Run is a re-release of Blake Crouch's previously indie released novel but this time being released by a big publisher, Ballentine Books.

It's been five days since the United States changed. A constellation event seems to be the culprit, but is that really the reason for the random killings that are happening? Is that way massacres are taking place all across the country? One family is on their way to Canada, at any cost, to try and save their lives.

If you find pandemic adjacent novels triggering this novel isn't for you. If you're expecting something like Blake Crouch's more recent novels, this also isn't it. I liked seeing where Blake has come in his writing career. Run doesn't feel as tight in writing as his more contemporary novels. His talent for telling a family story is still very present all these years later in his writing. I feel like family tends to be at the heart of a lot of his stories. While I found Run very easy to read, I thought it got very redundant at times. Knowing Run was originally published in 2011, it's interesting reading now in a post-2020 world. There are things within it that doesn't necessarily feel so far off, which is really troublesome.

I know a lot of people like reading thrillers in the fall and this would easily fit the bill. It's fast paced and will keep you at the edge of your seat.

Thank you to Ballentine Books and Netgalley for a copy in exchange for review consideration.

This was a nonstop thriller from beginning to end. The only time the pacing slows is the only brief reprieve the family has the entire 30 days they spend on the run from people who have unexplainably gone mad and are mass murdering those who didn't. This title was originally published in 2011 so it is being rereleased. Trigger warnings, literally, as it sadly contains some things we currently see in our news so I don't suggest this for anyone trying to escape the genocide or cruel treatment of others we see in reality. The thriller definitely borders on horror like a Stephen King novel. Compared to Crouch's more recent books it was much darker and gruesome so some readers may not enjoy this as much as his more sci-fi type genre books. The style of writing is different as well, sometimes sentences not being complete but more like train of thoughts. There aren't really chapters either. This worked to keep the tension and action moving. I felt the constant fear the characters did, holding my breath until the very end as we are on the run with this family of four. The book is mostly a post- apocalyptic style narrative and really makes one question the things we would do to protect the people we love. I enjoy these what-if scenarios and often like to see the various ways in which they try to survive or the things you don't always think about. I also thought their family relationship and marriage was interesting to delve into, and that these books are often reflective despite it being a lot of action and violence too.

First of all, thanks to Netgalley and Random House/Ballantine for letting me read an eARC of Run by Blake Crouch. Run was a non-stop thrill ride of a novel that maintained its gloomy post-apocalyptic atmosphere for the duration of its length. The characterizations were the best part of the novel and absolutely made you invested in the drama unfolding. Run is an easy recommendation for people who love tense and dark thrillers.

Thank you Netgalley & publisher for this e-arc of Run by Blake Crouch.

Synopsis: "Run" is a chilling thriller that captures the essence of suspense and horror, a post-apocalyptic tapestry. The novel opens with a series of gruesome and unconnected murders sweeping across the United States, escalating rapidly into nationwide chaos. As society crumbles, the narrative zeroes in on Jack Colclough, living in Albuquerque, New Mexico, with his wife and two children. In a terrifying turn of events, Jack hears his name announced on the Emergency Broadcast System as someone marked for death, plunging his family into a desperate fight for survival. As power grids fail and killers mobilize, Jack’s only option is to run. Crafted with Crouch’s signature grip on nerve-wracking scenarios, "Run" explores the depths of human fear and resilience in the face of unfathomable threats. This journey is not only a test of survival but also a deeply immersive experience into what it means to protect one's family at all costs. The book includes a bonus interview with Blake Crouch and excerpts from his other works, making it a compelling read for fans of horror, thriller, and suspense genres.

Like all Blake Crouch books, I plowed right through this in one day, giving it 4-5 stars like all his books, but it wasn't as great as his last few. So, it made more sense when I read that this was actually from 2011. I liked the main characters. I am into post-apocalyptic genres right now and have read 3 recently. While this was not the best of them all, it was still a 5-star read for being an easy, fast read.

Genres/Themes: Horror, Thriller, Fiction, Suspense, Science Fiction, Post Apocalyptic, Mystery, etc.

I recommend this to Post-apocalyptic thriller lovers and fans of Blake Crouch books.

***A big thank you to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for an ARC of this book!!***
A strange natural light display appears over the sky of the United States…some people are asleep or just miss it. The people that see it are overtaken by its beauty and know that the people that didn’t see the lights will never be able to comprehend the beauty of them….and for that, they must all die.

This is the backdrop of this Blake Crouch thriller (originally released in 2011) that focuses on a particular family of 4: Jack(dad), Dee(mom), Naomi(daughter) and Cole (son). When the crisis begins, Jack and Dee’s marriage is hanging on by a thread. They are going to have to work through their differences if they want their family to make it through the nightmare alive and in one piece.

Anyone looking for a detailed explanation as to what causes the lights to occur or what exactly they did to the human minds that were affected will be disappointed. Everyone else will have an absolute blast digging into this family on the run survival story that is all about the family members and what they will do for each other in the face of their worst nightmares come to life. There is some truly gruesome imagery on display here, so this one might not be for the faint of heart or readers who are easily triggered.

The book has a lot of tropes/cliches that pop up but it never detracts from the story. It reminded me a lot of the original Mad Max and the Tom Cruise War Of The Worlds. Crouch is a fantastic writer and I highly recommend this and all of his other works!!

Edge of your seat, nail-biter, a WTF book that makes you think and keeps playing over and over in your mind. Blake Crouch does it again and again!!!! One of my favorite speculative thriller authors delivers another banger. This is like an apocalyptic thriller with a mixture of The Purge. When mass killings plague the country and one man finds out that his family is next, he must find an out to keep his family safe. While I wanted a little more in the end, this book was a wild ride and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

I love Blake Crouch, Dark Matter and Recursion were tense, action-packed and atmospheric, taking possibilities and bringing them to the dark what-if. Run was definitely action packed; it felt like episodes of TWD or other apocalyptic shows: Run, search for food, hide, repeat. I wanted more back story, more why and who the event caused this reaction and why/how it went away.. This felt like the action part was written but he forgot to go back and explain the events that kicked it off.

This is a book for people who want a fast, action-packed read.

3 stars - not my favorite.

Thank you to NetGalley and to the publisher for this eARC in exchange for my honest opinion

I was delighted to discover this Blake Crouch novel that I haven't read yet. I'm a big fan of Dark Matter and Recursion and I savor every release from this author but totally missed this backlist title. I'm so glad it's been given a new life!

Run was one of the most tense and fast-paced books I've read. I was so invested in Jack's story and it was so hard not to skip to the end to see if he was going to make it. If you want to forget about everything going on in your life, pick up this high-stakes thriller!

This was so damn good. I love an action packed heart pounding thriller and this worked on all levels. We don’t know what Jack and his family are running from but from the very first page we’re along for the ride and praying for them to make it through. Blake Crouch never disappoints.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher.

I actually didn't realize this was a re-release when I requested it and I have previously read this.

What has this world come to? A string of tragic events, mass murder and school shootings, have you shaking your head. But as the tragic events keep occurring, you find yourself in shock as you hear the names of people you know read aloud on the radio on a “kill list”… and then you hear yours. What else can you do but gather your family and RUN? How do you protect those that you love the most when this world seems to be tearing apart at the seams?

I’m pretty sure at this point I would read anything Blake Crouch writes. Run is not a specifically profound novel, but I found myself tearing through it at a fast speed. I couldn’t wait to see what happens - if they tear themselves apart from the inside, if they get gunned down in their travels, if they make it to safety. It was a wholly entrancing novel.

Read if you like: thrillers, sci-fi

The book excels at blending sci-fi with thriller elements, creating a narrative that is both intense and deeply unsettling. Its imaginative sci-fi concepts are intriguing, but they sometimes stretch believability. The story’s relentless pace and dark, suspenseful atmosphere maintain high tension throughout.

Character development is robust, with well-drawn individuals who bring emotional depth to the story. The narrative is punctuated by unexpected twists that sustain suspense and keep the reader engaged.

What truly sets this book apart is its portrayal of cruelty and horror. The narrative doesn't shy away from depicting intense and disturbing scenarios, which adds a profound level of discomfort and tension. The setting amplifies this feeling of dread, making the overall reading experience not only compelling but also hauntingly memorable.

My first ever Blake Crouch novel. And funny enough that this was his first novel 13 years ago. I was blown away of how much I enjoyed the plot line. There was not much detail/character depth into this book, but grasp my attention with non-stop suspense to find out if the family survived or not.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Ballantine for the arc.

Full disclosure, this is not normally my type of book, but I loved Dark Matter so when I got the chance to read another Blake Crouch book I couldn’t resist. I was pleasantly surprised at how much it drew me in. And how I managed to get through some of the scenes… ;) (for someone who loves thrillers you’d think some violence wouldn’t bother me, but…this was next level). The suspense was nonstop and I’d love to say more but I say much else without spoiling.

I didn’t realize that this book had been published 13 years prior before requesting it. This was my first Blake Crouch novel and after hearing so many good things about his novel, I was excited! However, I found Run to be a bit boring honestly and tedious, which I’m hoping is just because it’s one of his older works. The novel FELT like a big run-on sentence or an entire film done with one shot - which can be effective in certain cases, but I didn’t connect with the storyline or the characters enough to say it worked for me in this case. Regardless, I will be trying Crouch’s newer novels and writing this off as just not for me!

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Ballantine for the arc!

From the very beginning of this propulsive book, I was on the edge of my seat. As a fan of Crouch’s other works, I was anxious to read Run and went into it without a clue. This novel is not for the faint of heart. From the very beginning, we find many people have become violent and have begun killing indiscriminately. This is further brought home by the main character, Jack and his family listening to a battery-operated radio and hearing his name on a list as a person who will soon be targeted.
Through Jack, Dee, Naomi, and Cole’s journey you see a metamorphosis of their family. However, harrowing events continue to occur as they traverse through the mountains, abandoned towns and lonely highways. Crouch’s examination of the resiliency of humans under these terrible conditions was fascinating to me.
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing/Ballentine Books for the advance reader copy. All thoughts are my own.

I’ve been meaning to read more of Crouch’s backlog so I was happy to read that arc for the traditional pub rerelease of this book. Thank you NetGalley and Ballantine Books for the copy in exchange for my honest review.

The shear and utter anxiety this book gave me 🫣 it shows how good the story and writing was that I kept coming back even when I had a tummy ache from the stress of it all.

Undoubtedly, my family would not survive this month long rage-virus-epidemic. This is partly due to the densely populated area I live in, but also my husband and I lack a certain set of skills for sure.

I was born and raised in Montana and was pleasantly surprised to find a large chuck of the book take place in the state and I was able to clearly picture landmarks and settings being described.

‼️take extra care with the CW/TW on this one‼️
CW/TW: infidelity, mass execution, murder, violence, torture, gun violence, grief, child death, physical abuse, medical trauma, car accident, suicide

I was definitely invested in the beginning…so much action, mystery, dynamic conversation. But then it just…dulled. Constantly driving, stopping, gapping at bodies, driving more, getting shot at, etc. I had to stop when Dee told her husband to “be a man and help his family, unlike he does at home.” Like really? Not only is it a literal apocalypse, but she had an affair before all of this. Agh I can’t.

Blake Crouch is back with another apocalyptic thriller – Run – except it was written in 2011 and is now being re-released. Just wanted to put that in there so if you already own it or have read it, you don’t do so again thinking it’s new. One day the world is normal is the Colclough family, and five days later they are on a kill list for rampaging gangs of wandering murderers. People are turning on each other left and right, and nowhere is safe anymore. The Colclough goes on the run, hoping to survive long enough for whatever is happening to end.

My husband loves Blake Crouch, and I can admit his more recent books (like Recursion and Dark Matter) are incredibly well-researched and original. However, his view on humanity is incredibly bleak, which makes his books hard to read for me. Run is no different. Scene after scene, Crouch showcases the depravities of humanity, and just when you think the Colclough family is safe, he throws in another horrible human doing something horrible. While I did appreciate the Paul Hewson (aka Bono for the band U2) reference, the rest of the book was not for me. The ending felt abrupt and many threads were left hanging, even with an epilogue.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for sharing this advanced review copy with me in exchange for my honest feedback.

Run by Blake crouch is a reprint of an early novel of his from 2011. It’s interesting to see how he has progressed as a novelist over the years. I’m like his clever, sci-fi excursions, Run is a violent thriller about a family being chased by madmen with guns triggered by a celestial phenomenon.

This is not a great book, but at the very least it’s a quick and entertaining read.