Run by Blake Crouch

5 Days Ago a rash of bizarre murders swept the country. Senseless. Brutal. Seemingly unconnected. . .

A cop walked into a nursing home and unloaded his weapons on elderly and staff alike. A mass of school shootings. Prison riots of unprecedented brutality. Mind-boggling acts of violence in every state.

4 Days Ago the murders increased ten-fold. . .

3 Days Ago the President addressed the nation and begged for calm and peace. . .

2 Days Ago the killers began to mobilize. . .

Yesterday all the power went out. . .

Tonight they're reading the names of those to be killed on the Emergency Broadcast System. You are listening over the battery-powered radio on your kitchen table, and they've just read yours. Your name is Jack Colclough. You have a wife, a daughter, and a young son. You live in Albuquerque, New Mexico. People are coming to your house to kill you and your family. You don't know why, but you don't have time to think about that any more. You only have time to R - U - N!

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Run by Blake Crouch is a unique and intense apocalypse thriller that hits the ground running and never lets up. The story begins with a wave of senseless and brutal murders sweeping across the country, escalating rapidly over the course of five days. The protagonist, Jack Colclough, hears his name read out over the Emergency Broadcast System as one of those targeted for death, forcing him and his family to flee for their lives.

The book has a similar feel to 28 Days Later, but with a chilling twist: there's no visible difference between those affected by this sudden outbreak of violence and those who aren't. This ambiguity adds an extra layer of fear, making it impossible to know who to trust. Crouch's narrative is fast-paced and relentless, propelling the reader through a landscape filled with danger at every turn.

However, potential readers should be aware that the book contains a lot of violence and strong language, which contributes to its raw and gritty tone. While the main characters endure injuries and threats, there's also a brief mention of rape involving a passing character, though it never directly affects the central family.

One issue I had was with the prologue, which felt disconnected from the main plot for a significant portion of the book. This narrative gap was a bit frustrating, as it took a while for the relevance of that opening scene to become clear.

Overall, Run is a gripping and fast-paced thriller that delivers a high level of tension and unpredictability. It's a great pick for fans of dark, apocalyptic stories who can handle the intense subject matter and unflinching brutality.

Recommendations:

• Movie: 28 Days Later — a tense, high-stakes survival film that similarly explores the unpredictability of human nature in a crisis.
• Book: The Road by Cormac McCarthy — for its bleak, apocalyptic atmosphere and focus on a father's struggle to protect his family against a hostile world.

Run publishes on the 22nd of October, 2024. I received a free copy and am giving an honest review.