I loved this book and miley.
I loved that it went off the grid and in the middle of nowhere.
That one had been missing for so long but working together this concluded to an end. I loved the ending.
I loved the additional book about rayna

“In, one, two, three, four. Out, one, two, three, four.”

Miley is an Olympic competitor who suffers a tragedy that affects her so deeply she loses her chance at a medal. Determined to do better at the next Olympics, she takes a job at a remote lodge in the mountain wilderness. There, she can train in beautiful surroundings and come to terms with circumstances in her life. One day on her run she’s abducted, taken deep in the forest and held captive. Inspired by the true story of Kari Swenson, a biathlete competitor, Gray After Dark is a stellar psychological thriller with depth, that will hold YOU captive!

Y’all this was so intense, my hands just wouldn’t let go of the book! The intense anxiety was so palpable, I need a massage now after all the tension. Noelle certainly knows how to build an overwhelming sense of dread that had me on pins and needles. I even held my breath a few times! Being in Miley’s head was both terrifying and inspirational. Some truly horrible things happen, but Noelle handles the subject matter and content expertly. Nothing is overdone, made graphic or included just for shock value. Little did I know there’d also be a beautiful love story. Not a romance, but a proper, know someone as well as you know yourself love story, that plays an integral part.

Gary After Dark hit all my targets! Atmospheric (a cabin in the woods is now solidified as one of my favorite settings), characters I care about, suspenseful, clever, poignant and inspiring! This isn’t a story of two deranged mountain men doing horrible things, although that does happen. This is a story about resilience, inner strength, fortitude and what it takes to survive!
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Thank you Noelle, for gifting me this stunning gem. I’m thoroughly enamored with your writing and must immediately read your backlist! Thank you also to Dynamite books and NetGalley.

Scroll down for potential spoiler content warnings.





























































⚠️Content Warnings: Stockholm syndrome, domestic violence, gun violence, Mention of pregnancy loss, infertility, and sexual violence

Holy smokes!!! This new release from Noelle Ihli is a heart-racing page turner if there ever was one!!! If you love a good survival trope that keeps you on the edge of your toes and turning pages to see what happens to the MC next, you'll love this one!!! It took a few chapters to set up, but once the action started, it did not stop!! Thank you NetGalley for this arc! #GrayAfterDark #NetGalley

Noelle can do NO WRONG. Every book I have read by her is automatically a winner.

Miley finds herself in a situation that is made up of the stuff of our nightmares. Will her strong will be able to get her out, or will the dark win? Find out in Noelle’s newest novel. Available on KU!

This book was incredibly gripping, captivating and more than a little creepy—the very definition of a thriller! Although I did guess at a couple of the twists along the way that did not take away from the engagement and enjoyment from reading this book.

This book was amazing, a page turner! I loved the dual povs and the fact that it was based on a true story. The only problem I had with this book is that I wanted more details one the ending, I felt there could have been a little more exploration there. Overall this was a gripping book!

First book I've read by this author. Fast paced and kept you on the edge of your seat for the entire ride. Will def read more by the author!

Gray After Dark follows the story of Miley, an Olympic athlete who has taken a job at a resort for the summer. While not her ideal job, Miley tries to make the most of her time there and goes for very early morning runs to improve her times and breathing for the upcoming Olympics. One day after a run she decides to take dip in the cold water but she isn't alone. When 2 men appear and demand she get out of the water or they will kill her, she does as they ask. The worst part is that no one knows where she went for a run that morning and no one will know to look for her any time soon. Will she escape? Will someone find her?

This is probably my absolute favourite read so far this year. The writing style is amazing and had me on the edge of my seat the entire time. While some parts were hard to read, I don't think the story would have had the same impact had these parts been taken out. This book definitely had my jaw on the floor numerous times and I really routed for Miley. I really liked the depiction of each character; I could really visualise each person, especially the 2 men who took Miley and the place where they took her (and the smell...urgh). This book had moments that made me uneasy, moments that made me angry, moments that shocked me and moments that made me smile. This is a fantastic read and I encourage everyone to pick it up. I read it in one sitting, it was that good.

Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for allowing me to read this for free. This was my honest review.

Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC. This book, like so many of Noelle Ihli’s kept me on the edge of my seat right up to the end.

I liked the plot and mst of the characters but I think maybe I’m looking for more original content. That’s just me. This is based on a real story. Some readers will love it. It horrifies me with daughters.

Noelle W. Ihli. You will never fail to write a book that has me SAT.

When I tell you I let out an actual scream when I saw that I had been accepted for an ARC of this book… I mean it.

Gray After Dark follows Miley, who was once an Olympic champion but her dreams were cut short after a tragic accident. She decides that taking a job at a remote mountain guest lodge is the best place to recover and continue to train. When Miley goes for her morning run, everything changes. She’s kidnapped by two men and taken back to an isolated off-grid cabin where she is held captive. The danger continues to escalate and Miley has to decide whether to succumb to her captors’ demands of her or attempt a risky escape.

This was such a fantastic, nail biting and fast paced read. I expected nothing less from Noelle but this has definitely become one of my favourites of her works.

I think what got me the most about this book is that, this could happen to you. You could very well become Miley and that is enough to make you question that morning run or that walk to your car alone at night.

Noelle is definitely one of my favourite writers and I will happily consume anything that she writes.

I finished The Final Scene not too long ago and when I noticed that both mention one another, I knew that Gray After Dark was going to be fantastic.

Thank you to NetGalley and Dynamite Books for providing me with this ARC. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Thank you to Xpresso book tours and NetGalley for this EARC.

There aren’t enough stars in the world to rate this book. I sobbed. Like a baby. To a thriller book. What? Why? I won’t tell you, silly. Read and find out.

This book is pure gold. It’s phenomenal, amazing, wonderful and any other positive words you can think of. It’s so well written. It’s gripping from the beginning. Like literally from the first page. Since there’s a prologue.

The prologue gives you kind of a small idea of what’s to come. After it goes in to something else I kind of forgot what the book was going to be about. But don’t worry. Shortly after I settled into what my mind tricked me into believing was a wholesome story about a woman who wanted to win gold at the Olympics, I was terrifyingly reminded of what the book was actually about.

The way this book had an icy hand gripped around my midsection is speaking to how good of a writer Noelle Ihli is. I felt genuine terror. The kind you feel as a woman walking down a dark road at night, hearing footsteps behind you. Genuine, pure terror. The writing is so good. What makes it worse? That’s it’s loosely based on a true event.

I can’t say enough: read this book.

Thank you Noelle Ihli for writing this.

Gray After Dark was a riveting read from start to finish. I had heard a lot of great things about the author, Noelle W. Ihli, in the past, but this book was my first opportunity to experience just how excellent she is at writing suspense.

The story follows Miley, an aspiring Olympic athlete who is violently taken while out on run, and held hostage by two psychopaths. It also follows her sort-of boyfriend, Brent, who is on a mission to find and rescue her. He is aided by Miley's coworker, Wes. Throughout the novel we watch Miley's attempts to survive and escape as well as her allies' attempts to find her. The book is based on the real life story of Kari Swenson, who was an athlete kidnapped in Montana in 1984. Readers should check trigger warnings because this book is quite intense and I can see how certain parts of the story might be upsetting for some to read.

This book is gripping from the very first chapter, which is a wonderful thing if you have a short attention span like me. It could be a great cure if you're in a reading slump. It also doesn't take long at all for the main part of the story to start rolling. At no point in this book was I ever bored or skimming through the pages. However, reading about Miley's harrowing experience gave me such a sense of despair that while I recognize this book is well written, it isn't really something I'm itching to read again soon. Overall, I would recommend this book to readers looking for a very dark yet thrilling tale of survival and fighting to save those your love.

This was my first book by this author. I went into the book not knowing anything about it. It starts out pretty slow and talks a lot about running and Biathlon training. I think I personally felt it was slow due to having just read another book about running marathons.

The story is told from dual points of view from Miley and Brett. He is Miley's best friend and training partner.

I loved the determination of both Miley and Brett as well as other characters. Some of the characters are despicable human beings and others are true friends.

This book comes with trigger warnings. If you can get past violence, it's a good book. There are a few parts that are cringe worthy.

If you like a survive against all odds type of story, then this is the book for you. The bonds of friendship and love make the hard parts easier to take.

Thanks to netgalley and Dynamite Books for the arc.

I received this eARC in exchange for an honest review. thank you to netgalley and the publishers!

I am so sad to say that I was a bit disappointed with this book. the plot was interesting but it was slow for about 90% of the book and when we finally got to the good stuff I felt it was extremely rushed. I also think this book could have been shorter and it wouldn’t have changed the story at all. finally, miley was just such an unlikeable character. i’m sorry but this whole thing could have been avoided if she just did the bare minimum of letting someone know where she was going.

Wow what a read!! It was captivating from beginning to end. Definitely had my heart racing a lot while reading it. I absolutely loved the characters and the ending! Sooo goood

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this ARC.

4.25 stars

It’s crazy that I read two kidnapping stories almost back to back (I guess I’m never gonna go outside again btw) because normally I don’t really like them.
This one had a very slow start, it really dragged on and my hopes weren’t high that it would pick up or be interesting at any time.
But after about 30% it suddenly got so interesting that i stayed up until 1am to finish the rest in one sitting.
Like damn!

First I’d like to say that this my second book by the author and I absolutely hated the first one. But this was such an improvement and they even included TWs this time!
Fair warning: these trigger warnings shouldn’t be taken lightly, there were moments in this book that made me feel nauseous.

I really loved how well researched it was and how the author told about the woman who inspired this novel. In true crime we often entertain ourselves at the expense of the real victims so I think this was really well done and respectful.
Miley was an amazing character and I loved her development over the course of the story. The real star here for me was Rayna. Such an interesting and twisting story really.

All in all if you’re into really dark thrillers this one’s for you. Also if you enjoy a good nature theme, are interested in preppers and liked the book “The woods are always watching” by Stephanie Perkins (mind you that book is a YA thriller and far from this book, the aesthetic and topic are just really similar).

This book keeps you reading until the wee hours of the morning. Miley and Brent have been friends since childhood. They are Olympic competitors. In the off season, Miley decides to apply for a job at the local resort. This may be the worst decision she’s ever made. She decides to run some of the trails to keep up with her training. One day Miley goes for a run on a trail, but never comes back. Brent knows that he will find Miley no matter what it takes. The terror that Miley endures while running turns this story into a nightmare. Miley wonders if she can ever escape this terror. This book is like a cat and mouse game. The story contains a lot of violence. But the author brings it into the story to show the readers Miley is desperate for help. I definitely recommend this book. It’s non stop action along with the thrills and surprises. Read this book, you won’t be disappointed.

Thank you for the ARC!
This book was so good I could not put it down. Loved the story and characters !

Noelle Ihli is quickly becoming a favorite author of mine. This is the second book of hers I have read and loved it! Thank you NetGalley for providing me an advanced copy of this book. It kept me on the edge of my seat the entire time.