Loved this book. A really good plot centered around the London marathon. I raced through it haha! Would reccomend this to my book club friends

Can you solve a crime while running the London Marathon? When Molly's stalker - supposedly securely locked up in a German prison - reappears the morning of the race, that's exactly what she has to do. Running to try and qualify for the Olympic team, no one will take her seriously when she tries to tell them that he's back.

Look, I'm lazier than a slug, so I have no idea if half of what happened in this book is plausible. Can you really be fielding phone calls from your agent to your trainer to Scotland Yard while also putting in a competitive time? How many accidental/maybe on purpose injuries can you get before an official steps in a yanks you out for your own safety? I have no answers for any of these questions but for the first 200 pages, it really didn't matter if what was happening was possible or not. It was a real page turner! I was extremely invested in Molly and finding out why this was happening to her.

Unfortunately, with a third of the book (and the marathon) left to go, things got a little too silly even for me, and I found the ultimate whodunnit quite unsatisfying. It was somehow too obvious and too wacky at the same time. I have read and enjoyed another book by this author so I'm not ruling out reading from them again, but this one didn't do it for me. I received this arc for free on netgalley.

M.A. Hunter is a very skilled author, and I love the way the words flow on the paper. I did however not really connect with a single character in this book. Could be that they are not even meant to be that likable. It is hard work and tough competition to qualify for the Olympics, and you will probably not get along with everybody on your way. The plot is interesting, and the reader tries to figure out who is behind it all, or is the protagonist losing her mind, or maybe both... If you like psychological mind games in books and you are interested in competitive sports, then I am sure you will enjoy this book!

Thank you NetGalley and Boldwood Books for this eCopy to review

I found Every Step You Take very slow to read and I just didn't warm to the main character Molly. Told over 2 timelines of during the London Marathon and the months leading up to it. Molly is recovering from a slipped disc but is determined to enter the London Marathon and earn a place at the Paris Olympics. However, she attracts the attention of a stalker and despite him being locked up they reappear on race day. Can Molly keep going and gain her spot?

It might have worked better told chronologically as that would create more sympathy for Molly and as it is told from her point of view there is no break from her. I just found it a bit unbelievable and the suspense and fear did not leap of the page for me

An enjoyable read, based around Molly, a long distance runner who needs to achieve a target time in the London Marathon to secure her spot on the Olympic team. Having previously been hampered by injury and scared out of her mind by a stalker, this is Molly’s big chance. On the morning of the event, it seems that the stalker is back and Molly is terrified. Someone is determined to make her withdraw from the race.

The premise was brilliant and I really enjoyed the tension and suspense, but what let it down for me was the texting, phone calls and other diversions that went on throughout the race. I’m not a long distance runner, but even on a 5k run, I wouldn’t be able to make multiple calls and send numerous texts, never mind running 26 miles while managing these calls, arguing with camera men, confronting spectators and then conveniently catching up to my fellow Olympians when needed, having previously found myself on a quiet street with no other runners or race marshalls. This just wasn’t believable for me and it did take my focus away from the otherwise well written plot.

3 ⭐️ Thanks to Netgalley, M. A. Hunter and Boldwood for an ARC in return for an honest review.

This year's London Marathon is my last chance to win the final place on the Olympic team. The months of rehabilitation after my injury will feel worth it to cross that line. But I wasn't expecting the man who's been making my life a living hell to be there. Last I knew, my stalker was behind bars, but he says he's going to be at the race watching!! I have 26 miles to figure out whether it's him, and what he wants, or I could lose more than just the race! This book was a very interesting read! It had light suspense, intrigue, action, murder, mystery, stalking, and a few crazy twists and turns! I definitely recommend reading this book as it was well worth reading! Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for sharing this book with me!

Great book. Loved the idea of having chapters leading up to the race day. So we find out how and what happened to the stalker beforehand.
Amazing twists and turns.
4****

Running 26 miles is hard enough, but when you are trying to figure out if your stalker is out there and watching makes it even harder! Molly needs to run the London Marathon to nab the last place left on the Olympic team. She has worked hard to recuperate after an injury and is feeling determined and ready to claim her place and compete in the Olympics! The last thing she expected was to begin receiving gifts and threats. She had a stalker who was arrested and sent away. Could he be behind the threats and gifts? Did he get out? Will he be watching her on race day? She reaches out and notifies her coach and the police and starts the marathon. Along the way, she can’t help but be hypervigilant during the race...

I wanted to love this one. I enjoyed the two other books I have read by M.A. Hunter (Adrift and The Trail) and thought this book would be a slam dunk as well. But I had a hard time believing that a runner could do so much while running a marathon such as being on the phone for most of the race. I thought a runner would be thinking about pacing, hydrating, time, stride, etc. Molly is consumed by who might be out there and reaching out to people. This does affect her race as she falls behind, stumbles, etc. There are also scenes in the past, which show what Molly experienced with the stalker which do let readers know the extent of what Molly went through and the danger a stalker presents.

There was a twist and reveal which I did not see coming and I enjoyed the shock of that. It was nicely done and well thought out, but it wasn't enough to push my rating higher. While enjoyable, this one missed its stride with this reader. It won’t stop me from reading another book by M.A. Hunter in the future. We can't love them all.

This year's London Marathon is my last chance to win the final place on the Olympic team. The months of rehabilitation after my injury will feel worth it when I cross the line. But I wasn't expecting the man who's been making my life a living hell to be there. Last I knew, my stalker was behind bars, but he says he's going to be at the race watching. I have twenty-six miles to figure out whether it's him and what he wants, or I could lose more than just the race.

Molly Fitzume is a professional long distance runner, She needs to run the London Marathon to qualify for the Paris Olympics. She's just recovered from major surgery, and she has had a stalker who's now in a prison cell in Germany. The chapters alternate between the race day and the events leading up to it, and we also get the background of the stalking story.

I did enjoy this story, but there were a few things I didn't feel were possible - being able to read text messages whilst running and make phone calls whilst running. I'm not a runner, so it could possibly happen. I also guessed who was her when I was midway through the story. I did enjoy the book. I was rooting for Molly to beat one of the other Marathon runners.

I would like to thank #NetGalley #BoldwoodBooks and the author #MAHunter for my ARC of #EveryStepYouTake in exchange for an hnonest review,

First I want to thank NetGalley, Boldwood Books and M.A. Hunter for my ARC of Very Step You Take. This was such an interesting read! I’ll admit I was skeptical how this one was going to be. But the book only got better the more I read! Going back and forth between past and present really helped paint the picture for this book. I felt bad for Molly. She’s been through so much and just wanted to chase her dreams. She was a very likable character. This book has me guessing till the very end! I certainly never suspected the twist. This was my first M.A. Hunter book but it most certainly won’t be my last!

When I realised that this book was going to take place mile by mile as the protagonists ran a marathon I thought it was going to be deadly dull. I should have known better and had more faith in this author.. I actually found myself speeding up along with the runners and racing to finish the book. I was really shocked when I found out the identity of Molly's tormentor,,and the motive had me reeling. A great story, one you really won't be able to put down

Every Step You Take’ is a twisty psychological thriller that’s had me on a rollercoaster from the first page through to the very last. A definite recommend

thanks netgalley and publisher. All thoughts and opinions are my own and isn't influence by anyone else

2.5 stars

I thought the premise of this novel sounded interesting - a thriller set DURING a marathon (with flashbacks) and had high hopes. I am a runner and while I've never run a full marathon, I have run half-marathons (albeit not as an "elite" runner) and CANNOT imagine her focussing on her race (looking to complete in the unreal time of 2:28 or faster) AND being able to call/ text/ email as she is running. For me, this spoiled the entire story, it's just not believable. Also, a marathon runner who eats a "granola bar and a banana" just casually before they run the race of their life? Also not believable, sorry. If you can suspend belief on the running part of the book, the plot is quite interesting. A fast read.

I really enjoyed the dynamic of this book. It was a very on the go thriller. I liked the back and forth chapters to build the story.
The ending fell a little bit flat for me and the main character was somewhat annoying but there was justified reason for that.

Every Step You Take is a terrifying phycological mind twister about female Olympic runners
and what some will do to get make sure they make it to the Olympics.
M. A. Hunter brings us right along every terrifying step and keeps us breathless to the end.
Hunter is a master storyteller.
#EveryStepYouTake
#MAHunter
#NetGalley

Molly is a runner who has worked hard her whole life to be an Olympic champion. She’s come close, but has never made it to Great Britain’s Olympic team. This is going to be her last chance - she is running the London Marathon to get a spot on the team heading to the 2024 Olympics in Paris.

Unfortunately, mere months before the race, she injured her back and had to have surgery. She wasn’t sure if she’d be able to compete, but with a lot of coaching and physiotherapy she is determined to take this one last chance at making the Olympic team. With her physical problems sorted out, now she just has to get past something that has been bothering her mentally…the fact that she has a stalker.

Luckily, he was arrested and deported, so she should be in the clear, yet she can’t shake the feeling that someone is still watching her. When the odd gifts and threats start again, she reaches out to the detective on the case, to her coach and agent, but nobody will listen. Running the race while searching for her stalker in the crowd is her only option - she’s not going to miss her last chance at the Olympics.

Then we get to the part of the book that bothered me. We have an Olympic-level runner in a race that is 26 miles long, and the entire time she’s running, she is on her phone texting and talking with multiple people, taking screenshots and looking at pictures being sent to her. Who can do that when trying to beat their personal record and become one of the best known athletes in the world? I would say the ending was also a little weak, but I didn’t see it coming. Otherwise, this was a quick little page-turning thriller that was finished in one sitting! 3.5 stars, rounded up.

(Thank you to Boldwood Books, M.A. Hunter and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my review. This book is slated to be released on March 28, 2024.)

I really enjoyed this book! The characters were very complex and the setting was gorgeous. I loved the little details, to me they really make the story. I would definitely recommend!

I’d like to thank Boldwood Books and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read ‘Every Step You Take’ written by M A Hunter in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.

Molly Fitzume’s stalker Otto Bistras is locked away in a German prison for stalking not only herself but other women too. Now, when Molly takes part in the London Marathon she feels safe knowing he can’t hurt her but when she starts receiving gifts and messages she becomes convinced that either Otto is free or he has someone helping him.

‘Every Step You Take’ is an amazing psychological thriller that’s had me gripped from the first page through to the very last. This is the tenth book I’ve read by M A Hunter and while I’ve loved all of the Missing Children Case Files with Emma Hunter, this latest thriller is far and away the best yet. A lot of research must have been undertaken before the writing of this novel and although not a runner myself I’ve been intrigued by the preparation needed to participate in a marathon. During the running of the marathon the narrative is continually going back to the previous November so we have more of Molly’s background, and while urging Molly to keep running I’ve been wondering about her stalker and if it isn’t Otto Bistros then who it could be. I’ve enjoyed this thriller so much that I’ve had my Kindle clasped in my hand all day unable to stop reading until Molly has finally reached the finish line. Thank you, M A Hunter and Boldwood Books, for letting me read this fantastic thriller which I’ve thoroughly enjoyed and didn’t want to end.

Molly Fitzume is running the London marathon to qualify for the last Team GB place for the Paris Olympics. After months of rehabilitation she has trained hard for this place and will do her best to beat the cut off time of 2 hours 28mins. Only thing that is distracting her is her stalker. He is back and out of jail. Sending her flowers to the hotel she is staying in the night before the marathon, sending her texts telling her he is right behind her. She keeps thinking she is seeing him as she goes along the course. Then she starts getting messages from her coach and trainer, paranoid she thinks both of them could be her stalker, or is it one of her team mates that is behind the messages and the stalking.
I enjoyed this book as I previously ran the London marathon and I felt that I was running it again the only thing that annoyed me was how Molly was running to get in under 2 hours 28mins but had plenty of time to stop and read texts and make calls on her phone I found this part a bit far fetched for an elite runner. Apart from that it's a read that you will find hard to put down once you start.
Total rating 3 1/2 stars

April 2024, Molly is taking part in a marathon in London, but she is nervous, very nervous, of someone lunging out at her, intent on causing her injury.
Back in November of 2023, Molly has moved down to London from the North of England, her flat is very basic and she is doing advertising stints on social media to raise essential money, sports bra and multivitamins being the latest endorsements. But she is being hounded by someone who keeps phoning her, sending her flowers and just playing with her mind during everyday tasks.
Her sole intention is to take part in the Olympics in Paris but first she must run in the London Marathon.
A physcological thriller that will keep you wondering who is doing all these things to Molly, is it really who she thinks or someone else unknown to her? Someone is obviously following her on social media and then manipulating the text and photos, but who? Do they actually mean to do her harm or are they just frightening her? Is it one of her fellow competitors? Past boyfriend? Friend or family member?
A real cat and mouse story, and she just doesn't know who to trust and who is telling the truth.
As the story comes to an end you are left holding your breath and turning pages quickly to find out the answers .