Love the suspense and sense of the Montana outdoors in my first Allison Brennan book!
This is a edge of your seat heart pounding thriller.

After five years in hiding from their murderous father, the day Kristin and Ryan McIntyre have been dreading has arrived: Boyd McIntyre, head of a Los Angeles crime family, has at last tracked his kids to a small Montana town and is minutes away from kidnapping them. They barely escape in a small plane, but gunfire hits the fuel line. The pilot, a man who has been raising them as his own, manages to crash land in the middle of the Montana wilderness. The siblings hike deep into the woods, searching desperately for safety—unaware of the severity of the approaching storm.

Boyd’s sister Ruby left Los Angeles for the Army years ago, cutting off contact in order to help keep her niece and nephew safe and free from the horrors of the McIntyre clan. So when she gets an emergency call that the plane has gone down with the kids inside, she drops everything to try save them.

As the storm builds, Ruby isn’t the only person looking for them. Boyd has hired an expert tracker to find and bring them home. And rancher Nick Lorenzo, who knows these mountains better than anyone and doesn’t understand why the kids are running, is on their trail too.

But there is a greater threat to Kristen and Ryan out there. More volatile than the incoming blizzard, more dangerous than the family they ran from or the natural predators they could encounter. Who finds them first could determine if they live or die. . .

Thank You to NetGalley, the Author, and Minotaur Books for my advanced copy to read and review.

I'm sorry but I tried! I was just way too confused in the beginning. I tried to start it three different times, and I just couldn't follow along. I saw a few other reviews that said the same, but I didn't have the patience to keep trying and get past the point where I finally understood.

DNF I'm sorry!

After years in hiding, Kristin and Ryan’s criminal father has found them in the small Montana town that they have come to love. They escape into the countryside but with the impending storm their chances of survival are not high. They will have to rely on their friends and some unlikely allies to help them escape the clutches of the notorious crime family that they were born into.

This book drops you right into the action and keeps a fast pace until the end. I usually like it when the action starts right away but in this case it made the beginning a little bit confusing. It took a little while but once I figured out what was going on, it became an interesting action packed read. The siblings get caught in so many dangerous situation and I was on the edge of my seat waiting to see if they would make it out alive. If you like an action packed, adventurous thriller this one's for you!

3.5 rounded up. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an audio-ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I found this to be a very engaging and exciting read. I have not previously read Brennan's books but will be doing so in the future. The audio book was very good - each character had a distinctive voice.

The story focuses on Kristin and Ryan McIntyre, the children of a crime family, who have been in hiding for five years. When their father locates them, they go on the run, eventually crashing in the middle of the Montana wilderness in the midst of a severe storm.

Sadly North of Nowhere was a DNF for me. The narrator was great, but I just couldn’t keep track of the people and their relationships

This is a stand alone thriller by Brennan, but it felt like part of a series and I missed the first book! Very well read by the narrator-she made a so-so read into a good listen.

3.5 stars rounded up.

I was drawn into the story immediately. I liked the characters, the setting, the premise of the story, and the pace. What knocked it down to 3.5 stars for me were: redundant reminders of character motivations and of language; it got a little absurd during the blizzard chase scene with so many people racing through the forest after their quarries; the omniscience of the bad guys, who just always seemed to be at the right place at the right time and to know what was what.

I've read Allison Brennan before and will certainly read other books by her but while this was okay, I wouldn't recommend it to a friend with much enthusiasm.

Thanks to publisher and NegGalley for an ARC audiobook in exchange for this honest review, which has been published on Goodreads.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the audio ARC! This was a fast paced thriller that started off with a bang. Unfortunately, the plot and characters didn’t feel very fleshed out. I didn’t find depth in the relationships and so many characters meant that the story and characters were pulled thinner. There was a lot of action, but I couldn’t get invested. Sometimes events changed so much it was jarring bc characters with no descriptions just different names would enter and I’d get confused with what was going on. 2.5 stars.

The start of the book immediately drew me in. It was very easy to get invested in the characters and want to keep listening as the suspense built. Unfortunately, it started to drag towards the middle and I found myself not as interested and ready for some progress to be made. I did enjoy the twist towards the end of the story though I think it was obvious what was coming. Overall it wasn’t a bad story, definitely had suspense and the opportunity to root for a “happy” ending.

Loved this book!! This fast paced book takes place in one day with some back story woven in and it kept me super interested and reading quickly. I was desperate to find out what happened to all the parties involved and I enjoyed multiple points of view during the reading. Great story, my son said he wished it was a movie and I agree! Thank you NetGalley for the audio arc!

Boyd McIntyre, head of a Los Angeles crime family, has located his two children and one-time friend, who according to McIntryre, kidnapped the kids.

But, we quickly learn that the children love the man they are currently living with, and even choose to call him dad. But with their biological father on their trail, the three immediately put into place their escape plan. But will it be in time?

North of Nowhere kept me interested with its cat-and-mouse chase that included organized crime, a plane crash, surviving the wilderness, and much more. While the narration felt jerky and overexaggerated, I began to get used to it and attempted to zero in on the unraveling story, which was told through various POVs.

My Concerns
The audiobook took me a while to feel comfortable with since the narration didn’t quite work for me. Ir felt jerky, over-exaggerated, and not the quality that typically enhances a story.

Though I don’t know how many times "a long minute" was used, it was often enough to start jumping out at me. And, honestly is there such a thing as a minute that is longer than a minute?

There were places where the dialog felt unnatural and almost childish in nature, and I wondered why it was inserted in places that seemed to interrupt the growing suspense.

My Final Thoughts
I liked the fact that one of the children needed to use sign language to communicate and how that affected the story.

In short, there was plenty to enjoy about this book, yet at times I struggled to connect.

If you like adventure and action, I’m going to suggest you give it a try.


My thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for providing me with an audiobook ARC.

3.5

Normally I have a difficult time buying into these big crime families because it all just seems so far-fetched to me. I didn't really bother me in North of Nowhere, though. It would be because I just really felt invested in so many of the characters. The chilly atmosphere added so much tension in the race against the clock. A solid read, for sure.

I enjoyed The Sorority Murder so when I saw Brennan's newest as an audiobook on Netgalley, I decided to grab it. This book is so so very different from The Sorority Murder, but I enjoyed it even more. The difference between the two books showed me what an excellent writer Brennan is, and how she dives into the plot and characters of each book with a great deal of thought to the background elements. I absolutely loved the rugged Montana setting, and it definitely added to the suspense and unfolding of the plot. Even though I enjoyed the audio and definitely recommend it, there are so many characters that I think initially the print version might have helped me personally to keep them all straight (but I did keep up and figured it out along the way). I enjoyed the way the plot unfolded, and it felt realistic and unforced to me. I became very attached to the main characters (and I wouldn't mind a sequel to see where they would end up). Definitely recommend if you are looking for an edge-of-your-seat thriller.

A chilling wilderness. A deadly game. Can you survive 'North of Nowhere'?

Book Information

North of Nowhere, written by Allison Brennan, is a 368-page thriller to be published on August 8, 2023. The audio version is Narrated by Eliza Foss and spans 11 hours and 38 minutes. Brennan is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author that has penned 40 books and numerous short stories. Thank you to Macmillan Audio for providing me with an advance reader copy of this book for review.

Summary

Kristen and Ryan McIntyre are hiding in a small Montana town from their murderous father, Boyd McIntyre. When he finally locates them after 5 years, they escape on a plane, but a damaged fuel line leads to a crash landing in the wilderness. With a storm approaching, their aunt Ruby, their father with a tracker, and local rancher Nick Lorenzo all search for them, unaware of the greater threat that is also coming. Their lives teeter on who finds them first.

My Thoughts

"North of Nowhere" by Allison Brennan is a fast-paced and enjoyable thriller. There is something for everyone: murder, kidnapping, snowstorms, organized crime, bad cops, plane crashes, gun fights, grandmothers, helpful ranchers, and even wild moose. It’s a pulse-pounding ride through blizzards and betrayal.

With its numerous twists and turns, the story kept me on the edge of my seat. The story unfolds through the eyes of a handful of characters, each with their own questionable motives, making it hard to discern who is good and who is bad until the full picture emerges.

The book is a page-turner, thanks to its action-packed narrative and short chapters that keep the pace moving swiftly. Brennan skillfully employs cliffhangers to maintain engagement and anticipation throughout. Set primarily in the wilderness, the book also beautifully portrays the contrast between those who are prepared and knowledgeable and those who are not.

The story does have a lot of characters, which is sometimes a stumbling block for me. Despite this, Brennan expertly develops each one, ensuring they remain distinct and easily recognizable for the reader. This attention to detail prevents confusion and allowed me to fully immerse myself in the story.

Told from various perspectives, "North of Nowhere" provides a deeper connection to the characters and adds layers of complexity to the narrative. If you appreciate psychological thrillers with a touch of family drama, this book is an excellent choice.

Brennan's primary characters are intriguing and likable, drawing readers into their lives and making them emotionally invested in their fates. Whether it's the cat-and-mouse chase or the exploration of complex relationships, "North of Nowhere" delivers a compelling reading experience from start to finish.

Eliza Foss does a fantastic job as narrator of immersing readers in the icy Montana landscape, adding an extra layer of thrill and suspense. Her narration also likely played a significant role in keeping me fully engaged amidst the multitude of characters and perspectives. Overall, her performance was very well executed.

Recommendation

"North of Nowhere" is a gripping thriller that seamlessly weaves together murder, kidnapping, and a hostile wilderness setting. It has well-developed characters, unpredictable twists, and a fast-paced narrative. Recommended for fans of psychological thrillers.

Rating

4 Big Sky Stars

Five years after Tony hid them from their crime boss father, Kristen and Ryan are awakened with the bug-out command; Boyd has found them on a Montana ranch. The escape plan works well until gunfire starts when they are ‘borrowing’ the ranch owner’s small plane. Both Tony and the fuel line are hit, necessitating a crash landing on a lake. Tony can’t go on, but sends the kids, armed with a map and compass, to hike through the mountains to their original destination. Not only do they need to avoid wild animals, but the first bad winter storm is coming. Tracking them are their father and his men, the ranch owner and his son, and their estranged aunt Ruby. What or who is most deadly?

Brennan’s latest compulsive listen/read is part thriller and part survival story. You can feel the cold as the mountain trek continues. I liked how each characters backstory was revealed in pieces over time. There is plenty of action and several twists before the story concludes. Foss’s narrative performance helps keep you on the edge of your seat. Her voicing makes it easy to follow the changes in point of view. Recommended.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an audio ARC. All opinions expressed are my own.

4 stars

This wintery thriller added a welcome to chill to a blisteringly hot summer day. Humans? Nature? Human nature? Who or what will win and lose?!

Kristin and Ryan are already in the thick of the action when readers join them on an ill-fated flight. These kids have a family background that would've raised even Jerry Springer's eyebrows, and that's precisely why they are on the run (and why they anticipate needing to stay on the go for a while, at least). Kristin, as the older sibling, has been much more aware of the hard truths about her family, and this has caused her to grow up way too fast. That added maturity comes in quite handy as she attempts to shepherd her brother and herself to safety, determine who to trust, and find independence in a permanent way.

These characters are facing an array of challenges that are exacerbated by their permanent connections to each other. Will the weather take them out? Will they take each other out? Can they manage to redeem themselves in any way, or will they drag others down with them? Readers get to explore the answers to all of these questions and more in this compelling, unusual family drama.

I recommend the audio version when and where accessible.

A really solid book! Only one complaint I have is that I started to lose interest a bit in the middle, but the story was always engaging enough to keep me reading even through the slower parts. The characters were good and well-written. I'd recommend this, especially to fans of the genre.

An incredibly action packed, gripping story from start to finish. The narrator really knocked this one out of the park. The way she was able to bring all of the characters to life was really amazing. The tension was taught the entire time!

I wanted to love North Of Nowhere however; I felt that this genre is just not making me happy at this moment. I was intrigued the first thirty percent of the book and then lost interest.

Enjoyed this book, kept my interested the entire way. Nice twists and the story is more complex than you’d fist think. This is my second book by this author and I’ll for sure read more.