Joe Kelly was a gay rights activist in Bay City, Michigan. Having come of age in an oppressive and conservative Southern culture he devoted his early life to fighting for the rights of gay men, lesbians, bisexuals, and transgender people. However, all the while he saw progress, conservatives consolidated and expanded their power base into the highest reaches of government. Joe watched his successes evaporate and realized his mistake, “Like many other gay rights activists I had deluded myself into thinking we had accomplished something of significance by an occasional court battle win or preventing a piece of legislation from passing Congress. While fleeing for my life I had to realize that I had failed to render my enemy hors de combat. I had known my enemy well, and I knew his agenda for my annihilation.” Running by Night is full of action, adventure, intrigue, romance, and drama. Yet even in the darkest of circumstances it never loses its ability to engage with the reader at all levels. Readers should be prepared for a roller-coaster ride of emotions.