I am typically a big blake crouch fan, but this book was unfortunately a miss for me. I had high hopes with the premise but the pacing, repetitive plot, characters made the original exciting story quite boring and I struggled to finish.

I hate to say this because I’ve enjoyed every Blake Crouch I’ve read so far, but this is by far the worse. It seems like such an interesting concept, and I enjoyed the beginning but then it just became boring. It’s super repetitive, and the wife is unbearable. So much could be done with a family on the run, it could have been a great survival story but it just fell flat.

Run by Blake Crouch is easily the best and most exciting thriller of the year! It starts with a curious and concerning opening scene followed immediately by an intense situation requiring rapid-fire decisions. Plot questions are answered at a great pace while the rest of the story unravels at full throttle. I hesitate to even summarize the book, because it’s great fun to just drop in to the puzzling story, but the main question asked is “what would you do if your family was in grave danger and you had to flee the safe haven of your home?” Go read this book immediately!

This is a very suspenseful, scarily plausible apocalypse novel. Written before he was a consolidated sci-fi author, I am not a huge fan of dystopian books, and I only picked this up because I love Blake Crouch. I was so glad I did! Exploring familiar themes of the good and evil in human nature, after a prologue that seems out of context, the story takes off with a bang. Jack is trying to run and take his family to safety. He doesn’t know what’s happening or where they’re going. They are so unprepared that I kept yelling at them (take the dead guy’s gun! Use snow for water!). This is where the plausibility comes in. Normal people wouldn’t know anything, they’d only try to save themselves and their loved ones. As they run, they keep going from bad to worse and every time their situation keeps getting more desperate, as they are forced to change. There was a little deus ex machina element sometimes, so that part was less realistic but, in general, they seem like real characters. I was really turning the pages as fast as I could. This is a really good, poignant and scary novel, perfectly written and paced.
I chose to read this book and all opinions in this review are my own and completely unbiased. Thank you, NetGalley/Random House Publishing Group – Ballantine.

Blake, what are you doing here?! I love Crouch’s Science Fiction book so I was excited to get the opportunity to get an e-Arc of this thriller (I think it must be a re-release because it looks like it came out 10+ years ago). But this thriller was just a huge miss for me.

The premise really intrigued me- something is happening to a large group of people where they suddenly become violent. You know, like an apocalyptic type read. So, should have totally been in my wheelhouse! But the format of this book drove me bonkers- have to fight/battle/escape the crazy people, survive, repeat literally like 50 times. Mind you it was also wildly disturbing, which is saying something coming from me. So yeah, I would pass on this if you like reading Crouch.

THIS BOOK GRABBED ME BY THE COLLAR AND SAID "HOLD ON TO YOUR PANTS, ITS GONNA BE A VERY BUMPY RIDE!"
Blake Crouch delivers again with this masterpiece!!!!

I loved this book, there was never a dull moment; so a family is on the run from a militia turned by a strange set of lights that appeared in the sky.
People who see them to go AWOL; turning into murderous killing machines without a iota of a second thought.
So this family have to stay ahead of these crazies, cos I for one know in this dystopian universe, I'd be long dead 😵‍💫.

We see them make the treacherous journey trying to find safety in a world that's gone bat crazy!!!!

💯💯💯 recommend this
5 sold stars!!!!
Thanks Randon House Publishing Group and NetGalley for this ARC!!!!! Beyond humbled 🙏🏾🙏🏾
RUN, OUT OCT 22nd 2024!!!!!

As a huge fan of this author, I'm sadly disappointed in this one. While dark and intense, it is unfortunately repetitive and tedious. I think Crouch fans can pass on this one without missing much. His writing is much improved from this one's original release. 2.5 rounded up.

This book was really intense. It is gutwrenchingly evocative, sad, beautiful, and will suck you in from the first few pages.
I'll be reading more books by this author.
Overall I'd rate it as 4 stars.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this ARC

I’m a HUGE Blake Crouch fan and was so excited to receive a copy of this from Ballantine, but unfortunately this one was a miss for me.
I found a lot of the book to be overly repetitive and it felt very tedious to read. The writing also wasn’t at the level that I’ve come to expect from Crouch, and the dialogue felt very clunky.

I hoped the ending would pull things together but unfortunately it just left me feeling more unsatisfied. I’ll definitely continue to read Blake’s books in the future but this one is a pass for me.

Thank you to Ballantine for sending me a copy of this one!
Pub date: 10/22/24

What a dark, yet captivating book. I enjoyed Run, by Blake Crouch. The characters were relatable, the plot was dark but also realistic, and the suspense was pervasive. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for my opinions.

Thank you to Netgalley for this E-ARC of this novel.

I had a hard time with Blake Crouch’s Run. Due to an initially unexplained incident, Jack and his family’s name have been listed on a list of people who are set for execution. Jack won’t accept this, so his family and he flee from their home for hopes of survival.

This book moved at a snail’s pace. At times it felt very repetitive. There is some good action, but the story wasn’t enough to keep me fully engaged. .

Sadly this book wasn't quite what I was expecting. I have enjoyed pretty much every Blake Crouch book that I've read and I thought the premise here sounded great. That being said, after requesting it I realized it's a re-publish and the story was originally published in 2011. It read like one of his first published works.

Much of the time the story felt repetitive, which led to predictability. Run, hide, survive, run hide, survive, over and over. Intrigue was building despite the repetitive nature of the action, but then the end??? How does it just end? It left me feeling dissatisfied. I think a lot could be done with this premise and this one was a miss, sadly. It makes sense that this is an older work of his and I guess they're republishing because of his current fame, but this one was probably best left in the past.

Blake Crouch is my favorite Sci-Fi author. I have enjoyed everything I've read so far. Run was so intense, from beginning to end. The Colclough's only had time to run when the power went out in the entire city and violent people are roaming the streets. This book as well as his other are written in a way that really made me think this could possibly be real life scenario. I think my only "complaint" was that I would have liked to know how or why this event happened.

I have mixed feelings about Blake Crouch’s “Run.” This was a previously self-published book in 2011, just before “Wayward Pines” trilogy made Crouch a well-known novelist. It’s one of those “read in one sitting” thrillers and it’s so adrenaline soaked there are very few moments when you find the time to breathe.

“Run” follows a family trying to reach the Canadian border from New Mexico during basically a zombie apocalypse. It reminded me of the films “28 Days Later” and the 1951 horror classic “The Day of the Triffids.” We’re following a terrified group of four (Jack, Dee, their kids Naomi and Cole) who believe an imaginary international line will save them from the mass murderers around every corner. But I realized I read it quickly just to be finished with it — I totally expected everyone to die a horrible death. I was exhausted and depressed throughout the entire chase. If you want continuous horror and fear, then you’ll enjoy it. I didn’t, but I recognized that Crouch’s writing talent was evident and he’s done much better since he wrote this. But sometimes resurrecting an author’s backlist isn’t the best idea. 3 stars.

Thank you to Random House/Ballantine and NetGalley for an advanced reader copy!

Run by Blake Crouch is an intense, fast-paced thriller that grabs your attention from the start, but it ultimately needs to catch up to its full potential.

The book opens with a gripping premise: a strange phenomenon triggers a violent, apocalyptic scenario, turning ordinary people into dangerous predators. The tension is palpable as the Hayes family races to survive, and Crouch's writing keeps the stakes high.

However, while the action is relentless and the pace rarely lets up, the plot becomes repetitive, and the characters need more depth to create a real emotional connection. The apocalyptic event's central mystery is intriguing but underdeveloped, which may leave some readers craving more explanation.

For those who relish high-octane thrillers, Run is a rollercoaster ride of adrenaline. It's a book that's more about the thrilling journey than a profound impact. If you're a fan of survival stories, this book is a must-read, but it's not likely to revolutionize the genre.

Run is a re-release of Blake Crouch's previously indie released novel but this time being released by a big publisher, Ballentine Books.

It's been five days since the United States changed. A constellation event seems to be the culprit, but is that really the reason for the random killings that are happening? Is that way massacres are taking place all across the country? One family is on their way to Canada, at any cost, to try and save their lives.

If you find pandemic adjacent novels triggering this novel isn't for you. If you're expecting something like Blake Crouch's more recent novels, this also isn't it. I liked seeing where Blake has come in his writing career. Run doesn't feel as tight in writing as his more contemporary novels. His talent for telling a family story is still very present all these years later in his writing. I feel like family tends to be at the heart of a lot of his stories. While I found Run very easy to read, I thought it got very redundant at times. Knowing Run was originally published in 2011, it's interesting reading now in a post-2020 world. There are things within it that doesn't necessarily feel so far off, which is really troublesome.

I know a lot of people like reading thrillers in the fall and this would easily fit the bill. It's fast paced and will keep you at the edge of your seat.

Thank you to Ballentine Books and Netgalley for a copy in exchange for review consideration.

This was a nonstop thriller from beginning to end. The only time the pacing slows is the only brief reprieve the family has the entire 30 days they spend on the run from people who have unexplainably gone mad and are mass murdering those who didn't. This title was originally published in 2011 so it is being rereleased. Trigger warnings, literally, as it sadly contains some things we currently see in our news so I don't suggest this for anyone trying to escape the genocide or cruel treatment of others we see in reality. The thriller definitely borders on horror like a Stephen King novel. Compared to Crouch's more recent books it was much darker and gruesome so some readers may not enjoy this as much as his more sci-fi type genre books. The style of writing is different as well, sometimes sentences not being complete but more like train of thoughts. There aren't really chapters either. This worked to keep the tension and action moving. I felt the constant fear the characters did, holding my breath until the very end as we are on the run with this family of four. The book is mostly a post- apocalyptic style narrative and really makes one question the things we would do to protect the people we love. I enjoy these what-if scenarios and often like to see the various ways in which they try to survive or the things you don't always think about. I also thought their family relationship and marriage was interesting to delve into, and that these books are often reflective despite it being a lot of action and violence too.

First of all, thanks to Netgalley and Random House/Ballantine for letting me read an eARC of Run by Blake Crouch. Run was a non-stop thrill ride of a novel that maintained its gloomy post-apocalyptic atmosphere for the duration of its length. The characterizations were the best part of the novel and absolutely made you invested in the drama unfolding. Run is an easy recommendation for people who love tense and dark thrillers.

Thank you Netgalley & publisher for this e-arc of Run by Blake Crouch.

Synopsis: "Run" is a chilling thriller that captures the essence of suspense and horror, a post-apocalyptic tapestry. The novel opens with a series of gruesome and unconnected murders sweeping across the United States, escalating rapidly into nationwide chaos. As society crumbles, the narrative zeroes in on Jack Colclough, living in Albuquerque, New Mexico, with his wife and two children. In a terrifying turn of events, Jack hears his name announced on the Emergency Broadcast System as someone marked for death, plunging his family into a desperate fight for survival. As power grids fail and killers mobilize, Jack’s only option is to run. Crafted with Crouch’s signature grip on nerve-wracking scenarios, "Run" explores the depths of human fear and resilience in the face of unfathomable threats. This journey is not only a test of survival but also a deeply immersive experience into what it means to protect one's family at all costs. The book includes a bonus interview with Blake Crouch and excerpts from his other works, making it a compelling read for fans of horror, thriller, and suspense genres.

Like all Blake Crouch books, I plowed right through this in one day, giving it 4-5 stars like all his books, but it wasn't as great as his last few. So, it made more sense when I read that this was actually from 2011. I liked the main characters. I am into post-apocalyptic genres right now and have read 3 recently. While this was not the best of them all, it was still a 5-star read for being an easy, fast read.

Genres/Themes: Horror, Thriller, Fiction, Suspense, Science Fiction, Post Apocalyptic, Mystery, etc.

I recommend this to Post-apocalyptic thriller lovers and fans of Blake Crouch books.

***A big thank you to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for an ARC of this book!!***
A strange natural light display appears over the sky of the United States…some people are asleep or just miss it. The people that see it are overtaken by its beauty and know that the people that didn’t see the lights will never be able to comprehend the beauty of them….and for that, they must all die.

This is the backdrop of this Blake Crouch thriller (originally released in 2011) that focuses on a particular family of 4: Jack(dad), Dee(mom), Naomi(daughter) and Cole (son). When the crisis begins, Jack and Dee’s marriage is hanging on by a thread. They are going to have to work through their differences if they want their family to make it through the nightmare alive and in one piece.

Anyone looking for a detailed explanation as to what causes the lights to occur or what exactly they did to the human minds that were affected will be disappointed. Everyone else will have an absolute blast digging into this family on the run survival story that is all about the family members and what they will do for each other in the face of their worst nightmares come to life. There is some truly gruesome imagery on display here, so this one might not be for the faint of heart or readers who are easily triggered.

The book has a lot of tropes/cliches that pop up but it never detracts from the story. It reminded me a lot of the original Mad Max and the Tom Cruise War Of The Worlds. Crouch is a fantastic writer and I highly recommend this and all of his other works!!