I loved the suspense in this book. It makes the book so enjoyable to read.

Terri Blackstock’s books used to be high on my to-be-read list for years; however I had not read any of her newer works in recent years. So I decided it was time to pick up her latest book and rediscover what I liked about this author’s writing.

The first thing I noticed was that this book is told in the first person, second that it is written in the present tense. To tell you the truth, it took some time for me to get used to this writing style – but when I got into it, I was spellbound and did not want to stop reading.

Being accused of murder, Casey is running from the real killers. She’s smart and knows how to stay out of the hands of the cops. Hired to track down Casey, Dylan is slowly convinced that this girl can’t be a murderer. What will he do when he finds her – IF he finds her?

This book comes with unexpected twists and turns, great suspense, and will make you anticipate the sequel.

Terri Blackstock hit this one out of the park. I was drawn into Casey's character and her story. The plot was fast paced and engaging. I do wish that this book did not end in such a huge cliff hanger. I was totally into the story when it abruptly stopped. I will be waiting for the next in the series.

Terri Blackstock has done it again! I loved this book! This one kept me up until 2am so that I could finish it and guess what.....I can't wait for the next one! I enjoyed the mystery and liked the characters. I will highly recommend this book to our library patrons. I received a galley copy from Net Galley and was able to read it before publication.

Another exceptional mystery novel by Terri Blackstock with Christian emphasis. Anxious for a sequel.

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 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.

If I Run
By Terri Blackstock
Publisher: Zondervan Fiction
Series: Book 1 of If I Run Series
Rated: 5
Back of the Book: “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.
The police refuse to discuss any other possibilities. There's something more going on here. Something more to this fugitive who has captured his attention. Now he just has to figure out what it is . . . and Casey just has to stay one step ahead of everyone who's after her.”
Impressions: This is really a review of the whole series as this is not stand alone novel and you’re not going to want to miss the rest of the story. This was written in first person which was a change up for me. I enjoyed the suspense and characters of this story. This was a page turner with a wild chase. Finishing this book had me rushing to get into the next until there were no more pages to turn. This is one of those series that you get invested in and when it’s over it is bittersweet. I loved it though.

Quotes: “You can’t just check out and think it will all be over. It won’t be over for anyone who loves you.”

“The Lord sometimes uses sorrow in our lives to deepen us,’ Miss Lucy says. ‘This is one of those times.’ ‘Why do we have to be deep?’ I wondered aloud. Miss Lucy looks at me as if she’s never considered that question. ‘Because what good are we if we’re shallow? He (God)can use us when we have some depth. He had sorrows, so why shouldn’t we?”

Thank you, NetGalley and publisher for the opportunity to review this book!

This was a very good book. It was well-written. I would highly recommend this book. It's very easy to read.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the ARC.

Y’all, If I Run starts at a sprint and never slows down. Casey Cox is on the run—not because she’s guilty, but because the system’s failed her. Her DNA’s at the scene, and her past is full of shadows.

Enter Dylan, a war-torn vet hired to bring her in. But the more he digs, the less the pieces fit. Is Casey a killer—or the only honest person in the mess?

This one smells like danger, tastes like motel coffee, and reads like a prayer whispered on the run. With dual POVs, breakneck twists, and a steady beat of heart and faith, this story grabs you and doesn’t let go.

⭐ Verdict: If you like thrillers with brains and soul—run, don’t walk.

Thank you to NetGalley and Zondervan Fiction publishers for the ARC copy of this book. I am not required to write a positive review nor paid to do so. The thoughts and opinions are all my own.

This was a great story, full of enough suspense to keep you captivated. Terri has a unique writing style; her characters appear human and they become your friend. I love reading suspenseful novels but get tired of all of the profanity and sexual expletive content. You do not have to worry about that with a Terri Blackstock novel!

Although I'm not usually into reading series, I will read this one completely because it is fabulous.

This is one of my favorite books and I have read it a few times. It follows a girl named Casey on the run after it looks like she killed her best friend. It's full of suspense, twists and turn, but also a lot of heart. I highly HIGHLY recommend this!

Thank you NetGalley and Publisher for allowing me to read and review this book.

I very much enjoyed this book. The writing was great and the characters were well developed. I hope to read more from this author in the future.

If I Run hooked me from the beginning. If you love fast-paced, clean thrill rides free of foul language, this is the book for you. I cared about the characters as soon as they were introduced and was fully invested with each twist and turn. I didn't realize this was a series, and when I finished, I was a little disappointed...I wanted more. I can't wait to read the next book in the series!

I always enjoy Blackstock’s books!
Great characters, a little bit of suspense, and great storylines.
I encourage you to read this book.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. My opinions are my own.

This was a great book. I loved every paragraph, every sentence and every word of this masterpiece! I read it in 12 hours, which is a lot for me to do! It had everything and more laid out in the novel! I sure hope There is more to come from this author! I am totally hooked!

Written by a talented popular author, this story moves quickly. Realistic characters…I really like this author. Page turners…thought provoking…this book is somewhat different. Enjoy…thanks Netgalley

I originally read If I Run by Terri Blackstock when it released. After watching the movie version, I just had to reread it to see what changes had been made. As with any book to movie, there were several however, the plot of the book did not change nor did the characters. I have no problem with the movie version but love the book version (which is always better). One thing does perplex me - the hummingbird feeder in the movie. It was not mentioned in the book. Absolutely loved it the second time, which is something I rarely do.

Released Feb. 16, 2016. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

If I Run by Terri Blackstock
Published by Zondervan Fiction — thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for my gifted ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I have one word for this book: relentless. Terri Blackstock doesn’t ease you into If I Run — she grabs you by the collar, tosses you into the getaway car, and hits the gas before you even have time to buckle your seatbelt. By the first paragraph, there’s blood on Casey Cox’s shoes, panic in her chest, and you, dear reader, are instantly invested in her survival. This isn’t your slow-burn, sip-your-tea kind of mystery. This is a full-on, high-stakes, change-your-name-and-run kind of thriller.

Casey Cox is smart — dangerously smart — but she’s also compassionate, flawed, and deeply human. When she discovers her best friend Brent murdered, she knows one thing: she’s next. And worse, the people who are supposed to protect her are the same ones she’s running from. With her father’s suspicious “suicide” still haunting her, she can’t trust the police. She does what any self-respecting protagonist in a Terri Blackstock novel would do — she vanishes.

Enter Dylan Roberts: ex-Army Criminal Investigator, dealing with PTSD, guilt, and the kind of emotional damage that makes you root for him instantly. Hired by Brent’s family to find Casey, Dylan starts his hunt confident that she’s guilty. After all, who runs unless they have something to hide? But as he digs into her past — and into the police department’s dirty laundry — the evidence stops making sense. What he finds instead is a woman who keeps risking her life to help strangers, even when she’s the one being hunted.

The dual first-person POV is what makes this story so gripping. You get both sides of the chase — Casey’s desperate, resourceful flight, and Dylan’s slow unraveling of the truth. It’s intimate, tense, and perfectly paced. Blackstock writes both perspectives with such clarity that you never lose the thread, even as the lies and cover-ups pile higher than a Southern summer storm cloud.

What makes If I Run stand out in the thriller genre is its balance — it’s fast-paced without being chaotic, emotional without being sappy, and faith-based without being preachy. Blackstock writes with conviction, but she never sacrifices story for sermon. The Christianity in this book feels authentic — it’s woven through the characters’ growth, not hammered into the reader’s head. Miss Lucy, the kind-hearted older woman Casey meets along the way, offers wisdom without sugarcoating the pain of life. Her line —

“The Lord sometimes uses sorrow in our lives to deepen us… Because what good are we if we’re shallow?”

— hits like truth and comfort all at once.

That’s the beauty of If I Run: it’s suspense with substance. Beneath the chases, disguises, and narrow escapes, there’s a real exploration of trauma, faith, and trust. Casey’s journey isn’t just about escaping danger — it’s about reclaiming her voice, her courage, and her belief that not everyone in the world is out to destroy her. Dylan’s journey, on the other hand, is about redemption — finding purpose again after war and learning that brokenness doesn’t disqualify you from doing what’s right.

The writing itself is crisp and cinematic. Blackstock doesn’t waste words. She paints scenes that move — bus stations, back roads, cheap motels, and one unforgettable act of bravery when Casey puts herself in danger to save a kidnapped child. Even while running for her life, she can’t ignore someone else’s pain. That’s the paradox that defines her — she’s constantly running from something, but always running toward doing good.

Now, let’s talk about the ending — or rather, the absence of one. If you’re allergic to cliffhangers, take an antihistamine before reading. Because the final chapter doesn’t close the door — it slams it halfway shut and dares you to read book two, If I’m Found. I actually yelled, “Oh, you did not just stop there!” But that’s how you know a story has its hooks in you. You’re mad because you care.

Blackstock crafts a thriller that’s not just about who killed whom, but about what keeps us running — from truth, from fear, from faith, from ourselves. It’s a rare thing: a clean, pulse-pounding mystery that also leaves your soul a little stirred.

Quote:

“You can’t just check out and think it will all be over. It won’t be over for anyone who loves you.”

That line lingers. It’s a quiet gut punch in a book full of car chases and close calls.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (5/5 — for a story that made me hold my breath, pray for fictional people, and immediately order the sequel.)

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If you like your thrillers clean, fast, and packed with heart — this one’s for you. Just… do it.

What a fantastic read and not quite what I was expecting!

A young woman is accused of murdering her best friend and his family hires a private investigator to find out the truth! It's full of suspense, mischief, and things just aren't as they seem for Casey and Dylan. I couldn't put it down and I'm so glad I had to chance to check it out for myself!

If you're someone who enjoys clean mysteries, thrillers, and suspense, be sure to check out If I Run. This was absolutely fantastic!

I would love to thank the author, publisher and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read this ARC book in exchange for an honest review.

So exciting and suspenseful. I really enjoyed this read. It has a little bit of everthing: action, thriller, romance and nice relationships.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this free eARC. All opinions are my own.

Poor Casey finds Brent's body and panics. She doesn't know who to trust or who to turn to, so she turns to herself and runs. Brents parents don't see the police doing enough so they hire his friend, a former military investigator to be their PI. It doesn't take Dylan too long to see the risks and that this goes much deeper than he original thought. He follows Casey and gets some dead ends. When he is finally able to reach her, he isn't sure to capture her or protect her. This is suspenseful, but an easy read. Definitely recommend it.

This book will keep you in the edge of your seat. I was truly impressed with the twists and turns. The suspense is amazing!

If I Run is a gripping, character-driven suspense novel that hooks you from the first page. Terri Blackstock delivers a fast-paced plot filled with tension, moral dilemmas, and emotional depth. Casey’s flight from danger and her struggle for justice make this a compelling read for fans of faith-based thrillers and psychological suspense.