What do you think?
Rate this book
The Running Boy
A hideaway lake in the mountains above Los Angeles. A woman journalist on the run with a mystery boy, a step ahead of hired Red Mafia killers. A reclusive bachelor in a chalet high above the lake, staring down through binoculars. These are the initial ingredients of a full-throttle, nonstop chase thriller that accelerates from its opening pages to a breathtaking finale.
Eight-year-old Andrei "Andy" Morozov possesses a secret that could bring down the new Russian president, a media darling who conceals imperial ambitions. With geopolitical stakes this high, a secret directive is given--the boy must be hunted down and silenced forever. Thus, from the heart-pounding opening sequence, the thrilling helter-skelter race is on. Yet, as we see in vivid flashback, this is only the deadly home stretch of a six-months' pursuit that began explosively in Moscow and has careened across Europe and America to reach its lethal climax amid the neon dazzle of the Russian neighborhoods of West Hollywood.
A story of revenge and relentless pursuit, The Running Boy will surprise and delight readers who enjoy thrillers, including action adventure and chase thrillers. Dan Pollock, a member of the International Thriller Writers, is also author of Lair of the Fox, Duel of Assassins and Orinoco.
Eight-year-old Andrei "Andy" Morozov possesses a secret that could bring down the new Russian president, a media darling who conceals imperial ambitions. With geopolitical stakes this high, a secret directive is given--the boy must be hunted down and silenced forever. Thus, from the heart-pounding opening sequence, the thrilling helter-skelter race is on. Yet, as we see in vivid flashback, this is only the deadly home stretch of a six-months' pursuit that began explosively in Moscow and has careened across Europe and America to reach its lethal climax amid the neon dazzle of the Russian neighborhoods of West Hollywood.
A story of revenge and relentless pursuit, The Running Boy will surprise and delight readers who enjoy thrillers, including action adventure and chase thrillers. Dan Pollock, a member of the International Thriller Writers, is also author of Lair of the Fox, Duel of Assassins and Orinoco.
ebook
First published April 1, 2009
10 people are currently reading
54 people want to read
About the author
Dan Pollock
10 books401 followersDan Pollock was born in New York City to a family of writers and grew up in Laguna Beach, California. A former syndicate editor with the Los Angeles Times, Pollock is the author of five thriller novels--Lair of the Fox, Duel of Assassins, Orinoco (originally published as Pursuit Into Darkness), Countdown to Casablanca and The Running Boy; along with a specially commissioned “logistics” thriller, Precipice.
With his wife, Constance, he has edited and published three literary, inspirational volumes: The Book of Uncommon Prayer; Gospel: The Life of Jesus as Told by the World's Great Writers; and Visions of the Afterlife: Heaven, Hell and Revelation as Viewed by the World's Great Writers.
The Pollocks live in Southern California with their two children.
With his wife, Constance, he has edited and published three literary, inspirational volumes: The Book of Uncommon Prayer; Gospel: The Life of Jesus as Told by the World's Great Writers; and Visions of the Afterlife: Heaven, Hell and Revelation as Viewed by the World's Great Writers.
The Pollocks live in Southern California with their two children.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
October 20, 2014
I give
Had to stop reading after a few pages. Sentences just stopped, more tanned once, so I have no idea what was going on. Too bed, I was really looking forward to this book, it looked like it would be good. Pollack, fire your proofread.
Had to stop reading after a few pages. Sentences just stopped, more tanned once, so I have no idea what was going on. Too bed, I was really looking forward to this book, it looked like it would be good. Pollack, fire your proofread.
July 4, 2017
Thoroughly enjoyable
Captivated from the first paragraph, this high action novel held me spellbound. Extremely well written. Being agoraphobic myself I was surprised with his fighting skills.
Captivated from the first paragraph, this high action novel held me spellbound. Extremely well written. Being agoraphobic myself I was surprised with his fighting skills.
June 30, 2014
The hero is a geek recluse who can't relate to people. He hangs out at his mountain lake retreat and sends out a financial newsletter with predictions like what the new Russian election will mean to investors. He has a good following and is able to hide away, from people. One he occasionally sees is his webmistress. He wishes he were brave enough to approach her on a personal level.
One day, watching Canadian geese on the lake, he spies a naked woman coming out of the water after a swim. Uncomfortable with his role as voyeur, he goes back to work. A few minutes later, he glances out again and sees a little boy running through the woods in pajamas.
To sum it all up, the naked lady was the little boy's protector and she's been killed but not till she got a warning off to the boy.
The hero does what he should do--calls security at his lake subdivision--but that doesn't work out. Soon the geek is involved in fighting off Russian thugs and dodging bullets to keep the eight-year-old boy safe. As the webmistress enters the story to save them when they get stranded in a motel, boats, paragliders, and other story quirks keep us entertained.
I would have given this four stars, but the eight-year-old survived by knowing way more than he should. He seemed like a man instead of an intelligent boy.
But this is a nice chase book and keeps us entertained.
One day, watching Canadian geese on the lake, he spies a naked woman coming out of the water after a swim. Uncomfortable with his role as voyeur, he goes back to work. A few minutes later, he glances out again and sees a little boy running through the woods in pajamas.
To sum it all up, the naked lady was the little boy's protector and she's been killed but not till she got a warning off to the boy.
The hero does what he should do--calls security at his lake subdivision--but that doesn't work out. Soon the geek is involved in fighting off Russian thugs and dodging bullets to keep the eight-year-old boy safe. As the webmistress enters the story to save them when they get stranded in a motel, boats, paragliders, and other story quirks keep us entertained.
I would have given this four stars, but the eight-year-old survived by knowing way more than he should. He seemed like a man instead of an intelligent boy.
But this is a nice chase book and keeps us entertained.
July 27, 2014
I recently read Dan Pollock's, "Orinoco" and was very impressed by his writing style and entrancing narrative so I decided to get, "The Running Boy" next. Wow - what a blast! Mr. Pollock's wonderfully descriptive and engaging writing style is ever-present but in this little gem, he adds a massive truckload of thrills, spills, and seat-of-the-pants action to boot. This is a seriously fun novel - whether for a long flight, a weekend's escapism, or to read in bursts between workdays, The Running Boy will fit the bill. I had a great deal of trouble putting it down because the action flows in an almost continuous river of butt-clenching close calls.
I'm starting on this author's, "Lair of the Fox" next!
I'm starting on this author's, "Lair of the Fox" next!
June 18, 2014
When a reclusive stock market blogger spots small boy running across the lake from his home in an exclusive enclave, he convinces himself that something is wrong and calls the private security guard to check It out. The boy was wearing only PJs and carrying a small backpack and acted terrified. That small act thrust the reclusive blogger into a series of life and death adventures as he tries to protect the boy and himself from a pair of bungling killers sent by the soon to be head of the Russian Government. A series of narrow escapes by the pair and then by a friend who helps them keeps the pages turning in this one.
March 14, 2015
Riveting read
Wow! Heart stopping action. Russian Mafia chasing after a 7 year boy for something horrific he was witness to. I want to say more but don't want to give away any potential clues. You must read and find out for yourself. I will tell you will be rooting for Andy and his two new protectors.
Wow! Heart stopping action. Russian Mafia chasing after a 7 year boy for something horrific he was witness to. I want to say more but don't want to give away any potential clues. You must read and find out for yourself. I will tell you will be rooting for Andy and his two new protectors.
July 21, 2015
Fast-Paced
This is a quick read, and held my interest throughout. I was almost glad the pace at the beginning of the book slowed down somewhat, as I was getting worn out. Seriously, though, despite a few too many coincidences and troubling judgment by many of the characters, I really enjoyed the book.
This is a quick read, and held my interest throughout. I was almost glad the pace at the beginning of the book slowed down somewhat, as I was getting worn out. Seriously, though, despite a few too many coincidences and troubling judgment by many of the characters, I really enjoyed the book.
June 7, 2014
This book is a fast paced thriller about a boy on the run from his psychotic father, who is a prominent politician likely to become the next president of Russia! It is essentially one long chase scene and we meet various interesting characters along the way. Overall an enjoyable read.
April 1, 2015
A rocketing roller coaster of a thrill ride! There's non-stop action, with enough twists to make your wonder if the good guys are going to make it. The main characters are interesting and the villains thoroughly bad. Great entertainment.
March 14, 2015
Could not put it down
A good page-turner. It hooks you in and doesn't let go. The protagonists were in such peril that I was not sure whether or not they would make it to the end.
A good page-turner. It hooks you in and doesn't let go. The protagonists were in such peril that I was not sure whether or not they would make it to the end.
August 6, 2016
The Running Boy review
The Running Boy is a fast-paced action thriller written by author Dan Pollock. Great characters and a storyline with international intrigue.
The Running Boy is a fast-paced action thriller written by author Dan Pollock. Great characters and a storyline with international intrigue.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews