⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨✨ (4.5)
Run
By: Blake Crouch
Genre: Dystopian Fiction
Format: eBook

It’s been recommended to me that I should read Blake Crouch so I jumped at the chance to read this in @netgalley.

This book was first published released in 2011/2012 (read two different stats) but was provided as an eARC with an October 2024 re-release.

Thanks to Blake, NetGalley and Random House Publishing for this copy!

Welcome to one of my worst nightmares, bands of murderous people stalking me and my family as we run out of food and water and supplies - no thank you!!

It felt similar to the idea of The Purge, but the madness continues for more than one night.

The book was so tense - I couldn’t relax while reading it!

Even though the bands of murderous humans are not zombies, this book had all the great qualities of a zombie apocalypse story.

The ending was … neat. That’s all I’ll say at risk of spoiling!

I started reading this book as I was laying down for bed, thinking I would fall asleep quickly since I wasn’t emotionally invested in the story at all. Let me tell you, I was wrong. I had to force myself to stop reading at 2 in the morning after finishing half of the book in one go.

This story is incredibly fast paced and I was hooked from the beginning. You follow Jack and his family running from.. well, everyone. There is an event that happens one night that impacts millions of Americans, and they start killing like crazy. It felt very much like The Purge but with a supernatural element to it.

I really enjoyed this overall, I just wish we had a little more context on “why” people were impacted. Like, we know why but we don’t know WHY.

RUN was a really great palate cleanser read for me, and I really enjoyed this overall.

This was a 3.5 star rating from me. When I got this ARC from Netgalley I thought it was a new Blake Crouch book and then was surprised to learn that this was an early self published work from him. It’s pretty standard societal collapse sort of stuff. It has his signature break neck thriller pacing and big heart and the idea of people all suddenly becoming enraged and killing others doesn’t seem far fetched in the current climate we live in, but overall it just felt familiar. Like I’ve read this a billion times before and that doesn’t make it bad cause he writes so damn well, but it didn’t blow me away like most of his other works. Still a fun, bleak, quick read.

Apocalyptic. An outbreak of violence. Jack and his family are desperate to stay together and alive as they’re being hunted by “the affected”. Fast paced. Scary. This is a wild ride..

Thanks for sending this to me, NetGalley!

Crouch develops another intense thriller that challenges the reader to think of what they will do to protect their family in an impossible situation. The story isn't afraid to tread into uncomfortable levels of threats to the family but the characters and setting are written so well that I read much later at night than I expected each time I picked up the book. Highly Recommended! Thank you Netgalley and Random House Ballentine Books for an e-copy of the book!

Note: This is a translated version of the original review posted in spanish:

Score: 3.3 Stars.
It's been over 4 years since I last read Blake Crouch, and it was now the time to enjoy another of his novels. Before starting the review, I want to thank Ballantine Books and Netgalley for approving the digital ARC of this book, in exchange for this review.

My first approach to Crouch's work was with the short story titled "Summer Frost", which is part of "Forward", Amazon's science fiction collection.
From that moment on I knew I wanted to read more of Crouch's works, and when I saw that his debut novel was being reissued, which was available on Netgalley, I didn't think twice about requesting the Digital ARC.

In Run, we will follow a family that lives in Albuquerque and must flee their home to try to survive an apocalyptic version of modern society. But what has happened here? We don't know yet, but what is certain is that people have become more violent, and they attack others for no reason, even ending the lives of their victims. This is how Jack and his wife make the decision to pack up as much as they can and flee with their young children to the north.

This will not be an easy task, and the family will have to endure hunger and many dangers, in addition to the great uncertainty of achieving their goal of surviving and staying together.

I am not a big fan of survival stories, and the reason is that I do not like to feel part of it. For example, I am sure that they would be among the first to fall into a situation like this, and I suffer when I see how the characters do everything possible to survive. The two children go through horrible moments and there are scenes in which you feel like your heart stops, because you wish that your body would not make the slightest noise that could attract the threats lurking in the darkness.

On the other hand, I found the explanation of why this violence breaks out throughout the country interesting. A new fear has definitely been unlocked in my life. I can't give you too many details because finding out what this is about was an interesting surprise. As for the ending, I wasn't entirely satisfied, but I didn't think it was bad either. Considering that this was the author's debut novel, I think it's an interesting start to his career.

Anyway, this has been a very interesting and entertaining read, recommended for those who are looking for an action-packed story that will leave their hearts racing as they read on. Now I'm really looking forward to reading Crouch's other novels, especially Recursion and Dark Matter.

A man and his family embark on a cross country escape to safety when a wave of ultra violence turns most of the population into ruthless killers. This book is a plot driven, edge of your seat thriller.

I believe this book is a re-release of an early Blake Crouch novel that was originally self published. I enjoyed this book as quick page turner. I found the characters to be a bit one dimensional, but in the way that action move characters are a bit one dimensional-- I dealt with it since I was there for the action! The book has a mysterious affliction at it's core which isn't ever explored or explained-- kind of a bummer, as that would have really elevated this as an interesting speculative fiction book for me. However, at it's heart this book is a rather simple story about one family, so I was happy to overlook this. Major trigger warning for violence and gore.

I was very happy to have read this book. It's one of my favorite types of books to recommend to folks who are not frequent readers, or readers of thrillers and/or speculative fiction. It's fast and engaging, so a perfect entree for non-readers. That said, there are other Blake Crouch novels I'm likely to recommend over this one.

Literally, once you open the book, you've hit the ground running with this fast paced narrative!
Not the most original plot, it is based on a nationwide apocalyptic event, but once you suspend your disbelief, it is nonstop high anxiety gore and entertainment.
Blake Crouch is my favorite science fiction author - "Dark Matter" being one of my all time favorite books. His storylines and characters are so well developed, each of his works have an excellent human interest aspect, along with mind bending, yet believable plots.
This is a quick read and would be a great book to have on hand while waiting during an endless delay at the airport - really takes your mind off everything else for a while....

4.5⭐️

Thank you Random House Publishing & NetGalley for this arc of Blake’s book Run.

This was SUCH an insanely good read! Blake knows better than most how to start off the story in a way that immediately grabs ahold of you and keeps the pages turning at high speed. You immediately resonate with the characters, recognizing their humanity and hard season of life they’re already in when the plot kicks in and see their character growth through the tribulations of the story!

Dark Matter was my first Blake Crouch read and I loved it from start to finish and Run has fallen right into line behind it. 10/10 recommend!

An apocalyptic thriller that will have you on the edge of your seat. Fast paced and not for the faint of heart.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest reviews.

"Run" by Blake Crouch is a fast-paced thriller that grips you from the start. In just a few days, the United States descends into chaos with a surge of brutal, senseless violence.

The protagonist, Jack Colclough takes his family on the run in a desperate race for survival. Crouch's writing is taut and intense, perfectly capturing the urgency and terror as Jack and his family flee their unknown pursuers.

everything by Blake Crouch is amazzzzing, and this book falls right in line!!! Dark Matter is one of my all time favorite books that really stuck with me and still think about to this day. This is a close second place for sure. 5/5 stars!!!!

Thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for my ARC in exchange for my honest review. This book was originally self-published but it’s being re-released this fall by Random House.

This is the fourth book I’ve read by this author. It started off strong - and weird - but a page turner. There was some event in the sky - an “aurora” - and those who saw the light became “infected” and started killing innocent people.

We meet Jack, his wife Dee and their children as the start to RUN away from the danger. Part Survivor, part Walking Dead and part terrorizing mass killings. The last third was just too much with chainsawing bones and point blank executions.

I will continue to read this author’s books. The newer ones have been much better! Maybe he just needed to refine his craft.

A fun and dystopian run through ice capped mountains. I enjoyed it. I believe this is a rerelease, and I'm curious how it differs from the original?

Crouch has done it again!!! 5 stars ⭐️ This book was so intriguing and gripping, I could not put it down! This authors writing is so intentional and keeps me guessing until the very end! If you read any of his books, please read this!!!

Run
Oh wow! I was NOT expecting this. While I have only read two Blake Crouch books, this one could not have been more different! This book was gorey, thrilling and had such a unique story line! I would definitely recommend everyone check this book out when it releases in December! Thank you Netgalley! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️from me!

This book had me reeling! It went from 0-60 so quickly! Honestly love the way Crouch directs the story with such intensity but enough flesh to where we get to know the characters and world as they know it.

Can wait to grab a copy! Thank you to the publisher & Netgalley for my ARC

Run is a nail biting and thrilling apocalyptic thriller where a family is on the run, trying to survive in a world where the sight of strange lights has led to deadly rage and murder. The odds are against Jack and Dee Colclough, their daughter Naomi, and son, Cole, as they flee, trying to survive after their names have been read over the radio and the family has been targeted for murder!

Run was initially published February 24, 2011 and has just been republished. I enjoyed the suspense, the fight for survival, the tension, the family dynamics, and the sense of dread which oozed from every page.

I found the title to be very apt. The Colclough family must keep running for their survival. Those who have seen the lights are trying to kill everyone. They don't know when or if they will ever be safe. Who can be trusted? What will happen when they run out of food or gas? What they do know is that they have to RUN to stay safe!

I felt for the family and their plight. I found this book to be a fast read which had me turning the pages, wondering what was going to happen next! Although I still had some questions at the end of the book, I found this book to be a thrilling and gripping read.

Holy cow was this a ride and a half, and I enjoyed every second of it! I love a dystopian horror, but Blake Crouch also delivers a family trying to survive together and I love it. It reminded me a bit of Dark Matter with the husband's love for his family. I absolutely devoured this book, and who wouldn't when every chapter is a cliffhanger?!? While I am seeing mixed reviews, I absolutely loved this novel.

Run by Blake Crouch - I was hesitant on this book because it really had mixed reviews BUT I try to form my own opinions. WOW! This book was the perfect thriller. It was action packed, terrifying, relatable and had so many plot twists. I read this book so fast because I could not stop, I had to see how it ended. This book was a wild ride - READ THIS BOOK!