Unfortunately, I did not connect well with the writing style of this novel, and found it did not engage me enough to want to continue reading. While the synopsis of the book initially drew me in, the delivery was not a match for my taste. I believe this book would be a great fit for readers looking for a quick, straightforward introduction to the thriller genre; or for those who are looking to pick up reading as a new hobby.

Despite the decision to DNF this novel, I am grateful to NetGalley and Jenifer Ruff for the opportunity to read and review this ARC. I genuinely hope this book finds its audience!

This book is much more than just a thriller, there is a journey of healing behind it. It was such a great and fast paced read that I really enjoyed. I loved the twists and turns they definitely took me by surprise. The storyline was really addicting and I just couldn't put it down.

Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review. After what felt to me like a slow burn of a start, once the story got going I was hooked, it became action packed and definitely gathered pace as the story progressed. Our main character, Zipporah , has recently undergone a traumatic event and as a result, she has difficulty coping with her present reality, her secrets and a past that she doesn't seem to remember quite too clearly. Zipporah decides to go to a mountain resort in Colorado in order to revitalize her life and perhaps restore some memories that she feels are missing or a bit muddled up. At the resort she meets Robert, who she feels attracted to but there also has warning bells ringing in her head and she isnt sure if he has good intentions or if he may be trying to harm her. It was an atmospheric read and the creepiness built through it, I was also wondering if Zipporah was about to be harmed. For its somewhat slowish start it ended up being a fast paced, captivating read. #jeniferruff #netgalley #goodreads #greytcompanionpress #fable #getlitsy #thestorygraph #tea_sipping_bookworm #thriller #bookqueen #bookstagram

Well, I did not see that twist of a mind bender coming! I ended up enjoying it a lot. It is portrayed both as a book that Zipporah Bazile is writing while on vacation in a Colorado resort, what she is doing besides that at the resort where suspicious things are happening ( like things being added to her drink, someone searching her room, or fishy phone calls) and people are being too nosey about her. It really gets moving about halfway through with reveals I will not mention (because that would ruin the surprise, but it is pretty mind blowing) and the addition of another point of view besides Zipporah's that really ramped things up and added dimensions to the story. Yes, it is pretty dark but it is also about healing from trauma and making a new beginning which is a message I liked because too often after thriller stories, you don't see what happens after.

I really enjoyed reading this and as this is the first book I have read by this author, I now what to see what else she has written and if it is a nicely psychologically twisty as this one was.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | Atmospheric and Intriguing Psychological Thriller

This thriller took a little time to build momentum, but once it did, I was hooked. The midpoint twist was especially compelling—it had me mentally revisiting everything I’d read so far through a completely new lens. That said, revealing a major twist so early did reduce some of the tension in the latter half. I kept expecting another explosive turn, but instead, the second half focused more on unraveling the plot and explaining what had already occurred.

Still, I’d absolutely consider reading more from this author. The writing style, vivid imagery, and immersive setting completely transported me—especially the haunting atmosphere of the Colorado mountain resort.

The protagonist, Emma, is a complex and layered character. After a traumatic past and memory gaps, she seeks solace and clarity at the resort, where she meets the enigmatic Robert Yates. Their dynamic brims with tension and red flags, keeping the psychological stakes high.

Emma’s difficulty with trust, her battle with writer’s block, and the eerie flashbacks made this read both emotional and suspenseful. The setting and character development were spot on, and while a few scenes leaned into the gory, they added to the intensity in a way fans of the genre will appreciate.

This fast-paced, twist-filled story is one that begs to be read in a single sitting. Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and Greyt Companion Press for the complimentary copy.

When She Escaped is a gripping, emotionally charged thriller that had me holding my breath from the first chapter. The story follows Ellie, a young woman who finally breaks free from the man who held her captive for years — but the true terror begins after her escape.

This book masterfully blends psychological suspense with a chilling look at trauma, survival, and the cost of freedom. I was immediately pulled into Ellie’s fragile mindset and the way the world reacts to her reappearance. The dual timeline structure added intensity, revealing just enough of the past to keep me desperate for answers.

Maray Bryn’s writing is raw and compelling, particularly in the portrayal of control, manipulation, and resilience. Some of the secondary characters could’ve been fleshed out more, but overall the pacing, atmosphere, and gut-wrenching reveals made this an unforgettable read.

For fans of Room or Still Missing, this book walks the same emotionally heavy and suspenseful line — and does it well. A haunting, page-turning read I won’t soon forget.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This book wasn't for me at all- I found the writing style grating and long winded, the plot sub par and I just didn't gel at all with the characters.
Thankyou to Netgalley and the publisher for an arc of this book.

This was so dumb I'm not sure it wasn't actually written by AI. Seriously.

Let me elaborate. The main "plot twist" is so stupid, not to say problematic it boggles the mind someone (human) would dare employ it in the year 2025 (seriously -- hello? The unenlightened 1980s called, they would like their favorite thriller trope back), the characters don't feel like they spring from an actual human mind, and the whole thing is so riddled with plot holes than your (presumably human) 5th grader would be able to come up with a better story.
The writing itself felt stilted and artificial as well, there was no sense of atmosphere or dread or anything... just day after day unspooling in an endless string of excruciatingly detail-stuffed chapters the setup of which never varies -- it starts with the MC waking up and ends with her going to bed, and in between there's lots and lots of stuff that's either clunky (e.g. her interactions with Male Dreamboat Character, who is soooooo, sooooooooooooo handsome and considerate and successful and good in bed (of course) and just all-around perfect it makes you want to barf) or just sleep-inducingly boring. Like, do I care what dumb sports-related activity that stupid airhead engages in that day, or what she's wearing while doing them? Nope... just tell me she slides down some icy slope or other and breaks her neck, THEN I might be interested.
Even the parts that were supposed to be scary read like they were phoned in from, I don't know, Mars or so: "His word were like icy tendrils squeezing the life from her heart. The terrifying truth destroyed her entire understanding of safety and hope." If you were to look up "Tell don't show" in the Big Book of Bad Writing, this is the entry you'd find.
Apart from the play-by-play of the MC's activities of the day, we also get treated to detailed descriptions of whatever the MC and the author's wish-fulfilment idea of a male love interest are having for breakfast, lunch or dinner (100% meat-based, incidentally), so if reading about "bacon quiche and steak salad" rocks your boat, prepare to be spoiled. (Is that combination even a thing? Dead pig and cow corpse, all in one go? Ew.)

The dialogue veers between inane and downright otherworldly weird:
>'I was in Venice two summers ago. Have you ever been?' I ask before taking a sip of wine.
'I haven't, but I once boarded a flight to Rome that ended up having mechanical issues. We had to get off the plane, and the flight scheduled for the next day got delayed over and over, then canceled as well. It was such an ordeal that I gave up on Italy and hopped on the next flight to Florida instead. So, I never made it to Italy, but somehow my suitcase did. Italy is still on my list.'<
So. Two things. First: dude, the answer to that question you were asked? It's "no".
Second, if you meet someone who reacts to a simple yes/no question like "Ever been to XYZ?" by proceeding to vomit incoherent word salad all over your face: RUN. I mean, even just going, "No, but I once boarded a flight to some other place" would be a big red flag with "delulu" written all over it, but continuing on and on (and then some) with some not-quite-there story about, well, nothing... thanks, but no.

There's some interesting concepts of psychology at work here as well, for example in the description of the book-within-the-book's heroine Hannah and how she reacts to being locked up without food, fashion, company or entertainment in some evil dude's wilderness bunker. So she doesn't know when or even if she'll receive something to eat again, or whether her captor's dead and she'll have to die of starvation or exposure in that ice-cold basement hole, or whether Evil Dude will come and drag her out to finally kill her in the woods behind his house, so you can imagine the psychological state she's in... or can you? Let's hear from Hannah herself:
>"How long since her captor last checked on her? Twenty-four hours? More?
At home, she had three authors' manuscripts waiting for edits on her computer. If only she had her laptop, she could keep working and stay on top of the deadlines she always accepted from her boss. With all this time, she could finally write her novel."<
Um. Really? THAT'S what's going through your head? You might get raped, murdered, dismembered and thrown into the woods within the next minute or hour or day, but what you're REALLY worried about is staying on top of your deadlines?? And sure, why not get started on that novel of yours, all that "free time" down in your stinking bunker without food or even just adequate clothing...
Oh, and even if Hannah seems to be a tad la-di-da about things, WE know how terribly evil that Evil Dude is, because HE SKIMPS ON TOILETRIES! Poor Hannah finds that "clumps of her long hair began to fall out, a consequence of cheap shampoo and malnourishment". That devil! Not only does he lock that poor girl up, he supplies her with inferior shampoo as well!!!
And so on.
Like I said, IMO only so-called A"I" could come up with crazy yet stupid crap like that.


As usual, my thanks to Netgalley and the publisher. I'm only giving this two stars because it managed to make me laugh very hard at least every other page, so there's that.
Also, will never buy cheap shampoo again.

When She Escaped really captured my attention for the last 50% of the novel. The twist was unexpected and I enjoyed it! The beginning didn’t hook me too much and it felt slow to start, so that’s why I’m rating it a 3.5/5. Still a good book!

This novel really does make you think deeply about who you are and what you would do to survive in harrowing situations. We start by following Zipporah Bazile, a well known author on a retreat to write her next novel. She goes under an alias, Hannah Williams, which is also the name of her main character.

While there, she meets Robert, who eventually figures out secrets about Zip that lead her to realize she is not who she believes she is—she is not Zipporah Bazile and she is actually Emily Wilson. The kicker? The novel she is writing is about her own disappearance and escape from captivity.

This novel deals with dissociative identity disorder and I think it really encapsulates how the human brain will do anything to preserve and protect the body. Overall a great read! Thanks to NetGalley and Greyt Companion Press for the ARC of this novel!!

I enjoyed this chilling thriller, especially in the heat of the summer. I think this story would have had more tension and suspense if it had been significantly condensed. Otherwise, it was a fun little read.

Thank you to NetGalley, publisher and author for the advance digital copy in exchange for an honest review.

This is the first book I have read by this author. It was a fun popcorn thriller. It was slow and repetitive a bit in the beginning but as the story progresses, it makes a little more sense. It's a quick read and I thought the middle to end was worth the slow start. I think it could've skipped the 9 months and 18 months later with just an epilogue to wrap it up.

At the luxurious Raven’s Hollow Lodge, bestselling novelist Zipporah Bazile arrives to write her next psychological thriller—a haunting story about a woman imprisoned in the basement of a remote cabin.

When Zipporah ventures beyond her suite to explore the resort, strange events occur. Someone is following her on the trails, digging online for information about her life, and slipping a mysterious powder into her drinks. Her growing romantic connection with another resort guest only deepens her paranoia. Is he part of the danger, or someone she can trust?
Shocking revelations soon threaten Zipporah's grip on reality, forcing her to question everything about her novel, past, and identity. She must confront the terrifying possibility that the ending she's writing might be her own.

An atmospheric psychological thriller with a shocking twist, perfect for Freida McFadden fans.



280 pages
Published June 6, 2025
3⭐'s

Primarily set at a mountain lodge described so beautifully that it made me want to visit myself, with multiple characters that felt very dimensional and real. The chapters were short which kept me hooked throughout, making this a very quick read for me. The plot twist came earlier in the book than I expected but I feel it was placed correctly to keep the reader fully invested. I didn’t guess where this book was going until it was revealed. Between about the 30-50% mark the book felt slightly repetitive and slowed down a bit, but the pay off was worth it. Despite having read a lot of thrillers this book exceeded my expectations and I would highly recommend it.

You're writing a thriller.
The plot is dark. The woman is trapped.
But what if your fiction starts crawling into your reality…
Would you finish the story, or run before it finishes you?


📚 Book Name: When She Escaped: A Thriller
✍️ Author: Jenifer Ruff @author.jenifer.ruff
🏷️ Publisher: Greyt Companion Press

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟— Highly Recommended. A total must-read


🔍 Description:
Bestselling author Zipporah Bazile heads to the remote and luxurious Raven’s Hollow Lodge to work on her new thriller—a haunting story about a woman imprisoned in a basement. But soon, eerie similarities between her fictional world and real life begin to emerge. Someone is following her, drugging her drinks, and unearthing secrets from her past. As fear and paranoia grow, Zipporah must face the possibility that the ending she’s writing might be her own.

An addictive, twist-filled psychological thriller perfect for fans of Freida McFadden.

💭 My Thoughts & Recommendations:
WOW. What a brilliant, fresh, and gripping story! I’ve never encountered a plot like this—it felt completely new and had me absolutely hooked from page one. Jenifer Ruff is fast becoming one of my favorite authors this year. I’ve read The Bad Neighbour before and loved it, and now this one just blew me away!

The characters were so well-written—I loved Zipporah, Emma, Katya, and Robert (Zip’s love interest). Each of them had such depth, and I truly felt Emma’s pain and emotional turmoil. I was deeply invested in the book Zipporah was writing—and then, bam!—the twist hit me like a shockwave. Jaw-dropping and brilliant.

This is the kind of psychological thriller that messes with your head in the best way. Atmospheric, emotional, twisty, and unforgettable. Jenifer Ruff is an extremely talented writer whose books you simply can’t put down.

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I enjoyed this book, but if I could rate half stars it would be 3.5! That’s not saying I didn’t enjoy it. I just wish there would have been more…? More of what I’m not sure. More depth maybe? I feel like everything was pretty surface level, when it deserved a much deeper dive. This was more than just a thriller, but a story of healing, strength, and the power of the human mind and spirit. Maybe I just wish I could read the book Emma wrote at the end of the story.

rounding up from 4.5 stars

This is the first standalone I've read from Jenifer Ruff. I love the Agent Victoria Heslin series! I should have known that Jenifer never disappoints! This book grabbed me from the very beginning and I ended up reading it straight through. It's one of those books that has you suspecting everyone and trusting no one. Everyone seems to have ulterior motives. then the book took an unexpected turn about halfway through. This wasn't just a plot twist, it was a complete mindbender! At first I wasn't sure if I liked where it was going, but I ended up loving it!

Thank you to Jenifer Ruff. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Thank you, NetGalley, the author, and the publisher, for providing an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Wow! This book truly had me hooked from beginning to end. I managed to read it in just 48 hours, which is quite a feat with kids on summer break! The thrilling and mysterious storyline, focused on survival, manipulation, and secrets, completely drew me in.

While reading, I was genuinely surprised by a few of the twists. One particular plot twist, however, occurred a bit earlier than I anticipated, which made it a little challenging to get through the final chapters as they wrapped up the ending details. I agree with other readers that it's best to go into this book without knowing too many specific details.

Overall, I found it impossible to put this book down!

A single mistake spirals into a deadly game where trust is a weapon and survival isn't guaranteed. The pacing is relentless, each chapter a countdown you can’t stop. When the truth finally surfaces, it’s already far too late.

We're following a famous author Zipporah who takes a retreat to a luxurious lodge to write her next psychological thriller which is a story about a woman who is kidnapped and held captive in the basement of a remote cabin. There are "book within a book" chapters where we get to read pages from the manuscript she's writing. The other chapters follow the author while she explores the resort and enjoys other activities between writing. She meets a man who is also staying at the resort, and they hit it off quick. They start having dinners together and going on excursions. She doesn't tell him her real name as she doesn't want anyone to know who she is. Strange things start happening and she thinks her new friend is digging too deep and may have found out who she is and she's not sure she can trust him. A shocking twist fractures Zipporah's reality, and she starts to spiral and question everything about herself.

This book was very gripping and fast paced. I read it in one day. I didn't see where the plot was going and was pleasantly surprised by the twist. I do feel like the twist came in a bit early but overall, I had a great time reading this. I would definitely read from this author again.

Thank you NetGalley & Greyt Companion Press for an eARC of this book in exchange of my honest review. #WhenSheEscapedAThriller #NetGalley

This was my first Jenifer Ruff book but it will not be my last. Totally did not see that twist coming! absoultey 5 stars!

When She Escaped is a fast paced page turner that is hard to put down. It is about an author who retreats to the Raven’s Hollow Lodge located in the NC mountains in order to finish her latest novel. There are excerpts of the manuscript sprinkled throughout the story. Both the manuscript excerpts and the overall story are full of twists and surprises that will make you want to find out what is happening! This book is perfect to take with you on your next vacation or just want an escape from your everyday routine!