I thought this book was quite repetitive and lacking the typical Crouch suspense of how things will work out for the characters. The plot was essentially, they trek and trek until they stumble upon a gruesome thing and find temporary shelter until something bad happens and they have to move. It happened several times and after a while, as grotesque and intriguing the story was, it felt almost boring and slow despite its short length. I've read much better Blake Crouch books, so this was overall fine.

Run by Blake Crouch
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After a couple days of reports of escalating violence around them, one family decides to go on the run. They need to avoid all people as they don’t know who is part of this violent group or why they seemed to turn on humanity in general.
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What I liked:
-If you love suspenseful books then this is going to be your jam. This story hit the ground running (literally) and was packed with tension.
-People chasing me could not have stopped me from finishing this book.
-I loved this imperfect little family who loved each other so much.
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5⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ After finishing Run I was in a book hangover. This is my fourth Blake Crouch book and it won’t be my last (especially since I am currently 20% into Pines).

2 stars to Blake Crouch's Run, originally self-published in 2011.

The premise of a post-apocalyptic event where those who witnessed an aurora borealis turn into crazed killers was right up my alley, but unfortunately everything else besides the general premise was a letdown. It read very much like a surface-level story, that needed more depth to the plot and characters and more insight into the apocalyptic event. The writing and pacing were also choppy, and the dialogue cringy at times.

This is my first book by Crouch, and although this one wasn't a hit, I won't let it dissuade me from exploring his other works, in hopes his writing and characterization has improved over the years.

Oooo This was a crazy story. I love how even though i may not be the most scientific Blake writes stories that anyone can keep up with. This was incredible I may have to reread it. It kind of reminded me of "The Violence" but in a good way. I just wanted to keep reading and ended up reading this in one sitting.

RUN by Blake Crouch is a fast-paced apocalyptic thriller that had me on the edge of my seat the entire time! He immediately thrusts us into the story, which came off as a bit confusing and disorienting, but I think that added to the mood he was trying to convey. The premise of this book is that there is an event which has led to mass chaos in the USA and people have begun randomly killing each other. It follows the family of Jack, and their plight to try and survive as they make their way from New Mexico to escape into Canada, which has been unaffected. The journey is perilous and gory, and underscores the theme of survival and what actions people will take to save their loved ones.

This was Blake Crouch's first novel that he self-published in 2011, and I was granted a chance to read a digital copy on NetGalley as this is getting re-released later this year. It is definitely more horror than I usually read and very descriptive, so if that isn't your cup of tea, I would suggest passing on this one. I will also say that it lacked the finesse that I love Blake Crouch novels for, and that could be due to the fact that it is a first novel, or just because it is relatively short in length. I did find that the events happened rather quickly, which helped with the fast pacing of the book, but also led to disbelief for me as the reader of "Again?! Really?! HOW many more things can go wrong?" Despite these flaws I could not put it down and read it in a day, and think it would make a great screen adaptation.

Big thank you to Random House Publishing Group and Ballantine Books for a digital advanced copy in exchange for my review. RUN by Blake Crouch is out 10/22/2024.

Thank you for this ARC. I love thrillers, especially thrillers that are realistic and you can put yourself in the characters' shoes, which is how this one started out, but as it unfolded it got too weird for me. Imagine the end of the world is coming, an emergency broadcast service has just read your name alerting others that they should come to your house and kill. you and your family, so you have no choice but to run, crazy, right? And that is what drew me in. The obstacles the family overcame were impressive and demonstrated how hard life could truly be given this scenario well. The main character, Jack, I liked a lot. He was a strong, loving husband and father who wanted nothing more than to be a man and provide and protect for his family, which is admirable. Even when he was down and out, if he had something and saw someone in need, he was willing to share, to help, which is also admirable.

But the far fetched and weird parts ruined the good for me. The guy the wife had an affair with previously was after her husband, okay, sure. The wife and kids survived and happened to arrive at the same place as their dad/husband. Sure. And the worst part for me is the ending. I wish that religious books came with some sort of warning in case the reader is not religious because had I known it was a religious book, I wouldn't have requested or read it.

First and foremost, I want to personally thank NetGalley and Ballantine Books for allowing me to read an ARC of this book! “Run” by Blake Crouch was originally self-published in 2011 as his first book. It is now going to be republished through Ballantine Books and rereleased on October 22, 2024.
I’m giving this book a solid four out of five stars! I LOVED this book! The only reason that I am not giving this five stars is because it definitely could have used some editing and reworking overall as the writing was a little rough. However, the story itself was incredible in my opinion. I have never been so engaged in a thriller before. This book never lost my attention or my focus, I was completely hooked from the first page!
I would highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys survival, apocalyptic thrilling reads. There should definitely be some trigger warnings to readers before diving in as the story is very gory and could be way too intense for some. Definitely give this a read!

Of course I loved this book. Blake Crouch is one of my top five favorite authors. I started reading this book tonight as I was about to go to bed. And now it is 3 hrs later and my adrenaline is high from finishing it. He grabs you from the first page and takes off at full speed. If you love intense thrillers, grab this one!

I was very excited to read this as an ARC being a huge fan of the author Blake Crouch. The story follows a family who is running from people who have been affected by the aurora lights and now are violent homicidal maniacs. I had never read an apocalyptic book before, but I was expecting to be anxiety ridden.
This story has a lot of suspenseful moments, I can imagine this is how people would react in this scenario which is frightening. The violence was jarring at times especially the scene with Jack lining up with the military alongside this giant hole. It didn't feel very fleshed out in terms of the plot, or dialogue. I would have liked to know more from what caused these people to change.
There was so much emphasis on the chaos and escaping one scenario for the next. It felt very much like the movie Birdbox except I wasn't invested in the characters.
Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing!

The suspense in this had me hooked start to finish. Cannot wait to read more of his work. 4 stars for me. I love a book that constantly has me guessing.

Another outstanding novel! I was immediately intrigued and hooked from the first chapter. I stayed up way past my bedtime to finish this book and I will say it did not disappoint. All the suspense and mystery has such a high pay out which is hard to find in books lately.
Coming from reading and watching Dark Matter recently, I will say that Run has a different feel to it, but in a good way! I felt like I was immersed into the Wyoming setting and simply felt apart of the story. Cannot recommend this book enough to everyone I come across who has watched Dark Matter lately.
Thank you for the opportunity to read this ARC!

An exhilarating ride filled with action! I love apocalyptic thrillers, so I was thrilled to read this book. "Run" by Blake Crouch is a fast-paced, dark Doomsday novel and a republication of an earlier work from 2011.

The book follows a family on the run after an epidemic of rage turns the affected people into vicious murderers who kill all those who weren't affected. Jack Colclough, a professor of philosophy, his estranged wife Dee, and their two children have to run for their lives after hearing on the radio that people are coming to kill them for some reason or another.

The epidemic has affected a large portion of the US and Mexico, leaving nowhere safe. Additionally, the power has gone out, so there is no electricity, no internet, and no cell phones. Combined with the killing rampage, the picture is dark indeed. Their harrowing journey leads them through burned cities, mass murders, and other horrific acts of violence as they search for a safe place to take shelter. What follows is one hell of a ride.

The story is told from the third-person points of view of Jack and Dee, and it plays out against a vast, unforgiving landscape. I love a good survival story, and this book certainly met my expectations. I loved the concept, even though it is not entirely original, and enjoyed the book very much. I have to say that I found the wife a bit irritating at first with her complaints every time Jack wanted to refuel the car. There were some repetitious sequences (running, fighting, finding bodies), but there was enough tension to keep the story going. There are some graphic scenes that some may find disturbing. The reality can be even more stark, though.

This is an action-packed tale that kept me turning the pages as I sat on the edge of my seat. It would make a great movie. It may be a "popcorn" read, but sometimes popcorn is just what the doctor ordered. The pace of the book is intense and pulls you from one action-packed event to the next without letting up. This keeps you on the edge of your seat, wondering what could happen next to our main characters.

Overall, "Run" by Blake Crouch is an intense and thrilling apocalyptic ride that keeps you engaged from start to finish. Despite some repetitive elements and graphic scenes, it’s a gripping survival story that fans of action-packed, suspenseful thrillers will enjoy. If you’re looking for a fast-paced read that will keep you on the edge of your seat, this book is a great choice. I highly recommend "Run" to fans of apocalyptic thrillers, fast-paced narratives, and survival stories. If you don't mind a bit of violent action, then this is totally for you.

Did much of the story feel unrealistic? Yes. Was I still on the edge of my seat the entire time? Yes! What a freaking adrenaline rush of a story!!!

This is a fast paced, fun ride thriller! It feels very in line with a fun weekend read or a beach read. I really enjoyed the story and following the family closely, the writing is easy to follow and not overly descriptive or meandering.

I feel that the book accomplished to be an entertaining thriller, which is what I expected from this storyline/plot. I don't think it is as memorable as some of Crouch's other novels but I could easily see the transition into a tv series or movie which is what I've come to expect from the author.

This story is not one that will "stay with me" and that's okay! I would recommend this to fans of Riley Sager - and I hope that Crouch continues to deliver fun, fast paced thrillers. It would be great to continue seeing competition in that space. I think for an October release near Halloween this is an excellent story that will give readers that spooky fun feel they are looking for!

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine | Ballantine Books for the ARC!

3.5 rounded up. Jack, his wife who is having an affair, Dee, and his daughter and son set off from Albuquerque as the U.S. starts to fall apart. Something has happened and several people are suddenly overcome with rage that compels them to turn on others on violent ways.

The novel is certainly thrilling in a bit of a speculative way. You are closely following Jack and his family through an intense nightmare of a violent journey. It's a fast ride, though I'm not sure it has the staying power of the author's other novels. This is a republication of a early novel published in 2011.

Thank you to Random House Publishing Group-Ballantine for an ARC on NetGalley. All opinions are my own. This book is due to be published 10/22/24.

Wow! This one was like watching a train wreck and you can’t tear your eyes away. Disturbing imagery but fell in love with the main characters.

Thank you for the opportunity to read and review this advanced copy of Blake Crouch's - Run. My review link is below. I 100% enjoyed this book from cover to cover. It sent me on a rollercoaster ride of emotions all the way to the end. Blake never disappoints!

Wow, what an adrenaline rush! The book begins with a dig into a burial pit of over a hundred massacred people. Then you step back in time and learn what led to this. You are dropped into the life of a family in Albuquerque, NM who are running for their lives and as unprepared as any of us would be. For some reason, connected to a special aurora, people have gone on killing sprees and the violence is escalating. It seems to be impacting the US where the lights were seen. The family can trust no one they come across and are heading north to Canada, which they heard was safe.It is one wild ride, fighting crazy people, dehydration, hunger, and exhaustion. This may be an early book, but it is intense!
Thanks to Random House Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine | Ballantine Books for the ARC!

"Run" by Blake Crouch is a heart-pounding thriller that grabs you from the first page and doesn't let go. The story centers on the Colclough family, who find themselves fleeing across the country when a mysterious and violent event turns ordinary people into relentless killers.

Crouch's writing is fast-paced and gripping, with a relentless sense of urgency that mirrors the family's desperate escape. The characters are well-developed, particularly Jack Colclough, whose determination to protect his family drives the narrative. The suspense is palpable, with each chapter raising the stakes and drawing readers deeper into the terrifying ordeal.

The plot is tightly woven, filled with twists and turns that keep readers guessing about the true nature of the threat and the fate of the characters. Crouch expertly balances action with moments of emotional depth, exploring themes of survival, humanity, and the lengths one will go to for loved ones.

Overall, "Run" is an exhilarating and intense read that will appeal to fans of dystopian thrillers and fast-paced action. Blake Crouch delivers a compelling and chilling story that keeps readers on the edge of their seats until the very end.

I've loved everything I've read from Blake Crouch so far, so I was ecstatic to be provided the opportunity to read it in advance in exchange for my honest review, thanks to Netgalley.

This is a rerelease of one of Crouch's first books, and it does lack some of the polish that make up some of his more recent titles. The book has that signature pacing that keeps you flipping the page to see what happens next, and it excels at building suspense and making you feel like you're on the run right alongside the main characters.

The book suffers in Act III, where the plot becomes a bit listless in its direction. I felt that it leaned a lot into coincidences and convenient timing across multiple scenarios that detracted from the realist survivalism that preceded.