RUN TIME is a psychological thriller featuring an unreliable narrator, a remote cabin-in-the-woods setting, and a layered storyline. The book thoughtfully portrays the terrible way female actors are treated in the film industry, and how women’s worries tend to be dismissed by men. The setting is well described so Adele’s isolation and fear felt palpable. I was sorry for her because she goes through a lot!

However, the book-in-a-script-in-a-book was gimmicky and repetitive. Without it, the plot is pretty simple. There are two storylines that meet in a rush at the end, so neither gets the attention it deserves. I’m also disappointed because after the book established the sexism faced by female actors, the ending ignores all that for a typical “hysterical woman” trope. All in all, a surface-level thriller that could’ve been sharper.

Hmmm…..what to say…..this is my first book by this author and it didn’t live up to the hype I was expecting based on what I have heard about The Nothing Man. I was a little let down.

I felt the book was predictable, not much surprised me that happened. The writing style was engaging and I got through it in basically 2 days. I enjoyed the pacing of the story, and the parts that were written as a movie script (although I didn’t understand all of the abbreviations.) The script helped break it up, however the script was also the problem, because that is where the story became predictable. What was happening in the script, then started happening in real life to our character Adele. I don’t know, I am conflicted.

Just an average read for me unfortunately. This story had an interesting premise. The potential was there for it to be a really solid thriller, but it ended up falling flat in the end. It felt like the story was building towards something that never really happened. At 520 pages, I kind of expected more from it. Ultimately, it wasn't anything new or different that sets it apart from your standard everyday thrillers. I thought the script parts were a neat addition, but it didn't really add anything to the story. I'll still probably try to pick up something else from this author in the future.

When a washed up actress gets an offer to film a very secret horror movie in the middle of nowhere, she jumps at the chance to finally do some acting again. It’s a super-low -budget production and things seem creepy from the start. Also, no one actually knows she’s there…..what could go wrong??
This was an entertaining premise & I enjoyed it. A movie about a book that’s a screenplay that is being turned into a movie….not as confusing as it sounds! I loved the atmospheric creepiness & it was quite a page turner. I didn’t love the ending…the motivation for it all seemed a little forced….but overall it was a good read!

This book was a book about filming a movie about a book that starts to come true in the movie while the events of the script seem to be playing out in real life as well. It was crazy and twisty and it was interesting to see what was going on and where it would end up. The setting was perfect. also love how her books all take place in the same universe as her previous books, and l enjoy the references to them. I thought there was plenty of suspense and action to keep me reading and l enjoyed the ending! I listened to this on audiobook as well and the narrators are excellent and add to the atmosphere.

What a ride! It read like a horror movie. I kept saying ‘one more chapter’ until I finished the book. I did predict the twist early on so that was a bummer for me. I loved CRH’s previous book and it caught me by surprise, which is what I was hoping for again. This one gave me No Exit vibes because I felt like I could see the scenes play out as I read them.

In Run Time, Catherine Ryan Howard crafts a claustrophobic, paranoia-inducing thriller that draws you in from the jump. The brilliant combination of the dark, isolated Irish woods and a film crew made up of rough, overly-masculine men (who clearly all missed the point of the Me Too Movement) creates an atmosphere fraught with tension where the potential for physical harm underlines every step the protagonist takes.

This book was just okay to me. There were some plot holes, some of the “tropes” were annoying.

Thank you NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review

Some of the tropes in this book were frustrating, but it did keep me on the edge of my seat and I enjoyed it for the most part. The gaslighting and naive MC made me cringe all the time, but I loved the book within a movie script within a book.

The isolated setting was really fun too.

A book about a film featuring a book.

Did I like it? Yes. Did I love it? No. That's why it gets a 3-star review from me.

Adele Rafferty is ready to quit her career as an actress. She used to be in a popular soap opera in Ireland after being "discovered" as a teenager. She left the soap opera in order to star in new projects. However, during her first new one, an "incident" happened on set that made her leave Ireland.

At present, Adele is working in a motel and auditioning for commercials when she gets a call with a movie offer. The caveat is that it will begin filming in the next couple of days in Ireland. It's a hush-hush horror movie and she will need to take the job asap if she wants to get it. Without any other choices, Adele signs the NDA. As soon as she arrives at the remote location, weird things start happening. She begins wondering if she is losing her mind or if someone wants her to believe she is.

Run Time was predictable and yet I was never bored. I do wish the ending would have been a little different.

Even though this one is not my favorite by Catherine Ryan Howard, I would definitely read her next.

Cliffhanger: No

3/5 Fangs

A complimentary copy was provided by Blackstone Publishing via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Run Time had me on the edge of my seat, turning page after page until it didn't. I'll be very honest, I couldn't put the book down. It was certainly a page-turner and I found myself at times freaked out and wanting to know what happened, but the ending fell really flat for me. While I didn't see it coming, it didn't have that "WHAT?!" moment I was hoping for after such a wild ride of a story.

I liked the character of Adele, although it was made out for her to be an unreliable narrator at times, but also found her to be a bit whiny and needy (again, probably the point.)

An interesting premise for a story, but with an ending that definitely could have been stronger.

3.5 stars simply because for most of the book I was on the edge of my seat.

Thank you Blackstone Publishing and NetGalley for the eARC!

Run Time by Catherine Ryan Howard is a fast paced thriller that I really LOVED.

The characters and well written, complex and flawed.

There were so many twists , I couldn't put this down!

So twisty and GOOD!

Our main protagonist, Adele Rafferty made it big on a soap she starred in for many years. However work has dwindled down since then and especially since a certain event occurred on her last job, her reputation has been somewhat tarnished. So she escapes Ireland for LA where she can make a new life for herself.

But, an offer to take the starring role in a new project by up and coming director, Steve Dade seems too good to turn down, especially when she hears the pay.

So, she once again packs up her belongings and heads back to Ireland to a deserted part of West Cork to begin filming “Final Draft”. However, from the start things aren’t right and strange events begin to occur which makes her think things aren’t quite as they seem.

I really enjoyed this latest novel by Catherine Ryan Howard. Not only did we get an insight into Adele’s life on and off set, but through the inclusion of snippets of the script for Final Draft we were given access into the context of the project as well which helped immerse the reader further.

As the book warmed up the tension started to build and I will admit even I didn’t guess all the twists and turns which would await us. An abandoned house such as the one in this book is always a great setting for a psychological thriller, and although this setting can be generic or overdone I felt it worked well for this particular book and didn’t feel outdated or badly staged.

The best part of the novel is that you really felt you were a part of this b rated movie and this really provided more of a horror feel at times. I will admit that at times the book was slower than it needed to be but nonetheless I very much enjoyed Run Time, it kept me on the edge of my seat on many an occasion and the ending was fast paced, suspenseful and full of surprises just as a psychological thriller should be.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ – if you are a fan of 56 days I highly recommend Catherine Ryan Howard’s latest installment. It is an eerie, tension filled ride full of twists and turns so buckle up.

4.5 stars!

This was my first read by Catherine Howard and I am now super excited to dive into her other books! 🤩

Ever read a book that had a book within a book?! Well, Run Time is a whole other level above that! Let me introduce you to 🎥 a book within a movie's screenplay based on a book within a book. 😵‍💫 Sounds confusing but you'll definitely get the hang of it! The plot was brilliant and the execution was well done plus I loved the atmospheric setting in a dark, remote forest. I did not know what to expect but I was absolutely surprised about how twisty, and gripping it was! 👏🏼

I love the included snippets of the actual script (of the book within the book 😜) and how I was able to binge and easily fly through this great book!

Thank you to @netgalley for providing the digital copy in exchange for an honest review!

I've read a lot of repeat authors this year.

This is my 2nd book by Catherine Ryan Howard. I read 56 Days about this time last year when I was in the beautiful CO mountains. Now, I'm just in toto country where it's starting to get cooler and I want to kick all those fall hungry people in the genitals.

56 Days ended up being a 4⭐️ read for me, which candidly speaking, I didn't remember liking that much, but I attribute that to being over 40 and vodka.

This book is not highly rated on GR's, so I went into this with low expectations.

Thank you to my friend, Jenny, over at @nottoomanybooks, for the buddy read!

I'm conflicted on this one.

I really like Howard's writing style. She has a way of drawing you into the story, making you feel completely invested in what's going to happen.

Unfortunately, the story here was just way too predictable. I found it boring and although there were a couple of twists, they were less than aweworthy. I liked the idea. I just felt like it could have gone a more interesting direction.

⭐️⭐️⭐️ for the writing style.

Thank you Netgalley and Blackstone Publishing for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I love anything by CRH, but this one felt like I spent a long time with Adele. It took me ages to get through (I'm talking over a week so not months anything) but I was totally on board with the unreliable narrator aspect, I'm all about that. I enjoyed the screenplay being woven in and I honestly couldn't tell you which part I enjoyed more. I had an inkling of what was going on and while I don't think this one grabbed me as much as some of her others, I still really enjoyed it!

Great story with a rounded-up 4.5 stars rating. The plot twists get you off guard even though at some point everything g becomes clearer and you can tell who is who and what is what. I was able to dissect the story from early on. That does not mean that it's not worth it. To me, it was a.very entertaining read. Lots or questions were left unanswered for me. Still loved it.

Overall, I really enjoyed Run Time. It is a fast paced thriller that will keep you guessing until the very end. Catherine Ryan Howard writes fantastic thrillers!

Thank you to the publisher for my copy - all opinions are my own.

This is yet another excellent read from Catherine Ryan Howard, that I dove into and became totally addicted to reading because I NEEDED to know how it all plays out.

I loved the story within the story style of the plot - a horror movie being filmed that is based on a book, where the things that happen to the actress happened to the character of the book and the strangeness and nightmare of it all. This one was atmospheric and tense, and I can say that I was totally shocked by the twists.....I did NOT see them coming.

A perfect fit for spooky season!

CRH brings us another electric, fast-paced, twisty book that hits all the marks of what a psychological thriller should be. You will love this book if you like: a book within a book, stranded/isolated cabin in the middle of nowhere, books where you can't trust what you're reading or what any character says, and a strong female protagonist who you are rooting for the whole time.

Adele is a struggling Irish actress living in LA. She's had a semi-successful past in acting, but she's trying to rebuild her career and reputation after being fired from a production for having a, well, emotional meltdown. She gets a call from an Irish number basically begging her to join a skeleton crew horror movie after the lead unexpectedly dropped out - everything super hush-hush, a quick production, and very good money. She does a few gut-checks on the director and accepts the offer. But as soon as she arrives in Ireland - in a far, far remote cabin with no cell service and no taxis - she gets a feeling that things are not as they seem.

As a reader, you have no idea who to trust or whose story to believe. Every second in the third act is a heart-pounding, shiver-inducing drama played out slowly and carefully - this was a great example of an ending done well. Thank you to Blackstone for the ARC via Netgalley!