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Wrong Man Running
At the beginning of this compelling novel, Rick Corinth—driven careerist, brilliant prosecutor, and the heir apparent to the district attorney’s job in Manhattan—is assigned a case involving a series of increasingly sadistic rapes. When the victims, all prominent women at the acme of their careers, begin identifying Corinth as their assailant, he takes flight.
No one who knows him well believes him capable of committing such shocking crimes, including his ex-wife. His children, made to suffer at school, are hurt and confused. And yet the evidence against him keeps mounting. When his ex-wife is herself sexually attacked, she in turn pegs Corinth as the culprit.
Attorney-turned-novelist Alan Hruska’s Wrong Man Running is the story of Corinth’s frantic search to find the man he thinks framed him and the psychological challenges of confronting the possibility that he might be liable for the heinous rapes several women have claimed he committed. Sharp and haunting, Hruska masterfully ratchets up the suspense in this deftly written novel, penning a taut legal thriller in the vein of Scott Turow and John Grisham.
No one who knows him well believes him capable of committing such shocking crimes, including his ex-wife. His children, made to suffer at school, are hurt and confused. And yet the evidence against him keeps mounting. When his ex-wife is herself sexually attacked, she in turn pegs Corinth as the culprit.
Attorney-turned-novelist Alan Hruska’s Wrong Man Running is the story of Corinth’s frantic search to find the man he thinks framed him and the psychological challenges of confronting the possibility that he might be liable for the heinous rapes several women have claimed he committed. Sharp and haunting, Hruska masterfully ratchets up the suspense in this deftly written novel, penning a taut legal thriller in the vein of Scott Turow and John Grisham.
284 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 1, 2011
32 people are currently reading
156 people want to read
About the author
Alan Hruska
8 books14 followersAlan Hruska is the author of the novels Wrong Man Running, Pardon the Ravens, and It Happened at Two in the Morning, the writer of several plays produced in New York and London, and the writer and director of the films Reunion, The Warrior Class, and, most recently, The Man on Her Mind. A New York native and a graduate of Yale University and Yale Law School, he is a former trial lawyer who was involved in the some of the most significant litigation of the last half of the twentieth century. The Inglorious Arts is his fifth novel.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews
February 6, 2019
Expected this to be another paperback thriller that might be fun to read, but was ultimately relatively shallow. I am not saying that these sort of books are not fun to read. On the contrary, we all have our beach read books. What I am saying is that "Wrong Man Running" was far better than I thought. Not only was it a suspenseful page-turner with much peripeteia, but it also explored interesting issues like rape, marriage, sex addiction, an intimate look at the unfortunate ways of our justice system, abuse and theories surrounding it such as Stockholm Syndrome and the tendency for the abused to abuse.
Character depth was on par with many of the better contemporary literature novels I have read as of late. I really empathized with Rick Corinth- his unrequited love for his ex-wife Ali; his hated for her new beau, a semmingly great guy that he would prefer stay away from her and his children; his devotion to his career; his utter confusion when he is wrongly (?) accused of raping eight women, six of which he knew personally; his decision to go on the run; his automatic decision to trust Diane, one of the women he is accused of raping but who fully believes in his innocence; his acceptance but still bewilderment when he is told by almost everyone that he is the man they are looking for, the unfortunate man who suffers from a rare ailment of blacking out, with no recollection of his actions afterwards. His intuition tells him it is not him, even when he is blacked out, but all logic, all the evidence, points in the opposite direction. He accepts the guilty plea for institutionalization for several months.
Throughout the story, suspects are numerous, but the main ones are 1) Rick Corinth himself, when he blacks out, supposedly becoming someone else entirely that he cannot recollect afterwards, 2) Roger Hazzard, the oresiding oartner in his old law firm, whom apparently has the erroneous suspicion that Corinth has something to do with his divorce, as well as some hidden involvement with alternative sex clubs, 3) Betsy Spaeth, the officer in charge of New York City's violent crimes department, after Rick following the first few rape victims, but befriending him/sleeping with him later, 4) A long time friend, Carter, whom he discusses has a sex addiction that he sees a psychiatrist for as well as a record of violent sex crimes when he was younger. For the record, there were several other suspects that also came up, but these were the ones that the most time was spent discussing. Therefore, they could or could not be guilty.
Secondary characters include Leon, the Lisbeth Sanders equivalent hacker; Lou, Corinth's doorman that testifies against his alibi (Paid by someone?); Emma Spaeth, younger sister to Betsy, also abused in the past, now a drug addict; Corinth's good friend and boss with the District Attorney's office, Frank Seaton; Joe, his defense lawyer and his partner Nona.
Anyways. I should leave the rest of this enticing package of fun for other readers to discover for themselves. If you wish to learn more, what else can I provide but these words: "But don't take my word for it!
Character depth was on par with many of the better contemporary literature novels I have read as of late. I really empathized with Rick Corinth- his unrequited love for his ex-wife Ali; his hated for her new beau, a semmingly great guy that he would prefer stay away from her and his children; his devotion to his career; his utter confusion when he is wrongly (?) accused of raping eight women, six of which he knew personally; his decision to go on the run; his automatic decision to trust Diane, one of the women he is accused of raping but who fully believes in his innocence; his acceptance but still bewilderment when he is told by almost everyone that he is the man they are looking for, the unfortunate man who suffers from a rare ailment of blacking out, with no recollection of his actions afterwards. His intuition tells him it is not him, even when he is blacked out, but all logic, all the evidence, points in the opposite direction. He accepts the guilty plea for institutionalization for several months.
Throughout the story, suspects are numerous, but the main ones are 1) Rick Corinth himself, when he blacks out, supposedly becoming someone else entirely that he cannot recollect afterwards, 2) Roger Hazzard, the oresiding oartner in his old law firm, whom apparently has the erroneous suspicion that Corinth has something to do with his divorce, as well as some hidden involvement with alternative sex clubs, 3) Betsy Spaeth, the officer in charge of New York City's violent crimes department, after Rick following the first few rape victims, but befriending him/sleeping with him later, 4) A long time friend, Carter, whom he discusses has a sex addiction that he sees a psychiatrist for as well as a record of violent sex crimes when he was younger. For the record, there were several other suspects that also came up, but these were the ones that the most time was spent discussing. Therefore, they could or could not be guilty.
Secondary characters include Leon, the Lisbeth Sanders equivalent hacker; Lou, Corinth's doorman that testifies against his alibi (Paid by someone?); Emma Spaeth, younger sister to Betsy, also abused in the past, now a drug addict; Corinth's good friend and boss with the District Attorney's office, Frank Seaton; Joe, his defense lawyer and his partner Nona.
Anyways. I should leave the rest of this enticing package of fun for other readers to discover for themselves. If you wish to learn more, what else can I provide but these words: "But don't take my word for it!
January 4, 2012
I'm a sucker for a good crime novel. I love the plot; the twists and turns, the red herrings, the final unexpected twist in the tale. I love trying to unravel the mystery myself, the suspense the author builds throughout, feeling exhausted as I finally get to that last page and find out whodunnit! But most of all I love the characters, often complex, usually flawed in some way.
Unfortunately, Wrong Man Running satisfied very few of these cravings.
It tells the story of Rick, a rising star in the DA's office, recently divorced from his wife and father to two small children. Rick is handed the case file for a series of vicious assaults on women, all known to him. What starts as a strange coincidence soon becomes a life changing experience for Rick, as the police turn to him as their prime suspect. As the evidence mounts, Rick must quickly find a way to prove his innocence and find the man he believes is framing him.
It got off to a good start. It's an interesting storyline with a character that I genuinely started to build some empathy with. But for me, as the story developed I just found it harder and harder to really believe in the characters. Some of their reactions to events just didn't really ring true and in some cases actually felt quite implausible.
The story also got to a point, for me, where it became a little predictable and the ending really came as no suprise. There were a couple of twists along the way, but overall I was left with a couple of unanswered questions and a feeling of deep disappointment.
Unfortunately, Wrong Man Running satisfied very few of these cravings.
It tells the story of Rick, a rising star in the DA's office, recently divorced from his wife and father to two small children. Rick is handed the case file for a series of vicious assaults on women, all known to him. What starts as a strange coincidence soon becomes a life changing experience for Rick, as the police turn to him as their prime suspect. As the evidence mounts, Rick must quickly find a way to prove his innocence and find the man he believes is framing him.
It got off to a good start. It's an interesting storyline with a character that I genuinely started to build some empathy with. But for me, as the story developed I just found it harder and harder to really believe in the characters. Some of their reactions to events just didn't really ring true and in some cases actually felt quite implausible.
The story also got to a point, for me, where it became a little predictable and the ending really came as no suprise. There were a couple of twists along the way, but overall I was left with a couple of unanswered questions and a feeling of deep disappointment.
March 16, 2012
A fast moving, cinematic novel about a prosecutor who becomes a suspect in a string of horrific rapes. Alan Hruska's writing and plot is better-than-average for this genre, with the novel beginning as a gritty, realistic procedural and then turning into more of a thriller as the prosecutor flees the police.
Hruska's psychological and other insights are probably worse than average, most egregiously when it comes to rape and sexuality where it borders on offensive.
But all in all, worth a quick read.
Hruska's psychological and other insights are probably worse than average, most egregiously when it comes to rape and sexuality where it borders on offensive.
But all in all, worth a quick read.
January 9, 2012
I must say that I was really disappointed with this book. I didn't like the writing of the story and thought there were areas where it dragged and was redundant. It also had a bit too much dramatic flare for my liking.
June 24, 2012
I found the premise of this book very interesting but got confused by the number of characters and their relationships with each other. I thought the conclusion was a bit rushed and there wasn't the follow-up activity I would've expected.
December 8, 2011
Read this because of the promo by Lee Child. Not the best book!
May 2, 2012
Decent psychological suspense, but just too many improbabilities to be satisfying.
July 23, 2015
Hmmmm
It was confusing and quite boring. Wouldn't recommend. Actually stupid plot and forced myself to read it. The book sucks
It was confusing and quite boring. Wouldn't recommend. Actually stupid plot and forced myself to read it. The book sucks
May 22, 2019
Enthralling with lots of thought provoking issues
I really enjoyed this book, which I found enthralling. Character development was excellent, with insight into different types of personalities.
For example, the police inspector reminded me of a composite of many of literature’s detectives, especially Poirot, and the TV series.
The plot was very well developed, with twists in the tale that all interlocked in a most satisfying totality, so by the end very few loose ends left to wonder about.
It was easy for the written words to create images, and even the film, in the mind, which was, for me, a really enjoyable aspect.
Unlike some books, no grisly or graphic scenes of violence that I needed to skip over - I do avoid some authors for their focus on violence.
I really enjoyed this book, which I found enthralling. Character development was excellent, with insight into different types of personalities.
For example, the police inspector reminded me of a composite of many of literature’s detectives, especially Poirot, and the TV series.
The plot was very well developed, with twists in the tale that all interlocked in a most satisfying totality, so by the end very few loose ends left to wonder about.
It was easy for the written words to create images, and even the film, in the mind, which was, for me, a really enjoyable aspect.
Unlike some books, no grisly or graphic scenes of violence that I needed to skip over - I do avoid some authors for their focus on violence.
February 5, 2017
Total page turner.
Could scarcely put it down. Excellent character development and the plot keeps you second guessing everything. Well written. I can't wait to see more from this author!
Could scarcely put it down. Excellent character development and the plot keeps you second guessing everything. Well written. I can't wait to see more from this author!
February 15, 2017
This was a quick read that kept me guessing. I did not predict the ending, and I'm not sure I really believe it either.
There were aspects of this I found fascinating though. If you have blackouts, and people accuse you of doing horrible things during those blackouts, do you believe them? How far do you suspend your belief in yourself in the face of outside feedback? Who do you trust?
There were aspects of this I found fascinating though. If you have blackouts, and people accuse you of doing horrible things during those blackouts, do you believe them? How far do you suspend your belief in yourself in the face of outside feedback? Who do you trust?
May 1, 2018
Good Read
Good story, many twists and turns right to the end. I am impressed and really enjoyed the way it flowed.
Good story, many twists and turns right to the end. I am impressed and really enjoyed the way it flowed.
February 26, 2018
Great read
This is the second book I have read of Alans. I can't put them down. Great writing, tricky plots, read it !
This is the second book I have read of Alans. I can't put them down. Great writing, tricky plots, read it !
April 6, 2017
"Wrong Man Running?" I'm Tempted to Say, "Wrong Man Writing"
Sometimes I wonder when I finish a book why I picked it up in the first place. This was one of those times.
As thrillers go, Wrong Man Running works. It’s suspenseful (which probably explains why I felt compelled to finish reading it), and the protagonist elicited sympathy.
Rick Corinth is a hotshot lawyer nearing 40 who currently serves as deputy DA in New York City, heir apparent to his long-incumbent boss. Mystifyingly, when a series of violent rapes begins to surface, the victims are all women he knows well, and in short order Rick is suspected of the crime. Once he is formally charged, he flees in order to devote himself to finding the real perpetrator. Then the plot thickens.
Unfortunately, like so much pulp fiction, the tale hangs on a series of unlikely coincidences, and practically every character in this book is either drop-dead gorgeous (women) or just gorgeous (men) — or, in a very few cases, ugly. I don’t know about you, but I find this pandering to Hollywood producers tiresome. Oh, yes, we’ll probably see Wrong Man Running on the big screen one of these days. If you like looking at beautiful people and being shocked by what they do, you might consider going. Otherwise, save your ten bucks.
(From www.malwarwickonbooks.com)
Sometimes I wonder when I finish a book why I picked it up in the first place. This was one of those times.
As thrillers go, Wrong Man Running works. It’s suspenseful (which probably explains why I felt compelled to finish reading it), and the protagonist elicited sympathy.
Rick Corinth is a hotshot lawyer nearing 40 who currently serves as deputy DA in New York City, heir apparent to his long-incumbent boss. Mystifyingly, when a series of violent rapes begins to surface, the victims are all women he knows well, and in short order Rick is suspected of the crime. Once he is formally charged, he flees in order to devote himself to finding the real perpetrator. Then the plot thickens.
Unfortunately, like so much pulp fiction, the tale hangs on a series of unlikely coincidences, and practically every character in this book is either drop-dead gorgeous (women) or just gorgeous (men) — or, in a very few cases, ugly. I don’t know about you, but I find this pandering to Hollywood producers tiresome. Oh, yes, we’ll probably see Wrong Man Running on the big screen one of these days. If you like looking at beautiful people and being shocked by what they do, you might consider going. Otherwise, save your ten bucks.
(From www.malwarwickonbooks.com)
March 16, 2014
Eric Corinth (Rick), chief assistant to NY District Attorney, Frank Seaton, is a young man on his way up the legal ladder. He left his law firm after only a couple of years to join the DA's staff, and is quickly making a name for himself. Of course, not everything is perfect. He is separated (still in love) from his wife, Ali, but remains on excellent terms with his two young children.
Eric begins an investigation of a series of gruesome attacks against women. The victims are violated, humiliated and tortured, but not killed. They have one more thing in common: Eric knows each of them personally, with one exception.
On very flimsy evidence, Eric himself becomes a suspect. When he agrees to appear in a lineup, each of the victims identifies him as their attacker. Adding more plot information would spoil the surprises that the reader has in store.
What follows is a well-paced, intricately plotted narrative with enough twists and turns to satisfy the most ardent amateur sleuth. Hruska brings on a host of characters that, were they not so clearly portrayed, would be hard to keep up with.
The story is driven by dialogue, and the author does an excellent job with it. His dialogue is reminiscent of Richard Price, an acknowledged master. I can say nothing better.
Highly recommended. The reader will not be disappointed.
Eric begins an investigation of a series of gruesome attacks against women. The victims are violated, humiliated and tortured, but not killed. They have one more thing in common: Eric knows each of them personally, with one exception.
On very flimsy evidence, Eric himself becomes a suspect. When he agrees to appear in a lineup, each of the victims identifies him as their attacker. Adding more plot information would spoil the surprises that the reader has in store.
What follows is a well-paced, intricately plotted narrative with enough twists and turns to satisfy the most ardent amateur sleuth. Hruska brings on a host of characters that, were they not so clearly portrayed, would be hard to keep up with.
The story is driven by dialogue, and the author does an excellent job with it. His dialogue is reminiscent of Richard Price, an acknowledged master. I can say nothing better.
Highly recommended. The reader will not be disappointed.
February 5, 2012
Alan Hruska's Wrong Man Running had me reading through the night.
Rick Cornith is a successfull Manhattan attorney, just hired on at the District Attorney's office when he finds himself accused of serial rape and even murder. He's essentially a good man, well liked by colleagues of even brief acquaintance, and a stand up ex-husband to his kids and former wife. No one really can believe that Rick's capable of these actions, but he has this problem - he blacks out under stress.
There's lots of twists and turns, loyal friends that protect and support the accused, cops that assume the worst in the face of the obvious and several red herrings. Unlike most crime fiction set in New York City, Hruska writes of the the city lifestyle of those wealthy enough for radio cars, restaurants and doormen. I loved the feel of the city streets and neighborhoods, and for once, didn't miss the grime.
Hruska is the co-founder of Soho Press, the husband of Laura Hruska who sadly passed away in 2010. A former trial lawyer, he's a successful playwright, screenwriter and director. Hruska's sense suspense and cinematic staging is clear and well executed in Wrong Man Running.
-- Ashland Mystery
Rick Cornith is a successfull Manhattan attorney, just hired on at the District Attorney's office when he finds himself accused of serial rape and even murder. He's essentially a good man, well liked by colleagues of even brief acquaintance, and a stand up ex-husband to his kids and former wife. No one really can believe that Rick's capable of these actions, but he has this problem - he blacks out under stress.
There's lots of twists and turns, loyal friends that protect and support the accused, cops that assume the worst in the face of the obvious and several red herrings. Unlike most crime fiction set in New York City, Hruska writes of the the city lifestyle of those wealthy enough for radio cars, restaurants and doormen. I loved the feel of the city streets and neighborhoods, and for once, didn't miss the grime.
Hruska is the co-founder of Soho Press, the husband of Laura Hruska who sadly passed away in 2010. A former trial lawyer, he's a successful playwright, screenwriter and director. Hruska's sense suspense and cinematic staging is clear and well executed in Wrong Man Running.
-- Ashland Mystery
April 4, 2013
I got straight into this book which ripped along at a great pace. I liked the clipped New York dialogue and the deepening plot. However, I became weary of the fact that everyone was beautiful, smart and had an amazing body. Then there was a plethora of normal people being revealed as warped sexual deviants. No-one ever seemed to suffer traumatic after effects of violent assault, and there were far too many co-incidences. Whilst most of the book was played out over a short time period, ten months was crammed into a couple of paragraphs towards the end, which I found irritating.
However, the narrative was compelling and well-written, and I reluctantly found myself sticking with it into the early hours to finish it quickly. For me, this book promised something which it failed to deliver - a believable plot. Too far fetched and left me wondering what exactly is the role of the legal system in New York?
However, the narrative was compelling and well-written, and I reluctantly found myself sticking with it into the early hours to finish it quickly. For me, this book promised something which it failed to deliver - a believable plot. Too far fetched and left me wondering what exactly is the role of the legal system in New York?
January 2, 2012
This legal thriller starts from an interesting premise - a successful Manhattan prosecutor finds his life turned upside-down when he is fingered for a series of brutal rapes. However, the tale deteriorates thanks to a number of groan-inducing cliches.
Feels like this book was written with a movie in mind, and this feels like as a reader you don't get to know or care about the protagnist too much. Quite disappointing.
Feels like this book was written with a movie in mind, and this feels like as a reader you don't get to know or care about the protagnist too much. Quite disappointing.
February 19, 2014
Goodness, where to start! Rick is an attorney who is accused of multiple rapes. I refuse to give details but suffice it to say he knows from the start he did not commit the crimes. There begins the twists and turns that this book reveals! The longer I read the more I thought I knew who did it, only to find out multiple times that I was wrong. Give this book a try and I don't think you will be disappointed. Just be ready for quite the adventure.
November 18, 2012
Not terrible, but not great by any means. The characters are pretty thinly drawn, the action and plot sometimes confusing and a little far fetched, and the dialogue at times unconvincing. It keeps you turning the pages but there were just too many jarring notes which required more suspension of disbelief than I could muster.
May 10, 2014
A very poor effort. Totally unbelievable. The E-book even had one chapter (50) appear twice - once about 5 chapters earlier. I joined goodreads purely to steer people clear of this book. It seems that quite a few like it. If you like cerebral, well-written crime fiction, don't waste your time.
May 30, 2014
Rick a lawyer is due to become the next DA but then a spree of brutal attacks on women occur and Rick knows all the victims. It is not long before the inevitable happens and he is a suspect.
An enjoyable read with a few twists some predictable but others unexpected.
An enjoyable read with a few twists some predictable but others unexpected.
July 19, 2015
I read a lot of crime novels, but tend to enjoy British and European ones more than those set in the USA. I quite enjoyed this while I was reading it, but a week later I can hardly remember anything about it. So probably fine for anyone looking for a holiday read and not seeking too much depth.
February 8, 2012
Really liked this book, interesting twist ending.
February 24, 2012
Absolutely addictive. Could not put this book down. A must read.
November 6, 2012
This was an OK thriller, but not the easiest read. Parts of the storyline were intriguing, but I found it had a few too many twists which made it confusing, and sometimes unconvincing.
February 16, 2014
This was an excellent book, I couldn't put it down, full of twists and turns.
March 3, 2014
Fast paced with lots of unexpected twist and turns. Good writing with a compelling plot.
June 6, 2015
Read this because of the promo by Lee Child. Not the best book!
October 3, 2015
Super novel!
Great book! So many hooks ,twists and turns. Kept me turning those pages rapidly. Read it you'll love it, too.
Great book! So many hooks ,twists and turns. Kept me turning those pages rapidly. Read it you'll love it, too.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews