Dark, tense, and deliciously unsettling

I thoroughly enjoyed every page of “Running with the Devil” — a tense, unsettling mystery that mixes grief, danger, and the occasional flash of pitch-black humour.

The disappearance of Josh is genuinely agonising; it’s not just described, it’s felt. The first Julia and Sam scene had my chest clenching with unease, setting the tone for a story that never quite lets you relax. Reed does an excellent job of layering tension, keeping both the mystery and the emotional stakes front and centre.

While it isn’t technically flawless, I’ll happily take unanswered questions at the end of a gripping thriller over a neat but forgettable one. This book lingers — and I mean that as a compliment.

The dark humour is impeccably timed and very welcome. “It would have been… neater” genuinely made me snort, and Chamberlain’s desk — “It’s new — well, in a way…” — was an inspired, quietly chilling detail.

Moody, compulsive, and emotionally charged, “Running with the Devil” is a mystery-thriller that gets under your skin and stays there.

My thanks to NetGalley and The Book Guild for the ARC of “Running with the Devil”. Much appreciation also to David F Reed for putting me through the wringer — and making it worth it.

There are a few really good eerie moments in this one that may get the hair on the back of your neck to raise.
With that, there are a few holes that seem needless.
Overall they don't take away too much from the story. Good concept.
Just wish it was a bit smoother and more developed.

This is a very tense thriller that is written so well, the reader feels unsettled too. I thoroughly enjoyed this book in all its creepiness!