Beijing detective Li Yan is back in China along with his fiancée, retired American pathologist Margaret Campbell. They are expecting their first child and Li is faced with a troubling case of many Chinese athletics having unexpected deaths. Li asks his fiancée Margaret to come out of retirement and assist with the autopsies. While trying to solve the mysterious deaths of the Chinese athletes, he is faced with a decision that either way will plague him for the rest of his life.

The Chinese Thrillers series is one of the more enjoyable mystery series written by Peter May. Li Yan and Margaret Campbell’s characters continue to grow with each novel. The addition of extended family members, like Li’s father and Margaret’s mother, in The Runner allow for deeper insight into the main characters. The plot is not one that is easily solved. There is an interesting and historical twist to whodunit. The plot is well developed.

The ending certainly left readers wanting the next novel in the series. This reader feels that a major decision left unresolved should have been resolved in The Runner. Having that resolution would not take away from wanting to continue on with the Chinese Thrillers series.