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When She Runs ...: A Hallie Miller Novel
Tampa, Florida, home to swaying palm trees and miles of sandy beaches under cloudless, blue, sunny skies, has always been paradise to Hallie Miller, who appears to have it a thriving legal career, a teenage daughter about to leave for college, and a devoted husband. But even paradise has its cracks, and everyone has secrets.
Hallie’s outwardly picturesque life begins to unravel when she discovers the naked and decomposing body of a college student just feet from her Hyde Park bungalow. When she learns that a young lawyer has been murdered and dumped eleven miles away near her childhood home, Hallie’s amateur sleuth skills are ignited. As she investigates, she learns about another Lila Martinez, a twenty-one-year-old, single mother who was brutally attacked in Ybor City and left for dead, bringing the total known victims to three. Hallie is convinced a serial killer is stalking the women of Tampa Bay.
As Hallie searches for answers, she happens upon a decade-old, unsolved rape case, which is eerily similar to the recent attacks and triggers long buried memories from Hallie’s own past. Meanwhile, Heather McLean, who fled to Tampa eleven years before to escape her violent ex, learns about the murders and is terrified that he has found her, just as he promised he would. As the three women’s lives intersect and their secrets are exposed, they must confront their pasts and the decisions they’ve made, while running from a sadistic killer determined to kill again.
Hallie’s outwardly picturesque life begins to unravel when she discovers the naked and decomposing body of a college student just feet from her Hyde Park bungalow. When she learns that a young lawyer has been murdered and dumped eleven miles away near her childhood home, Hallie’s amateur sleuth skills are ignited. As she investigates, she learns about another Lila Martinez, a twenty-one-year-old, single mother who was brutally attacked in Ybor City and left for dead, bringing the total known victims to three. Hallie is convinced a serial killer is stalking the women of Tampa Bay.
As Hallie searches for answers, she happens upon a decade-old, unsolved rape case, which is eerily similar to the recent attacks and triggers long buried memories from Hallie’s own past. Meanwhile, Heather McLean, who fled to Tampa eleven years before to escape her violent ex, learns about the murders and is terrified that he has found her, just as he promised he would. As the three women’s lives intersect and their secrets are exposed, they must confront their pasts and the decisions they’ve made, while running from a sadistic killer determined to kill again.
303 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 15, 2022
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
October 30, 2024
I loved that this took place in Tampa.
I really enjoyed the forensics behind some of the book.
Some parts I wish I could have skipped because a little uncomfy.
Was a great page turner, and kept you guessing certain things.
Would definitely recommend, especially to Tampanians
I really enjoyed the forensics behind some of the book.
Some parts I wish I could have skipped because a little uncomfy.
Was a great page turner, and kept you guessing certain things.
Would definitely recommend, especially to Tampanians
October 22, 2024
A tampa writer, story is set in Tampa, what not to love?!
It was a quick and an easy read. A page turner with many twists that kept me engrossed.
Job well done for being the author's first crime/suspense book.
It was a quick and an easy read. A page turner with many twists that kept me engrossed.
Job well done for being the author's first crime/suspense book.
October 22, 2024
Although the writing was simplistic, the book did grab my attention, kept me interested and invested in getting to the end.
April 27, 2022
well written page turner
This was a very compelling crime mystery based in Tampa Florida. The characters - especially the female characters are well written and realistic. It was certainly a page turner- hard to put down. Can’t wait for the next Hallie story!!
This was a very compelling crime mystery based in Tampa Florida. The characters - especially the female characters are well written and realistic. It was certainly a page turner- hard to put down. Can’t wait for the next Hallie story!!
November 28, 2023
Although a bit of a trigger warning, I couldn’t put it down and read this book in one day. The book was well thought out and well connected, the author has great misdirects and twists! Very dark and twisted take on a murder mystery while also still being quite enjoyable and touching on real issues about sexual assault and coming forward! Definitely worth the read, can’t wait to read the next one!
March 10, 2026
Wow, what a great book, she is a great writer and filled in all the plot points so you felt everything tied together at the end. Kept you guessing with a few good twists! The only reason I didn't give it 5 stars is bc personally, there were some graphic scenes that I had to skip through, I like less of a picture painted when it comes to violence, just a preference, many readers who like crime books with be fine with it. Overall a well-done book!
May 21, 2023
gripping…a page-turner
This is not the type of novel I normally read, but once I started it, I could not put it down. The story moved quickly, with just enough twists and turns to keep me engaged but not so many as to be implausible. Can’t wait to read the next!
This is not the type of novel I normally read, but once I started it, I could not put it down. The story moved quickly, with just enough twists and turns to keep me engaged but not so many as to be implausible. Can’t wait to read the next!
June 19, 2023
are. you. KIDDING ME?!?! this is a complete masterpiece. i couldn’t put this book down. from the imagery of popular Tampa Bay destinations to the character revelations and development AND TO THE sheer fear I felt from the characters… this is the best book i’ve read in a long long time.
January 30, 2025
I got this book directly from the author several years ago at the Book Exchange in Tampa. It held my attention in the first half, but it was a bit slow in the second half. This was her first novel in all fairness,and she’s since written a sequel. Maybe I will try it!
September 22, 2022
Good first effort, but too heavy on the Tampa references. Good cautionary tale about making sure you know that your Uber driver is really your Uber driver!
October 8, 2025
Took me some chapters to get into it, and there’s quite a few names to remember who’s who, but once it got going I couldn’t put it down to find out who the killer was!
July 5, 2026
Great book! Especially if you live in Tampa! couldn’t put it down!
January 16, 2023
I really enjoyed this book. A suspenseful plot with interesting characters. The details in Tampa, Fl as far as some of the locations and establishments are great. Had trouble putting it down. Just bought the second book, When He Watches. Excited to start that one!
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews