A psychologist working for the LAPD goes on a dangerous journey through Los Angeles’ criminal underworld to track down her missing foster daughter in this gripping new thriller by the author of the international bestseller Baby Doll. You’ll do anything to protect her. But you’ll have to find her first. When LAPD forensic psychologist Becca Ortiz agrees to foster teenage runaway Ash, she knows … psychologist Becca Ortiz agrees to foster teenage runaway Ash, she knows she will love and protect her as her own daughter.
Ash may have turned her back on her old life on the streets, but there is still one person who she can’t bear to lose. Now he is about to drag her back into a dark world where nothing and no one is safe.
How far will Becca go to save her daughter?
And can she find her before it’s too late?
For more from Hollie Overton, check out:
Baby Doll
The Walls
“The Runaway” is the story of a mother and child. Becca Ortiz is works for LAPD as a forensic psychologist. She is divorced and awaiting permission to adopt former runaway, previously homeless, and now foster teenager Ash. The story is about their complicated, sometimes traumatic, and yet always warm relationship. Overton creates a picture of a loving family yet one with fissures in its structure. Readers see the drama, tension, and rifts from both sides, from Becca as she struggles to make with a stable, loving, and safe environment for Ash, and from Ash as she struggles in a changing world with changing people and uncertainty at every turn.
The characters are complex and relatable with well-developed backstories included in the narrative. The story touches on the complex social problems of foster care, homelessness, and mental illness, with undercurrents of sadness, fear, and love.
The action is fast-paced, and the descriptions are realistic, frightening, and truthful. The emotions, and the push-and-pull of the relationships drive the plot, and questions pull readers through the story. Will they all make it? What will the future hold? This story keeps readers guessing right to the last page.
I listened to the audio version of “The Runaway” read by Christine Lakin, Cassandra Morris, and Erin Bennett. The narration was accurate, understandable, and brought the story and characters to life.
Thanks to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of The Runaway by Hollie Overton in exchange for an honest review.
This novel begins with Ash getting a tattoo from a group of homeless people called The Tribe. Ash is in love with Nate, a member of the makeshift family that calls themselves The Tribe. Once a runaway, Ash is being fostered by Becca a therapist with the LAPD. Ash is still not quite sure if Becca’s love for her, as she is torn by her love for Nate and being with him. Becca has a complicated past herself, having lost several babies by miscarriage, a divorce from the love of her life Christian, and the death of her brother Robbie. She has a fractured relationship with her mother. Sometimes, Becca has a tough time keeping a grip on reality. As Ash and Nate become more involved, Ash witnesses a beating by a member of The Tribe on another member, Eli. When Ash is turned away, the tribe feels that they need to take care of Ash in a menacing manner. From here on, Ash realizes that Mo, the leader of The Tribe is dangerous.
The book is mainly about Becca’s race to find Ash after she and Nate ran away, and to take Mo into custody. Becca makes some very poor decisions, which causes her friends to question her ability to be rational.
I thought the book was a little long, and also had some very unlikely situations. However it does deal with a lot of issues, namely mental health, homelessness, and trouble with fertility, which are all important issues. I thought much of this was a bit far-fetched. For example, I don’t know If a doctor trained in mental health, would take as many chances as she did. I was also a little frustrated by the ending, but I do feel that it was pretty realistic that Mo still had a following.
#TheRunaway #HollieOverton
I didn’t like this book and let me tell you why..I had such high hopes when I saw this book because from what I saw of reviews of this authors previous books they were good so I was excited, intrigued, anxious even. maybe I set the bar too high because I didn’t get and to be honest I could not finish the book. There was too many characters that really had nothing to do with the storyline, so what was the point. We had too much inner dialogue that had me shaking my head and honestly just bored. And just too much stuff, I wont give it a 2 because I mean it wasn’t that bad, but it was def not higher and as I mentioned I just couldn’t finish.
Rcvd and ARC at no cost to author..(netgalley) Voluntarily reviewed with my own thoughts and opinions