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Special Agent Ricki James #5

Running in the Night

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When hunter and hunted come face-to-face, who will blink first?

Special Agent Ricki James, a criminal investigator with the National Park Service, was finally back home in Northwest Washington. After closing her last grueling case, she’s looking forward to some quiet time with her friends and family, not to mention enjoying her growing relationship with local police chief, Clayton Thomas.

But all her plans disappear in the blink of an eye when an attack on a pair of hikers hundreds of miles away happens again in the park she can see from her own backdoor. This time the target is an entire group out on a wilderness trip in the park and led by her ex-husband. But this time it isn’t only wounded hikers being sent to the local hospital. There are also dead bodies in the morgue.

As her former husband lies critically injured in a hospital bed, all Ricki knows is that the victims were in town attending a conference at a nearby luxury resort. But aside from mingling over cocktails, she can’t find another link between them. As she struggles to uncover any small clue that will lead her to their killer, another attack occurs. Now it is Ricki whose life is on the line when she comes face-to-face with the deadliest adversary she has ever hunted.

If you like Robert Dugoni, Melinda Leigh, Mike Omer and Elle Gray, then it’s time you met Special Agent Ricki James!

392 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 24, 2022

318 people are currently reading
83 people want to read

About the author

C.R. Chandler

17 books71 followers

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5 stars
984 (70%)
4 stars
322 (23%)
3 stars
76 (5%)
2 stars
11 (<1%)
1 star
6 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
113 reviews
June 19, 2025
Just an Excellent, Well Developed, Well Written Mystery !!!

After reading 5 of the Ricki James books now (hey, look, I spelled her first name correctly. In my review of the previous book I spelled it Ricci, oops, sorry about that!!) I can truly say that, I AM A FAN !!
C.R., your "writing style" just seems to "suit" me!!
I enjoy being part of Ricki's thoughts as she takes in new information and gets closer to a solution !! I have caught myself using the remote to turn off my background music when Ricki & Anchorman enter the forest to search for a killer OR when Ricki races in her Lime Green Jeep trying to save someone from getting murdered, I find myself "leaning into" the curves and holding my breath !!
To say again, I really enjoy your writing and will continue searching out your books !!
(I attempted to sign-up for your newsletter but they have me confused with a g email account that I haven't used for at least 7 years!! Tried again, same result !!)
1,446 reviews12 followers
March 25, 2022
Amazing book! If you like mystery, angst, and, touches of romance, this book is definitely for you. The good-feeling among the characters and the humor that is within the conversations, will definitely make you smile. Then, there are mysterious happenings and I could not give up reading until The End. It’s a great book with tires squealing as vehicles drive from danger to danger. I loved every minute of it!
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18 reviews
February 26, 2022
Running in the night

So there I was 12% into a book when up pop
s a message ....the new Ricki James was out.
No contest downloaded.Another excellent book in the series. Unlike a lot of murder mysteries I find it almost impossible to figure out the killer before Ricki.Hope there are more to come.
41 reviews
March 5, 2022
I loved this book as I have the entire series up to now.

The characters are believable, they have personal lives which makes them endearing. You just want to cheer them on because you want them to catch the bad guy and this they do.

I also love the humor that is entwined in the story which gives the reader a chance to catch his/her breath before the next riveting scene takes place.

The setting being in a national park is also quite refreshing compared to the usual dark alleys of the big bad city.

I for one look forward in excited anticipation for Ricki James’ next case, it can’t come soon enough for me.
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997 reviews19 followers
April 11, 2023
great series, even better characters!

Love the characters. Rickie goes about solving cases by concentrating on the details. Really enjoy her leadership on a case. She leads all of the people on her team to be better. Lots of male egos but she keeps them rowing the same direction because she is better than they are. Looking forward to many more in the series.
2 reviews
November 17, 2025
Fun series

These are easy reads, with enjoyable characters. As someone who loves the Pacific NW and National Parks, that’s a bonus. My one complaint is the typos. Is there a way to send them in and help the author? My favorite this time was the “suspect poo.” Otherwise, a fun escape!
1 review
February 27, 2022
love this whole series

Love the characters, the plot and everything about this series. I can’t hardly put down any of the books and read all of them in a week. Can’t wait for #6.
34 reviews
March 3, 2022
Always a great read

I love this series and all the characters. Anchorman is hilarious and Ricki always seems to venture out on her own and finds trouble. Can't wait for the next book.
74 reviews1 follower
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March 15, 2022
Another great story

Figured out Cam easily, but not the killer, till the end.
Another great story.
Rookie and Chief finally got together. Glad Clays brother wasn't involved.
Love Eddie.
2 reviews
August 5, 2023
Good Read

Suspenseful who-done-it. Decent wilderness descriptions. Correct some spelling, and add missing words or remove extra words for clarity, and this would be a 5-star review.
303 reviews
February 7, 2024
And the excellence just keeps…

…on happening. Another fabulous book from CR Chandler. I didn’t figure out the villain this time either! What a storyteller. Already looking forward to the next book in this series.
14 reviews1 follower
May 21, 2024
I've been enjoying this series, however, this book didn't bring Chandler's A game. I knew almost immediately who the killer was. I won't spoil it for others. Maybe, because I read so many books in this genre it was too easy for me. Still a good book, and I will continue the series.
11 reviews
June 22, 2024
Another Great Read

i found this to be another exciting mystery with much action and suspense. The mystery of the participants was not disclosed until the very end and kept me wondering who the bad guys were. I highly recommend this story for one that is a real page turner.
300 reviews6 followers
February 25, 2022
Excellent

Another excellent brilliant page turner.
I love the Special Agent Ricki James series doo perfectly readable for all.
I totally recommend
384 reviews2 followers
June 29, 2022
Holy effin guacamole what a book

This is definitely the best book so far. Kept me up till 3am last night and read it till 4pm today. Guys, if you're looking for a fantastic book and series, you gotta read all these books. This author is one of the best I've ever read and I'm a serious "reader" who has read thousands and thousands of mysteries in her 76 years. The only good thing about a bad memory is after a few years I can read them all again. Can't wait to read the next one on July 1st.
721 reviews4 followers
January 16, 2023
Hidden truth comes out

Five stars the best thriller action packed book every twist and turn keeps you guessing who is the real killer is outstanding
1,045 reviews4 followers
May 11, 2023
This series gets better with each new book. Love these characters - especially Ricki James!
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8 reviews1 follower
June 8, 2023
good read

A good read which kept calling me to come back to keep reading even when I had work to do.
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28 reviews
June 14, 2023
running in the night

Wow this one kept me guessing and on the edge of my seat. Can’t wait to read the next book.
229 reviews
January 10, 2025
Great reading

Very suspenseful. So many different people killed and so many different suspect, you just have to keep reading. Can't wait to read the next book in the series.
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews

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