This book was interesting…Suspenseful through and through but the setting had me 🥴for so much of the story but I went with it and it was such a wild ride and I loved it. 4 stars because of the setting. That being said it was very cool and worth the read to learn this was based on some true events from the 80’s

For this book started as a slow burn read, after I got past 37% it was quick and a page turner. I had a love hate relationship with Mikey.
Already recommended it for a few of my book clubs to pick as a monthly read.

This was a good, quick read. It add some extra discomfort just knowing it is based on actual events. The woods, some weird people, and an excuse not to be exercising because you don't want to get abducted. It's all in there.

This is what ARCtober is all about! I pretty much forgot about this book that I’ve had from NetGalley for … a while (published in March 2024). And I picked it up and I loved it!!

Miley is an Olympian. She competes in the biathlon with her best friend. But ever since her accident, she’s struggled to get back into elite shape. So she’s taking a summer job in the mountains. To get away and get back to nature. But she finds more than she wanted in the woods and finds herself captured! She’s going to have to fight physically and work mentally to get out of this.

Hot take: I didn’t like The Quiet Tenant. This book is everything I wanted that one to be. It was fast paced, action packed, and the main character is a fighter who never gives up on herself!

Thank you @netgalley for the advanced digital copy. All opinions are mine.

**Gray After Dark** by Noelle W. Ihli is a fast-paced thriller that grabs you from page one and doesn’t let go. Gray is sharp, determined, and just flawed enough to feel real, while the twists and atmospheric scenes keep you on edge. A couple of plot points felt a bit rushed, but overall, this is a gripping, stormy-night read. Four stars!

Wow- this author has blown my mind again with another 5 star read. She is another author that I will be putting on my must read list without reading the plot to the book.

This is my first book by Noelle Ihli and wow it definitely won’t be my last. I did think at first the story was a little slow but soon the suspense sky-rocketed and I was left on the edge of my seat waiting to see what came next! A very well written story with a difficult storyline due to some extreme violence. Made even more so when you consider it was based on true events. The story was told by 2 points of view, both of which were equally engaging and suspenseful. I can’t wait to read more of Noelle Ihli’s books

This was a great read. Tense and thrilling from the first page to the last. Noelle’s writing style elevates this survival story and the fact it is based on true events makes it all the more gripping.

I really enjoyed this book! It was a captivating read that held my attention from start to finish. The story was well-paced, and the characters felt real and engaging. I’m grateful to the publisher for providing an early copy—it was a pleasure to read!

What a rollercoaster ride! This book was so intense in parts and heart wrenching. Miley takes a summer job at a lodge. She is an Olympian runner and quickly takes to the trails and beautiful area around the lodge. While on a run, she decides to take a dip in a beautiful alpine lake. She had been warned numerous times about bears and when she hears a commotion in the woods nearby she's terrified. What follows is absolutely suspenseful and I could not put this one down. Definitely one of my favorite reads lately and I will be reading everything by this author. She has such a way of building unease through her writing.

A psychological survival thriller that holds your interest till the end. I enjoyed this one, but it was quite predictable.

𝔹𝕠𝕠𝕜 ℝ𝕖𝕧𝕚𝕖𝕨 4.5/5 stars

This is my second novel by this author Noelle and I wasn’t disappointed. You need to read this book for yourself to see what happens !!

Noelle's novels are fast paced gripping reads and when turning the pages your senses seem heightened and as each page goes by you can feel your heart clambering in your chest!

Miley Petrowski was a biathlon athlete that is mending an injury from several years ago and is determined to race again in the Olympics . While navigating her love for Brent her teammate , she decides to head to the acres of Frank Church alone , to sort her thoughts and to take a on summer job and retrain taking advantage of the hundreds of acres full of hiking trails to run through .

Miley is stubborn and despite her injury is still quit fit and does not give herself enough credit. One day she finds a trail that leads to a beautiful secluded little lake in the mountains and takes relief to take a cold swim to relieve her aches and pains. Noelle is abducted by a father and son living in the woods off the grid and what transpires next is a lot of anxiety and edge of your seat suspense.

It wasn't until I was finished the book that I learned that the story was inspired by real events that took place back in 1984 when Biathlete Kari Swenson was abducted. While the author stresses that the story is inspired by Kari's resilience and tenacity it is complete fiction, the book sent chills up and down my spine multiple times just imagining for a minute how terrifying it would have been!!

Thank you Netgalley, Dynamite Books and Noelle W Ilhi for this digital ARC!

This was a bit slow at first but it payed off in the end. Dark and twisty, this thriller pulled me in about half way through. Personally, the characters weren’t likable but that added to the mood of the book.

cool and dramatic. definitely one that you should read if you're into thrillers and have a spare moment. do read.

Miley, who is an Olympic training athlete takes a job at a secluded resort in the wilderness of Montana. She is recovering from a personal incident that left her with some trauma to her mind and her body. She is a very private person, but does manage to make a friend or two while she is working there. Brent is also training to be an athlete in the Olympics and they have known each other since high school. Miley goes on a run and doesn’t tell anybody where she is going. She wind up missing, abducted, but everyone thinks she was eaten by a bear. Other than some lengthy descriptions of nature and, believing that two younger men survived in the woods for four weeks while looking, I really enjoyed the story!

Does have trigger warnings of rape, kidnapping, personal abuse. I personally found this part was written very well, even though hard to read at times.

The authors note was excellent! Loosely based on true events in Montana in 1984. There is also a short story to follow called after the dark about another character in the story.

Thanks to NetGalley for my electronic advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Gray After Dark is a riveting thriller of a ride through a very very dark forest. Miley is an Olympic athlete on the verge of Olympic gold when she sets off to help run an upscale exclusive camp in the middle of a vast forest in Frank Church. She has a teammate, Brent, who seems to be getting too close to her comfort zone about her undecided future, and so she tries to create some space, to train and zone out, between them. As she's learning the job requirements of her new role at camp, Miley is still training for her next Olympic event, and finds herself running the trails near her campsite, until one day, she doesn't return. What happens next is a story that you just have to read for yourself, but fair warning, it's a nailbiter! Dark, but highly recommended! Even surprised to find out it's partially based off of a true story...WHAT?!?!
*I received a copy of this book from NetGalley. This review is my own opinion*

A absolutely brilliant read.. The beginning was a bit slow to me, but then it gripped me and I could not put it down. The story flows well and Miley's attempts to escape was written well and did not seem unbelievable and far-fetched. However I did not like the ending, but I do not want to give away anything. Three stars from me. An enjoyable read all in all.

This copy was provided by the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review. I just finished "Gray After Dark" by Noelle W. Ihli, and I must say it is a fast-paced thriller. The story follows Miley, who is abducted during a morning run and held captive in a desolate cabin. Will she be able to survive? This book is dark and deals with abuse. Some very questionable choices were made. This could very well be a lifetime movie for sure. I must warn that I did tear up a bit at times if you put yourself in the book as the main character then you know what I mean. The author provoked an uncomfortable and anxious roller coaster ride for sure. I would recommend this read if you want a break from the same ole read that you normally are used to then venture out of your comfort zone and pick up this book for sure.

4.5⭐️

Incredibly thrilling and quite disturbing. This book is the epitome of why women choose to be alone in the forest with a bear instead of a man. I almost laughed when that comparison was noted because its just insane what women have to fear in society. I'm not saying that this scenario is particularly likely, but its a perfect representation of the fears women have being alone and feeling vulnerable.

Anywho, the story itself was quite thrilling and fast paced. Definitely disturbing and incredibly gripping. This is Noelle's newest book and I have only read two of her earlier ones, but I would agree that this is her best one so far.

I didn't like Miley at the beginning because I was just seeing her as she dealt with trauma, some of it caused by her own actions. She's working in a remote location and wanting to use her free time training, but she doesn't want to take advice on how to protect herself when she's out running alone. She doesn't think she'll run into bears -- and she doesn't, she runs into something much worse. This is a story of desperation, survival, and redemption. So much bad happened, but the question is, do you let the bad times define who you are as a person?
Thanks to NetGalley for letting me read this incredible tale of survival