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Skeleton Run
Twenty years ago, four teenage boys left a baby behind in a crushed car after they caused the tragic accident that took the mother’s life. Ever since, they've guarded the secret that would've ruined their lives and destroyed their future careers. But when one of them succumbs to illness, a blackmailer makes contact, and the survivors realize that, somehow, someone else knows. Now, everything that matters to them is at stake.Las Vegas billionaire Wendell Logan is pursuing the role of political kingmaker, and he’s selected his unsuspecting Alan Granger, governor of Pennsylvania. Granger confesses his closet skeleton to Logan, but the tycoon has invested too much time and money into Granger’s future presidential campaign to let him and his old friends endanger Logan’s power play.It’s time to run.
200 pages, Paperback
First published April 14, 2015
47 people are currently reading
98 people want to read
About the author
John L. DeBoer
16 books86 followersAfter graduating from the University of Vermont College of Medicine, John L. DeBoer, M.D., F.A.C.S. completed his surgical training in the U.S. Army and then spent three years in the Medical Corps as a general surgeon. Thirty years of private practice later, he retired to begin a new career as a writer.
Dr. DeBoer is a member of International Thriller Writers. He lives with his wife in North Carolina.
Dr. DeBoer is a member of International Thriller Writers. He lives with his wife in North Carolina.
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
May 2, 2021
One night four teenage boys were in an accident that changed everyone life forever. They made a decision that affected them for the rest of their lives. A decision that would eventually see one of them murdered, and one almost murdered.
When I first started reading Skeleton Run I was curious to see how a book written in both first and third person could be accomplished. This is an ambitious undertaking for any author. I am happy to say that author John L DeBoer did it masterfully. At no time did the switch between two POV's confuse, or obstruct the story. The plot was intriguing, and extremely well written. The characters are well developed, and held true all the way through.
And what a story it is. After the accident the boys grew up to lead not only productive lives, but very successful ones. Then one day their accident comes back to haunt them, but not in a way one would expect. This twist was just one a several that kept the pace fast, and my interest peaked all the way through.
I highly recommend Skeleton Run and can't wait to read more of the extreme talents from author John L DeBoer.
When I first started reading Skeleton Run I was curious to see how a book written in both first and third person could be accomplished. This is an ambitious undertaking for any author. I am happy to say that author John L DeBoer did it masterfully. At no time did the switch between two POV's confuse, or obstruct the story. The plot was intriguing, and extremely well written. The characters are well developed, and held true all the way through.
And what a story it is. After the accident the boys grew up to lead not only productive lives, but very successful ones. Then one day their accident comes back to haunt them, but not in a way one would expect. This twist was just one a several that kept the pace fast, and my interest peaked all the way through.
I highly recommend Skeleton Run and can't wait to read more of the extreme talents from author John L DeBoer.
December 13, 2015
I have no strong feelings about this book, one way or another. It is well written, moves along at a steady book, but for some reason it just didn't engage me.
Twenty years ago, four teenage boys caused an accident that left a woman dead, then fled from the scene, leaving her baby in the back seat of the car. They make a pledge never to reveal what they did. Ever since, they've guarded the secret that would have ruined their lives and destroyed their careers. But when, on his deathbed, one of them reveals the secret, a blackmailer makes contact. Now, everything that matters to them is at stake.
If you like political thrillers, this will probably push your buttons, but I think, had I realised how much of this book was centred on politics, I probably would not have chosen to read it.
Thank you to NetGalley, Red Adept Publishing and author John De Boer for the gift of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Twenty years ago, four teenage boys caused an accident that left a woman dead, then fled from the scene, leaving her baby in the back seat of the car. They make a pledge never to reveal what they did. Ever since, they've guarded the secret that would have ruined their lives and destroyed their careers. But when, on his deathbed, one of them reveals the secret, a blackmailer makes contact. Now, everything that matters to them is at stake.
If you like political thrillers, this will probably push your buttons, but I think, had I realised how much of this book was centred on politics, I probably would not have chosen to read it.
Thank you to NetGalley, Red Adept Publishing and author John De Boer for the gift of this book in exchange for an honest review.
June 12, 2016
PRIVILEGE COVERS CRIME
Jeanne Favreau’s life ends with a car crash in the snow that leaves her infant son orphaned and the four perpetrators who left the scene trapped by the weight of their crime. For more than twenty years, their secret is safe, until one of the group gives up the tale during a deathbed confession. Coincidence is merely a precursor to righting mighty wrongs, and as Fortune would have it, an attending nurse overhearing the confession shares a close bond with the infant child now grown. What she does with the information will have far reaching impacts on the three surviving conspirators. Wealthy and privileged, they are poised to receive a well deserved dose of retributive justice. But will they?
Beautifully written with rich prose and lush set ups, author John L. DeBoer’s SKELETON RUN offers characters that a reader can readily invest in. I, for one, kept turning the pages in anticipation of the justice that must surely come. But DeBoer made me wait, much like the physician “Jim,” whose participation in the hit and run prologued a charmed life, must also wait for the hammer to fall.
A morality play for the modern age, I give Skeleton Run 5 Stars.
Jeanne Favreau’s life ends with a car crash in the snow that leaves her infant son orphaned and the four perpetrators who left the scene trapped by the weight of their crime. For more than twenty years, their secret is safe, until one of the group gives up the tale during a deathbed confession. Coincidence is merely a precursor to righting mighty wrongs, and as Fortune would have it, an attending nurse overhearing the confession shares a close bond with the infant child now grown. What she does with the information will have far reaching impacts on the three surviving conspirators. Wealthy and privileged, they are poised to receive a well deserved dose of retributive justice. But will they?
Beautifully written with rich prose and lush set ups, author John L. DeBoer’s SKELETON RUN offers characters that a reader can readily invest in. I, for one, kept turning the pages in anticipation of the justice that must surely come. But DeBoer made me wait, much like the physician “Jim,” whose participation in the hit and run prologued a charmed life, must also wait for the hammer to fall.
A morality play for the modern age, I give Skeleton Run 5 Stars.
October 13, 2020
I read and enjoyed Deep Cover by John L. DeBoer earlier in the year and was looking forward to reading another of his thrillers.
I doubt that there are many of us who can say that there wasn’t some minor transgression or event in our past that weighs on our minds. However these four young men are involved in an event with catastrophic consequences that follow them as they attend college, get jobs and form relationships. Secrets fester and burden those with a conscience, and once it is let out of the bag, there is little hope of containing it. Especially when it can be used as leverage.
The story follows the trail of devastation that results from the revelation about the past. There are a number of players who will use this information for their own agendas. Others will cross paths during the unfolding events, seeking revenge for past wrongs, unrelated to the accident. People within this small circle of friends are dying and the question is who is responsible. Is it personal or business?
I don’t have much sympathy for some of the characters but that is because they have been well drawn and are supposed to be disliked. Teenagers can be stupid, but even so despite the steps they took to mitigate the damage, it wasn’t enough and they are now paying the price, both with the guilt and the backlash to the secret being shared.
The book is fast paced, contains some worthy red herrings and twists and it comes to a satisfactory ending. I recommend Skeleton Run to both thriller and mystery readers who enjoy a well written book.
I doubt that there are many of us who can say that there wasn’t some minor transgression or event in our past that weighs on our minds. However these four young men are involved in an event with catastrophic consequences that follow them as they attend college, get jobs and form relationships. Secrets fester and burden those with a conscience, and once it is let out of the bag, there is little hope of containing it. Especially when it can be used as leverage.
The story follows the trail of devastation that results from the revelation about the past. There are a number of players who will use this information for their own agendas. Others will cross paths during the unfolding events, seeking revenge for past wrongs, unrelated to the accident. People within this small circle of friends are dying and the question is who is responsible. Is it personal or business?
I don’t have much sympathy for some of the characters but that is because they have been well drawn and are supposed to be disliked. Teenagers can be stupid, but even so despite the steps they took to mitigate the damage, it wasn’t enough and they are now paying the price, both with the guilt and the backlash to the secret being shared.
The book is fast paced, contains some worthy red herrings and twists and it comes to a satisfactory ending. I recommend Skeleton Run to both thriller and mystery readers who enjoy a well written book.
September 7, 2016
The writing is plain and the plot is straight forward.
Yet it makes for a good light read. Its fast pace is gripping enough to hold you until till the very end. Would recommend reading this alongside a more cognitively challenging book on psychology or self help
Yet it makes for a good light read. Its fast pace is gripping enough to hold you until till the very end. Would recommend reading this alongside a more cognitively challenging book on psychology or self help
July 12, 2020
"Skeleton Run" by John L. DeBoer is a great well-paced mystery, with enough twists and turns and enough action to keep the reader hooked. The author's medical background gives certain sections a good realistic background and the characters are nicely drawn, without too much introspection. A well-deserved 5 stars!!
June 24, 2015
4.25 stars
About the book: Release Date April 14, 2015
Twenty years ago, four teenage boys left a baby behind in a crushed car after they caused the tragic accident that took the mother’s life. Ever since, they've guarded the secret that would've ruined their lives and destroyed their future careers. But when one of them succumbs to illness, a blackmailer makes contact, and the survivors realize that, somehow, someone else knows. Now, everything that matters to them is at stake.
Las Vegas billionaire Wendell Logan is pursuing the role of political kingmaker, and he’s selected his unsuspecting king: Alan Granger, governor of Pennsylvania. Granger confesses his closet skeleton to Logan, but the tycoon has invested too much time and money into Granger’s future presidential campaign to let him and his old friends endanger Logan’s power play.
It’s time to run.
••••••••••••
REVIEW: 4.25 stars---SKELETON RUN is a contemporary, adult suspense storyline from author John L. Deboer. Told from first person point of view-Dr. Jim Dawson- and several third person perspectives SKELETON RUN follows four friends who twenty two years earlier, during their senior year of high school, were involved in a car accident that killed a young woman abandoning her eighteen month old son alone and helpless on a cold winter's night. Promising never to speak of that night, our four friends will eventually find themselves the victims of blackmail when a deathbed conversation reveals too much information, and one of their own confesses the truth during a run for political office.
John Deboer builds a story of intrigue and suspense using personal tragedy and guilt to reveal the different experiences and resulting fall out for each of our four storyline 'heroes', and I use the term hero rather loosely. We follow the successes and failures from physician, and football hero: to governor, and a young life cut short by a deadly disease; lives will be threatened and lost when blackmail and politics take center stage in a struggle for power and the ultimate control of man by the political elite.
The world building follows four high school age students over a twenty two year period wherein the memories of that fateful night burrow into the sub conscious of each man but not everyone experiences the mind numbing guilt in similar ways. While three of the men are unable to forget about the child that was left behind, another presses forward as though nothing had happened to change the direction of his own life and that of his future plans.
John Deboer's character development is thorough without the use of over the top romantic descriptive narration; their personal demons rarely ride close to the surface but the guilt is ever present and not easy to forget. The past will become their present when the future is clouded in what ifs and the possibility of what is to come.
SKELETON RUN is a well written storyline of mystery and suspense. The premise will keep your attention until the very end; the characters are colorful, intriguing and charismatic. John L. Deboer builds an intense, imaginative and fateful storyline that could have been ripped from today’s headline news.
Copy supplied by the publisher.
www.thereadingcafe.com
About the book: Release Date April 14, 2015
Twenty years ago, four teenage boys left a baby behind in a crushed car after they caused the tragic accident that took the mother’s life. Ever since, they've guarded the secret that would've ruined their lives and destroyed their future careers. But when one of them succumbs to illness, a blackmailer makes contact, and the survivors realize that, somehow, someone else knows. Now, everything that matters to them is at stake.
Las Vegas billionaire Wendell Logan is pursuing the role of political kingmaker, and he’s selected his unsuspecting king: Alan Granger, governor of Pennsylvania. Granger confesses his closet skeleton to Logan, but the tycoon has invested too much time and money into Granger’s future presidential campaign to let him and his old friends endanger Logan’s power play.
It’s time to run.
••••••••••••
REVIEW: 4.25 stars---SKELETON RUN is a contemporary, adult suspense storyline from author John L. Deboer. Told from first person point of view-Dr. Jim Dawson- and several third person perspectives SKELETON RUN follows four friends who twenty two years earlier, during their senior year of high school, were involved in a car accident that killed a young woman abandoning her eighteen month old son alone and helpless on a cold winter's night. Promising never to speak of that night, our four friends will eventually find themselves the victims of blackmail when a deathbed conversation reveals too much information, and one of their own confesses the truth during a run for political office.
John Deboer builds a story of intrigue and suspense using personal tragedy and guilt to reveal the different experiences and resulting fall out for each of our four storyline 'heroes', and I use the term hero rather loosely. We follow the successes and failures from physician, and football hero: to governor, and a young life cut short by a deadly disease; lives will be threatened and lost when blackmail and politics take center stage in a struggle for power and the ultimate control of man by the political elite.
The world building follows four high school age students over a twenty two year period wherein the memories of that fateful night burrow into the sub conscious of each man but not everyone experiences the mind numbing guilt in similar ways. While three of the men are unable to forget about the child that was left behind, another presses forward as though nothing had happened to change the direction of his own life and that of his future plans.
John Deboer's character development is thorough without the use of over the top romantic descriptive narration; their personal demons rarely ride close to the surface but the guilt is ever present and not easy to forget. The past will become their present when the future is clouded in what ifs and the possibility of what is to come.
SKELETON RUN is a well written storyline of mystery and suspense. The premise will keep your attention until the very end; the characters are colorful, intriguing and charismatic. John L. Deboer builds an intense, imaginative and fateful storyline that could have been ripped from today’s headline news.
Copy supplied by the publisher.
www.thereadingcafe.com
February 1, 2016
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book in exchange for a review. And here it is:
Skeleton Run is a thriller examining the havoc which can be reaped from the consequences of past actions. The narrative follows the lives of four young friends who are involved in a tragic accident. The result of their non-action comes back to bite them much later in their lives, as fate rears its ugly head and sets off a chain reaction of events which spiral out of control into dishonor and even death.
DeBoer plys a deft hand in his handling of the narrative arc, constantly ratcheting up the tension and suspense throughout the arc of the story until it culminates in a final, decisive showdown. His characters are solidly developed, with motivations built from guilt, greed, ambition, and an overwhelming lust for power. The political aspects, especially with the upcoming election and so much focus on who controls the purse-strings and thus the politicos, are particularly timely.
I found the author’s use of POV a bit distracting—he switches back and forth between multi-POV 3rdperson narration to 1st person narration from the designated ‘hero’ of the story, Dr. Jim Dawson. These changes had the effect of pulling me out of the story and making me mentally say “Wait, what?” The only other problem I had with this book (and this is a minor technical issue) is that the ebook edition I read was divided into sections, so that I was always on “page 2 of 10” or “page 6 of 14”; thus I never really knew where I was in relation to the overall size of the book. Minor quibble, I know, but I still found it a bit bothersome.
Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed the book. Skeleton Run is a solid effort that will keep readers turning pages to see who lives, who dies, and how it all turns out. DeBoer has an excellent handle on his plot and pacing, and presents a gripping glimpse into the world of political intrigue and personal guilt.
Skeleton Run is a thriller examining the havoc which can be reaped from the consequences of past actions. The narrative follows the lives of four young friends who are involved in a tragic accident. The result of their non-action comes back to bite them much later in their lives, as fate rears its ugly head and sets off a chain reaction of events which spiral out of control into dishonor and even death.
DeBoer plys a deft hand in his handling of the narrative arc, constantly ratcheting up the tension and suspense throughout the arc of the story until it culminates in a final, decisive showdown. His characters are solidly developed, with motivations built from guilt, greed, ambition, and an overwhelming lust for power. The political aspects, especially with the upcoming election and so much focus on who controls the purse-strings and thus the politicos, are particularly timely.
I found the author’s use of POV a bit distracting—he switches back and forth between multi-POV 3rdperson narration to 1st person narration from the designated ‘hero’ of the story, Dr. Jim Dawson. These changes had the effect of pulling me out of the story and making me mentally say “Wait, what?” The only other problem I had with this book (and this is a minor technical issue) is that the ebook edition I read was divided into sections, so that I was always on “page 2 of 10” or “page 6 of 14”; thus I never really knew where I was in relation to the overall size of the book. Minor quibble, I know, but I still found it a bit bothersome.
Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed the book. Skeleton Run is a solid effort that will keep readers turning pages to see who lives, who dies, and how it all turns out. DeBoer has an excellent handle on his plot and pacing, and presents a gripping glimpse into the world of political intrigue and personal guilt.
June 3, 2020
Had a little trouble keeping all of the characters apart, but that might just be because I'm old!!! Interesting story, I enjoyed the read.
August 13, 2017
I found this book to be on the boring side.Four teen boys leave an infant in a car after they are in a crash that killed the mother.Years later they are leading productive lives when vengeance comes calling in many ways.Sean Patrick Hopkins was a fine narrator.I was provided this book free by the author, narrator or publisher.
October 3, 2020
Explosive Action and Packed with Intrigue
This is the second book I’ve read by This author and DAMN it got me hooked! What started as a mistake became a dirty secret creating guilt in a group of friends who later discuss the event, not realizing someone is listening. It snowballs from there into a well-written tightly edited thrill ride that won’t let go until the last page.
This is the second book I’ve read by This author and DAMN it got me hooked! What started as a mistake became a dirty secret creating guilt in a group of friends who later discuss the event, not realizing someone is listening. It snowballs from there into a well-written tightly edited thrill ride that won’t let go until the last page.
April 15, 2022
Skeleton Run by John L. DeBoer ~ This book is a true action packed page-turner. Intelligently written with a gripping plot that kept me guessing through every unexpected plot twist and turn. Great characters and an exciting, well pace story. I loved this book.
September 18, 2018
Good, political thriller.
August 17, 2015
We all have secrets we either choose to keep to ourselves or amongst a trusted few. Alan Granger, governor of Pennsylvania, has a big one: when he was a teenager, him and three friends were in a car crash that left the mother of a baby dead. They fled the scene so they could cover their asses, leaving the baby behind, hoping help would arrive before it was too late. Fast forward twenty years, and there's the chance this secret will go public. Alan and his friends have a chance encounter with the wife of the man they left behind in the car wreck with his dead mother all those years ago. She ends up extorting money from them to keep her quiet about what they did, but that's not the only problem. Jump ahead in time a little, and Alan is running for president. A billionaire named Wendell Logan is funding his entire campaign, and he'll stop at no costs to keep Alan's skeleton in the closet, making sure it never sees the light of day.
I feel that lately I've been reading a lot of books that either take place in Pennsylvania or were written by authors that live in Pennsylvania. Kinda cool, considering that when I choose to read those books I'm not aware of that fact. It was neat to see some towns mentioned in this novel that I'm familiar with.
I enjoy fast paced thrillers, and while I wouldn't really consider Skeleton Run to be that exhilarating, I still enjoyed it. It wasn't that suspenseful and I never really felt "on edge" while reading it, it was more of a "Alan and his friends try to keep their big secret hushed while trouble finds them and they need to figure out what's the best course of action" type of scenario. While it was necessary to tell the story, I felt that the story did jump around a little too much, but that could partially be due to the fact that I have a little more trouble than the average person at keeping track of who's who and what's going on. I did, however, enjoy seeing how the story panned out and whether or not Alan became president of the United Sates.
All in all, I'd say it was a decent read, but not one of my favorites.
Thanks to NetGalley for the review copy. You can read this and other reviews on Devin's Book Hub.
I feel that lately I've been reading a lot of books that either take place in Pennsylvania or were written by authors that live in Pennsylvania. Kinda cool, considering that when I choose to read those books I'm not aware of that fact. It was neat to see some towns mentioned in this novel that I'm familiar with.
I enjoy fast paced thrillers, and while I wouldn't really consider Skeleton Run to be that exhilarating, I still enjoyed it. It wasn't that suspenseful and I never really felt "on edge" while reading it, it was more of a "Alan and his friends try to keep their big secret hushed while trouble finds them and they need to figure out what's the best course of action" type of scenario. While it was necessary to tell the story, I felt that the story did jump around a little too much, but that could partially be due to the fact that I have a little more trouble than the average person at keeping track of who's who and what's going on. I did, however, enjoy seeing how the story panned out and whether or not Alan became president of the United Sates.
All in all, I'd say it was a decent read, but not one of my favorites.
Thanks to NetGalley for the review copy. You can read this and other reviews on Devin's Book Hub.
June 21, 2016
This is about how ugly human nature can be — the ‘think of yourself first’ mentality. They were just boys in 1995; freshmen at the University of Vermont. They’d been drinking. It was a bad night with snow and low visibility. They didn’t see the car in front of them until it was too late. One of them checked the driver. Dead. In the back seat, a baby lay snuggled in a car seat in a blanket. It was alive. They left the scene. The baby would be fine. They’d call 911 when they got back to the dorm. Jim Dawson reflected the consequences of reporting themselves, “In the short term, I’d be grounded for sure. But I could imagine how this incident could forever mar my reputation. I’d be one of ‘those boys’ – the drunken teenagers on a joyride who killed a woman.”
Things have a way of coming back on you. Twenty years later, one of the four is dying of AIDS. He calls his friends together while he’s in the hospital. What he admits to them is how the ‘incident’ has continued to haunt him all this time. He didn’t realize when he began talking that the nurse was still present. They all have reputations that could be forever damaged if someone reports them. Jim is a doctor; Bob Krechman is a retired football player; and Al Granger, who has the most to lose, is the Governor of Pennsylvania and considering a Presidential bid.
We see this story from many different angles. We have the boys themselves; their wives and families; the nurse who just happens to know the baby, now grown; and Granger’s backers who have a personal interest in his campaign. The story is told from Jim Dawson’s perspective. He had not even told his wife of their secret until now when the future had become so uncertain. The only aspect that was too unbelievable was that it was built upon coincidence that the nurse knew the man who’d been orphaned. This is an engrossing tale of how these three men will withstand having their reputations destroyed. How far will they go to save those reputations? Rating: 4 out of 5.
Things have a way of coming back on you. Twenty years later, one of the four is dying of AIDS. He calls his friends together while he’s in the hospital. What he admits to them is how the ‘incident’ has continued to haunt him all this time. He didn’t realize when he began talking that the nurse was still present. They all have reputations that could be forever damaged if someone reports them. Jim is a doctor; Bob Krechman is a retired football player; and Al Granger, who has the most to lose, is the Governor of Pennsylvania and considering a Presidential bid.
We see this story from many different angles. We have the boys themselves; their wives and families; the nurse who just happens to know the baby, now grown; and Granger’s backers who have a personal interest in his campaign. The story is told from Jim Dawson’s perspective. He had not even told his wife of their secret until now when the future had become so uncertain. The only aspect that was too unbelievable was that it was built upon coincidence that the nurse knew the man who’d been orphaned. This is an engrossing tale of how these three men will withstand having their reputations destroyed. How far will they go to save those reputations? Rating: 4 out of 5.
June 17, 2015
I love a good thriller. That is exactly what Skeleton Run is. The idea of four young men causing an accident that killed a woman and then leaving a baby still alive on the side of the road just to save themselves is sad. I understand that there is the scare of being charged with a crime, but WOW! It is just wrong. Then these four men had to live with their guilt and secret for the rest of their life. At least until others learned of what had happen.
Watching these men grow up, become successful and finding relationships, while living with the guilt was interesting. As their lives go on, the secret haunts some of them while it seems not to bother others. Some of the characters I felt sorry for, others I wanted to shake and tell them to wake up and take responsibility for what was happening around them. Al was definitely my least favorite. He is exactly what I expect a politician with high expectation of his life to be like. The fact that this drama started and continued with him seemed to make total sense to me. I loved that Dr. Duncan became a pediatrician, I felt like that was making amends to leaving the baby on the side of the road. The others didn’t have as much of a story line, but seemed to feel the guilt and wanted to make things right.
Skeleton Run is not a mystery. John DeBoer let the reader in on the secret from the very beginning and kept us in the loop. I knew who everyone was and what their secrets were. It was a different style of writing and I really enjoyed it. I like being in the know. I recommend Skeleton Run to my fellow thriller readers.
Watching these men grow up, become successful and finding relationships, while living with the guilt was interesting. As their lives go on, the secret haunts some of them while it seems not to bother others. Some of the characters I felt sorry for, others I wanted to shake and tell them to wake up and take responsibility for what was happening around them. Al was definitely my least favorite. He is exactly what I expect a politician with high expectation of his life to be like. The fact that this drama started and continued with him seemed to make total sense to me. I loved that Dr. Duncan became a pediatrician, I felt like that was making amends to leaving the baby on the side of the road. The others didn’t have as much of a story line, but seemed to feel the guilt and wanted to make things right.
Skeleton Run is not a mystery. John DeBoer let the reader in on the secret from the very beginning and kept us in the loop. I knew who everyone was and what their secrets were. It was a different style of writing and I really enjoyed it. I like being in the know. I recommend Skeleton Run to my fellow thriller readers.
March 3, 2016
I’m not usually one for reading books like this, but the summary really intrigued me, so I wanted to pick it up.
As soon as I read the first chapter, it had me hooked. As the book progressed it became increasingly interesting to hear about each characters’ perspective and situation. There were some characters, such as the Grangers, that I grew to dislike the more I read about them, but aside from that I generally liked most of the characters.
I felt particularly drawn towards the Dawsons (Jim and Michelle), and grew emotionally attached to their situation. The only gripe I had with Jim Dawson was that, towards the end of the book, he made a decision that seemed unbelievable to me, as I don’t think anyone would make a life or death decision like that so easily or willingly.
The book delved into a few medical concepts; it was clear that the author had a lot of knowledge and experience in this field. I also enjoyed how the book dealt with some difficult circumstances when it comes to some medical conditions, as well as how the characters felt about it and how they dealt with it.
Ultimately, the story was very well-written, and generally its pace was steady, apart from a few pacing issues during the middle, as I sometimes I felt the political proceedings were overly drawn out, and some scenes seemed slower than the overall pace of the book. Even with these and other issues previously mentioned, I still thoroughly enjoyed the book, and liked how it always had you on the edge of your seat. I thoroughly recommend it to other people who enjoy this genre.
As soon as I read the first chapter, it had me hooked. As the book progressed it became increasingly interesting to hear about each characters’ perspective and situation. There were some characters, such as the Grangers, that I grew to dislike the more I read about them, but aside from that I generally liked most of the characters.
I felt particularly drawn towards the Dawsons (Jim and Michelle), and grew emotionally attached to their situation. The only gripe I had with Jim Dawson was that, towards the end of the book, he made a decision that seemed unbelievable to me, as I don’t think anyone would make a life or death decision like that so easily or willingly.
The book delved into a few medical concepts; it was clear that the author had a lot of knowledge and experience in this field. I also enjoyed how the book dealt with some difficult circumstances when it comes to some medical conditions, as well as how the characters felt about it and how they dealt with it.
Ultimately, the story was very well-written, and generally its pace was steady, apart from a few pacing issues during the middle, as I sometimes I felt the political proceedings were overly drawn out, and some scenes seemed slower than the overall pace of the book. Even with these and other issues previously mentioned, I still thoroughly enjoyed the book, and liked how it always had you on the edge of your seat. I thoroughly recommend it to other people who enjoy this genre.
January 23, 2016
**I received a copy of this book in exchange for a review**
In Skeleton Run, John DeBoer patiently weaves a tale of truth, lies, ambitions and consequences. Other reviews have summarized the story well. The strength of this story is the storytelling. Mr. DeBoer does not rush the story but patiently lets it unfold in front of the reader’s eyes. From the first moment to the last, characters steal control from each other, keeping the reader cheering for their favorites but doubting who is really in control and where the story will go.
The characters are painted with a brush of humanity—a melding of selfish and generous, honest and deceitful, loving and hateful. No one is wholly good or innocent, evil or guilty (well, almost no one). These complex characters differentiate Skeleton Run from other thrillers with one-dimensional characters who only have one job in a story. I enjoyed all the characters…even the ones I was supposed to hate!
Fans of plot-based, psychological thrillers will enjoy this complex story while fans of more action-based thrillers may find the pacing of this story slow. Skeleton Run with well written, well edited and a hell of a good read. Worth 4 1/2 stars.
In Skeleton Run, John DeBoer patiently weaves a tale of truth, lies, ambitions and consequences. Other reviews have summarized the story well. The strength of this story is the storytelling. Mr. DeBoer does not rush the story but patiently lets it unfold in front of the reader’s eyes. From the first moment to the last, characters steal control from each other, keeping the reader cheering for their favorites but doubting who is really in control and where the story will go.
The characters are painted with a brush of humanity—a melding of selfish and generous, honest and deceitful, loving and hateful. No one is wholly good or innocent, evil or guilty (well, almost no one). These complex characters differentiate Skeleton Run from other thrillers with one-dimensional characters who only have one job in a story. I enjoyed all the characters…even the ones I was supposed to hate!
Fans of plot-based, psychological thrillers will enjoy this complex story while fans of more action-based thrillers may find the pacing of this story slow. Skeleton Run with well written, well edited and a hell of a good read. Worth 4 1/2 stars.
October 14, 2015
Skeleton Run by John L. DeBoer
Twenty years ago four young men are in a car accident. They leave the scene and a baby behind. They kept this secret fearing it would ruin their lives. When one of the four falls deathly ill the secret is discovered by someone. Soon they are blackmailed, and their futures and lives are in jeopardy. Add to it that one of the four is a Pennsylvania Governor, who has the most to lose.
The friends are carrying a deep secret. Each one handles it in their own way. Guilt and unforgettable tragedy is not easy to overcome, they find out the hard way. The plot is original, very intense with dramatic moments, psychological suspense and danger. For every action there are consequence, and some become unthinkable, for everyone has a "skeleton" they are hiding.
I highly recommend Skeleton Run to those who love a great psychological thriller. A definite five-star read!
Twenty years ago four young men are in a car accident. They leave the scene and a baby behind. They kept this secret fearing it would ruin their lives. When one of the four falls deathly ill the secret is discovered by someone. Soon they are blackmailed, and their futures and lives are in jeopardy. Add to it that one of the four is a Pennsylvania Governor, who has the most to lose.
The friends are carrying a deep secret. Each one handles it in their own way. Guilt and unforgettable tragedy is not easy to overcome, they find out the hard way. The plot is original, very intense with dramatic moments, psychological suspense and danger. For every action there are consequence, and some become unthinkable, for everyone has a "skeleton" they are hiding.
I highly recommend Skeleton Run to those who love a great psychological thriller. A definite five-star read!
July 5, 2015
There are a couple of major themes that run through Skeleton Run. The first and most obvious, how skeletons in the closet can come back to haunt you. While many of us made mistakes when we were young and stupid, I trust few of us have skeletons as serious as the boys in this book. The other theme is money in politics, specifically by looking at what might go wrong with allowing the rich and powerful to have few restraints on political donations in the wake of the US Supreme Court's Citizen's United decision. The result is a fast-paced thriller with some entertaining twists, including an interesting way of tying the initial thread of the accident and the baby left behind to the more current timeline and political intrigue. Thriller fans will find Skeleton Run to be an intense, satisfying read.
**Originally written for "Books and Pals" book blog. May have received a free review copy. **
**Originally written for "Books and Pals" book blog. May have received a free review copy. **
June 15, 2015
This fast paced page turning thriller starts twenty years in the past, when a group of four college boys are involved in a horrific accident and choose to drive away from the scene of the crime. Still haunted by the incident, twenty-two years later when the four have become men who have much to lose a tragic reunion results in blackmail and to make things more complicated, others who have much to lose through them will do anything they can their own interests.
A compelling read combining personal tragedy with political intrigue, easy to follow even given my limited insight into American politics and keeps you hooked to finish this book in one sitting. The characters are well developed and the malevolence of the self-serving billionaire tycoon antagonist is chilling to boot. So clear your schedule for this relentless thriller.
A compelling read combining personal tragedy with political intrigue, easy to follow even given my limited insight into American politics and keeps you hooked to finish this book in one sitting. The characters are well developed and the malevolence of the self-serving billionaire tycoon antagonist is chilling to boot. So clear your schedule for this relentless thriller.
May 25, 2016
A thriller full of intrigue and emotion, Skeleton Run by John L. DeBoer is riveting from start to
As with many popular thrillers, the plot of Skeleton Run deals with the handling of a secret involving reckless teens and the power the hiding of said secret holds over them as they navigate through life. Unfortunately for the four boys in the book, someone finds out about their little secret and begins to blackmail them.
The kicker is, one of these boys is now Alan Granger, the man. A governor with White House aspirations, he is possibly most affected by this blackmailing. What follows is a tale of suspense of the propensity of keeping secrets and the underpinnings of sometimes shady politics. The author has crafted a great story that is at once insightful and entertaining. Check it out!
Like this review? Read more like it at www.readingotherpeople.com
As with many popular thrillers, the plot of Skeleton Run deals with the handling of a secret involving reckless teens and the power the hiding of said secret holds over them as they navigate through life. Unfortunately for the four boys in the book, someone finds out about their little secret and begins to blackmail them.
The kicker is, one of these boys is now Alan Granger, the man. A governor with White House aspirations, he is possibly most affected by this blackmailing. What follows is a tale of suspense of the propensity of keeping secrets and the underpinnings of sometimes shady politics. The author has crafted a great story that is at once insightful and entertaining. Check it out!
Like this review? Read more like it at www.readingotherpeople.com
January 29, 2016
It started out like many books/lifetime channel movies: 4 boys have an accident that results in the death of a woman and they leave her baby, who is ok, in the car in winter (they call 911 later to make sure baby is found). As adults, they are successful as a pediatrician, a pro-NFler, and a Governor of PA - the 4th wants to discuss the accident as he's dying of AIDS, and a nurse overhears enough to subsequently blackmail them - she figures it out because that baby is her fiancée. However, there were a couple of outside twists that kept the book interesting and intriguing. When an accident that couldn't have been an accident kills one couple, some people start putting things together and the heat is on. I enjoyed it more as it progressed away from the same old story.
June 22, 2015
I was given an ARC by Netgalley in return for an honest review.
I enjoyed reading this book which showed how mistakes in the past can affect you in the present and future. It was well written and kept me engaged so that I wanted to turn the page to find out what happened next. The action built up slowly to a good finale.
I have given this book 4 stars because I enjoyed this political thriller but felt that the plot was was similar to other books I have read in the past. Having said that I would certainly recommend it to others as a good read and look forward to other books written by John DeBoer.
I enjoyed reading this book which showed how mistakes in the past can affect you in the present and future. It was well written and kept me engaged so that I wanted to turn the page to find out what happened next. The action built up slowly to a good finale.
I have given this book 4 stars because I enjoyed this political thriller but felt that the plot was was similar to other books I have read in the past. Having said that I would certainly recommend it to others as a good read and look forward to other books written by John DeBoer.
November 7, 2015
4 friends get in a car accident on a snowy road killing a young mother and leaving her young son stranded. Not only do they have to live with the memory of their mistake but 20 years later they really pay the consequences. One of the men has political aspirations and the secret is bound to get out. Someone else is using the secret to blackmail them. One couple is even murdered. Can they figure out how to stop the damage before anyone else dies? A well written, edge of your seat thriller. I found this book very hard to put down.
* I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review
* I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review
June 25, 2015
Review: SKELETON RUN by John DeBoer
A page-turning suspense thriller focusing on how actions (and crimes, and ugly secrets) from the past can overshadow, and even derail, the present and the future, SKELETON RUN is engrossing. This is the first book by this author I've read, and definitely an encouragement to read more. Mr. DeBoer is an intriguing writer, weaving many seemingly disparate threads into one coherent, fascinating, tapestry.
A page-turning suspense thriller focusing on how actions (and crimes, and ugly secrets) from the past can overshadow, and even derail, the present and the future, SKELETON RUN is engrossing. This is the first book by this author I've read, and definitely an encouragement to read more. Mr. DeBoer is an intriguing writer, weaving many seemingly disparate threads into one coherent, fascinating, tapestry.
September 27, 2015
Nicely paced
I liked this book from the start. The characters were fleshed out just enough to keep your interest in the story.
I liked this book from the start. The characters were fleshed out just enough to keep your interest in the story.
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