I’ll be honest—this one had me roped in from the very first chapter. Terri Blackstock wastes no time throwing you into the middle of the storm, and I was instantly invested in figuring out who was telling the truth and how in the world it was all going to play out.

That said, the pacing wasn’t perfect. The beginning grabbed me, but somewhere in the middle, the momentum dipped, and things dragged a bit before picking up again toward the end. It’s not that I wasn’t interested—I still kept turning pages—it just felt like the middle could’ve been a little tighter.

The writing itself is smooth and easy to sink into, and the characters were a big plus for me. They felt believable and layered, and I genuinely wanted to see what happened to them (especially since the setup for the rest of the series is clearly brewing).

Even with the pacing hiccup, I’m all in for the next book. I need to know where this series is headed, and if Blackstock keeps the emotional beats and strong characters, I have a feeling it’s only going to get better from here.

If I Run is an amazing book! This book was captivating and help my attention until the very end. I love all of the emotion, each character and the mystery!

Casey Cox is on the run for murder. Afterall, she has blood on the bottom of her shoes, in her car, on her clothes. So there’s no point in trying to defend herself. Instead, she runs!

She discovered the body of friend Brent who had been stabbed to death. Casey panics and makes the unwise decision to run instead of calling for help. Casey would never have hurt him. He’s the only person she’s ever trusted enough to tell the truth about what happened to her father, and she feels certain that Brent was killed trying to help her prove it. Now, she has to run before they get to her too. So she’s running from the authorities as well as the killers.

Dylan Roberts has bern hired to find Casey and bring her back so that justice can be served. He is a former Criminal Investigator for the Army, so he figures that tracking down one girl wont be that difficult. But Casey is clever and more elusive than suspected so Dylan begins to dig into her past to try to determine what she might be thinking which could lead to her whereabouts. But, what he finds out about Casey doesn’t fit the profile of a killer whatsoever. She’s unlike any other fugitive he’s ever seen.

The police refuse to discuss any other possibilities other than that Casey is absolutely the only suspect. He knows there’s more going on than meets the eye.. He just has to figure out what it is, and Casey must try and stay one step ahead of everyone who’s after her.

I wasn’t impressed with Dylan who seemed like a rookie, overlooking clear clues and evidence. Thankfully, he does step up his game towards the end.

Casey is not a believer, but as she runs she finds herself in the company of Christians who start her thinking about God and faith. Dylan is a Christian. Both have strong morals and principles, but struggle with the violence surrounding them.

If I Run is the first book in a new crime series. This book has suspense, crime solving drama, and a bit of romance. It’s interesting and suspenseful, but not satisfying. Nothing is resolved in Casey’s case, which was intentional in order to continue her saga in the next installment in the series.

I guess I’ll need to read volume two.

This was my first time reading a Christian mystery but it won’t be my last. The story was engaging and moved at a great pace. The characters are not as overly sweet or idealized as other Christian books. While the book features Christian themes and characters, I think readers of any background could enjoy it. There’s no graphic content. The mystery is compelling and well done.

Trigger Warning ⛔️ child abuse, murder, PTSD, rape, and abduction.

I received a free copy of this audiobook from NetGalley in exchange for a review.

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/7737736331

If I Run by Terri Blackstock is the first book in a gripping suspense series that follows Casey Cox, a woman on the run after discovering her best friend’s murder—and being framed for it. With a private investigator hot on her trail, Casey must stay one step ahead while trying to uncover the truth and survive.

The story immediately pulled me in and kept me hooked from start to finish. Told in dual POVs, the alternating perspectives between Casey and Dylan (the investigator) added depth and tension to the plot. I appreciated how the author gave just enough information to keep me guessing without giving too much away. The pacing was excellent, and the ending left off on a cliffhanger that made me immediately want to continue the series—I grabbed books two and three right after finishing this one!

I didn’t have any major dislikes—this was a solid and enjoyable read all around.

Audiobook narration:
Narrated by Nan Gurley, the performance suited the tone of the book well. However, my only minor complaint is that the characters sounded quite similar, so I had to really focus when the POV switched. Still, it didn’t take away from my overall enjoyment.

Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson & Zondervan Fiction Audio for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

Exhilarating!! I couldn't put it down and I went on a binge and listened to book 2 and 3, equally thrilling! If you like The Chemist by Stephanie Myers you'd love this Christian version of someone running for their lives from corrupt authorities! So funny that this book and the Chemist were published in the same year too. But this one is clean with the same suspense! The narrator was amazing!

If I Run pulled me in from the first page and never let go. Casey is a compelling character you can’t help but root for, and the suspense had me guessing the whole way through. Terri Blackstock perfectly blends action, emotion, and mystery. I couldn’t put it down and can’t wait to read the next in the series!

I bought a physical copy of this book a while ago wanting to read it 📕 so I thought this was the perfect chance to start the series 📚 And oh my gosh 😮 I am HOOKED! I’ve already got the next audio from the library and am a couple chapters in 🤭

Casey. After finding her friend brutally murdered and knowing all evidence points back to her 😶‍🌫️ Casey runs. I absolutely adore Casey 💗She’s such a strong and kind FMC 🫶🏼 and she’s SMART 👏🏻 I can’t wait to watch her find Jesus 💛

Dylan. When his childhood best friend is brutally murdered 💔 Dylan is hired to track Casey down and bring her to justice 🚔 But as he learns more and more about Casey, he realizes not everything is as it seems 🔍

This book had me SHOOK 😱 From page one I was so invested and when it ended I didn’t know what to do with myself 😂 Seriously one of the best suspense books I’ve read 🤯The audio was fantastic and I can’t wait to continue listening to this series!

⚠️ CW: descriptions of d3ad bodies, violence, talk of su!cide, k!dnapping, implied r*pe victim, PSTD (on page episodes) ⚠️

This was SO GOOD! If you've ever had a struggle with your father and questioned God in a time of struggle you can absolutely relate with the characters in this book. Not to mention, it kept you on your toes the entire book. There's a mystery along with a found family aspect and a beautiful story of faith and finding faith and it ends in quite the cliffhanger. I enjoyed it immensely and will absolutely be continuing the series.

I binged this series in 2 days. I don't know how people waited for the next book when this series originally came out. Its been on my TBR for a few years so it was nice to finally get to it.

Well...shiver me timbers! I am surprised at how much I enjoyed this book! Often times when reading Christian Suspense it is very surface level, pretty lame and just akward. I say that as Christian who enjoys clean books but recognize that sometimes the writing is just not what you usually see in mainstream media.
Terri Blackstock is an author I have heard so much about and was so excited to be granted an Advanced Reader's Copy of "If I Run" . She hits the ground running in this heart pumping fast paced thriller. This was such a fun journey following Casey try to evade the FBI as she is wanted for the murder of her friend. As she is changing her identity and wrestling with her childhood trauma I could not turn the pages quick enough.
The author's note at the end of this book solidified my love for this book and author. I cannot wait to discover more books by Terri Blackstock.
Thank you Net Galley for allowing me to review this advanced copy of If I Run. I was not paid for this honest original review.

It’s been a while since I read a Christian fiction novel & I really enjoyed it. There was the perfect amount of Christian rhetoric included…enough to know it’s Christian fiction but not religion shoved down the throat. I really liked Casey and her flight from law enforcement. She is rightfully wary of police so she doesn’t wait for them after her friend gets killed & goes on the run. Dylan, who is hired to find her, has severe PTSD but is steady and compassionate. The back and forth between the characters was fast paced and engaging. I thought the story was great. The narrator was fabulous & I enjoyed listening to her read.

Thanks to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson and Zondervan Fiction Audio for this audiobook,

This book paints a picture of how easy someone can be framed for a murder they did not commit when greed is involved. Casey is on the run until she can prove her innocence when all the “evidence” is against her and corruption with the investigation of her friends murder. All of this leads back to what was deemed her father’s suicide years prior. She is determined to get justice for what happened to her friend and father’s deaths. Brent is hired by the victims family to find Casey to bring her in but as he investigates, he begins to realize this is no open and shut case. How do you prove the truth when forces are stacked against you? The story was well written with several layers to unravel. This is the first book in a trilogy and I have to find out what happens with Casey and have to hope justice is done. #IfIRun #NetGalley

The narrator was easy to listen to and spoke clearly. There was a mic sound or something right before chapter 24 just to point out for production purposes.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to listen to this book in exchange for my honest review.

This was an interesting story which i was enjoying. However the one down side for me is it just abruptly stops. I felt like the FMC was in the middle of a thought then just stopped the story. I would still continue on following this story. There is so much left unanswered, and just feels a little incomplete.

Thank you to NetGalley and the author for this audio copy of this book. I enjoyed this story a lot. I already have the next two in the series ready to read. Dylan is definitely going to help Casey in a way that we did not expect in the beginning of this story. This story did end in a cliffhanger.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this eARC in audiobook format

Note,: There was a frustrating issue with this audiobook, listeners didn't realize it, but the last fourth of the book was missing which was frustrating - and many left reviews stating how the story stopped suddenly, etc. Personally, I compared it to the written version so I could see how the story ended.

If I Run by Terri Blackstock, narrated by Nan Gurley

Terri Blackstock’s If I Run opens not with a bang, but with a breathless escape—and that’s exactly how it keeps you: breathless. This first installment in the If I Run trilogy is a high-stakes fugitive thriller wrapped in a quiet meditation on trust, trauma, and the cost of truth. But it’s Nan Gurley’s narration that transforms the story from a page-turner into a pulse-pounder.

Casey Cox is not your typical heroine. She’s not armed, trained, or even particularly confident. But she’s smart, resourceful, and—most importantly—innocent. When her best friend is found murdered and her DNA is all over the scene, Casey doesn’t wait to be framed. She runs. What follows is a cross-country chase that’s less about evading capture and more about uncovering the rot beneath the surface of justice.

Gurley’s performance is a study in restraint. She captures Casey’s internal panic without ever tipping into melodrama, and her subtle shifts in tone give weight to the dual narrative structure—balancing Casey’s vulnerability with the steady, skeptical voice of Dylan Roberts, the PTSD-scarred investigator hired to bring her in. Gurley doesn’t just read the story; she inhabits it, giving emotional texture to every moment of doubt, fear, and fleeting hope.

What sets If I Run apart is its moral clarity. Blackstock weaves themes of faith and redemption into the thriller framework without sacrificing pace or tension. The result is a story that’s both propulsive and purposeful—one that asks not just who committed the crime, but what it means to do the right thing when the system is rigged against you.

For listeners who crave thrillers with heart—and heroines who fight with their wits instead of weapons—If I Run is a gripping, emotionally resonant ride. And with Gurley at the helm, it’s one you won’t want to pause.

This audiobook was only 75% of the book! What?! I was able to get the rest from my library.

Recommended for conservative Christians, not that it was indicated in the synopsis I read. This starts out strong but the ending. Ugh. And the author’s note left a really bitter taste.

It’s good that the chapters say who is speaking because the narrator sounds the same for both perspectives.

Just brilliant. I listened to the audio. Was not very smart and started it after night shift 🫣, I have not slept, finished in one go. Highly recommend the audio. Listened in 1.5 speed.

I wanted to like this more, but honestly, I found it boring. The premise had potential, but the pacing dragged and I never felt fully pulled in. The characters didn’t feel developed enough for me to connect with, and the suspense fell flat. It felt more like setup for a longer series than a complete story on its own, which left me underwhelmed.

This just wasn’t for me.

Book Review: If I Run by Terri Blackstock

If I Run sets out to be a fast-paced Christian suspense thriller, but it often stumbles under the weight of frustrating character choices and a finale that doesn’t quite deliver.

The premise is gripping a woman on the run for a murder she didn’t commit, and a war-weary veteran-turned-investigator on her trail. It sounds like a recipe for tension and twists, but unfortunately, much of the tension comes from the characters making bafflingly poor decisions despite being portrayed as intelligent.

Take the main female character, Casey. She’s supposedly clever and resourceful, yet she panics irrationally over details like the identity on a fake ID—something that should be a basic, planned part of going off the grid. Her paranoia, while understandable, often crosses into melodramatic territory, making her seem more erratic than cunning.

Then there’s Dylan, the investigator. He’s a war vet with a strong moral compass and sharp instincts. Throughout the book, he picks up on all sorts of clues and inconsistencies except, inexplicably, the obvious suppression of evidence and the fact that Casey might actually be innocent. It’s as though the plot needed him to stay in the dark for tension’s sake, not because it made sense for his character.

What’s more, the ending lacks the kind of resolution or catharsis you’d hope for after such a drawn-out chase. Rather than a satisfying payoff, it feels more like a set-up for the sequel leaving important threads dangling and offering little emotional closure.

Overall, If I Run has a solid concept, but it’s undermined by frustrating characters and an ending that doesn’t reward the reader’s investment. I really wanted to like it but, If you're looking for a thriller where logic and character consistency take center stage, this might not be the best pick.