Rating: 
Summary: Horrible
Review: Don't read this book just because you liked Numbered Account. Numbered Account was excellent, this is anything but. I had to force myself to read the last 200 pages. I still don't know where the climax is. Horrible book. I hope he does better next time.
Rating: 
Summary: "THE RUNNER" AGAIN PROVES THE RISE OF THIS REICH
Review: HAVING BEEN FIRST INTRODUCED TO THIS AWESOME TALENT BY HIS BREAKTHROUGH THRLLER, "NUMBERED ACCOUNT", I EAGERLY AWAITED SOMETHING - ANYTHING NEW FROM THIS MODERN MASTER. "THE RUNNER" DOES NOT DISAPPOINT. ONCE AGAIN THE CHARACTERS ARE VIVID, THE WORLD SO REAL YOU CAN SMELL IT, AND THE PLOT WORTHY OF HIS SPIRITUAL FATHER, LE CARRE. I DON'T WANT TO GIVE AWAY ANY OF THE STORY, BUT TRUST ME YOU WILL READ IT IN ONE SITTING. I DEFY YOU TO PUT THIS BOOK DOWN.
Rating:
Summary: Another wonderful thriller by a promising author
Review: Having greatly enjoyed Reich's debut novel Numbered Account, I really looked forward to his next one. Although I had some doubts when I read that it involved a story about an American hunting a former SS-officer right after World War II, I couldn't resist. But I shouldn't have worried! The story is extremely captivating and especially the backdrop of the summer of 1945 provides a very interesting setting. The story is about an American lawyer, Devlin Judge, who decides to hunt down the SS-officer that killed his brother, Erich Seyss. Seyss is a former Olympian runner (which is not really relevant for the story) and also a master in impersonating the enemy (which is more interesting and proves instrumental in some interesting turns of events). Since Seyss just escaped, the story quickly turns into a cat-and-mouse game with a real conspiracy and a very interesting interpretation of Patton's actions!Having read some of the reviews listed below, I am a bit surprised by some of them. Why do readers get so worked up by some minor factual errors that are not relevant for the story? Do they read a book to catch the writer in some mistakes, rather than enjoying the story? And, being a European, it is amusing to see how Americans get all upset since they feel that the memory of one of America's great hero's (Patton) gets soiled, while other readers feel the book is anti-German. Actually, Reich explained how Patton's actions in the book are based on real facts (okay, the story is fiction, but hadn't you noticed that?)and the book is overall quite neutral about either Americans, Germans or Russians. All groups contain both good and bad people; it is almost like real life! Devlin Judge is a very enjoyable protagonist. One with a mission, a conscience, but also with doubts, self criticism and able to make mistakes. So, if you enjoy a good thriller with a very likable and believable hero, read this one!
Rating: 
Summary: Excellent post WWII novel
Review: I am not a WWII buff like my husband, but read this book because it was available. I highly recommened it as it is set immediately after WWII as Berlin is being divided among the Allies. The post-war conditions of Germany were written in such vivid detail, I felt as if I was reading non-fiction. Immensely accurate and a great read. Characters are well developed. Gave it 4 stars just because it's not my favorite genre. Passed it on to my mother-in-law to read. Interesting book.
Rating:
Summary: A Rip Roaring Ride Through Post WWII Germany
Review: I found this novel to be extremely entertaining and informative. Reich writes persuavively and knowingly about the murky and volatile era that followed the closing of hostilities of the Second WAr. I always like manhunts..when there are plenty of twists and Reich serves up a bunch of them. The story was believable and teh characters were all well rounded, especially the White Lion, Erich Seyss. All in all, I can say I truly enjoyed this work.
Rating:
Summary: I COULD NOT PUT THIS BOOK DOWN
Review: I GOT MY COPY OF THE RUNNER YESTERDAY AND JUST FINISHED READING IT THIS MORNING. IT WAS AN EXCELLENT READ, FAST PACED YET INTRICATE PLOT WITH GREAT CHARACTERS. I WAS HAPPY THAT THE MAIN FEMALE CHARACTER WAS NOT JUST ANOTHER DAMSEL IN DISTRESS. LOVED THE USE OF HISTORICAL FIGURES WHICH LEAD THE STORY MORE CREDIBILITY AND CAME AWAY WITH A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF THE TIME BETWEEN THE END OF WWII AND THE BEGINNING OF THE COLD WAR. BRAVO REICH - WISH I HADN'T READ IT SO QUICKLY - IT'LL BE TOUGH TO FIND SOMETHING THIS GOOD AGAIN!
Rating:
Summary: Engrossing and Totally Great!
Review: I loved Reich's first book, Numbered Account, and rushed out to buy the Runner when I heard it was in stores. Though the subject matter is totally different than the first, it was equally great. I found myself lost in the story, feeling like I was really back in Germany in 1945. Eek! It gives me shivers just thinking about it. I loved Judge and SEyss, the SS officer, too. He was pure evil. My only disappointment was that the story wasn't long enough. I want to know what happened to Judge adn Ingrid after the last shot was fired. Please, Mr. Reich, a sequel?
Rating: 
Summary: Easily the worst book I've read in years
Review: I picked up this book while on vacation because I absolutely needed something to read and pass away those hours one inevitably spends waiting in airport lounges and the like. In any event my expectations were fairly low to begin with but this piece of trashy fiction even managed to fall below those. The plot is completely improbable and reads more like a poor attempt at a second-rate screen play than a stab at writing something that might belong to the genre "literature" or even "fiction". The German language used is riddled with errors of spelling and syntax and led me to ask myself, on more than one occassion, whether Reich really knows what the hell he's talking about. One can practically see the end coming a mile away and I had to literally force myself to not put down this book in sheer boredom during what was suppossed to be the really big and suspenseful build-up to the last scene. The characters lack any real depth, despite Reich's repeated attempts to go into some detail in regard to their respective pasts. Basically I am thinking that if this sort of thing is typical of Reich, then he can join the parking lots full of contemporary (and predominantly American) writers who are churning out such large amounts of unreadable garbage these days, and who would better serve this world by putting down their pens forever. With guys like Grisham, Clancy, Crichton and Alex Garland, he will be in the best of company. I mean for God's sake boys, the Malaysian rainforests could use a break. Somebody pass me the latest Le Carre novel, at least THAT man knows what he's talking about and writes English like it's his first language. Simon Lacey currently roaming free in Santiago de Chile
Rating: 
Summary: Mediocre
Review: I thought Reich handled the immediate aftermath of WWII in Europe very well. I can see in my mind all the pictures he painted of the results of the Great War. However, I was distressed with his handling of General Patton! Patton may have been a military martinet but he would never be a traitor against the US & conspire to kill a president. Reich may have spent too much time in Switzerland & become enamored of the Germans!
Rating:
Summary: Reich Does It Again
Review: I was first introduced to Christopher Reich when I saw him on a morning talk show touting his first book, Numbered Account. I was immediately interested because it was a thriller involving money laundering in Swiss bank accounts. The thing that interested me was that Reich lived in Switzerland for a time so his descriptions of Europe would be first-hand. In his second book, Reich takes us on a tour of post-war Germany. His research is excellent combining actual historical facts with fiction. Sometimes he's so good that I actually get the two confused and start believing that what he has fictionalized is actually true. In this cat and mouse chase, the cat eventually becomes the mouse as Devlin Judge, in his persuit of "The White Lion", Erich Seuss, eventually becomes the hunted. Seuss was responsible for a wartime massacre that killed Judge's brother, a priest and Judge is out to avenge his murder. My only complaint about this book is that Judge is a mediocre protagonist and even when he comes upon his prey, he can't capitalize on it. He is also the worst shot in any of the books I've read. Reich remains one of those authors whose books I will buy the day they are introduced and will read immediately. For those of you who are lovers of Nelson DeMille or my other two favorites, Douglas Kennedy and John Gilstrap, this is a book along those lines.
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