I’ve been sitting here in awe after finishing this book because I have no words. This was my first book by this author but I assure you I’ll be going to grab everything else she’s written as soon as I’m done here 😂

Finding out that Gray After Dark was inspired by true events made me love it even more. I could feel the fear and anxiety in Miley’s chapters and the desperation in Brent’s chapters. This book was incredibly well written, grabbed my attention from the start, kept me engaged the entire time and I definitely finished up with a true book hangover. Mark your calendars for March 22nd when this one comes out!

Thank you to Netgalley, the author and Xpresso Book Tours for the chance to read this ARC in exchange for my honest review!

Let me just say, this is the first book of Noelle W. Ihli that I’ve read and absolutely won’t be the last! From the first pages to the very last, I could not put this one down. It was wild and left my heart pounding but craving for more!!! I loved how the story was told in multiple POVs. My heart hurt for Mary!! And Miley was one of the bravest FMCs. When you’re fighting for your life, you don’t ever give up!!! If this is not on your TBR, then it should be — right at the top!!! Best five star read!!

Thank you NetGalley and Dynamite Books for advanced copy in exchange for my honest review!

This book reminds me of all the evil that lurks in this world, and makes me think twice before venturing off into the woods by myself. Ever.
Miley is an Olympic athlete that suffers an unspeakable tragedy in the loss of her mother. Her teammate Brent tries to keep Miley focused on the positives, (his feelings for her go beyond a friendship/teammate.) She isn’t ready to deal with any emotional ties right now, so she takes a summer job at a wilderness lodge in rural Idaho. The Frank Church wilderness is a character in itself in this book. It’s vast, it’s dark, and if you get lost in it, people are going to have trouble finding you.
Miley loves going for a run, one day she doesn’t come back. She stops for a quick dip in one of the alpine lakes and realizes she is not alone. Two men are standing with guns on the shoreline, cutting her clothes and demanding she get out of the water and go with them. These men are sinister. Sick, twisted men who live in the woods prepping for doomsday. This is where the nightmare begins.
Gray After Dark is told from Miley and Brent’s perspective. Brent isn’t ready to lose the love of his life.

This book is a harrowing tale of abduction, abuse, Stockholm syndrome, survival and hope.
It is fast paced and although there is one part of the book, I found kind of unrealistic, I thoroughly enjoyed it. It’s a tough subject matter, check your trigger warnings at the start of this book.
Noelle W. Ihli has done it again! I think her fans will love this one.

Thank you to NetGalley and Dynamite books for the opportunity to read this in advance.

I was really hesitant to read this because of the intense subject matter but thankfully Ihli kept me right on the edge of the cliff without falling off. The real terror comes from the fact this book is based on a true story. Once again I am reminded why I am an inside girl.

I've never understood why people put 'check trigger warnings' in their reviews and don't actually tell you what the triggers are. This story contains sexual assault (mild) physical assault (on page, intense) and pregnancy loss. I usually shy away from books like this but I'm glad I read this one. I really enjoyed Ihli's writing and will read more from her.

Noelle Ihli has written yet another fantastic thriller, that I couldn’t put down!

This story revolves around Miley, an Olympic biathlon athlete, who is trading for the 2026 games, while working in a remote forested area in Idaho.
While running her morning laps, she is abducted by two mountain men, and taken forcibly to their remote cabin.
What follows is the harrowing treatment she receives in captivity, and her will to survive, while unbeknownst to her, her boyfriend is out searching desperately for her.

This book is loosely based on an actual abduction in 1984.

Thank you to NetGalley and Xpresso books for the ARC. This is my honest and unbiased review.
5 stars.

Noelle W. Ihli delivers a heart-pounding thriller with 'Gray After Dark,' a novel that will keep you on the edge of your seat from start to finish. With its compelling storyline and vivid characters, this book is a definite 5-star read for me.

The story follows Miley, whose dreams of Olympic gold are shattered by a tragic accident. Seeking solace, she takes a summer job at a remote mountain guest lodge. But her plans take a terrifying turn when she is abducted during a morning run and held captive in a desolate cabin. As Miley fights for her survival, she must rely on her athleticism, intelligence, and courage to outwit her captors and escape the wilderness.

Ihli's writing style is captivating, drawing readers into the harrowing world of Miley's captivity with vivid detail. The tension is palpable throughout the book, keeping you on the edge of your seat as you anxiously await the outcome. The characters are well-written and compelling, particularly Miley, whose strength and resilience shine through even in the darkest moments.

One of the most compelling aspects of 'Gray After Dark' is its basis in true events, which adds an extra layer of realism and intensity to the story. While some parts of the book are difficult to read due to their graphic nature, they serve to heighten the tension and drive the narrative forward.

In conclusion, 'Gray After Dark' is a gripping and intense thriller that will leave you breathless. Noelle W. Ihli has crafted a masterful tale of survival and resilience that will stay with you long after you've turned the final page. If you're a fan of suspenseful thrillers, do not miss out on this one.

Thank you NetGalley for the free ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review!

Wow! Check trigger warnings on this one. This will definitely keep you on the edge of your seat biting your nails. Some parts were hard to read but overall a great book! I didn’t realize it’s based loosely on a real life event. That made it even more disturbing.

I have officially made Noelle W. Ihli a must read author. If she writes it I will be reading it. This was another edge of your seat book. It will have you biting your nails and give you anxiety. I felt like the characters were well written. I found out this was inspired by a real life story so that makes it even creepier. I was hooked from start to finish for sure! I would definitely recommend this book and her other books. Curl up with this wild ride of a book and ENJOY!

Thank you NetGalley and Dynamite Books for allowing me to read this ARC for my honest opinion.

Gray After Dark is every woman’s worst nightmare. Being abducted and held captive with only your own wit to survive. Noelle will have me looking over my shoulder for the foreseeable future.

I won’t be going into the woods anytime soon! But if I do, I’m bringing bear spray, GPS tracker, boots and a rifle! So terrifying this is inspired by true events. Exciting to cheer on both POVs and Noelle’s books always have me asking myself what I would do in that situation. Will continue to read this author’s work!

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this eARC.

Wow, a captivating story about a young female athlete training for the Olympics who gets kidnapped by a weird Deliverance Father and Son, a couple of survivalists who believe the end of the world is coming. Dad already has his "little woman" and now it is time for the son to get his newlywed, in the form of the woman they kidnapped and chained to their living room wall.

You won't be bored by this story!
Well-done and terrifying. Hang on for one WILD ride of terror.

I love that this book was inspired by a true story- I just wish I knew that while reading it instead of finding out afterwards 😝 I am a big fan of books that take place in the wilderness, so that was a win for me. It was definitely an adventure-packed storyline, but I wouldn’t necessarily portray it as a “thriller.” There weren’t really any huge twists, which left me wanting a bit more. Even still, it was a good, quick read. Word of warning: the physical abuse gets very descriptive at times so could be a trigger for some. 4 stars!

This is the first book I have read by Noelle W. Ihli and it absolutely won’t be the last!

Gray After Dark had me hooked from the first page and on the edge of my seat the whole time. Miley is tough as nails and I was rooting for her so hard! INTENSE is the word that comes to mind when I think about this book.

I gave it a solid 4.25 stars. For me it was a 5 star read until the end, it felt really rushed for me. Without adding any spoilers, I just didn’t like how everything was wrapped up in the epilogue, it just wasn’t how I like my thrillers to end. But aside from that it was a great read and it had me sweating and staying up late to see what was going to happen!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Dynamite Books for the free e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I am new to reading Noelle Ihli and I really enjoyed this story. I will be reading more by her in the future!

Miley is training for the next Olympics in the biathlon while she works in a bougie summer resort set in the mountains of Idaho. Early on, she encounters a moose, a shot and then some doomsday men at the edge of the lake she loves to cool off in after a hard run. The men capture her and force her to join them in their cult. Now Miley has to escape from these crazy men who are prepping for the end of the world. Will she escape?

The story is well written and the author does a good job immersing the reader into the beautiful wilderness, tension, and suspense of the setting. I loved the tenacity of Miley and the edge of your seat, fast paced story. Based loosely on a true story, this is a great read!

Highly recommend!

4.5 ⭐️

wow! i was thrilled when i got approved for this book on NetGalley. Noelle is my go-to author, and she has a knack for drawing you in and keeping you hooked until the very end. i thoroughly enjoyed this book and couldn’t wait to see how it would end. Noelle’s descriptive writing always gives me chills; her vivid imagery makes it feel like I’m watching a movie in my mind as i read. 👏👏

also, the mere notion that this book draws inspiration from the real-life events of Kari Swenson—where the perpetrators were glorified—stirs up intense frustration within me. Noelle consistently manages to evoke such emotions. 😂😂 the manner in which she transforms this remarkable tale of human resilience into her own narrative with fictional characters is undeniably praiseworthy, though some parts were hard to read. 🥺😮‍💨

the bonus pages are always amazing - it was all i needed for the book to end perfectly. 🥳

She does it again. Blown away by her books. They are fast paced and filled with action the whole way through!

I received this from Netgalley.com.

Well written, good read. Based on a true event makes this a very compelling thrilling read.

3.5☆

Gray after dark is a twisted, thrilling, heart pumping thriller. I read this book without really know what it was about. Let me tell you I was shook while reading it. Some of the content was hard to digest but played to the plight of the characters misfortune. I was cheering, shaking and cringing at the same time. I give this book 4.5 stars.

whewwwww this book stressed me out.. in the best way possible. literally could not put it down! such a crazy insane survival story, bad A woman lead, a little bit of love… oh, and it’s all based on a true story. Warning: you won’t want to go hiking or running alone ever (if you ever did before).

one of the best books i’ve read in awhile! definitely recommend!

Thank you NetGalley for the free ARC of this book in exchange for a review!

Gray After Dark is yet another great suspense thriller from Noelle W. Ilhi. While it wasn’t an easy read in that it was certainly horrific what they go through (as mentioned in the trigger warnings), I felt it was written very well and as tastefully as it could be while also painting the scenarios very clearly for me as the reader. One of the things I particularly enjoy about this author is her ability to pull me into a story very quickly and keep me on the edge of my seat from start to finish. While I enjoy a thriller full of twists and turns, I also enjoy a good suspense novel that keeps me turning the page and leaves no questions unanswered. I felt as though I could visualize this book in my head as if I were watching a movie and often times I don’t feel this way when I read thrillers, I feel details and clarity sometimes get lost in the plot, but that was certainly not the case here. Gray After Dark was the perfect balance of back story, details, and plot with a perfect ending that, without leaving any spoilers, I will simply say I loved.