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Run
5 D A Y S A G O
A rash of bizarre murders swept the country…
Senseless. Brutal. Seemingly unconnected.
A cop walked into a nursing home and unloaded his weapons on elderly and staff alike.
A mass of school shootings.
Prison riots of unprecedented brutality.
Mind-boggling acts of violence in every state.
4 D A Y S A G O
The murders increased ten-fold…
3 D A Y S A G O
The President addressed the nation and begged for calm and peace…
2 D A Y S A G O
The killers began to mobilize…
Y E S T E R D A Y
All the power went out…
T O N I G H T
They’re reading the names of those to be killed on the Emergency Broadcast System. You are listening over the battery-powered radio on your kitchen table, and they’ve just read yours.
Your name is Jack Colclough. You have a wife, a daughter, and a young son. You live in Albuquerque, New Mexico. People are coming to your house to kill you and your family. You don’t know why, but you don’t have time to think about that any more.
You only have time to….
R U N
This 80,000-word novel also contains a bonus interview with Blake, and excerpts from his other work.
A rash of bizarre murders swept the country…
Senseless. Brutal. Seemingly unconnected.
A cop walked into a nursing home and unloaded his weapons on elderly and staff alike.
A mass of school shootings.
Prison riots of unprecedented brutality.
Mind-boggling acts of violence in every state.
4 D A Y S A G O
The murders increased ten-fold…
3 D A Y S A G O
The President addressed the nation and begged for calm and peace…
2 D A Y S A G O
The killers began to mobilize…
Y E S T E R D A Y
All the power went out…
T O N I G H T
They’re reading the names of those to be killed on the Emergency Broadcast System. You are listening over the battery-powered radio on your kitchen table, and they’ve just read yours.
Your name is Jack Colclough. You have a wife, a daughter, and a young son. You live in Albuquerque, New Mexico. People are coming to your house to kill you and your family. You don’t know why, but you don’t have time to think about that any more.
You only have time to….
R U N
This 80,000-word novel also contains a bonus interview with Blake, and excerpts from his other work.
331 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 24, 2011
About the author
Blake Crouch
80 books54.5k followersBlake Crouch is a bestselling novelist and screenwriter. He is the author of the forthcoming novel, Dark Matter, for which he is writing the screenplay for Sony Pictures. His international-bestselling Wayward Pines trilogy was adapted into a television series for FOX, executive produced by M. Night Shyamalan, that was Summer 2015’s #1 show. With Chad Hodge, Crouch also created Good Behavior, the TNT television show starring Michelle Dockery based on his Letty Dobesh novellas. He has written more than a dozen novels that have been translated into over thirty languages and his short fiction has appeared in numerous publications including Ellery Queen and Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine. Crouch lives in Colorado with his family.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 2,603 reviews
May 18, 2018
Well that was painful…
I loved Dark Matter and the Wayward Pines series so I might be extra salty here but, if I hadn’t read these books before this one, I would have DNFed it after a few pages.
The premise was intriguing. People that saw an aurora borealis go crazy and kill people. Okay. I like post-apocalyptic books… But the premise was the only good thing here. That and the fact that the author is good keeping you at the edge of your seat but… The writing, the characters, the dialogues… were just straight up bad.
I'm not a violent person and I would never wish harm to anyone... but I was hoping the children here would die. There were insufferable.
The ending was not satisfying at all. I wouldn’t recommend this to my worst enemy.
I think I’ll stick to reading his newer books from now on because they were much better.
I loved Dark Matter and the Wayward Pines series so I might be extra salty here but, if I hadn’t read these books before this one, I would have DNFed it after a few pages.
The premise was intriguing. People that saw an aurora borealis go crazy and kill people. Okay. I like post-apocalyptic books… But the premise was the only good thing here. That and the fact that the author is good keeping you at the edge of your seat but… The writing, the characters, the dialogues… were just straight up bad.
I'm not a violent person and I would never wish harm to anyone... but I was hoping the children here would die. There were insufferable.
The ending was not satisfying at all. I wouldn’t recommend this to my worst enemy.
I think I’ll stick to reading his newer books from now on because they were much better.
October 13, 2024
Alternatively titled “Riding around in my automobile”
Although filled with spooky vibes, the plot (goal) was ill defined with the main characters wandering about exclaiming, “Ah! Ah! Ah!” (paraphrasing)
The characters are also underdeveloped. Why should I care about Jack and family? Even some of the standard tricks weren’t utilized. For example, readers usually cheer for the character that they start with. However, the book doesn’t even start with Jack.
But put away your pitchforks. This was Crouch’s first novel, and he has evolved as an author. For reference, Philip Pullman’s first book was so bad that he doesn’t even like talking about it, and it mysteriously disappears from his biography.
Everyone has to start somewhere. In Run, you can see the seeds of Crouch’s brilliance, but it just isn’t all there yet. And it will. It will. Check out Recursion, Dark Matter, or Upgrade!
*Thanks, NetGalley for a free copy of this book in exchange for my fair and unbiased opinion.
The Green Light at the End of the Dock (How much I spent):
Electronic Text – Free/Nada/Zilch through NetGalley
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Although filled with spooky vibes, the plot (goal) was ill defined with the main characters wandering about exclaiming, “Ah! Ah! Ah!” (paraphrasing)
The characters are also underdeveloped. Why should I care about Jack and family? Even some of the standard tricks weren’t utilized. For example, readers usually cheer for the character that they start with. However, the book doesn’t even start with Jack.
But put away your pitchforks. This was Crouch’s first novel, and he has evolved as an author. For reference, Philip Pullman’s first book was so bad that he doesn’t even like talking about it, and it mysteriously disappears from his biography.
Everyone has to start somewhere. In Run, you can see the seeds of Crouch’s brilliance, but it just isn’t all there yet. And it will. It will. Check out Recursion, Dark Matter, or Upgrade!
*Thanks, NetGalley for a free copy of this book in exchange for my fair and unbiased opinion.
The Green Light at the End of the Dock (How much I spent):
Electronic Text – Free/Nada/Zilch through NetGalley
Connect With Me!
Blog Twitter BookTube Facebook Insta My Bookstore at Pango
May 19, 2024
I was SO excited to get this ARC because I love this author. I've read two other books and rated them highly. This one is apocalyptic and disturbing. Exactly the type of book I love. It was highly entertaining. It was fast paced with never a boring moment. From the very first page, it was full force apocalyptic mind blowing action. We were thrust into this world of chaos where everyone was trying desperately to survive.
The story follows a family of four who has to flee their town suddenly - in the middle of the night. There is chaos all around them. All they know if that a large portion of the US and Mexico are affected and going on massive killing sprees. It's like everyone all of a sudden woke up and became murderous psychopaths. Jack, his wife Dee, and their two kids Naomi and Cole, embark on a perilous journey to safety without even knowing where safety is. It's a story of survival and the lengths they will go to save themselves and their loved ones.
While I loved reading this book, I couldn't help but think that it's not very unique. It was highly entertaining but also forgettable. This plot has been done many times and nothing about this story really stood out to me as amazing. Its a super quick 80,000 word story and I would recommend it to anyone that wants a quick entertaining read.
Thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for letting me read this book in exchange for my honest review.
The story follows a family of four who has to flee their town suddenly - in the middle of the night. There is chaos all around them. All they know if that a large portion of the US and Mexico are affected and going on massive killing sprees. It's like everyone all of a sudden woke up and became murderous psychopaths. Jack, his wife Dee, and their two kids Naomi and Cole, embark on a perilous journey to safety without even knowing where safety is. It's a story of survival and the lengths they will go to save themselves and their loved ones.
While I loved reading this book, I couldn't help but think that it's not very unique. It was highly entertaining but also forgettable. This plot has been done many times and nothing about this story really stood out to me as amazing. Its a super quick 80,000 word story and I would recommend it to anyone that wants a quick entertaining read.
Thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for letting me read this book in exchange for my honest review.
June 25, 2018
I have seen lots of good reviews and lots of bad reviews for this one. I am a little nervous to recommend this as some people whom I thought would love it, hated it.
So, proceed with caution, but . . .
I thought it was excellent, exciting, interesting, suspenseful, mysterious, etc., etc., etc.!
I think what hit home with me is that a lot of it took place in places in Wyoming and Montana where I used to live, work, and travel. Because of this I could see what the characters were seeing very well.
One thing that I thought was weird, though, was that even though he referred to many cities, roads, and national parks by their name or designation, they obviously went to Yellowstone, stayed at the Old Faithful Inn, and watched Old Faithful, but that was one place where he did not refer to anything by name. It stuck out to me as very odd.
But, that was just a small oddity in and otherwise great book. I can definitely say I will be checking out more Blake Crouch in the future.
So, proceed with caution, but . . .
I thought it was excellent, exciting, interesting, suspenseful, mysterious, etc., etc., etc.!
I think what hit home with me is that a lot of it took place in places in Wyoming and Montana where I used to live, work, and travel. Because of this I could see what the characters were seeing very well.
One thing that I thought was weird, though, was that even though he referred to many cities, roads, and national parks by their name or designation, they obviously went to Yellowstone, stayed at the Old Faithful Inn, and watched Old Faithful, but that was one place where he did not refer to anything by name. It stuck out to me as very odd.
But, that was just a small oddity in and otherwise great book. I can definitely say I will be checking out more Blake Crouch in the future.
February 15, 2017
Too dark. Too quiet. Everything wrong.
This one grabbed me right by the nose hairs and would not let go. What you have here is a helluva of a thriller. Is it particularly believable? Maybe not. Did I care? Nope.
The world has gone completely crazy. Cities are burning, people are being shot en masse. There's nowhere to go, but you can't stay where you are. Get food, water, gas . . . and RUN!
Not sold on the ending, but the ride getting there was a real trip.
This one grabbed me right by the nose hairs and would not let go. What you have here is a helluva of a thriller. Is it particularly believable? Maybe not. Did I care? Nope.
The world has gone completely crazy. Cities are burning, people are being shot en masse. There's nowhere to go, but you can't stay where you are. Get food, water, gas . . . and RUN!
Not sold on the ending, but the ride getting there was a real trip.
Read
January 13, 2023Holy hell, I can't believe I read this so fast. Now any Blake Crouch book is going to be a marathon read for me because the man has to end EVERY SINGLE CHAPTER WITH A CLIFFHANGER. But I read this book in 1 day because I just could not stop.
What amazed me about this book is that even though it is the 8th Crouch book I've read, I think this is his most family-centric book yet. He always puts importance on families and loved ones in his novels but this book has more "dad shit" in it than I ever expected with a story like this.
From the very first chapter this book takes off like a freight train and does not let up until the final chapter. Never a dull moment and an absolute thrill ride. But I will say that if you are married with young kids this book will hit you so much harder than if you do not. I've seen reviews saying the kids are "annoying" and I wonder if they've ever been around kids. Naomi and Cole handle these extreme situations like absolute champs and I was worried for them the whole story as I would my own kids.
While it may not be as polished as his current novels and this story isn't going to hit anyone as incredibly original, if you love a non-stop flight that puts characters you'll end up loving in constant danger you're going to fly through this one.
What amazed me about this book is that even though it is the 8th Crouch book I've read, I think this is his most family-centric book yet. He always puts importance on families and loved ones in his novels but this book has more "dad shit" in it than I ever expected with a story like this.
From the very first chapter this book takes off like a freight train and does not let up until the final chapter. Never a dull moment and an absolute thrill ride. But I will say that if you are married with young kids this book will hit you so much harder than if you do not. I've seen reviews saying the kids are "annoying" and I wonder if they've ever been around kids. Naomi and Cole handle these extreme situations like absolute champs and I was worried for them the whole story as I would my own kids.
While it may not be as polished as his current novels and this story isn't going to hit anyone as incredibly original, if you love a non-stop flight that puts characters you'll end up loving in constant danger you're going to fly through this one.
May 24, 2024
Most people may think I always look on the bright side and rarely write bad reviews, even calling me a Pollyanna-type reviewer who views the world through rose-colored glasses, with Disney hummingbirds and colorful butterflies flying around my head! Well, my moon is in Sagittarius, and maybe I do try to see the good in everything I read. And when it comes to one of my favorite sci-fi authors, I can be biased, even though there are really mixed reviews, including some one-star ratings, on Goodreads.
I just jumped at the chance to read “Run” as the title promised a heart-stopping, adrenaline-pumping, mind-numbing journey! Luckily, I also watch “Dark Matter” (in my opinion, the author’s best work) on Apple TV+, which is also adapted by Blake Crouch. (I wish it were a movie instead of a series or that the episodes were shorter.) So, it seems I’m dedicating my whole week to a tribute to Mr. Crouch!
Let’s talk about this book: Firstly, I know opinions are subjective and vary from person to person, but I didn’t find anything terrible about this book to warrant two stars. Honestly, I cannot rate this book less than four stars! I enjoyed the pacing, intriguing concept, aurora borealis-focused sci-fi plotline, and action-packed scenes. I had no problem with the characterization or dialogues. It was a thrilling, popcorn read that I was fully invested in and finished quickly.
I know this book is one of the author’s earlier works and isn’t on the level of Dark Matter, Upgrade, or Wayward Pines, but it’s still well-written, riveting, and keeps you on the edge of your seat as the mystery holds your interest. If you like fast-paced, heart-throbbing, smart sci-fi thrillers and are a devoted fan of the author, I advise you to give it a chance—you won’t be disappointed in the end.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group/Ballantine Books for sharing this heart-throbbing thriller’s digital review copy with me in exchange for my honest thoughts.
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I just jumped at the chance to read “Run” as the title promised a heart-stopping, adrenaline-pumping, mind-numbing journey! Luckily, I also watch “Dark Matter” (in my opinion, the author’s best work) on Apple TV+, which is also adapted by Blake Crouch. (I wish it were a movie instead of a series or that the episodes were shorter.) So, it seems I’m dedicating my whole week to a tribute to Mr. Crouch!
Let’s talk about this book: Firstly, I know opinions are subjective and vary from person to person, but I didn’t find anything terrible about this book to warrant two stars. Honestly, I cannot rate this book less than four stars! I enjoyed the pacing, intriguing concept, aurora borealis-focused sci-fi plotline, and action-packed scenes. I had no problem with the characterization or dialogues. It was a thrilling, popcorn read that I was fully invested in and finished quickly.
I know this book is one of the author’s earlier works and isn’t on the level of Dark Matter, Upgrade, or Wayward Pines, but it’s still well-written, riveting, and keeps you on the edge of your seat as the mystery holds your interest. If you like fast-paced, heart-throbbing, smart sci-fi thrillers and are a devoted fan of the author, I advise you to give it a chance—you won’t be disappointed in the end.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group/Ballantine Books for sharing this heart-throbbing thriller’s digital review copy with me in exchange for my honest thoughts.
Follow me on medium.com to read my articles about books, movies, streaming series, astrology:
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October 5, 2024
What a post-apocalyptic triller! Blake Crouch has once again combined action, family drama, and a terrible world where everything has gone wrong in his novel
Run.
With senseless brutal murders, killers mobilizing, power out in many places, and names of those to be killed being read on the radio, Jack Colclough, his wife Dee, and their children Naomi and Cole run for their lives. The setting starts in New Mexico, but most of the events occur in Wyoming and Montana.
Once again, the author has created an adrenaline-pumping thriller that kept me rapidly turning the pages. The prologue was initially difficult to see how it fit in, but it eventually becomes clear. The premise was intriguing with a different take on how the situation occurred and rapidly got out of control. How do you get food, water, and gas in a world gone mad? Where can the Colclough family go and find safety? After a slower start, the action soon picks up and doesn’t stop until the epilogue. My main quibbles are that the characters don’t have as much depth as I would prefer and resolution was too abrupt. Despite this, it was a riveting novel with a lot of violence in it. Readers should be aware that this is a re-release of one of the author’s earlier novels.
Overall, the storyline gripped me and kept me engaged throughout the novel. If you enjoy post-apocalyptic thrillers with plenty of action, then I recommend that you check out this book. I am looking forward to finding out this author writes next.
Random House Publishing Group – Ballantine and Blake Crouch provided a complimentary digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own. The publication date is currently set for October 22, 2024.
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My 4.19 rounded to 4 stars review is coming soon.
Once again, the author has created an adrenaline-pumping thriller that kept me rapidly turning the pages. The prologue was initially difficult to see how it fit in, but it eventually becomes clear. The premise was intriguing with a different take on how the situation occurred and rapidly got out of control. How do you get food, water, and gas in a world gone mad? Where can the Colclough family go and find safety? After a slower start, the action soon picks up and doesn’t stop until the epilogue. My main quibbles are that the characters don’t have as much depth as I would prefer and resolution was too abrupt. Despite this, it was a riveting novel with a lot of violence in it. Readers should be aware that this is a re-release of one of the author’s earlier novels.
Overall, the storyline gripped me and kept me engaged throughout the novel. If you enjoy post-apocalyptic thrillers with plenty of action, then I recommend that you check out this book. I am looking forward to finding out this author writes next.
Random House Publishing Group – Ballantine and Blake Crouch provided a complimentary digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own. The publication date is currently set for October 22, 2024.
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My 4.19 rounded to 4 stars review is coming soon.
November 2, 2024
Run is a totally different storyline than I was expecting, and much better as well. What an intense plot, as a family of 4 runs for their lives from any and everyone. Worst part is, they have no clue why they are being hunted, or who, if anyone, can be trusted.
Best description. . .a relentless free-falling sci-fi/apocalyptic thriller worthy of a definite revisit.
Best description. . .a relentless free-falling sci-fi/apocalyptic thriller worthy of a definite revisit.
November 13, 2024
4.5 star. Starts out a little weak but once it took off there's no downtime. Exciting survival novel that follows a family of four as they try to escape crazy killers after a bizarre occurrence that turned people who saw the light.
Relisten 4⭐. I borrowed it from my library and forgot I'd already listened to it. Happens when they updated the cover and I thought it was a new release. 😂
Relisten 4⭐. I borrowed it from my library and forgot I'd already listened to it. Happens when they updated the cover and I thought it was a new release. 😂
July 13, 2024
2.5⭐
Run is a story about a family of four going on the run after Jack(the dads) name was announced over an Emergency broadcast system to be killed. His only chance of survival for his family and him is to RUN An epidemic of rage has begun, power has gone out, and killers are mobile and taking over the country. We follow the family along their journey of survival and see the lengths they will go to in order to save themselves and their loved ones. However, what happens when one of their own is affected??
This story was a very easy and quick read, a gripping apocalyptic thriller, that was sometimes disturbing. Each chapter was filled with intense and sometimes difficult to read action. This story focuses on the strength and courage of our characters, and the persistence to overcome. However, as someone who loves Blake crouch and enjoys his other books, I would have to say this one is my least favorite. There were parts of the story that didn't mesh well together and after reading the whole book did not make sense. Also the story started to feel repetitive after time, for instance run, seek shelter, food and water, survive, killers come, run, seek shelter, food and water, survive, killers come and repeat. This repetitive story made the storyline become predictable, which I found boring the further I got along.
Thank you to NetGalley and and Random House Publishing for early access to an e-arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Run is a story about a family of four going on the run after Jack(the dads) name was announced over an Emergency broadcast system to be killed. His only chance of survival for his family and him is to RUN An epidemic of rage has begun, power has gone out, and killers are mobile and taking over the country. We follow the family along their journey of survival and see the lengths they will go to in order to save themselves and their loved ones. However, what happens when one of their own is affected??
This story was a very easy and quick read, a gripping apocalyptic thriller, that was sometimes disturbing. Each chapter was filled with intense and sometimes difficult to read action. This story focuses on the strength and courage of our characters, and the persistence to overcome. However, as someone who loves Blake crouch and enjoys his other books, I would have to say this one is my least favorite. There were parts of the story that didn't mesh well together and after reading the whole book did not make sense. Also the story started to feel repetitive after time, for instance run, seek shelter, food and water, survive, killers come, run, seek shelter, food and water, survive, killers come and repeat. This repetitive story made the storyline become predictable, which I found boring the further I got along.
Thank you to NetGalley and and Random House Publishing for early access to an e-arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.
June 23, 2012
Positively putrid. I have no idea how this book is garnering so many 5-star reviews. It was tedious and boring and poorly written and had cardboard characters, but the premise was intriguing, so I kept reading. I kept waiting for it to get better, to change, to become something different, something other than simply getting in the car and running from one hiding place to the next, but it didn't. It just kept on going that way, and then -- suddenly -- it ended. The problem sorted itself out. No explanation was given. It was possibly the most unsatisfying ending that I have ever read. A tacked on epilogue showing the characters 20 years in the future just felt trite and out of place.
I think a big problem with the book was the close point of view. We never left the family's side, but they didn't know what was going on, and so neither did we. OK, so a bunch of people saw lights in the sky and turned into crazy killers, but -- that's it? There's nothing deeper? No fulfilling explanation? No attempt to tie everything together? If you want to use the lights as an exploration of Why Evil Exists, that is one thing, but this seemed to be totally random. There was no moral, no lesson. Evil exists. Run. That seems to be the whole point of the book. And then (SPOILER) at the end, it just..... stops. People aren't evil anymore. ARE YOU KIDDING ME? I wasted several hours of my life for THIS?
I wanted to put the book down several times. It was just so tedious and poorly written, strewn with bad dialogue and awkward sentence fragments. But much like the characters in the book, I soldiered on, because I thought things would get better. Guess what. THEY DIDN'T. Like the characters in the book, I went through hell and back and didn't really have anything to show for it other than some psychological trauma. Stay far away from this book. I will not be reading a Blake Crouch book again.
I think a big problem with the book was the close point of view. We never left the family's side, but they didn't know what was going on, and so neither did we. OK, so a bunch of people saw lights in the sky and turned into crazy killers, but -- that's it? There's nothing deeper? No fulfilling explanation? No attempt to tie everything together? If you want to use the lights as an exploration of Why Evil Exists, that is one thing, but this seemed to be totally random. There was no moral, no lesson. Evil exists. Run. That seems to be the whole point of the book. And then (SPOILER) at the end, it just..... stops. People aren't evil anymore. ARE YOU KIDDING ME? I wasted several hours of my life for THIS?
I wanted to put the book down several times. It was just so tedious and poorly written, strewn with bad dialogue and awkward sentence fragments. But much like the characters in the book, I soldiered on, because I thought things would get better. Guess what. THEY DIDN'T. Like the characters in the book, I went through hell and back and didn't really have anything to show for it other than some psychological trauma. Stay far away from this book. I will not be reading a Blake Crouch book again.
August 24, 2024
My thanks to Random House Publishing, Blake Crouch and Netgalley.
I had originally read this book when it first came out quite awhile ago. I didn't like it then. But, I was hoping that with a major publisher that it might have improved and been updated a bit. Well, maybe it was and maybe it wasn't.
Hell, I'm definitely not comparing the 2 word for word!
On the re-read? Yeah, my thoughts haven't changed. I still believe that this is one of Blake's worst efforts.
Not a biggie. I've been reading Mr. Crouch's books from the very get go, and I've read all his published works, and this and just one or two others have made it onto my "shit list."
That's pretty damned good odds!
Many others on my friends list have enjoyed this story, so please take my review with a grain of salt....though I'm always right!😜😛
2 1/2 stars, rounded up to 3.
I had originally read this book when it first came out quite awhile ago. I didn't like it then. But, I was hoping that with a major publisher that it might have improved and been updated a bit. Well, maybe it was and maybe it wasn't.
Hell, I'm definitely not comparing the 2 word for word!
On the re-read? Yeah, my thoughts haven't changed. I still believe that this is one of Blake's worst efforts.
Not a biggie. I've been reading Mr. Crouch's books from the very get go, and I've read all his published works, and this and just one or two others have made it onto my "shit list."
That's pretty damned good odds!
Many others on my friends list have enjoyed this story, so please take my review with a grain of salt....though I'm always right!😜😛
2 1/2 stars, rounded up to 3.
September 7, 2016
Find all of my reviews at: http://52bookminimum.blogspot.com/
3.5 Stars
On page six of Run you learn that . . . .
“There’s no decent place to stand in a massacre.”
It was about that point I remembered I was reading a Blake Crouch story and that . . . .
Because I am a baby.
If you’re an avid Goodreader there’s little chance you have been able to avoid this summer’s barrage of reviews for Dark Matter or last year’s flood regarding Wayward Pines. At this point I think it’s safe to say that I’m a Crouch fangirl and if he’s writing it, I’msnorting reading it. Like his other works, this one starts off at 99 miles per hour and never slows down. (Oh and sidenote: I’m going against my usual advice and saying you should read the synopsis for this one. It explains very briefly the buildup to where the story starts off and things make more sense when you realize the beginning is actually the beginning and that the first chapter wasn’t accidentally torn out of your copy.)
So as the blurb says, 5 days ago the poop really hit the fan. Fastforward to the present and the Colclough family seriously needing to get the eff outta Dodge. Note to my husband: If our name ever gets put across the radio dial as part of a kill list and not only am I moving at a sloth’s pace, but then my friggin’ LOVER is the person who shows up to kill us and our children, you have my complete and total permission to pull an Ice Cube and just say . . . .
To my fat ass.
Now where was I? Oh yeah, Jack, his wife Dee, his way-too-realisticjerkoff pubescent daughter and young son need to skedaddle before they get offed. Their only option? Load up the ol’ Range Rover, put the pedal to the medal and hope to hell they can outrun the bad guys and find somewhere safe . . .
“It’s bad, huh?”
“Biblical.”
It didn’t take long before . . . .
Per usual with a Crouch story, that’s about all that is safe to tell. I will provide a bit of a spoiler and channel my inner Ron 2.0 in order to tell you that parts of this tale were seriously farfetched. I mean, we’re talking . . . .
There’s zero chance these yay-hoos could’ve survived more than a minute and then when the stuff and things happened??????
But I was too busy calculating how many calories I had burned by bouncing my knee up and down like a lunatic for the last several hours to even give a shit.
3.5 Stars
On page six of Run you learn that . . . .
“There’s no decent place to stand in a massacre.”
It was about that point I remembered I was reading a Blake Crouch story and that . . . .
Because I am a baby.
If you’re an avid Goodreader there’s little chance you have been able to avoid this summer’s barrage of reviews for Dark Matter or last year’s flood regarding Wayward Pines. At this point I think it’s safe to say that I’m a Crouch fangirl and if he’s writing it, I’m
So as the blurb says, 5 days ago the poop really hit the fan. Fastforward to the present and the Colclough family seriously needing to get the eff outta Dodge. Note to my husband: If our name ever gets put across the radio dial as part of a kill list and not only am I moving at a sloth’s pace, but then my friggin’ LOVER is the person who shows up to kill us and our children, you have my complete and total permission to pull an Ice Cube and just say . . . .
To my fat ass.
Now where was I? Oh yeah, Jack, his wife Dee, his way-too-realistic
“It’s bad, huh?”
“Biblical.”
It didn’t take long before . . . .
Per usual with a Crouch story, that’s about all that is safe to tell. I will provide a bit of a spoiler and channel my inner Ron 2.0 in order to tell you that parts of this tale were seriously farfetched. I mean, we’re talking . . . .
There’s zero chance these yay-hoos could’ve survived more than a minute and then when the stuff and things happened??????
But I was too busy calculating how many calories I had burned by bouncing my knee up and down like a lunatic for the last several hours to even give a shit.
August 23, 2020
This has to be the only book of Blake Crouch which I have read so far, which has been very disappointing. ‘Dark Matter’ & ‘Recursion’ are two of my favourites, and I liked the ‘Wayward Pines’ series too. I do recognize that ‘Run’ has largely positive reviews as well, so just maybe my expectations for this ‘Survival’ + ‘Horror’ novel (which I do not read often) were different from what most look for.
The title of the novel is very apt. Jack Colclough, his wife Dee, his daughter Naomi & son Cole flee their home in Albuquerque as complete chaos erupts with large scale killings & arson. It is not just New Mexico, as they travel – they find that large portions of the US are impacted with groups of ‘affected’ people grouping together and set on murdering all others. This seems linked to an astronomical phenomenon. Jack and his family pass town after town witnessing unprecedented horrors and it gets to be a massive struggle to stick together & survive. But if they survive this, just maybe their family ties which had weakened will strengthen again. For that, they have to head north – that is their only hope.
Jack, Dee and their kids are really nice characters and you feel drawn to their courage, persistence and strength of relationship. The problem though is that the book simply does not explore either the story more deeply nor a theme. In the interview with the author at the end of the book, he mentions that he liked to explore the concept of evil, though this statement does not pertain specifically to this book. However, the book does not really explore evil or any theme for that matter – it merely narrates in painstaking and gory detail the consequences when evil erupts on a massive scale. The story centres around the family and does not venture into what prompts the larger phenomenon and how it resolves itself. This book as with all of Blake Crouch’s work does have great pace all through.
The title of the novel is very apt. Jack Colclough, his wife Dee, his daughter Naomi & son Cole flee their home in Albuquerque as complete chaos erupts with large scale killings & arson. It is not just New Mexico, as they travel – they find that large portions of the US are impacted with groups of ‘affected’ people grouping together and set on murdering all others. This seems linked to an astronomical phenomenon. Jack and his family pass town after town witnessing unprecedented horrors and it gets to be a massive struggle to stick together & survive. But if they survive this, just maybe their family ties which had weakened will strengthen again. For that, they have to head north – that is their only hope.
Jack, Dee and their kids are really nice characters and you feel drawn to their courage, persistence and strength of relationship. The problem though is that the book simply does not explore either the story more deeply nor a theme. In the interview with the author at the end of the book, he mentions that he liked to explore the concept of evil, though this statement does not pertain specifically to this book. However, the book does not really explore evil or any theme for that matter – it merely narrates in painstaking and gory detail the consequences when evil erupts on a massive scale. The story centres around the family and does not venture into what prompts the larger phenomenon and how it resolves itself. This book as with all of Blake Crouch’s work does have great pace all through.
November 28, 2024
ARC provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review via NetGalley.
Anyone reading this review know of the song, Fuel by Metallica?
Run by Blake Crouch is a little like that.
Instead of fuel, it’s a straight shot of adrenaline being pumped into your veins until the last page.
This book was initially published in 2011, but I believe it was republished this year and I was lucky enough to get an ARC.
I’ve always enjoyed Blake Crouch’s books. They tend to be more on the sci-fi side but that’s not the case with Run.
It’s a gripping dystopian thriller that’s relentless in pace, brutality, action and utter chaos throughout the entire book.
Our main character Jack Colclough and his family are running for their lives.
Senseless murders are happening throughout the entire United States, and the killers have just become organized.
One night over the Emergency Broadcast System, Jack hears his name mentioned. The killers are finally coming for him and his family. He must leave his home, run as fast as he can, and get to a safe place.
Jack still doesn’t understand why rage and murder is sweeping across the United States, but he can’t focus on “why” this is happening. All he can do is run, protect his family, and try to survive.
**One last thing, I wanted a bit more information on why people turned into murderers. There’s a concept to it but I could have used a bit more elaboration on the side effects.
I’m being super vague on this due to spoilers.**
If you enjoy books by Blake Crouch, I think you’ll love this. It’s exciting, overwhelming and I couldn’t put it down!
Anyone reading this review know of the song, Fuel by Metallica?
“So give me fuel, give me fire
Give me that which I desire, ooh!”
Run by Blake Crouch is a little like that.
Instead of fuel, it’s a straight shot of adrenaline being pumped into your veins until the last page.
This book was initially published in 2011, but I believe it was republished this year and I was lucky enough to get an ARC.
I’ve always enjoyed Blake Crouch’s books. They tend to be more on the sci-fi side but that’s not the case with Run.
It’s a gripping dystopian thriller that’s relentless in pace, brutality, action and utter chaos throughout the entire book.
Our main character Jack Colclough and his family are running for their lives.
Senseless murders are happening throughout the entire United States, and the killers have just become organized.
One night over the Emergency Broadcast System, Jack hears his name mentioned. The killers are finally coming for him and his family. He must leave his home, run as fast as he can, and get to a safe place.
Jack still doesn’t understand why rage and murder is sweeping across the United States, but he can’t focus on “why” this is happening. All he can do is run, protect his family, and try to survive.
**One last thing, I wanted a bit more information on why people turned into murderers. There’s a concept to it but I could have used a bit more elaboration on the side effects.
I’m being super vague on this due to spoilers.**
If you enjoy books by Blake Crouch, I think you’ll love this. It’s exciting, overwhelming and I couldn’t put it down!
February 23, 2017
Here's a tidbit about me: I love AMC's The Walking Dead. I have followed every season through all the horror, group dynamics, and even the boring episodes. I can watch zombies kill and be killed all day long...but when it comes to people violently killing people on the show? OMG my stomach turns. Ahem Negan.
Blake Crouch's Run has that same quality about it. People have been "affected" by something that causes them to target the "unaffected". Target meaning kill...brutally. It's not zombie-related or a viral illness, but it's definitely of pandemic, apocalyptic proportions all the same. It's insanity that makes perfect sense to the ones branding the weapons and that psychotic element made this book fit the horror genre to a T.
Run is the absolute perfect title for this book. It's fast paced (like can't-catch-your-breath fast) and the suspense is intense. The horror consists of the overall situation obviously but also very graphic and violent scenes of people killing people in a variety of ways. No remorse, no hesitation. Just killing. And one family is on the run, trying their hardest to all stay alive.
I ended this book with a few unanswered questions, but they were questions that the main characters never got answers to either so I could accept that. I have to admit that the wife/mother in this family got on my last nerve with her helplessness and putting constant pressure on her husband for everything. Seriously! Get your @ss up, work your brain, and at least help out with some problem solving solutions, but no. However, without spoiling the ending, she did redeem herself in a big way and I was not conflicted at all by her decision. I was standing there, eyebrow cocked, hands on hips, tapping my foot, thinking it's about d@mn time!
Blake Crouch told this story through the 3rd-person POV of the male lead character (the father/husband) who was provided a stereotypical, although fairly dated, gender role with the need to protect/provide in order to feel validated and strong. This character element created that much more suspense as you feel the internal pressure he places on himself (not counting the pressure his wife is bombarding him with) as well as everything that is at stake for his family.
My favorite quote:
It’s cake from here on out.” “Honestly?” “Maybe cake is too strong a word. It’s shortbread. How’s that?” “I hate you so much.”
2/20/2017:
Omg this book is a high-adrenaline thrill ride of humanistic horror!
I'll explain soon.
RTC
Blake Crouch's Run has that same quality about it. People have been "affected" by something that causes them to target the "unaffected". Target meaning kill...brutally. It's not zombie-related or a viral illness, but it's definitely of pandemic, apocalyptic proportions all the same. It's insanity that makes perfect sense to the ones branding the weapons and that psychotic element made this book fit the horror genre to a T.
Run is the absolute perfect title for this book. It's fast paced (like can't-catch-your-breath fast) and the suspense is intense. The horror consists of the overall situation obviously but also very graphic and violent scenes of people killing people in a variety of ways. No remorse, no hesitation. Just killing. And one family is on the run, trying their hardest to all stay alive.
I ended this book with a few unanswered questions, but they were questions that the main characters never got answers to either so I could accept that. I have to admit that the wife/mother in this family got on my last nerve with her helplessness and putting constant pressure on her husband for everything. Seriously! Get your @ss up, work your brain, and at least help out with some problem solving solutions, but no. However, without spoiling the ending, she did redeem herself in a big way and I was not conflicted at all by her decision. I was standing there, eyebrow cocked, hands on hips, tapping my foot, thinking it's about d@mn time!
Blake Crouch told this story through the 3rd-person POV of the male lead character (the father/husband) who was provided a stereotypical, although fairly dated, gender role with the need to protect/provide in order to feel validated and strong. This character element created that much more suspense as you feel the internal pressure he places on himself (not counting the pressure his wife is bombarding him with) as well as everything that is at stake for his family.
“There was simply nothing in his experience that even compared with the thrill of killing to protect his family. In this moment, it was the purpose of his existence. He felt, possibly for the first time in his life, like a f@cking man.”I was glued to this book. Blake Crouch has his own goodreads shelf on my profile and he has not disappointed me yet. Whether it's Run or one of his others, seriously check him out!!
My favorite quote:
It’s cake from here on out.” “Honestly?” “Maybe cake is too strong a word. It’s shortbread. How’s that?” “I hate you so much.”
2/20/2017:
Omg this book is a high-adrenaline thrill ride of humanistic horror!
I'll explain soon.
RTC
October 22, 2024
Update 10/22/24: Reposting my review to celebrate that today is publication day!
Thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for sending me an ARC of Run in exchange for an honest review.
I’ve been a big fan of Blake Crouch since reading his excellent bestseller Dark Matter. And although they were not quite as good, I still really enjoyed his new novels written since then, Recursion and Upgrade. So when I saw Run on NetGalley, I assumed it was a new novel, immediately requested it, and was delighted when I was approved for it.
Later I learned that Run is actually a release of a novel Mr. Crouch self-published in 2011. The plot could not be more straightforward. For reasons initially unclear, America has descended into a violent chaos—not our usual violent chaos, but a kind where the power is out and some unknown group has taken over the Emergency Broadcast System and is reading out the names and addresses of those to be killed next. Our hero, Jack Colclough, hears his name and tries to escape his Albuquerque, New Mexico, home for the safety of Canada with his wife Dee, his 14-year-old daughter Naomi, and his 7-year-old son Cole.
Run is a pure thriller, with action pretty much from start to finish. But the story has so many holes. When you learn why huge groups of people have gone on this killing spree, you’ll have to trust me but the reason doesn’t mesh with that cool opening idea of announcing the names of names of the people to be executed on the radio. Because the story jumps into the action, there’s little time for any character development. The plot is like someone compressed five seasons of The Walking Dead into a single story: scramble, escape, survive, find temporary safety, scramble, escape, survive, find a person thought to be friend but really a foe, scramble, escape, survive, etc. As the story reaches its climax, the problems and escapes become more farfetched and more reliant on unlikely coincidences and miraculous timing.
If you’re looking for a book with the complexity of Mr. Crouch’s recent science-based thrillers, Run will not be for you. But if you’re in the mood for a simple adrenaline-fueled story, Run could scratch that itch. 2.5 stars rounded up to 3.
They were walking up Third Street North toward the library, each holding two machine guns taken off the dead men in the square like a pair of bad action-flick heroes.
Thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for sending me an ARC of Run in exchange for an honest review.
I’ve been a big fan of Blake Crouch since reading his excellent bestseller Dark Matter. And although they were not quite as good, I still really enjoyed his new novels written since then, Recursion and Upgrade. So when I saw Run on NetGalley, I assumed it was a new novel, immediately requested it, and was delighted when I was approved for it.
Later I learned that Run is actually a release of a novel Mr. Crouch self-published in 2011. The plot could not be more straightforward. For reasons initially unclear, America has descended into a violent chaos—not our usual violent chaos, but a kind where the power is out and some unknown group has taken over the Emergency Broadcast System and is reading out the names and addresses of those to be killed next. Our hero, Jack Colclough, hears his name and tries to escape his Albuquerque, New Mexico, home for the safety of Canada with his wife Dee, his 14-year-old daughter Naomi, and his 7-year-old son Cole.
Run is a pure thriller, with action pretty much from start to finish. But the story has so many holes. When you learn why huge groups of people have gone on this killing spree, you’ll have to trust me but the reason doesn’t mesh with that cool opening idea of announcing the names of names of the people to be executed on the radio. Because the story jumps into the action, there’s little time for any character development. The plot is like someone compressed five seasons of The Walking Dead into a single story: scramble, escape, survive, find temporary safety, scramble, escape, survive, find a person thought to be friend but really a foe, scramble, escape, survive, etc. As the story reaches its climax, the problems and escapes become more farfetched and more reliant on unlikely coincidences and miraculous timing.
If you’re looking for a book with the complexity of Mr. Crouch’s recent science-based thrillers, Run will not be for you. But if you’re in the mood for a simple adrenaline-fueled story, Run could scratch that itch. 2.5 stars rounded up to 3.
August 8, 2017
Really enjoyed Run by Blake Crouch a solid 4* read was compelling non stop action from start to finish this had it all great characters thought Dee was the real heroine kept the family together through a nightmare no family should be put through.a top notch thriller
RUN,RUN, RUN for your lives there is no turning back mass shootings city on fire where would you go & all you could do is RUN!!
All I can say is that Blake crouch really knows how to keep the reader engaged his description of the scene was enhanced & you felt like you were right there with the family a top notch thriller that will keep you wanting more right to the very end.
The only criticism I have is the ending was a little abrupt but that is just a minor glitch on my part just thought it lacked a bit of gusto to the normal Crouch endings.
RUN,RUN, RUN for your lives there is no turning back mass shootings city on fire where would you go & all you could do is RUN!!
All I can say is that Blake crouch really knows how to keep the reader engaged his description of the scene was enhanced & you felt like you were right there with the family a top notch thriller that will keep you wanting more right to the very end.
The only criticism I have is the ending was a little abrupt but that is just a minor glitch on my part just thought it lacked a bit of gusto to the normal Crouch endings.
September 20, 2024
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!!!!!
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!!!!!
February 1, 2020
Five unapologetic stars for this. What I love about Blake Crouch’s books is that you never know what to expect. In fact I don’t bother reading the blurbs any more. I just go with it, park my disbelief at the door and enjoy the ride. It’s about as much fun as you can have without leaving home... except for ahem, but we won’t go there.
If this isn’t ‘labelled’ as horror it should be. Just think The Walking Dead except the guys trying to kill you aren’t dead. They’re as alive as you and I, well most of us anyway. It doesn’t matter what caused many of the people in lower 48 (as they call the US without Alaska and Hawaii), southern Canada and Northern Mexico to go on a bloody rampage. What matters is the rampage, and that all the unaffected people can do is RUN. Of course the fact that the US is awash with guns doesn’t help either. Over here it would be cricket bats at 10 paces, or garden implements, or I guess we could throw snakes at people since we have enough deadly snakes among all the other deadly stuff. But never mind all that come for a holiday as our PM has been begging, despite the fact that the whole of the South East is either burning or already burnt to a crisp. But I digress.
Jack and Dee Colclough already know that things are not good (understatement of the first order) but when they hear their names on the radio being read out in a ‘kill list’ they grab their two children and jump in their Land Rover and head on out of Dodge (New Mexico) and, well, run. They aim for Canada but as society breaks apart around them they face ever increasing dangers. It’s not safe to drive through towns. It’s not safe to stop anywhere. It’s not safe to trust anyone. Sheesh, if you have a heart condition it’s probably not safe to read this book.
To call it brutal is an understatement. There was lots of blood, shotguns, chainsaws, the works. So yeah, a thrill ride on the ghost train, whatever you want to call it without the ghosts. But - it was compulsive reading. It hooked me in. And finally it spat me out again, phew. Was it a great book? Probably not. Did I love it? Hell yes, and not a skimmed page in sight, and very few toilet breaks (I had to keep reading). And that’s why I gave if 5 stars. If you like having the pants scared off you - read this.
If this isn’t ‘labelled’ as horror it should be. Just think The Walking Dead except the guys trying to kill you aren’t dead. They’re as alive as you and I, well most of us anyway. It doesn’t matter what caused many of the people in lower 48 (as they call the US without Alaska and Hawaii), southern Canada and Northern Mexico to go on a bloody rampage. What matters is the rampage, and that all the unaffected people can do is RUN. Of course the fact that the US is awash with guns doesn’t help either. Over here it would be cricket bats at 10 paces, or garden implements, or I guess we could throw snakes at people since we have enough deadly snakes among all the other deadly stuff. But never mind all that come for a holiday as our PM has been begging, despite the fact that the whole of the South East is either burning or already burnt to a crisp. But I digress.
Jack and Dee Colclough already know that things are not good (understatement of the first order) but when they hear their names on the radio being read out in a ‘kill list’ they grab their two children and jump in their Land Rover and head on out of Dodge (New Mexico) and, well, run. They aim for Canada but as society breaks apart around them they face ever increasing dangers. It’s not safe to drive through towns. It’s not safe to stop anywhere. It’s not safe to trust anyone. Sheesh, if you have a heart condition it’s probably not safe to read this book.
To call it brutal is an understatement. There was lots of blood, shotguns, chainsaws, the works. So yeah, a thrill ride on the ghost train, whatever you want to call it without the ghosts. But - it was compulsive reading. It hooked me in. And finally it spat me out again, phew. Was it a great book? Probably not. Did I love it? Hell yes, and not a skimmed page in sight, and very few toilet breaks (I had to keep reading). And that’s why I gave if 5 stars. If you like having the pants scared off you - read this.
April 17, 2020
Omg this book was so good! So intense! Loved it!
December 9, 2024
3.5 stars
Blake Crouch, who's well known for dark twisty sci-fi books like Dark Matter, Recursion, and Upgrade, began his writing career by self-publishing 'Run' in 2011. This debut novel, which was re-released in 2024, is a stomach-churning thriller.
*****
Picture this: You're watching television and start to see chyron after chyron reading something like, "45 Dead in Mass Shooting at a Church in Columbia, South Carolina."
And then you hear a woman on the local radio station reading off the names of people to be killed, such as, "Jim Barbour....His address is Two Carpenter Court.....and while you're in the neighborhood, stop by the home of Jack Colclough, a professor of philosophy at UNM. He lives at 1414 Arroyo Way. Go now."
And YOU'RE Jack Colclough, living on Arroyo Way in New Mexico, with your wife Dee, 14-year-old daughter Naomi, and 7-year-old son Cole. What do you do?
What you do is pack food, water, clothes, a road map, weapons, gas cans, camping equipment, etc.....and you RUN.
Jack, Dee, Naomi, and Cole load up their Land Rover and aren't even out of their driveway before they see the headlights heading for their house, with gunshots erupting into the night.
All Jack and Dee know is that five days ago, a good portion of the American population went insane. Affected people got out their rifles, handguns, knives, axes, chain-saws, and other killing tools.....and they began hunting down and murdering 'normal' people.
From here, the book is a saga of the Colclough's flight from New Mexico - their plan being to drive north through Colorado, Wyoming, and Montana and up to Canada, which is said to be unaffected by the insanity. Needless to say, the trip is dangerous and harrowing, and the Colcloughs are in constant jeopardy.
If you're a fan of TV series like 'The Walking Dead' you can anticipate the family's adventure: they need to find food and gas; they're constantly under threat; they have good luck; they have bad luck; there are injuries; there are separations; there are reunions; they see horrible things; they experience terrible things; and so on.
For instance, here's a description of people talking about a mass grave: 'Mapping system shows a hundred and seventy-five still down there.....Men, Women, Children.....High velocity gunshot wounds and dismemberment. In most instances, it's not a clean break, like a machete or ax strike. They cut everyone down with AR-15s and then went through with chainsaws. Making sure no one crawled out."
Jack, Dee, Naomi, and Cole are average folks with no special skills. However, they show remarkable resilience in unimaginable circumstances. They also have to deal with family drama, because Jack and Dee's relationship was strained before their flight from New Mexico, with Jack staying in the guest room for months.
The motif of this novel - the interminable run and chase - isn't my favorite theme. In addition, the manic scenes of peril are interspersed with slow sections of the Colcloughs driving, looking for shelter, camping, preparing food and the like. Thus the pacing is (inevitably) uneven.
I kept thinking the family would get somewhere and everything would be elucidated, but that's not quite the case. There IS an explanation of what happened, but the climax and denouement of the novel aren't completely satisfying. Still this is a good first effort for a talented novelist, and the book would appeal to fans of exciting adventure stories.
Thanks to Netgalley, Blake Crouch, and Ballantine Books for a copy of the manuscript.
You can follow my reviews at http://reviewsbybarbsaffer.blogspot.com
January 6, 2022
A rash of bizarre murders are sweeping the country. There seems to be no rhyme nor reason behind them. Every day, it gets more violent, more bloody. Yesterday, all the power seems to have gone out. The stench of smoke fills the air. Today, Jack Colclough hears his name and address broadcasted on the EBS via the radio. He grabs his wife, kids, and guns, then slides into the car. There is nowhere to hide.....so now you Run.
And run we did. The whole entire book. I needed a nap, I was so exhausted. Pretty good read. It was interesting to think how you would survive in a situation like that. I don't know if I would have the backbone Jack and his wife did.
😺😺😺
And run we did. The whole entire book. I needed a nap, I was so exhausted. Pretty good read. It was interesting to think how you would survive in a situation like that. I don't know if I would have the backbone Jack and his wife did.
😺😺😺
July 31, 2024
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.
*A wonderful buddy Read with Mary Beth! Please read her review as well to see what she thought of Run
Thank you to Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com 📖
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.
*A wonderful buddy Read with Mary Beth! Please read her review as well to see what she thought of Run
Thank you to Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com 📖
October 28, 2024
i’m sad to say i’ve found a Blake Crouch book that i actively disliked. the concept was good with this virus that turns people into mindless murderers but the characters themselves were boring and the son was especially irritating. another thing to mention is that this is more of a survival thriller and i usually love those but this one just didn’t work for me. there wasn’t enough substance for me to care about anything going on.
↳ many thanks to NetGalley, the author and Random House Publishing - Ballentine for the arc, all opinions are my own.
↳ many thanks to NetGalley, the author and Random House Publishing - Ballentine for the arc, all opinions are my own.
January 1, 2022
The premise of Run is a family flees their home when an outbreak of violence begins in certain areas of the States.
I loved the outbreak idea! It's not a virus or biological agent turning people into shuffling zombies or rage monsters. The infected are exactly the same as they were before (they drive, walk and talk the same. Their memories of their friends, family and life are perfect) but their hate for the uninfected is all-encompassing. They lose all empathy and simply want to kill anyone who hasn't experienced the same moment of infection as them. It definitely gave the villains a more terrifying edge.
There is no decent place to stand in a massacre. Leonard Cohen
My only problem was that I found myself constantly comparing Run to Crouch's Dark Matter. Dark Matter was the first Crouch book I read, and I fear I started with the best and may forever after be just the tiniest bit disappointed.
However, Run is a pretty solid Survival Horror and definitely worth a read.
I loved the outbreak idea! It's not a virus or biological agent turning people into shuffling zombies or rage monsters. The infected are exactly the same as they were before (they drive, walk and talk the same. Their memories of their friends, family and life are perfect) but their hate for the uninfected is all-encompassing. They lose all empathy and simply want to kill anyone who hasn't experienced the same moment of infection as them. It definitely gave the villains a more terrifying edge.
There is no decent place to stand in a massacre. Leonard Cohen
My only problem was that I found myself constantly comparing Run to Crouch's Dark Matter. Dark Matter was the first Crouch book I read, and I fear I started with the best and may forever after be just the tiniest bit disappointed.
However, Run is a pretty solid Survival Horror and definitely worth a read.
February 27, 2011
Well damn. I don't think I can even put into words how much I enjoyed this book. I'm still reeling from it. All I have to say is that I'm so glad I started this on Saturday because had it been during the week I probably would not have made it into work.
This book has definitely usurped Intensity for the most intense book I've read. I swear my stomach was in knots from beginning until end. Even now after having finished it I'm still trying to settle. I think you can tell a good book from just an alright one when you're finished and you can't stop thinking about it.
Jack is packing up his families belongings and food when he hears his colleagues name and address being called out with direction to kill him. Hurrying as fast as they can to pack their Discovery they hear Jack's name next. Now him and his family are on the run.
Wow. What a journey. This was such an exciting book from beginning to end. The nail biting intensity from this book was almost more than I could take. It was exceptional and thought provoking and is definitely now my number one favorite book. Goodbye Koontz, hello Crouch.
This book has definitely usurped Intensity for the most intense book I've read. I swear my stomach was in knots from beginning until end. Even now after having finished it I'm still trying to settle. I think you can tell a good book from just an alright one when you're finished and you can't stop thinking about it.
Jack is packing up his families belongings and food when he hears his colleagues name and address being called out with direction to kill him. Hurrying as fast as they can to pack their Discovery they hear Jack's name next. Now him and his family are on the run.
Wow. What a journey. This was such an exciting book from beginning to end. The nail biting intensity from this book was almost more than I could take. It was exceptional and thought provoking and is definitely now my number one favorite book. Goodbye Koontz, hello Crouch.
July 3, 2024
Wow! This was so suspenseful, thrilling, and deep! Truly shows you the true value of family, plus how far people will go to survive and keep their family safe. I was on the edge of my seat the majority of the time! Super fast-paced and intriguing concept! Loving the concept of the story, Blake Crouch truly never fails me! I read it in one sitting as I was so consumed by this book! I know it was based on a debut novel for him, but this truly stood out to me! I'll definitely recommend it to my other thriller/suspense loving friends!
I received this ARC from NetGalley and Ballantine Books to read/review. All of the statements above are my true opinions after fully reading this book.
I received this ARC from NetGalley and Ballantine Books to read/review. All of the statements above are my true opinions after fully reading this book.
May 30, 2016
- Get down on the floor!
- Why, daddy, WHY?
- Because they are shooting at us!
- But i don't like the floor, its DIRTY!
- Hold on to something!
- Why, daddy, WHY??
- Because the car has flipped over and is rolling down a hill!
- But i don't want to hold on, I want to go home, Can we go home!
- RUN!
- Why, daddy, WHY??
- Because a crowd of lunatics with chainsaws are coming!
- I want ICE CREAM!
- Honey why are you driving so fast, and on the wrong side???
- Because of the armed baby-macheting crazies who are following us to kills us like they just did to that other family.
- Pull over RIGHT NOW, so i can do my makeup!
- Jesus, let go of the steering wheel!!
- WE WANT ICE CREAM!!!
- But why, but why, but why , but why , but why , but why????
Etc, etc, etc...
It goes on like that for the whole first half of the book.
I couldn't finish it, I just wanted the whole constantly squeaking and whining family to die.
- Why, daddy, WHY?
- Because they are shooting at us!
- But i don't like the floor, its DIRTY!
- Hold on to something!
- Why, daddy, WHY??
- Because the car has flipped over and is rolling down a hill!
- But i don't want to hold on, I want to go home, Can we go home!
- RUN!
- Why, daddy, WHY??
- Because a crowd of lunatics with chainsaws are coming!
- I want ICE CREAM!
- Honey why are you driving so fast, and on the wrong side???
- Because of the armed baby-macheting crazies who are following us to kills us like they just did to that other family.
- Pull over RIGHT NOW, so i can do my makeup!
- Jesus, let go of the steering wheel!!
- WE WANT ICE CREAM!!!
- But why, but why, but why , but why , but why , but why????
Etc, etc, etc...
It goes on like that for the whole first half of the book.
I couldn't finish it, I just wanted the whole constantly squeaking and whining family to die.
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