4.25 ⭐️

For those who do not know, this book is inspired by the true story of Kari Swenson and her kidnapping in 1984. Kari was 23 years old when she was abducted by a father and son (for the purpose of keeping her as a bride for the son) in the Montana wilderness. Kari was rescued over 18 hours after her abduction and nearly died from a gunshot wound. I think Noelle did a beautiful job of portraying key details of Kari’s story, while fictionalizing it with the main character, Miley.

Miley is a 24 year old Olympic biathlon athlete (Kari was as well) who decides to take a summer job working at a resort in the Idaho mountains after a loss at Olympic gold and to further heal from a shoulder inquiry (due to an accident that occurred five years prior).
Despise her coworkers’ protests to wander about the woods and a tale about another resort worker who had been killed four years before by a bear, Miley still uses her spare moments outside of work to run and train (with hopes to try for the Olympics again in four years).

The day before the resort opens to guests, Miley decides to go for a run to a lake she had found days before. She doesn’t tell anyone, even a new friend/coworker, Wes, where she is going to run. While swimming in the lake, she encounters two men, father, Fred, and son, Hamish, dressed in pioneer styled clothing who have her exit the water by force. They claim to be the “last of the mountain men.” They live in a cabin deep in the mountains and believe the mountain belongs to them, killing and taking as they please.
Miley spends the next three months held captive by them, with the intention of becoming Hamish’s wife. Miley spends that time being brutally abused and brainwashed. She endlessly plans her escape.

The book quickly gets intense and it was difficult to put down. It does not let up to the satisfying ending. It was a great thriller. The conditions that Miley suffers are brutal. It is heart wrenching and terrifying, especially knowing a version of it truly happened. The last half had me shrieking with anticipation and worry.

Reading about Kari’s story after reading the book, Noelle inserted the major circumstances of Kari’s abduction quite faithfully. She dedicated the book to Kari and Kari’s friend, Alan (who was sadly murdered by her abductors).

I really enjoyed this book. It had my heart pounding. If you are fan of true crime, this would be a book for you.

I cannot wait to read more books by Noelle (already have them waiting on my shelf)!

Thank you to Netgalley, the author, and the publisher for allowing me access to the ARC of this book. I greatly appreciate the opportunity.

i wanted to like this more but it was soooo dark. I know it's based on true events but it was too dark for me.

*Thank you NetGalley for the ARC*
(This comes out March 22- do yourself a favour and read this if you are a fan of thrillers)

This was inspired by Kari Swenson, a biathlon athlete who was abducted, assaulted and shot & nearly killed by a father and son living off-grid.
This book had me flying through the pages, I couldn’t finish it fast enough. It was fast paced, well written and had my attention the entire time. 10/10 recommend!

Thriller • 370 pages

“Today I was the torch” 🔥🔥🔥
WOW. I have read 3 of her books, and this one is my favorite so far! It is heart pounding, heartwarming, and heartbreaking. I couldn’t put it down, and it made me feel ALL of the emotions in the best way.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you so much to @noelleihliauthor and @netgalley for letting me read this a few days early! This is my first ARC, and I definitely started them with a bang. ♥️

Gray after Dark will be out on March 22! 📚

I liked this. It’s more of a 3 1/2 star book for me. It was dark and disturbing this time and a little different than I expected. Otherwise it’s a solid thriller.

Gray After Dark
by Noelle W. Ihli
Pub Date: 22 Mar 2024

Gray After Dark is a book you will not be able to put down, trust me. My heart rate would not go down while reading this non stop thriller! The drama is absolutely non-stop breathtaking! A must read for thriller fans!

Short Description:

A merciless wilderness. A harrowing attack. A desperate escape.
When a tragic accident sidelines Miley's dreams of Olympic gold, she takes a summer job at a mountain guest lodge. The Frank Church Wilderness is remote, but it’s the perfect place to train and recover. Local lore about a staffer who died years ago doesn’t scare her.
But it should.

Many thanks to #GrayAfterDark & #NetGalley for providing me with an E-ARC of this 5 star thriller.

Inspired by true events, Gray After Dark is about an Olympic athlete who was abducted by two doomsday preppers and ‘tamed” to be a wife for the younger man. She was held in an off-grid cabin and tormented in myriad ways. Since it was assumed that she was attacked and killed by a bear, the search and rescue team stopped looking for her. It was only by sheer tenacity and grit that she saved herself.

This book is so very difficult to read. It touches on very tough subjects such as kidnapping, rape, brutal beatings and sheer terror. The kidnappers are sinister and terrifying, but Miley is able to persevere and survive.

Thank you, NetGalley and Dynamite Books for the ARC of this 5-star thriller.

Amazing bonechilling book, brought so many emotions to my heart and had me on the edge of my seat so good

My Rating: 4⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ this was good… I enjoyed it and had trouble putting it down!!!

A merciless wilderness.
A harrowing attack.
A desperate escape.

When a tragic accident sidelines Miley’s dreams of Olympic gold, she takes a summer job at a mountain lodge. The Frank Church Wilderness is remote, but it’s the perfect place for Miley to train and recover.

Local lore about a staffer who died years ago doesn’t scare her… but it should. Miley’s plans take a terrifying detour when she’s abducted by off the grid preppers who have nightmarish plans for her. She is trapped in a remote cabin with no way of escape… that is until there is… Can Miley make it out alive??

Inspired by true events.

So I really love this author this is only the third full length book of hers I have read and my experience with her last one was a bit disappointing, I wanted to love it so my rating was generous but this one I did really enjoy. The suspense was real and it was back with a vengeance.

The story really sucked me in right away and I was intrigued about the inspiration… which I am not gonna lie is terrifying. Noelle can write and she can write scary so well done …. I was on the edge of my proverbial seat with this one… the events that led to Miley’s abduction and then the description of her damaged feet, her capture and the shackles… ugh I felt for her every step of the way.

Miley isn’t super easy to like but you gotta feel for her even leading up to her abduction… she has clearly been through some stuff but it is not all revealed straight away and I liked that… you can pretty much guess what happened in the accident and shes tortured by it every day so shes sassy and rude…but I get it. I would probably be rude and bitchy too if I was carrying that much guilt around like luggage with me as well. I think her character development was amazing and I realise its only based on true events but I can only imagine the horror the real girl went through and I applaud her tenacity.

This story was unique…. I really enjoyed it. The changing POV are always a winner for me… I really liked Brent a lot what a good guy… everyone should have a Brent in their life. AND Wes… poor overlooked Wes.

I liked the way the events were brought together and the past merged with the present… it truly is a terrifying thing to think you can be living your life and then snatched up only to feel like you will never be seen again…. I hope I never have to truly know what that feels like… because the way the author describes it is f*cking scary enough thank you very much… a true testament to her writing.

Overall, I really enjoyed this… it was thrilling and it was edge of my seat. It was back to the Run on Red style that I loved. I know know all my friends liked Run on Red… but I really did so if you did too I think this one will be for you.

I want to thank Dynamite Books, NetGalley and Noelle W. Ihli for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

I am glad I have stuck with this author cause we can’t like every single book someone writes but I really do enjoy her style. Thank you.

I also really love the extra short stories you get to get some insight into another character… this was no exception… I got a little free story after I had finished this and I really liked that as well. Once its available to review on GoodReads I will pop up a short review.

Wow, what a wild ride!!! This book had me going WHAT THE HECK!?!
This story is crazy enough to actually be true. This would make a great movie.

This is my third book by Noelle W. Ihli and so far it is my favorite! This book was intense and action packed. I could not put it down. It will make you second guess your decision to be alone in the woods. Noelle Ihli has fast become a new auto buy author for me. Thank you Netgalley for this ARC.

This is a binge book. It didn't start out that way, I just couldn't find a good place to stop so had to keep reading through the end.....the fantastic end. As Miley works towards recovering her Olympic level skills after an accident, she will take a job in a wilderness park for peace and quiet. Never suspecting danger, Miley will be taken and held hostage. At this point, it's Miley will face decisions that will test her strength and resolve.

This book deserves much more than 5 stars. I'm sorry I can't give more but I can and will be watching for Noelle Ihli's next book.

Thank you to NetGalley, Dynamic Books, and Noelle Ihli for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

My initial reading of the book's blurb, in addition to the beautiful cover art, got me excited to read another Ihli piece. This will be my second completed book by this author in 48 hours. They are becoming one of my newest favorite thriller authors and I cannot wait to read more of their books in the future.

Imagine you are great at most of what you do, but then something you didn't expect happens to change your life...twice. You are disoriented in more ways than one both of those times, but you know that like the first time, the only thing to do is survive...any way possible.

The overall pace and writing style (multiple POV) of this book scratches the ADHD itch that kept me engaged. In all honesty, I am new in my reading journey and stories like this with multiple twists/unseen characters only strengthen my love of my newest hobby. I would absolutely recommend this book to those who love the thriller genre.

Two of my favorite similes: "He looked like a maniacal string bean" & "the feathers [...] floated among them like morbid confetti."

Triggers: animal hunting, SA, abduction, death

There aren't enough stars for this book. I wish i had more to give. The raw emotional turmoil I felt reading left me sick. The author told Miley's story so perfectly that I felt like I was there with her the entire time. Living her story. Must read!

Very intense book that keeps you engaged.

Thank you Dynamite Books and NetGalley for providing an advance copy in exchange for an honest review

Thank you to NetGalley, Dynamic Books, and Noelle Ihli for an arc copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Ok, this was a heavy read and there are def some triggers. This book was intense but def found it to be slow at parts. Character development was good and but the plot description was even better. Totally happy with the ending!

This is my second book from this author and she definitely has a unique writing style. Looking forward to more!

Noelle is fast becoming one of my go to thriller authors. Her books are just so suspenseful, anxiety inducing, and fast paced! Gray after dark was no different!

We follow Miley after she is kidnapped by a psychotic son and father duo looking to make her one of their “wives”. We also follow Brent as he is trekking through the woods determined to find Miley.

I really enjoyed this one! Super fast paced, readable, heavily triggering because of the subject matter obvi, and just keeps you wanting to read to find out what happens next! Loved Miley as a main character also, which is sometimes hard to find likable MC’s in thrillers.

Also, really enjoyed the authors note at the end. Bringing attention to the case that inspired this story was a really beautiful thing to do.

Gray After Dark by Noelle W. Ihli
SYNOPSIS: An Olympic athlete with a sorted past goes to the Frank Church Wilderness for a summer job. She works at a resort where she is able to continue training and going for runs in her free time. She finds the most beautiful and serene spot to run to that is the perfect distance for her training, but when she hears gunshots a little too close for comfort, everything changes. She is taken deep into the wilderness and left to fend for herself with people who want her for their own purposes. It is not until Miley confronts her past that he she realizes what she must do to survive this horrible nightmare.

MY THOUGHTS: WOW! This book really surprised me. It is my first book by this author and it was fast paced, terrifyingly realistic, and I could not wait to get to the end (in a good way)! There were so many twists and turns that had me on the edge of my seat. It reminded me so much of a really great true crime podcast (if that is what you are into), and I came to find out this story is inspired by a kidnapping that happened over 30 years ago! My heart was pounding and at times the images were too gruesome to continue. This thriller will give you all the goosebumps, have you biting your nails, and shaking in your boots. But it will also give you hope in the strength of friendships, even those in unlikely places. I enjoyed this and am thankful to @netgalley and Dynamite Books Publishing for this awesome ARC! Available March 22, 2024!

Miley is an independent, 24yo biathlete who, after losing her mother to a car crash, tries to get her sh*t straight. Working a part-time job at the posh Hidden Springs Resort while training for the upcoming Olympics, Miley pushes herself every morning by running an even more remote trail in the wide, dangerous woods.

Her co-worker Wes warns her of the bears in the Frank Church Wilderness and practically begs her to take a big can of Mace. Wes already lost a dear co-worker at the lodge years ago because of the wild bears roaming the forests.

But what happens on her run on the seventh day to Miley is neither godly nor a blessing to the young woman. No matter what Fred and Hamish might think…

OYFG, why did no one inform me, that this was partially inspired by true events? (okay, kind of my fault for missing that part in the Description)

This was the third book in the past few weeks I read which was basically about the abduction of a young woman… and it couldn’t be any more different from the other one.

The storytelling was very descriptive and the suspense great all around, the Author had me impatiently reading line after line.
The book was basically +80% fast-paced and it took me from one teeth-gnashing moment to another. I actually screamed and cursed at the characters, which is always a good sign about the quality of the book I am reading.

About the characters…
I won’t say much about Miles and Brent themselves. You can make your own assumptions about them as much as you want.

But Wes and Mary? -Wes was a stupidly loyal young man (too loyal for nothing in my eyes) but Mary, *#x! woman! How I loved to hate you… but in the end I could not.
Fred was evil, and Hamish a product of Fred’s madness and religious indoctrination. Of course, I don’t condone what Hamish did, but it was basically his father’s fault.

This book was great to read and I loved the ending.
I also enjoyed the Bonus pages about Mary at the end, the Author gifted us with some hope even though at one time I was expecting for it all to end badly.

A 9.6 Stars Rating for this one!!
The release Date is 22'nd of March 2024.

I can clearly recommend this to everyone who loves the right amount of thriller and/or suspense. You will love it!

As always, Noelle W. Ihli did an amazing job with this one. I don't think it has ever taken me longer than 1-2 sittings to read one of her books. this book spooked me (as hers always do, let's be honest), but also had a good storyline. I will say it could have been a bit shorter and I was unhappy with a few parts of the ending, but will still be recommending this one!