I very much enjoy Anne Laughlin's voice. I'd give it 3.5 stars. You can read my full review at C-Spot Reviews: http://reviews.c-spot.net/archives/3864 ( )

Runaway is a solid page-turner of a mystery/thriller in the lesbian tradition, which means there is at least one blush-worthy sex scene. I enjoyed Laughin's writing and think she presented an original plot with a good balance between the thrilling action and the obligatory drama-filled budding lesbian relationship. (Personally, I wanted more thriller and less romance, but that's not the book she wrote.)

Runaway is primarily about Jan Roberts, a Chicago PI who escaped from her father's Idaho militia camp when she was 16. For the last twenty years Jan has been living her life under the new identity she created. Just as Jan and her partner take on a new case tracking down a runaway teen, the firm they work for is purchased by a British company. The new boss is a hot British women with MI6 in her background. Sparks fly between the new boss and Jan. The runaway teen ends up leading Jan back to the militia lifestyle she fled, first to Michigan and then to Idaho.

Laughlin has a great sense of humor, but doesn't overdo it. Here are two bits that made me laugh:

"Catherine appeared to be in her mid-forties, but her breasts appeared to be in their mid-twenties. Jan wondered if she'd have the opportunity to examine whether that was the result of good genes, good lingerie, or good plastic surgery."

And then this from when Maddy, the young runaway, is participating in a militia training exercise in Michigan before her group moves to Idaho:

"Maddy and Kristin were teamed up to learn about stealth movement and sensory awareness in the woods, which Maddy took to mean walking quietly with her headphones off."

I plan on reading more books from Laughlin and look forward to seeing where she takes her writing in the future. ( )

Another great read by Ms. Laughlin. I had a little bit of a hard time with the start of the story but when things started to happen I just could not turn the page fast enough.

Give this one a try and I do not think you will be disappointed, also if you have not read her other work do yourself a favor and read them too. ( )