Isabel's Run by M.D. Grayson

Danny Logan Mystery #3

by M.D. Grayson

When danger comes lurking in the night, most people run home and hide—safe behind a locked door. For others, though, running home isn't the answer. For these unlucky ones, when the front door closes and locks at night—the horror's not locked outside. It's locked inside.Isabel Delgado knows all about horror. For nearly five years, her step-father subjects her to the kind of abuse and depravation that no child should ever have to endure. But Isabel survives. Her spirit is strong and she never gives up hope. On the morning of her 16th birthday, Isabel takes a stand. She wakes early, gathers her things in a school backpack, and with a last look behind, she runs. But Isabel's not prepared for what she finds.In the third Danny Logan mystery novel, Seattle author M.D. Grayson brings Danny Logan and the entire team at Logan PI–"Toni" Blair, Kenny Hale, and "Doc" Kiahtel—back for their most exciting and most important adventure yet. Their mission—find Isabel and rescue her from the street gangs and the seething cauldron of teen-age prostitution and human trafficking.

Genres: Mystery, Thriller, Crime, Suspense, Fiction, Mystery Thriller

Paperback

First published September 18, 2012

About the author

M.D. Grayson is the author of the Danny Logan mystery series. He grew up in Las Vegas but now he lives on an island near Seattle with his wife Michelle and their three German shepherds.

Before becoming a full-time writer, Mr. Grayson worked in the construction industry, as an accountant for six l-o-n-g weeks (square peg—round hole), and as a piano player on the Las Vegas strip. When he's not writing, he loves zooming about on two wheels— bicycles and motorcycles alike. In addition, he's a pilot, a boater, and an accomplished musician who's always ready for a jam session!

Reviews

[Jack · Rating 5 out of 5]

Isabel's Run is the third book in the Danny Logan Mystery series. As it turns out, it is the fifth book I've read in the series. In a way, I'm glad I read this one last. It is the absolute heaviest subject matter I've ever read, and many times I had to stop reading because I couldn't handle what was coming next after what I had just read (I'm a big softy).

Basic story: Isabel runs away from home and meets Crystal at the mall. And disappears. Isabel's school friend Kelli comes to her older sister Toni to enlist her and Danny in searching for Isabel. Of course they agree to help her, especially since they have some professional down time. But this is way more than a search for a runaway girl.

While none of the events related actually happened, it's all based in the extremely sad truth of underage prostitution. It's very hard to read at times as things come to light. But realizing all of this is based in truth, that there are huge numbers of young girls (and boys) being forced to sell their bodies to make money for people (and not the kids) is heartbreaking. That there are enough people willing to use these kids for their own gratification is maddening (which is never addressed in the book, but it is definitely part of the problem).

While the characters are true to their established nature, there are a few new insights into some of them. It seems Mr. Grayson (author) has had a good grasp on the characters from the beginning. The writing is raised to a whole new level from the first two books (which were quite good) and continued in subsequent novels. From this point, there seems to be a more intimate involvement with the cases, both for those involved and the readers.

All in all, this is an excellent book. With appropriate warning about the subject matter, I highly recommend this. I absolutely want more Danny Logan and company.

[Priya Singh · Rating 3 out of 5]

Decent

This series is pretty decent not too heavy . But it is very annoying reading all the glowing talk about Toni, it is completely overdone and irritating.

[Carlin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the 3rd in the Danny Logan mystery series of which I have now read the first 4. Danny Logan is a private investigator with his business based in Seattle. His small firm includes Toni Blair who becomes a love interest of Danny's maybe half way through this book. I am not a big fan of Danny because he is too full of himself, but he gets the job done. This story centers around the disappearance of Isabel, a friend of Toni's little sister. They uncover a sex slave/trafficking ring, the central theme of the book.

At one point Danny talks about his and Toni's choice of music. I completely agree with his opinion of this song:

"I can’t listen to Eva Cassidy sing “Fields of Gold” without breaking down and becoming a useless, blubbering fool. Doesn’t matter where I’m at or who I’m with—if that song comes on, I have to get out before I lose it."

You have to concede Danny has a major redeeming feature: being a fan of Eva Cassidy.

[Michelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good book

You people should just read this book yourselves and write your own review on this novel yourself and I really enjoyed reading this book very much so. Shelley MA

[Janet Moylan · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story line was very interesting and eye opening. Some of the dialogue could have been better but did not undermined the story.

[Marilyn Jaye · Rating 4 out of 5]

good story

Caught me right away and kept my interest throughout. Easy to read and fast going.can’t wait for the next Danny Lagan adventure.

[Jeff · Rating 1 out of 5]

- A lecture on child prostitution, not in the same class as the other stories.

[Jim · Rating 4 out of 5]

P.I. Danny Logan returns with partner Toni Blair and the rest of the team for "Isabel's Run" by M.D. Grayson. Kelli Blair the sister of Danny's partner Toni has a friend named "Izzy" who has gone missing. It seems on the sixteenth birthday Isabel "Izzy" Delgado has had enough of being sexual abused by her stepfather and run away from home. Enough though it's a non paying gig, Danny and team proceed to find out whatever became of "Izzy". At this point she'd had already been gone for a month. Danny and Toni Visit her parents Tracey and Mary Webber. with no help or clue coming from parents or home they must shift to looking elsewhere. By this time it is obvious Isabel has fallen in with a bad crowd who has turned her into a sex slave. With the help of Reverend Art, Danny and team know they are looking for a crew named Donnie, DeMichael, and Crystal. A very bad and violent bunch to be sure. Story line moves along very nicely and reads quickly. Even when the author brings in Nancy Stewart, and her partner Tyrone from the "Vice and High Risk Victims Unit" all of the key players are well backgrounded. Some pretty good dialog help define and develop the bad guys well. This is the third Danny Logan book in the series. The characters in the team have their own role that makes them special to the team itself. I enjoyed reading "Isabel's Run" quite a bit. Read very quickly and flowed from beginning to end nicely. I thought the end was somewhat forced which weakened the overall view of the story. Giving it 4 stars out of 5 stars possible. If you haven't read any of the Danny Logan series by M.D. Grayson, do yourself a favor and give it a try. So far has been a nice series to pick up on.

[Elli · Rating 3 out of 5]

Isabel's Run by M.D. Grayson. Overall theme, childhood runaways picked up and exploited for prostitution. It's quite well done. I would have chosen less words in the first part of the book though. It was too much teaching and explaining about the problem, for a novel it needs more explanation through action rather than didacticism for the interest of a reader who prefers well researched fiction to the dryness of much of the non-fiction or propagandic essay type with a purpose in mind. Also one or two of the characters were really not that believable. Leaves one a bit unsatisfied in that way. But the spirit of hope was done especially well and the ending was very satisfying. And the main characters, detective and police were very well presented and followed through in this way. Sexual exploitation of young women and men and pornography rackets are definitely in on the current scene and don't show themselves as problems on the way out. The book presented the violence well in that it was there but glossed over enough that you didn't have to read all the brutal details.

[Sonya Fuller-Campbell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Run Children Run!!!

I would have chosen more stars had they been available. WOW I was moved to tears, hung on to my seat, prayed, and feared turning the page throughout this book. I would recommend this book to any parent out there that doesn't understand how real, horrid, heartbreaking, and done right sickening sex slave trading is in our world today!! As a professional I beg parents to know where their children are no matter how old fashioned it may sound because death is never and will never be old fashioned. This is as real as it gets though written as fiction. This author certainly did his homework and this most certainly will not be my last book by Mr. Grayson although I feel I need to find a really hilarious comedy and download it before I read ANYTHING else. My psyche needs a break. Nothing else needs to be said here unless if you haven't read this title and you are a parent or a professional, please do so....

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book would have rated a five, except for the swear words, that really did not fit at all in as a whole. (I hate bad language anyway and think it is unnecessary.)No matter how much I love the books, I lower the star rating for that. I loved the focus element of human trafficking and I really liked the characters. Bad was bad here and good was good which was refreshing compared to others. There was faith in God which is why the cussing aspect was strange. If you can get past that aspect and the slight-but not overboard, and not in your face, sort of living together, but not prior to marriage add in, this was a great freebie. I would not want to have paid for it though or any others of this series because of the main beef I had with it. If I find them free would read more of them.

[Donna Foston · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the second book of this series that I have read. Like the first one, it is a good story that is slowed down by unnecessary details. The first chapter is about the two main characters qualifying on a shooting range so that we will know Danny is the best shot who ever lived. Totally unnecessary, as are the many descriptions of how long it takes to get from point A to point B because of the Seattle traffic. I don't really need to know whose turn it is to choose the music or what music they're listening to. All these details pull the reader out of the story.

[Geneva Myree · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is awesome

this book touched on real issues with the sex trafficking trade of minors. it kept me going till the very end of it. with that being said my issues with it is the transition of chapters. I don't wanna have to read half way into the chapter to figure out who the characters are. especially when you are reading about a new character. their introduction should be first and then you talk about what they are saying. this became a problem for me through half the book. other then that. good book

[David Freas · Rating 4 out of 5]

The third book in M. D. Grayson’s Danny Logan series is on a par with the second one. And that is good.

This time, Danny and his crew are investigating the disappearance of a friend of Toni Blair’s sister. Their search leads them into the world of underage sex trade.

Grayson has solidified the relationships between his main characters but isn’t keeping them static.

There are still odd breaks in the middle of some scenes that break up the flow of the story.

There’s one book in the series I haven’t read yet, and I hope it’s not the last one.

[Iris Bekker · Rating 4 out of 5]

Being a mother to a daughter, reading this makes me thankful that my daughter has grown up in a safe environment. I find the story of Isabel Delgado very disturbing and and worrying. The realisation that it is based on fact, makes it even more horrifying. I shudder at the thought of how vulnerable young girls are especially if they are not in a stable home environment. I believe that anyone who reads this book has to be affected by it. We should all take note and become more pro-active. A very well written story that keeps your attention to the end.

[Jeanie Jackson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed No Way to Die, but this book is even better. M.D. Grayson know how to draw in the reader with a strong story and well written characters.

The topic of this story is tough and it is one that is getting more and more attention as people discover that it is a real problem in the United State, teen prostitution and sex slavery.

Tony's sister asks for help locating a runaway friend, one who has run to escape abuse that the hands of her stepfather. Unfortunately the team quickly figures out that she may be in even worse danger that she was at home.

[Anne Hill · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good read

This is the 3rd book I have read by this author. They have been an enjoyable read, well paced with characters you can like and cheer for. Bit bothered by the sudden turn onto a "God's will" trend at the end. No doubt this will make this review unpopular, but I like my detective novels to be good guys, bad guys, no religious justification along the way. I read this genre for escape purposes, I get enough religious justifications for good/evil in real life, I don't want it in my escape time.

[maryanne pettingill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another slam dunk by Grayson

I have to admit right up front that I have not read these stories in order. DOESN'T MATTER! The characters and story lines are the best I've read in a long time. While there are aspects of the story that happen in chronological book order, reading them out of order didn't take any of the intrigue away. Just read them, I guarantee you won't be disappointed.

[Beverly Mccollum · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have enjoyed the two previous Danny Logan mysteries. This third installment is a quick and compelling read. In addition to the familiar characters and the " suspense" quotient-this theme of sexual enslavement of young girls is disturbing and thought-provoking but also an important subject to discuss. I'd recommend it.

[linda kellogg · Rating 5 out of 5]

Faith restoring

This book casts characters that are great at their jobs. The police and the private investigators are honest, likeable, and the kind of people you hope are in those jobs. Their integrity is pure and they make a difference. The story itself is fast paced and believable. At the end of the book I was left feeling good.

[Rosemary Kay · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting

I enjoyed this book, it held few surprises, but it covered a continuing problem. Young men, abusing very young girls, who have been trained from childhood to believe that sex is something to play with, it is fashionable. I did not give it a higher score, as it also idolised the Americans love of guns.

[Mike · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another Great Danny Logan Story

Like "Angel Dance" and "No Way To Die", "Isabel's Run" is a book I could hardly put down. It's fast paced, packed with action and danger, and yet has great character development. It's a fine book! I hope Mr. Grayson continues the Danny Logan series.

[Daniel Chady · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another winner from MD Grayson

This is second Danny Logan mystery I've read and enjoyed as much as first one. In addition to the well constructed story line and very likeable characters, the book has a message that addresses the plight of children lured and trapped in child prostitution and slavery rings. Well done!

[Paula · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed the story and I thought it was entertaining. However, I did not like the swearing that was throughout the book. I thought in most cases it was unnessary. That is the reason for the 3 stars.

[Rajuda · Rating 4 out of 5]

M D Grayson is undoubtedly a storyteller par excellence. I liked his 'No Way to Die', which I read a month back and gave a 4-star rating. 'Isabel's run' was even better. Grayson's narrative flow turning yet another simple plot into a real winner!

[Tom · Rating 3 out of 5]

I understand and appreciate the author's motive for writing this book. The research is obvious. However, much as like this series of books, "Isabel's Run" was just too top heavy with facts and tedious detail. Not enough excitement mixed in. Result? For me, a sometimes painfully slow read.

[Robert C. smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best books ever!

It's not often a writer can tug so consistently on the reader's heart strings, weaving factual reality in a fiction story that has much truth. Excellent writing!

[Huub Nollet · Rating 3 out of 5]

Beschrijft het probleem van weggelopen jongeren, die bewerkt worden voor prostitutie, eventueel "verkocht" worden. Sausje erover van een spannend verhaal en ook nog als slotstuk de dominee die zijn gemeente toespreekt hierover.

[Gary R · Rating 4 out of 5]

Be Alert

With the exception of some of the language this was a great read. Not only was the story great but the lesson about awareness of girl slave trade is well presented. I all so realize in the real world the language matches. I will give a four star.

[Carol · Rating 5 out of 5]

Breathtaking story

Whether this book meant to or not it brought forth a true. Problem in our world today. It also offered a solution. The plot and plot twists were excellent. I'm looking forward to the next book.