North of Nowhere by Allison Brennan is a fast-paced thriller about siblings Kristin and Ryan McIntyre and their race to keep away from their murderous father. They end up stuck in the middle of the Montana wilderness with a snowstorm approaching. But they do have a few people watching out for them. I really enjoyed this story. It sucked me in from the beginning, and I was invested in the characters. Thanks to NetGalley for the free digital review copy. All opinions are my own.

Being chased is one thing, being chased by the person who is your father is something on the next level!

A crazy ride of cat and mouse! Overall a very good book!

This story is told in third person and follows a pair of kids that have been hidden from their father because of his connections to organized crime. The plot is action-packed. I really enjoyed the story as the children hiked through the Montana wilderness with their aunt, local search and rescue, rangers, and the bad guys all tracking them. Some of it may have been a little implausible but I always enjoy a good hiking-through-the-woods story, especially if there’s a reason for suspense, not that I want to frantically hike through a blizzard or anything, but I enjoy a good hike on a nice day at my own leisurely pace. LOL

However, later in the story, it lost some steam for me and the plot felt a little more convoluted. Some of the characters disappeared from the canvas, there were a few dropped subplots, and the true villain of the piece became a bit more of an unbelievable caricature.

Recommended to those that can overlook some implausibility for some blizzard-filled thrills.

Thank you to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for a copy provided for an honest review.

Love everything Allison Brennan! She’s an incredible author who keeps my attention the whole book! With the wilderness and avoiding being found it kept me on the edge of my seat!

This was a quick read, pacing was well done and great character development.
Lots of action and plot twists till the end.
Thankful for the ARC!

North of Nowhere reminded me so much of a Jason Bourne movie, it was so action packed. Unfortunately, this one fell so flat for me. I felt like it was super slow paced and not really much happened? What did happen wasn’t very surprising and it was just very copy & paste of a typical action movie but in novel form.

I think this is a case of this kind of book is just not for me, which is ok!

Thank you to St. Martins Press and Minotaur Books for my copy of this!

A good traditional mystery with appealing characters and solid twists. I don't tend to love wilderness tracking kind of books and might have passed this one up if I knew more about that at the outset, but I'm glad I didn't. Solid audiobook narration as well.

Based on the description, North of Nowhere had every element of a fast-paced thriller that I love. Unfortunately, I felt like it moved incredibly slowly, I was bored for most of it and found it predictable. The story itself was very atmospheric and the descriptions of the locale were great. While the story was slow, I did enjoy Brennan's writing style and will certainly give other books by her a shot; North of Nowhere was simply too slow-moving for me.

I did enjoy the ending and that redeemed the book for me. Overall, I thought it probably could have been 100 pages shorter, and that could have helped the slow factor.

Thank you Minotaur Books and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.

From chapter one, I knew this was going to be an exciting and atmospheric read! It’s super fast paced and full of action and adventure. Two siblings, hiding from their crime-boss father, have just been located and escape by plane with the man who’s been caring for them. The plane is shot down leaving the kids to find safety in blizzard conditions. This book made me feel like I was in the woods with Ryan and Kristin fearing for my life! I enjoyed reading about the family members and their history as a crime family and seeing the ‘softer’ side of Boyd. The setting was perfect for this storyline and I loved the twists and unexpected revelations.

What a gripping read!! From the very first chapter, I was instantly hooked!! The setting of this book, added to its high anxiety nature. I read this in an afternoon. I had to know what happened!! There was a plane crash, ATV crashes, frostbite, secluded cabins in the woods. The story was so well done as well. You instantly loved the kids and were rooting for all the good kids to prevail! The twists were a. Bit predictable but I was okay with it because I was so invested in finding out what happens in the end, I didn’t care. Great read!

Kristen and Ryan have been dreading the day they would be found and it’s finally happened. Their father, head of a LA crime family has found them and is about ready to kidnap them but they escape in time, but not without issues. They landed in the middle of nowhere and a storm is coming. I don’t want to say too much but I would love to see this adapted to the screen.
Huge thank you to @berkleypub @berittalksbooks @thephdivabooks @dg_reads and @netgalley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review

Both Kristen and Ryan have managed to hide from their crime boss father for the last five years but suddenly they realize that is about to change. Their father is within minutes of kidnapping them and they are doing thier best to escape. They get a plane flown by someone they have trusted and is trying to save them but wuickly they are in the fight of their lives. As their plane goes down they have to quickly figure out what they are going to do. As they escape into the cold and wooded area they realize there is multiple people after them but their life depends on who finds them first.

This was a really good book! I enjoyed the thrill and suspense of the book and thought it was really well done. I like that there was some back story and we could understand where they were coming from. It was a quick read for me and I didnt want to put down. I recommend this book!

❄️ What do you get when you mix family issues, murder, intrigue, survival, crime, interesting characters, action, and thrilling situations and then dump it all in the Montana snowy wilderness? You get this story!

❄️ Sadly, I didn’t enjoy the book as much as I hoped. I loved the set up. I was buckled in and ready to go! But it wasn’t long before I started losing interest. The entire middle was quite repetitive (running around and searching for people) and it really dragged the pace down to a level that the story was no longer compelling for me (although there were a couple of scenes I found to be particularly suspenseful). I plowed through though, and the ending was really good. It was just a long ride to get there.

❄️ The Montana setting was great – almost a character itself. My husband was stationed at Malmstrom AFB in Montana and he has told me many harrowing stories about the snow and the cold there! I thought the author did a fantastic job of describing the conditions one can experience in Montana.

❄️ I do encourage you to read this book if the premise interests you. My opinion about this book appears to be a bit of an anomaly - there are many 4- and 5-star reviews, but I gave it a 3 (which on my rating scale means I liked it). If I hadn’t gotten bored in the middle, it would have been an easy 4-star for sure.

Thank you @netgalley and @stmartinspress for an eARC of this book, which I have read and reviewed honestly and voluntarily.

Allison Brennan takes her readers on a thrilling adventure through the wilderness of Montana in this edge of your seat thriller! I loved this book and recognized the author's name but now I want to devour her entire backlist.
This story is about a mafia family, the patriarch who is looking for his children and the kids who are trying NOT to be found. The snowstorm makes for a chilling setting to this story. I love a good snowstorm story, perhaps because I grew up in Michigan and relate. The book has a lot of characters and a plane crash and keeps the reader guessing from page to page. I am looking forward to reading more by this author and recommend this book to all my friends who are thriller lovers. 4.5 stars.

Kristen and Ryan McIntyre have been living in Montana for five years with a man who they consider to be their father, Tony. They are there hiding out from their real father, Boyd, who is involved in a crime family run by his mother in California. But, now they have been found and they all have to go on the run. Unfortunately, their plane is damaged the the pilot is shot, causing a crash landing in the Montana wilderness.

In pursuit is their crime family father, with his hired help, including some unsavory local characters. A local rancher who knows the kids is trying to locate them to help. Tony has spent the five years training the kids in how to take care of themselves in the wilderness. He has also had an escape plan ready, just in case. Without Tony, the kids have to navigate the wilderness on their own and try to make it to their safe house.

This was a great thrill ride of a novel. It hits the ground running and never stops. The Montana wilderness is challenging enough, but add in a powerful snowstorm and you have some suspenseful scenes. The number of involved parties was intense too. There is the group with the kids and Tony, the rancher, the children's aunt, the local sheriff, and a cop from California. The children's aunt is a great character! I'd love to see more novels featuring her. Also, the little brother, Ryan, is deaf. It gets really complicated, fast!

The author did a good job balancing all the characters and moving between the different scenes and points of view. The drama amped up and it just was not a book that was easy to put down! I wanted to see what happened next! I can't recommend this enough. It was a great read!

I found this book to be very interesting and intriguing. I would recommend this a friend because this is a book for everyone.

I'm a fan of the author's and while I am still morning no more Max Revere books, I'm always excited to pick up a new book of hers.

I loved the Montana setting and how it's like it is a supporting character in the book when coupled with the storm. I was drawn into the idea of what represents family. And how it is nestled in a book about a crime family. I swayed back and forth on who was trustworthy and who had ulterior motives.

It did seem a little long in the middle and I don't know if that was my attention span or a slow down in the pace, but the ending made the middle worth it.

I really enjoyed the start of this book it was action packed and filled with interesting characters. By the end I found it to be so repetitive and predictable. Wasn't a huge fan just because I found it lost my interest.


Thank you netgalley for the earc in exchange for an honest review

Hold on tight for a thrilling ride through the Montana wilderness in Allison Brennan's gripping novel, "North of Nowhere."

Kristin and Ryan McIntyre, siblings raised in hiding by a protective pilot, find their lives upended when their murderous father, Boyd McIntyre, tracks them down. Desperate for survival, they board a small plane, only to have their escape cut short when gunfire hits the fuel line. Their pilot, determined to save them, crash-lands in the heart of a snowstorm-ravaged Montana wilderness.

With limited supplies and no way to contact help, Kristin and Ryan must rely on their instincts and each other to survive the harsh conditions and the relentless pursuit of their father's henchmen. As they navigate the unforgiving terrain, they uncover a web of secrets and hidden dangers that threaten their very existence.

Brennan masterfully blends suspense and survival elements, keeping the reader on the edge of their seat until the very end. The characters are well-developed and relatable, their struggles and resilience adding depth to the narrative. Kristin's determination and Ryan's resourcefulness make them compelling protagonists, their bond growing stronger as they face adversity together.

The Montana wilderness serves as a backdrop of both beauty and danger, its unforgiving nature adding to the tension and suspense. Brennan's vivid descriptions transport the reader into the heart of the storm, making the characters' struggle for survival all the more palpable.

"North of Nowhere" is a captivating tale of resilience, survival, and the enduring power of family. Brennan's writing is engaging and suspenseful, her characters are relatable and well-developed, and the Montana wilderness setting adds an extra layer of intrigue.

This was an action packed, fast paced thriller that kept me on the edge of my seat. The setting was beautiful and descriptive. Sometimes, a very fast paced novel seems rushed and looses something when it comes to character, relationship, or plot development. That was NOT the case with North of Nowhere. I loved this book! I have now put more of Allison Brennen’s books on my TBR list.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press, Minotaur Books for this digital arc in exchange for my honest review which is not affiliated with any brand.