Exciting from start to finish Running out of Road is non stop action. It starts with a child being taken by her father who is on the police's most wanted list. So begins a race against time for DS Laura O'Neil.
Thanks to NetGalley and the author for the opportunity to read this book.

*4.5 stars *

Eleven year old Scarlett Martin, 17 year old Dylan Ellis, and middle aged ex firefighter, Ron Thorpe - three completely unconnected characters, that is until the fickle finger of fate decides to bring them all together in a maelstrom of terror and suspense in this gripping thriller from accomplished author Cath Staincliffe.

Scarlett has lived with her nana since the death of her mother some six years earlier, that is until she’s abducted by the father that she hasn’t seen since she was just five years old. Dylan Ellis is a county lines drug dealer - thinks he’ll make it big one of these days. Ron Thorpe is very much a loner after leaving the Fire Service, he house sits and looks after owner’s pets, and the rest of the time, he lives in his old motor home. He’s currently house sitting in the beautiful Derbyshire Peaks - a stunning house in a picturesque and secluded spot - and that suits him perfectly, but he has no idea yet, that his peace and seclusion is about to be challenged in the most horrific manner.

These people’s lives are thrown together in a most spectacular way, that leads to some breathtaking action, in this darkly atmospheric and sometimes deeply unsettling thriller. Cath Staincliffe is a writer with a powerful gift for keeping her audience permanently on edge. Highly recommended!

As I live close to The Peaks this was a believable storyline! The story is split into three main characters and their stories! An easy book to follow with intetesting storylines! Read in one sitting

This is a well crafted plot from Cath Staincliffe and a very enjoyable read. I loved the Derbyshire peaks setting and the mix of characters thrown together when a young girl is abducted by her estranged father. Filled with interesting characters, who just come alive, tension and an fascinating plot, this is sure to be a winner. Thanks to Net Galley for my ARC.

I love Cath Staincliffe's crime fiction, she specialises in creating brilliant vibrantly alive characters and plots that grip, grabbing the reader's interest from beginning to end. This short atmospheric novel is set in the dramatic location of the Derbyshire Peaks, in the midst of a violent storm, bringing torrential rain, mudslides and floods, a fitting background in which the darkest of deeds take place. 11 year old Scarlett is a mixed race, bright and lively young girl, living with her beloved Nan, obsessed with dance and gymnastics. She is walking home with her friend, Faye, discussing their upcoming performance in the school talent contest. After parting ways with Faye, Scarlett is abducted by a kidnapper she knows all too well, Gregory Martin, her father, a wanted man who had fled the country after committing a heinous crime.

Poor Scarlett has every reason to be terrified out of her mind, her father's return brings back her haunting and traumatised memories as a 5 year old, of her mother, Jeanette, who she now struggles to remember. Martin is a nasty, brutal, and vicious man, paying no attention to Scarlett's wish to be returned home, frightening and threatening her. 17 year old Dylan Ellis is a small time drug dealer and 'cuckoo', dealing from the home of the vulnerable addict, Petey. When Dylan sees Petey on the floor surrounded by blood, he flees with his bag of drug money, afraid of being charged with murder, but calling an ambulance first. Ron is a middle aged gay ex-firefighter, now a professional house sitter, currently looking after the Graybridge estate whilst the owners are abroad. The lives of all these disparate characters are to intersect and connect. DS Laura O'Neil is determined to find and arrest Martin, and return Scarlett home, whatever it takes, she is ably assisted by the conscientious PC Ahmed Ali.

Staincliffe's storytelling is jam packed with suspense and tension, and I don't mind admitting I was biting my nails, terrified at what might transpire, afraid for Scarlett, and for everyone else. Gregory Martin truly is a man that can inspire nightmares, he had no redeeming qualities, although Scarlett felt guilt and conflicting feelings, she could remember a time when she loved her dad before everything went to hell. This is a fantastic, dark, engaging and entertaining crime read, written by a talented author, that I highly recommend to other readers. Many thanks to the publisher for an ARC.

Thanks to Little, Brown Book UK and Netgalley for an advance copy of this book in exchange for a review.

This was an enjoyable read that kept my attention from the start. This is the first book by this author that I have read and I look forward to reading more!

Thanks Netgalley and the Publisher. I have liked everything this author has written and this was no exception. Great story and great storyline. Thoroughly enjoyed it.

Running out of Road brings together three very disparate characters: Scarlett, an eleven year old girl who has lived with her Nana since the death of her mother years earlier; Ron, a housesitter and former firefighter; and Dylan, a teenager involved in county lines drug dealing. When Scarlett is abducted by her father and Dylan goes on the run for other reasons, the lives of these three people collide. Meanwhile a storm rages across the Peak District, causing flooding and mudslides, and police officers Laura O'Neil and Ahmed Ali race against time.

I found this a really gripping read with characters I quickly came to care about. Scarlett, though terrified, is brave and resourceful; Ron clearly a good person. Even Dylan, although up to his eyes in dodgy stuff, is basically just a vulnerable teenager who has been groomed into criminality and is not yet beyond redemption.I liked the police officers too, especially the green young PC Ali.

All the chasing about and car-swapping did get a bit confusing at times, but nevertheless this was a very engaging and atmospheric read.

This pacey novel is mainly set in the Derbyshire peaks and the main thread tells us about a young primary school girl called Scarlet, who is a budding dancer and gymnast. She and her best friend have been rehearsing ready for a school talent show. As Scarlet makes her way home to her Nana’s house she is kidnapped by someone she thought she would never see again, her father, who has been missing after an incident at what used to be her family home. Her mother was murdered and her father disappeared into thin air. Scarlet was only five years old when she discovered her mother’s body. She tried to wake her up, to keep her warm and pouring a drink for her, but eventually she phoned her Nana who took on her care. Her Dad is a nasty piece of work with anger issues. He is a vile, mean, thug of a character. He flees the area with Scarlet thrown on the back seat. She is truly terrified about what he is going to do to her as he heads for the High Peak.
There are three main threads in the novel. The second tells the story of a teenage drug dealer called Dylan, who arrives home at his ‘cuckoo’s nest’ in the suburbs. He is the drug carrier, preying on the weak and vulnerable, giving them their drugs and collecting all the spoils for his boss. What he sees is the householder dead on the carpet, with blood pooling around his body. He immediately packed a bag and also the money meant for his boss, thinking he might get done for a murder he did not commit. He sets off using country lanes, knowing it would be too risky on motorways or ‘A’ roads.
The third character is a middle-aged ex-fire fighter called Ron. He is a professional house sitter, currently looking after his employer’s house, dog and horses in the Peak District. He is reclusive, returning to his mother in Birmingham when he is temporarily unemployed. His job suits him well. He is a loner, bullied in the Fire Service and seeking a peaceful life. He won’t get it though.
When these three characters meet, ructions, kerfuffle and chaos is the order of the day. The police are in hot pursuit and the criminals in hiding. To make matters worse the weather is atrocious. Roads have to be closed down because of flooding, hampering those who want to make a quick retreat. The action is understandably frenetic with crazed criminals, murder, wounding and misunderstandings resulting, alarming poor Ron, Scarlet and the brave police personnel, bent on justice being done.
This short novel is a real page-turner full of action, excitement and tension. Cath Staincliffe is a prolific and talented storyteller and TV police series screen writer. Her stories are authentic and a common theme of them is examining the impact of crime on ordinary families, as in this novel. Her characterisation is brilliant; eclectic characters are created, skilfully developed and feel as though they are familiar and what happens to them matter to you. Her stories are vivid and often her settings are in the north-west, the area where she lives and knows about. I really enjoyed this novel and thought the ending was very well written, all the loose ends tied up, but also very heart- warming. My favourite character was Scarlet. She was wise beyond her years and very brave and feisty. I felt sorry for Ron, afraid to open up his life to happiness, and although Dylan was a drug dealer, he was groomed, indoctrinated, manipulated, and used. I felt he could be rehabilitated to live a clean life where he contributed to society. He was a bit of a hero in the end. I must tell you about the Policeman Ahmed too. He was a real hero, a safe pair of hands and dedicated to his job as was his boss Laura.
I received a complimentary copy of this novel from publisher Constable through my membership of NetGalley. Thank you very much. These are my own honest opinions without any outside influences. It’s an all-round 4* review from me and a recommendation that this story is a very enjoyable read.

An assured piece of writing which, although a little unbelievable - too many coincidences for me - kept me entertained. Read it in a single sitting. An enjoyable thriller set in the Peak District.

Running out of Road by Cath Staincliffe
I've read a few of her books before and feel this one is slightly different and hats off to Cath Staincliffe for it being so .
I very much enjoyed the fact that it was set in the Peak District and thought the author brought the bleakness of it alive ,with great descriptions on how bad the weather conditions can get. I felt that it sat will with the storyline of a young girl ( Scarlett aged 11 ) who doesn't come home from school.
Without giving away the plotline , it has many tense moments,scattered with twists and turns which for me gave a very enjoyable read . Really enjoyed the police officers DC Laura O'Neill and PC Ahmed Ali , their working relationship was spot on .

Running out of Road follows Scarlets as she fights to escape her father who has abducted her and Laura the police officer trying to find her. Will she escape or be found sade?

I have to say this was a disappointing read. The story is relatively short, which turned out to be a blessing.

The pace was slow and lacked excitement and sadly I didn't find the plot or the characters to be believable.

Scarlett, 11, is abducted by her father Gregory Martin who is a wanted man. DS Laura O’Neill investigates. PC Ahmed Ali is on the trail of a man seen fleeing the scene of a potential suspicious death. Ahmed and Laura’s separate investigations coincide very dramatically!

This is a very lively and engaging mystery thriller right from the start. Cath Staincliffe writes in such a visual way that you feel as if you are part of the fast paced action. Short, sharp sentences add an extra layer of tension, perfectly matching the unfolding drama. The characterisation is very good, the star of the show for me being Scarlett. You feel her terror, helplessness and fear of her ruthless father and you totally root for her. Once she has suppressed her fears she is able to think on her feet and proves to be a very resourceful and brave young lady. The two police officers are very good characters too, their relationship doesn’t get off the the most promising of starts but a camaraderie develops based on having each other’s backs. The novel is set in the Peak District which is extremely well described and the landscape and atrocious weather conditions are used to great effect adding an extra layer of tension, danger and difficulty. The different story threads connect very cohesively and it becomes exciting, high octane and very entertaining. There are so many twists and turns you feel like you’ve ridden Oblivion at Alton Towers and it’s just as unrelenting. The only difference is I’d want to get off Oblivion and I didn’t want to with this!! I especially like how the police officers feelings are conveyed in the aftermath with Laura’s husbands reaction really bringing home the potential dangers that officers face very time they answer a call.

Overall, this is another good crime drama from the talented author.

With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Little Brown Book Group for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.

DS Laura O’ Neil may be struggling at home with a cranky toddler, but at work, she’s all business. She’s looking for Scarlett, a child who disappeared on her way home from school. Her abductor is no stranger, he’s Scarlett’s father, and he’s desperate and dangerous. Laura must examine every, aspect of Scarlett’s life, her home with her grandmother, along with a few shady characters in the vicinity.

I've been a fan of Cath Staincliffe's writing for decades and really look forward to reading her new work. Staincliffe's writing is authentic and from the heart and she creates real characters that the reader really cares about. I usually love the Manchester setting of her books but I found that the author brought the Peak District to life here and it made for a very atmospheric setting. Running Out of Road brings together the stories of Scarlett a missing schoolgirl, Ron a retired fire fighter and Dylan an exploited teenager involved in county lines drug dealing. The paths of DS Laura O'Neill and PC Ahmed Ali come together in the hunt for Scarlett and Dylan. I loved the characterisation in the novel and it flowed at a good pace. I read it over the course of a day and was completely caught up in the the plot and characters. There was one weakness for me towards the end of the novel when the plot became slightly ridiculous and used the stereotypical chase scene which I am never a fan of in crime novels. However I'd highly recommend this and would love to see the return and further development of the characters of DS O'Neill and PC Ali.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a digital ARC.