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Running out of Road
A missing schoolgirl, a middle-aged recluse, an exploited teenager. Lives thrown into chaos and set on collision course. With the police in hot pursuit.
Scarlett is dancing in the school talent show tomorrow. Nana, who Scarlett lives with since Mum died, reckons Scarlett will be on Strictly at this rate. Except Scarlett doesn't make it home from school. She's abducted by a man she never imagined she'd see again. A man on the police's most wanted list. Her dad.
Ron has made a living as a house and pet sitter since quitting his career on the front line in the fire service. He's currently looking after a place deep in the Derbyshire Peaks. The solitude suits him. And managing animals is so much simpler than coping with other people.
Dylan's a 'cuckoo', dealing drugs on the county line, moving from nest to nest, picking out people who daren't say no. Keeping his head down, one step ahead of the law. So far. But now everything's falling apart.
DS Laura O'Neil is running on empty after nights dealing with her teething toddler. But Laura is driving the hunt for Scarlett and knows that every minute counts.
A race against time, played out in the brooding wilderness, the limestone gorges and gritstone edges of the Peak District. Themes of escape and entrapment, of shifting loyalties and new alliances, of violence, fear and love, resilience, kindness and hope.
Scarlett is dancing in the school talent show tomorrow. Nana, who Scarlett lives with since Mum died, reckons Scarlett will be on Strictly at this rate. Except Scarlett doesn't make it home from school. She's abducted by a man she never imagined she'd see again. A man on the police's most wanted list. Her dad.
Ron has made a living as a house and pet sitter since quitting his career on the front line in the fire service. He's currently looking after a place deep in the Derbyshire Peaks. The solitude suits him. And managing animals is so much simpler than coping with other people.
Dylan's a 'cuckoo', dealing drugs on the county line, moving from nest to nest, picking out people who daren't say no. Keeping his head down, one step ahead of the law. So far. But now everything's falling apart.
DS Laura O'Neil is running on empty after nights dealing with her teething toddler. But Laura is driving the hunt for Scarlett and knows that every minute counts.
A race against time, played out in the brooding wilderness, the limestone gorges and gritstone edges of the Peak District. Themes of escape and entrapment, of shifting loyalties and new alliances, of violence, fear and love, resilience, kindness and hope.
272 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 15, 2021
13 people are currently reading
120 people want to read
About the author
Cath Staincliffe
59 books323 followersCath Staincliffe is a best-selling, award-winning novelist, radio playwright and the creator of ITV's hit series, Blue Murder, starring Caroline Quentin as DCI Janine Lewis. Cath's books have been short-listed for the British Crime Writers Association best first novel award, for the Dagger in the Library and selected as Le Masque de l'Année. In 2012 Cath won the CWA Short Story Dagger for Laptop, sharing the prize with Margaret Murphy with her story The Message. Cath was shortlisted again with Night Nurse in 2014. Cath's Sal Kilkenny private eye series features a single-parent sleuth working the mean streets of Manchester. Trio, a stand-alone novel moved away from crime to explore adoption and growing up in the 1960s, inspired by Cath's own experience. Letters To My Daughter's Killer was selected for Specsavers Crime Thriller Book Club in 2014 and featured on ITV3s Crime Thriller Club. Cath also writes the Scott & Bailey novels based on the popular UK TV series. Cath's latest stand alone book, The Girl in the Green Dress, was inspired by her experience as the parent of a transgender child. It tells the story of a transphobic hate crime and asks the question: how far would you go to protect your child? Cath is one of the founding members of Murder Squad - a group of Northern crime writers who give readings, talks and signings around the country. Cath was born in Bradford, Yorkshire, UK and now lives in Manchester, Lancashire with her family. You can follow her on Twitter, @CathStaincliffe, which she does when she should be busy writing!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews
July 5, 2021
*4.5 stars *
Eleven year old Scarlett Martin, 17 year old Dylan Ellis, and middle aged ex firefighter, Ron Thorpe - three completely unconnected characters, that is until the fickle finger of fate decides to bring them all together in a maelstrom of terror and suspense in this gripping thriller from accomplished author Cath Staincliffe.
Scarlett has lived with her nana since the death of her mother some six years earlier, that is until she’s abducted by the father that she hasn’t seen since she was just five years old. Dylan Ellis is a county lines drug dealer - thinks he’ll make it big one of these days. Ron Thorpe is very much a loner after leaving the Fire Service, he house sits and looks after owner’s pets, and the rest of the time, he lives in his old motor home. He’s currently house sitting in the beautiful Derbyshire Peaks - a stunning house in a picturesque and secluded spot - and that suits him perfectly, but he has no idea yet, that his peace and seclusion is about to be challenged in the most horrific manner.
These people’s lives are thrown together in a most spectacular way, that leads to some breathtaking action, in this darkly atmospheric and sometimes deeply unsettling thriller. Cath Staincliffe is a writer with a powerful gift for keeping her audience permanently on edge. Highly recommended!
Eleven year old Scarlett Martin, 17 year old Dylan Ellis, and middle aged ex firefighter, Ron Thorpe - three completely unconnected characters, that is until the fickle finger of fate decides to bring them all together in a maelstrom of terror and suspense in this gripping thriller from accomplished author Cath Staincliffe.
Scarlett has lived with her nana since the death of her mother some six years earlier, that is until she’s abducted by the father that she hasn’t seen since she was just five years old. Dylan Ellis is a county lines drug dealer - thinks he’ll make it big one of these days. Ron Thorpe is very much a loner after leaving the Fire Service, he house sits and looks after owner’s pets, and the rest of the time, he lives in his old motor home. He’s currently house sitting in the beautiful Derbyshire Peaks - a stunning house in a picturesque and secluded spot - and that suits him perfectly, but he has no idea yet, that his peace and seclusion is about to be challenged in the most horrific manner.
These people’s lives are thrown together in a most spectacular way, that leads to some breathtaking action, in this darkly atmospheric and sometimes deeply unsettling thriller. Cath Staincliffe is a writer with a powerful gift for keeping her audience permanently on edge. Highly recommended!
June 28, 2021
I love Cath Staincliffe's crime fiction, she specialises in creating brilliant vibrantly alive characters and plots that grip, grabbing the reader's interest from beginning to end. This short atmospheric novel is set in the dramatic location of the Derbyshire Peaks, in the midst of a violent storm, bringing torrential rain, mudslides and floods, a fitting background in which the darkest of deeds take place. 11 year old Scarlett is a mixed race, bright and lively young girl, living with her beloved Nan, obsessed with dance and gymnastics. She is walking home with her friend, Faye, discussing their upcoming performance in the school talent contest. After parting ways with Faye, Scarlett is abducted by a kidnapper she knows all too well, Gregory Martin, her father, a wanted man who had fled the country after committing a heinous crime.
Poor Scarlett has every reason to be terrified out of her mind, her father's return brings back her haunting and traumatised memories as a 5 year old, of her mother, Jeanette, who she now struggles to remember. Martin is a nasty, brutal, and vicious man, paying no attention to Scarlett's wish to be returned home, frightening and threatening her. 17 year old Dylan Ellis is a small time drug dealer and 'cuckoo', dealing from the home of the vulnerable addict, Petey. When Dylan sees Petey on the floor surrounded by blood, he flees with his bag of drug money, afraid of being charged with murder, but calling an ambulance first. Ron is a middle aged gay ex-firefighter, now a professional house sitter, currently looking after the Graybridge estate whilst the owners are abroad. The lives of all these disparate characters are to intersect and connect. DS Laura O'Neil is determined to find and arrest Martin, and return Scarlett home, whatever it takes, she is ably assisted by the conscientious PC Ahmed Ali.
Staincliffe's storytelling is jam packed with suspense and tension, and I don't mind admitting I was biting my nails, terrified at what might transpire, afraid for Scarlett, and for everyone else. Gregory Martin truly is a man that can inspire nightmares, he had no redeeming qualities, although Scarlett felt guilt and conflicting feelings, she could remember a time when she loved her dad before everything went to hell. This is a fantastic, dark, engaging and entertaining crime read, written by a talented author, that I highly recommend to other readers. Many thanks to the publisher for an ARC.
Poor Scarlett has every reason to be terrified out of her mind, her father's return brings back her haunting and traumatised memories as a 5 year old, of her mother, Jeanette, who she now struggles to remember. Martin is a nasty, brutal, and vicious man, paying no attention to Scarlett's wish to be returned home, frightening and threatening her. 17 year old Dylan Ellis is a small time drug dealer and 'cuckoo', dealing from the home of the vulnerable addict, Petey. When Dylan sees Petey on the floor surrounded by blood, he flees with his bag of drug money, afraid of being charged with murder, but calling an ambulance first. Ron is a middle aged gay ex-firefighter, now a professional house sitter, currently looking after the Graybridge estate whilst the owners are abroad. The lives of all these disparate characters are to intersect and connect. DS Laura O'Neil is determined to find and arrest Martin, and return Scarlett home, whatever it takes, she is ably assisted by the conscientious PC Ahmed Ali.
Staincliffe's storytelling is jam packed with suspense and tension, and I don't mind admitting I was biting my nails, terrified at what might transpire, afraid for Scarlett, and for everyone else. Gregory Martin truly is a man that can inspire nightmares, he had no redeeming qualities, although Scarlett felt guilt and conflicting feelings, she could remember a time when she loved her dad before everything went to hell. This is a fantastic, dark, engaging and entertaining crime read, written by a talented author, that I highly recommend to other readers. Many thanks to the publisher for an ARC.
July 1, 2021
Scarlett, 11, is abducted by her father Gregory Martin who is a wanted man. DS Laura O’Neill investigates. PC Ahmed Ali is on the trail of a man seen fleeing the scene of a potential suspicious death. Ahmed and Laura’s separate investigations coincide very dramatically!
This is a very lively and engaging mystery thriller right from the start. Cath Staincliffe writes in such a visual way that you feel as if you are part of the fast paced action. Short, sharp sentences add an extra layer of tension, perfectly matching the unfolding drama. The characterisation is very good, the star of the show for me being Scarlett. You feel her terror, helplessness and fear of her ruthless father and you totally root for her. Once she has suppressed her fears she is able to think on her feet and proves to be a very resourceful and brave young lady. The two police officers are very good characters too, their relationship doesn’t get off the the most promising of starts but a camaraderie develops based on having each other’s backs. The novel is set in the Peak District which is extremely well described and the landscape and atrocious weather conditions are used to great effect adding an extra layer of tension, danger and difficulty. The different story threads connect very cohesively and it becomes exciting, high octane and very entertaining. There are so many twists and turns you feel like you’ve ridden Oblivion at Alton Towers and it’s just as unrelenting. The only difference is I’d want to get off Oblivion and I didn’t want to with this!! I especially like how the police officers feelings are conveyed in the aftermath with Laura’s husbands reaction really bringing home the potential dangers that officers face very time they answer a call.
Overall, this is another good crime drama from the talented author.
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Little Brown Book Group for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.
This is a very lively and engaging mystery thriller right from the start. Cath Staincliffe writes in such a visual way that you feel as if you are part of the fast paced action. Short, sharp sentences add an extra layer of tension, perfectly matching the unfolding drama. The characterisation is very good, the star of the show for me being Scarlett. You feel her terror, helplessness and fear of her ruthless father and you totally root for her. Once she has suppressed her fears she is able to think on her feet and proves to be a very resourceful and brave young lady. The two police officers are very good characters too, their relationship doesn’t get off the the most promising of starts but a camaraderie develops based on having each other’s backs. The novel is set in the Peak District which is extremely well described and the landscape and atrocious weather conditions are used to great effect adding an extra layer of tension, danger and difficulty. The different story threads connect very cohesively and it becomes exciting, high octane and very entertaining. There are so many twists and turns you feel like you’ve ridden Oblivion at Alton Towers and it’s just as unrelenting. The only difference is I’d want to get off Oblivion and I didn’t want to with this!! I especially like how the police officers feelings are conveyed in the aftermath with Laura’s husbands reaction really bringing home the potential dangers that officers face very time they answer a call.
Overall, this is another good crime drama from the talented author.
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Little Brown Book Group for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.
February 7, 2022
An 11-year-old girl named Scarlett who lives with her grandmother and is very excited about performing a dance routine with her best friend in the school's talent show; Dylan, a 17-year-old drug dealer who currently lives in 34-year-old Petey's subsidized housing unit; Ron, a middle-aged house and pet sitter; and DS Laura O'Neil, exhausted mother of a toddler. These characters are all introduced in the opening chapters and we wonder what they could possibly have in common. The story takes place in the Peak District of England and, although I'm not familiar with the area, I liked the author's apology at the beginning for taking liberties with the geography.
Fasten your seatbelt because things are about to get wild! The characters are very realistic and I loved Scarlett and her Greta Thunberg-like concern for the environment. There are many different threads and I'm in awe of how the author brought them all together without dropping a stitch. The descriptions of the terrain and the weather add to the tension created by the unfolding story. A line from the book - "Anticipation and anxiety prickling him from head to toe" - describes my feelings perfectly. Highly recommended!
This is the third book by Cath Staincliffe that I've read and I'm very impressed by her writing and the diverse themes in the books I've read. I'll definitely be watching for whatever she does next. She's also the author of the books upon which the UK TV Series "Scott & Bailey" is based and we really enjoyed the series.
Thank you once again to the London Public Library for the loan of this book.
Fasten your seatbelt because things are about to get wild! The characters are very realistic and I loved Scarlett and her Greta Thunberg-like concern for the environment. There are many different threads and I'm in awe of how the author brought them all together without dropping a stitch. The descriptions of the terrain and the weather add to the tension created by the unfolding story. A line from the book - "Anticipation and anxiety prickling him from head to toe" - describes my feelings perfectly. Highly recommended!
This is the third book by Cath Staincliffe that I've read and I'm very impressed by her writing and the diverse themes in the books I've read. I'll definitely be watching for whatever she does next. She's also the author of the books upon which the UK TV Series "Scott & Bailey" is based and we really enjoyed the series.
Thank you once again to the London Public Library for the loan of this book.
July 11, 2021
Scarlett is dancing in the school talent show tomorrow. Nana, who Scarlett lives with since her mum died, reckons Scarlett will be Strictly at this rate. Except Scarlett doesn't make it home from school, She's abducted by a man she never thought she'd see again.
Ron has made a living out of house and pet sitting since he left the fire service. He's currently looking after a place deep in the Derbyshire Peaks.
Dylan's a "cuckoo", dealing drugs on the county line, moving from nest to nest, picking up people who daren't say no. But now everything is falling apart. DS Lucy O'Neill and police constable Ahmed Ali are from different police stations and they're investigating different cases, but they meet during their investigations and end up working together.
Scarlett's dad abducts her on her way home from school. He's quite and evil character. There's three main threads to this story and they are woven together throughout. I really enjoyed this fast paced read. I ended up liking most of the characters, felt sorry for Ron, loved rookie policeman Ahmed Ali for his mistakes but most of all Scarlett who you will feel every emotion she goes through. This is a descriptively written story that makes you visualise all that's going on.
I would like to thank #NetGalley #LittleBrownBookGroupUK and the author #CathStaincliffe for my ARC of #RunningOutOfRoad in exchange for an honest review.
This is a cleverly crafted plot that's gripping.
Ron has made a living out of house and pet sitting since he left the fire service. He's currently looking after a place deep in the Derbyshire Peaks.
Dylan's a "cuckoo", dealing drugs on the county line, moving from nest to nest, picking up people who daren't say no. But now everything is falling apart. DS Lucy O'Neill and police constable Ahmed Ali are from different police stations and they're investigating different cases, but they meet during their investigations and end up working together.
Scarlett's dad abducts her on her way home from school. He's quite and evil character. There's three main threads to this story and they are woven together throughout. I really enjoyed this fast paced read. I ended up liking most of the characters, felt sorry for Ron, loved rookie policeman Ahmed Ali for his mistakes but most of all Scarlett who you will feel every emotion she goes through. This is a descriptively written story that makes you visualise all that's going on.
I would like to thank #NetGalley #LittleBrownBookGroupUK and the author #CathStaincliffe for my ARC of #RunningOutOfRoad in exchange for an honest review.
This is a cleverly crafted plot that's gripping.
August 10, 2021
This ambitious human drama is a pulsating, heart-in-mouth thriller with utterly believable characters whose lives are all thrown into chaos when several decisions set their paths on a traumatic collision course. The story plays out against the backdrop of the Derbyshire Peaks as a torrential storm sets in and causes flooding, turning the breathtaking scenery into a precarious landscape. The imagery throughout is superb and compliments the highly-charged atmosphere and unrelenting suspense.
Eleven-year-old Scarlett Martin lives with her Nana following the death of her mother six years earlier and is busy thinking about dancing at the school talent show the following day as she walks home. When a car pulls up and she is abducted by her estranged father, Gregory, who is on the police’s wanted list, it is the start of a harrowing ordeal at the hands of a very dangerous man. Not only does it trigger a sequence of shocking memories from her childhood but she has absolutely no idea where or why he is taking her, as her pleas to go home are resoundingly ignored. It is frazzled mother, DS Laura O’Neil, with a teething toddler of her own at home who responds to the report that Scarlett has not arrived home and springs into action, piecing together what little is known in an effort to to bring her home. Seventeen-year-old Dylan Ellis is part of a county lines operation and is cuckooing in the home of a vulnerable addict as he deals drugs in the surrounding rural towns. When he discovers the owner of the house covered in blood he makes an instinctive decision to run, fleeing with the money and not daring to risk the wrath of the gang leader. Uptight and diligent PC Ahmed Ali happens to see Dylan making a hasty and suspicious exit and gives chase, already knowing the options for him to escape are limited in the torrential weather. When a chance series of events sees Scarlett, Gregory and Dylan’s paths all converge with that of Ron Thorpe, a PTSD suffering ex-firefighter turned house and pet sitter, the fallout is catastrophic with implications for all whose lives are touched.
Cath Staincliffe’s characterisation is superlative and her diverse cast leap off the page, each with their own preoccupations and dilemmas. Each of these characters points of view are by turns experiential and reflective, affording the reader an unparalleled insight into their lives and backstories. Not only are each of them convincing but their stories draw the reader into their concerns making for an emotionally engaging encounter. As the narrative baton is passed between characters, making apparent how interconnected their lives have become simply due to a series of independent decisions, coincidences and misunderstandings abound to both positive and negative effect. This sequence of circumstances act as a thread that ties all these individuals together over the course of an nightmarish afternoon and evening. Whilst the book is relatively short at just over 250 pages it doesn’t stint on depth of feeling and to Staincliffe’s credit there is not one iota of moralising. I never hesitate to read a Cath Staincliffe novel and Running Out of Road is a perfect example of her talent, and the tolerance and compassion along with clear-eyed realism that is a hallmark of her work. Staincliffe never shies away from tough topics and despite the heartbreak involved in this powerful novel it contains moments of humanity at its best and left me surprisingly hopeful.
Eleven-year-old Scarlett Martin lives with her Nana following the death of her mother six years earlier and is busy thinking about dancing at the school talent show the following day as she walks home. When a car pulls up and she is abducted by her estranged father, Gregory, who is on the police’s wanted list, it is the start of a harrowing ordeal at the hands of a very dangerous man. Not only does it trigger a sequence of shocking memories from her childhood but she has absolutely no idea where or why he is taking her, as her pleas to go home are resoundingly ignored. It is frazzled mother, DS Laura O’Neil, with a teething toddler of her own at home who responds to the report that Scarlett has not arrived home and springs into action, piecing together what little is known in an effort to to bring her home. Seventeen-year-old Dylan Ellis is part of a county lines operation and is cuckooing in the home of a vulnerable addict as he deals drugs in the surrounding rural towns. When he discovers the owner of the house covered in blood he makes an instinctive decision to run, fleeing with the money and not daring to risk the wrath of the gang leader. Uptight and diligent PC Ahmed Ali happens to see Dylan making a hasty and suspicious exit and gives chase, already knowing the options for him to escape are limited in the torrential weather. When a chance series of events sees Scarlett, Gregory and Dylan’s paths all converge with that of Ron Thorpe, a PTSD suffering ex-firefighter turned house and pet sitter, the fallout is catastrophic with implications for all whose lives are touched.
Cath Staincliffe’s characterisation is superlative and her diverse cast leap off the page, each with their own preoccupations and dilemmas. Each of these characters points of view are by turns experiential and reflective, affording the reader an unparalleled insight into their lives and backstories. Not only are each of them convincing but their stories draw the reader into their concerns making for an emotionally engaging encounter. As the narrative baton is passed between characters, making apparent how interconnected their lives have become simply due to a series of independent decisions, coincidences and misunderstandings abound to both positive and negative effect. This sequence of circumstances act as a thread that ties all these individuals together over the course of an nightmarish afternoon and evening. Whilst the book is relatively short at just over 250 pages it doesn’t stint on depth of feeling and to Staincliffe’s credit there is not one iota of moralising. I never hesitate to read a Cath Staincliffe novel and Running Out of Road is a perfect example of her talent, and the tolerance and compassion along with clear-eyed realism that is a hallmark of her work. Staincliffe never shies away from tough topics and despite the heartbreak involved in this powerful novel it contains moments of humanity at its best and left me surprisingly hopeful.
May 12, 2025
1 star
Terrible
Terrible
July 12, 2021
I make absolutely no apologies for the fact that I am a die-hard, there from the beginning, mega fan of Cath Staincliffe's writing. Her novels deal with the darker side of life, she takes ordinary people who live their lives on the edge, and creates wonderfully structured stories that have such heart, and impact.
Running Out Of Road is not a long novel, at less than 300 pages, but it's one that is affecting, leaving a feeling that you've been punched in the gut, both emotionally and physically.
The blurb tells us that this story features four main characters; Scarlett, Ron, Dylan and Laura. However, there is one other character who is not mentioned on the cover, and that's Ahmed, a young police officer who pulls the whole story together, and for me, he is our hero.
Set in the Derbyshire Peak District over one afternoon during violent thunderstorms, the sense of place is incredible. The driving rain, the howling wind and the flooded roadways only add to the tension of the plot, giving a depth that works just beautifully.
Scarlett is an eleven-year-old girl of mixed heritage. She loves dance, is socially aware, a vegan and she lives with her Nana. She's excited about a dance routine that she will be performing with her best friend and that's all she is thinking about as she walks home from school. A car pulls up just in front of her, and as Scarlett recognises the man who demands she get into the vehicle, her nightmare begins.
Ron, a middle-aged, ex firefighter is house sitting. With only a dog and a couple of horses for company, he's happy. He's often distressed by flash backs to his past, but is doing his best to move on. The storm and flooded roads means he needs to take a different route to get the dog to a vet appointment, and as he struggles with the steering and veers off the road .... his nightmare begins.
Dylan, a teenager from a very dysfunctional background spends his time moving from location to location, dealing drugs for the big players on the county lines. Dreaming of the day when he will have enough money to become of the top dogs himself. When he arrives back at the dirty, run-down house that he's currently staying at, hungry and ready for a pizza, he discovers Petey ... and his nightmare begins.
DS Laura O Neill remembers the name of Gregory Martin. She remembers what he did. When she is told that young Scarlett is missing she is terrified, and determined to find her. Gregory Martin is her father, and he's a violent, dangerous man.
Ahmed is a young police officer. All he wants to do is to protect the public, uphold the law and make his family proud. He does everything by the book, ticking every box, ensuring that every single lead is followed up. He's going to get mixed up in something that will leave a lasting scar, literally.
The characters become entwined as the hunt for Scarlett intensifies, as the rain pours down and creates even more problems for those involved, the tension mounts.
Staincliffe is an incredible talent. Her writing moves with such a pace, unexpected twists to catch the reader out, and wonderfully created characters who leap from the pages. The reader lives and breathes alongside them.
Powerful, gripping and ultimately satisfying. This is going to be up there in my top books of the year, without a doubt.
Running Out Of Road is not a long novel, at less than 300 pages, but it's one that is affecting, leaving a feeling that you've been punched in the gut, both emotionally and physically.
The blurb tells us that this story features four main characters; Scarlett, Ron, Dylan and Laura. However, there is one other character who is not mentioned on the cover, and that's Ahmed, a young police officer who pulls the whole story together, and for me, he is our hero.
Set in the Derbyshire Peak District over one afternoon during violent thunderstorms, the sense of place is incredible. The driving rain, the howling wind and the flooded roadways only add to the tension of the plot, giving a depth that works just beautifully.
Scarlett is an eleven-year-old girl of mixed heritage. She loves dance, is socially aware, a vegan and she lives with her Nana. She's excited about a dance routine that she will be performing with her best friend and that's all she is thinking about as she walks home from school. A car pulls up just in front of her, and as Scarlett recognises the man who demands she get into the vehicle, her nightmare begins.
Ron, a middle-aged, ex firefighter is house sitting. With only a dog and a couple of horses for company, he's happy. He's often distressed by flash backs to his past, but is doing his best to move on. The storm and flooded roads means he needs to take a different route to get the dog to a vet appointment, and as he struggles with the steering and veers off the road .... his nightmare begins.
Dylan, a teenager from a very dysfunctional background spends his time moving from location to location, dealing drugs for the big players on the county lines. Dreaming of the day when he will have enough money to become of the top dogs himself. When he arrives back at the dirty, run-down house that he's currently staying at, hungry and ready for a pizza, he discovers Petey ... and his nightmare begins.
DS Laura O Neill remembers the name of Gregory Martin. She remembers what he did. When she is told that young Scarlett is missing she is terrified, and determined to find her. Gregory Martin is her father, and he's a violent, dangerous man.
Ahmed is a young police officer. All he wants to do is to protect the public, uphold the law and make his family proud. He does everything by the book, ticking every box, ensuring that every single lead is followed up. He's going to get mixed up in something that will leave a lasting scar, literally.
The characters become entwined as the hunt for Scarlett intensifies, as the rain pours down and creates even more problems for those involved, the tension mounts.
Staincliffe is an incredible talent. Her writing moves with such a pace, unexpected twists to catch the reader out, and wonderfully created characters who leap from the pages. The reader lives and breathes alongside them.
Powerful, gripping and ultimately satisfying. This is going to be up there in my top books of the year, without a doubt.
October 19, 2023
I would like to thank Netgalley and Little, Brown Book Group UK for an advance copy of Running out of Road, a stand-alone thriller set in the Peak District.
11 year old Scarlett is on her way home from school when she is kidnapped by her violent father. Ron is house sitting in the Peak District. Dylan is on the run when things go wrong in a drugs trap House he had taken over. DS Laura O’Neil is the officer hunting Scarlett. The novel is about the hunt for Scarlett and how these characters interact.
I enjoyed Running out of Road which is a tense, action packed read. It is not a long novel so everything counts and it seems like one piece of action after another. This is heightened by the weather, torrential rain and storms.
The novel is told from various points of view with each character rationalising their actions and decisions, except for Scarlett’s dad who seems incapable of rational thought and uses threats and violence to express himself. This is not the distraction it could be due to the tension his actions invoke and the frenetic pace. It all unfolds over a few hours so there is no time to breathe.
The way the characters meet and get entangled requires a certain suspension of disbelief as coincidences abound, but I just ran with it as the atmosphere of fear and tension and the hunt are compulsive. I’m not overly sure about the characterisation either, as it seems designed to suit the plot rather than realism, but the action’s the thing, so it doesn’t really matter.
Running out of Road is an entertaining read so I have no hesitation in recommending it.
11 year old Scarlett is on her way home from school when she is kidnapped by her violent father. Ron is house sitting in the Peak District. Dylan is on the run when things go wrong in a drugs trap House he had taken over. DS Laura O’Neil is the officer hunting Scarlett. The novel is about the hunt for Scarlett and how these characters interact.
I enjoyed Running out of Road which is a tense, action packed read. It is not a long novel so everything counts and it seems like one piece of action after another. This is heightened by the weather, torrential rain and storms.
The novel is told from various points of view with each character rationalising their actions and decisions, except for Scarlett’s dad who seems incapable of rational thought and uses threats and violence to express himself. This is not the distraction it could be due to the tension his actions invoke and the frenetic pace. It all unfolds over a few hours so there is no time to breathe.
The way the characters meet and get entangled requires a certain suspension of disbelief as coincidences abound, but I just ran with it as the atmosphere of fear and tension and the hunt are compulsive. I’m not overly sure about the characterisation either, as it seems designed to suit the plot rather than realism, but the action’s the thing, so it doesn’t really matter.
Running out of Road is an entertaining read so I have no hesitation in recommending it.
June 23, 2021
Running out of Road brings together three very disparate characters: Scarlett, an eleven year old girl who has lived with her Nana since the death of her mother years earlier; Ron, a housesitter and former firefighter; and Dylan, a teenager involved in county lines drug dealing. When Scarlett is abducted by her father and Dylan goes on the run for other reasons, the lives of these three people collide, while a storm rages across the Peak District, causing flooding and mudslides, and police officers Laura O'Neil and Ahmed Ali race against time.
I found this a really gripping read with characters I quickly came to care about. Scarlett, though terrified, is brave and resourceful; Ron clearly a good person. Even Dylan, although up to his eyes in dodgy stuff, is basically just a vulnerable teenager who has been groomed into criminality and is not yet beyond redemption.I liked the police officers too, especially the green young PC Ali.
All the chasing about and car-swapping did get a bit confusing at times, but nevertheless this was a very engaging and atmospheric read.
I found this a really gripping read with characters I quickly came to care about. Scarlett, though terrified, is brave and resourceful; Ron clearly a good person. Even Dylan, although up to his eyes in dodgy stuff, is basically just a vulnerable teenager who has been groomed into criminality and is not yet beyond redemption.I liked the police officers too, especially the green young PC Ali.
All the chasing about and car-swapping did get a bit confusing at times, but nevertheless this was a very engaging and atmospheric read.
July 15, 2021
Running Out of Road showed a dark side to the beautiful Peak District, but it was a story that drew you in from the start.
Our main character is young Scarlett, a keen dancer who has lived with her nana since her mother died. She is meant to be performing in a school talent show, but is kidnapped by one of the police’s most wanted…her father.
As Scarlett is driven across country her path crosses that of a teenage drug dealer caught up in something he can’t escape, and a middle-aged man who has been suffering PTSD. Initially, we are told minimal details about each character, but all too soon their paths cross and we are shown just how dangerous someone in trouble can be.
The story took us to some places you might prefer to ignore, but they were handled sensitively and everything was plotted well. Things ended relatively well, and it was good to see how the different characters reacted to the events they were caught up in.
I’m grateful to NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read this before publication.
Our main character is young Scarlett, a keen dancer who has lived with her nana since her mother died. She is meant to be performing in a school talent show, but is kidnapped by one of the police’s most wanted…her father.
As Scarlett is driven across country her path crosses that of a teenage drug dealer caught up in something he can’t escape, and a middle-aged man who has been suffering PTSD. Initially, we are told minimal details about each character, but all too soon their paths cross and we are shown just how dangerous someone in trouble can be.
The story took us to some places you might prefer to ignore, but they were handled sensitively and everything was plotted well. Things ended relatively well, and it was good to see how the different characters reacted to the events they were caught up in.
I’m grateful to NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read this before publication.
July 21, 2021
As the writer of books which have two of my favourite TV female detectives, Scott and Bailey, I was really excited to read 'Running Out Of Road'. It is a very cinematic experience, with the use of short, sharp sentences reinforcing the notion that the principle characters, on both sides of the law, are running to beat the devil.
On the one hand is Detective Sergeant Laura O'Neil, married to Hector who is the househusband to her overworked, overtired householder provider. Their son, Mateo is putting both through the ringer as he won't sleep through the night and both parents are struggling to make time, and put energy aside, for each other.
A call out of the blue from work detours Laura from the bedtime routine as she recognises the name of the missing 11 year old Scarlett instantly-her mother was murdered in 2014 and since then, her father, Gregory Martin, has gone on the run and been untraceable. Until now. Scarlett doesn't make it home from her friend's house and, frantic with worry, her grandmother calls on Laura to find her.
Running a parallel to the search for the Land Drover which Scarlett was seen being bundled into, is the narrative of PC Ahmed Ali, a young determined copper who longs to make his parents proud. He acts on instinct, and finds himself stumbling into the search for Scarlett after finding a crime scene tied to an ongoing county lines investigation.His murder victim has been taken out, gangland style, and his son, Dylan, is on the run.
Making up the triangle of stories against which Scarlett and Dylan are lined is Ron, a gay ex-fireman who has been discharged on mental health grounds (but it is really much more complex than that) and is trying to find his feet in a world where status and routine are everything.
It sounds entirely unlikely that 3 such disparate characters would be thrown together, however, you land, feet first at the very start of the night everything goes wrong, courtesy of extreme weather . This literally and metaphorically pulls the rug out from under all 3 and leaves them facing unintended consequences of fate, karma, coincidence-whichever force you would care to pit against the best laid plans.
The interjection of Ali and Laura for which criminals Dylan, and Gregory had not anticipated, highlights that the best laid plans do not account for the interference of naturally occurring variables over which no person has control. The intensity of the need to escape, for Dylan, Ron and Scarlett is emphasised by Scarlett and Dylan's vulnerability. Both are victims of people who have exploited them, and there is the assumption from the very start, that the murder of Scarlett's mum, Jeanette, is a forgone conclusion, laid at the feet of Gregory.
Dylan is seen as a victim of the current political situation wherein desperation has driven criminals to use and exploit young people and see them as disposable aspects.
Ron is the victim of homophobia which has dented his sense of self, his personal integrity and left him feeling lost and without an identity.
This sense of who you are, the bits of your personality which come into play when in danger (resourcefulness, quick thinking, resilience) are subtly layered in a masterful police procedural which is nothing less than I would expect from Cath. Quickly flowing chapters, multiple narratives and characters which could be inhabiting the same street as the reader are what she is so very good at. Her villains are very rarely two dimensional, she rounds out and challenges your misconceptions of who, and what is behind a uniform, a label, a skin colour, a perceived gender identity.
She leaves the reader to make the moral judgements, the leaps from supposition to actual facts, the gap between truthfulness and the consequences of lies. A quick paced crime novel with relatable characters, I would recommend this to fans of modern fiction with an authentic, real life feel.
On the one hand is Detective Sergeant Laura O'Neil, married to Hector who is the househusband to her overworked, overtired householder provider. Their son, Mateo is putting both through the ringer as he won't sleep through the night and both parents are struggling to make time, and put energy aside, for each other.
A call out of the blue from work detours Laura from the bedtime routine as she recognises the name of the missing 11 year old Scarlett instantly-her mother was murdered in 2014 and since then, her father, Gregory Martin, has gone on the run and been untraceable. Until now. Scarlett doesn't make it home from her friend's house and, frantic with worry, her grandmother calls on Laura to find her.
Running a parallel to the search for the Land Drover which Scarlett was seen being bundled into, is the narrative of PC Ahmed Ali, a young determined copper who longs to make his parents proud. He acts on instinct, and finds himself stumbling into the search for Scarlett after finding a crime scene tied to an ongoing county lines investigation.His murder victim has been taken out, gangland style, and his son, Dylan, is on the run.
Making up the triangle of stories against which Scarlett and Dylan are lined is Ron, a gay ex-fireman who has been discharged on mental health grounds (but it is really much more complex than that) and is trying to find his feet in a world where status and routine are everything.
It sounds entirely unlikely that 3 such disparate characters would be thrown together, however, you land, feet first at the very start of the night everything goes wrong, courtesy of extreme weather . This literally and metaphorically pulls the rug out from under all 3 and leaves them facing unintended consequences of fate, karma, coincidence-whichever force you would care to pit against the best laid plans.
The interjection of Ali and Laura for which criminals Dylan, and Gregory had not anticipated, highlights that the best laid plans do not account for the interference of naturally occurring variables over which no person has control. The intensity of the need to escape, for Dylan, Ron and Scarlett is emphasised by Scarlett and Dylan's vulnerability. Both are victims of people who have exploited them, and there is the assumption from the very start, that the murder of Scarlett's mum, Jeanette, is a forgone conclusion, laid at the feet of Gregory.
Dylan is seen as a victim of the current political situation wherein desperation has driven criminals to use and exploit young people and see them as disposable aspects.
Ron is the victim of homophobia which has dented his sense of self, his personal integrity and left him feeling lost and without an identity.
This sense of who you are, the bits of your personality which come into play when in danger (resourcefulness, quick thinking, resilience) are subtly layered in a masterful police procedural which is nothing less than I would expect from Cath. Quickly flowing chapters, multiple narratives and characters which could be inhabiting the same street as the reader are what she is so very good at. Her villains are very rarely two dimensional, she rounds out and challenges your misconceptions of who, and what is behind a uniform, a label, a skin colour, a perceived gender identity.
She leaves the reader to make the moral judgements, the leaps from supposition to actual facts, the gap between truthfulness and the consequences of lies. A quick paced crime novel with relatable characters, I would recommend this to fans of modern fiction with an authentic, real life feel.
July 23, 2021
A Tense, Terrifying, and Fast-Paced Thriller
I am embarrassed to say that this is the first Cath Staincliffe novel I have read, but when I was offered the chance to read and review this book for the blog tour, I jumped at the chance. Not because I knew what to expect, but because the blurb totally drew me in.
I knew I would be sitting on the shores of the lakes in Italy while reading this book, I was desperate for a book that would transport me somewhere different and truly immerse me in another world. I wanted to be thrilled. I wanted something that would have my heart pumping. Thank god Tracy at Compulsive Readers sent me this to review because it was exactly what I was looking for.
It's every mother's nightmare, isn't it? To be waiting for your child to come home from school and her not arrive? Imagine if that child was your granddaughter, under your care after losing her mother. It's your job to care and protect her from anything that may happen, and poor Scarlett has been through more than most in her young life.
But, one fateful day, the one person they all hope never to see again turns up in their life and Scarlett must do everything she can to survive and get back to her nana.
The lives of so many different people get tangled up in Scarlett's story, with characters who really come to life on the page, but more than that... the area itself comes to life. One of the aspects of Staincliffe's writing that really gripped me was her description of the surroundings. The Peak District came to life on the page and darkened the story perfectly.
I can't begin to explain how much I felt these characters come to life. Scarlett is a well-rounded, beautiful, and captivating young girl - with fight, determination, and a whole lot of love in her heart. Her father on the other hand is the most vile character I have come across in recent years and having these two stand side by side on the page just makes you flip the pages quicker.
Ron, however, is one of my favourite characters. He is so real, raw, and broken. He is written in the most honest but terrifying way. Each and every character on the page keeps you guessing, and you root for them all in totally different ways - not a single word or emotion is wasted on the page.
You can see now why I am slightly embarrassed to say that this is the first of her books that I have read. After this rollercoaster of a ride, I can't wait to dig into her backlist.
If you are looking for a thriller that will keep you emotionally invested, with your heart racing while you follow the characters through the incredible peaks of Darbyshire just a step behind them the whole way... my god this is the book for you. Settle down, you're in for a bumpy ride... but one you will want to finish in one sitting.
Many Thanks to Tracy Fenton at Compulsive Readers for inviting us on this Blog Tour.
I am embarrassed to say that this is the first Cath Staincliffe novel I have read, but when I was offered the chance to read and review this book for the blog tour, I jumped at the chance. Not because I knew what to expect, but because the blurb totally drew me in.
I knew I would be sitting on the shores of the lakes in Italy while reading this book, I was desperate for a book that would transport me somewhere different and truly immerse me in another world. I wanted to be thrilled. I wanted something that would have my heart pumping. Thank god Tracy at Compulsive Readers sent me this to review because it was exactly what I was looking for.
It's every mother's nightmare, isn't it? To be waiting for your child to come home from school and her not arrive? Imagine if that child was your granddaughter, under your care after losing her mother. It's your job to care and protect her from anything that may happen, and poor Scarlett has been through more than most in her young life.
But, one fateful day, the one person they all hope never to see again turns up in their life and Scarlett must do everything she can to survive and get back to her nana.
The lives of so many different people get tangled up in Scarlett's story, with characters who really come to life on the page, but more than that... the area itself comes to life. One of the aspects of Staincliffe's writing that really gripped me was her description of the surroundings. The Peak District came to life on the page and darkened the story perfectly.
I can't begin to explain how much I felt these characters come to life. Scarlett is a well-rounded, beautiful, and captivating young girl - with fight, determination, and a whole lot of love in her heart. Her father on the other hand is the most vile character I have come across in recent years and having these two stand side by side on the page just makes you flip the pages quicker.
Ron, however, is one of my favourite characters. He is so real, raw, and broken. He is written in the most honest but terrifying way. Each and every character on the page keeps you guessing, and you root for them all in totally different ways - not a single word or emotion is wasted on the page.
You can see now why I am slightly embarrassed to say that this is the first of her books that I have read. After this rollercoaster of a ride, I can't wait to dig into her backlist.
If you are looking for a thriller that will keep you emotionally invested, with your heart racing while you follow the characters through the incredible peaks of Darbyshire just a step behind them the whole way... my god this is the book for you. Settle down, you're in for a bumpy ride... but one you will want to finish in one sitting.
Many Thanks to Tracy Fenton at Compulsive Readers for inviting us on this Blog Tour.
June 27, 2023
This is a relatively short, but fast paced and engaging story about love, crime, guilt, and new beginnings.
11 years old Scarlett gets kidnapped by her father, who is one of the police's most wanted murderer.
17 years old drug dealer, named Dylan finds his housemate dead, so he goes on a run.
Ron, who is close to 50, is an ex fire fighter who is currently pet-and house sitting, tries to do a good deed, and it backfires on him massively.
The pluses:
- The characters are extremely realistic! Scarlett really talks and acts like an 11 year old. Dylan is very complicated, and Ron is just a simple soul who seem to attract bad luck.
- The atmosphere is amazing! The details, the conversations...it is all perfect.
- The pacing is great, and keeps your attention all the way through.
- This book is extremely diverse. We've got a black main character an asian police officer, a gay man, people with mental health issues, etc.
The "problems":
- Ron's character didn't make sense to me. It felt like he was just thrown in there along with the fact that he's got PTSD and is gay, just to expand the diversity of the book and explore the subject of homophobia, but neither him, nor his sexual orientation added anything to the story.
- Too many coincidences between the 3 main characters.
- The Asian police officer. I understand it was supposed to be funny, but his straight up stupidity was way over the top. Spoiler alert, he does become the hero at the end, but honestly, it is ridiculous how much of a moron he was portrayed as.
- Both police officers. You catch an incredibly dangerous criminal, who killed, stabbed and kidnapped a large number of people, slashed the face of a police officer right before, and you don't even consider handcuffing him, then be all surprised when he gets up and attacks someone? Really?! And then you turn on your back on your other suspect long enough for him to get away even with 3 fresh stab wounds? Like... seriously??
- The obviously upcoming happy ending was easily predictable, which made it difficult for me to worry about any of the characters. I would have liked some twists or surprises, but it was pretty straightforward and therefore not very exciting.
Overall it is a short and entertaining read, but don't expect too much. It explores some interesting subjects but never gets into them too much. This novel had so much potential but despite its pluses, I it really wasn't for me.
11 years old Scarlett gets kidnapped by her father, who is one of the police's most wanted murderer.
17 years old drug dealer, named Dylan finds his housemate dead, so he goes on a run.
Ron, who is close to 50, is an ex fire fighter who is currently pet-and house sitting, tries to do a good deed, and it backfires on him massively.
The pluses:
- The characters are extremely realistic! Scarlett really talks and acts like an 11 year old. Dylan is very complicated, and Ron is just a simple soul who seem to attract bad luck.
- The atmosphere is amazing! The details, the conversations...it is all perfect.
- The pacing is great, and keeps your attention all the way through.
- This book is extremely diverse. We've got a black main character an asian police officer, a gay man, people with mental health issues, etc.
The "problems":
- Ron's character didn't make sense to me. It felt like he was just thrown in there along with the fact that he's got PTSD and is gay, just to expand the diversity of the book and explore the subject of homophobia, but neither him, nor his sexual orientation added anything to the story.
- Too many coincidences between the 3 main characters.
- The Asian police officer. I understand it was supposed to be funny, but his straight up stupidity was way over the top. Spoiler alert, he does become the hero at the end, but honestly, it is ridiculous how much of a moron he was portrayed as.
- Both police officers. You catch an incredibly dangerous criminal, who killed, stabbed and kidnapped a large number of people, slashed the face of a police officer right before, and you don't even consider handcuffing him, then be all surprised when he gets up and attacks someone? Really?! And then you turn on your back on your other suspect long enough for him to get away even with 3 fresh stab wounds? Like... seriously??
- The obviously upcoming happy ending was easily predictable, which made it difficult for me to worry about any of the characters. I would have liked some twists or surprises, but it was pretty straightforward and therefore not very exciting.
Overall it is a short and entertaining read, but don't expect too much. It explores some interesting subjects but never gets into them too much. This novel had so much potential but despite its pluses, I it really wasn't for me.
October 13, 2023
A classic Cath Staincliffe book - starts straght ito the story POW! - an abduction and an unexplained death in chapter 1 ... and then we are into the back story gradually as we see the characters trying to wor out ther next mves -police and victims. In this book (and mybe othersa i cant remember specifically) we never go into the backstory of any of the criminals they are always described by others.
Great story, involving three different characters - ordinary people to whom extraordinary things happen and challenges met. There is a girl abducted by her father (who had disappeared for 6 years after murdering her mother); there is a young 'county lines' drug runner who lives in a cuckoo house with a vulnerable drug user; there is an ex-fireman now pet-sitter staying in a house looking after 2 horses (and his own dog). And then there is a female detective and a male rookie. They all meet i terrible weather, where storm has caused significant flooding and a landslide in the Derbyshire Peaks; almost everyone is wounded or dies in the process, but the story does get resolved.
I was reading this with a reading group - for them their first CS book. Most of them struggled with the first few chapters as they couldnt manage the number of characters introduced so fast, but then got caught up in the story. I knew what to expect so that didnt bother me at all.
One interesting feature is that the book doesnt end when the mystery is solved and the crooks caught. It continues qute some while, as you watch the characters trying to reorganise their lives, suffer from and slowly recover from PTSD ... and recalibrate their lives for the future. This was very rewarding, even though it breaks the mould of detective fiction, as it shows that Cath really is interested in the people and the crimes are like a tool to look at people.
Great story, involving three different characters - ordinary people to whom extraordinary things happen and challenges met. There is a girl abducted by her father (who had disappeared for 6 years after murdering her mother); there is a young 'county lines' drug runner who lives in a cuckoo house with a vulnerable drug user; there is an ex-fireman now pet-sitter staying in a house looking after 2 horses (and his own dog). And then there is a female detective and a male rookie. They all meet i terrible weather, where storm has caused significant flooding and a landslide in the Derbyshire Peaks; almost everyone is wounded or dies in the process, but the story does get resolved.
I was reading this with a reading group - for them their first CS book. Most of them struggled with the first few chapters as they couldnt manage the number of characters introduced so fast, but then got caught up in the story. I knew what to expect so that didnt bother me at all.
One interesting feature is that the book doesnt end when the mystery is solved and the crooks caught. It continues qute some while, as you watch the characters trying to reorganise their lives, suffer from and slowly recover from PTSD ... and recalibrate their lives for the future. This was very rewarding, even though it breaks the mould of detective fiction, as it shows that Cath really is interested in the people and the crimes are like a tool to look at people.
August 3, 2022
My Blog
Running Out of Road by Cath Staincliffe was one hell of a police-procedural-cum-thriller.
The author sketches three parallel stories of Scarlett, Dylan, and Ron until with a clever twist, these plotlines merge into a wild and thrilling chase. So do the separate investigations of the cops Ahmed and Laura O’Neil. Kudos to the author for bringing out an Asian cop’s insecurities so well.
Besides, the book is atmospheric. Staincliffe paints Peak District with such tenderness that I loved even the scenes where torrential rains were lashing the area and making life hell for everyone. I felt like plunging into the book and view the picturesque valleys by myself.
Further, all the characters were brilliant. With five pivotal characters peopling the pages, I did not have a favorite. Rather, I loved reading all their POVs which is a testament to the writing prowess of Staincliffe.
I also liked how, instead of sketching the villain in gray shades, Staincliffe paints him as an out-and-out bad guy. Instead, she focuses on Scarlett’s battle to escape and her coping mechanism against the assault on her.
The biggest strength of this book is that the plot is taut with suspense. Can Scarlett escape her abductor’s clutches? I was on the edge of my seat the whole time while finding out the answer and finished the book in two days straight.
Running Out of Road by Cath Staincliffe is highly recommended for crime-fiction lovers.
A complimentary digital copy was provided to me by the publisher for review. It does not affect my opinion of the book.
Running Out of Road by Cath Staincliffe was one hell of a police-procedural-cum-thriller.
The author sketches three parallel stories of Scarlett, Dylan, and Ron until with a clever twist, these plotlines merge into a wild and thrilling chase. So do the separate investigations of the cops Ahmed and Laura O’Neil. Kudos to the author for bringing out an Asian cop’s insecurities so well.
Besides, the book is atmospheric. Staincliffe paints Peak District with such tenderness that I loved even the scenes where torrential rains were lashing the area and making life hell for everyone. I felt like plunging into the book and view the picturesque valleys by myself.
Further, all the characters were brilliant. With five pivotal characters peopling the pages, I did not have a favorite. Rather, I loved reading all their POVs which is a testament to the writing prowess of Staincliffe.
I also liked how, instead of sketching the villain in gray shades, Staincliffe paints him as an out-and-out bad guy. Instead, she focuses on Scarlett’s battle to escape and her coping mechanism against the assault on her.
The biggest strength of this book is that the plot is taut with suspense. Can Scarlett escape her abductor’s clutches? I was on the edge of my seat the whole time while finding out the answer and finished the book in two days straight.
Running Out of Road by Cath Staincliffe is highly recommended for crime-fiction lovers.
A complimentary digital copy was provided to me by the publisher for review. It does not affect my opinion of the book.
July 18, 2021
I always enjoy a Cath Staincliffe book although for some reason it's been far too long since I read one. I really enjoyed Running Out of Road and found it to be a tightly plotted crime story with fascinating characters.
There are several strands to this story and all become tangled together in an unexpected way. There's Ron, a quiet house/pet sitter, minding his own business until one small action leads destruction to his door. Then there's Dylan, a drug dealer fleeing an incident and ending up involved with Scarlett, an 11 year old who has been kidnapped by her father, who she hasn't seen for years. DS Laura O'Neil is on the hunt for Scarlett and also finds herself in the middle of a number of messy situations with the unexpected assistance of her new colleague, PC Ahmed Ali.
I think the strongest part of this book is the plot and how it all comes together. It's really clever how a set of misunderstandings makes everything so much more complicated. Setting it in the brooding and at times desolate Peak District with weather conditions playing their own part makes for a quite dark backdrop and yet this is such an easy book to read and to get absorbed in.
There are lots of twists and turns and I kept wondering what else could happen. It all takes place in hours, rather than days, and it really is a story jam-packed with lots of ups and downs and tense situations. This is such a great read, one that covers so many issues and kept me interested in getting to the outcome.
There are several strands to this story and all become tangled together in an unexpected way. There's Ron, a quiet house/pet sitter, minding his own business until one small action leads destruction to his door. Then there's Dylan, a drug dealer fleeing an incident and ending up involved with Scarlett, an 11 year old who has been kidnapped by her father, who she hasn't seen for years. DS Laura O'Neil is on the hunt for Scarlett and also finds herself in the middle of a number of messy situations with the unexpected assistance of her new colleague, PC Ahmed Ali.
I think the strongest part of this book is the plot and how it all comes together. It's really clever how a set of misunderstandings makes everything so much more complicated. Setting it in the brooding and at times desolate Peak District with weather conditions playing their own part makes for a quite dark backdrop and yet this is such an easy book to read and to get absorbed in.
There are lots of twists and turns and I kept wondering what else could happen. It all takes place in hours, rather than days, and it really is a story jam-packed with lots of ups and downs and tense situations. This is such a great read, one that covers so many issues and kept me interested in getting to the outcome.
August 15, 2021
Three different people. Not connected until today.
Scarlett; on her way home to her Nana who has looked after her since the death of her mother. Excited to be in the school show the following day. Dancing brings her so much joy.
Dylan; always trying to keep one step ahead, never staying in the same nest for long, picking off each victim and dealing the drugs and then moving on. One day he will make it and not be the one doing all the work. Aim big.
Ron; being a house sitter and pet sitter by default seems really a lot easier to handle than real humans. From his previous job as a firefighter, this is much more pleasant.
DS Laura O’Neil, a mother with a teething toddler who has left him at home with his father as she suddenly gets to know all these people.
All these people that are thrown together and for one wet, stormy and panicky night all their roads cross. As they all take different turnings, will Laura get to the truth?
This fast paced thriller left me exhausted without leaving my home. Whether it was the vast swathes of the Peak District that was covered physically as the hunt for all three of them takes over the pages of the book. Or the historic events that build up the characters of the here and now. The country line drug storyline was strong and frightening real as if you are reading a news reports. You have to remember the main events are just a mere twenty four hours. The skill of the writing made it feel like a week of my life.
If you want a great British thriller which covers many themes including guilt and grief and the overarching hope of a better future then this is simply the book for you. Highly recommend for a heart stopping read to keep you on the edge of your seat.
Scarlett; on her way home to her Nana who has looked after her since the death of her mother. Excited to be in the school show the following day. Dancing brings her so much joy.
Dylan; always trying to keep one step ahead, never staying in the same nest for long, picking off each victim and dealing the drugs and then moving on. One day he will make it and not be the one doing all the work. Aim big.
Ron; being a house sitter and pet sitter by default seems really a lot easier to handle than real humans. From his previous job as a firefighter, this is much more pleasant.
DS Laura O’Neil, a mother with a teething toddler who has left him at home with his father as she suddenly gets to know all these people.
All these people that are thrown together and for one wet, stormy and panicky night all their roads cross. As they all take different turnings, will Laura get to the truth?
This fast paced thriller left me exhausted without leaving my home. Whether it was the vast swathes of the Peak District that was covered physically as the hunt for all three of them takes over the pages of the book. Or the historic events that build up the characters of the here and now. The country line drug storyline was strong and frightening real as if you are reading a news reports. You have to remember the main events are just a mere twenty four hours. The skill of the writing made it feel like a week of my life.
If you want a great British thriller which covers many themes including guilt and grief and the overarching hope of a better future then this is simply the book for you. Highly recommend for a heart stopping read to keep you on the edge of your seat.
July 20, 2021
What’s that? A police procedural crime thriller set in the Peak District you say? I’ll have a bit of that! I grew up in the Derbyshire Dales so having a book based in the area I spent my formative years is always a treat!
The cast Staincliffe has curated is diverse which gives the book an edge. Take Dylan, a boy on the run from dangerous criminals and “the feds” and Scarlett, a young girl snatched by the man who ruined her family – her dad. Each character plays their part brilliantly as the story develops and the ticking clock to rescue Scarlett ticks so loudly. I was hooked from start to finish both as a crime fiction fan and as a parent desperate for the safe return of such a young innocent.
Staincliffe has formulated a fab fast paced crime thriller, using Mother Nature’s torrential hand as a backdrop making travelling difficult along dangerous country roads. She’s made the Peak District a character in itself. I thoroughly enjoyed my chase around the familiar countryside living in hope that Laura and Ahmed will save young Scarlett from her fugitive father. This may be my first dabble with the author’s writing but it definitely won’t be my last! The pace was bang on, imagery brilliant and the characters interesting 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
The cast Staincliffe has curated is diverse which gives the book an edge. Take Dylan, a boy on the run from dangerous criminals and “the feds” and Scarlett, a young girl snatched by the man who ruined her family – her dad. Each character plays their part brilliantly as the story develops and the ticking clock to rescue Scarlett ticks so loudly. I was hooked from start to finish both as a crime fiction fan and as a parent desperate for the safe return of such a young innocent.
Staincliffe has formulated a fab fast paced crime thriller, using Mother Nature’s torrential hand as a backdrop making travelling difficult along dangerous country roads. She’s made the Peak District a character in itself. I thoroughly enjoyed my chase around the familiar countryside living in hope that Laura and Ahmed will save young Scarlett from her fugitive father. This may be my first dabble with the author’s writing but it definitely won’t be my last! The pace was bang on, imagery brilliant and the characters interesting 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
June 2, 2024
This is a fast paced, action packed story with believable characters, especially the children. I found myself caring about Scarlett and her nan and Dylan. I especially liked the way the book finished on a positive note but without either sugar-coating the realties of dealing with trauma or giving in to the temptation to provide a fairytale ending for everyone.
I felt that Ron's character was probably the weakest - I found it hard to believe that a guy in his 40s would struggle this much to come out as gay in 2020. I also felt the book was let down by the ending - I found it really unbelievable that an experienced police officer would be so careless when apprehending a dangerous criminal.
I felt that Ron's character was probably the weakest - I found it hard to believe that a guy in his 40s would struggle this much to come out as gay in 2020. I also felt the book was let down by the ending - I found it really unbelievable that an experienced police officer would be so careless when apprehending a dangerous criminal.
July 9, 2021
This was a well plotted and paced read, which I found engaging.
Having Scarlett, a young girl as one of the key characters was well executed. Her estranged father kidnaps her and we learn that he has already committed a terrible crime in the past. Scarlett's story is intertwined with that of Dylan- a teenager involved in drugs and Ron- an older man with a dog named Mungo.
The two detectives seem not to be a good match at the outset, but they begin to work together well as the story progresses.
I look forward to reading more by this author.
Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the ARC
Having Scarlett, a young girl as one of the key characters was well executed. Her estranged father kidnaps her and we learn that he has already committed a terrible crime in the past. Scarlett's story is intertwined with that of Dylan- a teenager involved in drugs and Ron- an older man with a dog named Mungo.
The two detectives seem not to be a good match at the outset, but they begin to work together well as the story progresses.
I look forward to reading more by this author.
Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the ARC
August 16, 2023
Ok the blurb really sums this up well- chaotic fast paced with events happening in time scales that were unbelievable. The whole portrayal of the police reaction & investigation seemed off… as two police on the ground doing their individual investigations that eventually overlapped with success though as I say, unbelievable.
Found it strange that this was a total mix of diverse characters ensuring this ticks many boxes- race, religion, sexuality, colour, ages, mental health issues too…
I did like Scarlett, an 11 year old who came across as an 11 year old.. her reactions, how she really was… and being at the centre of this cacophony of an abduction…
Found it strange that this was a total mix of diverse characters ensuring this ticks many boxes- race, religion, sexuality, colour, ages, mental health issues too…
I did like Scarlett, an 11 year old who came across as an 11 year old.. her reactions, how she really was… and being at the centre of this cacophony of an abduction…
July 10, 2021
A gripping story that kept me on the edge till the end.
The author is a good storyteller and delivers an excellent thriller with a cast of well thought characters and a solid plot.
I loved the descriptions of the Derbyshire peaks (made me wish to travel there) and I think that DS O'Neill is a realistic and intersting characters.
Good character development, fast paced.
It's the second book i read by this author and thoroughly enjoyed it.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine
The author is a good storyteller and delivers an excellent thriller with a cast of well thought characters and a solid plot.
I loved the descriptions of the Derbyshire peaks (made me wish to travel there) and I think that DS O'Neill is a realistic and intersting characters.
Good character development, fast paced.
It's the second book i read by this author and thoroughly enjoyed it.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine
June 29, 2021
This is a well crafted plot from Cath Staincliffe and a very enjoyable read. I loved the Derbyshire peaks setting and the mix of characters thrown together when a young girl is abducted by her estranged father. Filled with interesting characters, who just come alive, tension and an fascinating plot, this is sure to be a winner. Thanks to Net Galley for my ARC.
October 27, 2021
3.5 stars. The writing isn't brilliant, but this gripped me from the start. I love novels that are set over the course of one day because everything is more intense, and the setting of the Peak District during Storm Ciara was especially atmospheric. Characters collide and plot threads twist together in a satisfying way, even if the ending was a little bit predictable.
July 19, 2021
A well written, gripping thriller which had me gripped from start to finish! The best book by Cath that I've read! I highly recommend this book! Its a must read of 2021!
February 13, 2022
Fast paced with lots of twists and turns. Excellent!
July 25, 2022
I enjoyed this fast-paced read with strong characters and beautiful descriptions of the Peak District.
July 13, 2025
loved it!! a lot of twists and turns!!
January 7, 2026
Fast paced and full of action
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