Run, by Blake Crouch, is not for the faint of heart. It has to be one of the most brutal, graphic stories I’ve read. Scene after scene of people killing or being killed, with lots of gross mutilation populating the book. I even debated not bothering to finish it. It was that dark. I did finish it, but I’m sorry I bothered.
Something has happened and the country is in chaos. Folks have turned into rabid-dog killers. The reader isn’t initially privy to what has launched this epic destruction. And once we do learn, it’s still kept very vague and never explained in any fashion that offers any meaning.
The story is primarily told from the perspective of Jack Cloclough, a professor at University of New Mexico. The radio is listing those to be killed and he hears his name. He loads his family into the car and heads off into the unknown; just trying to keep himself and his family alive.
It’s a fast paced survival tale. It started off fairly strong and I reveled in the tension. But then there were just too many improbable OTT scenes and coincidences up the wazoo coupled with no true meaning. There are also some fairly large plot holes that have to be overlooked. And after a while, the survival theme became a little repetitive, that whole trying to stay one step ahead of the killers. I might have felt this had some redeeming value if there was a point beyond the importance of familial love. Oh, and apparently an apocalypse does wonders for a failing marriage.
The good news is that this was apparently Crouch’s first book (self published which might tell you something right there). It’s now being re-published thanks to his success with his later books. He has definitely improved as a writer and I urge you to give this one a miss and just read his more recent offerings.
My thanks to Netgalley and Random House/Ballantine Books for an advance copy of this book.

This book gripped me from the first page and didn’t let go until the very last page. Non stop action . A families fight to stay alive and stay together. In the danger and chaos they find that having one another is all that matters.

Realizing this is a re-release of Crouch’s first self published novel helps ease expectations. For those like me who have come to know and love Crouch through some of his more recent traditionally published books like Dark Matter and Recursion, this will feel different. More crude and raw without the deep character definition and structure that Crouch has come to be known for— and that makes sense.

At the same time, you can see how Crouch’s distinctive voice and manner of storytelling has always been there from the start, before it was sharpened and honed a bit. The sci- fi and thriller blend that has become a signature of his is present here, yet in a way that shows a lack of refinement in terms of balancing the two.

That said, this was still captivating, with moments that had my heart racing, and scenes that made me squirm and just a tad uncomfortable, which are par for the course with any Crouch book. There’s the barest of rough sketches that set up a world caught in turmoil and upheaval, a mysterious plague of violence that reshapes cities and towns, creating a mad max-esque apocalyptic feeling.

The barely there outlines of the what or how this kicks off gives Crouch a lot of freedom to move the story and pacing however he sees fit, building tension with fast paced moments of brutality and survival, then taking his foot off the gas entirely and giving us some moments of reprieve and rest that recount the wildness of the desert and woods, the moments of quiet where the characters can count their breaths and remark back on all that’s changed. And while the characters have hints of back stories, they’re left overall very surface-level. How Jack knows how to do all he does is unknown, and the premise for why they first have to abandon their home is also left vague, but the overall heart and theme of the story is there and it’s enough to satisfy as an engaging thriller. The vagueness and lack of clean, crisp answers may frustrate some, but I didn’t mind it.

The ending has some good notes and some that felt unfinished, but it was fun to see how Crouch ties this up and where all the characters would end up. You can see the maturity in his writing and also the characteristics of how he always leaves that little bit still untold. It’s never a clean, concise, ending with Crouch books and this is no different. Overall, I enjoyed seeing how far the author’s writing has come and appreciated a fast-paced thriller that felt a bit different than the usual mysteries.

This book was intense and fast-paced; it felt like you were thrown into the deep end right away. I believe there could have been a more gradual introduction at the beginning.

I couldn't help but think it wasn't particularly special. Though it was entertaining, it was also unmemorable. The writing was jumbled, too detailed, and filled with extraneous details. In addition, I found the level of graphic brutality to be overwhelming.

Regretfully, I disliked the story's main characters to no end. The son seemed like he may become a fascinating character, but he too turned out to be dull. The mother and father were boring, the daughter played little to no role in the story, and  was uninteresting.

Even though I didn't enjoy this book as much as I did Dark Matter or Recursion, I would still suggest it to anyone who enjoy dark, suspenseful fiction and don't mind graphic violence.

Run is a gripping apocalyptic thriller which tells the tale of a family’s fight for survival. This novel is filled with gasp-inducing shocks, gut-churning gore, and twists you’ll never see coming!

It’s interesting to see how far Blake Crouch has evolved with his writing. As his debut novel, it’s definitely a different style than some of his more popular titles such as Recursion or Dark Matter. Run combines horror, dark suspense, and sci-fi thriller to create a rather graphic and violent story that keeps you hooked.

When you pick up this book, you’re definitely in for a wild ride!

Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for the opportunity to read the re-released version of this digital ARC. All opinions expressed are my own.

Wow. It’s not very often a feel as much emotion reading a book, as I did with this one. I was on the edge of my seat with so much anxiety, and even cried (which NEVER happens!).
This is survival story that follows a family of 4 during an apocalyptic event. One night something happens that affects only the people that experienced it. And divides the country.
This story was so exciting, fast paced, action packed, but also so touching, and character driven in a way that made me REALLY care about the outcome of this family.
I didn’t realize this story was originally written in 2011, and I only now being released in the US. I’ve been a fan of Blake couch for years, this one cemented him as an auto buy author for me!

This was an edge of your seat thriller from Blake Crouch! The premise reminded me a lot of The Purge movies but Crouch lends the story a lot more depth with his character development. This ended up being more of a story about the people, and how humanity shows up (or doesn’t)! This is different from the previous books by the author that I’ve read, but I enjoyed it nonetheless.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for this arc copy .i don’t think this one is for me I got about 20% of the way through. I want to read other books from this author especially dark matter I loved the show but this one unfortunately I could not get in to. I think I will go back and try again eventually but for now I had to put it down

I am a big fan of Crouch. Dark Matter and Recursion are books that I recommend to people all the time. And I loved Wayward Pines. So I awas predisposed to like Run....and I did!

Run is a lightning fast apocalypse-in-progress chase story. Our main characters are on the run from...well...almost everyone. And they have no idea what's going. It is only as the book unfolds that we get a hint of why most of the United States has gone feral.

The story moves quickly and the emotions are high. I cared very much about the characters by the end of the book and I was invested in what was happening to them.

Crouch has some themes and motifs her comes back to over and over again- and they are all here. This is an earlier work, so the storytelling isn't as polished as in some of his later works. There was one plot point towards the end that made me roll my eyes at its implausibility, but it didn't kill my enjoyment of the book.

All in all, another enjoyable book by Blake Crouch.

Run reminds me of one of those horror movies where anything that can go wrong, does. I had no idea what to expect with this one, as it was my first Blake Crouch novel, but I really enjoyed it. It was gory, suspenseful, terrifying, and exhilarating. It’s truly like a car crash you can’t look away from!

This was very much a Crouch book. He does dystopian fiction that feels real so great. This book was no different. I wasn’t expecting the level of detail in some of the more gruesome scenes but still a great book.

I've said it before, but it deserves repeated: I will read anything this man writes.

While Run was not my favorite of his work, (Recursion still holds that title), I definitely enjoyed it and was on the edge of my seat for most of it.

Thank you Netgalley for the opportunity to read this one.

First off, thanks to NetGalley for the ARC!

I really really enjoyed this book. Blake Crouch sucked me in with “Dark Matter,” so I had a feeling I would be hooked pretty quickly once I started this one.

The premise of a family having to survive and navigate an apocalypse brought about for seemingly unknown reasons is interesting and provides plenty of action, but the family itself is what got me hooked. The characters are imperfect and as such felt real.

Maybe it’s just where I am in life but I had no trouble whatsoever seeing myself in the main character and feeling all the fear, rage and responsibility that came with the task of keeping his family alive. I definitely got emotional a couple of times, especially near the end.

This is for sure grittier than “Dark Matter,” and almost leans near the horror world a bit. If you want to a read that feels like a fast paced movie that still has heart, this one will do the job!

I was immediately caught up in a gripping and intense narrative that explores the lengths a parent will go to protect their family. Crouch's writing style is both immersive and propulsive, keeping me on the edge of my seat as the story unfolds with relentless tension. The premise is captivating following a family that suddenly finds itself targeted in a terrifying game of survival and I appreciated the way Crouch layered suspense with emotional depth, making me genuinely care about the characters.
However, while the pacing was generally fast, there were moments where exposition felt slightly clunky, pulling me out of the otherwise exhilarating flow. Additionally, some plot twists felt a bit familiar, leading to predictability in certain key areas.
Despite these minor setbacks, Run is a thrilling rollercoaster ride that left me breathless, and it's a testament to Crouch's ability to blend heart-pounding action with meaningful stakes.

This book confirmed two things for me.. 1. I do not have the strength or willpower to live in a world described in this book. And 2. Even if I did, I wouldn’t want to.

Is it the best apocalyptic thriller ever written? No. But it is intriguing and the constant anxiety of the story kept me reading. The characters kind of sucked and some of their “trials” felt a little far fetched and impossible to me, but I guess I can’t say what is possible in a time like this.

The part about Donald absolutely gutted me though 🥺 it’s super interesting to read one of Blake Crouch’s first books now after reading other of his books first. His writing has definitely improved but this was still a great, quick, read!

Thank you NetGalley and Penguin Random House Publishing Group- Ballentine for an e-ARC of this book!

I initially rated this 2.5/5, but this was a quick read, and the ending was a surprise I wasn't expecting.

Run follows married couple Jack and Dee and their two children as they navigate surviving what seems to be an apocalyptic event where mass murders are happening all over the country. We've seen this storyline before, however, Crouch's approach to setting up the characters and story was done well. If one of the objectives was to make readers dislike Dee as much as possible -mission accomplished! She was the least likable character and expected Jack to make the impossible happen as they overcame different obstacles while trying to make it to safety. Overall, it's one of those stories you can read in a few hours, it's fast-paced and has a bit of a surprise at the end.

Thanks to Netgalley, Random House Publishing, and Blake Crouch for the ARC!

Run is a fast-paced apocalyptic thriller following one family's epic fight to survive. I love Blake Crouch, and his writing never fails to captivate. Despite the fairly standard dystopian storyline, I couldn't put this book down.

Was the story original? No.
Was the book wholly entertaining? Yes!

You will like Run if you like...
📚End of the world speculative thrillers
📚Body gore/fight to survive
📚Complex character relationships
📚High-stakes drama

Writing Style 4.5/5
Characters 4/5
Plot 2/5
Readability 5/5
Gut Rating 3.5/5

I received an ARC from NetGalley in anticipation of the book's re-release in October 2024.

⭐️ 𝔹𝕆𝕆𝕂 ℝ𝔼𝕍𝕀𝔼𝕎 ⭐️
Run by Blake Crouch
My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

sᥡᥒ᥆⍴sіs:
Five days ago, the epidemic of rage began.

Four days ago, the rash of senseless murders swept the nation.

Three days ago, the president addressed the country and begged for peace—even as the murders increased tenfold.

Two days ago, the killers began to mobilize.

One day ago, the power went out.

And tonight, the killers are reading the names of those to be killed over the Emergency Broadcast System.

Jack Colclough is listening over the battery-powered radio on his kitchen table in Albuquerque, and he just heard his name. People are coming to his house to kill him, his wife, his daughter, and his son.

He has no idea what’s happening, or why, but the time for questions is long past. 

His only chance is to run

mᥡ rᥱ᥎іᥱᥕ:
Run was the first book he wrote in which he self published. He’s now republishing it through a publishing house so it gave me a chance to read it through @netgalley .

While reading I could definitely tell it was an earlier book by him but I still loved it so much. The plot and characters weren’t as complexed as in Dark Matter or Recursion, but Run was face paced and stress inducing. At every turn I really didn’t know what was going to happen to the family. I could not put the book down, every single page was packed with suspense.

I recommend this book for a fast paced thriller that you won’t be able to get enough of.

America is in chaos. The power is out, there are no cell or radio signals, and people have turned violent for no apparent reason.

Run is an apocalyptic thriller that follows Jack Colclough and his family as they run for their lives.

While this type of storyline is a little out of my box, I found it intriguing . . . but also a little slow and gory. I think this book is better suited for those who enjoy the sci-fi genre.

I would like to thank Ballantine Books, Blake Crouch, and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

5 days ago it was like a switch flipped. Brutal murders started happening and it's progressively gotten worse and more chaotic. Now the killers have banded together and have a list of those they are after. So, Jack and his family are on the run. They don't know what caused all this, but they do know to save their lives, they must get out now.

When I saw on Netgalley with a release date of August 2024, I requested it without even reading the synopsis. I loved Dark Matter, Recursion, and Upgrade so Blake Crouch has earned his status as an auto read author for me. Since I thought it was a new Crouch novel, I was a little confused because it didn't feel like the same vibe, but it was compelling so I kept reading. It wasn't until I was 75% in and I went looking for clarification on something that I saw that this is a rerelease of a previously self published title. So this book isn't the same kind of speculative sci-fi that I loved in those other novels, but it still has the heart and compulsive plot I love in a Blake Crouch book.

If I had read the synopsis I might have not picked this one up. If I had read reviews, I likely would have avoided it. But this book, like all the other Crouch I have read, sucked me in. It kept me awake at night wanting to read AND laying in bed scared thinking about what if I was in this situation. I was IN IT.

This book is gruesome and horrific and graphic. If you have any sensitive reader bones in your body DO NOT pick this up. But l could not look away. I was on the run with Jack and his family and even though I didn't want to see the horrific things they saw, I endured it all with them.

Thanks to Ballantine Books for a digital copy. All opinions are my own.