Local author’s debut novel brings mystery and humor to the world of running

Ben Gross, author of "The Running Club." Photo: Courtesy of Ben Gross

"There's so many books that discuss running and running culture, and they talk about the dedication, and the perseverance, and the mental and physical anguish to run your first race... this, I think, is the first book that makes light of running," - Ben Gross

PARK CITY, Utah — What do running, the Salt Lake City Foothills and a grisly murder plot have in common? They’re all key aspects of Park City local Ben Gross’s debut book, “The Running Club.”

“The Running Club” was published on May 28 by Moonshine Cove. The book is available at The King’s English Bookshop in Salt Lake City and on Amazon, and has sold approximately 1,000 copies during its first month on the market.

The novel centers on the seven members of a Salt Lake City running club and their plan to murder their fellow member, Nielsen Skarsgard, a disgraced Mormon convert acquitted of human trafficking.

Gross is a native of Bethlehem, PA, who now lives in Summit Park with his wife, two children and three dogs. He wrote “The Running Club” in just six months, while balancing his day job as general counsel at Backcountry.

“I’ve been writing blogs and things for years, and I’ve always wanted to write a novel more for my own as like a dare,” Gross said. “The one commonality that I see in fiction is that for debut fiction, people should write what they know best. And I I know humor… but I also know running.”

Gross himself is no novice runner, he’s completed nearly 40 full marathons and participated in running clubs in Salt Lake City, Pittsburgh and Philadelphia. He’s currently preparing to compete in his 16th Boston Marathon in 2025.

While some of the characters and dynamics in the book may be especially familiar or compelling for runners, Gross believes that “The Running Club” is a good read for anyone with a sense of humor.

“It’s not the great American novel. It’s not Faulkner style literature… it’s a beach read,” Gross said. “It’s a fun, fast, witty read. And whether you’re a runner with a sense of humor or a non runner that likes likes a good crime novel and a big dollop of humor, this book’s for you.”

Gross is already in the process of writing his second book. Although it won’r necessarily be a sequel to “The Running Club,” it will center around the same cast of characters.