to Sierra, is bliss. She’s a ’50s soul through and through — rock ‘n’ roll, diner jukeboxes, and a bouffant big enough to need its own oxygen mask.
When she’s not tearing up the sky, she’s been known to throw a punch or two, and a lifetime of Southern cooking lends a certain extra energy to a solid right hook. But it’s her sharp tongue that’s done the real damage over the years — just ask anyone who’s tried to cross her.
She’s not all bad, though. An Air Force veteran and a fiercely loyal friend, she’ll welcome anyone to her flight school with open arms. Just don’t put so much as a nick in one of her planes — and the two of you will get along just fine.
When a frantic archaeologist appears clutching an ancient relic rumoured to unlock the secret to eternal youth, retired Air Force pilot Nora “Sierra” Byrd finds her peaceful retirement vanishing in a cloud of engine smoke.
From ancient tombs to high-stakes dogfights, The Shadow of the Sunstone is an explosive archaeological thriller — Indiana Jones meets Top Gun, where ancient mysteries and modern danger collide at 10,000 feet.
International thriller fiction
Action thriller
When her old mentor Bourdell falls foul of the underworld, retired pilot Sierra Byrd won’t leave a partner behind — not with ancient curses, booby-trapped vaults, and a militia commander hell-bent on overthrowing a government standing in her way.
From hidden Caribbean vaults to white-knuckle flying, The Curse of the Jade Idol delivers ancient mystery and modern danger in equal measure.
International thriller fiction
Action thriller
We’re currently working on Nora ‘Sierra’ Byrd’s next airborne adventure. Secure your copy by pre-ordering now 😀
International thriller fiction
Action thriller
Complete series
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audiobooks
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Buy the books
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FAQ
What is the Nora 'Sierra' Byrd Airborne Archaeological Thriller Series about?
The Nora “Sierra” Byrd Airborne Archaeological Thriller series follows a retired Air Force pilot who wants nothing more than a quiet life running her Caribbean flight school, but is repeatedly pulled into globe-trotting hunts for ancient relics, lost treasures, and the deadly secrets they protect. Co-written by Amazon bestselling authors Luke Richardson and John Hopton, these fast-paced, clean action-adventure thrillers combine archaeological mystery with high-stakes flying — perfect for fans of Clive Cussler, Wayne Stinnett, and anyone who’s ever wished Indiana Jones could fly a plane.
Who is Nora 'Sierra' Byrd?
Nora “Sierra” Byrd is the heroine of the Airborne Archaeological Thriller series — a retired US Air Force pilot with twenty years on the flight deck, a beloved collection of vintage planes, and a sharp tongue that gets her into almost as much trouble as her flying gets her out of. First introduced as a scene-stealing supporting character in Luke Richardson’s Eden Black thriller The Atlantis Agenda, Sierra proved so popular with readers that she earned a series of her own, co-written by Luke Richardson and John Hopton.
How many books are in the Nora "Sierra" Byrd Airborne Archaeological Thriller series, and what order should I read them in?
There are currently two books in the Nora “Sierra” Byrd Airborne Archaeological Thriller series, with more on the way — Luke Richardson and John Hopton are hard at work on the next adventure right now. The recommended reading order is:
- The Shadow of the Sunstone
- The Curse of the Jade Idol
We’d suggest starting with The Shadow of the Sunstone, as it’s where Sierra takes centre stage as the queen of her own series and introduces the lovable cast of side characters who fly alongside her. That said, each book tells a complete, self-contained adventure, so you can happily dip in wherever you like and still enjoy the ride.
What genre is the Nora "Sierra" Byrd Archaeological thriller series?
The Nora “Sierra” Byrd series is a set of archaeological adventure thrillers, blending ancient mysteries and treasure-hunting with high-stakes aviation action — think Indiana Jones with a pilot’s licence. Co-written by Amazon bestselling authors Luke Richardson and John Hopton, the books are fast-paced, clean action-adventures (no swearing, sex, or graphic violence), perfect for fans of Clive Cussler, Wayne Stinnett, and Nick Thacker.
Where are the Nora "Sierra" Byrd books set?
The Nora “Sierra” Byrd books are rooted in the Caribbean, where Sierra runs her flight school between adventures — all sunshine, turquoise water, and vintage planes. From that home base, each story sweeps her further afield: The Shadow of the Sunstone takes her through treacherous canyons and ancient tombs in the hunt for an immortality relic, while The Curse of the Jade Idol keeps her closer to home, drawing on the Taíno heritage of the Caribbean as a ruthless militia tears a nation apart. Like all of Luke Richardson and John Hopton’s work, the settings are vivid and atmospheric, carrying readers from sun-drenched runways to the world’s most dangerous corners of treasure and intrigue.
Is the Nora "Sierra" Byrd series based on real events or real locations?
Like all of Luke Richardson’s work, the Nora “Sierra” Byrd series is built on a foundation of real places. The settings are drawn from genuine travels — sun-soaked Caribbean islands, remote canyons, and far-flung corners of the world — giving every adventure that vivid, been-there authenticity Luke’s readers love. That said, this series flies a little closer to pure escapism than some: working alongside John Hopton, Luke takes those real locations and gives them an exotic, heightened edge, weaving in ancient relics, lost treasures, and curses that are gloriously the stuff of fiction. The result is the best of both worlds — real places you could fly to yourself, wrapped around mysteries and adventures you’ll be very glad you only have to read about.
What makes the Nora "Sierra" Byrd series different from other archaeological thrillers?
Plenty of archaeological thrillers send a rugged academic trekking through jungles and tombs on foot — the Nora “Sierra” Byrd series gets airborne. What sets it apart is that its heroine is a pilot first: a retired US Air Force veteran who hunts lost treasures from the cockpit of her beloved vintage planes, trading the usual dusty dig sites for white-knuckle dogfights, daring landings, and chases that play out at 10,000 feet. The Caribbean setting gives the series its own distinct flavour too — Sierra runs a flight school between adventures, so the books are steeped in sun, turquoise water, and island atmosphere rather than the grey libraries and ancient European cities the genre so often leans on. Add a heroine with real personality — a sharp-tongued, rockabilly-loving, fiercely loyal ’50s soul who never asked to be a hero — and a clean, action-packed style with no swearing, sex, or gore, and you’ve got an archaeological thriller series that genuinely flies somewhere new.
Is the Nora "Sierra" Byrd series clean or family-friendly?
Yes — the Nora “Sierra” Byrd series is completely clean, with no swearing, no sex, and no graphic violence anywhere in the books. It’s a hallmark of all Luke Richardson and John Hopton’s writing: you can hand these thrillers to a teenager, recommend them to your gran, or enjoy them yourself without ever hitting a page that makes you wince. That said, clean absolutely doesn’t mean tame — the series is packed with genuine peril, high-stakes action, white-knuckle flying, and villains you’ll love to hate, so you get all the heart-pounding adventure of a blockbuster thriller with none of the content you’d rather skip.
Can each book be read as a standalone or should they be read in order?
Each Nora “Sierra” Byrd book tells a complete, self-contained adventure, so you can absolutely pick up whichever one catches your eye and enjoy it as a standalone — every story has its own relic to chase, its own villain to outwit, and a satisfying ending all of its own. That said, reading them in order (starting with The Shadow of the Sunstone, then The Curse of the Jade Idol) lets you watch Sierra and her crew grow across the series and catch the recurring characters and running threads as they develop, so while it’s never essential, starting from the beginning rewards you a little more.
How does the Nora "Sierra" Byrd series compare to Luke Richardson's Eden Black and International Detectives series?
Of Luke Richardson’s series, the Nora “Sierra” Byrd books sit closest to the Eden Black archaeological thrillers — they share that same DNA of ancient relics, lost treasures, and deadly secrets hidden in the world’s forgotten corners, so if you love Eden Black’s blend of history and high-stakes adventure, you’ll feel right at home with Sierra. The big difference is in the cockpit: where Eden Black travels the globe on foot, Sierra hunts her treasures from the air, giving the series its own distinctive airborne, aviation-led flavour. And like the International Detectives series, the Sierra Byrd books are built on vibrant, atmospheric settings drawn from real travels — swapping that series’ storied world cities for sun-soaked Caribbean islands and far-flung adventure. The one thing that sets Sierra apart from both is the co-writing partnership with John Hopton, which gives her stories a slightly more heightened, escapist edge — all the archaeological thrills of Eden Black, with a vintage plane, a Caribbean breeze, and a sharp-tongued pilot at the controls.
What formats and languages are the Nora "Sierra" Byrd books available in?
The Nora “Sierra” Byrd books are available as ebooks and paperbacks, so you can read them whichever way you prefer — on your Kindle or other e-reader, or in good old-fashioned print. You can buy them right here on this website, as well as from Amazon and other major online retailers, and Kindle readers can enjoy them through Kindle Unlimited. For the very latest on formats, including audiobook editions and any new translations, keep an eye on this site or Luke Richardson’s Amazon author page, where everything is kept right up to date.
