A great thriller about a young man on the run. Written in modern times with social media. The story is intense and fast paced. A book about lots of organised crime and a great cat and mouse listen.

The Runner by Lloyd Devereux Richards
Narrated by Christopher Ragland

I received an advance review copy for free thanks to NetGalley and HQ and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Blurb

Martin Gabriel is a runner for Ben. He runs errands. He runs deliveries. And now he is running for his life…

When a deal goes wrong, Martin realizes Ben isn’t the legitimate businessman he thought he was.

He flees before Ben catches up with him, unaware that Ben’s criminal network and the FBI are also on his tail.

No longer a runner, but still on the run.

Is Martin fast enough to get away from his past?

My Opinion

The Runner caught my attention from the beginning with a complex plot. The reader is taken on a rollercoaster with many twists and turns. The Runner is the first book I have read by Lloyd Devereux Richards but I have seen some great things so I will be on the lookout for more books in the future.

Rating 4/5

Comes out of the blocks like a sprinter, but ends up feeling more like a marathon. It's a game of cat and mouse in a complex maze.

I enjoyed listening to this audio but didn’t quite make the 5 stars for me. It was good, quick, fast paced and lots of twists and turns, organised crime and the FBI involved, bit of a rollercoaster ride for The Runner.

Certainly picked up after half way listening to it and I believe it would make a really good movie. Shocking end.
Highly recommended

Thank you to Netgalley and HarperCollins

Fast-paced, cinematic thriller that is so much fun to read!

When I saw THE RUNNER announced, I knew immediately that I wanted to read it. I love an action-packed, suspense laden thriller and this book did not disappoint. It’s incredible fun and I felt like I was reading a blockbuster movie, with the evocative locations, the twisting plot and characters that leapt off the page. The shock-ending really took me by surprise and flipped everything that I thought I had known throughout the rest of the novel. If you enjoy being kept in suspense and guessing as to how things will end, you’ll definitely enjoy this ride!

I was lucky enough to be granted access to the audiobook of this in advance and I enjoyed moving between reading the proof and listening to this story. If you love audio then I highly recommend listening to this, as the story really comes alive off the page. It enhances that cinematic feeling and thrusts you right into the heart of the action. The narration is very good and Christopher Ragland really captures the different essences of the characters. It can sometimes be really jarring hearing a man narrate female voices, but Ragland did an excellent job at voicing these characters convincingly.

Full of action, misdirection, mystery and suspense, this is a great Bank Holiday read so RUN to your nearest bookshop this weekend!

I have mixed feelings about this book. The storyline isn’t my usual preference, so it's a testament to the writing that it kept me engaged throughout.

The author has crafted a complex protagonist in Martin. At times, I rooted for him, while at others, I found him to be selfish and self-pitying. His backstory and upbringing were intriguing and clearly shaped who he became.

The presence of the meddling sister, who often made situations worse, meant there were few characters I genuinely liked. However, a few good eggs helped to balance the narrative.

It’s very well written with vivid descriptions and a fast paced plot that was just the right side of complex.

Ultimately, I didn’t love it nor hate it. Reading it in chunks over a week probably affected my overall impression.

A huge thanks to HQ and NetGalley for the advanced copy - all opinions are my own.

Thanks NetGalley and audio publishers for the audio arc copy of The Runner by Lloyd Devereux Richards. Super intense and well polished book, characters are believable. Overall I really enjoyed listening and will definitely recommend!

I recently listened to "The Runner" by Lloyd Devereux Richards, narrated by Christopher Ragland, and I have to say, it was a thrilling ride that kept me on the edge of my seat from start to finish. The plot was engaging, complex, and very well executed.
Martin Gabriel, our protagonist, finds himself in a dangerous situation as a runner for Ben, a businessman who turns out to be involved in criminal activities. When a deal goes wrong, Martin realises he's in too deep and on the run from both Ben's criminal network and the FBI. As he races against time to escape his past, the suspense and tension keep mounting, making for a gripping listening experience.
Richards has crafted a compelling story with well-developed characters that kept me invested in the outcome. The interactions between the characters, the twists and turns of the plot, and the high-stakes action all come together to create a fast-paced and intense narrative that keeps you guessing until the very end.
I especially appreciated the depth of the characters and the way their pasts and relationships influenced their decisions and actions throughout the story. The villains were menacing, the heroes resilient, and the overall atmosphere of the novel was one of suspense and uncertainty.
Overall, "The Runner" was a fantastic audiobook that exceeded my expectations. The ending was unexpected and satisfying, leaving me impressed by the author's storytelling prowess.

Audiobook received via netgalley as an ARC copy

This was a bit out of my comfort zone but I'm glad I tried it. The plot was engaging and complex, very well executed. The characters were well fleshed out. Fantastic book, I will be buying myself a physical copy!