The Ever-Running Man

Sharon McCone #24

by Marcia Muller

Sharon McCone is hired by her husband's security firm to track down "the ever-running man," a shadowy figure who has been leaving explosive devices at their various offices. She doesn't have to search for long. When McCone narrowly escapes an explosion at the security firm's San Francisco offices, she catches a glimpse of his retreating figure. The ever-running man is dangerously close--and anyone connected to the firm seems to be within his deadly range. To complicate matters, McCone is forced to question her intensely private husband, Hy, about his involvement in some of the firm's dark secrets. The history of corruption may jeopardize their marriage, but uncovering the secrets of the firm may be the only way she can save her husband's life, and her own.

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Mystery Thriller, Thriller, Audiobook, Crime, Adult

312 pages, Hardcover

First published July 1, 2007

About the author

Marcia Muller is an American author of mystery and thriller novels.
Muller has written many novels featuring her Sharon McCone female private detective character. Vanishing Point won the Shamus Award for Best P.I. Novel. Muller had been nominated for the Shamus Award four times previously.
In 2005, Muller was awarded the Mystery Writers of America's Grand Master award.
She was born in Detroit, Michigan, and grew up in Birmingham, Michigan, and graduated in English from the University of Michigan and worked as a journalist at Sunset magazine. She is married to detective fiction author Bill Pronzini with whom she has collaborated on several novels.

Reviews

[SuperWendy · Rating 4 out of 5]

More like 3.5 stars. There's a good story here but it doesn't hold up under logic since it just strongly again begs the question of why Hy would agree to work for RKI! Also, Sharon is a little slow on the uptake in this one - the moment our bad guy walks on to the page I was like "Yep, that's the guy" and yet she struggles to be suspicious of him from the jump. I've read too many mystery novels I think!

I will say that Muller did a good job of taking this story through some twists and turns, and the motive kept me guessing even if the identity of the bad guy didn't.

Note on the audio edition: are there people out there that enjoy Susan Ericksen's narration style because I don't think I've ever cared for her work all that much. Her voice for Mick is particularly terrible. She makes him sound like a cross between a surfer dude and a dumbass.

[Pamela Mclaren · Rating 3 out of 5]

Private investigator Sharon McCone wades into dangerous waters when she takes on an investigation of the security firm that her husband, Hy Ripinsky, is a part of. Someone has been bombing their offices in several cities, and now there is a death toll rising from the violence. McCone wonders what it is about the firm that would trigger the attacks — could it be the principals?

That line of thinking leads her and her staff into an investigation of Ripinsky and his partners, and what they find is not good. The investigation shakes the very foundations of her marriage but continue, she must.

I have to admit this is a fairly gripping thriller and although I once again have a principal beef with the McCone character, everything is pretty much believable. The McCone character has matured for the most part and because of that I enjoy reading these books, focusing on the mystery and the story. They are definitely growing on me.

[Paula Murtagh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Finished stronger than it started as the investigation came together. 1st time, I would read this series again.

[Kathleen Hagen]

The Ever-Running Man, by Marcia Muller. A. Narrated by Susan Ericksen, produced by BBC Audiobooks America, and downloaded from audible.com.

Lately the Sharon McCone books have been up and down. This one was one of the best. In this book, Hy Rapinsky’s security firm has a problem. There is someone going all over the country setting off bombs and damaging or destroying various offices of RKI Security. He is seen leaving the sites of several places just before the bomb goes off, and he seems to have a limp when he runs. But no one knows who he is. Hy’s firm reluctantly hires Sharon to investigate. Hy and Sharon don’t like to discuss either of their businesses with each other at length. In this case, Sharon is afraid she’ll find out things she doesn’t want to know regarding Hy’s business, and he is reluctant to tell her everything. But it becomes clear that she will have to delve to the bottom in order to save both of their lives, and perhaps their marriage. It actually was quite a good book.

[Lain · Rating 4 out of 5]

Muller never disappoints. In this latest Sharon McCone mystery, PI McCone must investigate her husband Hy Rapinski's business, RKI, to see who is responsible for a series of bombings against the company. Along the way, she discovers a few pieces of information that may irreparably damage her relationship with Rapinski.

All the favorite characters are here -- Ted, Anne Marie, Rae, etc. -- and I especially appreciate how everyone continues to evolve and face challenges of their own.

There are a few "yeah, right" moments, like when a key person of interest in the investigation just coincidentally owns property up the coast from McCone's Touchstone, and when Rapinski readily agrees to hire a low-skilled kept woman of 18 who was dumped by one of the firm's founders (geez, Rapinski -- you think that the bombings might be the work of a disgruntled employee, but you're willing to bring a disgruntled jilted lover on board? NOT!). Overall, though, it's another excellent entry in the McCone saga, one I've been following for over a decade.

[Kristen · Rating 4 out of 5]

In the 24th installment of Marcia Muller's Sharon McCone PI series, The Ever-Running Man, Sharon returned to tackle another tricky mystery case. Back in her stomping grounds of San Francisco, California, Hy's firm asked Sharon to track down the "ever-running man", a shadowy figure who leaves the scene of setting explosives at their headquartered offices. She didn't have to look for long, when he set one at their San Francisco office. She caught a glimpse of his retreating body. He seemed to be close to the firm and dangerous to where he became involved with. Now Sharon was forced to investigate Hy and his firm about their dark secrets, even the history of corruption might help save her life amongst others, and including her own.

[Carol Ann · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ms. Muller has picked up a trick from Mary Higgins Clark, which is, if you have a weak story introduce more characters than you can keep track of.

[Ed · Rating 4 out of 5]

#25 in the Sharon McCone mystery series. Author Muller celebrates the 30th anniversary of the series with this 2007 entry. Over the course of the series, protagonist McCone has matured and grown her business, though at a more leisurely pace than the calendar. Muller again refers to husband Bill Pronzini's long running Nameless Detective series, Sharon refers to him as Bill, and explains that Wolf, which she has called him in prior books is her nickname for him. In this entry I have a quibble, in investigating the past and present of one of husband Hy Ripinsky's partners, Dan Kessell, there is a question of identity theft and keeping track of which character did what becomes confusing, which is fine for the plot but not for the reader.

Someone is bombing the offices and safe houses of RKI and Hy Ripinsky, one of the partners in the firm, hires wife Sharon McCone to investigate. A shadowy figure, dubbed the ever-running man, has been seen leaving locations where there has been an explosion. When another device is detonated at RKI's S.F. office, a security guard dies, and McCone narrowly escapes. Her investigation leads to the discovery of corruption and other dark secrets in the past of the firm's partners revelations that may jeopardize her marriage, but McCone continues to probe, convinced that both her own and her husband's lives are at stake

[Cheryle · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first book I've read from this author. The Sharon McCone character is part of a series, but this book was easy to read even though I had not read any others. I gave it 4 star rating as while it was good it was too pat, too rich, too much.
Sharon McCone is hired by her husband's security firm to track down "the ever-running man," a shadowy figure who has been leaving explosive devices at their various offices. She doesn't have to search for long. When McCone narrowly escapes an explosion at the security firm's San Francisco offices, she catches a glimpse of his retreating figure. The ever-running man is dangerously close--and anyone connected to the firm seems to be within his deadly range. To complicate matters, McCone is forced to question her intensely private husband, Hy, about his involvement in some of the firm's dark secrets. The history of corruption may jeopardize their marriage, but uncovering the secrets of the firm may be the only way she can save her husband's life, and her own.

[Nolan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sharon McCone’s husband works for a security firm, and that firm is under attack as the book opens. Someone whom the employees have dubbed “the ever-running man” has bombed the company’s San Francisco office, nearly killing Sharon McCone in the process. When a top employee of the firm dies from a gunshot wound to the head, Sharon McCone is already on the job investigating the source of the bombs. Then presumably the same person blows up the Chicago offices of the company.

McCone races time as she tries to learn who the bomber is, and the end will surprise you a bit.

I’m just growing tired of this character and her often churlish behavior. It feels like every few pages, she engages in behavior that has the potential to destroy her marriage. Ah, that stuff gets old.

So, read this for an interesting plot. It’s not likely to dazzle you, but admittedly I could be way wrong about that, and I hope I am. Finding a book that dazzles you is a wonderful thing, after all. I’m not upset I read this, but I’m not blown away by it either.

[Shannon Appelcline · Rating 4 out of 5]

Once again, Muller manages to figure out a mystery case that cuts close to the heart of McCone by offering up a mystery that requires an investigation of Hy's partners in RKI. And, once more Muller mixes it with some meaningful personal relations, in the form of what this means for Sharon and Hy.

About two-thirds of the way through The Ever-Running Man, Muller offers up an awesome explanation for the mystery. Unfortunately, that turns out to not be the final word. There's a weird coincidence that reveals the intertwining of a second problem, and that coincidence is never explained, and the second problem has a solution that comes out of nowhere and a reveal that falls flat.

Still, a good novel, and the second problem does add to the wonderful portrait that's being composed of the RKI partners, but the mystery elements detract from what would otherwise have been a great book.

[William · Rating 5 out of 5]

Entertaining mystery listening 🎶🔰

Another will written murder mystery romantic relationship adventure novel by Marcia Muller book 24 in the Sharon McCone Mystery Series. Once again Sharon McCone has accepted a case where murder occurs against her husband's company over a period of two years. Sharon tracks down leads north and south of San Francisco before a clue leading too the killer. The showdown is quick and the case is closed. I would recommend this series and author to readers of mystery novels 👍🔰. Enjoy the adventure of reading 👓 or listening 🎶 to Alexa as I do because of eye damage and health issues. 2022 👒😊💑🏡

[Gail Burgess · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sharon takes on another case for RKI and it creates problems in her marriage. She also has a couple of close encounters when the building she is living in blows up just after she leaves and another explosion goes off right in front of the car she is driving.... But she solves the mystery and finds the perp(s). STILL enjoying rereading this series. :-)

[Joyce · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sharon McCone is hired by her husband to find a man who is bombing
Different offices. He is known as “ The Ever-Running Man”. An action filled
Tale with Sharon and her husband Hy and her team. It was a fast moving
Mystery you will enjoy as it delves into Hy Ripinski’s past and his flying
Record as well as the truth between Sharon and their marriage. I recommend
This book and series.

[Lucy]

Published in 2007, some things feel dated. She keeps saying cellular phone instead of cell phone, She calls information for a phone Number, she’s looking for canceled checks, and has someone else print her a map. Has 2007 turned into ye quaint olden days?

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a page turner. The author got back to the Sharon McCone that I’ve always enjoyed. I thought her writing and maybe more her plot development had gotten uneven in recent books. But this was back to the great Marcia Muller.

[Laurie · Rating 4 out of 5]

having travelled with this series from the beginning, I feel a certain nostalgia for the beginning, when Sharon was not so prosperous, and not so obsessed with small planes and remodeling. Here, she and her husband have a relationship crisis.

[Wendy Breau · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun mystery, easy read.

[Kenneth Flusche · Rating 5 out of 5]

still a little confused with the ending but still a good quick read

[Kenneth Cook · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another in a long line of excellent Sharon McCone mysteries.

[Debbie Deissler · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good book..I didn’t realize it was part of a series so there were a few times that I needed to regroup and figure out who was who but interesting read!

[Pat Sinclair · Rating 4 out of 5]

Once again I wasn't disappointed. Marcia always keeps the story moving.

[Barbara Nutting · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read 2009

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not my favorite in this series. Hi’s company sites are being bombed & Shaw’s firm is hired to find the culprit.

[carol · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good Book!

[Nan Babcock · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like this series, set in the San Francisco area, fast moving.

[Nancy Lee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good.

[Elaine Mayes · Rating 3 out of 5]

A solid entry in this long-running series.

[Sydney · Rating 4 out of 5]

A solid mystery with surprise twists and personal strife. Sharon McCone keeps growing better and better.

[Sophie · Rating 3 out of 5]

A female P.I., a number of suspects, kind of formulaic.
I ultimately took points off for the suspect that came out of nowhere in the end.
It was an o.k. read.