Without giving a rundown of events which might spoil the plot for other readers, Blackstock has delivered another high starred read. Although first person, present tense POV has never been one of my favorites, it's a great way to be 'in the moment' as we run alongside Casey Cox who doesn't appear to fit the profile of a killer by a long shot. But there's too much evidence at the crime scene to ignore her and now she's missing.

Young, perplexing and resourceful, she stays off the grid in a way that baffles law enforcement. Dylan must think like her, dredge up every atom of her past in order to understand where she would go. Interviews with family members link us to Casey's background and her relationship with Brent, who may have had information on the death of her father. A weaving of POV chapters is an excellent way to see things from different perspectives and I think this is the part I value the most. Blackstock is a master of what makes people tick.

What Casey saw at the scene of her father's death could have been amped up a little - I wanted to feel it more than just seeing it. But since it was in the past, Blackstock may have opted for more visual description rather than visceral. I also wanted to burrow deeper into Dylan's emotion and behavior to gain a richer and deeper understanding of what he was going through - influences and social pressure etc. I think he would have been more 'complete' for me if this had been the case.

Nevertheless, I found this book to be a high octane ride, characters you root for, enough mystery and romance to make it engaging and a good balance of Christian values.

Many thanks to the author / Zondervan Fiction / NetGalley who furnished a digital copy in exchange for an honest review.

I received this from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This guy me right from the start. I love Terri's writing. I believe this is the best she has ever done. Casey is on the run after finding her friend dead. The question is why is she running. Then you have Dylan who is hired to find her. He is suffering from PTSD and serious questions about the current police department. So much suspense and incredible writing. Fabulous story!

A well-written book that kept me guessing. I enjoyed the main character who was losing her faith but ended up finding it in the most unlikely of places. A story entwined with suspense and redemption. I cannot wait to see where this story leads in the second book. I do, however, like that you could easily read book one and not HAVE read book two. However, I will definitely read the next book If I'm Found. I would recommend this book!

The main character was very personable & likable, as well as the detective on the road in search of her......I was disappointed that the ending came much too soon.....hoping to catch the next excerpt! Great storyline!! I would definitely recommend this book to a friend who likes mystery! Can't wait to read the ending!

I received an ARC from NetGalley for an honest review.

This book was like a breath of fresh air to me! I was in a frustrating rut of not loving the last 2-3 books I have read. This book was completely my speed and style, and better yet, it is the first part of a series, so I will be able to get more!

I blew through this book so quickly, and I was immediately left wanting more. Can't wait to read the next installment in this series!

If I Run by Terri Blackstock

A thriller with an innocent on the run and corruption in the police department.
It's an intense story and I found myself anxious in key moments. Very well written.
It's not a complete story. The book ends but it's obviously only Part 1.

The praying to God and mention of the Holy Spirit a few times dragged me out of the story. It wasn't obnoxious or preachy but it was apparent.
Will I read more by this author? Yes, I want the ending, but if it's a trilogy or more, I will wait for the last book to be released before reading more. I want a clean ending. This was a fantastic thriller. Breathtaking. But it doesn't have a conclusion.

I received a copy of this book via NetGalley

Very well-crafted story. It keeps you interested to the end, and then you are still thinking about the characters.
Can't wait to read more of this author

Suppose you found your father hanging in your home after school and you as a 12 year old child believed it was murder while everyone else said it was suicide? Now years later you find your best friend dead, murdered. Would you wait for the police?

The premise for If I Run is an interesting start about subverted justice. Casey is running across country one step ahead of the PI sent to find her. As he investigates her he begins to doubt she is the murderer. Can he find her before the police catch her? She is clever. He is dogged since it's his best friend who is down. A complication they both suffer PTSD.

A fast an entertaining read. Great for a sunny day at the park or rainy afternoon.

If I Run is one of the best books I've read so far on 2017.
I NEED a If I Run 2 book! Don't leave us hanging!
I loved it!

Casey Cox was only 12 years old when she found her father dead from what the local police called a suicide. Casey and her mother have never believed that. Casey knows what she saw. When her friend Brent, a journalist starts digging, he hits gold but when Casey goes to his house she finds him dead.

She knows if she stays the police will arrest her. Her footprints in Brent's blood are all over. She knows he was killed because someone found out what he was doing and what he knew. She can't trust anyone in the police department, so she runs.

Meanwhile Brent's family has asked his friend, Dylan, to investigate and find Casey. Dylan is a war veteran who is still trying to get a handle on his own PTSD and as he begins the hunt for Casey, he also begins the hunt for the truth. Even he doesn't believe what the police are saying.

Along this journey, Casey meets some really great people. People who have been through hard times, bad times, and have found comfort and guidance through their faith in God.

This was the first book I have read by this author. It won't be the last. Very well written and the characters were well rounded.

The storyline was good and moved fast but huge chunks of it were just entirely unbelievable. It didn't ring true to how someone would act and for me that just completely ruins a book. And then to have so much of this be about religious faith and spirituality - well...just wasn't my thing.

What a great thriller! Loved it from the very first page. Casey is such a great character you want her to run! This book had lots of suspense . A very quick read ! Loved it!

Had this been openly described as Christian fiction, I wouldn't have requested the ARC. Respectfully backing out of reviewing.

Imagine going to visit a friend and finding him dead in a pool of blood. What a shock and horror - slipping and sliding in his blood - trying to find out if he is alive. She's worried they will think she did it. Casey decides she has to run, or they will find her and kill her. She rushes to her apartment grabs only a few pieces of clothes, writes s check out for the rent, and leaves a note for the landlord to donate everything else to Goodwill. Then she hides her car in a parking lot. And takes a bus to anywhere that's opposite of Shreveport, Louisiana. Brent's best friend, Dylan Roberts, visits the funeral to pay his respects to Brent's parents and to say a final farewell to his friend. While there he runs into Detective Gordon Keegan. Apparently the Chief of Police wouldn't hire Dylan, because he was discharged from the Military Criminal Division because of his PTSD. Brent's parents decide to hire Dylan to find Casey and to bring her back to Louisiana for prosecution. Detective Keegan tells Dylan that if he is able to bring her back, there might be a spot on the force for him. Casey has decided that she must remain off the grid, so she buys bus tickets and gets off at various stops. She only uses the computer when she's at different locations and has purchased burner phones as well. Dylan decides to accept the job, and starts his research of Casey Cox. His research centers around Casey's father, who supposedly committed suicide and had served on the police force and what Brent must have uncovered. Dylan starts to follow the leads that he has, but Casey is proving to be a very smart person. Dylan is met with all kinds of opposition from the police force, as he continues to track Casey down. This gives him an uncomfortable feeling. Anyone who had anything to do with Casey's father's case is ending up dead. Did Casey really murder her best friend? Will Dylan find her and turn her over to the police department? Why is he not getting complete cooperation from Detective Keegan? So many questions and such mystery. I enjoyed the storyline and it kept my attention. The characters were very realistic and believable. I did feel that the ending was weak. I think that the story would have been much better if Dylan was able to connect all the corroborating evidence against the cop corruption in the case. And what actually happens to Casey?

Terri Blackstock does it again...a fantastic, fast-paced book that grabs you from the first page and doesn't let you put the book down until the very last word, and even then the story stays with you. Can't wait for the second book in this series!

I enjoyed the book. It was compelling, unputdownable, a page turner. There was almost no fluff and it kept flowing. You really care about the protagonist.

I did not know that this was a Christian book. I wouldn't have read it had I known, but I don't regret reading it one bit.

If I Run was a powerful page turner with fantastic plot development and great insight into different characters' thoughts. This book's action never stopped and I couldn't stop reading it once I started. I'm excited for part 2 in If I'm Found.

This is the first book I've read by Terri Blackstock, but it won't be the last, it keep me up late into the night. I enjoyed the suspense, the twists and turns and the writing style. Looking forward to the next book to see what happens to Casey and Dylan. I received this book from NetGalley for review and all opinions are my own.

Wow! I just finished this book (review copy via NetGalley) and all I can say is "Wow! Wow! Wow!" It's a rollicking ride from the first sentence to last period!

As a fan of Ms. Blackstock's work, I expected a well-written suspense, but this one really stayed with me! The plot sucks you in immediately and leaves you on the edge of your seat throughout. Christian suspense is probably my favorite genre, and If I Run does not disappoint! There are so many plot twists AND two stories in one, really (without giving away too much, the main character becomes involved in another mystery, while trying to solve her own).

The "good guys" are likable and the "bad guys" really are baddies (boo hiss). Though the book does not end on a traditional cliff-hanger, it's ties up one plotline, while leaving the other unresolved. Because it doesn't feel like it ends right in the middle of the action, this is forgivable, and it totally works, because I *so* want to read the s second book the instant it comes out!!

And, because it's Christian fiction, there are faith-affirming messages sprinkled throughout, and though a suspense novel with some unsavory elements to it (murder, etc....), nothing graphic takes place "on camera" so to speak, and no cringe-worthy language.

Chalk up another win for Terri Blackstock!