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The Runner and the Robber
What happens when a crook suffers from Alzheimer’s disease and forgets where he buried three million dollars? Bill Taylor, rising track star in Florida, is forced to live in western New York when his father dies. Unable to participate in sports and hating his new school, he is jogging home from school when he is accosted by an ex-con who demands his cut of the money. Bill’s reaction? What money? How?Working with Sarah, the girlfriend of a possessive football star at the new school, Bill unravels the mystery behind a Brinks robbery twenty years before. Along the way three people are murdered and Bill is used and abused by the mob. At least he is no longer complaining about his new home and school. Now all he has to worry about is keeping Sarah and him alive.
274 pages, Paperback
First published May 28, 2015
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About the author
Robert Sells
6 books183 followersShort Biography for Robert Sells
I attended college at Ohio Wesleyan where I struggled with physics. Having made so many mistakes in college with physics, there weren’t too many left to make and I did quite well at graduate school at Purdue.
I worked for nearly twenty years at Choate Rosemary Hall, an exclusive boarding school in the heart of Connecticut. More often than not, students arrived in limousines. There was a wooded area by the upper athletic fields where I would take my children for a walk. There, under a large oak tree, stories about the elves would be weaved into the surrounding forest.
Returning to my home town to help with a father struggling with Alzheimer’s, the only job open was at a prison. There I taught an entirely different clientele whose only interaction with limousines was stealing them. A year later Alfred State College hired me to teach physics. I happily taught there for over ten years. A rural, low income high school needed a physics teacher and the superintendent, a friend, begged me to help out. So, I am finishing my teaching career in a most fulfilling way… helping kids who would otherwise not have access to a qualified physics (and math) teacher.
My wife pestered me about putting to “pen” some of the stories which I had created for the children and other relatives. I started thinking about a young boy and a white deer, connected, yet apart. Ideas were shuffled together, characters created and the result was the Return of the White Deer. This book was published by the Martin Sisters.
Years ago I gave a lecture on evolution. What, I wondered, would be the next step? Right away I realized that silicon ‘life’ had considerable advantages over mortal man. Later this idea emerged as the exciting and disturbing story called Reap the Whirlwind, my most recent novel.
I have many other stories inside my mind, fermenting, patiently waiting for the pen to give them breath. Perhaps someday I will even write about those elves which still inhabit the woods in the heart of Connecticut.
I attended college at Ohio Wesleyan where I struggled with physics. Having made so many mistakes in college with physics, there weren’t too many left to make and I did quite well at graduate school at Purdue.
I worked for nearly twenty years at Choate Rosemary Hall, an exclusive boarding school in the heart of Connecticut. More often than not, students arrived in limousines. There was a wooded area by the upper athletic fields where I would take my children for a walk. There, under a large oak tree, stories about the elves would be weaved into the surrounding forest.
Returning to my home town to help with a father struggling with Alzheimer’s, the only job open was at a prison. There I taught an entirely different clientele whose only interaction with limousines was stealing them. A year later Alfred State College hired me to teach physics. I happily taught there for over ten years. A rural, low income high school needed a physics teacher and the superintendent, a friend, begged me to help out. So, I am finishing my teaching career in a most fulfilling way… helping kids who would otherwise not have access to a qualified physics (and math) teacher.
My wife pestered me about putting to “pen” some of the stories which I had created for the children and other relatives. I started thinking about a young boy and a white deer, connected, yet apart. Ideas were shuffled together, characters created and the result was the Return of the White Deer. This book was published by the Martin Sisters.
Years ago I gave a lecture on evolution. What, I wondered, would be the next step? Right away I realized that silicon ‘life’ had considerable advantages over mortal man. Later this idea emerged as the exciting and disturbing story called Reap the Whirlwind, my most recent novel.
I have many other stories inside my mind, fermenting, patiently waiting for the pen to give them breath. Perhaps someday I will even write about those elves which still inhabit the woods in the heart of Connecticut.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
January 29, 2016
“The Runner and the Robber” by Robert Sells is a young adult story that centers around William (Bill) Taylor, who has moved with his widowed mom to New York so they can take care of his paternal grandfather, who has Alzheimer’s. A high school junior, Bill has not really made any friends except for an eighth-grader, so he is startled when his chemistry partner, Sarah, gradually starts insinuating herself into his life. A mystery involving a decades-old crime seems to snowball and Bill finds himself driven to solve it, not least due to Sarah’s interest. Unfortunately, there are others interested in the case, and the danger escalates until it becomes apparent that Bill has more friends than he realizes—and he’s going to need help from almost all of them!
There are quite a few themes addressed in this young adult mystery story, including the trauma of dealing with a parental death, the challenges presented by the costs of extensive medical care, the difficulties and sacrifices inherent in caring for an Alzheimer’s sufferer, teen angst and new love, and, oh yes, the dangers of trying to solve a crime that involves REALLY dangerous folks!
The story starts a little slowly and gradually gets more and more outrageous, but I think that adds to its charm. Watching the blossoming of young love mixed with the challenges of being the new kid at school is heartwarming, as is the obvious love that accompanies the sacrifices to care for Bill’s grandfather. Bill is a guy with hidden talents, as becomes apparent while the story unfolds and I love his humility and tenacity. The surprising connections to unsavory individuals and the unexpected ethical challenges that are faced provide a thought-provoking story while the mounting tension and exciting situations that lead up to the climax keep one enthralled until the final feel-good ending. Unfortunately, there were some editing issues which got a little distracting at times, but the overall story was entertaining and positive.
A copy of this story was provided to me for review
July 7, 2015
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I thought the plot of Billy working with his best friend Sarah to find the mobs money, which Billy's Grandfather with Alzheimer probably knows where it is, before they are killed was intriguing. I thought there was good character development and I enjoyed the development of the relationship between Billy and Sarah. The mystery was good and I kept reading to get the answer. However the pace of the book was a bit slow at times and I had to put the book down and come back to it a few days later. I liked Robert Sells writing style it was descriptive and he writes characters well. If you like mysteries then this is the book for you!
I thought the plot of Billy working with his best friend Sarah to find the mobs money, which Billy's Grandfather with Alzheimer probably knows where it is, before they are killed was intriguing. I thought there was good character development and I enjoyed the development of the relationship between Billy and Sarah. The mystery was good and I kept reading to get the answer. However the pace of the book was a bit slow at times and I had to put the book down and come back to it a few days later. I liked Robert Sells writing style it was descriptive and he writes characters well. If you like mysteries then this is the book for you!
January 30, 2016
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REVIEW BY: Arianna, age 13 years, 1 month
MAY CONTAIN SPOILER:
I absolutely loved the mystery in this book!
My favorite character was Sarah because once she got something into her head, nothing stopped her! She is determined!
My favorite part is when Sarah came up with the romantic idea of Mrs. Patterson and Tom because she is right.
REVIEW BY: Arianna, age 13 years, 1 month
MAY CONTAIN SPOILER:
I absolutely loved the mystery in this book!
My favorite character was Sarah because once she got something into her head, nothing stopped her! She is determined!
My favorite part is when Sarah came up with the romantic idea of Mrs. Patterson and Tom because she is right.
February 23, 2016
A wonderful YA book connecting teen characters with someone with Alzheimer's disease. Full book review will appear later today at Book Readers Heaven...
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews