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The Garvie Smith Mysteries #1
Running Girl
Meet Garvie Smith. Highest IQ ever recorded at Marsh Academy. Lowest ever grades. What's the point, anyway? Life sucks. Nothing ever happens.
Until Chloe Dow's body is pulled from a pond.
DI Singh is already on the case. Ambitious, uptight, methodical - he's determined to solve the mystery and get promoted. He doesn't need any 'assistance' from notorious slacker, Smith.
Or does he?
Until Chloe Dow's body is pulled from a pond.
DI Singh is already on the case. Ambitious, uptight, methodical - he's determined to solve the mystery and get promoted. He doesn't need any 'assistance' from notorious slacker, Smith.
Or does he?
434 pages, Paperback
First published January 2, 2014
93 people are currently reading
2843 people want to read
About the author
Simon Mason
56 books237 followersSimon Mason was born in Sheffield, Yorkshire, on 5 February 1962. He was educated at local schools and studied English at Lady Margaret Hall, Oxford. He splits his time between writing at home and a part-time editorial position with David Fickling Books, an imprint of Random House and publisher of his 2011 children's novel, Moon Pie.
He is the author of the Quigleys series for young readers: The Quigleys (Highly Commended in the UK's Branford Boase Award), The Quigleys at Large, The Quigleys Not for Sale, and The Quigleys in a Spin. He has also written three adult novels.
Simon lives in Oxford with his wife and two children.
He is the author of the Quigleys series for young readers: The Quigleys (Highly Commended in the UK's Branford Boase Award), The Quigleys at Large, The Quigleys Not for Sale, and The Quigleys in a Spin. He has also written three adult novels.
Simon lives in Oxford with his wife and two children.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 288 reviews
June 4, 2015
Highly enjoyable YA crime fiction story to be had here – with a really most tremendous main protagonist in Garvie Smith and a brilliant foil in his Police Officer sidekick – ok so DI Singh defnitely wouldnt consider himself a sidekick – he’s the main man surely? A seriously good yin/yang relationship that brings this book an extra layer of ironic fun.
Garvie used to go out with Chloe – who was beautiful but not necessarily particularly nice – so when she is murdered he takes a vague interest. Well, he’s like a dog with a bone and ends up delving into the case and getting in Singh’s way – except really there is a very good chance he might crack it…
I loved the feel of this story – its kind of old school but with a modern twist – if I had to describe it I’d say it might be something that Agatha Christie may have written if she had written Young Adult books today. The mystery element is terrific with beautiful construction, some little twists and turns and an exciting resolution.
But what makes this is the characters for sure. Garvie is at turns hilarious and ironic, he’s so laid back he might fall over but when he’s obsessing about something that is it – his quite brilliant (if rather random) brain cells get ticking over and he see’s what others do not and ponders those things that seem illogical. Very Miss Marple. If Miss Marple was a grumpy teenager who didnt really do school.
Overall then really really terrific. I see from the back of the book that another Garvie/Singh adventure will be coming soon. That one is on my must read list. Super fun with an emotional punch, definitely highly recommended.
Garvie used to go out with Chloe – who was beautiful but not necessarily particularly nice – so when she is murdered he takes a vague interest. Well, he’s like a dog with a bone and ends up delving into the case and getting in Singh’s way – except really there is a very good chance he might crack it…
I loved the feel of this story – its kind of old school but with a modern twist – if I had to describe it I’d say it might be something that Agatha Christie may have written if she had written Young Adult books today. The mystery element is terrific with beautiful construction, some little twists and turns and an exciting resolution.
But what makes this is the characters for sure. Garvie is at turns hilarious and ironic, he’s so laid back he might fall over but when he’s obsessing about something that is it – his quite brilliant (if rather random) brain cells get ticking over and he see’s what others do not and ponders those things that seem illogical. Very Miss Marple. If Miss Marple was a grumpy teenager who didnt really do school.
Overall then really really terrific. I see from the back of the book that another Garvie/Singh adventure will be coming soon. That one is on my must read list. Super fun with an emotional punch, definitely highly recommended.
April 4, 2021
terminé et beaucoup aimé!
surtout parce que je ne m’y attendais pas. je l’ai emprunté, ce roman, en ne lisant pas la quatrième de couverture et je me suis laissée embarquer dans une enquête policière, puis il y a eu ce meurtre et cette enquête. la seule chose que j’ai trouvée un peu tirée par les cheveux, c’est que ce soit ce jeune garçon qui s’occupe de tout démêler, mais autrement, cette histoire est intrigante du début à la fin tellement il y a des suspects potentiels. je recommande! ⭐️
surtout parce que je ne m’y attendais pas. je l’ai emprunté, ce roman, en ne lisant pas la quatrième de couverture et je me suis laissée embarquer dans une enquête policière, puis il y a eu ce meurtre et cette enquête. la seule chose que j’ai trouvée un peu tirée par les cheveux, c’est que ce soit ce jeune garçon qui s’occupe de tout démêler, mais autrement, cette histoire est intrigante du début à la fin tellement il y a des suspects potentiels. je recommande! ⭐️
July 14, 2019
YA crime novel with a difference!
I didn’t expect this to be so ‘gritty’. Garvie is such an interesting character, grumpy teenager, combining extreme intelligence with extreme boredom. Fascinating really (although I definitely ‘felt’ for his mother with him being such a difficult person), especially when his brain is finally turned on, and then nothing stops him.
Mason brings such a modern slant to the ‘cosy murder mystery’ which in turns takes much of the ‘cosy’ away. Garvie, the threatening industrial estate setting, the ‘delinquents’ group with their inner respect, even DI Singh and the situations he faces, all work together to deliver a very compelling and yes thrilling read.
I didn’t expect this to be so ‘gritty’. Garvie is such an interesting character, grumpy teenager, combining extreme intelligence with extreme boredom. Fascinating really (although I definitely ‘felt’ for his mother with him being such a difficult person), especially when his brain is finally turned on, and then nothing stops him.
Mason brings such a modern slant to the ‘cosy murder mystery’ which in turns takes much of the ‘cosy’ away. Garvie, the threatening industrial estate setting, the ‘delinquents’ group with their inner respect, even DI Singh and the situations he faces, all work together to deliver a very compelling and yes thrilling read.
December 8, 2015
I have really mixed views on this read. I honestly can't work out if I enjoyed it or not. All in all I would give it between 3.5 and 4 stars.
- So this novel follows the story of a young girl who has been found murdered in a pond. The protagonist of the novel is a teenage boy named Garvie Smith, Garvie used to date the girl who has been murdered and decides to take it upon himself to find out who murdered her. Garvie is a very intelligent guy and outwits the police throughout the entire novel. He also has the very keen ability to see the small and supposedly insignificant details in things and see how they fit in to the wider story (not unlike Sherlock Holmes).
- For the first half the book the story is reasonably light hearted - almost like a game. We as the reader are working alongside Garvie and trying to figure out who the murderer is. But around midway through the novel things take a pretty dark turn - I mean there were already dark themes being discussed earlier on but it got seriously dark come the middle/end.
- There seemed to be a point where Garvie realised that it wasn't all just a puzzle to work out and that a girl had actually had some awful things happen to her and now she was dead. I would warn anyone who may be deciding whether to read this novel or not that there are themes of paedophilia, rape and brutal murder in this novel. If you are not one to be put off by these themes then by all means go ahead!
- I'm not saying that the idea of paedophilia, rape and murder shouldn't be discussed in young adult literature but I do feel that there is a certain cut of point when exploring these ideas. I got to the end of this book and felt somewhat depressed, my outlook on the world saddened by the horrible events of this books - is this me just being sensitive? Possibly so! You will have to give it a read to form your own opinion but I would definitely say that this book was crammed full of dark events and topics it got to the point where it was simply too much!
- The pacing of the novel was brilliant, I got to about 3/4 of the way through and couldn't put the book down so in that respect it was definitely gripping! I also found Garvie to be a really humorous character despite his constant back chatting to the police!
- Would I read this novel again? Possibly - if I fancied putting a downer on life!
Would I recommend it to others? Yes - I would say that if anything I have mentioned here sounds like something you enjoy in a novel then this is probably something you should read - I think my criticisms come from the fact that this isn't really a novel that I would usually go for.
- So this novel follows the story of a young girl who has been found murdered in a pond. The protagonist of the novel is a teenage boy named Garvie Smith, Garvie used to date the girl who has been murdered and decides to take it upon himself to find out who murdered her. Garvie is a very intelligent guy and outwits the police throughout the entire novel. He also has the very keen ability to see the small and supposedly insignificant details in things and see how they fit in to the wider story (not unlike Sherlock Holmes).
- For the first half the book the story is reasonably light hearted - almost like a game. We as the reader are working alongside Garvie and trying to figure out who the murderer is. But around midway through the novel things take a pretty dark turn - I mean there were already dark themes being discussed earlier on but it got seriously dark come the middle/end.
- There seemed to be a point where Garvie realised that it wasn't all just a puzzle to work out and that a girl had actually had some awful things happen to her and now she was dead. I would warn anyone who may be deciding whether to read this novel or not that there are themes of paedophilia, rape and brutal murder in this novel. If you are not one to be put off by these themes then by all means go ahead!
- I'm not saying that the idea of paedophilia, rape and murder shouldn't be discussed in young adult literature but I do feel that there is a certain cut of point when exploring these ideas. I got to the end of this book and felt somewhat depressed, my outlook on the world saddened by the horrible events of this books - is this me just being sensitive? Possibly so! You will have to give it a read to form your own opinion but I would definitely say that this book was crammed full of dark events and topics it got to the point where it was simply too much!
- The pacing of the novel was brilliant, I got to about 3/4 of the way through and couldn't put the book down so in that respect it was definitely gripping! I also found Garvie to be a really humorous character despite his constant back chatting to the police!
- Would I read this novel again? Possibly - if I fancied putting a downer on life!
Would I recommend it to others? Yes - I would say that if anything I have mentioned here sounds like something you enjoy in a novel then this is probably something you should read - I think my criticisms come from the fact that this isn't really a novel that I would usually go for.
January 27, 2015
I have really mixed feelings on this book.
As a Crime novel it was brilliant. So cleverly written with lots of twists and turns which kept you guessing right until the end. I liked how everything was turned on its head several times and being made to rethink things over and over again as the story went on. The story with the girl who died was almost a bit twin peaks esque (without the weirdness) as you got to find out a darker side of a girl who on the surface looked perfect.
However I really really struggled to connect with the main character. I found him really irritating and hard to warm to and it was really until the last two chapters that I got to see something about him. That meant every scene with him in up until that point annoyed me quite a bit especially when he was being all cocky and smart with the police.
All in all still a book I would say is worth a look even though it wasn't fully for me.
As a Crime novel it was brilliant. So cleverly written with lots of twists and turns which kept you guessing right until the end. I liked how everything was turned on its head several times and being made to rethink things over and over again as the story went on. The story with the girl who died was almost a bit twin peaks esque (without the weirdness) as you got to find out a darker side of a girl who on the surface looked perfect.
However I really really struggled to connect with the main character. I found him really irritating and hard to warm to and it was really until the last two chapters that I got to see something about him. That meant every scene with him in up until that point annoyed me quite a bit especially when he was being all cocky and smart with the police.
All in all still a book I would say is worth a look even though it wasn't fully for me.
November 11, 2015
oh my god this was good. I don't normally go for any type of murder mystery as they scare the shit out of me and give me anxiety but Garvie is such a sarcastic little shit I knew I had to do it. The plot was brilliant, keeping you guessing and wondering the whole time but the dynamic between characters is what really made this book special. So complex and wonderful I honestly couldnt put it down
December 6, 2013
A cracking crime novel ideally suited to the younger reader
Meet Garvie Smith: Charming, brilliant and completely bone idle. If anything can get his attention, it might just be a murder.
Running Girl is a riveting read full of fast-paced, action-packed drama and intensity that is sure to encourage young teens to read. The clever twists and turns within the electrifying storyline keep you sat in suspense throughout, while Simon Mason intentionally writes in such a way as to shock you when least expected. Personally, I however have mixed views on this book as I did find it increasingly difficult as I read on to connect with the main character Garvie. Ultimately I do on the whole find it easier to relate to female protagonists within fiction, yet in this instance I wasn’t expecting to feel so disconnected with the young boy. His cocky, arrogant and at times repugnant attitude that I found somewhat off-putting even though there are elements of truism when depicting the typical teenage lad. This element sadly contributed to the downfall of what could have been a spectacular story of such premise, yet the characters in a tale do make the story ‘come to life’. I may have felt deflated by the main protagonist nevertheless the scintillating storyline and plot as a whole, was engaging to the part of keeping me reading the pages.
Running Girl is a novel that I would recommend for schools and extra reading, as it is the kind of story that appeals to a wide-readership of both male and female teenagers and older children {13+}. The easy-to-read storyline is something that you can immediately delve into and follow, with the crime/ spy backdrop a subject that is universally read by the younger reader and less select within its genre. For those who enjoyed books such as Spy Girl by Carol Hedges or Silverfin will not be disappointed by this ‘light’ literature. What draws my attention to this book most is how it encourages the younger reader to read {including for pleasure}, by highlighting how enjoyable and exciting stories really are!
3.5 Stars
*I won an Advance Galley copy of ‘Running Girl’ by Simon Mason through a Goodreads, first-read book giveaway *
Meet Garvie Smith: Charming, brilliant and completely bone idle. If anything can get his attention, it might just be a murder.
Running Girl is a riveting read full of fast-paced, action-packed drama and intensity that is sure to encourage young teens to read. The clever twists and turns within the electrifying storyline keep you sat in suspense throughout, while Simon Mason intentionally writes in such a way as to shock you when least expected. Personally, I however have mixed views on this book as I did find it increasingly difficult as I read on to connect with the main character Garvie. Ultimately I do on the whole find it easier to relate to female protagonists within fiction, yet in this instance I wasn’t expecting to feel so disconnected with the young boy. His cocky, arrogant and at times repugnant attitude that I found somewhat off-putting even though there are elements of truism when depicting the typical teenage lad. This element sadly contributed to the downfall of what could have been a spectacular story of such premise, yet the characters in a tale do make the story ‘come to life’. I may have felt deflated by the main protagonist nevertheless the scintillating storyline and plot as a whole, was engaging to the part of keeping me reading the pages.
Running Girl is a novel that I would recommend for schools and extra reading, as it is the kind of story that appeals to a wide-readership of both male and female teenagers and older children {13+}. The easy-to-read storyline is something that you can immediately delve into and follow, with the crime/ spy backdrop a subject that is universally read by the younger reader and less select within its genre. For those who enjoyed books such as Spy Girl by Carol Hedges or Silverfin will not be disappointed by this ‘light’ literature. What draws my attention to this book most is how it encourages the younger reader to read {including for pleasure}, by highlighting how enjoyable and exciting stories really are!
3.5 Stars
*I won an Advance Galley copy of ‘Running Girl’ by Simon Mason through a Goodreads, first-read book giveaway *
May 26, 2017
Great mystery story. Interesting how we follow Garvie and learn about the clues as he does. Recommend 👍
December 5, 2016
I bumped up my rating from four stars to five out of spite after reading through all the other reviews.
As someone who enjoyed and identified with Garvie, I don't quite understand many reviewers' dislike towards his character. Yes, he's a cocky showoff who's too cool to make an effort at being a good student but he is, after all, a teenager. And a very clever one at that. Perhaps it was just in my personal experience but I remember teenage years being a blatant showcase of everyone's worst traits on full display before they got tamed into more socially acceptable façades years later. Clever teens tend to be rough around the edges, if only for their shortsightedness and exasperation motivated by the feeling that they've already figured everything out. It's only after they get older and more mature that they learn to hone their cleverness into a more palatable package for social interactions with people who may not be similarly minded. While they are young, though, they can't help but wear and flash it around for everyone to see like a badge of honor and burden all at the same time.
Even then, Garvie never displays any instance of malice or cruelty in his interactions with the other characters nor does he belittle anyone on purpose (other than the police at their seeming incompetence). He treats his friends with respect in his own way and eventually the people who earn it from him, like Singh.
I believe his character truly comes into view in the very last chapter where he discusses Chloe and other girls like her in the world.
The biggest problem of Garvie's arrogance and insensitivity I could see was in his disrespect towards his mother in the majority of the novel. However, that seems like a calculated move on Mason's part as it provides the biggest development arc for Garvie's character towards the end. Ultimately, this was one of the more satisfying aspects of the novel.
The mystery itself was a fun ride if not a bit predictable--but I can't fault the novel on that as the twists were logically thought out, the cast's interactions were interesting on their own, and the story was well-paced to keep me hooked throughout.
I also really appreciate the fact that it treats dark subjects with the appropriate level of seriousness that they deserve. Many YA novels in the mystery genre treat death and other serious crimes as mere devices and games to keep the mood light and the reader comfortable in his/her reading. Mason seems to intentionally touch on that aspect with the stark contrast in Garvie's attitude towards Chloe's misfortune in the beginning and his changed perspective near the end.
All in all, Running Girl is a very solid teen detective novel with a strong protagonist who grows in the end. I believe it deserves more praise than it's received.
As someone who enjoyed and identified with Garvie, I don't quite understand many reviewers' dislike towards his character. Yes, he's a cocky showoff who's too cool to make an effort at being a good student but he is, after all, a teenager. And a very clever one at that. Perhaps it was just in my personal experience but I remember teenage years being a blatant showcase of everyone's worst traits on full display before they got tamed into more socially acceptable façades years later. Clever teens tend to be rough around the edges, if only for their shortsightedness and exasperation motivated by the feeling that they've already figured everything out. It's only after they get older and more mature that they learn to hone their cleverness into a more palatable package for social interactions with people who may not be similarly minded. While they are young, though, they can't help but wear and flash it around for everyone to see like a badge of honor and burden all at the same time.
Even then, Garvie never displays any instance of malice or cruelty in his interactions with the other characters nor does he belittle anyone on purpose (other than the police at their seeming incompetence). He treats his friends with respect in his own way and eventually the people who earn it from him, like Singh.
I believe his character truly comes into view in the very last chapter where he discusses Chloe and other girls like her in the world.
The biggest problem of Garvie's arrogance and insensitivity I could see was in his disrespect towards his mother in the majority of the novel. However, that seems like a calculated move on Mason's part as it provides the biggest development arc for Garvie's character towards the end. Ultimately, this was one of the more satisfying aspects of the novel.
The mystery itself was a fun ride if not a bit predictable--but I can't fault the novel on that as the twists were logically thought out, the cast's interactions were interesting on their own, and the story was well-paced to keep me hooked throughout.
I also really appreciate the fact that it treats dark subjects with the appropriate level of seriousness that they deserve. Many YA novels in the mystery genre treat death and other serious crimes as mere devices and games to keep the mood light and the reader comfortable in his/her reading. Mason seems to intentionally touch on that aspect with the stark contrast in Garvie's attitude towards Chloe's misfortune in the beginning and his changed perspective near the end.
All in all, Running Girl is a very solid teen detective novel with a strong protagonist who grows in the end. I believe it deserves more praise than it's received.
September 18, 2015
Chloe Dow was as beautiful as she was … a bitch (at least in the eyes of her peers). But still, she did not deserve to meet such a tragic end.
The community is shocked by her death and DI Singh has been entrusted with the task to bring the perpetrator of her crime to justice…If only, teenager Garvie Smith kept his nose out of it, it would make his job a lot easier.
Unfortunately, Garvie who is a brilliant mind and equally the greatest underachiever in his school was yet to have his mind stimulated until the case of Chloe Dow came along to DI Singh’s dismay.
“Running Girl” is a very well balanced piece of literature with the right amount of crime ingredients mixed in with YA elements. It is well paced, heavy with mystery and enough clues dropped along the way with a good build up to the culminating moment revealing the murderer, which by the way I did not suspect at all!!.
What I enjoyed the most however was watching the frosty relationship between Garvie and DI Singh thawing into one of friendship and mutual respect. Those two definitely formed an unlikely duo, and were complete polar opposites. Outside of the obvious adult vs teenager elements, we get to know a DI Singh with a rather rigid and method-based approach to investigation which ends up to be completely blown out by a young man’s keen sense of observation.
The layers under the plot however raised some rather interesting questions. One of them being “Do you know your own child?”, a topic which was rather well illustrated through Chloe’s behaviour and the energy and effort she put into appearing older then her age completely oblivious to any potential dangers this could bring forth.
The second one which would also unsettle any parent is “Can you tell when your child needs help? Can you read the signs? Again, a point which was demonstrated through Chloe’s relationship with her mother.
I will end my review by adding that “Running Girl” is highly entertaining and rooted in a very real setting that most readers can relate to. Fans of “Panther” by David Owen or “The Art of Being Normal” by Lisa Williamson, although touching upon very different topics, will recognise that very same palpable feel present in those novels.
I am happy to recommend this read to all and I am looking forward to reading the second installment in this series.
Thanking team ED Public Relations and David Flicking Books for providing me with a copy of this novel.
The community is shocked by her death and DI Singh has been entrusted with the task to bring the perpetrator of her crime to justice…If only, teenager Garvie Smith kept his nose out of it, it would make his job a lot easier.
Unfortunately, Garvie who is a brilliant mind and equally the greatest underachiever in his school was yet to have his mind stimulated until the case of Chloe Dow came along to DI Singh’s dismay.
“Running Girl” is a very well balanced piece of literature with the right amount of crime ingredients mixed in with YA elements. It is well paced, heavy with mystery and enough clues dropped along the way with a good build up to the culminating moment revealing the murderer, which by the way I did not suspect at all!!.
What I enjoyed the most however was watching the frosty relationship between Garvie and DI Singh thawing into one of friendship and mutual respect. Those two definitely formed an unlikely duo, and were complete polar opposites. Outside of the obvious adult vs teenager elements, we get to know a DI Singh with a rather rigid and method-based approach to investigation which ends up to be completely blown out by a young man’s keen sense of observation.
The layers under the plot however raised some rather interesting questions. One of them being “Do you know your own child?”, a topic which was rather well illustrated through Chloe’s behaviour and the energy and effort she put into appearing older then her age completely oblivious to any potential dangers this could bring forth.
The second one which would also unsettle any parent is “Can you tell when your child needs help? Can you read the signs? Again, a point which was demonstrated through Chloe’s relationship with her mother.
I will end my review by adding that “Running Girl” is highly entertaining and rooted in a very real setting that most readers can relate to. Fans of “Panther” by David Owen or “The Art of Being Normal” by Lisa Williamson, although touching upon very different topics, will recognise that very same palpable feel present in those novels.
I am happy to recommend this read to all and I am looking forward to reading the second installment in this series.
Thanking team ED Public Relations and David Flicking Books for providing me with a copy of this novel.
March 1, 2016
An interesting read with lots of twist and turns. Crime, maths, and not-so-good every-day kind of people.
Strong male characters. It's great to read a novel where the main characters are not the normal 'white male'.
It has quite a slow start ... kind of like Garvie himself ... and then as more information about the murder comes to light and Garvie gets involved the story also starts to get more 'energy', like Garvie when a puzzle catches his attention.
Very keen to read the next one when its out.
Strong male characters. It's great to read a novel where the main characters are not the normal 'white male'.
It has quite a slow start ... kind of like Garvie himself ... and then as more information about the murder comes to light and Garvie gets involved the story also starts to get more 'energy', like Garvie when a puzzle catches his attention.
Very keen to read the next one when its out.
June 14, 2015
The slouchy, too cool for school kid that everyone who went to state comprehensive experienced. Coupled with a high IQ and a twist of Sherlock Holmes, Garvie Smith is the newest teen detective on the council block. Good, strong characters and sparky dialogue with Inspector Singh made this mystery bounce along. A little bit uncomfortable with the caretaker storyline, but ultimately a good story with twists and turns. Some of my teen reading group read this and loved it.
August 1, 2016
This has to be another favourite for 2016. A great British YA crime drama with fantastic characters. Definitely not a romance novel, more of a Sherlock themed detective thriller. While I enjoyed the character of Garvie, it was the relationship between him and DI Singh and how they played off against each other that was truly entertaining. A great crime novel, excellent tension and I really do hope there is another in the series soon. Well worth a look.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 23, 2023
This book was incredibly easy to read and very well written but it did leave something to be desired. In reality the book wasn’t about the murder of Chloe Dow and who she was, it was much more about Garvie Smith. By the end of the book I was incredibly invested in Garvie but didn’t really care who had killed Chloe. And yet Garvie wasn’t actually given any character development. He ended up right back where he started. This really frustrated me as it felt like a missed opportunity.
October 21, 2018
When popular kid , Chloe Dow, is pulled out of a pond. Police class it murder. Garvie Smith is determined to solve the mystery of who murdered his ex girlfriend, even when DI Singh continuously has to tell him to stop interfering. Follow Garvie on his investigation of the girl who maybe has more secretes then she lets out.
I really enjoyed this book! I recommend it to those who love mystery’s and twists! Plenty of times I suspected plenty of people yet they suspects seemed to change every so often which kept me reading.
I really enjoyed this book! I recommend it to those who love mystery’s and twists! Plenty of times I suspected plenty of people yet they suspects seemed to change every so often which kept me reading.
June 21, 2023
Coup de cœur !!
March 26, 2020
Running Girl is a murder-mystery novel, written by Simon Mason and published by David Fickling Books in 2014. The story is a compelling read, about an unmotivated 16 year old adolescent, Garvie Smith, who’s failing school and just about to give up. However when his popular ex-girlfriend, Chloe Dow’s, body is found dead at Pike Pond, Garvie is on the case. Running Girl takes us on Garvie's journey, discovering dark secrets about his town and Chloe’s death.
There are bits of humour throughout the book, but majority it is dark and tragic, exploring themes including drugs, alcohol, sex and abuse. Garvie is a very interesting and entertaining character. The novel would be a great read for teenagers, as they can relate and connect to Garvie’s character. I really enjoyed Running Girl, the storyline has lots of twists and it explored topics and themes that I can relate to. I’m not usually interested in murder-mystery novels, however this book was really engaging and different compared to books I’ve read in the past. The only negative I have is it starts off pretty slow and boring. It does take a couple of chapters to begin to get exciting and interesting.
I would recommend Running Girl to any teenagers who are wanting a thrilling read, or even adults who are into darker stories. Overall this enthralling story is able to capture readers and engage you for hours on end, and I’m excited to read the sequel “Kid Got Shot”.
There are bits of humour throughout the book, but majority it is dark and tragic, exploring themes including drugs, alcohol, sex and abuse. Garvie is a very interesting and entertaining character. The novel would be a great read for teenagers, as they can relate and connect to Garvie’s character. I really enjoyed Running Girl, the storyline has lots of twists and it explored topics and themes that I can relate to. I’m not usually interested in murder-mystery novels, however this book was really engaging and different compared to books I’ve read in the past. The only negative I have is it starts off pretty slow and boring. It does take a couple of chapters to begin to get exciting and interesting.
I would recommend Running Girl to any teenagers who are wanting a thrilling read, or even adults who are into darker stories. Overall this enthralling story is able to capture readers and engage you for hours on end, and I’m excited to read the sequel “Kid Got Shot”.
December 5, 2014
This is a really well-written book. The mystery is excellent- while reading I was constantly at a stage of low-level, baffled frustration, which is exactly how I want to feel while reading a whodunnit. Initially I was a little disappointed by the big reveal, just because it wasn't really signposted for the reader, but that turned out to be a double bluff and the actual big reveal was not only more satisfying but really quite chilling, and set up a more perilous, exciting ending. There were a few little "would that actually happen, though?" moments (specifically, the running shoes) but not enough to derail the plot.
I'm surprised a few people on here didn't like Garvie- I thought his character had the right amount of cocky smart-alecness and normal teenageriness. After all, the main thing about teenagers is that they always think they're right about everything, it just turned out Garvie was. The problem I had with Garvie is that I couldn't get inside his head at all. I never really knew what he was thinking at any point in the book. This is definitely deliberate, as it's important to the plot that he's always three steps ahead of the reader, and works really well in some scenes, for example when he starts trying on Chloe's clothes. But ultimately I felt quite detached from him. His mum too- at times I couldn't picture her as anything but a disembodied voice. I actually connected more with DI Singh, even though he wasn't as likeable or interesting a character as Garvie, simply because I felt I knew him better.
I did enjoy Running Girl and it is an excellent, gripping story. However the lack of connection with the main character made it difficult to feel emotionally invested in the book as a whole, and a lot of the characters, while entertaining, felt a bit one-dimensional. If there are more books (I'm assuming this is the first in a series) I would definitely read at least one, just to see if Garvie's character has been fleshed out more or made vulnerable.
I'm surprised a few people on here didn't like Garvie- I thought his character had the right amount of cocky smart-alecness and normal teenageriness. After all, the main thing about teenagers is that they always think they're right about everything, it just turned out Garvie was. The problem I had with Garvie is that I couldn't get inside his head at all. I never really knew what he was thinking at any point in the book. This is definitely deliberate, as it's important to the plot that he's always three steps ahead of the reader, and works really well in some scenes, for example when he starts trying on Chloe's clothes. But ultimately I felt quite detached from him. His mum too- at times I couldn't picture her as anything but a disembodied voice. I actually connected more with DI Singh, even though he wasn't as likeable or interesting a character as Garvie, simply because I felt I knew him better.
I did enjoy Running Girl and it is an excellent, gripping story. However the lack of connection with the main character made it difficult to feel emotionally invested in the book as a whole, and a lot of the characters, while entertaining, felt a bit one-dimensional. If there are more books (I'm assuming this is the first in a series) I would definitely read at least one, just to see if Garvie's character has been fleshed out more or made vulnerable.
April 29, 2015
If you like to treat "murder like a puzzle, a formal problem with interesting features, to be solve at [your] leisure" then Running Girl might be for you. A crime story involving paedophilia, rape, murder. On a personal level stories about these things aren't ones I can enjoy. So the four stars is for the taut language, the moody skies, the diversity (a sikh copper, a black teen (unofficial) detective) and the characterization all of which I can appreciate.
[The quote, by the way, comes from the book itself - describing the teen detective's thoughts on the case. It's on p 332 of the edition I'm reading]
[The quote, by the way, comes from the book itself - describing the teen detective's thoughts on the case. It's on p 332 of the edition I'm reading]
September 11, 2017
This was great. Garvie Smith is sharp as a tack, funny and cocky, and determined to find out what happened to classmate and ex-girlfriend, Chloe. He both helps and frustrates the policeman on the case, Raminder Singh. Fast-paced, realistic and funny despite the serious subject, this novel would translate well to screen. Thoroughly enjoyed it and would definitely read another of Garvie Smith's crime-solving adventures.
June 26, 2016
Garvie Smith is such a terrific character and he has the perfect foil in DI Raminder Singh. I enjoyed the writing and the story very much. I did figure out whodunnit early on but still found the journey to resolution very entertaining. Character and plot got a little vague at times but I would happily pick up another Garvie Smith mystery.
Want to read
March 3, 2016North East Teenage Book Awards Nominee 2015
May 13, 2019
Inhalt (in meinen Worten):
Was früher Sherlock Holmes war, ist heute Garvie Smith. Hochintelligent, gutaussehend, könnte die Schule rocken, wenn da nicht seine Faulheit wäre, die seine Mutter und auch die Lehrer in den Wahnsinn treiben. Erinnert schon an Sherlock, oder? Zudem hat der 16 jährige auch noch ein fotografisches Gedächtnis, treibt sich mit den falschen Typen umher und raucht – nicht nur Zigaretten.
Seine Kumpels versuchen ihn mit Rätseln auf Trab zu halten, doch langweilt ihn das einfach nur noch. Bis eines Tages seine Ex Chloe verschwindet und schließlich auch tot gefunden wird. Viele Geheimnisse werden mit ihr ans Land gespült, was Garvie antreibt, den Fall zu lösen – denn die Polizei stellt sich nur allzu dumm an.
Idee:
Sherlock reloaded? Kann funktionieren, muss aber nicht 😉 In diesem Fall aber ging es auf, denn die Coolness steckt an.
Erwartungen:
Mein Wunschbuch auf vorablesen.de
4000 Punkte hab ich hierfür gegeben, dementsprechend waren meine Erwartungen verdammt hoch.
Charaktere:
Garvie Smith ist jung, gut aussehen und clever. Doch kann er einen schnell auf die Nerven gehen, wenn … ja, wenn da nicht nur die arrogante Seite wäre, sondern auch eine sehr charismatische und sympatische Ausstrahlung von ihm ausgehen würde. Ein Protagonist, der noch sehr wachsen kann und von dem man mehr sehen könnte, als man vermutet und hofft.
Kommisar Singh, der die Ermittlung leitet, macht einige Fehler, aber er bleibt am Ball. Ein ebenfalls interessanter Typ, der mich immer wieder überrascht hat.
Stil:
Modern, voller Hürden und doch sprachlich wirklich faszinierend. Es hat einfach nur Spaß gemacht, sich dem zu stellen und der Geschichte zu folgen.
Fazit:
Auch wenn meine Erwartungen hoch waren, so war ich doch skeptisch. Wenn man einen Protagonisten mit DEM Detektiv schlechthin vergleicht, dann muss man auch ein wenig zurückhaltend sein.
Und doch, so muss ich gestehen, hat mich Garvie direkt für sich eingenommen. Ja, er ist etwas – okay, sehr – arrogant, aber im Laufe des Lesens entdeckt man auch seine zerbrechliche Seite, eine Seite, die mir wirklich gut gefallen hat. Denn er hat einen weichen Kern, man muss ihn nur finden und dann festhalten.
Die Geschichte um das tote Mädchen und ihre Geheimnisse, hat mich sehr in den Bann gezogen und ich frage mich immer noch, wie eine Mutter so etwas nicht mitbekommen kann … Running Girl ist kein Geheimtipp, aber ein Buchtipp für alle, die gerne Rätsel lösen. Vorhersehbar? Wenn man der Spur folgt, vielleicht.
Gesamtbewertung:
Cover: Ach, das Cover *seufzt* … faszinierend.
Titel: Running girl. Ich hab gerade in einer anderen Rezension gelesen, dass das Buch vor einigen Jahren unter „Zu schön, um tot zu sein“ bereits erschienen ist. Beides passt gut.
Inhalt: Ich bleib dabei: Ich mag Garvie. Seine Art zu denken und zu handeln. Für mich ein toller und interessanter Charakter. Die Geschichte hat mir zudem natürlich auch gefallen. Sie ist verzwickt und clever, spannend und einnehmend. Die Polizei, allen voran Komissar Singh, macht viele Fehler in diesem Fall und doch versucht Singh immer mehr auf seine Intuition zu achten, was interessante Gedankengänge mit sich zieht.
Ach ja, ein paar Leichen gibt es außerdem noch zusätzlich …
Was früher Sherlock Holmes war, ist heute Garvie Smith. Hochintelligent, gutaussehend, könnte die Schule rocken, wenn da nicht seine Faulheit wäre, die seine Mutter und auch die Lehrer in den Wahnsinn treiben. Erinnert schon an Sherlock, oder? Zudem hat der 16 jährige auch noch ein fotografisches Gedächtnis, treibt sich mit den falschen Typen umher und raucht – nicht nur Zigaretten.
Seine Kumpels versuchen ihn mit Rätseln auf Trab zu halten, doch langweilt ihn das einfach nur noch. Bis eines Tages seine Ex Chloe verschwindet und schließlich auch tot gefunden wird. Viele Geheimnisse werden mit ihr ans Land gespült, was Garvie antreibt, den Fall zu lösen – denn die Polizei stellt sich nur allzu dumm an.
Idee:
Sherlock reloaded? Kann funktionieren, muss aber nicht 😉 In diesem Fall aber ging es auf, denn die Coolness steckt an.
Erwartungen:
Mein Wunschbuch auf vorablesen.de
4000 Punkte hab ich hierfür gegeben, dementsprechend waren meine Erwartungen verdammt hoch.
Charaktere:
Garvie Smith ist jung, gut aussehen und clever. Doch kann er einen schnell auf die Nerven gehen, wenn … ja, wenn da nicht nur die arrogante Seite wäre, sondern auch eine sehr charismatische und sympatische Ausstrahlung von ihm ausgehen würde. Ein Protagonist, der noch sehr wachsen kann und von dem man mehr sehen könnte, als man vermutet und hofft.
Kommisar Singh, der die Ermittlung leitet, macht einige Fehler, aber er bleibt am Ball. Ein ebenfalls interessanter Typ, der mich immer wieder überrascht hat.
Stil:
Modern, voller Hürden und doch sprachlich wirklich faszinierend. Es hat einfach nur Spaß gemacht, sich dem zu stellen und der Geschichte zu folgen.
Fazit:
Auch wenn meine Erwartungen hoch waren, so war ich doch skeptisch. Wenn man einen Protagonisten mit DEM Detektiv schlechthin vergleicht, dann muss man auch ein wenig zurückhaltend sein.
Und doch, so muss ich gestehen, hat mich Garvie direkt für sich eingenommen. Ja, er ist etwas – okay, sehr – arrogant, aber im Laufe des Lesens entdeckt man auch seine zerbrechliche Seite, eine Seite, die mir wirklich gut gefallen hat. Denn er hat einen weichen Kern, man muss ihn nur finden und dann festhalten.
Die Geschichte um das tote Mädchen und ihre Geheimnisse, hat mich sehr in den Bann gezogen und ich frage mich immer noch, wie eine Mutter so etwas nicht mitbekommen kann … Running Girl ist kein Geheimtipp, aber ein Buchtipp für alle, die gerne Rätsel lösen. Vorhersehbar? Wenn man der Spur folgt, vielleicht.
Gesamtbewertung:
Cover: Ach, das Cover *seufzt* … faszinierend.
Titel: Running girl. Ich hab gerade in einer anderen Rezension gelesen, dass das Buch vor einigen Jahren unter „Zu schön, um tot zu sein“ bereits erschienen ist. Beides passt gut.
Inhalt: Ich bleib dabei: Ich mag Garvie. Seine Art zu denken und zu handeln. Für mich ein toller und interessanter Charakter. Die Geschichte hat mir zudem natürlich auch gefallen. Sie ist verzwickt und clever, spannend und einnehmend. Die Polizei, allen voran Komissar Singh, macht viele Fehler in diesem Fall und doch versucht Singh immer mehr auf seine Intuition zu achten, was interessante Gedankengänge mit sich zieht.
Ach ja, ein paar Leichen gibt es außerdem noch zusätzlich …
July 17, 2020
Dieses Buch musste fast eineinhalb Jahre auf meinem Stapel der Schande liegen, bevor ich es endlich von seinem Leiden befreite. Warum ich so lange gewartet habe? Gute Frage. Keine Ahnung. Ich hab mir dieses Buch wohl zu einer Zeit gekauft, in der ich gerade Prüfungen hatte oder viele Rezensionsexemplare oder was weiß ich. Eineinhalb Jahre später kann man sich das nur noch schwer erklären. Aber nun bin ich ja endlich dazu gekommen, auch dieses Buch mal zu lesen.
Hier geht es um Garvie Smith. Ein Junge mit viel zu großem Selbstbewusstsein, niedriger Impulskontrolle, der sich um einiges erwachsener fühlt, als er es ist. Er ist sehr intelligent, liebt Mathe und hat ein fotografisches Gedächtnis. Trotzdem hat er so schlechte Noten, dass er seine Mutter damit regelmäßig zur Verzweiflung bringt. Doch endlich, endlich passiert mal was Spannendes in seinem Leben: Seine Ex-Freundin wurde ermordet! Juhu? Garvie fühlt sich auf jeden Fall so, als wär jetzt seine Zeit gekommen. Endlich kann er der ganzen Welt zeigen, was er so drauf hat (und wie dumm jeder andere ist). Im Großen und Ganzen habe ich es genossen, ihn auf seinem Weg zu begleiten. Nur stellenweise hätte ich mir von ihm etwas mehr Ernst gewünscht, denn leider wirkte er manchmal fast so, als sei das alles nur ein Spiel für ihn. Ich hatte ganz ehrlich Mitleid mit so ziemlich jedem Menschen in seiner Umgebung, vor allem mit dem Kommissar Singh und Garvies Mutter. Vor allem Garvies Mutter. Die arme Frau, die ist ja total überfordert mit ihm! Verstehe ich, wäre ich wohl auch.
Die Handlung war ziemlich spannend. Wir Leser werden auf nicht nur eine falsche Fährte gelockt, können gut miträtseln und zumindest ich hab genauso fleißig Beweise für und gegen verschiedene Verdächtige gesammelt, wie Garvie selbst. Stellenweise vielleicht sogar noch fleißiger, wenn er irgendjemanden als "nicht verdächtig" abgestempelt hat, den ich aber doch näher im Auge behalten würde.
Mein Fazit? Ein unterhaltsamer Jugendkrimi, der mich zum Lachen bringen konnte.
Hier geht es um Garvie Smith. Ein Junge mit viel zu großem Selbstbewusstsein, niedriger Impulskontrolle, der sich um einiges erwachsener fühlt, als er es ist. Er ist sehr intelligent, liebt Mathe und hat ein fotografisches Gedächtnis. Trotzdem hat er so schlechte Noten, dass er seine Mutter damit regelmäßig zur Verzweiflung bringt. Doch endlich, endlich passiert mal was Spannendes in seinem Leben: Seine Ex-Freundin wurde ermordet! Juhu? Garvie fühlt sich auf jeden Fall so, als wär jetzt seine Zeit gekommen. Endlich kann er der ganzen Welt zeigen, was er so drauf hat (und wie dumm jeder andere ist). Im Großen und Ganzen habe ich es genossen, ihn auf seinem Weg zu begleiten. Nur stellenweise hätte ich mir von ihm etwas mehr Ernst gewünscht, denn leider wirkte er manchmal fast so, als sei das alles nur ein Spiel für ihn. Ich hatte ganz ehrlich Mitleid mit so ziemlich jedem Menschen in seiner Umgebung, vor allem mit dem Kommissar Singh und Garvies Mutter. Vor allem Garvies Mutter. Die arme Frau, die ist ja total überfordert mit ihm! Verstehe ich, wäre ich wohl auch.
Die Handlung war ziemlich spannend. Wir Leser werden auf nicht nur eine falsche Fährte gelockt, können gut miträtseln und zumindest ich hab genauso fleißig Beweise für und gegen verschiedene Verdächtige gesammelt, wie Garvie selbst. Stellenweise vielleicht sogar noch fleißiger, wenn er irgendjemanden als "nicht verdächtig" abgestempelt hat, den ich aber doch näher im Auge behalten würde.
Mein Fazit? Ein unterhaltsamer Jugendkrimi, der mich zum Lachen bringen konnte.
August 8, 2018
3.5 for this one! While it might be hard to like Garvie Smith, the novel's protagonist, at first glance, the more I read, the more I came to like and appreciate him. Like many teens, he hides a soft and caring heart and a keen intellect behind a careless, uncaring veneer. He's completely unmotivated by school or his teachers, but he's loyal to his friends and has a keen sense of justice. When his former girlfriend, Chloe Dow, dies, Garvie is interested in solving the case. But DI Singh, who's been assigned to crack it, isn't interested in his assistance. After all, what could a teen boy who spends much of his time getting high and getting in trouble have to offer? But Garvie pays attention to small details that might escape the notice of others--details such as the color of the running shoes Chloe was wearing when her body was found. As the case twists and turns and Garvie and DI Singh follow various leads, some more promising than others, readers come to realize that there is much depth to this teen boy, enough depth and compassion for him to allow Chloe to keep her pride regarding their short relationship. I loved watching Garvie insinuate himself into situations others might have missed and enjoyed the glimpses into his thought processes, so much so that I'd eagerly read another book featuring this character.
September 2, 2020
I enjoyed this because I love UK police dramas, like good old Frost, Lewis and Morse, and I think my ex-Cherub readers would like Garvie Smith. He is a reluctant high school student but is super bright, and when he catches hold of the murder of an ex girlfriend, he can't help himself getting involved in what might otherwise be an incompetent police investigation. The detective in charge, Singh, is not clueless but seems to hit a blank wall when each new lead comes to nothing. Garvie is relentless and doesn't stop until literally right at the end of the book. Could get a bit complicated and unnecessarily wordy at times which might switch some readers off, therefore I think it would appeal to fans of murder mysteries as long as they are reasonably competent readers. A bit of a risk giving this to my year 8s as there is a lot of smoking (cigarettes and weed) but I wouldn't let this stop me holding it in my collection for the potential good it might do. Will see how this one goes before I buy the others in the series.
October 15, 2023
that was gooood what!
The main character, Garvie, is giving Percy Jackson but not a demi-god and not as nice and good-hearted. He's smart; he's sarcastic and he's got a knack for finding a solution. It was entertaining reading about him and seeing things from his point-of-view. He was a good character, but we barely got to know about him and his life outside of the murder mystery. The story just leapt right into it without laying a good, proper foundation.
The plot itself was very twisty and kept the audience engaged. I read this within a day and everytime I put it down, I knew I would pick it back up again like half an hour later. The twists and revelations were placed in great positions and it really made you step back and think, "What just happened???"
Maybe it's me not keeping up properly, but some parts of the story did confuse me. I just got the events and evidence mixed up and sometimes I couldn't place people's involvement.
But yeah, I do have a lot of questions but I think it was a fault of mine and not the writing. I wish mystery books had like a timeline at the end so I can properly figure out what was found out in the end because I forget stuff.
4 stars! and omg it's a series? I think this book is giving standalone but I can't say I'm not excited to see more Garvie. I just didn't expect it.
The main character, Garvie, is giving Percy Jackson but not a demi-god and not as nice and good-hearted. He's smart; he's sarcastic and he's got a knack for finding a solution. It was entertaining reading about him and seeing things from his point-of-view. He was a good character, but we barely got to know about him and his life outside of the murder mystery. The story just leapt right into it without laying a good, proper foundation.
The plot itself was very twisty and kept the audience engaged. I read this within a day and everytime I put it down, I knew I would pick it back up again like half an hour later. The twists and revelations were placed in great positions and it really made you step back and think, "What just happened???"
Maybe it's me not keeping up properly, but some parts of the story did confuse me. I just got the events and evidence mixed up and sometimes I couldn't place people's involvement.
But yeah, I do have a lot of questions but I think it was a fault of mine and not the writing. I wish mystery books had like a timeline at the end so I can properly figure out what was found out in the end because I forget stuff.
4 stars! and omg it's a series? I think this book is giving standalone but I can't say I'm not excited to see more Garvie. I just didn't expect it.
July 30, 2021
Highly enjoyable YA crime mystery. Garvie and Singh have fantastic rapport which evolves over the course of the book rather than just remaining two dimensional. The clue drops and routes of investigation are logical, compelling and will keep you engaged through to an unexpectedly exciting final act. Well thought out, well written, humorous, great time all round and would happily pick up the other 2 in the series.
July 20, 2018
Oh Garvie, you are a naughty naughty boy and you are totally endearing! You'd break a mothers heart! Never where you are supposed to be, always poking your nose into things which are not your concern.
This is the story of Garvie's ex girlfriend, she is murdered and Garvie decides to give the police a helping hand to sort out who did this horrible thing to her. Driving the poor beleaguered Detective Inspector Singh to despair with your amateur, yet surprisingly accurate detecting. I love your maths problem solving, I love your care for your dodgy mates and how you see the strength in those who society has discarded or who are treated unfairly.
This is the story of Garvie's ex girlfriend, she is murdered and Garvie decides to give the police a helping hand to sort out who did this horrible thing to her. Driving the poor beleaguered Detective Inspector Singh to despair with your amateur, yet surprisingly accurate detecting. I love your maths problem solving, I love your care for your dodgy mates and how you see the strength in those who society has discarded or who are treated unfairly.
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