I was intrigued by the blurb and once I got into the story, I felt a bit bored. The story dragged and I considered putting it down and coming back to it, but ended up skimming towards the end. It did pick up towards the end, however wrapped up and jumped to the epilogue pretty quickly.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for allowing me to read the ARC of “Gray After Dark.”

This book is inspired by true events of an athlete abducted by a father and son in the woods.

I absolutely loved this book. I loved it more than I thought I would. I didn’t feel like there was any pages that were ‘fluff’. Every word had its spot in the story, and it kept me hooked. I couldn’t wait to keep coming back to this book. To top it all off, the author is a Murderino for any of you familiar with the podcast My Favorite Murder. This is my first book of Ihli’s, but I will definitely be reading more from this author.

This was a true page-turner, and I read it in a day. I was riveted by this story. Miley’s determination to survive and her willingness to do whatever it took to escape her captors. was admirable, as was Brent’s devotion to her. I don’t want to say more about the characters and plot because I think a reader should just jump in and go for this thrilling ride. I recommend heeding the content warnings the author includes at the front of the book, especially about the violence.

I finished the book on a day... I work full time too but still got it done because I simply could not stop reading it. Noelle Ihil sure knows how to write!! I was HOOKED in the first few pages.. And the prologue had me even moreso like 😵‍💫🤯 this book was incredible. The characters. The storyline. The details. I felt like I was there (sometimes scarily enough). Thank you for being an incredible author and creating works of art like this!! 10 out of 5 stars!! And Thanks to Dynamite Books and Noelle W. Ihli, Author for providing the ARC!! The pleasure was all mine to read this incredible book!

This thriller grabbed my attention within the first several chapters. It got its hooks in and wouldn’t let go! I became even more interested in the story as I learned it was inspired by true events.

Miley “Miles” is an Olympic biathlon racer (cross country skiing/target shooting) and she takes a summer job in the Idaho wilderness at a bougie lodge resort. During her off hours she runs & trains. Local stories about a former lodge employee who went missing and bears do not stop her from her runs in the remote wilderness. Her work and training is put to an end when she is taken by a father/son pair who live off grid in the forest.

The story is told from alternating points of view, that of Miley and that of her teammate, Brent. The alternating points of view give the reader a great 360 degree view about what is going on. Both Miley and Brent are smart, determined and strong. Their tenacity and drive make them super likable characters. The strength and determination of Miley in particular is very excellent to read about and I found myself rooting for her from page 1.

This book certainly delivered an adrenaline rush and left me always hungry to know what the next move was. This novel is definitely for those who enjoy thrillers, especially with a strong female main character. Furthermore, I think this book will appeal to lovers of general fiction!

Thanks to Netgalley, Noelle W. Ihli and Dynamite Books for the opportunity to read the e-version of this book before release for an honest review in return!

What a gripping, nail biting terrifying ride! Thoroughly enjoyed that and struggled to put it down. The fact it was loosely based on a true story just added to the thrill of the read. Well done to Noelle Ihli for writing another cracking thriller!

Thank you to NetGalley for my Arc copy.

What a ride! This book is amazing!
So tense, nail bitting, that will keep you on the edge of your seat!

It’s the type of book that will keep your anxiety in check, I can tell you that.

Fast paced, so intense, very well written and with characters that will keep you so engaged the entire time.

This book was inspired in a true story, which makes it even better.

Thank you so much NetGalley and Xpresso Book Tours for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Out today! Highly recommended!

Wow what a great story. Miley is an Olympic biathlete who, after a traumatic event, has taken a Summer job in the forests of Idaho.

What happens from there is a flurry of action, horror, fear and anxiety. This book had me ‘just reading one more chapter’ well into the night!

I loved the way Noelle wrote and the fear and hope you felt for the main character. I can’t wait to read more of her books. Thank you to NetGalley for the chance to read this advance copy.

Five glowing stars here! Wow wow wow.
What an engaging plot!! I generally enjoy these darker themes so it’s no wonder I picked it up, but wow!
I was there for every second of the story!
The main character was really relatable even with her being an athlete. Everything she went through was rough and real. Kudos to the author for going there!

If I was looking at this story critically, I only wish the ending wasn’t so rushed. I wanted some more of those delirious thoughts during that walk back.

Run run rabbit run…

SUCH A GREAT BOOK!
Easily one of my top 10 for the year!

Get your hands on it NOW! Based on real events, this book is a major page turner that you won’t want to put down! This might be my new favorite from this author!

Thank you #NetGalley and #XpressoTours for the ARC.

Gray After Dark by Noelle Ihli — 4.5/5 stars

Thank you to NetGalley and Dynamite Books for an early copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion!

Happy release day to this one!! It was gripping, it was nail biting, it was… enraging. The storyline for this one starts off a little slow as we are meeting the characters and familiarizing ourselves with the setting. Don’t let that deter you at all because once the scary stuff starts happening, you’ll sweat the rest of the way though. The way the author creates such deep feelings of fear and dread as we follow the main character is masterful. You never know what is going to happen on the next page because these characters are so unpredictable, and that’s what kept me hooked the entire time. The topics in this book are dark and heavy, but the main character is such a badass that you’ll be cheering for her the entire time. Abduction stories can be hard to pull off sometimes, but the author did an amazing job at allowing you to feel hopeful for the main character while still keeping that dreadful underlying tone of fear and intensity. It also has pretty good character development in certain areas that I enjoyed watching unfold. I didn’t realize that this story is based on the true story of Kari Swenson’s abduction, so I did shed a few tears at the end of the book. A heartbreaking story with a beautiful hero at the end.

“By then, I’d be gone. Either tearing through the forest at a dead run-or just plain dead.”

“Bang, bang, bang goes the farmer’s gun…run, rabbit. Run, rabbit! Run, run, run.”

Screw you, Hamish and Fred. And any other guy that thinks women are “men’s property” and should be “tamed.” The suspense this book had me in was amazing. The fact that this story is based on true events is mind blowing. So freaking glad Miley and RAYNA got their happy endings! Would def recommend to go read this book, now.

Gray After Dark ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I might be a little traumatized, but it was SO worth it!

This book follows Miley, an Olympic biathlon competitor, who deals with a lot of emotional trauma after losing her mom. During her off-season she goes to work at a resort near the Frank Church Mountains. While on a morning run, she gets kidnapped by some Mountain Men who consider themselves as the last real men left and are looking for a wife before doomsday happens. While she is there she has to be “tamed” before they trust her. She’ll act “tamed” while she’s plotting her escape. As days go on, Miley begins to wonder if she will ever get to make it out alive.

I liked this book a lot. While it was hard to read at times, the resilience and determination that Miley had was remarkable. The writing style was good and I loved the dual point of view and short fast- paced chapters. Even though this book dealt with hard topics, I think it was written in the way that was handled with care and the desperations were handled with caution. This book based off the story of the Olympian Kari Swenson who is kidnapped in Montana in 1984.

If you like thriller/mystery, then you’ll like this. It’s out now (happy pub day!) so go check it out! Thank you to NetGalley and Dynamite Books for my advance readers copy. This is my honest and voluntary opinion.

Absolutely gripping and filled with terror. I devoured this in 24 hours. Miley is a fantastic character who faced down depravity. 5 stars.

This author has a real talent for building suspense and creating perilous storylines that keep your heart pounding from start to finish. I loved the main character Miley with her humble background and drive to succeed. Those traits lend perfectly to the horrifying circumstances she finds herself in while held captive deep in the wilderness with a slim chance of being rescued. Fair warning, once you start reading this book, you won't be able to put it down.

This book is an absolute masterpiece. I could probably write a whole novella on how good I think Noelle Ihli is. This is the third Ihli book I have read as I'm working my way through her list and I'm speechless every time.

Survival thrillers are my favorite subgenre of thrillers, and it's exactly for reasons like Gray After Dark. It's a pulse-pounding, gut-wrenching, heart-breaking story and action that you just cannot put down. This one was darker than the other ones I've read from Ihli so far, but I absolutely loved it more for that. I kept telling myself, okay, she's not going to do that right? It's not going to go that dark right? But she did. And it does. And it's so freaking good I legit can't stop talking about it.

She writes such good female characters. Do they sometimes make bad decisions? For SURE, that's how they get into these predicaments in the first place, but through it all, these are some of the most well-written, strong-willed females I've ever read. Miley is no different in Gray After Dark, and I found myself continuously impressed on how she just wouldn't give up, even when they tried to take everything from her, and even when they did take everything from her. I was so dialed in to Miley and her story, I cried when she cried. I cried when she didnt cry.

The character development as a whole is top tier. Miley and Brent were very consistent throughout, but some standout characters for me were my sweet baby Wes and Mary. My heart just ached for them. Even Hamish had character development, unfortunately. In the beginning at least, I found myself almost having sympathy for him. But Fred has three abuse victims, not just two, and I really like the way the book highlighted that so well, but then takes it further from there, until Hamish is almost unrecognizable.

I'll stop myself or I'll be here all day. Noelle Ihli is an instant buy author for me, the ONLY thriller author I've ever given five stars to (twice!) and has absolutely cemented a place on my favorite authors of all-time list.

Thank you for blessing us with your talent 😌

Happy Pub Day to Noelle Ihli and Gray After Dark!

Summary:
Miley is an Olympic skier, recovering from an injury, who takes a job at a mountain guest lodge for the summer. While on a run, Miley is abducted and brought to a secluded cabin by her two attackers. Told in alternating POVs of Miley and her best friend Brent, who is searching for her. Gray After Dark is a high stakes and super intense thriller that will have your heart pounding!

Review:
4.5 stars
Gray After Dark is based on a true story with fiction elements and just knowing that made this story even more high stakes for me. I felt so connected to Miley's character and could feel her drive and determination to escape from her captures. There was an element of "kept woman syndrome" that was very well done in this story. This is the second Noelle Ihli book that I have read and she does a fantastic job at creating high pressure and high stakes woods scene that have your heart pounding. I found myself holding my breath and even cried at the end! The way I was rooting for these characters is a testament to how well Noelle wrote them. I highly recommend picking up this book today!

Thank you to NetGalley, Dynamite Books, and Noelle Ihli for this ARC of Gray After Dark in exchange for an honest review!

💥 HAPPY PUB DAY!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

• fast-paced thriller
• dual perspectives
• remote setting

A heart-pounding story of survival! I really enjoy the author's writing because it's so captivating. I went through so many emotions while reading. Don't miss the Author's Note!

🗣 Thank you to Noelle for the opportunity to read and review your book via gifted eARC, and also to @netgalley! All opinions are honest and my own.

WHAT A BOOK!

Absolutely fantastic! This book took me on a whole rollercoaster with my emotions and kept me gripped throughout.

Highly recommend!

Fantastic book! Its filled with so much twists, thrills and tension your heart will beat fast with butterflies in your stomach and until you know what happens next! Definitely a page turner! Well written with short chapters too! I highly recommend to all thriller lovers! You won't want to miss this one!