Jessie Running

By Chris Lewando

A well-written, hard-hitting thriller that has been described as compulsive reading. An opportunist act throws Jessie, a troubled teenager, into conflict with the police, and headlong into a covert drugs operation. DI Redwall suspects she’s the missing daughter of the politician, Edward Stowleigh - but what would have driven a privileged child into the underworld in first place? The trail goes cold, and the missing money becomes an urban legend, until there is a murder in another city. Jessie has surfaced once again – and the police are not the only ones trying to find her. In the meantime, Jessie has learned to protect herself. Her struggle to survive drags the reader along a tortuous trail of misunderstandings, violence and retribution. Her inherently hostile character sees her pitting herself against society. Jessie thinks no-one cares, yet DI Redwall is determined to save her from her self-destructive descent. Will he find her in time, and discover her secret, or is it already too late?

Genuinely one of the best written books I’ve read in a long time. You are imagining the settings in your mind as you read. I opened it and read 28 pages just standing there and have found it impossible to put down. A rare book where you want to know what happens to the characters after you have finished it. A real talent. (CTK, Amazon)

2 nights running I’ve woken at 3.30 and started reading Jessie Running. I loved it. The author has real talent. From the first page I had a picture of where people were and what they looked like. Now I want to know what is happening in their lives. That is the sign of really good writing. (Beta Reader).

JESSIE RUNNING is hard-boiled thriller showcasing an intelligent and driven heroine and an author who writes with high style. A blend of Donald Westlake's PARKER novels with a suggestion of MODESTY BLAISE, the novel is tailor-made for fans of action, suspense and intrigue. Jessie is a genuinely tough and tough-minded protagonist who isn't interested in taking prisoners in her quest to see justice done. It would be shame if Chris Lewando doesn't bring readers more exploits of Jessie and her unique and often brutal brand of scale-balancing. (MME, Amazon)

Fast moving, imaginative, fun to read, thought provoking. One of those books you don't want to put down from the first time you pick it up. I doubt you've read anything quite like it. (GS, Amazon)

• Language: English
• Publisher: Chris Lewando
• Release date: Apr 23, 2019
• ISBN: 9780463452790