I really enjoyed this book, it had a premise that will keep you within the pages, with delightful characters. It was tense, it was dark and it was thrilling.

Another thrilling read by a very talented author! I enjoyed this book until the very end, and can recommend it for anyone who loves a thrilling read that will keep you entertained throughout!
TB

A fast paced dark story, but a bit of a slow start. It took me a while to get into it but I’m glad I persevered as it was ultimately a compelling read.

The environment was very evocative and the author did a great job at giving a child’s perspective. Scarlett’s perspective was convincing and emotive.

Not my favourite of Catherine Staincliffe’s novels, but a solid page turner nonetheless!

Scarlett, a young girl is snatched from the street on the way home from school from a man she thought she'd never see again, a man on the most wanted list - her father.

After retiring from the fire service, Ron is enjoying life as a house and pet sitter. He appreciates the solitude, especially in his latest house deep within the Derbyshire Peaks.

Dylan's dealing drugs on the county line, picking nests with people who can't say no. Dylan's managing to keep his nose clean and stay ahead of the law but everything seems to be falling apart.

Laura O'Neil, a new mum and detective sergeant doesn't know which way to turn after countless sleepless nights with her teething toddler. But Laura's heading the hunt for Scarlett and she knows she needs to stay focused.

'Running Out of Road' is a brilliant novel, full of compelling characters that the reader can empathise with. The descriptions of the Peak District are evocative and really add to the drama of the hunt for Scarlett. I loved how the seemingly disparate characters intersect with one another. Cath Staincliffe weaves an engrossing narrative with themes that are dark but also uplifting.

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.

Set in the Peak District, the reader comes face to face with fear, substance abuse, manipulation, abduction, power & control, payback but also much much more!

An intense and intriguing opening kept my interest and had me hooked. This is one of those complex stories that I adore! separate strands that seamlessly meet at that crucial point until everything is wrapped up perfectly! It takes real talent to do that without losing the readers interest and Cath does this well.

I loved the characters in this novel – A diverse cast, from differing walks of life – who some how get drawn into and entangled in a curious web. I have a few firm faves I just have to mention. DS Laura O’Neil is quite the character. Moody, determined, a new mother trying to juggle her personal life with a stressful job – she was fantastic! Scarlett was another character I was drawn too – lives with her nan after a family tragedy. Dylan – young, dumb (in some respects) and on the run. Wanted to prove himself but ended up drawing the wrong kind of attention. And Scarlett – she was just brilliant!

Would I recommend this read? You bet your sweet ass I do! A complex, tense and absolutely gripping read – I’m soooo looking forward to what’s next in this series!

Running out of Road by Cath Staincliffe is a fast paced thriller that keeps you thoroughly entertained from beginning to end. Superbly written by acclaimed author Cath Staincliffe, the main storyline focuses on missing schoolgirl Scarlett, who has been abducted by by her father, Gregory Martin, a dangerous killer and one of the most wanted men in the country.

DS Laura O’Neil, running on empty after sleepless nights dealing with a teething toddler, is the driving force in charge of the case. With the help of PC Ahmed Ali, Laura knows she is in a race against time to capture the killer and find the missing schoolgirl before it’s too late.

Then there is Ron, a middle aged recluse who makes a living as a house and pet sitter, much preferring to spend his time with animals than with other people. And Dylan, a troubled young drug dealer who finds himself on the run, his life falling apart around him.

Cath Staincliffe has written a believable and faced paced thriller that keeps you on the edge of your seat throughout, cleverly fitting the pieces of the puzzle together as the layers are peeled back, revealing more and more about each character as we move through the book. A missing schoolgirl, an ex-firefighting recluse and an exploited teenager are about to have their lives crash together in the most spectacular way possible. Can DS Laura O’Neil get to the bottom of what’s going on and find 11 year old Scarlett before time runs out?

Cath Staincliffe’s writing is wonderful, bringing the brooding wilderness of the Peak District vividly to life. With fascinating characters and a gripping storyline, Running out of Road is a fast paced thriller that I thoroughly enjoyed and wouldn’t hesitate to recommend.

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.

Many thanks to the publisher for my copy of the book via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion on the book.

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.

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.

Cath Staincliffe is amongst the group of writers that I love to read without even checking the blurb first, and when I saw she had a new standalone book being published in July 2021, I was fortunate enough to get an Advanced Copy via Netgalley.

It’s always a pleasure to read Cath’s books and I was also thrilled to arrange the blogtour for this book, so my thanks first to all the incredible bloggers who agreed to take part and share their thoughts on the book.

Running Out Of Road is being published by Constable on 15th July with a page count of 272 pages.

I’m not a writer (obviously.. just read my reviews for confirmation), so I am in awe of all writers and anyone who has the imagination and skill to create a story especially stories where strangers who are totally unconnected are thrown together in terrifying circumstances.

This fast paced story centres around the abduction of 11 year old Scarlett by her father Gregory Martin, a dangerous killer who is one of the most wanted men in the county. Tasked with tracking down Martin and rescuing Scarlett is DS Laura O’Neill and PC Ahmed Ali. Both of whom, are dedicated and committed to the force and prepared to put their lives in danger to capture this killer.

Running alongside this storyline is Ron, a middle-aged ex-fire fighter who now house sits for a living, prefering the company of animals to humans, having experienced trauma in his past and Dylan, a troubled teenager and drug dealer who is mixed up with some bad people and now on the run.

All the characters are believable and have fascinating back stories which is slowly revealed throughout the book.

Overall, another superb story from Cath Staincliffe which I thoroughly enjoyed and highly recommend.

Dark, visceral and compelling, Running Out of Road is a highly charged crime novel set against the breathtaking landscape of the Peak District by Cath Staincliffe.

Scarlett has lived with her nana ever since her mother had passed away. Scarlett is beside herself with excitement about the school talent show tomorrow and she cannot wait to perform her dance number. Unfortunately though Scarlett will not be performing as on her way home from school she is abducted by a man she never thought she would see ever again. A man who is on the police’s most-wanted list: her father.

After quitting his job with the fire service, Ron had carved a new life for himself as a house and pet sitter. Currently looking for a place in the Derbyshire peaks as far away from civilization as possible, Ron hopes to spend the rest of his days looking after animals. In Ron’s experience, animals are far easier to manage and handle than people. Solitude is not something he fears, but rather something he welcomes and cherishes. But just why is he so determined to keep the world at bay?

Meanwhile, Dylan deals drugs on the county line and thus far he has managed to keep his head down and remain one step ahead of the law. For the first time in a long while, Dylan’s life seemed to be going great – but now it’s all falling down around his ears. Has Dylan’s luck run out? Has his past at long last caught up with him? And will he finally have to pay for all his evil transgressions?

DS Laura O’Neil is juggling looking after a teething toddler with the demands of her job. Finding Scarlet is her number one priority, but with time running out, will the child be found safe and sound? Or is she already far too late?

Cath Staincliffe’s Running Out of Road is complex, multi-layered and intelligent crime fiction that skillfully explores tensions and resentments within the family, the twisted ties that bind people together and the choices and sacrifices people make when their backs are against the wall that grips like a vise and will keep readers on the edge of their seats.

Cath Staincliffe excels at exploring the different facets of the human psyche and in Running Out of Road, she has written a book packed with characters that are three-dimensional, brilliantly drawn and wonderfully nuanced.

Running Out of Road is a superbly written crime novel and a high stakes emotional drama from a writer who always pushes the envelope and never fails to deliver: Cath Staincliffe.

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.

Running Out Of Road, the excellent new thriller by Cath Staincliffe, introduces the character of DS Laura O’Neill as the leading officer, and I hope this will be the first of a series of books. However, the book is so much more than a police procedural as the three main characters are the civilians. The setting of the Peak District is dark and brooding, the weather is dank and bleak, which matches the moment in the book when 11 year old Scarlett goes missing, taken by her father, a very dangerous man. The second main character, a 17 year old lad, caught up in county lines drug dealing. The third is a reclusive ex-fire fighter with a mysterious past. How will the events, set shortly before Covid times, unravel? Who will come out unscathed? Will DS O’Neill be able to save Scarlett from the wrath of her father?
Another superb book by Cath Staincliffe, who always creates such wonderful characters, writes so well and leaves me thoroughly satisfied with the book I have just read (but desperate to read her next one!). Highly recommend this book for all this familiar with Cath’s work and those new to her, you will not be disappointed.
Thanks to NetGalley for a Kindle copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

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.

Scarlett is dancing in the school talent show tomorrow. Nana, who Scarlett lives with since mum died, reckons Scarlett will b on 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 ever since he left the fire service. He's currently looking after a place in the Derbyshire Peaks.

Dylan's a "cuckoo", dealing drugs on the county line, moving from nest to nest, picking out people who daren't say no. But now everything is falling apart.

Scarlett's dad abducts her on her way home from school. He's quite an evil character, DS Laura 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.

This is a cleverly crafted plot that's gripping. 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 feel every emotion she goes through. This is a descriptively written story that makes you visualise everything that's going on.

I've never read anything by Cath Staincliffe before, but after reading Running Out Of Road, this definitely needs to change! It starts with a bang as it means to go on and from the beginning the pace is relentless. I just did not want to stop reading!

There are three strands in the plot in Running Out Of Road, where the reader is introduced to Scarlett, Dylan and Ron. At first, it is difficult to see how such different characters could be connected but it becomes much clearer as the plot progresses. Staincliffe has created a very different set of circumstances for each one and their stories are very interesting to follow. I warmed to them all in different ways.

Staincliffe begins the novel with an apology that her use of geography may not be completely accurate. This doesn't matter. She creates the atmosphere really well, particularly the scenes that take place in remote areas and this drew me into the scenes. I loved being able to picture what was happening as the tension rose and I couldn't let go.

I love a good thriller. Something to get the mind working, heart racing and having you on the edge of your seat. This book has it all!

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

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,