Kristin and Ryan are 16 and 10 respectively and are siblings. Ryan is also deaf, rarely attempts to speak but is fluent with ASL. Five years earlier, Tony, a cohort of their father’s, helped them to run from the family home shortly after their mother’s murder. The three of them are now living on a Montana ranch when they learn that their father has located them. All three set off but their small plane is shot as it becomes airborne causing it to crash in a nearby mountain lake. This is the story of their survival in a snowstorm and the interactions of the youngsters, their pursuers and those trying to locate and rescue them. It is written with many narrators yet so cohesively that the action, seen from almost every viewpoint, is gripping. Thanks to Net Galley and Minotaur Books for an ARC for an honest review.

What makes a great thriller? Action, suspense, engaging characters, a convoluted plot, and a compelling setting like the Montana mountains with an approaching blizzard. NORTH OF NOWHERE has all that and more. Kristen McIntyre and her deaf younger brother Ryan, survive a small plane crash as they run from their organized crime father Boyd. After five years of living safely under the protection of the man sworn to keep them their father, Boyd has tracked them down and sent his henchmen to kidnap his children and dispatch their protector. Their escape plane crashes after suffering damage in a runway shootout. The children’s aunt, Ruby, learns of the crash and heads to Montana. Long estranged from her criminal family, Ruby is ex-military tough and committed to protecting Kristen and Ryan. Rancher Nick Lorenzo, who knows the mountains better than anyone, also learns of the crash and jumps in to help find the children. But why are the children running from their father? Who are the good guys and who wishes harm? What follows is the stuff of thrillers. A great story, well told.

DP Lyle, award-winning author of the Jake Longly and Cain/Harper thriller series

Wow, what a ride! North of Nowhere was highly unpredictable - something I really, really enjoy. Allison Brennan is adept at writing scenes that made me "feel". At various points throughout the book, I felt compassionate, angry, and tense. The setting was realistic too - further enhancing the storytelling. Well done!

North Of Nowhere by Allison Brennan

Allison Brendan’s latest standalone novel is an unputdownable race to the dramatic finish.

This novel was well written. Had many characters to digest. More than entertaining. But I felt it was a little tragic. It read like our news today. Grandma shot everyone instead of finding a solution. I was disappointed that Tony was killed.

Thanks to Net Galley for sending me an advanced reader’s copy for my review.

Great read! Fast paced, there was a lot of action going on that kept me awake till the wee hours wanting to know what would happen. A story well worth reading, I highly recommend this one.

We need a sequel to this book! Loved the characters (well, most of them) and the story. I was glued to the edge of my seat and read this book in 2 sittings. Kristen and Ryan have lived with Tony for 5 years. Their father, crime family, has been tracking them. Just read the book. I highly recommend it as I do all this Author’s books. Thanks to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press and the Author for allowing me to read and review this book.

How dare Tony take Kristen and Ryan in his plane and attempt to get to Ennis, Montana! Their father, Boyd Mc Intyre, is not someone to be trifled with. Tony is trying to protect the children from their father and particularly their grandmother.

As Tony is taxiing the plane for takeoff a sharpshooter hits him, then a second shot goes through the aircraft and lodges in his chest. Gravely wounded he crash lands the plane. Now the kids become his rescuers.

The description of the difficulties and terrain makes a breathtaking visual of the majestic Montana mountains.

This story explores the corruption and lawlessness of the very wealthy and their families. Boyd has no compunction about removing anyone who gets in his way. There is always a lot going on with numerous characters.

The conclusion to the story illuminates the thinking of the absurdly rich people. I was both exasperated and aghast at the cruelty exhibited by this ludicrously rich family. 4 stars – CE Williams

So. Much. Going. On! This is a thrill ride of a book. There are lots of characters and a lot of action, but never so much that I lost track. Even when they changed directions or combinations. And then, just when I thought it was winding down, NOPE. There was lots more action before the end. This is the first Allison Brennan book I've read. But certainly not the last,

Being sweet sixteen shouldn't mean running for your life and constantly looking over your shoulder. But that's where Kristen McIntyre finds herself and her ten year old brother Ryan. Five years ago Tony helped them escape Boyd, their biological father, after Kristen saw him ruthlessly kill a man and order the body disposed of. As head of an L.A. crime family Boyd had unlimited resources so Tony had prepared them for the inevitable with a carefullly planned escape route and safe house. But his planning didn't include a gunman firing into the plane he was using for their escape. With the fuel line hit and chest wounds from the gunfire he was able to make a crash landing in the mountainous Montana wilderness. But Boyd would waste no time getting someone on their trail. Tony knew his wounds were fatal so he was forced to send Kristen and Ryan on ahead not knowing a blizzard was rapidly moving in from the north. IF they could stay ahead of their trackers, would their survival skills be enough to see them through to safety?

"North of Nowhere" by Allison Brennan started strong and kept me flipping pages as fast as I could read, right up until someone piled on enough baggage to fill a freight car. Between Nick Lorenzo, his son Jason, Boyd, Boyd's brother, Aunt Ruby (Boyd's sister), Millie, Sheriff Kate, and grandmother Frankie McIntyre, I felt like I needed a scorecard to keep track of all the players. Too many characters resulted in a fractured plot and several insignificant subplots that left me exhausted.

In Brennan's defense, style-wise, her writing is clear and concise with no superfluous wordiness to drag it down. Her primary characters are intriguing and likeable and even the antagonist Boyd displays a sense of honor, skewed though it may be. All in all, there's suspense and conflict aplenty but the storyline suffers a critical fracture that weakens the structure Brennan so carefully crafted. Three stars.

My thanks to Net Galley and St. Martin's Press for providing an ARC (Advance Reader's Copy) of "North of Nowhere" by Allison Brennan.  I voluntarily read and reviewed this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Scheduled release date August 10, 2023.

My Thoughts

16-year-old Kristin and almost 11-year-old Ryan McIntyre were taken from a dangerous family environment 5 years ago and with their surrogate Parent/protector have been on the move ever since.

Settling in Big Sky Montana finally gave all three not only a chance to make friends but also routines that give them each peace.

However, as all good things must, their peaceful existence ends when found by the very man that the trio have been evading all those years.

What they go through is nothing short of sheer torture at times for Kristin and Ryan but also their pursuers and their would be rescuers as well

This is true not only for the characters themselves but in some ways the reader as well since you very much want to help and can’t.

A plane crash, a blizzard, family secrets, multiple twists and 2 of the pluckiest children I have met in a contemporary read in quite some time.

It has been a while since reading anything penned by the author but once I started remembered quickly why I still love her intensely involved stories and plan on reading more of her backlist at some point.

This was a total immersive experience for me as it made me feel not only part of the characters world but also there in the moment as each new layer was added and executed until a very satisfying ending takes place.
[EArc from Netgalley]

There was a bit too much going on but I enjoyed that I was kept on the edge of my seat for most of this novel. When I first read the description, I was a bit worried that it would get too complicated with all these people on their tails but the author kept it simple and didn't have multiple pov and flashbacks which always ruin stories like this. I really hope we get to see more of the McIntyre siblings.

Once I had more than 15 minutes at a time to read North of Nowhere, the story flowed. In small chunks, it was difficult to remember where each of the large cast of characters was because the action moved so quickly, rather like a game of Clue.
The entire story takes place over a 48-hour time frame and includes a blizzard, vulnerable (but not defenseless) kids on the run, a plane crash, people shot and wounded, people shot and killed, mountain rescues and murder. Add to this the idea that your family may not always have your best interests at heart and you have a thrilling race to survive. The cast of characters was large, but I felt that they were all brought together in a believable way for a satisfying resolution.

Another winner by this author. I loved the setting and the whip smart plot and it was one that was hard to put down.
Thanks to Netgalley for letting me review the book

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the ARC of "North of Nowhere" by Allison Brennan. This was my introduction to this author and I was pleased with the story. It was a unique setting as I haven't read any thriller/mystery set in the Montana wilderness. Once I got into the story, I was hard to put down. Family dynamics, gorgeous setting and adventure/mystery had me fully engaged. I look forward to reading more from this talented author.

*2.5 stars

I had super high hopes for this book, and it really let me down. I didn’t hate it, but I really didn’t love it. I know there was a lot of work put into it by the author and it is clear that the writer was passionate about the story, however it just wasn’t for me. Let me explain why.

The biggest issue with this book is the amount of characters. There were SO MANY. it was insanely difficult to keep track of them all. There kept being new characters introduced that wouldn’t show up again until the very end or who had insignificant roles but still had to be remembered. It really took away from the story and distracts the reader.

I hated the ending sooooo much. One second someone is a villain, the next all is forgiven? Nope, hated it. It all wrapped up too nicely for all the action that happened. I despise endings like that. Maybe I’m being too harsh, but honestly I had to skim a lot of the ending as it got annoying.

The main “villain” was very cartoon-like. The stereotypical villain of the story, predictable and fits the story perfectly (in a bad way, instead of the antagonist being full of depth and complications). I hope this makes sense: the villain was too villain-y. Just straight up monologues their intentions.

Also, for the way the “storm” was hyped all throughout the book, it barely made an appearance in the story. Sure, it was described as snowing and cold here and there, but I was waiting for the elements to really hit and it never really did. Also, it was hard to believe SO MANY people just voluntarily went into the forest/mountains after these kids during the storm. Like, why not one search and rescue team, why all these civilians chasing one another, always being so close yet so far from one another? I just hated it.

I love the deaf representation, and how all the characters knew ASL. I think it’s super important to have disability rep in books, and especially show how strong a character can be while still being disabled.

The premise of the book is really good and creative. I was kept wanting to know what would happen, but I will say, the synopsis of the book hooked me more than the story did.

Overall, I really didn’t love the book. I feel mean saying this, but it just wasn’t for me, but that doesn’t mean it won’t be for everyone.

Thank you to the author and St. Martin's Press for allowing me to read and review this book.

Once again Allison Brennan has given us an awesome psychological thriller! Her booms never disappoint and I have been a fan for years! This is a stand alone that is worth the read!

loved this romance and finding oneself and the how the couple worked out their problems . loved all of the side characters and the friendships. Good book.

I thought this would be interesting, but after a while I was bored. The different points of view are good. The way the past was slowly revealed made me feel like I missed a book before this one even though there wasn't one. I'm sure many patrons will enjoy it, but it wasn't for me. ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair review.

North of Nowhere by Allison Brennan What an intense and fast paced thriller. The blizzard was a character in itself. Still cold and could be suffering from frostbite myself. Nick and Jason were the real heroes here. Kristen was quite a unique character. One couldn't help but love Ryan such a brave young boy. Frankie was evil personified. Believe is one of my favorites by Ms Brennan.

Thank you to the author,Minotaur Books, and Netgalley for the opportunity to preview the book.

North of Nowhere is one of those books that pulled me in immediately and I didn't want to put it down until I finished it. Teenagers Kristen and Ryan McIntyre have been on the run and in hiding from their criminal family for the past 5 years. Their anonymous life in Montana comes to an abrupt end one morning when their father finally finds them and tries to bring them back to Los Angeles. They flee into the mountains just as a blizzard begins. They face a dangerous journey through the mountain wilderness and the storm with the help of their guardian, aunt, and some local friends. Their escape plan goes awry almost immediately with a plane crash, an unexpected death, and an additional unknown person hunting them in addition to their father. The kids must survive the environment and their pursuers to escape and finally live a normal life.
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