The Light Runner: A Novel

by Ally Walker

The first exciting installment in the Realities series!



Things aren't as they appear to be at Bainbridge Psychiatric Hospital. Decorated war hero and politician Captain Oliver Haskell has voluntarily committed himself following the murder of his wife, scientist Hannah Haskell, in the parking lot of her workplace, Wellglad Pharmaceuticals. His case is assigned to Dr. Ella Kramer, a young psychiatrist just out of her residency with a troubled past of her own. After interviewing the captain, Ella starts to listen to her other patients at Bainbridge, who seem to be operating in another reality altogether. But it is when their reality bleeds into Captain Haskell's that Ella is forced to choose between the two worlds and learns to trust her gut about what really happened to Hannah Haskell that night. Detective Paul Moran who is investigating the murder smells a rat-or, perhaps, in this case, a rabbit-as he attempts to unravel what has taken place and its strange connection to the hospital's patients.



The Light Runner, the first installment in the Realities series from debut author Ally Walker, is an edge-of-your-seat metaphysical thriller that will mesmerize and haunt you from the first page to its shocking end.

Genres: Thriller

315 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 6, 2025

Reviews

[Heather~ Nature.books.and.coffee · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5⭐ rounded up. What a fantastic debut by Ally Walker. It's a metaphysical or supernatural murder mystery thriller and I was completely pulled in right away. Ally definitely has quite the imagination and captivating way of putting it all together. Captain Oliver Haskell is a decorated war hero who checks himself into the psychiatric hospital, Bainbridge, after his wife, Hannah Haskell, is murdered in the parking lot at her job as a research scientist. Dr Ella Kramer is a newer Psychiatrist with her own troubled past, and takes on his case. She is also working with other patients, and starts listening to the things they are telling her. They seem to be living in a whole different reality, and she's getting this feeling that they are trying to relate something about the Captain. Detective Paul is the detective assigned to Hannah's case. He's trying to pinpoint why she would be targeted. Could these patients be connected to the captain and his murdered wife?

This is a very thought provoking read and kept me riveted throughout. I had no idea what was going to happen. I found the characters and plot so interesting that I couldn't put it down. Definitely so impressed with this and can't wait to continue on with the next one in the series when it comes out.

Thank you to the publisher, author and Suzy approved book tours for the gifted copy.. All opinions are my own.

[Thais • tata.lifepages • · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you’re looking for a gripping metaphysical thriller that blends murder mystery, psychiatry, and the supernatural, The Light Runner delivers a gripping intensity from the very beginning. Set in the Bainbridge Psychiatric Hospital, it combines fast-paced suspense with thought-provoking twists! 🤯 perfect for fans of movies like Shutter Island.

Dr. Ella, fresh out of her residency, is suddenly placed in charge of Captain Oliver Haskell, admitted after fears he might take his own life following his wife’s murder. At the same time, Detective Paul Moran leads the murder investigation, a trustworthy and seasoned presence whose experience and wisdom ground the story.

The psychiatric setting is well-researched, making the doctor-patient relationships authentic and intense. Ella’s empathy and ability to connect with her patients bring a human dimension to the mysterious themes at play. Adding to the suspense is a chilling supernatural thread: patients begin reporting visions of beings who come to steal people’s light, linking the hospital drama to larger questions of parallel universes. I was at the edge of my seat the whole time while reading!😱

The novel also explores the pharmaceutical industry, weaving in the politics of testing, approval, and marketing of a new drug, which adds another compelling layer to the narrative. It’s noticeable the authors cinematic background as the story feels like watching a very gripping thriller, I was hooked!

[Nursebookie · Rating 5 out of 5]

TITLE: The Light Runner
AUTHOR: Ally Walker
PUB DATE: 06.06.2025

At the heart of the story is Dr. Ella Kramer, a psychiatrist new to Bainbridge Psychiatric Hospital. She’s trying to start fresh after her own trauma, but her newest patient—Captain Oliver Haskell, a decorated war veteran accused of murdering his wife—pulls her into a psychological spiral. As Ella works with Haskell, she begins to question the reality around her. Other patients start behaving in ways that eerily reflect her own experiences, and the lines between her mind and theirs begin to blur.
Meanwhile, Detective Paul Moran investigates the murder and finds himself equally drawn into the strange pull of Bainbridge. The novel slowly unravels to reveal a truth that isn’t just shocking—it’s deeply metaphysical.

4.5/5

From the first chapter, I felt like I was watching a really good psychological thriller—something in the vein of Shutter Island or The OA. Ally Walker’s background as an actress and screenwriter really shows here. Her writing has a cinematic quality, which made me feel like I was walking through the hallways of the hospital, overhearing whispers, trying to make sense of what was real and what wasn’t.

What hit me hardest, though, wasn’t just the mystery or suspense—it was Ella’s emotional journey. She’s not your typical “strong female lead.” She’s vulnerable, skeptical, damaged, but incredibly sharp. I found myself rooting for her not just to solve the case, but to stay sane in a place where even sanity feels negotiable.

A gripping, thought-provoking debut that combines the best of psychological thrillers with metaphysical fiction. It made me feel unsettled in the best way—like I’d been shown a part of the world (and the mind) I hadn’t looked at closely enough before. I’ll definitely be reading the next in the series.

[Audrey N. · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Light Runner is a thrilling page turner that had me hooked from the very first chapter. Ally Walker masterfully blends suspense, mystery, and a metaphysical twist that keeps you guessing until the very end. Captain Oliver Haskell’s story, combined with the strange and unsettling events at Bainbridge Psychiatric Hospital, creates an intense, unforgettable reading experience. If you love suspenseful thrillers that blur the lines between reality and the unknown, this book is an absolute must read!

[Twins Reading Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Light Runner left me feeling agitated like if I happened to stumble across a door I shouldn't have entered, and now I can't stop peeking over my shoulder! Ally Walker's debut is a psychological adventure, a chaos layered in thunders and unexpected twists! I devoured this epic prose and the suspense had me on the edge of my seat! It's certainly one of those endangered novels that moves like a dream while hitting you like a memory you've been trying to forget for years! I concluded with an unorthodox discomfort in my chest, but the hollow feeling that gets when something scrapes against your deepest questions, causing them to bleed faintly!
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Dr. Ella Kramer could be one of the most quietly terrific personalities that I've met in a long time, ahe is painfully honest, her unravelling was courteous slow, and tinged with a yearning I could not shake, watching her try to grasp reality while her own sense of self slid through her fingers was extremely touching! I recognised something in her confusion and refusal to turn away from the unattainable, the way she come to trust her patients over protocol shattered something within me!
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Captain Haskell is heartbreaking in the most intriguing way, a man clinging to the ruins of love, shame, and something even stranger, his discomfort was acute, I found myself holding my breath throughout his meetings with Ella, scared I'd miss an uttered bombshell, and the patients had intriguing and mind-blowing personalities, each telling a distorted version of pain, memory, or eagerness!
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This novel left every neuron of my brain feeling vulnerable with a mind-blown, it caused me to question perspectives, bereavement, and the structure that we construct around sanity, the Light Runner is an outstanding twisty psychological thriller!!! It's like fog spreading across your skin, Ally Walker has written an entertaining and remarkable book, through the nerves, through your bones, through odd parts of your own mind, and if that isn't great, I'm not sure what is. This is the best addictive, unputdownable thriller I've read this Year!!!

[Jan Mawdesley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reviewed by Ian Banks for Bluewolf Reviews and Red Rabbit Press
Billed as a metaphysical thriller, The Light Runner is all of that as well as a captivating journey into the world of alternate reality and what seems to be so is not but is the reality.
After the death of his wife Hannah in a brutal carpark killing Captain Oliver Haskell has voluntarily admitted himself to the Bainbridge Psychiatric Hospital, his budding career in politics now nothing more than a dream.
Ella Kramer is a new graduate Doctor assigned to the case even though it is complex. Her lover is the Head Psychiatrist at Bainbridge, and she is stunned when he tells her she is handling the case. She does not believe she has the developed experience to be able to deal with this complex case effectively.
Detective Paul Moran is assigned to the high-profile case as Hannah had been a research scientist having created a drug which benefitted mentally distressed people. Her murder makes him wonder why she was targeted and who did the targeting. He goes on gut instinct and often uses the help of his partners clairvoyance to clarify difficult issues and solve challenging cases.
As Ella struggles to understand what has happened and why, she begins to talk to and listen to the other patients at the Hospital, particularly a man called Don, who even in his confused state of mind seems to be insistent about Haskell, repeatedly calling out the word ‘Van’ repeatedly. Something about the man disturbs him profoundly.
As the pages turn in this riveting thriller the many levels of reality are presented which at times calls for serious concentration, especially when Ella begins to realise that whatever is going on in Bainbridge is far from normal; all the patients in B Block somehow seem to be connected to Oliver Haskell and what was once considered as reality, is now a distortion of every form of reality she ever knew or understood.
Ally Walker has in her first novel The Light Runner created an alternate reality that is all too real, blending seamlessly past and present as each of the clearly defined characters present their own reality but hide behind the façade they have created.
Book one in The Reality Series, The Light Runner introduces a new talent to the metaphysical genre of literature in Ally Walker and launches what promises to be a riveting series in a genre that perfectly captures the conundrum that is humanity.

[Christine M in Texas (stamperlady50) · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Light Runner
By: Ally Walker
Tour: Suzy Approved Book Tours
4⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

An interesting story in an alternate reality. Different from my normal genre, but happy I ventured outside my norm.

Captain Oliver Haskell has lost his wife. He is having a hard time dealing with it so he checks himself Into Bainbridge Psychology Hospital.

Ella Kramer is a new doctor at the hospital and is assigned to his case. Adding to complexity Ella has her own trauma to deal with.

Lines start to cross as things happen that closely resemble what she has been through.

Sometimes it’s easy to get pulled in by others, but when reality blurs the lines of what is true or not can make you question your sanity.

Thank you Suzy Approved Book Tours and the author for your book and a place on your tour.

[Debbie Rozier · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was a mix of a thriller and an episode of The Twilight Zone.

The book begins as a prominent scientist at a pharmaceutical research facility is murdered. She is also the wife of a senatorial candidate who voluntarily commits himself into the Bainbridge Psychiatric Hospital.

His assigned psychiatrist is Ella Kramer. As the murder is being investigated by Detective Paul Moran, things just aren’t adding up.

There is a sci-fi element as the residents in the psychiatric hospital talk of time as nonlinear and evil invaders taking over the human race.

I thought this read was original and well-thought out. It kept me guessing where it would lead the entire time. This is a great debut book.

[Madisoncbennette · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐ Book Review: The Light Runner by Ally Walker

Rating: ★★★★☆ (4.2/5)

Ally Walker’s The Light Runner marks an impressive debu a metaphysical thriller that weaves psychological suspense, mystery, and speculative fiction into a gripping, reality-bending narrative. It’s the first in the Realities series, and it wastes no time plunging readers into a world where the line between sanity and illusion blurs beyond recognition.

Plot & Pacing

The story centers on Dr. Ella Kramer, a newly minted psychiatrist with a complicated past, who takes on the case of Captain Oliver Haskel, a decorated war hero and politician confined to Bainbridge Psychiatric Hospital after the brutal murder of his wife, Hannah Haskell, a scientist at Wellglad Pharmaceuticals. What begins as a straightforward psychological evaluation spirals into something far more unsettling when Ella’s patients begin to speak of alternate realitie and their delusions start to echo the details of Oliver’s case.

Meanwhile, Detective Paul Moran investigates Hannah’s death and finds himself drawn into the same web of strange connections between Bainbridge’s patients and the real world. The alternating perspectives of Ella and Paul create a tight, suspenseful rhythm that keeps readers guessing about what’s real, what’s imagined, and who can be trusted.

The pacing is deliberate in the first half, gradually building tension, but it accelerates sharply toward the midpoint. The last third of the novel is a true page-turne an almost cinematic unraveling of layers of reality that culminate in a shocking and satisfying twist.

Characters & Themes

Walker crafts her characters with psychological depth. Ella’s struggle to maintain professional distance while confronting her own trauma feels authentic, while Captain Haskell’s mix of composure and quiet despair gives the story emotional weight. Detective Moran adds a necessary grounding element a rational observer trying to impose logic on events that defy it.

At its core, The Light Runner is about truth and perceptio how trauma, guilt, and grief distort our understanding of reality. The novel also touches on ethical questions surrounding science, consciousness, and the unseen dimensions of the human mind.

Writing Style

Walker’s prose is sharp and cinematic, blending clinical precision with a haunting lyrical quality. She manages to make the hospital both claustrophobic and otherworldly, turning Bainbridge into a character in its own right. The dialogue feels natural, and the description especially of psychological states are vivid without being heavy-handed.

Overall Impression

The Light Runner is a smart, suspenseful debut that successfully merges psychological thriller elements with speculative and metaphysical undertones. It will appeal to fans of Blake Crouch, Alex Michaelides, and Tana French, as well as readers who enjoy mysteries that challenge perception and reality.

If the next books in the Realities series maintain this level of tension and insight, Ally Walker is an author to watch

[Bray · Rating 5 out of 5]

From the very first chapter of The Light Runner, Ally Walker pulls you into a world that’s as eerie as it is elegant. Set within the shadowed halls of Bainbridge Psychiatric Hospital, this story is part psychological thriller, part metaphysical mystery, and entirely addictive.

Dr. Ella Kramer—a young psychiatrist carrying her own emotional scars—is assigned to treat Captain Oliver Haskell, a decorated war hero institutionalized after the brutal death of his wife. But what begins as a simple case study quickly spirals into something far more profound. Reality fractures, memories distort, and both doctor and patient are drawn into a web that challenges the very nature of truth, time, and consciousness itself.

Ally Walker writes with a filmmaker’s precision and a philosopher’s curiosity. Every chapter hums with tension, and every revelation feels earned. Her prose is sharp yet lyrical, moving effortlessly between the clinical and the surreal. The hospital setting feels alive—breathing, watching, almost sentient—and the emotional depth of the characters keeps the story grounded even as it edges toward the otherworldly.

What really stands out is Walker’s ability to balance intellect and heart. She takes the reader on a mind-bending journey but never loses sight of the humanity at its core. The relationship between Ella and Oliver is fragile, tense, and full of empathy—two people confronting trauma, guilt, and the limits of perception.

Why you’ll love this book:

It’s beautifully written, with a cinematic rhythm that keeps the pages turning.

It explores psychology, trauma, and metaphysics without ever feeling heavy-handed.

The atmosphere is electric—moody, mysterious, and utterly immersive.

And perhaps best of all, it dares to ask: What if reality is just one version of the truth?

By the time I finished, I found myself sitting in silence, thinking about what it means to heal, to remember, and to see the world clearly for the first time. The Light Runner is more than a thriller—it’s an experience.

Ally Walker has crafted something extraordinary here—a bold, intelligent debut that deserves to be talked about, shared, and savored. I’ll be first in line for book two in The Realities series.

[Maria · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Light Runner is a gripping, thought provoking debut that blends psychological suspense with a touch of the metaphysical. Set in the eerie halls of Bainbridge Psychiatric Hospital, the story follows Dr. Ella Kramer, a young psychiatrist whose newest patient war hero Captain Oliver Haskell has checked himself in after his wife’s brutal murder. What starts as a straightforward case quickly unravels into something far stranger, as Ella begins to suspect that her patients might be experiencing alternate realities that somehow intersect with her own.

Ally Walker does an excellent job building tension and atmosphere. The hospital setting feels unsettling and claustrophobic, and the shifting sense of what’s real versus imagined keeps the reader off balance in the best possible way. The pacing is tight, and the story raises fascinating questions about trauma, perception, and truth.

I especially loved Ella as a protagonist smart but vulnerable, skeptical yet open to the impossible. The interplay between her and Detective Moran adds a grounded, procedural element that balances the more surreal aspects of the plot. And that ending… I didn’t see it coming, and it left me eager for the next installment in the Realities series.

A dark, twisty psychological thriller that keeps you guessing right to the end.

[Brooklogan · Rating 4 out of 5]

There’s something intoxicating about a book that makes you question your own grip on reality and The Light Runner does that with quiet precision and escalating dread. What begins as a story about trauma and therapy inside a psychiatric hospital slowly unravels into something stranger, more metaphysical, and deeply human.

Dr. Ella Kramer isn’t your typical “young doctor with a dark past.” She’s observant, flawed, and painfully real someone trying to heal others while piecing together her own truth. Her connection with Captain Oliver Haskell, a war hero accused of murdering his wife, is the heart of this novel, and it’s written with such restraint that when the emotional payoff comes, it hurts.

Walker writes with the control of a filmmaker scenes cut clean, dialogue hums with tension, and every detail feels intentional. The atmosphere is suffocating but beautiful, like standing in fog and realizing it’s moving with you.

This isn’t just a thriller; it’s a story about perception, belief, and what happens when two realities collide. It lingers not because of a single twist, but because it quietly asks, What if the impossible is the truth?

A sharp, unsettling debut that I’ll be thinking about for a while.

[Chelsie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Captain Oliver Haskell's wife has been murdered. He decides to check himself into the psychiatric hospital even though this will call into question his political career. He was a decorated war hero and now the worst imaginable nightmare has happened to him. Dr. Ella Kramer has been assigned his case and knows this is a huge step in her career. She reaches out to the detective assigned to the case, who questions why she is reaching out in the first place. Dr. Kramer is one who wants to give her all to every patient, and as she dives deeper into Haskell's case and starts to hear from her other patients about him and incidents he was involved in, she starts to question everything including reality. This is a little different than what I normally read, but I really enjoyed the storyline. There were quite a few characters, but they did all play a role in the story that unfolds. I also enjoyed that Dr. Ella Kramer was willing to work outside conventional methods and trust her gut instinct. Thank you to the author for the complementary novel and to Suzy Approved Book Tours for the tour invite. This review is of my own opinion and accord.

[Cassie’s Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was so excited to get my hands on this book! I have seen Ally in a few shows and her book really impressed me!
The book is definitely an edge of your seat thriller that is hard to put down!

Captain Oliver Haskell is a decorated hero who has voluntarily committed himself to a psychiatric hospital, this after the murder of his wife. She was murdered in the parking lot of her employer Wellglad Pharmaceuticals. Assigned to his case is Dr. Ella Kramer, a young psychiatrist who also has a past of her own. Things take a dark turn when the patients begin to talk and act like they are in their own reality, but when the Captain begins acting the same way, Dr. Ella Kramer is determined to uncover what is happening. Enter Detective Paul Moran who feels like something dark is lurking and he is going to unravel what has taken place and its strange connection to the hospital’s patients and its connection to the Captains wife. This is all while “ Ella is being forced to choose between the two worlds and she learns to trust her gut about what really happened to Hannah Haskell”.

[Sabina Carroll · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Light Runner pulls you in from page one with a premise that’s as haunting as it is thought-provoking. Ally Walker masterfully blurs the line between reality and illusion, giving readers a front-row seat to the unraveling of both mind and mystery.

Dr. Ella Kramer’s journey through the eerie corridors of Bainbridge Psychiatric Hospital feels both deeply human and unsettlingly surreal. Every conversation, every dreamlike moment builds tension until you’re no longer sure what’s real and that’s exactly the point. The story asks big questions about consciousness, trauma, and the thin veil separating sanity from something far stranger.

Walker’s writing is crisp, cinematic, and intelligent no surprise it’s been featured on Good Morning America and People Magazine. Fans of Black Mirror, The OA, or psychological thrillers with metaphysical undertones will find themselves completely absorbed.

An unforgettable debut that leaves you questioning perception, truth, and what it really means to be human. Can’t wait for Book 2 in The Realities Series.

[Heilda C. · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Light Runner is one of those rare thrillers that keeps you guessing not just about what’s real, but about reality itself. From the first few chapters, Ally Walker builds an eerie, atmospheric world inside Bainbridge Psychiatric Hospital where nothing and no one feels entirely trustworthy.

Dr. Ella Kramer, fresh out of residency and still wrestling with her own past, makes a fascinating lead. Her sessions with Captain Oliver Haskell blur the line between sanity and delusion in such a compelling way that I found myself questioning every piece of “evidence” right along with her. The blend of psychological tension, metaphysical mystery, and grounded emotional stakes reminded me of shows like Fringe or Shutter Island where science, grief, and the unseen collide.

Walker’s pacing is sharp, her dialogue crisp, and the atmosphere deeply immersive. While a few transitions between realities can feel a bit disorienting (perhaps intentionally), the story’s momentum never lets up. The final chapters deliver a shocking twist that lingers long after you’ve closed the book.

A strong debut that’s both cerebral and haunting. I’ll definitely be picking up the next book in the Realities series.

[Lucian A. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow, this book totally caught me off guard. The Light Runner starts off feeling like your standard mystery a doctor, a psych hospital, a murder but it quickly turns into something way deeper and weirder (in a good way).

I loved how Ally Walker built the tension. You can feel something’s not right at Bainbridge from the start, and every chapter peels back another layer of “what the hell is actually happening here?” Ella, the psychiatrist, is such a relatable character. She’s smart but also kind of haunted, and watching her try to figure out what’s real both in her patients’ stories and in her own mind was honestly mesmerizing.

And then there’s Captain Haskell... you don’t know whether to trust him or be terrified of him. The whole “two realities bleeding into each other” thing gave me chills. The last few chapters had me flipping pages like a maniac.

It’s creepy, emotional, and totally unpredictable the kind of book that makes you second guess everything. I’ll definitely be grabbing the next one in the series.

[Kwather · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Light Runner really surprised me! I went in expecting a regular thriller, but it turned out to be a smart, reality bending story that kept me guessing until the end.

The book follows Dr. Ella Kramer, a new psychiatrist working with Captain Oliver Haskell, a war hero who checked himself into a psychiatric hospital after his wife’s murder. At first it feels like a straightforward psychological drama, but the deeper Ella digs, the stranger things get. Soon, the line between what���s real and what’s imagined starts to blur for her and for the reader.

I loved the eerie atmosphere of Bainbridge Hospital and how the story slowly built up the tension. Ella’s personal struggles made her easy to root for, and the mix of mystery, psychology, and the supernatural really worked for me. The ending was both shocking and satisfying, and it definitely sets things up nicely for the next book in the series.

If you like twisty psychological thrillers with a touch of the metaphysical, you’ll probably enjoy this one. I’ll definitely be picking up the next installment.

[Carmen J. · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Light Runner is one of those books that quietly pulls you in until you realize you’ve been reading for hours. It starts off as a psychological thriller but quickly slides into something much deeper and stranger part mystery, part metaphysical mind bender.

Dr. Ella Kramer, a new psychiatrist at Bainbridge Hospital, takes on the case of Captain Oliver Haskell, a war hero who’s voluntarily admitted himself after his wife’s shocking murder. But as Ella talks to her patients, she realizes they might all be connected in ways that defy logic or reality itself. Meanwhile, a detective investigating the murder begins to sense something isn’t adding up either.

I loved the eerie, slow-burn tension and the way Ally Walker blends science, psychology, and questions about what’s real. The writing is sharp, the atmosphere is heavy with unease, and the twists totally deliver.

I’ll definitely be picking up the next book in the Realities series!

[Zephyra N. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I went into The Light Runner not knowing what to expect, and I ended up completely hooked. It starts off as a psychological mystery about a psychiatrist treating a decorated soldier accused of killing his wife, but it slowly turns into something much deeper and stranger in the best way.

I loved how Ally Walker blended reality, memory, and something almost sci-fi or metaphysical without it ever feeling confusing. The atmosphere at Bainbridge Psychiatric Hospital is eerie and immersive, and Ella, the main character, really grew on me. You can feel her confusion and determination as she tries to figure out what’s real right alongside the reader.

The pacing picked up after the first few chapters and by the end I couldn’t stop reading. The last twist genuinely surprised me, and it’s been on my mind ever since. If you like stories that mess with your head a little think Shutter Island or Black Mirror this one’s absolutely worth picking up. A fantastic start to the Realities series!

[Grace · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Light Runner totally messed with my head in the best way. It starts off feeling like a regular psychological thriller a psychiatrist, a mysterious patient, a murder but then it slowly slips into something way deeper and way weirder (in a good way).

I really liked Dr. Ella Kramer as a main character. She’s smart but flawed, and watching her try to figure out what’s real inside Bainbridge Psychiatric Hospital kept me turning pages. Captain Haskell’s story was heartbreaking and creepy at the same time, and when the “other reality” parts started blending in, I was hooked.

It gave me Shutter Island vibes with a twist of The OA dark, trippy, and emotional. The ending left me staring at the page like, “Wait, what just happened?” but in the best possible way.

If you like thrillers that make you question everything, this one’s worth the read. I’ll definitely be picking up the next book in the series.

[Angela · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Go ahead and marry her, you one-balled bastard.”

Okay, so this wasn’t from the book, but it DID clinch my decision to READ The Light Runner.

I’m always interested when professionals dip their toes into other ponds.

Sometimes the transition is natural and seamless – any comedian memoir, particularly in audiobook form – sometimes, not so much – Jordan’s foray into baseball, for instance.

This actor-turned-author’s work WORKED.

Not only is the story fantastic – all tense and moody and paranormal-y – but Walker has fantastic ‘eye’ for setting scenes and creating characters.

I particularly loved the raw and flawed FMC, Ella. She’s a tangle of contradictions, and I loved getting to know her.

I PARTICULARLY particularly loved that this seems to be the first in a new series, so this fever dream is just beginning.

[Lucas logan · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Light Runner totally pulled me in from the first few pages. I went in expecting a regular psychological thriller, but it ended up being something much more intense and mind bending.

Dr. Ella Kramer is such a compelling character she’s smart but flawed, and I really felt for her as she got deeper into Captain Haskell’s case. The whole setting at Bainbridge Psychiatric Hospital had this eerie, almost dreamlike vibe that kept me on edge the whole time.

There were moments when I had to stop and think about what was real and what wasn’t, but honestly, that made it even better. The story plays with perception in such a clever way. And that ending… I’m still thinking about it.

If you like twisty, atmospheric thrillers that keep you guessing (think Shutter Island or The Silent Patient), you’ll love this one. I can’t wait to see where the next book in the series goes.

[Susan Ballard (subakkabookstuff) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Whew! This is a wild, reality-bending thriller!

The author has aptly crafted a setting in Baltimore’s Bainbridge Psychiatric Hospital that is both unsettling and haunting. You'll find yourself questioning if you're witnessing a character’s psychosis or stepping into an entirely different reality!

The narrative weaves an intricate tapestry of science, mental health, and the metaphysical, all wrapped in a dark murder mystery. But what truly keeps you turning the pages is the MFC's extraordinary journey to unravel her purpose and identity.

Captivating, intriguing, and trippy, Ally Walker is a new author to watch.

Thank you to @suzyapprovedbooktours and @allywalker1 for the #gifted book.

[Kim Wilch · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you’re into murder mysteries with a side of mind-bending metaphysical twists, this debut is calling your name. Set in a psychiatric hospital that’s just the right mix of creepy and fascinating, the story keeps you guessing—are we dealing with a character’s delusions or slipping into another reality entirely?

Ella, the main character, is on a mission to figure out her purpose while navigating strange happenings, intense patient sessions, and a murder that turns everything upside down. The science-meets-spirituality vibe is super well done, and the way the mystery unfolds will have you second-guessing everything. The ending ties it all together in a way that’s weirdly satisfying. A wild, smart, and seriously cool read!

[Sarah W · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thought-provoking, twisty, entertaining. I loved the murder mixed with metaphysical aspects. The concepts Ella was exploring with her patients were explained well. The information she learned along the way and how the story was structured made me look at the investigation in different ways and kept me hooked. I never knew what to think with the events happening in a psychiatric hospital. I thought Ella’s character was well developed and I came to like some of her patients and the role they played in her life. I love the way the ending came together and it all made sense.

Thank you @allywalker1 @suzyapprovedbooktours for the gifted copy.

[Miss W Book Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Light Runner is the first installment in the Realities series by Ally Walker.
I cannot believe this is the author's debut novel.

I love a good metaphysical thriller, and the author has created story that kept me on the edge of my seat from beginning to end.

The reader is taken on a journey into an alternative reality, or is it? Nothing is what it seems, and this left me so captivated.

The characters were well crafted, complex, and very interesting.

I absolutely loved the mystery and the spiritual and metaphysical elements.

I highly recommend this novel, and again cannot believe it is a debut!

Looking forward to the next book in the series!

[Lisa Albright · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm so glad this is the start to a series because I found this book utterly fascinating. I loved the metaphysical element, the mystery, the sense that all is not right in this world, the tension while trying to figure it out, and the intrigue set into the lives of the patients of the psychiatric hospital. The short chapters and multiple viewpoints gave it an edgy feel that completely captured my attention and wouldn't let go till the very last page. I also found the information in the beginning very interesting and it really set the tone for the novel.

I received a gifted copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Seraphina B. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I didn’t expect The Light Runner to be such a wild, mind-bending ride. It starts off like a mystery, but quickly turns into something much deeper part psychological thriller, part sci-fi, and completely gripping. Captain Haskell’s story pulled me in right away, and I loved how Dr. Ella Kramer’s perspective slowly made me question what was real and what wasn’t. The mix of science, emotion, and suspense was just perfect.
The writing is sharp, the pacing never drags, and the ending totally caught me off guard (in the best way). If you enjoy thrillers that make you think and keep you guessing, this one’s definitely worth your time

[Aurora Harrington · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Light Runner pulled me in from page one and didn’t let go. It’s not just a thriller it’s a psychological puzzle that messes with your sense of reality. The scenes inside Bainbridge Psychiatric Hospital felt so vivid I could almost hear the echoes in the halls.

Dr. Ella Kramer is the kind of protagonist I love: smart, flawed, and forced to trust her instincts when the world starts twisting around her. Every time I thought I had the mystery figured out boom, Ally Walker flipped it again.

It’s haunting, clever, and emotionally charged. If you like thrillers that get under your skin and make you question what’s real, you’ll eat this up.