Death at a Distance
An Erick Anderssen Novel
by Mark A. Nystuen
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Pub Date Sep 02 2014 | Archive Date Sep 02 2014
Greenleaf Book Group | River Grove Books
Description
RUNNING A MARATHON IS TOUGH ENOUGH. IT’S EVEN HARDER TO OUTRUN DEATH.
Erick Anderssen is the best-selling author of a series of how-to books for baby boomers seeking inner knowledge and strong thighs. Now Erick’s next book is due, and his agent, for mysterious reasons, is pushing hard for him to write about the experience of training to run the GrandHotel Chicago Marathon—where his egotistical ex-wife is the race director. But before he can even begin work on the book, a shocking and violent death derails his research.
Before he knows it, Erick is racing to uncover the secrets of the marathon—all while fending off assaults, bomb threats, international fraud, and strange disappearances. Along the way, Erick encounters a wide and fascinating cast of characters—fading Olympians, international singing sensations, aggressive Chicago cops, and a photographer who he believes is hiding a terrible secret—running steadily toward what may be a tragic outcome at the finish line.
In his debut novel, Death at a Distance, long-time Chicagoan Mark A. Nystuen, whose twelve-year leadership helped the LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon become one of the largest participatory sporting events in the world, gives readers a vivid, local’s-eye view of contemporary Chicago—its politics, its world-class food scene, and its history—as well as a behind-the-scenes look at the personality clashes, compromises, and conflicts involved in running—or running in—one of the largest marathons in the world.
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Available Editions
| EDITION | Paperback |
| ISBN | 9781938416828 |
| PRICE | $17.95 (USD) |
Featured Reviews
Linda R, Reviewer
This is a wonderful first in a series that brings Chicago to life and if you are a runner you will like it even more. It will keep you reading until and the last page and have you eagerly awaiting the return of Erik Anderssen.
Lee M, Librarian
I really liked this book, found the lead character Erick Anderssen really interesting, loved the background of Chicago, a place I have always wanted to visit, liked the fact that Erick had a dog which made him very human.
Great story, characters were good, book flowed really well and a twist at the end, what more could you want!
Christine T, Reviewer
I would like to thank Net Galley and River Grove Books for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
Death at a Distance was a pleasant surprise from debut author Mark Nystuen. It was a very enjoyable read. I would describe it as a white-collar crime story turned deadly. Though murder is involved, there is no gore or gruesomeness. There is a touch of dry wit. There is also a romantic thread, which is sweet, but not that distracting and not graphic at all. With that description, one might think this is a ho-hum, run-of-the-mill cozy mystery. I found it otherwise.
What really makes this tale a gem is its setting which is in the months-long preparation and running of the Chicago Marathon. All the work and time that goes into organizing an elite marathon is brought out in this narrative; I found this just fascinating! Mr. Nystuen had a nearly 30-year career at one of the Midwest's largest banks, located in Chicago, and he was the creator of the bank's sports marketing business, according to his biography at the end of the book. While in this position, he spent over a dozen years as chief of the organization, marketing and operation of the Chicago Marathon. Therefore, he is obviously highly qualified to describe all the back scenery of this event. He also clues us in on the making of a marathon runner and what one goes through in order to finish a grueling 26.2 race, both before and during the run.
There were several other aspects of the novel that I liked. One of the main characters is an international recording star. What these famous types sacrifice and go through for security purposes is interesting and well conveyed. Without giving anything away, the story also reminds us that we really don't know our friends as well as we might think (and this is so true). The author kept me guessing; the twists were surprising. Finally, I found the ending unconventional; everything was wrapped up (we are not talking cliffhanger here), but you will see what I mean when you read the book.
What didn't I like? It took some time to get engaged with the story; at first I didn't have a handle on what the crime was. But once the setup was complete, the book really took off for me, and I grabbed my iPad every free chance I had.
I recommend Death at a Distance to anyone who enjoys a good mystery, especially those who have even a slight interest in what it takes to put on and run a marathon. I am hoping to see more works from Mr. Nystuen in the future.
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