If I Run is the first book in the If I Run series by Terri Blackstock. This well written Christian suspense story starts out with action, suspense and mystery that never ends. This story has so many twist and turns, it kept me reading just to find out what would happen next.

Casey finds her friend Brent murdered. Fearing she’ll be blamed for his death and sent to prison, she flees. Casey is a very intelligent person who thinks things through. She is very detailed with trying to out smart the police with buying tickets under different names, getting off before her scheduled stop. Yet she has a conscience that she struggles with when she buys another person’s name.

Dylan has been hired by Brent’s parents to find Casey. Being apast Criminal Investigator for the Army, he is very skilled in what he needs to do to find her. Yet he finds resistance from the police force to supply him with the information he feels he need.

I enjoyed reading this story. I always struggle with why the innocent run away instead of calling law enforcement when the find a crime. Yet this story points out reasons Casey would fear for her safety. I appreciate the background information the author provides on what happened years earlier in Casey’s family and why that has affected her actions now. I like how determined Dylan is to find Casey as fast as possible. I found it interesting that he would also try to solve the crime, even when it was not his place. It was enjoyable to see how the two interacted and how Dylan was drawn to Casey to keep her safe and find the real killer. It was interesting to see how this crime was connected to Casey’s father’s death.

I voluntarily received a complimentary copy of this story, this is my honest review.

Casey didn't kill her friend Brent. She discovered his body, but she'd never try to hurt him. He's the only person she's ever trusted enough to tell the truth about what happened to her father . . . and there's no doubt in her mind that Brent was killed trying to help her prove it. She has to run before they get to her too. Dylan Roberts was hired to find Casey and bring her back so that justice can be served. As a former Criminal Investigator for the Army, he can't imagine that tracking down one girl will be that difficult.

But the more elusive Casey turns out to be, the more Dylan digs into her past to try to determine what she might be thinking. What he finds there doesn't fit the profile of a killer at all. She's unlike any other fugitive he's ever seen.

So I got pulled into this by a great blurb, but I'm not really into religion in my books. I should have noticed this before I requested the book. That's on me. Besides that though, it was an enjoyable read. 3.5⭐

I received an advanced complimentary digital copy of this book from Netgalley. Opinions expressed are my own.

4 stars

Alright, I'll start by saying that the story held my interest from the beginning until the very last word. I also finished this in just 3 days, which has become a rare achievement for me due to my busy schedule. So, yeah.

Idk what exact box to place it in when it comes to genres, but I'd say it is a thriller. It isn't exactly a 'whodunnit', but rather, you'll be questioning what happened, and what is going to happen. We get the perspective of the main character, and the detective's mind process, their dilemmas, what they do and the reasons behind their actions. And for me, all of it was interesting. I don't remember feeling bored for even a single part of the story!

Here's what you can expect to find in the book:
❄️A fast-paced thriller
❄️Faith in God [Christianity, to be specific] (even if you're an atheist, don't worry. At least in my opinion, it's woven in the story in a sweet way, the beliefs don't seem too pushy to me.)
❄️A main character who loves people and making friends (it was so refreshing ngl!)
❄️Corrupt cops, and good ones
❄️Dual POVs
❄️PTSD
❄️No romance. Though, there are some issues mentioned which would be suitable for an audience older than 12 or 13, in my opinion

Overall, I would certainly recommend this book to anyone who wants a fast-paced thriller/crime novel where you can expect yourself to be invested in the story throughout, and form a bond with the characters!

Wow!( I've been a fan of Terri Blackstock's for a long time!) This book is amazing! I was immediately engrossed in the story and I was up all night because I had to find out what happened next.

Casey is a complicated character. In the very beginning, all that's disclosed is that she might have murdered her best friend. She's intelligent, persistent and committed. As she searches for the real killer she discovers many secrets that have been hidden for a long time. Dylan is also complicated. He has dealt with many losses in his life. As he struggles to comprehend his friends death, he too realizes that everything is not as it seems. Miss Lucy is my favorite! She's friendly and someone you can trust. She'd give you the shirt off her back and smile while doing it.

The really great thing that I like about Casey is that she selflessly puts herself out there to help others. Even when she's running for her life, she takes the time to rescue a kidnapped woman and her baby. I like also the fact that she starts out questioning God but as she faces more trials and meets Dylan, she starts to realize that God is real and has a plan for her life.

The ending of this book is a cliffhanger.... I can't wait to find out what happens next!

I received a complimentary copy of the book via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

If I Run is the first book in the If I Run trilogy by Terri Blackstock. This is the first book I’ve read by the author, and I enjoyed it.
I thought the characters were interesting and I was intrigued by the story.

My biggest hangup with the book is that it lacked closure. Upon reaching the end of the book, I realized that I would have to read the other two books to see how things would be resolved. Even the things that were resolved felt underdeveloped.

Even though this ended with a giant cliffhanger, I haven’t decided if I’ll read the other two books yet. The story just didn’t grab me enough that I have to know how things end.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

If I Run ((If I Run #1) by Terri Blackstock
Publisher: Zondervan Fiction, Zondervan
Genre: General Fiction (Adult) | Mystery & Thrillers
Published: February 16, 2016

I really enjoyed "If I Run" by Terri Blackstock. It had me gripped from the beginning. I started with listening to the audiobook, but finished with reading the ebook.
One of the things I really appreciated with this book was the added element of faith. It made the characters feel more relatable and grounded.
Told in a dual POV from Casey and Dylan, it starts out with Casey Cox on the run after stumbling upon the body of her best friend, Brent. As she navigates her new reality and identity, she befriends an older women who helps her settle into her new life.
Dylan Roberts is private investigators that was hired by Brent's family to track down Casey. As he follows the clues of Brent's death, he begins to unravel the truth. Starting with the suspicious suicide of Casey's father 13 year earlier.
A compelling subplot involving a missing girl adds to the suspense and overall appeal to the story. Though this book ends with a chiffhanger, it still offers a satisfying end that left me eager to start book 2.

Overall, I love how Terri Blackstock created such a fast-paced gripping story that weaved suspense, faith and emotion. I absolutely recommend this book and will continue reading this series!

If I Run by Terri Blackstock is a 2016 publication.

Casey’s best friend has been murdered and she’s the prime suspect. While she runs from law enforcement, Dylan Roberts joins in the chase, independently. As he hunts for Casey, he comes to believe she may be innocent…

But who would want to frame Casey… and why?

This is a fast-paced thriller told partly from Casey’s perspective and partly from Dylan’s, as he begins piecing the puzzle together.

The novel touches on the themes of PTSD and plants the seeds of a Christian message as Casey begins to see her need for answered prayers, faith, and trust in God.

While there were revelations along the way, none of them were exactly shocking. I suppose that’s the hazard of reading so much crime fiction- but the story is still compelling and held my attention without losing any momentum along the way.

One thing to know, if you are considering this one, is that this is the first book in a trilogy. There are still some threads hanging at the end of this book, so you’ll have to read the other two installments to get all the answers and you’ll have to read them in order.

Overall, while some plot points were predictable and the story doesn’t really cover much new territory, it is still an engaging thriller. I’m on board for the whole trilogy and am looking forward to seeing how everything wraps up.

3.5 stars

If I Run is a suspenseful mystery. While it may be considered a faith based novel, it is not preachy. It would appeal to any reader who likes thrillers. The protagonist is well characterized and the mystery is intriguing. My one complaint is it dragged in the middle a bit and it did not have a conclusive ending; there was no resolution in the story arc. I don’t care for obvious cliffhangers that require the reader to read another book in order to finish the storyline.

Having said that, I will read the sequel because I am intrigued with the mystery and invested in the dynamic characters!

What a fast and suspenseful read that kept me turning pages late into the night! I really enjoyed both the story itself and the characters. Loved it.

I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

Great story, thrilling plot that I could not put down. Well worth a read, and would recommend to others. Terri Blackstock does not disappoint.

I enjoyed book 1 of a 3 part series. Casey is on the run for a murder of her friend, Brent an investigative reporter, who was helping her and uncovering the truth of what Casey believed all along that her father, a cop was murdered and didn't commit suicide. Dylan an army criminal investigator is home after being honorably discharged and suffering from PTSD helps out the parents of his murdered childhood friend and the police department to bring in Casey for the murder. All isn't what is seems and as Casey is on the run and befriended an elderly woman named Lucy, who is a Christian and believes in God and prayer. Through interactions with Miss Lucy, Casey has found prayer and belief in God and also helped Lucy and her family with answers to a missing family member. Interesting thriller where bad things happen to good people as both good and evil are always present. Doubt I will look to read the other two books in the series.

Absolutely riveting! I was hooked on this book from the first sentence and couldn't put it down until the end, which sadly did not give the resolution I wanted. I highly recommend you have the second book right next to you because you will want to start it the second you finish this one! I particularly loved how the author was able to weave in serious discussions of faith amidst the action without interrupting the flow of the story.

Another great series, but a favorite Christian author, Terri Blackstock.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for allowing me to read and review this book.

Terri Blackstock has been a favourite author of mine since I was in middle school. So coming back to this new series of hers was an easy choice. Her writing is descriptive, entertaining, and creates a connection with the reader.

This series in particular is a crime mystery and you are sucked in from page one. I've already read the rest of the books and I highly recommend!

Another knock out of the park mystery novel by Terri Blackstock. I don't typically read books that fall into a Christian category, but I love her writing style. I look forward to a sequel.

Really interesting series with some great characters. The author did a great job of making you guess where the story was going next.

I enjoyed this for the most part; overall strong story, characters with depth, and plot that keeps you interested. The Christianity aspect was a bit unexpected, but it didn't take away the suspense and page turning aspect of this story. However, I usually like my books to have a neat, clean ending, but this one left me with many questions, otherwise it would've given a higher rating. Mystery and thriller readers will likely enjoy this one!

Thank you Zondervan Fiction and NetGalley for a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I found this book to be a great clean murder mystery, No unnecessary sex scenes or vulgarities, so refreshing!

I was glued to this story to find out the truth behind the murder that Casey appears to be the main suspect. She didn't do it but it sure looks like it! Slowly the story unravels and it gets more and more complicated as we continue on. Recommended for murder mystery fans and clean enough for teens and YA's.

This book was so full of suspense, that I found it so hard to put down! The details added about ptsd and the struggle with living and suicide made this book so real. The book takes you on a ride with the twists and turns and reveals!

Thrilling read that hits all the punches just right, I won't say much because I feel the blurb itself was purposefully kept vague so you go in blind and I think that's exactly what you need to do. I liked it a lot, the author has a way of stringing details together to paint a bigger picture I really enjoyed.