Reviewed by Christine
TITLE: Runner
AUTHOR: Parker Williams
NARRATOR: Patrick Zeller
PUBLISHER: Dreamspinner Press
LENGTH: 6 hours, 11 minutes
RELEASE DATE: January 23, 2018
BLURB:
Matt Bowers’ life ended at 16, when a vicious betrayal by someone who he should have been able to trust left him a shell of himself, fighting OCD and PTSD, living in constant fear, and always running. When he buys a remote tract of land, he thinks he’s found the perfect place to hide from the world and attempt to establish some peace. For 10 years, he believes he’s found a measure of comfort, until the day a stranger begins to run on Matt’s road.
He returns every day, an unwelcome intrusion into Matt’s carefully structured life. Matt appeals to the local sheriff, who cannot help him since the jogger is doing nothing wrong. Gradually, after tentatively breaking the ice, Matt begins to accept the man’s presence.
But when the runner doesn’t show up one day, it throws Matt’s world into chaos, and he must make the hardest decision of his life.
REVIEW:
Matt Bowers has created an isolated, comfortable world for himself. After suffering from a horrible trauma, he suffers from PTSD and OCD and cannot bear being around people, even his family. All of that changes when a stranger appears on his road, and as he slowly begins to trust others, he must learn to trust in his own ability to heal and become the person he wishes to be.
I really enjoyed this beautiful story of trust and healing by Parker Williams. What stands out most is the author’s ability to portray Matt’s trauma and resulting pain in such a clear, detailed way through the character’s actions and his first-person POV. Being inside Matt’s head gives the reader valuable insight into the world Matt has created and his desperate need to maintain it. It is so well done, and I wish the author had provided even more time with Matt in that world and a slower build to the trust and intimacy he develops with Charlie.
I liked the character of Charlie, but the time getting to know him feels rushed as the characters are forced together into a situation that doesn’t feel organic, nor realistic at the stage of the relationship, especially considering Matt’s need for privacy and isolation. I truly liked the idea of these two working through Matt’s defenses and issues, but the arrangement they make and the results of family meddling feel disruptive to Charlie’s natural healing process and adds a rather disappointing and unnecessary obstacle to the development of the romantic relationship. The scenes between Matt and Charlie are very well written, filled with a lovely tentativeness and vulnerability that leave the reader wanting more. These two are wonderful to watch as they begin the slow dance of getting to know one another, with Matt learning to trust Charlie and, ultimately, himself. I just wish the author had spent more time in this arena, giving the characters greater opportunity to truly solidify their bond and Charlie a chance to gain a more realistic sense of empowerment.
The narration in this story is wonderful. This is my first listening experience with Patrick Zeller, and I found his soft, husky voice pleasant and easy on the ear. He does a lovely job with Matt’s voice, finding the crucial emotional connections that give the variety of feelings in the story the life and authenticity they need. I hope to hear more of Mr. Zeller’s work in the future.
Overall, Runner is a compelling, beautiful story, and the tenderness with which these characters are portrayed is rich and gratifying. Though there are family issues and machinations that don’t quite ring true and the development of the relationship between Matt and Charlie feels a bit rushed and orchestrated, the growth and healing the characters experience is powerful and touching. Well done, Mr. Williams.
RATING: 
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