Over 3,000 songs, 25 number one singles and 44 Top 10 country albums testify to the obvious fact that Dolly Parton knows more than almost anyone about what it takes to write a hit. So, when Dolly Parton decides to write a novel, people pay attention. When Dolly Parton decides to co-write this novel with a man who has sold more than 400 million books, and who is therefore the world’s most popular English-language thriller-writer, everybody stops what they’re doing to pre-order a copy.

Run, Rose, Run bears the imprints of both its authors. There are two Parton-esque figures in this novel: the first is AnnieLee Keyes, the novel’s protagonist and, like Parton, a girl from poverty-stricken beginnings set on making it big in Nashville (where else?). The second is Ruthanna Ryder, recently retired doyen of the country music world. Like Parton, Ryder has been performing since she could walk and has over 40 years and countless hits to her name.

Needless to say, AnnieLee becomes Ruthanna’s protégé and the book charts their relationship and the road that AnnieLee tries to take to stardom. This journey is aided by Ethan, Ruthanna’s session guitarist, who also happens to be dreamy, decent and handy with both his fists and a rifle.

From James Patterson, the novel gets its pace, its plot-twists and its insistence on the secret traumas that haunt every significant character. AnnieLee is running from a dark past that is always on the verge of catching up with and destroying her. Ethan has Afghanistan and a murder-accusation (and acquittal) behind him. Ruthanna has her own tragic cross to bear.

Similar to almost every thriller and soap-opera, it’s true that if everyone in Run, Rose, Run just told each other their secrets at the beginning things would be resolved with little fuss and a lot less violence. But who wants that? Like so many thrillers, not everything makes sense. Like the best thrillers, you don’t care and keep turning pages anyway.

There is simply no way that Run, Rose, Run will not be a huge success. The plot is built for the screen, and Dolly Parton has released the accompanying album of AnnieLee’s songs so the soundtrack has already been written.

As for why the book’s called Run, Rose, Run when I’ve not mentioned any characters called Rose – you know what to do to find out.