I had the chance to read an advance copy of When She Escaped by Jenifer Ruff, a psychological thriller that immediately grabbed my attention with its chilling premise. The story follows a young woman who flees from captivity, setting off a suspenseful chain of events that draws in both law enforcement and those with secrets of their own. The setup is tense and layered, and early on, the story pulls you right into its mystery.

One of the strong points of this novel is its pacing. The short chapters made it incredibly easy to keep flipping pages. I found myself saying “just one more chapter” more than a few times. Ruff does a solid job building suspense, and the writing itself is smooth and engaging. I appreciated that the narrative stayed tight and didn’t meander, which isn’t always the case in this genre.

That said, the major twist landed around the halfway point, and for me, that shifted the momentum of the story. It didn’t fall apart, but it definitely lost some of the tension and urgency that made the first half so compelling. I stayed invested enough to see how things played out, but I wasn’t on the edge of my seat like I hoped to be.

In fairness, I’ve read thrillers that didn’t deliver nearly as well, and Ruff’s writing is stronger than some of the big-name authors who dominate bestseller lists. So while this book didn’t completely wow me, I still found it to be a quick and entertaining read. If you’re in the mood for something fast-paced and easy to get into, this could be a good pick. Just don’t expect it to keep ramping up all the way through.

Overall, an enjoyable read with a solid premise that just didn’t fully live up to its early promise. A respectable three stars from me.

Thank you to NetGalley and Greyt Companion Press for the advance copy. All opinions are my own.

Writing this review is harder than I expected because I feel genuinely torn. There are several aspects of this book that were enjoyable, but just as many that fell flat. The author is renowned and widely recognized as a bestselling writer, which raised my expectations going in. Unfortunately, this particular book didn’t live up to the hype.
First, let’s start with the positives. The story itself was intriguing and kept me turning the pages. I never considered putting the book down, and in that sense, it was entertaining. It’s the kind of book you could bring to the beach—light, quick, and easy to digest.
However, that’s about where the praise ends. For a book that’s labeled a thriller, there was surprisingly little suspense. The character development felt shallow, and I never really connected with or cared deeply about any of them. The writing style was also disappointing—overly simplistic, almost juvenile at times. It lacked the depth or sophistication I usually expect from an established author.The author's understanding of the topic appears superficial, suggesting that the research may have been cursory.
In the end, I’d call it a passable read, but nothing more. If you’re looking for something lightweight and not too demanding, it might fit the bill. But if you’re hoping for a gripping thriller or meaningful character arcs, you may want to look elsewhere.

Wow, this book was a twisted, mind-blowing, totally addictive thriller!
If you're in the mood for a fast-paced, well-written story that keeps you on edge, When She Escaped is a must-read.

The short chapters, dark secrets, and eerie atmosphere had me flipping pages like crazy—I could not put it down. Finished the whole thing in a few hours!

The story unfolds in three parts, and I'll be honest, the first part had me a little confused. The alternating perspectives between reality and the manuscript had me wondering, "What’s the connection here?" But don’t worry—it all clicks into place once you hit the second and third parts (which, by the way, were my absolute favorites!).

The ending ? Wrapped up quite nicely, but I kinda wished for more. I kept expecting one last twist or something unexpected, but it stayed a little open-ended, leaving me wondering. Still, it was solid.

When She Escaped felt like a fresh take on the thrillers I’ve read this year.
The storyline was unique, and some of the twists—especially that first one—were straight-up shocking!
Definitely keeping an eye out for this author’s next book.

<i>I received a review copy through Netgalley, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. Huge thank you to the author and publisher!</i>

⚠️ 𝐓𝐖: abduction, confinement, paranoia, medical trauma

Thank you NetGalley! This book was definitely different than others I’ve read before. I loved the concept of a book within a book, it helped set the scene and kept me wanting more. I was shocked by the twists

This book was not what I expected and I can confidently say, I have never read a book like this. I enjoyed the unique twist to a common thriller trope. A woman goes to a resort to work on her new novel but not everything is as it seems.

Part one of the book was 2-3 stars, while parts 2 and 3 were 4 stars. The character’s paranoia, along with the constant repetition, made part one hard to read. I respect that it was written in the mindset of the narrator, but I found it annoying. That being said, I kept reading to figure out what happened. The novel within the novel was interesting and added another layer that kept me hooked.

Thank you to NetGalley and Xpresso Book Tours for providing me with an advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

An absolutely twisted mind bender page turner!!

First book I’ve read by Jenifer Ruff and it was unputdownable. All I will disclose about the premise is this…

A secluded mountain cabin.
A famous author.
A truth best left hidden.

This is a book you will want to add to your ‘to be read’ list. It’s that gripping.

Although I’ve read other psychological suspense novels with this premise, Ruff’s execution was what set this book apart. One reason this stood out was the book within a book element. This provided a more enriched story while it explored different narrative voices and added layered meaning to the main premise of the story. On top of that, the inner story revealed the backstory of the characters and events, and the perspectives of the various characters. The second reason this book stood out was the short, fast paced chapters. Rudd created a sense of urgency with the pacing; and as a result, I was thoroughly engaged throughout. There was never a dull moment. And the third reason I thought this story stood out was the atmospheric setting Ruff generated. The emotions, feelings and moods she conveyed of the main characters had me compelled to keep reading making this book utterly hard to put down. Above all reasons, the ambiguous psychological depth of this story had me pondering at length. Without giving too much away, Ruff brilliantly explored a dark mysterious theme that made this story all consuming.

All said, I devoured When She Escaped in a day. Jenifer Ruff delivered a superbly twisted psychological suspense novel that had me engrossed from the very start to the very end. Brilliantly executed!

Thanks to Net Galley & Greyt Companion Press for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

Zipporah Bazile is checking in under a false name in a secluded place to write her next novel. Kind of the equivalent of watching a horror movie in the dark for regular people. Soon enough weird things start happening and she’s wondering if she’s losing her mind. A very atmospheric read, did not see most of it coming which is what I like in a thriller.

Thank you to Netgalley and Greyt Companion Press for an advanced reader copy of this book in return for an honest review.

Famous author, Zipporah Bazile arrives at a mountain resort Raven’s Hollow Lodge to find inspiration for her next psychological thriller. But things are not as they seem and soon, she has to question everything.

I loved the remote location of this book, the author was great at describing the location and I vividly pictured the resort and the different parts of it.

I also liked the whole “book withinin a book” concept of this thriller. The story was fast paced and gripping, making it a quick read. It included a romantic subplot as well, which makes it a great read if you are a fan of both thriller and romance genres.

I definitely didn’t see the plot twist coming and was surprised, I also like how the story was revealed in parts, keeping you hooked. I did however find the final section of the book a bit boring.

Overall I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys thrillers, especially if you sometimes like to read some romance as well.

ARC Review (thank you NetGalley):

This was a page-turner, loved the suspense. The flow was slightly hard to follow, but the short chapters kept me engaged and continuing to read. The end was a bit disappointing, something was missing for me - was hoping for an additional twist at the end. That being said, I was shocked with the primary twist. Super clever. If you're looking for a quick read and enjoy thrillers, highly recommend checking this out.

ARC REVIEW:

This was a great thriller! I enjoyed the suspense and trying to figure out what was going right along with the FMC! I didn’t see that twist coming either! A complete page-turner with short chapters, and writing that keeps you wanting more!

Thank you NetGalley and Greyt Companion Press for the gifted copy of this book!

An enthralling psychological thriller book that kept me turning the pages, finishing it in one day. Really interesting twists and turns that I was not expecting. Unlike other recent books I've read that have the troupe of having the main character be an author and having the story they are writing mixed in with the book this one really worked and was done with a purpose.

“When She Escaped” by Jennifer Ruff is a gripping thriller that had me hooked from the very first page. The plot is full of unexpected twists—I genuinely didn’t see the main twist coming! The characters are incredibly well developed, with real emotional depth. Just when you think you understand them, everything shifts in a way that keeps you completely engaged. This was my first book by Jennifer Ruff, and it definitely won’t be my last. A fantastic read!”

I have been hooked on Jenifer Ruff’s books since book 1 of Agent Victoria Heslin and when she said she was writing a stand alone thriller – I said Ima get that one too – This book did not disappoint one bit, it took twists and turns that blew my mind. I heard myself saying out loud on many occasions, I didn’t see that coming! Loved it is an understatement! Thank you NetGalley for the ARC #JeniferRuff #WhenSheEscaped #NetGalley

I received this an ARC. Thank you to Netgalley and the author!! I absolutely devoured this book in a few hours! It started off kind of slow but then once it got to the good part i couldn’t put it down! Zip not really being Zip blew my mind! I never seen it coming that she was a different personality not to mention there was 2 other personalities! I couldn’t believe Emma was actually writing about her own experiences from being kidnapped from other personalities perspectives. Definitely keeps you on the edge of your seat! Absolutely loved this book!

this book was good. it had me questioning everything. the book, the author of the book within the book...myself! who was getting paranoid the character or me, ha.
Zip is a famous author. but she doesnt like to be known, she keeps herself to herself. she prefers her own company. but at the same time clearly doesnt.
her latest book is giving her trouble. she doesnt know where to go next. so what can she do but check herself in to a mountain resort for some much needed peace. but things start to go weird as soon as she checks in. she is starting to feel unsettled. questioning more than she usually does. and when there is an unexpected connection at the resort she doesnt quite know whats going on. is this a romance, is this a stalker making the weird things happen? are the weird things actually happening at all?
this is a brilliant twisty turney book. i felt all over the place as the author within the pages seemed to. it was brilliant how she delved and spiralled, so does the reader. because just what is going on here? the added ability to read the characters book pages was a bonus and a great addition to the difference and originality in this book.
loved this book. it made me feel a whole set of things ive never really had to this level in a book. which was brill in itself. its the thriller you go to bed after reading and still feel a buzzing in your veins.
oh and be ready for the surprises. i dare you to think you saw it coming!

I cannot rate this book. I could not read this book. It could be formatting issues when it was sent to my kindle but there were so many missing words, half missing words and typos.

I wish I could have reviewed this book, but the copy I was given was full of so many typos that I couldn't read it. There were random letters and punctuation in the middle of words, to the point that I could not understand what was trying to be said. The author's name was even written differently a few times at the start of the book. I'm not sure what went wrong with the copy I received.

This is one of those books I went to sleep thinking about. I’ve read a lot of thrillers, so I’m usually pretty critical of them. It’s hard to surprise me. But this one had a fresh take.

Bestselling author Zipporah Bazile travels to the picturesque Colorado resort, Raven’s Hollow Lodge, to find inspiration for her newest novel. Set in the snowy North Carolina wilderness, Zipporah’s plot revolves around a young woman who’s been kidnapped from a highway rest stop and trapped in a remote cabin. As she puts words to the page, she begins to feel out of sorts. She can’t figure out a way to kill off her main character without sacrificing the plot. Not only that, but she starts to feel like she’s being followed. Amid an unexpected romance with another guest at the resort, Zip’s paranoia holds her tight in its grasp, quickly defining her every move.

If you love a fast-paced thriller and are looking for something original, When She Escaped might be a good option. I was thoroughly entertained and did not expect the plot twist.

That said, this one just barely squeaked out a 3-star from me. I debated what to give it in terms of rating, but ultimately, the unique plot twist earned a slightly higher rating. I didn’t connect much with the writing style itself. It’s a bit structured and formal. I understand that the character that the author was writing for is supposed to be that way, so it makes sense, but it just doesn’t flow very well in my opinion.

I also don’t feel like there was a lot of connection between the main characters and their romance. Is it necessary to have that? No, not really. This is a thriller, first and foremost. But if you enjoy those inter-character relationships, When She Escaped doesn’t offer that.

What it does offer, however, is a break from the normal recipe that most other thrillers seem to follow. I really appreciated that. It’s a quick and entertaining read.

Keep an eye out for When She Escaped by Jenifer Ruff when it’s released on June 6, 2025!

Thanks to Xpresso Book Tours and NetGalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

When She Escaped by Jenifer Ruff:
What a twisty, suspenseful ride! I couldn’t put this one down. Just when I thought I had things figured out, the story flipped everything upside down. The tension kept building, and the twists left me totally shocked. Ruff really knows how to keep you guessing until the very end. Highly recommend if you love dark thrillers with jaw-dropping surprises!

I would like to give 4-star reading to this book. It started really fast, so , I liked the pace but didnt really expected the twist on which the whole book stands, that's truly appreciable. Really, really enjoyed the first two parts of the book and really liked the concept of a book inside a book. And I was really invested to know how the Female lead escaped from the captivity of the psychopath.
Anyone in a reading slump should pick this book up. I devoured it in just one day.