What do you think?
Rate this book
The Runner
Not yet published
Expected 16 Jul 26The mind-expanding new thriller from the bestselling author of
The Sleepwalkers
and
The End of Mr. Y
He’s running for his life. And he’s running out of time.
Jay has been hunted since he was twenty years old. A contract on his life has been traded like a commodity, rising and falling with Bitcoin. On the run once again, with no passport, and airmiles as his only currency, Jay will have to choose between love and survival, and run for his life!
The Runner is a high concept literary thriller featuring high-finance, con-artists, the Book of Jonah, ultramarathons and how falling in love can change everything.
Darkly funny, sexy, exciting, philosophical and thrilling, The Runner is the most gripping and intelligent novel you will read in 2026.
Praise for Scarlett Thomas
‘Fiction roaring on all cylinders’, Guardian
Gloriously dark and tangled', Observer
'A dark, twisty, savagely … a smart, layered, stinging look at power and its abuse', The Times
‘A work of peculiar, gonzo genius', The New York Times
‘Like a darker, funnier The White Lotus’ James Smythe
‘Brilliant, savage and hilarious', Bidisha Mamata
'A twisty Gothic tale of vertiginous depths and haunting power' Sandra Newman, author of Julia
'Ingenious and original', Philip Pullman
He’s running for his life. And he’s running out of time.
Jay has been hunted since he was twenty years old. A contract on his life has been traded like a commodity, rising and falling with Bitcoin. On the run once again, with no passport, and airmiles as his only currency, Jay will have to choose between love and survival, and run for his life!
The Runner is a high concept literary thriller featuring high-finance, con-artists, the Book of Jonah, ultramarathons and how falling in love can change everything.
Darkly funny, sexy, exciting, philosophical and thrilling, The Runner is the most gripping and intelligent novel you will read in 2026.
Praise for Scarlett Thomas
‘Fiction roaring on all cylinders’, Guardian
Gloriously dark and tangled', Observer
'A dark, twisty, savagely … a smart, layered, stinging look at power and its abuse', The Times
‘A work of peculiar, gonzo genius', The New York Times
‘Like a darker, funnier The White Lotus’ James Smythe
‘Brilliant, savage and hilarious', Bidisha Mamata
'A twisty Gothic tale of vertiginous depths and haunting power' Sandra Newman, author of Julia
'Ingenious and original', Philip Pullman
Kindle Edition
Expected publication July 16, 2026
12 people want to read
About the author
Scarlett Thomas
33 books1,841 followersScarlett Thomas was born in London in 1972. Her widely-acclaimed novels include PopCo, The End of Mr Y and The Seed Collectors. As well as writing literary fiction for adults, she has also written a literary fantasy series for children and a book about writing called Monkeys with Typewriters. Her work has been translated into more than 25 languages.
She has been longlisted for the Orange Prize, shortlisted for the South African Boeke Prize and was once the proud recipient of an Elle Style Award. She is currently Professor of Creative Writing & Contemporary Fiction at the University of Kent in the UK. She lives in a Victorian house near the sea and spends a lot of time reading Chekhov and Katherine Mansfield.
She is currently working on a new novel and various projects for TV.
She has been longlisted for the Orange Prize, shortlisted for the South African Boeke Prize and was once the proud recipient of an Elle Style Award. She is currently Professor of Creative Writing & Contemporary Fiction at the University of Kent in the UK. She lives in a Victorian house near the sea and spends a lot of time reading Chekhov and Katherine Mansfield.
She is currently working on a new novel and various projects for TV.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
No one has reviewed this book yet.