Adri, following on from a scandal, arrives in the Sahara for the ultimate ultra running test, a two hundred and fifty mile run across the brutal heat of the desert with only minimal supplies while fighting against nature. When a fellow runner is seriously injured she realises something isn’t quite right. Is there a killer in their midst? I have really enjoyed the previous books by this author so was excited to read this one and all I can say is wow what a ride. This was another brilliant survival/destination thriller by this author that focuses on the world of ultra running. I have to admit I didn’t know anything about this sport before reading and found discovering this world absolutely fascinating. I love a story that teaches me new things and this did that while being highly original. The endurance needed and the brutality really comes across in this novel and makes for a shocking read. I felt exhausted just reading about it! The characters are well portrayed and I really liked Ari as a main character as she seemed authentic and I found myself rooting for her. There is an interesting mystery running throughout all the action and drama, where I never really knew who I could completely trust. Much like the subject of running this was a fast paced and suspenseful read with plenty of atmosphere. I could really feel the heat, wind and sand; the tension never drops. This was an excellent thriller overall and has piqued my interest in running, only maybe, a good couple of hundred miles less. I will definitely recommend this one and can’t wait to see what she comes up with next.

Another great novel from Amy McCulloch! She really is an auto-buy author for me now. The premise was great and the scene setting was stellar - you can almost feel the Saharan sand on your face. I really enjoy that some form of extreme landscape/sport is utilised in her novels, it does feel very immersive from the start. Can't wait for the next one!

I previously really enjoyed Breathless by Amy McCulloch, so I was excited to receive the ARC of her latest novel – Runner 13. Adrienne has a lot to prove when she signs for a 250 mile race across the Sahara desert. However, it seems that secrets are being kept, and when a runner is seriously injured, the race is on to get to the truth and survive. One of the reasons I love McCulloch’s writing is that her amazing, real-life experiences shape the books she writes. Breathless, for example - which is about a woman climbing the 8th highest mountain in the world, was inspired from her own experience being the youngest Canadian woman to climb Mt Manaslu in Nepal. She has also completed the 36th Marathon des Sables – a 250km stage marathon through the Sahara Desert which mirrors the backdrop for Runner 13 and helps to create a realistic feeling read that has you hooked from the outset. I loved the setting of the book - the heat of the desert and the competitive nature of the other contestants makes for a great setting for a thriller. The stakes gradually build higher and higher, helped by segments from a running podcast which give vital backstory about some of the other runners. There’s also a previous scandal in Adri’s life, which we learn more about as the book progresses. As someone who runs a little (although nowhere near that 250-mile mark!), I found the description of running to be accurate and inspiring. I also really enjoyed the female driven main characters which turn the tables on a sport which is very male dominated. In fact, I saw from McCulloch’s Instagram, her having to defend the fact that women do run these kind of races, and sharing accounts of other inspiring women that have done so recently. Overall, Runner 13 is another fabulous book from super-woman Amy McCulloch and I’m very excited to see what’s next for her – in her real-life adventures, or the literary kind! Thank you to NetGalley & Penguin Random House – Michael Joseph for the chance to read the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Runner 13 is an original and exhilarating thriller set in the world of ultra running. Most of the action takes place in the Sahara desert, where the mysterious race organiser Boones has various tricks up his sleeve to put elite runners to the test over a 250-mile course. The runners and entourage are not allowed any contact with the outside world for the duration of the race, making this a fascinating take on a closed circle mystery situated in the expansive outdoors of the desert. The story is told from the perspectives of two different women. Adrienne is an ultra runner who gave up the sport seven years ago following a scandal which saw her son targeted by a hit and run driver. Stella, a photographer, is the daughter of Boones and is also the new partner of Adrienne's ex-husband. This is a story full of twists and turns and shocks, and the dual perspective means that you need to stay on your toes as a reader - at times I had to remind myself which characters knew which facts already. The descriptions of the long distance running and its many hazards and consequences were fascinating, as was the back story that emerged as the action played out. This is a really enjoyable thriller which rewards close attention.

I absolutely love Amy's novels. I thought Breathless was phenomenal, and then she topped it with Midnight, which was so good. Part of me worried that she couldn't do it a third time but I know she can. And the fact that these seemingly impossible events, voyages etc. that Amy has actually done them herself is even more astounding. This is going to sound a bit weird, but go with it, as I couldn't get this idea out of my head. For some reason, this one felt more accessible than the other. Not many 'average' people will climb mountains to visit the Arctic. But people do do marathons and ultramarathons. Now I know this isn't your average ultramarathon, it is more than that. And coming from me, someone who can barely walk to the end of the street without a walking stick, it seems a bit rich to say it's more doable. But it did feel like something you might know someone doing. It is fast paced, edge-of-your-seat, thrilling stuff. She is the best at writing these kind of stories; thrilling adventures in inhospitable environments where mental and emotional capacity is just as important, or maybe more so, than the physical. It is mainly set in the present time, but we do get flashback chapters set seven years prior, which helps explain what is happening to Adrienne now. It did take me a little while to get into It's still very good, but I'd say the first 1/4 was a little slow to get going. But once the actual racing starts, it's full on and there's so may twists and turns and surprises. It's not my favourite of her books, but it's still a marvellous piece of storytelling and she will continue to be a go-to author for tense and exciting thrillers. **Spoilers** Please note that the following paragraph may contain spoilers, so if you do not want to know, then please do not read any further. **Spoilers** **Spoilers** **Spoilers** **Spoilers** **Spoilers** What I did find though - and in hindsight it might be the case for all thrillers - is that it was obvious that our main character was going to survive. Whilst it is a thriller and there are surprises and you do hold your breath to see what's coming next, I didn't find a huge amount of jeopardy about it. (Gifted in return for an honest review)