The Runner cover art

The Runner

The China Thrillers, Book 5

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The Runner

By: Peter May
Narrated by: Peter Forbes
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About this listen

The penultimate novel in the China series, from the Richard and Judy million-selling author of The Blackhouse.

The Sufferer

A prodigious Chinese swimmer kills himself on the eve of the Beijing Olympics. Days later, a champion weightlifter suffers a fatal heart attack prior to competition.

The Listener

Detective Li Yan senses a conspiracy surrounding the fatalities and finds a female athlete willing to talk. But she will trust only one person: Li's fiancée, Margaret Campbell.

The Runner

When Campbell's contact herself vanishes, the gun is fired on a race against time. And Li must now outrun, and outwit, an enemy bent on pushing him beyond endurance.

©2012 Peter May (P)2017 Quercus Editions Limited Crime Fiction Mystery Suspense Thriller & Suspense Fiction China Thriller Exciting Heartfelt Crime

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All stars
Most relevant
Peter May is such a talented writer who keeps the intrigue and fast going throughout the story.
Peter Forbes narrates in a manner that enhances the story never grating or "intrusive".

Another excellent listen

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Another wonderfully driving and heart-pounding China thriller by Peter May. Equally superb narration by Peter Forbes again whose voice sounds like it was created to read Peter May novels. l already have the sixth in the China series ready to go, "Chinese Whispers" which I'm certain will not disappoint. l fall more in love with the central characters as each story develops and the supporting characters add greatly to the complex relationship between Lee and Margaret while being clearly drawn and fully rounded characters in their own right. While The Runner is a nerve shredding thriller in a great series of thrillers l found that the additional humour in this book (often laugh out loud) simply added to every aspect of the novel. Margaret's mother was particularly funny in her interplay with the Chinese characters and culture: humour which gave light relief at just the right time to accentuate the fast building tension, twists and turns in the tale. If you've not read Peter May you will not be disappointed if you begin by reading his magnificent China thrillers.

Thrilling brilliance again.

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another good book from Peter May well written and well read.

hope there are more to read (listen to)

good listen

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Fabulous book. Narrator was excellent. story was excellent. Thes books just get better and better

Another brilliant book

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Peter May seems to be one of the few modern authors (a bit like Graham Greene) who can tell a story without the characters' personalities and foibles acting simply as padding. The tribulations of a couple of very mixed cultures and backgrounds is informative as well as contributing to the story. I have spent time in China (Beijing) so enjoyed visualing familiar places. Well researched. Although I have read most of the China series, I think that they still stand alone whereas other writers of thriller series tend to rely pretty much on people having read the earlier books. Either that or spending a few chapters to help new readers "catch up". In this respect, Peter May manages for each book to have a complete and independent storyline. Probably not quite in the Graham Greene league but a treat nevertheless and Peter Forbes does an excellent job with the narration.

Good story, excellent background, great narration

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This book captured me from beginning to end. Peter May has a wonderful way of dragging his readers (listeners ) into his wonderful books. Haven't one yet that I didn't like. Highly recommend this book

Totallyn Thrilling

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Peter May and Peter Forbes are yet again a fantastic pairing. May's clever narratives and interestingly flawed characters are brought to life by Forbes' briiliant reading.

Spoilt only by gratuitous sex scenes

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I write as a confirmed fan of Peter May’s novels and, most recently, have been working my way through his China series with great enjoyment. The Chinese background has been researched (or known first hand?) in great detail and the intricacies of the plot are gripping.
Many congratulations on an excellent tale, Mr. May!

Even better than the others!

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I love Peter May's books. I have listened to all of his books read by Peter Forbes. Peter Forbes has a particular way with his narration that brings Mays books alive.

excellent as usual. love both author and narrator

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I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I’m reading all of the books in the China Thrillers in order and I can’t wait to listen to the next one. I did think that it was more predictable than the others but it was still great. The narrator Peter Forbes is a credit to the story.

Another great book from the China Thrillers.

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