Book Review: The Runner

Reviewed By: Harriet Klausner

The Runner     Amazon US PB Amazon US HC Amazon Canada PB Amazon Canada HC
Christopher Reich
Class/Genre:   Mystery   Historical
Delacorte, Mar 2000, $26.95, 440 pp.

The American major informs former SS officer Erich “The White Lion” Siegried Seyss that he would be tried as a war criminal for murdering at least seventy Americans. Though Erich is still recovering from surgery needed after taking a Russian bullet, he will be transferred to a detention cell until his War Crimes trial occurs. However, instead of facing the justice of the victors, Erich manages to escape from the POW camp.

Brooklyn attorney Devlin Judge is assigned to the prosecution team, but becomes irate when he learns the “White Lion” has escaped. Devlin wants to recapture Erich who killed his brother. His reluctant superiors give Devlin a week to hunt down the White Lion. Devlin begins his quest through a countryside that is in total ruin and is controlled by the Allied occupation forces. Unbeknownst to Devlin is that another there is another agenda in the works, one that plans to use Seyss as a catalyst and if necessary eliminating the obsessed American if he interferes.

THE RUNNER is an excellent work of historical fiction that brings to life Occupied Germany just after WW II. The story line is fast-paced, filled with action, and provides interwoven historical tidbits that make the picturesquely gloomy countryside seem alive. The characters are fully developed so that the audience not only understands their motives, but that of the countries they represent. Christopher Reich shows why his previous work NUMBERED ACCOUNT was a New York Times best seller. This is sure to be labeled one of the top five historical fictions novels of the year.

Harriet Klausner

Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, Harriet Klausner