Runner

A Sam Dryden Novel, Book 1

By: Patrick Lee

Narrated by: Raul Esparza

Length: 8 hrs and 34 mins

Publisher's summary

Sam Dryden, retired special forces, lives a quiet life in a small town on the coast of Southern California. While out on a run in the middle of the night, a young girl runs into him on the seaside boardwalk. Barefoot and terrified, she's running from a group of heavily armed men with one clear goal - to kill the fleeing child.

After Dryden helps her evade her pursuers, he learns that the 11-year-old, for as long as she can remember, has been kept in a secret prison by forces within the government. But she doesn't know much beyond her own name, Rachel. She only remembers the past two months of her life - and that she has a skill that makes her very dangerous to these men and the hidden men in charge.

Dryden, who lost his wife and young daughter in an accident five years ago, agrees to help her try to unravel her own past and make sense of it, to protect her from the people who are moving heaven and earth to find them both.

Although Dryden is only one man, he's a man with the extraordinary skills and experience - as a Ranger, a Delta, and five years doing off-the-book black ops with an elite team. But, as he slowly begins to discover, the highly trained paramilitary forces on their heels is the only part of the danger they must face. Will Rachel's own unremembered past be the most deadly of them all?

©2014 Patrick Lee (P)2013 Macmillan Audio

High Tech Surveillance at It's Best

Mind altering drugs and high tech surveillance are at the core of the story. It stretches your imagination and makes for a good yarn, but some of the writer's exaggerations especially of the heroes ability to withstand brutal bodily bashes give me cause to pause. And I'm unintentionally reminded...the story is implausible fiction. Cheers, Ken

Wow!!! Great Story and Performance

If you could sum up Runner in three words, what would they be?

Satisfying, surprising, and Fast.

What did you like best about this story?

The interplay between the main characters as well as the action.

What does Raul Esparza bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Mr. Esparza's voice work was easy to listen to, and made the main characters particularly appealing and interesting.

Any additional comments?

Lots of great twists and turns ... a very fun read.

Title correction: SPRINTER

This thriller takes off before the second paragraph and goes blistering speed all the way through . With two strong lead characters, one being a child, and a just smattering of secondary cast makes for an intense read with a deep emotional investment. Heavy with technology, with the basic story being about memory and mind control, this book isn't for everyone. If you allow yourself to think outside your box and certainly out of your comfort zone, you will be in for a wild ride.

I will be checking out Patrick Lee, to see what else he has to offer. This is one fresh thriller – so glad to see that this is number one in a series. I certainly can get into numerous returns of Sam Dryden .

Outstanding book

You'll never find a better narrator than raul asparsa the story is unique and captivating I'd listen to it several times I recommend it'
highly

Different is good!

Even though this mystery/thriller has a super natural aspect to it that I can't recall ever reading in any other Kellerman/Connelly/Child/Coban style of writing, it was a welcome change. This gave another element to the story. I felt the character development was the best you can do in a 9 hour story. If your one of those type of readers that say, "it was unrealistic" after reading certain books, then skip this book and every other book since I have personally never book of fiction that rings true. Bottom line, I loved this book and Sam Dryden is a welcomed addition to the gang of Jack Reacher, Harry Bosch, Alex Delaware, Dismas Hardy, Jack Swyteck, and Myron Bolitar.

pretty good

the pacing was good. i had figured out some of the big reveals early on in the story. I still enjoyed it. don't expect tons of crazy stuff like the breach though. I will definitely read part two.

Loved it!!!

Awesome in every way!! Couldn't put it down, it was exciting, endearing and full of twists and turns. Hoping there is a sequel!

Listened to it in one setting

good thing I'm retired- the pacing was very good. It' s always good to read good about the good guys winning-

Good read. Good end.

Runner brought me back to read with pleasure through out.

Runner was good to read and ended well.

Awesome Thriller!!!

This book keeps you on the edge of your seat wanting to keep listening and hating when it’s over!

Couldn't stop listening!

Great characters, plot rips along and a frantic pace. Didn't want to stop listening to find out what was going to happen next. Great reading by the guy, really brought it to life.

Enjoyable

Great as long as you're not detail orientated. Maths is off.

That aside, the emotions came through, good and bad ones.

Excellent! Original and Exciting!

This novel has been commended by Lee Child - one of my favourite authors - and for good reason. This is pure original excellence! Genetic engineering at it's most intriguing. I would have gladly listened to this in one sitting, but I started it quite late at night. However, I was very keen to finish it the next day, and set aside the time needed to complete it!

No part of this novel disappointed. Neither was any of the plot predictable! I am totally converted to the writing style of Patrick Lee and will seek out anything else written by him. The narrator was very easy to listen to, I was never confused as to 'who' was talking. I highly recommend this book.

Enjoy!

Loved it!!

I picked this book because I love the narrator, could listen to him all day no matter what he is reading. Bonus that the story was great too !!

Runner

Great plot and excellent performance! It was easy to listen to and difficult to stop. I wish it didn't finish...

Amazing, gripping, well written, well read.

If you like the breach series. You'll love this. It has the same edge. It's fast paced, exciting and a book to get really attached to.

Exceptional.

What a pity Raùl Esparza has read only a few books for Brilliance. i have them all. By now I have bought many books from audible, but nobody equals his performance.
I like the story very much, too. But there are many other stories that Ilike and I have, unfortunately not enhanced by such a good reading.

gripping

What made the experience of listening to Runner the most enjoyable?

It was very fast paced and exciting. It kept me on the edge of my seat and I wanted to keep listening. I have to say that it was far fetched in several ways but I didn't let that get in the way of a good story.

What other book might you compare Runner to, and why?

Can't think of anything comparable. This is the first book I have listened to by this author so I don't know how his others compare.

What does Raul Esparza bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you had only read the book?

A very good narrator who made me want to keep listening. He had a good range of voices which made the characters easily identifiable.

Did you have an emotional reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

No, but the characters were very well defined and it was easy to relate to the two main ones.

Any additional comments?

The story line was extremely far fetched. Even if you accept the idea of mind reading, it was impossible to believe that someone born and brought up in a prison under the conditions described, could turn out to be so knowledgeable and articulate. Even so I loved it and I am quite prepared to suspend reality in return for a good fast moving story like this.

Run with it

Would you listen to Runner again? Why?

There were various ideas that I wish to follow up on in relation to technology.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Runner?

A big yes.

Which character – as performed by Raul Esparza – was your favourite?

Most of the time. The young girl sometimes spoke too advanced for her age.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Nothing.

Any additional comments?

Any interesting concept, quite feasible in the near future.

Great stuff

I thought this was as good if not better than the Travis Chase 'Breach' series. The pace is excellent and unlike some other 'heroes', Sam Dryden is he kind of guy you'd want to drop in on again.
The narration is brilliant, done by the same guy who knocked 'Under the Dome' out of the park.
I'm looking forward to Patrick Lee's next one already.