The Runaway Man

New Zealander author Kelley Tantau’s debut novel - The Runaway Man (2023) is an interesting tale of a young man on the run, camping in a National Park. Nick arrives at the town of Quince in the early morning to enter his former home, setting off a police investigation. Local detective Abbott is lethargic about his job and is accused of lacking interest in finding the missing man. When a dead body is discovered in the woods, police flood into the town to investigate, pressuring Abbott to find Nick. Fleeing to a larger town, Nick makes a friend and enjoys his anonymity before the police find him. An enjoyable tale with a bleakish narrative feel that is heavily character-focused and a four stars read rating. It’s a study of how far you can run to escape your life and not be bound by the past. With thanks to Cranthorpe Millner Publishers Publishing and the author, for an uncorrected advanced review copy for review purposes. As always, the opinions herein are totally my own, freely given and without inducement.

The Runaway Man by New Zealand author Kelley Tantau was a book that impressed me more and more as I read it.

We meet 24 year-old Nick Greene in a forest park in New Zealand ,where he's living after having run away from home, why we don't know but he's a troubled young man. His solitude is interrupted by an unwelcome interloper, a fisherman who objects to Nick being on "his" part of the river. Things go badly and Nick has to leave his natural idyll and head for a nearby city and a less than salubrious bolthole.

Looking for Nick is his small hometown's burnt-out detective,a man still haunted by letting down another suspected runaway in 1997.

This is a tale of damaged people whose stories are gradually revealed as the book progresses. There's not much sunshine in the book with most of the characters kicked in the teeth by life in various ways. The author has an amazing writing style painting word pictures not only of the locations but the inner turmoil of her ,mostly flawed, characters.
It's not a fast-moving story .a lot of it goes on in the heads of its characters but if,like me, you're a fan of excellent writing over thrill a minute action you'll really appreciate this.
Outstanding.

Kelley Tantau's debut novel, The Runaway Man, takes readers on a captivating journey into the heart of New Zealand's wilderness as we follow the troubled young man, Nick Greene, on his quest for escape and redemption. The story unfolds in the serene town of Quince, where Nick seeks solace in nature, only to have his solitude shattered by an altercation with a fisherman. As a police investigation ensues, we meet Detective Abbott, a world-weary investigator haunted by a past failure. Tantau's writing style is captivating, focusing on character depth and psychological exploration, creating a bleak yet enthralling narrative. The novel explores themes of escape and the enduring grip of the past, making it a must-read for those who appreciate exceptional writing and profound character development.

This debut novel is unique. It's part crime/thriller and part psychological character study.

Set in New Zealand the story is about a young man, Nick Greene, who has gone missing from the small town of Quince.
We meet him living in parkland, fishing to survive. Why has he walked out of medical school and his life to live in isolation? What secrets from his past are haunting him?

The novel asks whether we can truly start again without being caught by past mistakes or forgetting the actions of others. Who are we and what can we become?
What happens to those left behind?

Nick's new survivalist situation changes after a chance meeting with a fisherman has consequences that put him on the run to the city of Abercrombie where he hopes to start over.

Detective Abbott is on the case before it escalates into a full manhunt. He needs to prove to his superiors but more importantly himself that he can get the job done and bring Nick back home safely.
Abbott's past is another driving part of the tale as we find out about a missing child's case from years previously that affects him to this day.

The gradual revelations from Nick's and Abbott's lives and the people they meet add to a slow burn thriller that's highly emotional and makes great use of the landscape and setting.

It's very well written and an immersive story with a satisfactory ending that can also be open to interpretation.
A recommended read.

Nick Greene flees the life he’s known in exchange for peace in his quaint town’s rugged forest park, but when a curious fisherman foils his tranquillity, Nick’s missing person's case turns into a manhunt.

This was really good. I wasn't sure what to expect, but it really kept me entertained.