Runner 13

A Thriller

By: Amy McCulloch

Narrated by: Jill Winternit, Sarah Durham

An exhilarating thriller set against a 250-mile foot race in the Sahara Desert, where more than one ultramarathoner will be running for their lives

Seven years ago, Adri left the running world after a major scandal. She leveled an explosive, and as it turns out career-ending, accusation at one of the world’s most celebrated coaches—and then he died suddenly. Now, after years away from the limelight, she’s ready to race again. Adri is hungry for a challenge, and she’s picked one of the toughest events imaginable: a 250-mile trek through the Sahara Desert organized by a mysterious and famously sadistic race director. It will be a true test of her will and her stamina, proof that after all these years, she can still do it. But she’s also there to get closure on the mysteries that cloud her past. Was her family targeted by one of her coach’s defenders? Was his death due to natural causes?

Adri is determined to finish the race and to find the answers to these long-buried questions. But clarity is hard to come by out in the Sahara’s extreme conditions. And as a number of runners start dropping out, some from the heat and others under more mysterious circumstances, it becomes clear that there’s someone out there in the desert trying to stop anyone from winning—by any means necessary.

Critic reviews

One of Rakuten Kobo 's Best in Mystery for 2025

“The most tense, gripping and breathless novel I’ve read in a very long time. With more terrifying twists and turns than a mountain ultramarathon, I already predict it’ll be the thriller of the year.”
—Tim Lebbon, New York Times bestselling author of The Silence

"Amy McCulloch does it again! Runner 13 is an absolute scorcher of a thriller that examines the lengths we are willing to push ourselves for what's right. Each chapter left me out of breath and desperate to learn what would happen next. Reading this book was a race to the very last page. All in all, Runner 13 proves that no one does an adventure thriller quite like Amy McCulloch.
—Sarah Ochs, author of The Resort

"McCulloch's firsthand experience of ultra running shines through every page. I felt like I was there! A fast-paced adventure thriller that will get your pulse racing. Not to be missed."
—Lucy Clarke, author of The Hike

"Brilliantly atmospheric and with relentless pace, Runner 13 is one of the most propulsive adventure thrillers I’ve read. It will leave you gasping for breath. I loved it!"
—Liv Matthews, author of To Love a Liar

"Utterly breathtaking—absolutely loved it. Amy's best yet."
—Catherine Cooper, author of The Island

Unstoppable. Unputdownable.

The characters, who are elite marathon runners or their families or friends or enemies, are strong and interesting. This thriller gives an insight into the physical and emotional aspects of elite and endurance running athletes. Fortunately, we don’t have insane people running our marathons or at least in the vein of murderous and plotting competitors. I think. 🤨. The marathon is in one of the toughest spots in the world…the Sahara désert. This was a true thriller.

Summer thriller I was waiting for

From the set up of an ultramarathon to the mysteries intertwined in the story. I seriously enjoyed this and my new favorite by this author.

Unique thriller for ultra marathon geeks

There was a lot of suspense and I loved to keep guessing throughout. But the ending felt forced and unresolved. It sent to drag on pointlessly. The low review for the performance of because the voice of Adrianne would "whisper"so literally I couldn't make out a single word. I listen on my commute in a loud car so it was extremely difficult to hear. Weirdly the whispering happened throughout the entire book. I was entertained and listened until the end, so that's a win.