Running to Daylight

by Kim Janine Ligon

After ten years in witness protection, Morgan Tucker is hidden no longer. Evil hasn’t been thwarted by a false name or Morgan’s move to the small town of Lansdale, Wisconsin.

Mark Trask, a veteran of Lansdale’s police force, returns from vacation to find his reclusive housemate, Phil Hughes, missing. The driver of a black pickup truck stalks Mark and nearly kills him. Are they targeting Mark or is it related to Phil’s mysterious disappearance?

Elsie Dennis lives with her older brother, Hubert, and operates Knitting Pretty in downtown Lansdale. Unexpected danger plagues the siblings. Why now? Who is behind this evil?

Mark and Elsie are thrown together to solve the mysteries surrounding them and try to determine if they are related to a ten-year-old murder. They encounter evil at every turn as together they find their way toward the daylight.

Kindle Edition

Published May 26, 2025

About the author

I grew up in rural Wisconsin where my father was a veterinarian. We always had lots of pets around from Great Danes to Siamese cats. We had ponies and horses of various sizes from mean little Shetlands to big Appaloosas. We raised calves, hogs, sheep, ducks and chinchillas – not all at once. We had a cow named Elsie and an Angora goat named Nanabelle. And there was always a herd of children around too, starting with six of us girls and all of our friends. After I left home there were two boys and a girl added by adoption and even later my baby brother was born. Ten of us in all and I am the oldest.
I had a forty plus year career in healthcare information technology under various names from data processing to information services to information technology. When I retired, I finally had time to learn to spin fibers into unique, beautiful yarn that I make into gifts for friends and family. While I am spinning and weaving, I am writing in my head until the writing has to spill out onto the screens on my computer. And if I don't get it right, my characters visit my dreams to get things corrected.
I have been married almost forever to my own real life romance hero!
On my wall is a plaque that says “The joy of the journey is in the ride” and I believe it to be true. I am enjoying every minute of my newest journey and trying to squeeze as much joy from it as possible.
Follow me at www.spinningromance.com or email me at KimJanine@spinningromance.com
Enjoy!!!!!!
SPINNING SUSPENSE & ROMANCE INTO HAPPY EVER AFTERS

Reviews

[Marsali MacIver · Rating 5 out of 5]

Omigosh, what an opening‼️

Right from page one your blood starts pumping overtime.

The protagonists are both likeable but seemed destined to keep inadvertently (and unintentionally) pushing each other away. Elsie Dennis, the owner of “Knitting Pretty”, the popular downtown fibre arts store and local police officer, Mark Travis, seem destined to screw up whenever they begin to draw close to allowing intimacy into their burgeoning friendship.

The author has also inserted some interesting glitches that keep these hooks popping up … and keep the reader mystified as to why they keep happening.

And who doesn’t love a good mystery … especially the kind where the hook gets set early and stays there far longer than expected. Along the way there are plenty of interesting twists and turns which somehow manage to keep it real.

Who knew small town life could be this riveting!

[Liz Flaherty · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this a lot, and just when I'd think I had things figured out ... well, I didn't. Kim Janine Ligon has an excellent voice for mystery, for painting a picture that makes me wonder what I missed. I got attached pretty quickly to Mark and Elsie and even to Elsie's shop! Highly recommended.

[Susie Black · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kim Janine Lignon has penned a tautly written tale driven by love, loss, betrayal, trust, family ties, and the inner strength one must summon to face one’s demons. Ms. Ligon’s experience growing up in a small town similar to the one in the story is evident in the details of the close-knit society’s social mores she described, adding a strong sense of authenticity to the story.
The fast-paced plot has a cast of flawed, but believable characters who drive the story. Readers find themselves rooting for the protagonist from the beginning to the end of the tale. The characters evoke strong emotions in readers right from page one. This reader wanted to hug Elsie and Mark on one page and throttle them on the next. Ligon creates additional conflict with a backstory to keep readers turning the pages to see how it turns out.
Elsie’s complicated family history, the draconian life-changing actions she took to stay alive, and how shockingly close she came to losing her life all come together in a heart-pounding climax that will leave readers breathless.
A classic case of good versus evil, Running to Daylight is part thriller, part mystery, part romance, and part second chance at love and life, fueled by redemption. Running to Daylight will capture the imagination of readers who believe things are not always what they appear to be. This terrific book has more than earned the five-star rating this reader has given it.

[Brian Anderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Part suspense thriller, part sweet romance, Running to Daylight starts off like a sprinter off the blocks—a young woman running for her life, escaping her parents' killers. Years later, we meet Elsie Dennis, a shopkeeper in small-town Wisconsin. Unmarried, she lives with an older brother and is much beloved in the community. Local police veteran Mark Trask is particularly taken with Elsie. But their budding romance is challenged by a series of seemingly unrelated mysteries—a missing roommate, a truck that appears bent on running down Mark, a mysterious brother and sister who open shops near Elsie and, despite their friendly overtures, may not be what they seem, threatening notes, and finally murder. What ties these things together, and how do dark memories of the past threaten Elsie and Mark’s future?

Author Ligon has created a mystery with many twists that will keep readers on their toes. Her depiction of small-town life will both warm your heart and make your blood run cold. Well-written and deeply human, Running to Daylight is a winner.

[Caryl Janis · Rating 5 out of 5]

The close-knit town of Lansdale, Wisconsin has many endearing qualities—neighbors who care, great local events, charming shops and eateries. But serious danger lurks there, too—a missing roommate, break-ins, a truck determined to harm police officer Mark Trask, incidents threatening Knitting Pretty shop owner Elsie Dennis as well as her brother—and, eventually, murder. Is everything connected, just coincidental, or could hidden secrets be at the root of it all? And will the tranquility of this beautiful town be shattered? As the peril intensifies -- so does the budding attraction between Mark and Elsie, but they must deal with a growing menace first and then be there for each other when it takes a life-threatening turn. A riveting page-turner from start to finish, this book is hard to put down. Fine writing, suspenseful plot, appealing characters, and a developing romance make this a definite must for readers looking for an exceptional story.

[Topper Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you like high suspense coupled with sweet romance, put "Running to Daylight" on your must-read list! In this tale of intrigue, Elsie Dennis, living in small-town Wisconsin, teams up with local police officer Mark Trask to find out who’s behind the mayhem menacing them. Along the way, they fend off life-threatening disaster after disaster and in the process discover each other.

Kim Janine Ligon has created well-drawn, endearing characters, easy to root for, and a villain so pernicious, that he will stop at nothing. At times, I’m reminded of the BBC mystery series "Grantchester" with its village secrets, affairs of the heart, and homilies attuned to the message of the moment. Other times, I’m reminded of Agatha Christie’s "Miss Marple" series. Mystery fans and committed romantics, you are going to love "Running to Daylight."

[Terry Segan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was the third book I’ve read by Ligon, and like the first two, it doesn’t disappoint. The author immerses you into the small-town living of Lansdale, WI. As the reader quickly discovers, living in a small town doesn’t necessarily eliminate the dangers found in larger cities. What it does embrace is the tight-knit community values of friends, neighbors, and even strangers, willing to go the extra mile and extend a helping hand. The descriptions of the homes and businesses populating Lansdale make for a wonderful background as the story unfolds. Coupled with a slow-burning, sweet romance between the two main characters, Ligon keeps you guessing as to who the true culprits are that plague them. The story moves along smoothly and makes for a wonderful read.

[Paula Minydzak · Rating 4 out of 5]

In a small town in Wisconsin, police officer Mark Trask returns from vacation to find his roommate mysteriously gone. With his love life in ruins, he sets his sights on his old girlfriend, Elsie, while he tries to figure out what happened to his roommate. Soon after, an unidentified truck follows him. Other unexplained acts of violence befall both Elsie and him, leaving them in grave danger. But Mark will stop at nothing to protect Elsie from the unknown threat. Running to Daylight is a clean, fast-moving romantic suspense novel that keeps a reader guessing. This book is sure to please and entertain.

[Brenda Whiteside · Rating 5 out of 5]

Think the Sopranos meets Mayberry. And since this is a sweet romance, you’ll be spared the graphics. Ms. Ligon begins this tale when Morgan Tucker does the right thing. She is then whisked off, given another identity, and put in witness protection. We are transported to her new life in the second chapter. I liken Lansdale, Wisconsin to Mayberry and our hero, Mark Trask, to the down to earth law enforcement we’d expect in a small town. For me, a good story isn’t enough. I need characters that interest me and are well developed. This story has that. An entertaining read!

[Kat Henry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Author Ligon, known for her sweet, small-town oriented stories does it again with this mystery which will keep the reader on the edge of their seat to suss out the ‘bad guy’ then see if Elsie and Mark will have their relationship blossom. Do not miss this one; it’s another winner from this talented author.

Based on a scale of 1-5, Running to Daylight merits a 5.

Kat Henry Doran, Wild Women Reviews

[Rhonda Blackhurst · Rating 4 out of 5]

A cozy mystery and sweet romance blend. What’s not to love? The author has created relatable dimensional characters and a setting I could actually see. The author has a unique talent for seamlessly weaving several layers and plot lines and spinning a story I couldn’t put down. Looking forward to reading the next one.