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You Can Run
It takes a whole village to save a child in this breath-taking standalone thriller from the acclaimed author of The Jimmy Mullen Series.
IT WASN'T HER DAD THEY WERE AFTER. IT WAS HER.
Ruby Winter is surprised when her reclusive father invites a strange soldier into their house. Intrigued, she tries to eavesdrop on their conversation, but is alarmed when she hears a fight break out. She dashes into the kitchen to save her dad, but he's not the one in trouble.
The soldier has been stabbed and is bleeding out on the floor. Refusing her pleas to call an ambulance, her dad urges her to pack a bag - they have to run. As they try to escape,her dad is shot and Ruby is chased by one of the soldier's comrades but is hidden by Lucas, a village lad she has ignored up till now.
Ruby and Lucas see a military-style ambulance whisk her dad away. She is desperate to find him but the village is quickly under siege. The roads in have been blocked and soldiers are patrolling the streets, urging everyone to stay indoors for their own safety.
Ruby must work out who took her father and why. But what if learning the truth means discovering the life she once knew was a lie?
338 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 16, 2023
12 people are currently reading
206 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 74 reviews
February 1, 2023
Alex Winter has been dreading this knock at the door for sixteen years when ‘Green’ informs him that Alex has something he wants and that doesn’t belong to him. Has this got anything to do with his daughter Ruby?? The ensuing encounter does not end well for Alex and from that point on things become even more dangerous, if not distinctly weird with the odds seemingly stacked against the villagers of Coldburn in Northumberland. Why is Ruby important? Who is she????
I enjoy a lot of this mystery/thriller which is violent and gritty as some of the Coldburn villagers band together against a para-military group. There’s danger and threat around very corner with Ruby et al utilising all their grey matter and resources in an exciting face off. Ruby finds friendship and help in unlikely places and these are some of the strongest characters in the book. Teenager Lucas proves to be made of much sterner stuff that Ruby previously believes and nosy parker, elderly neighbour Margaret who has a BS detector that is permanently on high alert. She more than ‘pokes the bear’ and I find her so funny with it! Some of the best dialogue is when she’s on the page. Her character is important in many ways , for example, through her you get to witness small village attitudes and issues that really make you think. The plot is undoubtedly fast paced, it’s never dull and some interesting revelations surprise you.
However, it is pretty much the same theme throughout and I think there could have been more tension on occasions. I’m not entirely sure about the ending, as although I can believe it, it’s perhaps a tad convenient.
Overall, though it is an entertaining read and I do enjoy it.
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Quercus Books for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.
I enjoy a lot of this mystery/thriller which is violent and gritty as some of the Coldburn villagers band together against a para-military group. There’s danger and threat around very corner with Ruby et al utilising all their grey matter and resources in an exciting face off. Ruby finds friendship and help in unlikely places and these are some of the strongest characters in the book. Teenager Lucas proves to be made of much sterner stuff that Ruby previously believes and nosy parker, elderly neighbour Margaret who has a BS detector that is permanently on high alert. She more than ‘pokes the bear’ and I find her so funny with it! Some of the best dialogue is when she’s on the page. Her character is important in many ways , for example, through her you get to witness small village attitudes and issues that really make you think. The plot is undoubtedly fast paced, it’s never dull and some interesting revelations surprise you.
However, it is pretty much the same theme throughout and I think there could have been more tension on occasions. I’m not entirely sure about the ending, as although I can believe it, it’s perhaps a tad convenient.
Overall, though it is an entertaining read and I do enjoy it.
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Quercus Books for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.
December 1, 2023
This book was on the shelf at my library on the recently returned shelf and I remember thinking that looks interesting.
Well, I can say this book was more than interesting it was very entertaining and I enjoyed it. Considering I knew nothing about this book and I had never heard of the author this book turned out to be a good find. Recommended.
Well, I can say this book was more than interesting it was very entertaining and I enjoyed it. Considering I knew nothing about this book and I had never heard of the author this book turned out to be a good find. Recommended.
February 18, 2023
3.5⭐️
I’m a big fan of the homeless hero Jimmy Mullen books, so I was intrigued how a change of direction would work with this book,an unusual action thriller. I must say from the outset that action thrillers are not my go to genre.
I liked having the village map so you could keep track of where they were going I took a screenshot of it so that I didn’t have to keep going back to the start to look at it, as it was a bit small on the kindle and I couldn’t enlarge it.
Ruby is surprised when her reclusive dad lets a stranger into the house, a fight ensues, the stranger is hurt. Her dad insists that they need to run, but then her dad is injured and taken away by a military ambulance leaving Ruby alone.
The prologue has vibes of What July Knew by Emily Koch with both the list of random known facts and the tone. It’s light easy chatty feel. The main narrator is 16 yr old Ruby, however I felt the tone seemed too immature in the prologue for that age, but then settled to be age appropriate. There are multiple narratives giving different perspectives.
Margaret is the nosy plucky elderly neighbour who refuses to go along with the instructions the residents are given.
Danny is the village odd ball come poacher, who is ex army and savvy, one of my favourites.
The villagers are nearly all likeable in their own way. My favourite has to be underestimated Lucas, who is resilient and loyal even though initially Ruby wasn’t very appreciative of his help.
I can well envisage an entrenched small village being belligerent and very anti authoritarian establishment, don’t underestimate country bumpkins 😂.
As well as an unusual action thriller it’s a bit of a coming of age story.
It started well grabbing my attention, but for me it slowed in the mid section before building up to an action packed ending.
I can’t say that I’m converted to the genre of action thrillers.
I’m a big fan of the homeless hero Jimmy Mullen books, so I was intrigued how a change of direction would work with this book,an unusual action thriller. I must say from the outset that action thrillers are not my go to genre.
I liked having the village map so you could keep track of where they were going I took a screenshot of it so that I didn’t have to keep going back to the start to look at it, as it was a bit small on the kindle and I couldn’t enlarge it.
Ruby is surprised when her reclusive dad lets a stranger into the house, a fight ensues, the stranger is hurt. Her dad insists that they need to run, but then her dad is injured and taken away by a military ambulance leaving Ruby alone.
The prologue has vibes of What July Knew by Emily Koch with both the list of random known facts and the tone. It’s light easy chatty feel. The main narrator is 16 yr old Ruby, however I felt the tone seemed too immature in the prologue for that age, but then settled to be age appropriate. There are multiple narratives giving different perspectives.
Margaret is the nosy plucky elderly neighbour who refuses to go along with the instructions the residents are given.
Danny is the village odd ball come poacher, who is ex army and savvy, one of my favourites.
The villagers are nearly all likeable in their own way. My favourite has to be underestimated Lucas, who is resilient and loyal even though initially Ruby wasn’t very appreciative of his help.
I can well envisage an entrenched small village being belligerent and very anti authoritarian establishment, don’t underestimate country bumpkins 😂.
As well as an unusual action thriller it’s a bit of a coming of age story.
It started well grabbing my attention, but for me it slowed in the mid section before building up to an action packed ending.
I can’t say that I’m converted to the genre of action thrillers.
March 10, 2023
Ruby Winter, a sixteen year old girl, has been living the quiet life with her dad, Alex, in the sleepy village of Coldburn in Northumberland. Alex is somewhat of a recluse, and the Winter family very much keeps to themselves. But one knock on the door will change all of that, and Ruby will be forced to rely on the help of villagers she’s never even met to stay safe.
Ruby is very much supposed to be the main character of the story, although some of the village residents get to have their own point-of-view as well. It turns out Ruby is massively important to someone, and anything goes in getting her back. So much so that a para-military group of some sort has no qualms in closing the village off and telling the residents to stay in their houses. Needless to say, this doesn’t go down well. These villagers do not take kindly to outsiders, or intruders. This is a village that is slowly losing its way of life due to an abundance of second home buyers turning half the village into a AirBnb hotspot, and these people will not take any crap lying down.
And just like that, main character Ruby drops off into the secondary category. The villagers banding together to help her are infinitely more fun and interesting to hang out with, and they blow the character of Ruby right off the pages. There’s her schoolmate, Lucas, who turns out to be far more reliable than she expected. Although not in matters of cooking. There’s Danny, ex-millitary, who may be getting old but still knows what’s what. But the one who steals every scene she’s in is Margaret. Founder of the Neighbourhood Watch, she’s known as being extremely nosy, but she’s also smart as a whip and takes no crap from anyone. And boy, did she make me laugh!
Danger lurks around every corner, and yet I never felt the tension reached boiling point. ‘You Can Run‘ is definitely action-packed, although it lacked the thrill in thriller. There is never a dull moment though, and the pace is spot-on. However, I do admit that I was often left to think maybe the target audience was a tad (okay, a lot) younger than I am. While at times a little gritty, because it’s obviously an “us against them” kind of situation, some things just seemed that little bit too convenient, and a little too predictable. Maybe a bit too much neatly wrapped up in a bow.
That said, I thoroughly enjoyed ‘You Can Run‘ and raced right through it. It’s definitely an entertaining page-turner and an easy, quick read. I understand this is far different from Trevor Wood’s Jimmy Cullen series, but I’m dying to dive into that as well, and I look forward to whatever comes next from this author.
Ruby is very much supposed to be the main character of the story, although some of the village residents get to have their own point-of-view as well. It turns out Ruby is massively important to someone, and anything goes in getting her back. So much so that a para-military group of some sort has no qualms in closing the village off and telling the residents to stay in their houses. Needless to say, this doesn’t go down well. These villagers do not take kindly to outsiders, or intruders. This is a village that is slowly losing its way of life due to an abundance of second home buyers turning half the village into a AirBnb hotspot, and these people will not take any crap lying down.
And just like that, main character Ruby drops off into the secondary category. The villagers banding together to help her are infinitely more fun and interesting to hang out with, and they blow the character of Ruby right off the pages. There’s her schoolmate, Lucas, who turns out to be far more reliable than she expected. Although not in matters of cooking. There’s Danny, ex-millitary, who may be getting old but still knows what’s what. But the one who steals every scene she’s in is Margaret. Founder of the Neighbourhood Watch, she’s known as being extremely nosy, but she’s also smart as a whip and takes no crap from anyone. And boy, did she make me laugh!
Danger lurks around every corner, and yet I never felt the tension reached boiling point. ‘You Can Run‘ is definitely action-packed, although it lacked the thrill in thriller. There is never a dull moment though, and the pace is spot-on. However, I do admit that I was often left to think maybe the target audience was a tad (okay, a lot) younger than I am. While at times a little gritty, because it’s obviously an “us against them” kind of situation, some things just seemed that little bit too convenient, and a little too predictable. Maybe a bit too much neatly wrapped up in a bow.
That said, I thoroughly enjoyed ‘You Can Run‘ and raced right through it. It’s definitely an entertaining page-turner and an easy, quick read. I understand this is far different from Trevor Wood’s Jimmy Cullen series, but I’m dying to dive into that as well, and I look forward to whatever comes next from this author.
December 12, 2023
After the thriller Man on the Street I knew Wood was a very special writer with a honed skill of pacing a novel to keep you awake until the early hours, but he really surpassed himself with You Can Run. I read this in one sitting and stayed awake until 4am because I was gripped. Rarely a novel or a writer can do that for me.
Furthermore Wood writes characters so well that you can’t help but become emotionally invested.
Can’t wait to see what Wood does next.
Highly Recommend
5/5
Furthermore Wood writes characters so well that you can’t help but become emotionally invested.
Can’t wait to see what Wood does next.
Highly Recommend
5/5
February 25, 2025
A really enjoyable read, the book drew me in from the first few chapters. I loved the way the plot developed throughout the book and especially enjoyed how the members of Coldburn all came together, with one minority! Does the ending leave it open for a second book I don’t know, it would bring me great comfort if I knew the villagers of Coldburn were safe!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 2, 2024
I loved Ruby and her gang, this was such a fun read with a serious underlying theme. A few days before her 16th birthday, a strange man walks into her house. When Ruby opens the kitchen door, there is a body on the floor and her dad has a gunshot in his shoulder. This is not supposed to happen in rural Northumberland and soon she is hiding from a bunch of armed men with the help of a motley crew of villagers. A wonderful read, highly recommend!
May 28, 2023
3.25 / 5
The first few chapters of the book started of with a bang, but the plot started to die in the last quarter. The plot follows Ruby who is forced to run and hide within a remote village in Northumberland, after a solider shoots an injures her dad Alex. To survive the ordeal from those chasing her, she is forced to mix and rely on her local neighbours for help. And figure out why she is the only one targeted.
I must say the premise of the book is good, I like the plot in general but I felt the execution to create a continuing thrilling plot failed. It’s between 250 and 350 pages where the plot dips, it’s just monologue after monologue and nothing happens major happens. It felt like the book was dragging because the ending could be done in 200 pages. After this, my interest lacked which subsequently meant the ending didn’t have that punch. I also expected more reason as to why Ruby was important to the plot (I.e why her, why is she being hunted by these soldiers) but I found it disappointing when the information is revealed. Equally I don’t know if I enjoyed the ending or not.
Overall this is a ok book. I am slightly annoyed at all the good reviews on this book, which I do disagree. It isn’t that amazing or thrilling. I definitely will tell you it’s not a new unique plot. It’s just a big standard book. I wouldn’t recommend this book. If you’re expecting a high pace thriller/ chase this is not it.
The first few chapters of the book started of with a bang, but the plot started to die in the last quarter. The plot follows Ruby who is forced to run and hide within a remote village in Northumberland, after a solider shoots an injures her dad Alex. To survive the ordeal from those chasing her, she is forced to mix and rely on her local neighbours for help. And figure out why she is the only one targeted.
I must say the premise of the book is good, I like the plot in general but I felt the execution to create a continuing thrilling plot failed. It’s between 250 and 350 pages where the plot dips, it’s just monologue after monologue and nothing happens major happens. It felt like the book was dragging because the ending could be done in 200 pages. After this, my interest lacked which subsequently meant the ending didn’t have that punch. I also expected more reason as to why Ruby was important to the plot (I.e why her, why is she being hunted by these soldiers) but I found it disappointing when the information is revealed. Equally I don’t know if I enjoyed the ending or not.
Overall this is a ok book. I am slightly annoyed at all the good reviews on this book, which I do disagree. It isn’t that amazing or thrilling. I definitely will tell you it’s not a new unique plot. It’s just a big standard book. I wouldn’t recommend this book. If you’re expecting a high pace thriller/ chase this is not it.
November 14, 2023
Very different to man on the street trilogy but Very good with lot's of emotions and drama
May 6, 2024
Started off really well..... Loved the pace.... But felt the ending was a long time coming and I didn't feel any emotion towards any of the characters.
February 3, 2023
I’ve read Trevor Wood’s trilogy about a homeless army veteran turned detective and thoroughly enjoyed it so was excited to receive this new book as a review copy.
This was a completely different sort of story although the setting was still in the Northeast. This time the main protagonist was a 16 year old girl called Ruby who lives with her single Dad Alex in a remote house in a small village in Northumberland.
Alex has always kept to himself with few friends in the area and has encouraged Ruby to do the same. However one day Ruby hears a knock on the door and Alex ushers a man in an army uniform into their kitchen. She hears raised voices and when she dares to enter the room she finds somebody lying on the floor. Her father is able to encourage her to run and she does but fears for her father’s safety.
Ruby and then an assorted band of locals try and find out what is going on as their village is taken over by a band of ruthless soldiers apparently searching for Ruby.
I loved getting to know all the characters including neighbour, Margaret who although advanced in years, is never short of witty repartee and shows a great deal of courage. Lucas a local teenager who Ruby knows from school and Danny who is ex army try and help Ruby using all their ingenuity as she desperately tries to evade the soldiers, rescue her Dad and work out what is going on.
This was a very fast moving story which was easy and quick to read. I really liked all the characters and the setting of Northumberland which the author knows very well. It was interesting to read how a lot of people are leaving these sorts of villages so that they end up being full of holiday rental properties but with little work for locals.
Definitely a recommended read and I must say I found the ending intriguing. Will there be a follow up featuring these characters? Perhaps- I certainly hope so!
Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for my Arc.
This was a completely different sort of story although the setting was still in the Northeast. This time the main protagonist was a 16 year old girl called Ruby who lives with her single Dad Alex in a remote house in a small village in Northumberland.
Alex has always kept to himself with few friends in the area and has encouraged Ruby to do the same. However one day Ruby hears a knock on the door and Alex ushers a man in an army uniform into their kitchen. She hears raised voices and when she dares to enter the room she finds somebody lying on the floor. Her father is able to encourage her to run and she does but fears for her father’s safety.
Ruby and then an assorted band of locals try and find out what is going on as their village is taken over by a band of ruthless soldiers apparently searching for Ruby.
I loved getting to know all the characters including neighbour, Margaret who although advanced in years, is never short of witty repartee and shows a great deal of courage. Lucas a local teenager who Ruby knows from school and Danny who is ex army try and help Ruby using all their ingenuity as she desperately tries to evade the soldiers, rescue her Dad and work out what is going on.
This was a very fast moving story which was easy and quick to read. I really liked all the characters and the setting of Northumberland which the author knows very well. It was interesting to read how a lot of people are leaving these sorts of villages so that they end up being full of holiday rental properties but with little work for locals.
Definitely a recommended read and I must say I found the ending intriguing. Will there be a follow up featuring these characters? Perhaps- I certainly hope so!
Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for my Arc.
March 4, 2023
Trevor Wood shifts direction after his Jimmy Mullen trilogy with this fast paced and tense thriller, set in the remote tiny village of Coldburn in Northumberland, a place where it can take incomers generations to become accepted. It is where the feisty almost 16 year old Ruby Winter resides with her reclusive father, Alex, who has encouraged her to not mix with locals, nor engage in social media. So it comes as a surprise when Alex invites a strange soldier into their home. Trying to eavesdrop, Ruby hears a violent scuffle, and rushes into the kitchen, worried about her father, only to discover that shockingly it is the soldier that is in trouble, bleeding out from a knife wound. Alex commands Ruby to pack a bag as quickly as possible so they can run, but when he is shot, he urges her to leave him and go alone.
Not knowing what is going on, Ruby finds herself becoming acquainted with villagers she had never mixed with before, with many of her assumptions and opinions about them being challenged as they take it upon themselves to take on the dangerous task of trying to repel the rag tag bunch of military soldiers who descend on Coldburn. The teenage Lucas goes out of his way to help Ruby, they observe her father being taken in a military ambulance and it soon becomes clear the soldiers are hunting her. The soldiers lay siege to the village, patrolling and insisting they stay in homes that they search for what they claim is an escaped prisoner. All communications are down, so there is no internet or working phones, and there are drones carrying out surveillance. Will Ruby be able to remain safe and who could possibly be so determined to lay their hands on her?
The highlight of this gripping story for me are the odd assortment of villagers who take it upon themselves to try and protect Ruby, they include the nosy, elderly and brave Margaret Carr, the ex-military poacher Danny Barnes, and the grieving alcoholic, Archie Baldwin. Ruby sees her life and herself irrevocably changing as the ground beneath her cracks, nothing is as she believed it to be, including her identity. This is an exciting thriller that will appeal to many readers who enjoy the crime and mystery genre, with a charismatic central protagonist in Ruby, with a village that acquires a growing tide of dead bodies as the narrative races to its surprising finale. I am not sure if this is a standalone or if there will be a sequel. Many thanks to the publisher for an ARC.
Not knowing what is going on, Ruby finds herself becoming acquainted with villagers she had never mixed with before, with many of her assumptions and opinions about them being challenged as they take it upon themselves to take on the dangerous task of trying to repel the rag tag bunch of military soldiers who descend on Coldburn. The teenage Lucas goes out of his way to help Ruby, they observe her father being taken in a military ambulance and it soon becomes clear the soldiers are hunting her. The soldiers lay siege to the village, patrolling and insisting they stay in homes that they search for what they claim is an escaped prisoner. All communications are down, so there is no internet or working phones, and there are drones carrying out surveillance. Will Ruby be able to remain safe and who could possibly be so determined to lay their hands on her?
The highlight of this gripping story for me are the odd assortment of villagers who take it upon themselves to try and protect Ruby, they include the nosy, elderly and brave Margaret Carr, the ex-military poacher Danny Barnes, and the grieving alcoholic, Archie Baldwin. Ruby sees her life and herself irrevocably changing as the ground beneath her cracks, nothing is as she believed it to be, including her identity. This is an exciting thriller that will appeal to many readers who enjoy the crime and mystery genre, with a charismatic central protagonist in Ruby, with a village that acquires a growing tide of dead bodies as the narrative races to its surprising finale. I am not sure if this is a standalone or if there will be a sequel. Many thanks to the publisher for an ARC.
February 28, 2023
Having loved this author's Jimmy Mullen trilogy (sad to say goodbye, not gonna lie) I was very excited to get my mitts on this, his latest stand alone.
In it we meet Ruby who is shocked one day to find her father talking to a soldier. She hears a fight break out and runs in to help her father but it appears that he is not who the soldier has come for. The soldier is in a bad way but her father tells Ruby not to help him, but instead go pack a bag. Just the essentials. As they start to run, her father is shot and Ruby finds herself assisted by a Lucas, a lad she had found strange and had previous had nothing to do with. They hide and watch the action play out. But it soon becomes evident that something big is happening. Something bad and it all has to do with Ruby. But what and why and... so many questions...?
I loved this book just as much as I loved this author's series. He manages to create the best characters that really get under your skin. Really suck you in and make you care about them. As he did with Jimmy and his gang in their books, so he has done with Lucas and Ruby herein. And then Margaret and Danny when they join in!
And then there's the question of who exactly Ruby is and why do whoever need her? Soldiers invading a village and holding it siege is a tad OTT but ooo, when we find out ;)
It's a relatively easy read - and I don't mean lacking in substance - I mean that the book flows so well that it pretty much reads itself off the page! It sucked me in from page one, hitting the ground running with intrigue and intensity that didn't stop until it threw me out at the end. Satisfied but also wondering what would be next for the characters... a follow up, maybe ?
My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.
In it we meet Ruby who is shocked one day to find her father talking to a soldier. She hears a fight break out and runs in to help her father but it appears that he is not who the soldier has come for. The soldier is in a bad way but her father tells Ruby not to help him, but instead go pack a bag. Just the essentials. As they start to run, her father is shot and Ruby finds herself assisted by a Lucas, a lad she had found strange and had previous had nothing to do with. They hide and watch the action play out. But it soon becomes evident that something big is happening. Something bad and it all has to do with Ruby. But what and why and... so many questions...?
I loved this book just as much as I loved this author's series. He manages to create the best characters that really get under your skin. Really suck you in and make you care about them. As he did with Jimmy and his gang in their books, so he has done with Lucas and Ruby herein. And then Margaret and Danny when they join in!
And then there's the question of who exactly Ruby is and why do whoever need her? Soldiers invading a village and holding it siege is a tad OTT but ooo, when we find out ;)
It's a relatively easy read - and I don't mean lacking in substance - I mean that the book flows so well that it pretty much reads itself off the page! It sucked me in from page one, hitting the ground running with intrigue and intensity that didn't stop until it threw me out at the end. Satisfied but also wondering what would be next for the characters... a follow up, maybe ?
My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.
March 1, 2023
Ruby Winter has a normal childhood living with her father Alex, in a small village in Northumberland, but just before her 16th birthday, a soldier shows up at their house who ends up dead on their kitchen floor stabbed by her father. As they try to flee the house another soldier arrives shooting her father and chasing Ruby when she runs away. A quiet boy she barely knows from school, Lucas helps her hide and they watch as an ambulance arrives and bundles the dead soldier and her injured Dad into it and drives away. The entire village is then put into lockdown with a telephone and internet blackout as the soldiers tell the residents to stay indoors as there is an escaped convict in the village. Ruby is now sure they are looking for her but why? What could they possibly want with her?
I didn’t love this stand-alone novel quite as much as Wood’s excellent Jimmy Mullen series. It’s a gentler thriller, but does have his trademark in-depth development of slightly quirky and flawed characters that you can’t help growing to love. Ruby discovers she has more unlikely allies in the village than she knew, including her nosy, elderly neighbour Margaret, ex-soldier Danny who has quite a few tricks up his sleeve and Lucas who has more courage than Ruby would have expected. Somehow, they band together to help Ruby hide from the soldiers and look for her father. I wasn’t totally sold on the ending of the novel, but this fast paced, page turner with a touch of humour in the situations and the ineptness of the trained soldiers up against a ragtag bunch of villagers is sure to be a winner.
With thanks to Quercus Books via Netgalley for a copy to read
I didn’t love this stand-alone novel quite as much as Wood’s excellent Jimmy Mullen series. It’s a gentler thriller, but does have his trademark in-depth development of slightly quirky and flawed characters that you can’t help growing to love. Ruby discovers she has more unlikely allies in the village than she knew, including her nosy, elderly neighbour Margaret, ex-soldier Danny who has quite a few tricks up his sleeve and Lucas who has more courage than Ruby would have expected. Somehow, they band together to help Ruby hide from the soldiers and look for her father. I wasn’t totally sold on the ending of the novel, but this fast paced, page turner with a touch of humour in the situations and the ineptness of the trained soldiers up against a ragtag bunch of villagers is sure to be a winner.
With thanks to Quercus Books via Netgalley for a copy to read
March 15, 2023
In You Can Run we meet Ruby Winter. Her dad. Alex, is a graphics designer and they live in a remote village in Northumberland. He likes to live a bit reclusively, so when someone come knocking on the door and her dad lets them in, Ruby is stunned. As she listens at the door and is shocked to hear a fight break out. As she opens the door, she sees the man (a soldier) lying bleeding on the floor. Alex tells her to run - as they try to escape Alex is injured and Ruby is left to fend for herself. The village is put into lockdown - all exits are shut by the soldiers and both men and drones are sent to find Ruby.
Who are the military men looking for Ruby? Why do they go by codenames like Red, Green and Gold? And why are they looking for her? As the truth unravels, so does Ruby's life. Everything she knows is a lie...
I was hooked from the 1st chapter of this book. Wood writes in such a way that it's easy to get into and keep you reading. You really start routing for Ruby and Alex and the villagers who help them are all standout characters. I loved Margaret, the nosey neighbour who had plenty of sass! Lucas (Ruby's classmate) stepped up to the plate with his support and Danny (who the villagers see as an ex-military, paranoid oddball) was practical and unfailing in his protection of his village.
The story never lagged and the pace was punchy. What I like about Wood is that he writes about characters that are flawed, believable and likeable (and some unlikeable ones too!). I really was rooting for Ruby and the villagers. The ending left me reeling a bit though!
A cracking good read, I highly recommend.
Who are the military men looking for Ruby? Why do they go by codenames like Red, Green and Gold? And why are they looking for her? As the truth unravels, so does Ruby's life. Everything she knows is a lie...
I was hooked from the 1st chapter of this book. Wood writes in such a way that it's easy to get into and keep you reading. You really start routing for Ruby and Alex and the villagers who help them are all standout characters. I loved Margaret, the nosey neighbour who had plenty of sass! Lucas (Ruby's classmate) stepped up to the plate with his support and Danny (who the villagers see as an ex-military, paranoid oddball) was practical and unfailing in his protection of his village.
The story never lagged and the pace was punchy. What I like about Wood is that he writes about characters that are flawed, believable and likeable (and some unlikeable ones too!). I really was rooting for Ruby and the villagers. The ending left me reeling a bit though!
A cracking good read, I highly recommend.
March 1, 2023
Wow this is a complete change from Trevor's previous series, mainly having a very young but kick ass female character running the show.
She is about to turn 16, her dad Alex has never allowed her to be on social media or even have a birthday party before but this year that's going to change. She doesn't know anything about her mother who died in childbirth.
One morning a stranger comes knocking on the door and Alex knows they want Ruby, he knows this day has been coming for 16 years. Injured in the scuffle, he tells her to run.
However Ruby doesn't do as she's told, and ends up with Lucas, the small towns troublemaker, saving her and becoming her reluctant sidekick. As the story progresses Ruby gains the support of others in the small town. One that has been locked down and laid siege too by offshoot military.
I loved the character development of Ruby who realises that she knew nothing about life, and how selfish she'd been. The development of Lucas was possibly my favourite, the most misunderstood and the deepest story. We all probably know or knew a Lucas and hopefully will be more understanding.
The characters are a misfit bunch, perfectly drawn. Can't go without mentioning Margaret, who was awesome and hilarious. I want to be her when I'm her age, shotgun included.
A lot of the characters have shades of grey, the bad guys aren't all bad etc. The action is pretty steady throughout and really picks up at the end.
I really enjoyed this, and look forward to seeing what Trevor does next.
She is about to turn 16, her dad Alex has never allowed her to be on social media or even have a birthday party before but this year that's going to change. She doesn't know anything about her mother who died in childbirth.
One morning a stranger comes knocking on the door and Alex knows they want Ruby, he knows this day has been coming for 16 years. Injured in the scuffle, he tells her to run.
However Ruby doesn't do as she's told, and ends up with Lucas, the small towns troublemaker, saving her and becoming her reluctant sidekick. As the story progresses Ruby gains the support of others in the small town. One that has been locked down and laid siege too by offshoot military.
I loved the character development of Ruby who realises that she knew nothing about life, and how selfish she'd been. The development of Lucas was possibly my favourite, the most misunderstood and the deepest story. We all probably know or knew a Lucas and hopefully will be more understanding.
The characters are a misfit bunch, perfectly drawn. Can't go without mentioning Margaret, who was awesome and hilarious. I want to be her when I'm her age, shotgun included.
A lot of the characters have shades of grey, the bad guys aren't all bad etc. The action is pretty steady throughout and really picks up at the end.
I really enjoyed this, and look forward to seeing what Trevor does next.
March 27, 2023
This was great fun – full of action and heart. I loved it.
An ill-disciplined team of mercenaries descends on a Northumbrian village. Their target is a reclusive graphic designer and his fifteen-year-old daughter. The mission is bungled, leading to the serious injury and capture of the father but the escape of the daughter. The mercenaries put the village into lockdown, barricading all roads in and out, cutting phone lines and jamming the internet. They tell the villagers that an escaped prisoner is on the run and they must stay indoors.
The girl, Ruby, is trapped and in danger, and it’s snowing. Where is Bruce Willis when you need him? Her unlikely supporters are other villagers: a misunderstood teenage boy, a dismissed ex-soldier-turned-poacher, a nosy old woman and an alcoholic, overweight garage mechanic. With the odds stacked against them, they must take on the mercenaries, find out who has commissioned them and why, and rescue Ruby’s father.
This has the feel of a Young Adult novel with its teenage protagonists and (hopefully) unlikely premise. But suspend your disbelief and go with the flow. It’s a real page-turner with glorious characters and exciting action scenes. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It’s a rollicking good read, and it reminded me how good Trevor Wood’s writing is. I now need to seek out the third part of his Man on the Street trilogy which I haven’t yet read but will do soon.
With thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an early copy in exchange for an independent review.
An ill-disciplined team of mercenaries descends on a Northumbrian village. Their target is a reclusive graphic designer and his fifteen-year-old daughter. The mission is bungled, leading to the serious injury and capture of the father but the escape of the daughter. The mercenaries put the village into lockdown, barricading all roads in and out, cutting phone lines and jamming the internet. They tell the villagers that an escaped prisoner is on the run and they must stay indoors.
The girl, Ruby, is trapped and in danger, and it’s snowing. Where is Bruce Willis when you need him? Her unlikely supporters are other villagers: a misunderstood teenage boy, a dismissed ex-soldier-turned-poacher, a nosy old woman and an alcoholic, overweight garage mechanic. With the odds stacked against them, they must take on the mercenaries, find out who has commissioned them and why, and rescue Ruby’s father.
This has the feel of a Young Adult novel with its teenage protagonists and (hopefully) unlikely premise. But suspend your disbelief and go with the flow. It’s a real page-turner with glorious characters and exciting action scenes. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It’s a rollicking good read, and it reminded me how good Trevor Wood’s writing is. I now need to seek out the third part of his Man on the Street trilogy which I haven’t yet read but will do soon.
With thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an early copy in exchange for an independent review.
March 16, 2023
A stand-alone thriller set in the remote village of Coldburn in Northumberland in midwinter. Told in multiple POV’s, with the main narrator being 16 year old Ruby. Well written this was fast paced and quite a quick and easy read. Some great characters, particularly amongst the villagers - Danny and Lucas but my favourite was the redoubtable Margaret who may be old but she is happy taking on all comers and her mind and tongue are as sharp as ever! She’s a gem or a character.
Briefly, Ruby is due to celebrate her 16th birthday along with her Dad Alex. They live a reclusive life so she’s surprised by a knock on the door. Alex is confronted by a man holding a rifle and demanding to take Ruby. Following a fight Alex stabs him but not before being shot in the shoulder. Ruby escapes, pursued around the village by an increasingly brutal group of men who are hunting her. Ruby finds herself working with a group of the most unlikely villagers to find her Dad and escape from the intruders.
Ruby is a feisty girl and it’s clear that there are secrets in her background that Alex has kept from her. Quite a gentle read, for gentle don’t read cozy because it’s definitely not that, but it is full of quirky characters and slightly over the top events.
A brilliant read with great characters, an enjoyable plot and action packed. I loved it.
Briefly, Ruby is due to celebrate her 16th birthday along with her Dad Alex. They live a reclusive life so she’s surprised by a knock on the door. Alex is confronted by a man holding a rifle and demanding to take Ruby. Following a fight Alex stabs him but not before being shot in the shoulder. Ruby escapes, pursued around the village by an increasingly brutal group of men who are hunting her. Ruby finds herself working with a group of the most unlikely villagers to find her Dad and escape from the intruders.
Ruby is a feisty girl and it’s clear that there are secrets in her background that Alex has kept from her. Quite a gentle read, for gentle don’t read cozy because it’s definitely not that, but it is full of quirky characters and slightly over the top events.
A brilliant read with great characters, an enjoyable plot and action packed. I loved it.
July 26, 2023
There mustn't be a corner of the British Isles that has not been used as a fictional crime scene. Trevor Wood has claimed Newcastle a few years back and now, with his fourth book, has moved into the surrounding Northumberland countryside. Having recently moved to the area myself, I was of course tempted to read the first three books featuring his ex-army / convict, homeless, turned amateur detective hero. I thought the first book in the series was rather original, with a good sense of time and place, the second a big stretch with overspilling ideas from the first, and the third OKish .... anyway, good enough to make me try his fourth novel with different characters and setting.
The story of "You can Run", seems to be inspired by these Hollywood blockbusters, where a character that lives the "quiet life" turns out to be something else, much to the surprise of their family and friends ... and somehow the past catches up with them. I thought the writing was much more confident and the characters more relatable than the previous books. The story itself a bit far fetched with quite a few violent scenes with torture and beatings, that seem to be a "thing" for Trevor Wood but I don't think they add up to anything much.
Overall I thought enjoyable, with an ending that perhaps hints to further installments.
The story of "You can Run", seems to be inspired by these Hollywood blockbusters, where a character that lives the "quiet life" turns out to be something else, much to the surprise of their family and friends ... and somehow the past catches up with them. I thought the writing was much more confident and the characters more relatable than the previous books. The story itself a bit far fetched with quite a few violent scenes with torture and beatings, that seem to be a "thing" for Trevor Wood but I don't think they add up to anything much.
Overall I thought enjoyable, with an ending that perhaps hints to further installments.
February 9, 2023
As a big fan of Trevor Wood's Jimmy Mullen series I was looking forward to reading his new stand alone thriller You Can Run.
Set in a fictionalised Northumberland village it starts quickly and keeps going. Ruby is a sixteen year old girl living with her reclusive father in a village where even having lived there her whole life, they are considered 'outsiders'.
When a stranger in army dress knocks at the door and confronts her father, ending in violence, Ruby is forced to go on the run, relying on the same neighbours against a threat she does not yet understand.
This is a fast moving story which at times reminded me (albeit without the non-horror/ sci fi) of books like Firestarter - a father and daughter relationship trying to face up to authority where we quickly switch focus from the adult to the child.
Given we follow Ruby for the majority of the book there is a risk it can come across as a Young Adult novel (as one or two reviewers have commented), but Wood provides a cast of secondary characters, each with their own backgrounds to play which brings a multi-faceted story on.
If it doesn't have the underlying social commentary that the Jimmy Mullen series had, it is a good old fashioned (in the best sense of the word) romp of a thriller.
Set in a fictionalised Northumberland village it starts quickly and keeps going. Ruby is a sixteen year old girl living with her reclusive father in a village where even having lived there her whole life, they are considered 'outsiders'.
When a stranger in army dress knocks at the door and confronts her father, ending in violence, Ruby is forced to go on the run, relying on the same neighbours against a threat she does not yet understand.
This is a fast moving story which at times reminded me (albeit without the non-horror/ sci fi) of books like Firestarter - a father and daughter relationship trying to face up to authority where we quickly switch focus from the adult to the child.
Given we follow Ruby for the majority of the book there is a risk it can come across as a Young Adult novel (as one or two reviewers have commented), but Wood provides a cast of secondary characters, each with their own backgrounds to play which brings a multi-faceted story on.
If it doesn't have the underlying social commentary that the Jimmy Mullen series had, it is a good old fashioned (in the best sense of the word) romp of a thriller.
April 8, 2023
WoW.......You Can Run by Trevor Wood was an amazing read from start to finish and I loved it. With every knock on Alex Winter's door he wonders if it's the knock he has been dreading!!! He has been waiting for so many years for this to happen and today that innocent knock at his door was the Knock he has been dreading! They're here to collect something very precious to him and who he has been protecting her since the very day she was born! His beautiful daughter Ruby.......
Its Ruby's sixteenth birthday and they have found them! All those years they have been hiding under the radar......
How did they find her?
Who are they?
Why are they here for her?
These people are dangerous. They are here to collect Ruby, they will go to any length's to take her from Alex!!!
Will they take Ruby without hurting anyone who will get in their way!?
Why is Alex protecting Ruby?
So many questions and this book is excellent. Full of great twists and turns throughout that will just have you hooked from start to finish. I found this book Brilliant! I highly recommend this book!
I am looking forward to Trevor's next book.
Its Ruby's sixteenth birthday and they have found them! All those years they have been hiding under the radar......
How did they find her?
Who are they?
Why are they here for her?
These people are dangerous. They are here to collect Ruby, they will go to any length's to take her from Alex!!!
Will they take Ruby without hurting anyone who will get in their way!?
Why is Alex protecting Ruby?
So many questions and this book is excellent. Full of great twists and turns throughout that will just have you hooked from start to finish. I found this book Brilliant! I highly recommend this book!
I am looking forward to Trevor's next book.
March 12, 2023
It takes but a minute before the action starts!
Teenager Ruby lives with her dad, Alex, it seems neither are terribly sociable with the other inhabitants of their small English village, Alex in particular keeps to him self.
Next thing we know there is a man on their kitchen floor and he's not very well at all, fact is, he's been stabbed! Ruby is told in no uncertain terms they must go, and go now.
Next comes another act of violence, and, along with some other hair raising and eye widening events makes it obvious that our Ruby is the target! This for me was the most intriguing hook in the story, the girl was but 16 years old, what on earth could she have done or what did she know that held such value for her would be captors?
As the story unfolds the tension rises, you do not want to miss this one!
This book really held my attention, from beginning to end
Thanks to NetGalley and Quercus
Teenager Ruby lives with her dad, Alex, it seems neither are terribly sociable with the other inhabitants of their small English village, Alex in particular keeps to him self.
Next thing we know there is a man on their kitchen floor and he's not very well at all, fact is, he's been stabbed! Ruby is told in no uncertain terms they must go, and go now.
Next comes another act of violence, and, along with some other hair raising and eye widening events makes it obvious that our Ruby is the target! This for me was the most intriguing hook in the story, the girl was but 16 years old, what on earth could she have done or what did she know that held such value for her would be captors?
As the story unfolds the tension rises, you do not want to miss this one!
This book really held my attention, from beginning to end
Thanks to NetGalley and Quercus
January 29, 2023
I'm a big fan of Trevor Wood's Jimmy Mullens trilogy so was eager to read what he came up with next.
You Can Run is set in a small Northumbrian village where teenager Ruby lives with Alex, her reclusive single dad.
A stranger comes to visit, a fight breaks out leaving the stranger bleeding on the kitchen floor. Alex gets captured and Ruby goes on the run.
It's a slightly bizarre action thriller, as Ruby and the villagers are pitted against Alex's armed captors. There are some good scenes and interesting characters, but for me it lacked tension. It felt a little bit YA to me. I missed the depth of character and close bonds between characters of the Jimmy Mullens books.
It was entertaining enough but lacked the tension and thrills to really make it come alive for me as an action thriller.
Thanks to Netgalley and Quercus
You Can Run is set in a small Northumbrian village where teenager Ruby lives with Alex, her reclusive single dad.
A stranger comes to visit, a fight breaks out leaving the stranger bleeding on the kitchen floor. Alex gets captured and Ruby goes on the run.
It's a slightly bizarre action thriller, as Ruby and the villagers are pitted against Alex's armed captors. There are some good scenes and interesting characters, but for me it lacked tension. It felt a little bit YA to me. I missed the depth of character and close bonds between characters of the Jimmy Mullens books.
It was entertaining enough but lacked the tension and thrills to really make it come alive for me as an action thriller.
Thanks to Netgalley and Quercus
February 14, 2023
3.5* You Can Run is the 4th book from Trevor Wood, but his first standalone after the brilliant Jimmy Mullen Trilogy.
Ruby lives with her reclusive dad in a small Northumberland village. When a stranger knocks at the door, Ruby is surprised that her dad invites the man in. An altercation between the two men in the kitchen changes Ruby's life forever and brings together the many characters of the village to fight back against an unknown enemy.
You Can Run was a fantastic page turner. Some of the characters were a little clunky and there was a fair smattering of "dad jokes" but the book has that magical quality which meant that I couldn't put it down. The pace continues right until the end with a good helping of twists along the way.
Thanks to Netgalley and Quercus for an ARC.
Ruby lives with her reclusive dad in a small Northumberland village. When a stranger knocks at the door, Ruby is surprised that her dad invites the man in. An altercation between the two men in the kitchen changes Ruby's life forever and brings together the many characters of the village to fight back against an unknown enemy.
You Can Run was a fantastic page turner. Some of the characters were a little clunky and there was a fair smattering of "dad jokes" but the book has that magical quality which meant that I couldn't put it down. The pace continues right until the end with a good helping of twists along the way.
Thanks to Netgalley and Quercus for an ARC.
February 19, 2023
Set in a small Northumbrian Village You Can Run features Ruby Winter an almost 16 year old who lives with her father Alex, a reclusive graphic designer.
They keep themselves to themselves, no friends no visitors. There are few locals. The village houses now mostly second homes.
Then there is a knock at the door and a strange man is actually invited in by Alex.
Ruby cant believe it when minutes later the stranger is lying dead in a pool of blood on the kitchen floor.
No time for explanations they try to get out of the house quickly. Alex doesn`t make it, captured by men in army clothing.
Ruby makes a run for it but where can she go and who can she trust amongst the locals to help rescue her dad and discover why they have taken him.
An entertaining read with a host of interesting characters that I could see as becoming a made for television movie..
They keep themselves to themselves, no friends no visitors. There are few locals. The village houses now mostly second homes.
Then there is a knock at the door and a strange man is actually invited in by Alex.
Ruby cant believe it when minutes later the stranger is lying dead in a pool of blood on the kitchen floor.
No time for explanations they try to get out of the house quickly. Alex doesn`t make it, captured by men in army clothing.
Ruby makes a run for it but where can she go and who can she trust amongst the locals to help rescue her dad and discover why they have taken him.
An entertaining read with a host of interesting characters that I could see as becoming a made for television movie..
March 2, 2023
Trevor Wood’s latest book is a standalone mystery thriller titled: You Can Run. It features Ruby, who is on the cusp of turning sixteen, when a stranger knocks on their front door – her life will never be the same again. Her father does something he never does and invites the stranger in. They end up arguing, resulting in a bloodied body on the kitchen floor. Ruby is told to pack a bag and run but the remote village of Colburn, Northumberland is in lockdown and her life is in danger. This is an absorbing tale that reveals exactly how far a quiet English village will go in order to protect its own. With wonderful characters, surprising twists and action aplenty, making for a four stars read rating. With thanks to Quercus Books and the author, for an uncorrected advanced review copy for review purposes. As always, the opinions herein are totally my own and freely given.
December 28, 2023
Our book group (Oundle Crime) loved Trevor Wood's series about the homeless sleuth, Jimmy Mullin. 'You Can Run' is his first standalone novel and, on the face of it, it didn’t sound quite as interesting, so we weren’t sure if it would match the quality of his previous books, but boy were we wrong!
It's not a particularly complicated story, but in the hands of many other writers it could have turned into a romp. But Trevor Wood gives it gravitas and keeps everything under control, and he’s created a great cast of characters who come alive on the page, so you can’t help but care about them. It’s easy to read, the story flows along nicely, it has an interesting plot, and we loved the way it’s written. What more could you ask for? We gave it 5 Stars and Trevor Wood remains firmly on our list of favourite authors.
It's not a particularly complicated story, but in the hands of many other writers it could have turned into a romp. But Trevor Wood gives it gravitas and keeps everything under control, and he’s created a great cast of characters who come alive on the page, so you can’t help but care about them. It’s easy to read, the story flows along nicely, it has an interesting plot, and we loved the way it’s written. What more could you ask for? We gave it 5 Stars and Trevor Wood remains firmly on our list of favourite authors.
February 26, 2023
I haven’t read by book by this author but the premise was too promising not to ignore. This was such a fast-paced thriller that it left me panting.
Ruby lives with her father in Northumberland and they maintain minimal social interaction with others. One day a mystery man turns up at their door where he ends up dying. Ruby is asked to run by her father. Later on she comes to realise that there is a paramilitary army looking for her and they have taken control of her small town. With the few locals left, she tries to solve the mystery behind the whole situation.
I loved this book so much. It had a blend of little of everything and a lot of surprises and the ending was truly mind blowing!
Ruby lives with her father in Northumberland and they maintain minimal social interaction with others. One day a mystery man turns up at their door where he ends up dying. Ruby is asked to run by her father. Later on she comes to realise that there is a paramilitary army looking for her and they have taken control of her small town. With the few locals left, she tries to solve the mystery behind the whole situation.
I loved this book so much. It had a blend of little of everything and a lot of surprises and the ending was truly mind blowing!
November 8, 2023
This is a load of fun. Sure, the plot is a bit creaky and implausible, and the conspiracy-theory vibe seems less like harmless entertainment than it once did. And it's no great work of literature. But it draws you right in and zips along; the kind of book that picks itself up and reads itself to you, and you do need to restrain yourself from skipping ahead to see what's about to happen. It's genuinely tense at times, and the ending(s) are unexpected and satisfying. But what lifts it up are some of the characters - Ruby herself, Danny, and especially the scene-stealing Margaret.
I promise, I would have enjoyed this one even if it wasn't set in rural Northumberland: but there's no denying that's a bonus.
I promise, I would have enjoyed this one even if it wasn't set in rural Northumberland: but there's no denying that's a bonus.
February 19, 2023
Thank you Quercus and NetGalley for approving my request to read and review this book.
This was my introduction to Trevor Wood's books. I loved the characters Ruby, Lucas, Alex, Margater and Danny. It is set in a little village Coldburn in Northumbria. The story starts with Ruby's Dad Alex letting in a stranger, which is something he never does!!! It was a gripping story with lots of action filled moments!! There are a few comical moments within the story that made me laugh!! No spoilers here but the ending will be a surprise for anyone reading the book. I will recommend this to readers looking for a great thriller!!
This was my introduction to Trevor Wood's books. I loved the characters Ruby, Lucas, Alex, Margater and Danny. It is set in a little village Coldburn in Northumbria. The story starts with Ruby's Dad Alex letting in a stranger, which is something he never does!!! It was a gripping story with lots of action filled moments!! There are a few comical moments within the story that made me laugh!! No spoilers here but the ending will be a surprise for anyone reading the book. I will recommend this to readers looking for a great thriller!!
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