Dead Girl Running (Cape Charade Book 1)

Dead Girl Running. “Kellen Adams” is the new assistant manager at the Yearning Sands Resort. Her life has been one big strange event, and is going to be even more so over the next few weeks. Kellen remembers her past, knows there are reasons for why she is where she is, except for a HUGE year-long Gap that she had no memories of.
Yearning Sands owners Annie & Max DiLucca have headed out to attend a family holiday gathering leaving Kellen in charge of the resort. Things begin to happen, people are acting strangely, out of the norm, and …Kellen starts remembering events from that ‘missing’ year.
Twists and turns abound, anxious moments, happy and sad, all with fast paced action … Christina Dodd fills the pages with yet more of her trademark style and wit. This is a wonderful read, and looking forward to the next in line books in this series.
I was provided an ARC for a honest review.

Kellen Adams is former military who did multiple tours in Afghanistan. After being honorably discharged, she finds a job as assistant manager at the Yearning Sands resort in the State of Washington. Taking advantage of the winter season and the few guests, the owners of the resort, Annie and Leo Di Luca, go on vacation and leave Kellen in charge. But things don't go as smoothly as expected, as a body turns up, the hotel is involved in the smuggling of artefacts, and Kellen's past is finally catching up with her. And in all of this, Kellen doesn't know who she can't trust.
I liked the character of Kellen, she is smart, determined, and keeps a file in her head of everyone she meets. Although I liked the main character, I couldn't completely get into the story. I think that a few things were revealed too quickly and some questions were left unanswered. Despite this, the plot is dark and still intriguing and there are a few twists that keep you on edge.

Dead Girl Running by Christina Dodd is an intriguing mystery. One that propelled me further into a deadly investigation. Imagine not knowing a year's worth of your life...that would prove hard to live with knowing that the killer could be someone the character knows. Intrigue, suspense, and drama added up as I traveled deeper in this book. My curiosity peaked. Kellen Adams is the main protagonist who is searching for answers to murders when her life is a mystery itself. The plot was engaging. I wanted to follow Kellen Adams everywhere and find out everything. Fear washed over me as I was not sure what would happen as Kellen got closer to her answers. Overall, I found this novel very entertaining. So many possibilities and what ifs...went through my mind as the danger got closer.

I received this copy from the publisher. This is my voluntary review.

Dead Girl Running by Christina Dodd is a gripping, suspenseful mystery. This first installment in the Cape Charade series is a spin-off of the Virtue Falls series and can be read as a standalone.

Kellen Adams is a former Army officer now working as an assistant manager at a guest resort along the Washington Coast. Since business is slow during the dreary winter months, Kellen is in charge while resort owners Annie and Leo Di Luca are on vacation. Things become complicated right away when the remains of the former assistant manager turn up just as the head of security takes a leave of absence. Although Kellen has hired several of her fellow veterans, Birdie Haynes is the only person she feels like she can really trust. When a new round of guests arrive, Kellen is immediately suspicious of Nils Brooks, who claims he is an author doing research for a book he is writing. Is Nils who he says he is? Does his arrival have any connection to the murder of the previous assistant manager?

Kellen has an uncanny ability to immediately size up the people around her and her observations are wry and usually accurate. She hates that she has doubts about the people she implicitly trusted during battle but some of their behavior is eyebrow raising. Kellen has settled into her new job with ease but she is a little uneasy investigating what happened to her predecessor. When Nils takes her into his confidence, she is naturally skeptical of his claims. Kellen warily agrees to work with him after she finds proof that he is most likely telling the truth.

Following a shocking turn of events, the Di Lucas send their nephew Max to aid Kellen in her efforts to figure out what is going on at the resort. Kellen is troubled by her reaction to Max and after his arrival, her fragmented memories of a lost year in her life begin to surface. She is off balance and distressed by her inability to fully comprehend what these flashes of memories mean. Before she can understand how Max fits into her past, the situation at the resort turns dangerous. Unbeknownst to Kellen, her past and her present are about to collide in a shocking and unexpected manner.

With two distinct story arcs, Dead Girl Running is an intriguing mystery. Kellen is a fantastic character who is well-developed and easy to like. She does not let her past dictate her future and with grit and determination, she has (mostly) overcome her somewhat tragic history. The plot is clever but there are a few incredulous twists that are difficult to believe. The investigation into what is going at the resort is well-executed and Christina Dodd does an outstanding job obscuring the perpetrator’s identity. While the main storyline is completely wrapped up, the novel abruptly ends with a cliffhanger that will leave readers eagerly awaiting the next installment in the Cape Charade series.

I received a complimentary copy for review.

Cape Charade #1, The spin-off series of Virtue Falls. I requested this off NetGalley with no expectations of actually getting to read it and was ecstatic when I was approved, so thank you very much HQN (review honestly and voluntarily given). It's been about a decade since I've read Christina Dodd, I enjoyed her historical romances and then she started writing the PNR and I couldn't get into them and missed Virtue Falls but if they are anything like this book I will go back and read them. Dead Girl Running is so chock full of stuff and has so many things going on, the book was addictive. The main character Kellan has a past and it's doozy of a past. She's missing a full year of her life, has a scar from a gunshot high on her forehead, she served in the military but was medically discharged and something so traumatic happen in her early adulthood that it changed who she was. After being discharged from the military Kellan was looking for some place to call home, a sanctuary where she could but her demons behind her and the luxury resort in the middle of nowhere Pacific Northwest seemed like the perfect place.

Because this is the first book of a new series and because Kellan has such an immense past especially since one year is missing from her memory there are flashbacks, quite a bit of them, but they are necessary not just for the story but as character development. As things unfold with the main plot Kellan is reminded of her past and she starts to look at it differently. Not to mention just about everything from her past is coming to slap her in the face and she has no choice but to face them head on. It all starts with the body of a mutilated girl being found on the resort premises, even more discouraging when it is discovered to be a former worker at the resort. Kellan left alone for the first time to manage the resort on her own is left trying to figure out everything. The elderly owners who are on vacation take pity on her and send their great nephew to help out with security, but Kellan finds something about oddly familiar about Max Di Luca.

The romance is secondary to the main plot but is essential to Kellan and her character development. The secondary characters are quirky and fun ranging between a silver screen actor, a stern and almost unlikable guest relations manager, and a handful of veterans Kellan served with in the military. Overall, the main plot was great it kept me guessing and had a few red herrings to lead you astray but the overall book with all the distractions and Kellan not knowing who to trust any more adds to the frustrations of getting to the bottom of the problem. This was a great book and I look forward to reading more from this series.

I like Christina Dodd’s books, they are distracting and entertaining. This book is both, however, her total lack of research into antiquities smuggling, the art trade, and archaeology made reading it somewhat painful. Here are just the major errors. I don’t have time to describe the minor ones.

In the United States we have an multiple investigative and prosecutorial units that pursue art theft, looting, and smuggling. Investigations are undertaken by ICE. Charges are brought and prosecutions made by district attorneys. They may also initiate some investigation. Even if the Monuments Men were revived, they would not be able to investigate within the United States. For same reasons the CIA cannot do that. Why the Monuments Men? Sexier than ICE, I guess.

The Librarian. Really? One person masterminds ALL smuggling into the US? Dodd should read up on antiquities smuggling. There are MANY books on the topic. I recommend the Medici Conspiracy and Chasing Aphrodite.

And the mother of all errors when describing archaeology or archaeologists happens when the character Carson Lennox declares he almost got a degree in archaeology. (Is he British? We don’t really award degrees in archaeology in the US. We award degrees in anthropology.) The character goes on to say “the department sent me on a dinosaur dig...”. THAT IS PALEONTOLOGY. ARCHAEOLOGISTS DO NOT STUDY DINOSAURS. YOU CANNOT GET A DEGREE IN ARCHAEOLOGY BY STUDYING DINOSAURS. THESE TO FIELDS NEVER SHARE A DEPARTMENT. THIS IS THE MOST ROOKIE MISTAKE ANYONE CAN MAKE WHEN DESCRIBING ARCHAEOLOGY (or paleontology).

Rant complete. Back to the book.

I should know better by now than to start reading a Christina Dodd book late in the day. I was once again fully immersed from the first page to the last...which I read at about 3:00 in the morning. This story simply refused to let me go. Kellen is a relatable character whose situation is believable and heart-rending. I understood the terror that influenced her past decisions and applauded her tenacity and bravery in the way she moved forward to claim a new life in the midst of heartache. I was in her corner the entire way. The mystery is well-paced, intricately woven, and, once again, Dodd kept me guessing the entire way. Just when I was sure I had figured everything out, there she went again, off in a different direction. She's become increasingly proficient at that with each new book she's written since moving to this sub-genre.

Though there is a romantic thread, this book is a suspense thriller, not romantic suspense. Be prepared for a lot of mystery and action but know that your heart will be touched as well, and while there is not a happily ever after the book will leave you with the possibility of one. Given how Dead Girl Running ends, I'm hopeful that Kellen's story will continue to evolve throughout the series. Also, while this book launches her Cape Charade series, there are loose connections to two previous series by Dodd. While fans of those series (like me) will no doubt appreciate the connections, first-time readers should be able to enjoy Dead Girl Running without having read the earlier books.

If you enjoy suspense thrillers with intriguing characters, plenty of atmosphere, twists and turns that keep you guessing, and a surprise twist at the end that I did not see coming (I love when authors do that!), then Dead Girl Running should be on your must-read list.

4.5/5 Stars

I thought this book was a wonderfully written suspense! The flashbacks throughout the storyline brought things to light that were surprising and shocking. Kellan being ex-military and having served in Afghanistan caused her to be a strong independent woman despite her mysterious past that caused her to not remember a year of her life. Taking a manager job in a resort she finally felt safe and at home not knowing her life was about to take a dangerous turn. Finding a dead body at the resort has everyone on edge and searching for a killer. Kellan feels she can trust no one and if that's not bad enough she's still keeping a big secret from her past. This book has a couple different storylines with the main character but comes together nicely with a shocker at the end! Highly recommend this read!

I received this book for free from the publisher (Harlequin) as part of their bookstagram publicity campaign.

I give this book 3.5 stars which rounds up to 4.

I always have a hard time with rating thrillers. I’m pickier with them than with other genres, and I usually end up rating them somewhere in the middle which is exactly what happened with this book (hence my 3.5 stars).

I loved how the book started off. The opening chapter was really good and helped set up the overall plot line well.

The succeeding chapters, were a bit of an information dump. You get the main character’s backstory and get introduced to a ton of characters. I had a hard time keeping up with all the characters and who they were.

The mystery was very interesting so I was eager to keep reading. I found that I really enjoyed the writing style. Christian Dodd is an excellent writer. I had just finished reading a not-that-great chick lit book before picking up this book, so the writing in this was a nice change.

The book kind of stalled a bit towards the middle, but picked up tremendously towards the end. There was a lot of action in the last 70 pages. However, there were some scenarios towards the end that didn’t feel very realistic so I didn’t love that.

The book does end in a slight cliffhanger, so I am interested in reading the next book.

Overall, this was a well written thriller, but it did have its flaws.

Have you ever finished a book and immediately said "OMG what the hell " and then HAVE to tell someone everything that happened in the book. That was me with this book and that person ended up being my husband lol I need more people to read this book, so I have someone to discuss with!!

Kellen Adams' character is so complex. She has so many layers and some of them we are figuring out along with her because she is missing a years worth of memory. She has a tragic back story from the beginning and amazing self preservation. She has little family and very little trust in people and for good reason. Yet even though she not a warming or upbeat character you can't help but root for her.

There is more than one mystery going on in the story line. Readers are trying to figure out what happened it Kellen's past while they are also trying to figure out who is a murderer. Every time I thought I had someone figured out, Kellen's inner commentary to herself would make me second guess my theories.

By the end of the book I hadn't quite figured out who was involved and who was trust worthy. Dead Girl Running by Christina Dodd wrapped up it's mystery plot line nicely by the end of the book. However, it left even more personal questions for Kellan Adams and left her characters and readers with one hell of a shock. I will, without a doubt, be reading the next book in the series.

4/5 Stars

Author Christina Dodd is a master of suspense. In Dead Girl Running, she grabbed my attention from the first scene between our heroine Kellen Adams and her boss, Annie DiLuca — what needs to be told? And who is “he”?

The rest of the book moves at a fast pace as we learn more about Kellen and the winding path that brought her to find sanctuary at Yearning Sands Resort in Washington state. When that sanctuary is marred by a murder mystery, Kellen begins to suspect her co-workers, guests and friends.

Dead Girl Running has so many fantastic pieces. I enjoyed reuniting with the DiLuca family originally introduced in Dodd’s Bella Terra trilogy. You don’t need to read those books first, but you might as well to enjoy more of Dodd’s brand of romantic suspense. And Kellen’s character trait of cataloguing everyone she’s come in contact with is a brilliantly effective way to introduce new character in an interesting and concise way. Given that I get so caught up in a story that I jump from dialogue to dialogue and miss some of the narrative, these character synopses helped me tremendously.

As a longtime fan of Christina Dodd, I couldn’t wait for Dead Girl Running to publish. I was lucky enough to have a friend bring back an autographed advance copy from the American Library Association conference in Denver.

OMG! This book was awesome! Ms. Dodd manages to pull off the impossible by outdoing herself with each story. I loved this one so much that I tried to savor the chapters instead of plowing through. I really wanted it to last. The first book in the Cape Charade series had me holding my breath and desperate to know more of Kellan's backstory as it was revealed. It's a great set up for book two.

Everyone seems to be suspicious and hiding something when a body is found. There's lots of strange goings on at the Yearning Sands Resort. The twists and turns are full of surprises that you won't see coming. Fans and new readers alike will absolutely love this and will be begging for the next.

I was fortunate enough to receive this book from Christina as an ARC. First time ever!
In all honesty, Christina has replaced my decades long favorite romantic suspense writer, JAK. Her Virtue Falls series is one of the best I have ever read!
In all honesty, Dead Girl Running started out a bit convoluted for me. There is a prequel that suppose to be available with the purchased copy and will resolve that issue. READ IT FIRST.
As the story went forward, the intricate plot became far more clear, although an important character wasn’t introduced until halfway into the book. The mystery/suspense situation was well drawn out and surprising. The plot was a good one, featuring some former military characters, a favorite group of mine. Some characters from the VF series were also re-introduced, which was a plus.
The heroine was smart and capable, and had been through heck, but there really wasn’t much in the line of romantic/sexual scenes in the book.
I gave the book 4* instead of 5 only because the prequel was not included and I will have to purchase it to fully understand the heroines military service and its outcome which ultimately landed her in the books setting of the rugged coast of Washington. You won’t regret the purchase of this fine suspense novel.

I received a digital copy of this book via Netgalley for the purposes of providing an unbiased review.

Y'all, I don't give five stars easily, but this one deserves it.

I got introduced to all new characters I can care about. Kateri Kwinault had a cameo. The mystery about Kellen's past was equally as compelling to me as the whodunit threaded throughout the book. I wanted to know, and I was not disappointed!

There was a subtle and low-key romantic undercurrent, which I cannot describe any better for fear of spoiling you.

Best of all, the book was chock full of women being awesome!

Go. Read. I think you'll be glad you did.

I happened to stumble across this as a staff recommendation at my local library. I was amazed at how quickly I was drawn into the book, it was definitely hard to put down; so of course I had to finish it the very next day. Throughout reading this book, I thought it would be awesome if there was a sequel, especially with how the ending played out. Happy to say that a quick search showed that there will be a sequel! Super excited about it! Loved the main character, how the author writes out flashbacks, how incredibly well it flows throughout the entire book. This will definitely be a must buy and a must read for everyone who loves a good book!

i received an ARC of Dead Girl Running from Christina Dodd's Review Crew in exchange for my review. Christina Dodd has started a new suspenseful series with this book and it definitely lives up to its genre. The story is about Kellen Adams and follows a couple storylines, the trouble that is occurring in the present at the Washington resort where she is an assistant manager and the trouble that is her past-which she doesn't remember part of. Christina Dodd stumped my on the bad person and she's cruelly making me wait almost a whole year for the next book for more explanation on the plot twist she threw in at the end. If you enjoy Christina Dodd's suspense stories you do not want to miss this one.

Kellen Adams is missing a year of her memory. She's a recovering victim of spousal abuse, and a veteran. She somehow snags a perfect job for herself as assistant manager at a remote resort in the Pacific Northwest (how Did that happen?) and is settling in nicely when the owners take a vacation, and suddenly everything goes to hell in a hand basket. A dead body, distrust of long term employees and her friends and fellow veterans from her military days, rain, disappearing staff members, a power outage, and of course, it still rains. Is her past coming back to haunt her: Her ex or someone from the "missing year"? Or, is this a new horror?

The story is told from Kellen's point of view. The characters are introduced to the reader with a type of "character card", an analysis of the person in Kellen's unique way of looking at situations and people. I liked this, and in fact looked back at this section of the book to refresh my memory as to who the different people were. Unfortunately I think this slowed down the beginning of the story; I thought this introduction section took too long, without much of anything happening.

But once the plot got going, I was swept into the story. I savored the uncovering of Kellen's past, her relationships and her thoughts and feelings. By the end of the book, I was reading as fast as I could, and yearned for more of Kellen's story. The book did not end in a cliffhanger, but there were definitely questions left unanswered, my breath was caught in my throat, and I was left wanting to journey further with Kellen. Hopefully answers will come in subsequent novels in this new series by Christina Dodd.

The "supporting characters" were realistic, and we had a cameo appearance from fan favorite Kateri Kwinault from the Virtue Falls series. I really, really wanted to know more about what would happen next. Good thing this is first of the series.

This is definitely a suspense novel, with only a hint of a romance. I loved it, and give it 4.5 stars out of 5, losing half a star only for the slow-for-me beginning.

Disclaimer:
I was provided a complementary copy of the book by the author for an honest review.

I enjoyed this book , but not as much as Christina's more recent Virtue Falls books. There are too many characters, although this may be due to the fact that this is the first book in a new series. This book opens with Priscilla Carter, the assistant manager at the Yearning Sands resort, finding a smuggled package on the beach. She takes the package, leaves a ransom note, and returns the next day to find a woman's severed hand instead of the money she demanded. She hides the package on the resort grounds and runs away.

Four months later, Kellen Adams is the new assistant manager, and is running the resort during the vacation of the resort's owners, Annie and Leo Di Luca. Kellen is actually Cecilia, an abused wife whose husband killed Cecilia's cousin (the real Kellen), and presumably himself in an explosion. After the explosion, Cecilia assumes Kellen's identity and moves to Kellen's apartment in NYC. Fearing discovery by the police, Cecilia moves to Philadelphia where something traumatic happens. Cecilia wakes in the hospital with a scar from a gunshot wound on her forehead, and has amnesia about the previous year. Panicking, she enlists in the Army. Upon her discharge, she gets a job at the Yearning Sands resort, and in short order hires several fellow Army vets to help staff the resort.

Shortly after Annie and Leo Di Luca leave on their vacation, Priscilla Carter's mutilated body is found. Cecilia and the resort staff attempt to keep the resort running and keep the resort guests happy and safe. One of the resort guests, Nils Brooks, is actually a government agent posing as an author while he investigates a suspected smuggling ring at the resort. Max Di Luca, Annie and Leo's nephew, comes to resort to provide security. He seems somehow familiar to Cecilia -- as her memories start to return, Cecilia realizes that she knew him in Philadelphia. Cecilia, Nils, Max, and various resort staff try to uncover the leader of the smuggling ring, and find themselves in danger as the search goes on.

The book improves as it goes on, especially as the search for the smuggling ringleader develops. There is also a bit of mystery as to whether Cecilia's husband is actually dead. I enjoyed reading the flashbacks as Cecilia's memory slowly returns. There will be at least one more novel in this series, and I will look forward to reading it to see what happens next in Cecilia's life.

Christina Dodd is one of my favorite authors and I really wanted to love this book, but I just couldn’t. If it weren’t for Ms. Dodd’s trademark witty dialogue and irreverent humor that made me laugh out loud a few times, I would have given it one star. I’m not sure what happened – normally Ms. Dodd’s books are well thought with a distinct plotline. It seemed like Ms. Dodd had a brain-storming session on suspense stereotypes and bizarre plot twists with her daughters and tried to pack them all into a single book. There’s amnesia, a love triangle, the creepy hotel, an aging and suspicious ex-actor, a heroine on the run, an abusive husband, and bouts of “can I trust my friends” paranoia just to name a few. It was like reading a vaudeville melodrama come to print. I wouldn’t have been surprised if the heroine (or maybe the hero) had ended up tied to a train track at some point.

Maybe part of the reason I didn’t care for this book is because I didn’t care about the characters. Ms. Dodd has been creating “broken” characters in her recent novels. While I don’t mind a few dents and chips, Kellen seems downright cracked! I liked the interaction between Maddie and Jacob, who were both a little bent, in “Because I’m Watching.” Merida in “The Woman Who Couldn’t Scream” was a bit overdone, but the ending left me both giggling and aghast, which made up for the flaws. The characters in “Dead Girl Running” just didn’t draw me in and the ending completely jumped the shark. The last few chapters were so improbable that I had to re-read them to see if I had missed some important fact that tied everything together into a package that made sense. Nope, I hadn’t missed anything and was left shaking my head and muttering “what da heck!”

Ms. Dodd brought in a few guest characters from some of her previous books to give the long-time readers a familiar vibe. Kateri from the Virtue Falls series and several of the Di Lucas from Bella Terra made appearances. Considering what a farce this book was, I half expected Detective Clouseau to spring from the pages.

Since I was able to read a preview copy of “Dead Girl Running” as part of Ms. Dodd’s book reviewer’s group, I’m not as disappointed with it as I would have been had I bought it. Hopefully this story was just a mid-season slump and Ms. Dodd’s next one will be a home run, or at least a hit.

Dead Girl Running was definitely confusing at first since there was two main plots in place. But the main draw is the female lead Kelsey who happens to have no recollection of one year in her life. The year she got shot. There was a lot of flashbacks which sometimes became distracting however you compulsively continue reading since you just want to find out if all your hunches are correct and how badly did you get it wrong. This is purely suspense action with hints if romance but the real draw is what happened to Kelsey during the year she couldn’t remember. Looking forward to the next book!
*Copy provided*

This is an entertaining suspense novel that kept twisting in all the right ways! What I most enjoyed was that this story had so many elements I love, including a bit of romance, lots of moody weather, a great atmospheric setting, and strong characters caught in a storyline that becomes more thrilling as it unfolds. I found this to be a good blend of realistic and fantastical fiction.

This is the first book in the new Cape Charade series, and I am already looking forward to the next installments! There are characters that I want to see more of, and this setting is just right for a series. I recommend this book!

It soon becomes very apparent why this book has this title, and the non-stop action will keep you page turning. This woman should really not be alive, and when all the facts are presented she should not survive.
We are offered a story from a resort in the State of Washington, and it quickly turns to a story in the State of Maine, and with detours of short stays in other parts of the country. Our main character is very likeable and we walk in her shoes, she has evolved into a tough cookie, but has a lot of compassion, but you wonder how is this woman even alive?
With so much action and questioning who is the main culprit or the Librarian, you will be sure your right, but are you? Wait until the other shoe drops, and we are off with more action, yes, there is never a dull moment here! You will be reading to the end for answers, and yes it takes to final page to really get solutions.

I received this book through Net Galley and the Publisher Harlequin, and was not required to give a positive review.

Dead Girl Running was such a complex story full of intrigue and a list of characters that I just never could figure out who to point my finger at. Then there was that side plot that got thicker and thicker. I absolutely loved this book. It seemed to take a bit to build the plot up but it was by no means boring getting there. The build-up was so intriguing and suspenseful all its own that I couldn't wait to get to the meat of this book.

The characters are completely fleshed out to where they feel like real people to me. This plot is an intricate one. And it has so many players that sometimes it was hard to keep up that I was glad I was keeping notes to write this review.

This is one book I just didn't want to stop reading and putting it down to do real life things was one of the hardest things ever. I very highly suggest it.
**I was given a copy of this book by the publisher in hopes of my honest and fair review. I was never obligated to ever write this review.

Christina Dodd Dead Girl Running
Christina Dodd is one of my favorite authors. Her latest two new series of books have it all. Suspense, Murder, Mystery with a little romance thrown in. I absolutely loved this book. I think this is my favorite book of hers (I think because it is so hard to choose). This is the first book in the Cape Charade Series. It does intertwine with her Virtue Falls series.

Kellen is ex-military, running from a past (no spoilers). She is also missing year in her life. She ends up at Yearning Sands resort as the newly appointed Assistant Manager. When the owners go away on vacation and leave Kellen in charge in the dead of winter with few guests or staff of course "all hell breaks loose". Who can she trust? This is a great who-done-it book. It doesn't have the normal "big flashing signs" at the beginning who the murderer is. I honestly kept changing my mind throughout the book.

Please note that I received an ARC from the author for my opinion.
My opinion is: Go buy, borrow or listen to this book. You will not be disappointed.

Dead Girl Running is about a woman running from her previous life as a battered wife. She runs from that life and she ends up at a resort as the assistant manager in Washington state. Not only is she keeping her identity secret, but She can't remember a year of her life, which includes a gunshot scar to her head. When she is left in charge of the resort while her boss takes a vacation, she finds the dead body of a woman. She becomes involved in the investigation and suspense ensues.

I thought this book was ok, but it took me a while to finish it ....and by the time I did - bam! Cliffhanger. I hate cliffhangers. Although I will say that I am very interested in reading the next book now, so kudos Christina.

I would say if you like a nice suspense story go for it, but be warned, you will want the next book now.

I must admit, Christina Dodd just keeps the thrillers coming. What a great storyline! This story takes us to the Yearning Sands Resort which is off the Washington State's Pacific Coast. Kellen Adams is the resorts newest assistant manager. It is January, raining and windy, and the resort has very few guests and reduced staff. The owners of the resort, Leo and Annie DiLuca have taken time off for a much needed vacation.

Enter - a mutilated corpse, smuggling of artifacts, bad weather, and a security chief that has also left for a brief time. Throughout the story, Kellen is able to subconsciously catalog information on each staff member and guest. This unique ability was acquired after being shot in the head seven years previously. She uses this ability to try to locate the ringleader of the smuggling ring.

Characters from Virtue Falls and Terra Bella are weaved through the storyline.

The ending is surprising but I was happy to learn that there will be more of Kellen Adams.

This is a thoroughly engaging and entertaining story. The first novel of the Cape Charade series is filled with great characters, plenty of suspense, and has a little humor thrown in. Kellen Adams is challenged with the task of managing the remote vacation resort owned by Annie and Leo DiLuca while they are on vacation. Christina Dodd fans will recognize the DiLuca name from the Bella Terra and Virtue Falls series. Although there are small threads to previous books, this story stands on its own. Soon after Kellen takes the helm a dismembered body is found on the grounds of the resort, the head of security seems to abandon her and everyone becomes a suspect in the murder and recently discovered smuggling ring. Kellen struggles to keep her staff and guests calm, figure out who could be the killer, and deal with the day-to-day running of the resort in the midst of terrible weather. Kellen doesn't know who she can trust and is troubled by memories of her difficult past. Some memories she shares with the reader but there is a whole year of her life missing, most likely related to the gun shot scar on her forehead. Kellen believes there is someone out there who still wants her dead and now her safe haven has become a place of fear. There are a lot of characters, which can make it difficult to keep track of suspects, but Kellen's method of cataloguing everyone she meets makes it much easier. The identity of the mastermind behind the tragedies at the resort (a.k.a. The Librarian) eluded me until the reveal. I always enjoy a suspense novel more when I can't figure out who the bad guys are. There was one plot line/twist I figured out before Kellen did…but I won't spoil it for you. I am really looking forward to the next book in the series. I want to see where Kellen goes from here and I hope there is a bit of romance in her future.

Former U.S. Army Captain Kellen Adams takes a job as assistant manager at an exclusive resort along the Pacific Coast, looking for a place she can finally call home. But an easy transition into civilian life goes by the wayside when Kellen is left in charge and the body of the former assistant manager washes up on the resort property. Then, the head of security abruptly leaves “on vacation” and Kellen must figure out who she can trust as it becomes more and more apparent that the perpetrator is a resort employee.

Is the traitor/killer one of Kellen’s own handpicked crew? To find out, Kellen must confront the skeletons of her own past and draw on her formidable army skills to solve the murder and expose a rare antiquities smuggling ring before more lives are lost (including her own!).

So how is this book? If you like plot twists, this is your book. If you like strong female leading characters, this is your book. If you like well-drawn characters and like to feel part of the setting, this is your book. If you’re the kind of person who likes to read a chapter or two a night to wind down before you go to bed, this is probably not your book, because you will get to a point where you can’t put it down…

I bought this book after reading all the rave reviews here on the store. I made it to chapter 21 and couldn't take any more. I was bored to death! I didn't like the whole story line or the characters at all. I hate not finishing a book but having to force myself to read one isn't enjoyable to me at all....

When I read the books description I just couldn't wait to start reading it. I've been in a mystery thriller kick so I was pretty excited to start reading this book. I loved the back and forth between then and now giving the readers Kellens story where she started and how her life was going up until the very ending of the book. It was tough getting to hear her story of what she was going through in the past. Then there was what she was dealing with now with the killing and who was behind it and if the killer was still around. Just know that this book packs a punch with so much going on that the readers will be hooked until the very end trust me I'm one of those people I spent most of my morning and afternoon reading this book straight through because I didn't want to wait or miss a thing. Highly Recommend!

A wonderful story from one of my favorite authors. It kept me in the dark with just glimpses of light throughout. Christina Dodd has more than one writing style and this was one of my favorites. I love a good mystery. I enjoy suspense. I need to care about the characters. This had it all. There were also some connections to another of her series which added richness to the experience for me. But I could see where having read her other stories wouldn't be necessary to the enjoyment of this one. I can't wait to read the next book in this series.

I had difficulty following the story plot and had to re-read several sections. I usually love Christina's stories but I really had a hard time with this one. I like a mystery but not so much jumping around and trying to piece the characters together and have to re-read to make sense. Once I got to the middle it was better. I think its because of the spousal abuse and horrific text that I was not comfortable with reading about it. I still am a huge fan and read anything she writes,just not my favorite.

Christina Dodd's books are always good but Dead Girl Running was outstanding. Once I started reading it I couldn't stop till it was finished - and then I wanted to keep going! It had twists and turns that I hadn't expected. Just as I thought I knew who the killer might be something would happen to point in another direction. Kellen is such a good example of what we can do to make our life better even when we've been in a bad relationship. Even after being shot and losing a year of her life she kept going. After time in the military she got a job as assistant manager of a resort thing it would be a nice quiet job, not the center of a smuggling ring that turned her world on end. She didn't know who she could trust, even among her friends that she brought along with her to work at the resort. I was surprised with the ending. I would never have guessed this ending at all! Definitely one of her best books!

I really enjoyed Dead Girl Running from Christina Dodd. I wasn't sure what to expect from this new series but I definitely wasn't disappointed. This book is full of twists and turns and keeps you guessing until the end. I enjoyed meeting new characters and look forward to continuing the series. Ms. Dodd combines mystery, suspense, and a touch of romance seamlessly. Kellen Adams is a strong, yet vulnerable, character. Ms. Dodd does a wonderful job of making her compelling and causing you to root for her throughout the novel. I would definitely recommend this book, especially if you love romantic suspense. I couldn't put the book down.

Dead Girl Running is the first in the Cape Charade series by Christina Dodd. This book was so good. I have been reading the Virtue Falls series and some I have liked and others not quite as much but Dead Girl Running is on another level. Can you imagine not having remembered a year of your life but wait, that's not all-you have the scar from a bullet wound on your forehead. Great foundation for the story. Kellen Adams has created a new life for herself in spite of what she doesn't remember from her past. She is managing a hotel in the wilds of the Washington State and surrounding herself with former Army teammates as staff for the resort. All is going according to plan until the owners leave for a vacation and a dead body turns up, Well, part of one. The action is non-stop from there. A note of interest to those who read Ms. Dodd is that the Di Luca's who own the resort are from Christina Dodd's Bella Terra series (which was another good series so time to go back to re-read now).

This is the first novel in the Cape Charade series. It started a little bit slow for me with three different story lines intertwining at the beginning of the book.

Kellen Adams is the main character, who is a new Assistant Manager at a resort called Yearning Sands. As the story unfolds the reader finds out what a strong person Kellen is and why she is compelled to investigate mysterious bones that are found on the resort property.

There are many interesting characters introduced in this novel and I am looking forward to reading more about them in the next book of this series.

With Christina Dodd - you just cant go wrong. I have read most of her books and she is wonderful author.

I give this book 3.5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️?
I struggled with the 1st half of this book. There seemed to be a lot of storylines and characters, some of which were never really developed. However, the 2nd half of the book was awesome! I really feel like the author could have written 2 books based on all the characters and developing plots. And, maybe she will develop them in the next of the series. This was a solid story from author, Christina Dodd, who was a new author to me.

I am a longtime fan of Christina Dodd's historicals -- I'm pretty sure I've read them all -- but I've only read a few books from her several contemporary series. I was given the opportunity to read Dead Girl Running, the first book in her new Cape Charade series, which has characters from both the Virtue Falls and Bella Terra universes. However, the book can be read as a standalone story, and you don't miss anything if you haven't read the others (which isn't to say you shouldn't. You should.)

Dead Girl Running is the story of a woman escaping from her past, a past which she only partially remembers and has reason to fear. She ends up on the other side of the country from where she grew up, at a remote but exclusive resort in rainy coastal Washington State, working as the assistant to the owner. There, in the January "monsoon season," with few guests and much of the staff on vacation, Kellen finds a dead body and mayhem ensues. (I am trying not to give any spoilers, not be flippant.) It seems obvious that there is a connection between the resort and the murder, but who and how? I was surprised to find out who the villain was. In the course of resolving the murder, of course, various romances begin to develop, and Kellen even learns some things about her past that had been hidden from her until then.

If you've read any of Christina's books, you know that in addition to tight plotting and sizzling romance, you will find snarky and whimsical humor. Characters like the Shivering Sherlocks (a group of women who enjoy murder mystery weekends) and the dueling brother chefs (think the Property Brothers but with knives instead of hammers) all lend a welcome note of levity to what is otherwise a resort filled with high tension. And although the ending isn't a cliffhanger, you know that there is more to Kellen's story and I hope the next book fills us in. I can't wait.

I received a free copy of the book in return for my review.

Dead Girl Running is Kellen Adams’s story or is it…….as it says in the blurb, that’s half a lie. I thought the 3 point blurb for the book was great and, at the end of the book, was very satisfied with the way the 3 points were answered.

Kellen, our central character, is former military and has taken the job of assistant manager at the Yearning Sands Resort. As she did in the military, Kellen is trying to make this resort her home and has recruited several of the people she served with to also work there. During the owner’s vacation during the slow winter off season, Kellen is left in charge of the resort and the small number of guests visiting. Then she finds the mutilated body of the former assistant manager of the resort who disappeared several months earlier.

There are several twists and turns as the story unfolds. The tension is heightened by the fact that the characters have become family to each other. There is the group of resort employees who have been there for years and can’t imagine one of their own being responsible for the murder. Then there is the group Kellen recruited, they served together, have saved each other’s lives, and counted on each other.

The ending unfolds a little quickly, not so much in terms of who was the killer, but in terms of Kellen’s life and history. While not a cliffhanger, I would have liked to spend a little more time with the ending. However, as this is the first in the new series, I hope that what I was missing here will be part of the next story.

Emotionally charged, edge of your seat, action packed romantic adventure filled with danger, passion, intrigue, betrayal, thrills and chills of the unexpected. Watch out for that cliff...... loved it!

My goodness this story had me riveted and kept me guessing from one chapter to the next. Loved the world building and charter development, could not get enough of the drama and suspense. (was so upset every time I was interrupted by life) If you are looking for a spine tingling, brain teasing and thrilling read look no further. The cliff at the end just got me ... can't wait to read what happens next and eager for this series to continue.

Kellen Adams job at a remote vacation spot in the Pacific Northwest should be a lot more beautiful than this mystery is. There are dark forces and a sort of locked room vibe after she finds a woman's mutilated body--all the guests at the time are considered suspects. I liked the amnesia twist in Kellen's own life, and how she views things without certain memories of her own.

I loved this book, the constant twists, turns and action kept me reading....way past my bedtime..... I enjoyed the reference to Virtual Falls and Sheriff Kwinault, Bella Terra and the DiLuca's - nice tie-ins to other beloved novels.
I really enjoyed the way Kellan and Cecilia's memories were written, giving us back story a little at a time kept the suspense going till the very end.
I also enjoyed how Kellan's "people" continue to call her Captain" and the respect it shows. I liked Temo & Birdie, both were nice new characters and I hope to learn more about them in the next book "What Doesn't Kill me". The "bad guy" at the end was a total surprise. This book is GREAT i highly recommend it.

Found the premise intriguing, chapter 13 was just full stop evil and the ending a complete surprise. Not who did it but the last page of the story. I really liked the story. Always takes me a minute to get settled in but then I was hooked. Kellen is a complicated, interesting character with unique attributes. Her story is fascinating, sad and courageous. Almost too many characters to keep up with but I did it. Great vacation read. Thanks again, Christina Dodd for another "can't put it down" read!

This book was old school romantic suspense. Dark, gothic location, claustrophobic feel, fair play mystery, etc. Kellen was a strong, fascinating character, though I would have liked to see more of her lauded intuition, code breaking, mapping skills. Nice to see characters from her other series.

Dead Girl Walking by Christina
4 and 1/2 stars
This is an engaging read that pulls you into the story quickly. This mystery within a mystery is captivating right from the first chapter.
The main character Kellen Adams has a unique and quirky gift that transfuses the normal introduction of secondary and supportive characters into the story line with extraordinary ease.
As readers we get an inside look at the normal everyday tasks that go into running a resort and dealing with customers. The customers themselves are very vivid, and realistic adding in some light touches of humor in a dark theme.
As the plot unfolded I found myself quickly turning the pages just waiting for another tidbit about Kellen’s past that Ms. Dodd teases us with throughout the story.
Kellen Adams is a strong woman that has overcome incredible hardships that can’t help but win your admiration.
I found the ending both climatic and touching at the same time, and I found myself wishing the story didn’t have to end.

My one complaint about the book was during the climax I came across a scene that defied explanation.
It in no way ruined the story it was just enough of a hiccup that it made me go “what just happened”? “What did I miss”? As the copy I have is an ARC from the author I’m hoping this is resolved in the paperback release, as ARC’s often have typo’s etc.

All told this book is excellent and I'm looking forward to the next in the series.
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I want the next book about Kellen Adams, now please. Dead Girl Running is great. Filled with idiosyncratic staff, some whom I swear I have worked with, interesting handsome men whom I would dearly love to know better, the Shivering Sherlocks, a dead husband, an isolated resort on the Pacific Northwest coast, a lost year...
Dead Girl Running got me through my first week post op rotator cuff surgery when I couldn’t move from the recliner. I hated to see the last page. I want more! Is there any better recommendation? Feeling sorry for myself after shoulder surgery, propped in a recliner, rain on the roof Dead Girl Running kept me going.
Kellen Adams is such a bad ass who walks around with a bullet hole scar on her forehead cataloguing the traits and descriptions of everyone she comes in contact with, her analytical mind racing to prevent more deaths from the Librarian. Yet she is real enough to long for a family to belong, and ache at the loss of a friendship imagined or otherwise.
Christina Dodd hasn’t disappointed. The prolific author continues to imagine plots and intrigue, twists and turns that keep me involved and thinking. It’s fun to be in on the start of a new series To see the characters and plot develop and take life. Dead Girl Running is filled with Easter eggs and “ins” from previous series by Christina Dodd which just makes it that much more fun to read.

I enjoyed this first novel in Cape Charade series. I wasn't sure what to expect from this new series but I really liked it. Looking forward to reading the sequel, What Doesn't Kill Me.
I won this autographed trade paperback in a contest from the author. This is my honest review.

Christina Dodd at her best! If you like your suspense with lots of twists and turns you need to read this book! Just when you think you got it all figured out you realize you don't! It keeps you guessing till the very end. Fun ride all the way!

More suspense and thriller than romance. This was beautifully written with great character development. Scarier and more violent than her other romantic suspense books. It is tied into her Bella Terra series, so I'll have to go back and reread them. I am eager to read more of what happens to Kellen Adams if she appears in the next Cape Charade book. Would have liked a little more romance.

Well. Christina has done it again! You might as well settle down for awhile as you f the Christina 't put this book away until you finish! With the many twists and turns, you are constantly surprised. The many characters all have a story to tell. Just when you think you have things figured out, you don't!! Loved this book and so glad to be a part of the Christina Dodd review team. If you want a good read, please give Christina Dodd a chance. I promise you will love not only this book, but any of her many others!

Christina Dodd is one of my favorite writers. This book is wonderfully suspenseful and has you guessing what's going to happen next. From not knowing who to trust who to protect. It kept me guessing. I loved the new characters (especially Kellen with her secrets) as well as the fact that Dodd included the Virtue Falls Sheriff and a touch of the Di Luca family as well. This book left me wondering what the next adventure will bring.

WOW! Just WOW!!!! What a thriller!!! Characters jump off the pages like real, live people and you just can't wait to find out exactly what's going to happen next!!! Suspense and action throughout this book with twists and turns you never expect!!! Can't figure out the bad guy until you're actually in the last few pages and it hits you smack over your head, and you say "WOW never saw that one coming!" Every character is believable as the actual bad guy, and yet the story line keeps you moving along down that path until you just aren't sure about anybody! Christina Dodd is an extremely creative writer who knows her story and her audience well!!! Just can't wait for her next book!!!!!!