Olympic contestant, Miley dreams of winning the gold. After falling flat at the Olympics she starts working at a lodge in the France Church Wilderness, where she can train on her off time. Little does she know what lurks in the woods is so much worse than a bear. Taken to a remote cabin, she’s hoping some of her training can help her escape from her captures.

After learning this book is based on a real life event, I was shocked. The book kept me captivated. I wish we had a little more in the end before the 4 years later, instead of it feeling a little rushed. I did really like the ending we got and the growth of the characters, especially Mary.

Thank you to NetGalley, Xpresso Books Tours, and Noelle W. Ihli for letting me read this book.

Based on a true story, this is a terrifying tale following an Olympian who goes missing in the wilderness and her longtime teammate on his quest to find her. Let me say, I LOVE scary stories - and it's not often I come across a book that can shock me, but this one had me jumpy and sleeping with the lights on. I read this so quickly because I HAD to know what was going to happen next. I mean this whole-heartedly, if you have triggers or are easily frightened - this one might not be for you.

But if horror intrigues you, then this won't disappoint. Especially if you've read some of Ihli's previous work (I.e.
Ask for Andrea which has also been popular on Booksta). The main characters are competent, realistic, and will have you rooting for them. Some of the side characters / situations are a little over the top, but I still enjoyed the way the narrative comes together.

I could not put this book down!! Read it in two days. SO GOOD. Captivating, and to learn that it was loosely based on a true story makes it even more crazy to think about.

The anxiety I felt while reading this book was insane! This story was inspired by the real life story of Kari Swenson an athlete who was abducted and nearly killed in Montana by a father and son in 1984. I looked up the real story and OMG it was maddening! I loved how Noelle took the real life story and added in fiction characters and experiences to make the story her own. This is definitely worth picking up but I would wait to get a manicure until after you are finished because it is definitely a nail bitter!!

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own

This was my first Noelle W. Ihli novel and I was not disappointed. I've heard so many good things and just haven't gotten my hands on any of her books until now. This was released on 3/22/24 and I definitely would recommend to anyone who enjoys thrillers (as always, check trigger warnings). I enjoyed the alternating perspectives within the book and felt eager to finish and learn Miley's fate. Although Miley's life experiences weren't necessarily relatable to me, her character's thought processes absolutely were, which allowed her to feel much more realistic in my mind.

Thanks to Noelle W. Ihli, NetGalley, and Dynamite Books for the opportunity to read the ARC.

Thank you to Noelle W. Ihli, Dynamite Books, and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

4 Stars

***Please check trigger warnings***

This book is a rollercoaster of emotions. Miley is so strong and resilient. She was put through hell and back and still came out on top. Her relationship with Brent was complicated, but you could feel the love that they both had for each other.

"Pretending was tied to survival out here."

I felt for Mary. She went through so much. One minute she wanted to help Miley, but then she completely turned against her.

This one is fast-paced and character-driven. It is definitely one I will recommend.

SYNOPSIS
Miley is a winter Olympian athlete. Her sport/event is the biathlon. It’s summertime, and she’s working at a lodge in the Idaho wilderness for the offseason.
She’s kidnapped by two men, and she struggles to form a plan to survive.
Meanwhile, her Olympic partner and friend, Brent, desperately searches for her when he learns of her disappearance.
Note: this loosely based on & inspired by the kidnapping of real Olympian Kari Swenson.

MY THOUGHTS
Be sure to check out trigger warnings, as this story is packed with challenging topics.
This is my third book by this author, and I enjoy her writing style. She knows how to write suspenseful, nail-biting stories.
Very tense. Strong female main character.
Told in alternating POVs (Miley’s and Brent’s).
Miley has a lot going on, even before the kidnapping happens. I enjoyed learning more about her past trauma, and thought she was a well-written character.
The “bad guys” are extra creepy in this one to me. Idk, off the grid hillbillies are scary AF.
Very fast-paced.
Satisfying ending.

TL;DR: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️tense + strong female MC. bad guys are off the grid hillbillies. check trigger warnings!

Thanks to Dynamite Books and Netgalley for this digital ARC in exchange for an honest review. This book is out now!

Seriously, ten ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ if I could. This book had me in complete suspense from page 1, and I could. not. put. it. down. I’m a teacher and I was up until 1:00 a.m. on a school night because I needed to finish this! Noelle Ihli is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors. She is masterful with her storytelling and her ability to grip her reader from start to finish. This is easily now my favorite thriller ever read. I can’t wait for more from this author! Thank you so much to NetGalley and to Xpresso Book Tours for providing me with an ARC of this amazing book in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley & Dynamite Books for the opportunity to read and review this ARC!

I'm a few days late but this book was SO GOOD! It was released on 3/22/24! If you love abduction stories, this one is for you!

This book is fantastic! I read this book in one sitting since it had so many heart-pounding and nail-biting moments.
The storyline was amazing and believable and the plot was well-paced throughout the book.

Miley came off as realistic and not overly dramatic in her attempts to flee and bide her time. Given how much I like this book, I give it 4 stars because the conclusion left me wanting more! Not to give anything away, but it was dull. I was anticipating more drama towards the end. However, I must give our MC credit for what she accomplished; after reading it, you'll understand what I mean!

Well, THIS was a wild ride! Based on a true story, this tells the story of Miley, an Olympian who is abducted by two super creeps with the intent of her becoming the one’s wife. This was absolutely giving Deliverance with its eerie, backwoods abductors and the onslaught of violence and torture they put their captors through.

While enjoyable may not be the most appropriate word for this book, I definitely enjoyed reading it. It was fast paced, thrilling, and suspenseful. I’m glad I got my hands on it after seeing all the positive reviews! 3.5⭐️ rounded up!

Thank you NetGalley and Dynamite Books for an advanced copy of this ebook!

Thank you Netgally, Noelle W. Ihli and Dynamite Books for the ARC of Grey After Dark.

This book is a wild ride and calls to you when you are not reading to come back pick me up and continue. It was so heart crushing the things Miley insured the perseverance she had and the ending all were perfect and made a fantastic heart pounding book.

Do yourself a favor and read this book.

I…. Just… WOW. I am absolutely speechless after this intense, horrifying, traumatic thriller. I was hooked right from the prologue, and could not put this book down! Even more terrifying that this was loosely based on true events. Miley’s character was so resilient and strong, and I also deeply loved Brent and Wes. This book is packed full of triggers, so I highly suggest checking into those if you have any, but this thriller will stick with me for a long time.

Thank you NetGalley and Dynamite for my ARC in exchange for my honest feedback!

First I want to thank NetGalley, Dynamite Books, and Noelle W. Ihli for my ARC of Gray After Dark. Wow! Another great read from Noelle Ihli! The fact that this book was based on true events is terrifying to me.. I absolutely loved how strong and resilient Miley, Brent and Rayna were. This one had me from the prologue and I could not put it down! This one made me feel all of the emotions. Great read!

Riveting story about perseverance and survival. Miley’s story had me captured from the beginning. Noelle Ihli brings another amazing read!

Noelle Ihli never disappoints to create a fast- paced thriller. This one keeps you rooting for the MC ! The violence was a bit over the top and repetitive for me. Will read her again !

4 star read. This book centers around an abduction of an athlete by two off grid men who want to practically enslave her. Great hostage read, and the fact that it was based on a true story helped the rating as well.

Here is my confession…

Noelle Ihli, is hit or miss with me. Though her books are engaging and fast paced, they have a tendency to lack development and depth. “ Gray After Dark,” is no exception.

Here, we have Miley, who is a promising Olympic contender that spends her summer working at a Wilderness lodge. While out jogging one morning, she is kidnapped by a duo of men who take her back to their cabin deep in the woods…

And, now we have a storyline of survival. I will also mention, this story is based loosely on true events. Whether you are familiar with the Kari Swenson case or not, it really doesn’t make a difference in the read. The first part of the book moved slow, and nothing really happened until 85% or so into the book. I found many of the chapters insipid and only filler.

I will say Miley was a strong character, and her logical and methodical thinking were the only decent part of the book for me.

It’s a quick read. Entertaining enough, but for me forgettable.

Thanks to NetGalley and the Publisher for the advanced eARC in exchange for a honest review. All opinions are my own.

Wow! Where do I begin?! This book had me biting my nails. The fact that this story was based on a true story is terrifying. Miley showed so much strength throughout the story. Rayna’s character annoyed me for most of the story, however, she was just trying to survive herself. The real MVPs were Brent and Wes. Poor Wes deserved better.

This book was intense right from the start!!

Miley, an Olympic biathlon competitor, is spending the off season working at a fancy lodge in the giant Frank Church Wilderness. While running the trails early one morning before work starts, she comes across two backwoods, off-the-grid men-who abduct her and take her back to their remote cabin.

Likeable characters…and ones you will hate, fast paced, anxiety inducing, and inspired by actual events. Definitely recommend!!

Wow wow wow! Thank you so much Netgalley, Noelle W. Ihli and Dynamite books for the book copy of this amazing read. I'm not sure what I expected with this book but this by far surpassed anything I read expecting. What a thrilling and just all around emotional read. I couldn't put this book down and cried throughout. Then to learn it was loosely based off a true story. Just wow. Great writing and great story!!