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Gray After Dark
A merciless wilderness. A harrowing attack. A desperate escape.
When a tragic accident sidelines Miley's dreams of Olympic gold, she takes a summer job at a mountain guest lodge.
The Frank Church Wilderness is remote, but it’s the perfect place to train and recover. Local lore about a staffer who died years ago doesn’t scare her. But it should.
Miley’s plans take a terrifying detour when she’s abducted during a morning run. Held captive in a desolate off-grid cabin, she’ll have to use her athletic prowess, cunning mind, and courage to survive. But as the nightmare at the cabin escalates, Miley is forced to form an unlikely alliance and attempt a risky escape.
Can she outwit her captors and survive the wilderness before it’s too late?
Inspired by true events, Gray After Dark is a pulse-pounding psychological thriller with a finale that will leave you breathless.
9 hrs. 12 min.
When a tragic accident sidelines Miley's dreams of Olympic gold, she takes a summer job at a mountain guest lodge.
The Frank Church Wilderness is remote, but it’s the perfect place to train and recover. Local lore about a staffer who died years ago doesn’t scare her. But it should.
Miley’s plans take a terrifying detour when she’s abducted during a morning run. Held captive in a desolate off-grid cabin, she’ll have to use her athletic prowess, cunning mind, and courage to survive. But as the nightmare at the cabin escalates, Miley is forced to form an unlikely alliance and attempt a risky escape.
Can she outwit her captors and survive the wilderness before it’s too late?
Inspired by true events, Gray After Dark is a pulse-pounding psychological thriller with a finale that will leave you breathless.
9 hrs. 12 min.
10 pages, Audible Audio
First published March 22, 2024
14823 people are currently reading
148124 people want to read
About the author
Noelle W. Ihli
10 books8,477 followersNoelle’s two great passions are murder and horses (separately, never together).
She lives in Idaho with her husband, two sons, and two cats. When she's not plotting her next thriller, she's scaring herself with true-crime documentaries or going for a trail ride in the foothills (with her trusty pepper spray).
She lives in Idaho with her husband, two sons, and two cats. When she's not plotting her next thriller, she's scaring herself with true-crime documentaries or going for a trail ride in the foothills (with her trusty pepper spray).
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 7,728 reviews
July 13, 2024
I really really liked this book! It was genuinely such a fast paced and great read in my opinion!!
March 3, 2024
WHEW let me calm down this one had me SWEATING
May 5, 2024
this was good! and the fact that it was *loosely* based off of a true story bumped it up from a 3.5 to a 4
February 7, 2025
˗ˏˋ ★ ˎˊ˗ 3.75 Stars Rounded Up ˗ˏˋ★‿︵‧ ˚ ₊⊹
Our FMC, Miley Petrowski was a biathlon athlete that is mending an injury from several years ago and is determined to race again in the Olympics . While trying to navigate her relationship with Brent, her teammate, she decides to head to the acres of Frank Church alone, to sort her thoughts and to take a on summer job and retrain taking advantage of the hundreds of acres full of hiking trails to run through .
Miley is stubborn and despite her injury is still quit fit and does not give herself enough credit. One day she finds a trail that leads to a beautiful secluded little lake in the mountains and takes relief to take a cold swim to relieve her aches and pains. Noelle is abducted by a father and son living in the woods off the grid and what transpires next is a lot of anxiety and edge of your seat suspense.
I think this is the second or third book I've read from Ihli and she always manages to grab ahold of me right from the start and basically commands my full and undivided attention for the entirety of the story. This was no exception.
While it is a bit predictable and not as twisty as I usually like my thrillers - it's quite a harrowing and chilling story. I learned after finishing the story that this novel that it was actually inspired by real events that took place back in 1984 when Biathlete Kari Swenson was abducted.
That little nugget of information just gives me chills alone.
Ihli's writing is masterful and unsettling. The short chapters and fast pace easily make this a very bingable one sitting read.
Bonus - I switched between my kindle and audible copy - the audio is ✨FANTASTIC✨
Definitely recommend for those who enjoy an eerie thriller.
⚠️ Triggers ⚠️
Rape
Kidnapping
Personal Abuse
⋆✴︎˚｡⋆ Connect with me on Instagram ˗ˏˋ★‿︵‧ ˚ ₊⊹
Our FMC, Miley Petrowski was a biathlon athlete that is mending an injury from several years ago and is determined to race again in the Olympics . While trying to navigate her relationship with Brent, her teammate, she decides to head to the acres of Frank Church alone, to sort her thoughts and to take a on summer job and retrain taking advantage of the hundreds of acres full of hiking trails to run through .
Miley is stubborn and despite her injury is still quit fit and does not give herself enough credit. One day she finds a trail that leads to a beautiful secluded little lake in the mountains and takes relief to take a cold swim to relieve her aches and pains. Noelle is abducted by a father and son living in the woods off the grid and what transpires next is a lot of anxiety and edge of your seat suspense.
I think this is the second or third book I've read from Ihli and she always manages to grab ahold of me right from the start and basically commands my full and undivided attention for the entirety of the story. This was no exception.
While it is a bit predictable and not as twisty as I usually like my thrillers - it's quite a harrowing and chilling story. I learned after finishing the story that this novel that it was actually inspired by real events that took place back in 1984 when Biathlete Kari Swenson was abducted.
That little nugget of information just gives me chills alone.
Ihli's writing is masterful and unsettling. The short chapters and fast pace easily make this a very bingable one sitting read.
Bonus - I switched between my kindle and audible copy - the audio is ✨FANTASTIC✨
Definitely recommend for those who enjoy an eerie thriller.
⚠️ Triggers ⚠️
Rape
Kidnapping
Personal Abuse
⋆✴︎˚｡⋆ Connect with me on Instagram ˗ˏˋ★‿︵‧ ˚ ₊⊹
March 5, 2024
Sweet baby kittens on a cracker, I walked into this one blindly and now I think I'm traumatized. This is not an easy book to read and I considered DNF'ing it about a hundred times in the first fifty percent. Not that there's anything wrong with the writing – the author is obviously talented – but the subject matter is just so distasteful that it was really, really hard to digest. With that said, however, I read the entire book in about ten hours (and that's including a few hours of sleep) so it's also completely riveting despite its bazillion trigger warnings (which include violence, murder, kidnapping, sexual assault, severe Stockholm syndrome, and animal cruelty).
This novel revolves around Miley, a biathlon Olympian athlete with a whole lot of emotional baggage, who is kidnapped in the remote Idaho wilderness by a couple of deranged mountain men in search of a “bride” for one of them. It's based on the true story of Kari Swenson, an Olympian who was kidnapped in Montana in 1984. While Miley's fictional ordeal differs from Kari's in many respects (especially in length – Kari's abduction lasted less than 24 hours while Miley's lasted for weeks), the basic details are very similar. I think that's part of what made this book so difficult to read, knowing that it's based on the experiences of an actual person.
And I have to say, the bad guys in this book are absolutely terrifying. They're full of violence and misogyny and are all too realistic – these are certainly not cartoon villains that exist only in the movies, but the men you think of when you're walking alone late at night with your keys in your hand as a makeshift weapon. I truly cannot overstate how awful they are and how much I wanted to give both of them multiple swift kicks in a very unpleasant place while I was reading this book, and I am not a violent person.
Miley is a strong protagonist, however, and her resilience is amazing. You can't help but root for her (although, to be fair, who else are you going to root for? the human monsters?) and while I'm not a nail-biter, I almost took up the habit while waiting to see whether or not she'd make it out of the forest a) alive and b) mentally and physically unscathed.
This isn't a pleasant book and it's not easy to read, but at the same time it's basically unputdownable. If you enjoy books that read like Lifetime movies in novel form, you should definitely consider giving this one a read. 3.95 stars, rounded up.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Dynamite Books for providing me with an advance copy of this book to review.
This novel revolves around Miley, a biathlon Olympian athlete with a whole lot of emotional baggage, who is kidnapped in the remote Idaho wilderness by a couple of deranged mountain men in search of a “bride” for one of them. It's based on the true story of Kari Swenson, an Olympian who was kidnapped in Montana in 1984. While Miley's fictional ordeal differs from Kari's in many respects (especially in length – Kari's abduction lasted less than 24 hours while Miley's lasted for weeks), the basic details are very similar. I think that's part of what made this book so difficult to read, knowing that it's based on the experiences of an actual person.
And I have to say, the bad guys in this book are absolutely terrifying. They're full of violence and misogyny and are all too realistic – these are certainly not cartoon villains that exist only in the movies, but the men you think of when you're walking alone late at night with your keys in your hand as a makeshift weapon. I truly cannot overstate how awful they are and how much I wanted to give both of them multiple swift kicks in a very unpleasant place while I was reading this book, and I am not a violent person.
Miley is a strong protagonist, however, and her resilience is amazing. You can't help but root for her (although, to be fair, who else are you going to root for? the human monsters?) and while I'm not a nail-biter, I almost took up the habit while waiting to see whether or not she'd make it out of the forest a) alive and b) mentally and physically unscathed.
This isn't a pleasant book and it's not easy to read, but at the same time it's basically unputdownable. If you enjoy books that read like Lifetime movies in novel form, you should definitely consider giving this one a read. 3.95 stars, rounded up.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Dynamite Books for providing me with an advance copy of this book to review.
March 29, 2024
Run, Rabbit run run AND GET THIS BOOK IMMEDIATELY
Be still my beating heart!
Gray after dark is about Miley who is a Biathlete Pro! Following a tragic accident Miley mind is all over the place and she decides to take a summer Job at The Frank Church Wilderness lodge. Looking for a remote place to recover and train when she goes on a run one day she is captured by two psychoticmen pricks. We then follow Miley harrowing tale of life in captivity and her smarts and tenacity in whether she will find a way to escape.
Prepare to have your adrenaline shocked with this heart pumping fast paced thriller!!
Wow! I’m still feeling breathless from this read. This is not a thriller with twists and shocking turns. This was 342 pages of pure psychological survival!
This is a fast paced, page turning thriller but for me I had to keep putting the book down. It was so heartbreaking and stress inducing following Miley’s mindset while she was dealing with being kidnapped and tortured.
The format of the book was perfect. It had a dual POV from Miley and Brent (Miley best friend).
Don’t even get me started with Brent! OBSESSED! As someone who mostly reads thrillers and not romance I am very short of having “book boyfriends” and get so jealous of you romance girlies and your many fictional boyfriends! But finally next to Enzo (Freida McFadden- The Housemaid) I can add Brent to the list. This man had one goal and his perseverance was EVERYTHING.
I’m glad for his chapters because it was a light relief after reading Miley’s. There was two particular scenarios that took place in the book that truthfully had me shaking, my blood truly ran cold!
Theres so much I want to say but it would be spoiling!
The reason why it didn’t hit the full 5⭐️ mark for me was that as much as I enjoyed the ending it felt a little bit rushed and I was slightly unsatisfied. Also the character of Wes. Wes is a worker at the mountain guest lodge that Miley also worked at. They only knew each other for a couple of days before Miley goes missing. I really liked Wes as a character, but it just wasn’t believable for me that he would willingly join Brent to go hunting in the wilderness for days on end to try and find Miley. So the unlikelyness of this happening in reality swayed my interest in the severity of the situation just a minuscule.
Whenever I read that a book is loosely based on true events it always chills me to the bone. Yes I’m reading a fictional take but my mind can’t help but wonder to the actual real story that inspired this book. And as soon as I come off this app I will be doing extensive research on Kari Swenson’s story.
Highly highly recommend but please check the trigger warning.
TW: kidnapping, Smurder, pregnancy loss, Domestic abuse, infertility, SA/violence, Animal cruelty, gun violence
4.5 ⭐️
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
PRE REVIEW
I absolutely loved Run on Red by this author it was an instant 5 ⭐for me!
This is her new release, i hope this is a winner too!
Fingers tightly Crossed 🤞🏾❤️❤️
Be still my beating heart!
Gray after dark is about Miley who is a Biathlete Pro! Following a tragic accident Miley mind is all over the place and she decides to take a summer Job at The Frank Church Wilderness lodge. Looking for a remote place to recover and train when she goes on a run one day she is captured by two psychotic
Prepare to have your adrenaline shocked with this heart pumping fast paced thriller!!
Wow! I’m still feeling breathless from this read. This is not a thriller with twists and shocking turns. This was 342 pages of pure psychological survival!
This is a fast paced, page turning thriller but for me I had to keep putting the book down. It was so heartbreaking and stress inducing following Miley’s mindset while she was dealing with being kidnapped and tortured.
The format of the book was perfect. It had a dual POV from Miley and Brent (Miley best friend).
Don’t even get me started with Brent! OBSESSED! As someone who mostly reads thrillers and not romance I am very short of having “book boyfriends” and get so jealous of you romance girlies and your many fictional boyfriends! But finally next to Enzo (Freida McFadden- The Housemaid) I can add Brent to the list. This man had one goal and his perseverance was EVERYTHING.
I’m glad for his chapters because it was a light relief after reading Miley’s. There was two particular scenarios that took place in the book that truthfully had me shaking, my blood truly ran cold!
Theres so much I want to say but it would be spoiling!
The reason why it didn’t hit the full 5⭐️ mark for me was that as much as I enjoyed the ending it felt a little bit rushed and I was slightly unsatisfied. Also the character of Wes. Wes is a worker at the mountain guest lodge that Miley also worked at. They only knew each other for a couple of days before Miley goes missing. I really liked Wes as a character, but it just wasn’t believable for me that he would willingly join Brent to go hunting in the wilderness for days on end to try and find Miley. So the unlikelyness of this happening in reality swayed my interest in the severity of the situation just a minuscule.
Whenever I read that a book is loosely based on true events it always chills me to the bone. Yes I’m reading a fictional take but my mind can’t help but wonder to the actual real story that inspired this book. And as soon as I come off this app I will be doing extensive research on Kari Swenson’s story.
Highly highly recommend but please check the trigger warning.
TW: kidnapping, Smurder, pregnancy loss, Domestic abuse, infertility, SA/violence, Animal cruelty, gun violence
4.5 ⭐️
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
PRE REVIEW
I absolutely loved Run on Red by this author it was an instant 5 ⭐for me!
This is her new release, i hope this is a winner too!
Fingers tightly Crossed 🤞🏾❤️❤️
March 10, 2024
This book is absolutely brilliant! Heart pumping and nail biting moments made me finish this book in one sitting. The plot is really great as abduction stories can be rather tricky to pull off just right. The book flowed well keeping the story going. Miley's attempts at escaping and waiting for the right moment came across good and not far fetched or unbelievable. So, if I loved this book so much, you might ask why I only gave it 4 stars?
The ending...I wanted more!! Not to give spoilers, it felt flat. I was waiting for this heroic safe, and ...bang. But credit to our MC for what she did..you will know what I'm talking about when you've read it. All the same, still loved it and highly recommend this book!
Thank you Netgalley and Dynamite Books for the opportunity to read and review this ARC.
The ending...I wanted more!! Not to give spoilers, it felt flat. I was waiting for this heroic safe, and ...bang. But credit to our MC for what she did..you will know what I'm talking about when you've read it. All the same, still loved it and highly recommend this book!
Thank you Netgalley and Dynamite Books for the opportunity to read and review this ARC.
July 24, 2025
4.5 stars . ⊹ ･ﾟ𖥔 ₊ ˑ
⤷ Wow what a fantastic book. I started this one on audio, and then quickly switched to kindle because I was enjoying it so much. My anxiety was through the roof the entire time and I really struggled to put it down.
Gray After Dark is loosely based on real events about an olympic athlete who gets abducted in the mountains. The entire book was crazy intense, dark and filled with suspense. Great storyline, pacing and characters I really connected with and was rooting for. If you are into thrillers this one will keep you captivated the entire way through.
Pre read
Thrillers are the best genre of audiobook and I can’t be convinced otherwise
⤷ Wow what a fantastic book. I started this one on audio, and then quickly switched to kindle because I was enjoying it so much. My anxiety was through the roof the entire time and I really struggled to put it down.
Gray After Dark is loosely based on real events about an olympic athlete who gets abducted in the mountains. The entire book was crazy intense, dark and filled with suspense. Great storyline, pacing and characters I really connected with and was rooting for. If you are into thrillers this one will keep you captivated the entire way through.
Pre read
Thrillers are the best genre of audiobook and I can’t be convinced otherwise
August 26, 2024
2.5 ⭐️
I’m honestly baffled by all the great reviews. Nearly every aspect of this book is so cliche. Two helpless women held captive in a cabin by feral men, waiting for their secret crushes to come rescue them. Gross.
The plot and writing are overly simplistic, the characters lack dimension. Predictable storyline from start to finish. It’s a hard pass for me.
I’m honestly baffled by all the great reviews. Nearly every aspect of this book is so cliche. Two helpless women held captive in a cabin by feral men, waiting for their secret crushes to come rescue them. Gross.
The plot and writing are overly simplistic, the characters lack dimension. Predictable storyline from start to finish. It’s a hard pass for me.
May 24, 2025
Very good!
May 22, 2024
★3.5 stars, rounded down
My biggest piece of advice is to be like me, and go into this book blind. After reading Ask for Andrea and thoroughly enjoying Ihli’s thrilling writing style, I gravitated towards the next highly-rated book of hers I could find, without reading its synopsis. 20% in, I’ll admit I was bored and had zero inkling where the story was going. There was so much background and setting the scene that I almost gave up.
Do not worry, my friends. It goes south real fast.
Gray After Dark is a tale of survival, inspired by the story of Kari Swenson (if you are unaware of her story like I was, highly suggest looking it up). It’s fast-paced, told from dual POVs, and elicits every sense of the word “thriller,” after the first 20%.
My rating is docked for how long it took the book to fully grip me, but also for the main character’s name: Miley. You CANNOT hear/see that name without drawing comparisons. There was even a point where her name and the phrase “wrecking ball” were used in the same sentence, which to me felt like a joke. Unfortunately, this was not the vibe I believe this story deserves.
My biggest piece of advice is to be like me, and go into this book blind. After reading Ask for Andrea and thoroughly enjoying Ihli’s thrilling writing style, I gravitated towards the next highly-rated book of hers I could find, without reading its synopsis. 20% in, I’ll admit I was bored and had zero inkling where the story was going. There was so much background and setting the scene that I almost gave up.
Do not worry, my friends. It goes south real fast.
Gray After Dark is a tale of survival, inspired by the story of Kari Swenson (if you are unaware of her story like I was, highly suggest looking it up). It’s fast-paced, told from dual POVs, and elicits every sense of the word “thriller,” after the first 20%.
My rating is docked for how long it took the book to fully grip me, but also for the main character’s name: Miley. You CANNOT hear/see that name without drawing comparisons. There was even a point where her name and the phrase “wrecking ball” were used in the same sentence, which to me felt like a joke. Unfortunately, this was not the vibe I believe this story deserves.
December 1, 2024
4/5 ⭐️
- The first 70 pages felt a bit slow and then WOW!! I couldn’t put it down if I tried!! I was gasping, eyes wide because I truly couldn’t get to the end fast enough to figure out what happened. The author of this story does such an incredible job of leaving you in constant suspense.
- This is going to be a highly recommending thriller because of how enjoyable it is to read! It felt like I was on the adventure myself and trying to escape. The author really puts you in the shoes of the mmc.
- Will definitely pick up more books by this author because I really loved the writing style.
- The first 70 pages felt a bit slow and then WOW!! I couldn’t put it down if I tried!! I was gasping, eyes wide because I truly couldn’t get to the end fast enough to figure out what happened. The author of this story does such an incredible job of leaving you in constant suspense.
- This is going to be a highly recommending thriller because of how enjoyable it is to read! It felt like I was on the adventure myself and trying to escape. The author really puts you in the shoes of the mmc.
- Will definitely pick up more books by this author because I really loved the writing style.
July 19, 2025
Difficult to listen to at times, but the whoop is big! I’ll try to review soon
@45% the whoop is whooping so far!
Seeing what the big whoop is about
@45% the whoop is whooping so far!
Seeing what the big whoop is about
May 3, 2024
What happens when an Olympic hopeful takes a terrifying detour and gets abducted during a morning run?
Answer:
You do not want to know!
TW: Repeated violent abuse against women.
This book showcased waaay too many specific details of how two men abused two women in the worst ways imaginable.
IMHO, the author could have told the story without going into such horrific details.
The book's ending was contrived.
The narration by Megan Tusing and Will Damron was 5-star.
What a disappointment. Even my two favorite narrators could not save this book.
August 17, 2025
What in the holy batshit Deliverance?!?!
I binged this. I've been craving a solid, fast-paced story, and this scratched that itch.
Be forewarned. There is so much brutality here. Essentially, every woman's worst nightmare about being out in the woods alone (or really anywhere else alone). Abduction stories are, obviously, not light reads. This is inspired by the real-life abduction of a biathelete training for the Olympics. While this is a work of fiction, the grim reality of the situation feels very real.
That said, this is a really well-crafted story. Because this is something that could actually happen, it is very anxiety provoking. If you have a hard time suspending your disbelief in normal thrillers, this one could be for you. If you can handle the subject matter.
I binged this. I've been craving a solid, fast-paced story, and this scratched that itch.
Be forewarned. There is so much brutality here. Essentially, every woman's worst nightmare about being out in the woods alone (or really anywhere else alone). Abduction stories are, obviously, not light reads. This is inspired by the real-life abduction of a biathelete training for the Olympics. While this is a work of fiction, the grim reality of the situation feels very real.
That said, this is a really well-crafted story. Because this is something that could actually happen, it is very anxiety provoking. If you have a hard time suspending your disbelief in normal thrillers, this one could be for you. If you can handle the subject matter.
July 22, 2024
I’m so confused. This book was terrible. I’m not sure where all these 4/5 star reviews are coming from. Did we read the same book?
March 3, 2024
This book will legit make you want to punch a couple of characters right in their stupid, patriarchal faces, repeatedly. The sheer entitlement boils my blood.
I looked up Kari Swenson when I was about halfway through the book, and you should know that the press and the public romanticized the persons responsible for the actual, real-life kidnapping of Swenson in Montana back in 1984. The fact that the perpetrators were glorified as true "mountain men" taming the wild frontier instead of focusing on, you know, that they were mentally disturbed, brutally violent criminals who could only rough it by stealing from nearby cabins and lodges--all of this infuriated Swenson's family, and rightly so. People even clamored for photo ops with these dudes!! It boggles the mind. I appreciate that Ihli addresses this madness in her afterword, and that she made a conscious effort to praise Kari Swenson for her strength and resiliency in the face of unspeakable evil.
Okay, onto the book itself. Ihli takes bits and pieces of the actual kidnapping, but she changes some things around and adds her own spin on the idea of what if the perpetrators weren't caught right away. You'll be horrified at what happens. It's scary to think that there are still some men who consider women to be their actual property. You accidentally spilled his dinner? Best prepare yourself for immediate retribution.
There's some stuff in here that is very hard to read, but I do appreciate that there are no sexually explicit scenes. There is a LOT of violence, fyi. See the first line of my review again. Ihli makes you ask yourself, what would you do if you were put in a similar situation? Would you have the wherewithal to keep looking for opportunities to escape? Or would you accept your fate? Food for thought.
A special bonus, for me, at least, because I love learning new things, is the information on the Olympic biathlon--cross country skiing interspersed with five different shooting targets. It's fascinating stuff!
This comes out in less than three weeks! Check it out! I'm going to go look at Ihli's other books now.
I received a copy from NetGalley and Dynamite Books (thank you!) in exchange for my honest feedback.
I looked up Kari Swenson when I was about halfway through the book, and you should know that the press and the public romanticized the persons responsible for the actual, real-life kidnapping of Swenson in Montana back in 1984. The fact that the perpetrators were glorified as true "mountain men" taming the wild frontier instead of focusing on, you know, that they were mentally disturbed, brutally violent criminals who could only rough it by stealing from nearby cabins and lodges--all of this infuriated Swenson's family, and rightly so. People even clamored for photo ops with these dudes!! It boggles the mind. I appreciate that Ihli addresses this madness in her afterword, and that she made a conscious effort to praise Kari Swenson for her strength and resiliency in the face of unspeakable evil.
Okay, onto the book itself. Ihli takes bits and pieces of the actual kidnapping, but she changes some things around and adds her own spin on the idea of what if the perpetrators weren't caught right away. You'll be horrified at what happens. It's scary to think that there are still some men who consider women to be their actual property. You accidentally spilled his dinner? Best prepare yourself for immediate retribution.
There's some stuff in here that is very hard to read, but I do appreciate that there are no sexually explicit scenes. There is a LOT of violence, fyi. See the first line of my review again. Ihli makes you ask yourself, what would you do if you were put in a similar situation? Would you have the wherewithal to keep looking for opportunities to escape? Or would you accept your fate? Food for thought.
A special bonus, for me, at least, because I love learning new things, is the information on the Olympic biathlon--cross country skiing interspersed with five different shooting targets. It's fascinating stuff!
This comes out in less than three weeks! Check it out! I'm going to go look at Ihli's other books now.
I received a copy from NetGalley and Dynamite Books (thank you!) in exchange for my honest feedback.
September 25, 2024
Can't believe I finished this and didn't dnf it. This was awful, fast paced, but awful.. Thriller? Really? It was like someone set me down and told me their life's story, for the hundredth time. Predictable asf. Nothing surprised me, I kept reading to see if it does, and no.
May 10, 2024
Run, rabbit, run, rabit, run, run, run...
I did not know that this story was "loosely" based off the story of a young woman in Montana in 1984, which made this even more intense and creepy.
4.25⭐'s
This fast-paced and heart-racing thriller had me on the edge of my seat anxious to know what happens next. Definitely has some trigger warnings so make sure you check those out before you go on this wild and crazy ride.
Miley is a Biathlete with dreams to stand on the podium at the Olympics. However, after a tragic accident where she looses her mother and injures her shoulder, Miley has to put her dreams on hold. During the summer, Miley goes to work at Hidden Springs resort in the Frank Church Wilderness, where she continues to train running and swimming daily.
One day Miley goes for her usual run and swim, when two men Fred and Hamish stumble upon her swimming and abduct her. We continue to follow this chilling and suspenseful story in dual Povs:
We follow Miley's story, where we experience all her fear and determination to find a way to escape.
We also follow Brent, who is Miley's Olympic teammate, as we experience his desperation and perseverance to find not only his temmate, but the woman he loves. Both POV's are gripping and action-packed, hold on for this rollercoaster ride.
February 24, 2025
Excellent book. First book I’ve read from this author. Highly recommend!
August 26, 2024
it was fun to finish this book and find out it was based on a true story, but once again a pretty lacklustre read from Noelle. I was hoping for a plot twist or two, but NOTHING! Such a let down.
It was a pretty uncomfortable read, there are some trigger warnings at the start but they weren’t enough, it really was horrible to read such descriptive abuse. The last time I read a Noelle book, I don’t think there was enough descriptive language, this time there was way too much. “The dark, thick, black, long, rough, wet, tall, bending tree” like…. Ok queen. Get on with it.
Short chapters made it easy to read and I sped through it.
Look, it was fine but I’m not recommending it this time around.
It was a pretty uncomfortable read, there are some trigger warnings at the start but they weren’t enough, it really was horrible to read such descriptive abuse. The last time I read a Noelle book, I don’t think there was enough descriptive language, this time there was way too much. “The dark, thick, black, long, rough, wet, tall, bending tree” like…. Ok queen. Get on with it.
Short chapters made it easy to read and I sped through it.
Look, it was fine but I’m not recommending it this time around.
July 30, 2025
Wow - what a powerful, all-consuming read! Have you ever gotten so wrapped up in a character's fate that you forget the world around you? That was my exact experience with this book - I was utterly hooked, rooting desperately for their escape, and hours just slipped away.
Gray After Dark left me absolutely breathless. From the very first chapter, I was pulled into a raw and emotionally charged story of survival, strength, and justice. After getting into what Miley went through, I couldn’t help but give this a full five stars. It was action-packed, the characters were fleshed out and endearing (and some were downright EVIL), and I was on the edge of my seat the entire time I listened/read. Watching her navigate the aftermath of such unimaginable trauma was both heartbreaking and empowering.
And just when I thought it couldn't get more intense, I realized the story was loosely based on a real-life event involving an Olympic biathlete—and my mind was blown. This is one of those thrillers that doesn’t just keep your heart racing, it makes you feel every beat of it.
After reading this, along with Run on Red and also enjoying it, I’m undoubtedly a big fan of Ihli now. This is a talented author that I will definitely be keeping my eye on, and recommend others do so as well!!
Gray After Dark left me absolutely breathless. From the very first chapter, I was pulled into a raw and emotionally charged story of survival, strength, and justice. After getting into what Miley went through, I couldn’t help but give this a full five stars. It was action-packed, the characters were fleshed out and endearing (and some were downright EVIL), and I was on the edge of my seat the entire time I listened/read. Watching her navigate the aftermath of such unimaginable trauma was both heartbreaking and empowering.
And just when I thought it couldn't get more intense, I realized the story was loosely based on a real-life event involving an Olympic biathlete—and my mind was blown. This is one of those thrillers that doesn’t just keep your heart racing, it makes you feel every beat of it.
After reading this, along with Run on Red and also enjoying it, I’m undoubtedly a big fan of Ihli now. This is a talented author that I will definitely be keeping my eye on, and recommend others do so as well!!
August 17, 2025
5 Stars ⭐
"𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒔𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒊𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒔𝒆 𝒘𝒐𝒐𝒅𝒔 𝒘𝒂𝒔 𝒂𝒍𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒅𝒚 𝒊𝒏𝒔𝒊𝒅𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒄𝒂𝒃𝒊𝒏."
𝐁𝐥𝐮𝐫𝐛
Gray After Dark follows Miley, a dedicated biathlete with dreams of Olympic gold. But when a tragic accident shatters her future, she retreats to a remote mountain guest lodge in the Frank Church Wilderness for a summer job. Her quiet escape takes a terrifying turn when she’s abducted during a morning run. Trapped in a desolate, off-grid cabin, Miley must rely on her athletic training, sharp instincts, and unshakable courage to stay alive. Can she outwit her captors and survive the wild before time runs out?
𝐓𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐠𝐞𝐫 𝐖𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬:
Abduction, Violence, Sexual Assault, Emotional and Physical Torture, Animal Abuse
𝐌𝐲 𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬
This was an amazing read! Totally kept me on edge—thrilling and terrifying in the best way. With dual POVs—Miley and Brent—it’s a super fast-paced story that had me hooked from start to finish. I literally didn’t want to sleep because of this book!
Reading what Miley goes through was such a gripping experience. And the fact that this book is based on a true story takes it to a whole other level of awesomeness! It makes the fear, the fight, and every intense moment feel so much heavier and more real.
The events related to Miley’s abduction and survival are very graphic—scary, creepy, and vividly horrific. The author did such a good job with the descriptions. The imagery was so detailed, it was disturbing. It’s terrifying to realize that someone could actually go through something like this in real life.
I absolutely loved Miley’s character—except for the fact that she didn’t take the bear warnings seriously! But aside from that, she was incredibly strong-willed and smart. She knew exactly what she needed to do to survive, and her resilience was just so admirable.
I did get a little frustrated with Brent at times—like, why did you run at that moment?! But I still appreciated his loyalty and effort. And Wes? An absolute sweetheart. Truly one of the most quietly impactful characters in the book.
The ending was solid and, while a bit predictable, it made perfect sense for the story. It was satisfying overall—though I wouldn’t have minded a little more action. That said, I’m happy with what the author delivered.
𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐜𝐥𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 (𝐓𝐋;𝐃𝐑)
Overall, this is a fast-paced psychological survival thriller that keeps you hooked till the end. Told through dual POVs, it dives into extremely graphic and horrifying events—abduction, violence, torture, and the desperate will to survive. The story delivers a satisfying ending to this harrowing race for survival—but be warned: the scenes are vividly disturbing. Proceed with caution.
"𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒔𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒊𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒔𝒆 𝒘𝒐𝒐𝒅𝒔 𝒘𝒂𝒔 𝒂𝒍𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒅𝒚 𝒊𝒏𝒔𝒊𝒅𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒄𝒂𝒃𝒊𝒏."
𝐁𝐥𝐮𝐫𝐛
Gray After Dark follows Miley, a dedicated biathlete with dreams of Olympic gold. But when a tragic accident shatters her future, she retreats to a remote mountain guest lodge in the Frank Church Wilderness for a summer job. Her quiet escape takes a terrifying turn when she’s abducted during a morning run. Trapped in a desolate, off-grid cabin, Miley must rely on her athletic training, sharp instincts, and unshakable courage to stay alive. Can she outwit her captors and survive the wild before time runs out?
𝐓𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐠𝐞𝐫 𝐖𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬:
Abduction, Violence, Sexual Assault, Emotional and Physical Torture, Animal Abuse
𝐌𝐲 𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬
This was an amazing read! Totally kept me on edge—thrilling and terrifying in the best way. With dual POVs—Miley and Brent—it’s a super fast-paced story that had me hooked from start to finish. I literally didn’t want to sleep because of this book!
Reading what Miley goes through was such a gripping experience. And the fact that this book is based on a true story takes it to a whole other level of awesomeness! It makes the fear, the fight, and every intense moment feel so much heavier and more real.
The events related to Miley’s abduction and survival are very graphic—scary, creepy, and vividly horrific. The author did such a good job with the descriptions. The imagery was so detailed, it was disturbing. It’s terrifying to realize that someone could actually go through something like this in real life.
I absolutely loved Miley’s character—except for the fact that she didn’t take the bear warnings seriously! But aside from that, she was incredibly strong-willed and smart. She knew exactly what she needed to do to survive, and her resilience was just so admirable.
I did get a little frustrated with Brent at times—like, why did you run at that moment?! But I still appreciated his loyalty and effort. And Wes? An absolute sweetheart. Truly one of the most quietly impactful characters in the book.
The ending was solid and, while a bit predictable, it made perfect sense for the story. It was satisfying overall—though I wouldn’t have minded a little more action. That said, I’m happy with what the author delivered.
𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐜𝐥𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 (𝐓𝐋;𝐃𝐑)
Overall, this is a fast-paced psychological survival thriller that keeps you hooked till the end. Told through dual POVs, it dives into extremely graphic and horrifying events—abduction, violence, torture, and the desperate will to survive. The story delivers a satisfying ending to this harrowing race for survival—but be warned: the scenes are vividly disturbing. Proceed with caution.
March 23, 2024
Happy Pub Day to Noelle Ihli and Gray After Dark!
Summary:
Miley is an Olympic skier, recovering from an injury, who takes a job at a mountain guest lodge for the summer. While on a run, Miley is abducted and brought to a secluded cabin by her two attackers. Told in alternating POVs of Miley and her best friend Brent, who is searching for her. Gray After Dark is a high stakes and super intense thriller that will have your heart pounding!
Review:
4.5 stars
Gray After Dark is based on a true story with fiction elements and just knowing that made this story even more high stakes for me. I felt so connected to Miley's character and could feel her drive and determination to escape from her captures. There was an element of "kept woman syndrome" that was very well done in this story. This is the second Noelle Ihli book that I have read and she does a fantastic job at creating high pressure and high stakes woods scene that have your heart pounding. I found myself holding my breath and even cried at the end! The way I was rooting for these characters is a testament to how well Noelle wrote them. I highly recommend picking up this book today!
Thank you to NetGalley, Dynamite Books, and Noelle Ihli for this ARC of Gray After Dark in exchange for an honest review!
Summary:
Miley is an Olympic skier, recovering from an injury, who takes a job at a mountain guest lodge for the summer. While on a run, Miley is abducted and brought to a secluded cabin by her two attackers. Told in alternating POVs of Miley and her best friend Brent, who is searching for her. Gray After Dark is a high stakes and super intense thriller that will have your heart pounding!
Review:
4.5 stars
Gray After Dark is based on a true story with fiction elements and just knowing that made this story even more high stakes for me. I felt so connected to Miley's character and could feel her drive and determination to escape from her captures. There was an element of "kept woman syndrome" that was very well done in this story. This is the second Noelle Ihli book that I have read and she does a fantastic job at creating high pressure and high stakes woods scene that have your heart pounding. I found myself holding my breath and even cried at the end! The way I was rooting for these characters is a testament to how well Noelle wrote them. I highly recommend picking up this book today!
Thank you to NetGalley, Dynamite Books, and Noelle Ihli for this ARC of Gray After Dark in exchange for an honest review!
January 9, 2025
Another nail biting, anxiety inducing book from Noelle W. Ihli. The author has a talent of making you feel claustrophobic in the most isolated of wildernesses.
Gray after Dark follows Miley, an Olympic competitor who is taking time away whilst working at a wilderness resort. In her spare time she utilizes the vast span of the woods to do long distance running through the trails, that is until she stumbles upon two degenerate backwoods men who hold her captive and take her back to their cabin.
With the woods spanning over 4000 miles it’s essentially impossible to find her, but her team mate and potential love interest is determined not to give up.
The plot made me so queezy, the thought of how impossible her situation and the danger she was constantly in as she fights for her survival.
This was unputdownable (except for the times I did literally have to put it down for a breather 🤣). I loved the love interest aspect and the fact her life time friend and Olympic partner refused to give up his search.
Fast paced, character driven, addictive, fully recommend! As an added note I was surprised to see that this book was inspired by actual real life events, that just makes it even more disturbing and eye opening.
Thank you to NetGalley, Noelle w. Ihli and dynamite books for an ARC!
Gray after Dark follows Miley, an Olympic competitor who is taking time away whilst working at a wilderness resort. In her spare time she utilizes the vast span of the woods to do long distance running through the trails, that is until she stumbles upon two degenerate backwoods men who hold her captive and take her back to their cabin.
With the woods spanning over 4000 miles it’s essentially impossible to find her, but her team mate and potential love interest is determined not to give up.
The plot made me so queezy, the thought of how impossible her situation and the danger she was constantly in as she fights for her survival.
This was unputdownable (except for the times I did literally have to put it down for a breather 🤣). I loved the love interest aspect and the fact her life time friend and Olympic partner refused to give up his search.
Fast paced, character driven, addictive, fully recommend! As an added note I was surprised to see that this book was inspired by actual real life events, that just makes it even more disturbing and eye opening.
Thank you to NetGalley, Noelle w. Ihli and dynamite books for an ARC!
October 18, 2024
4.5 mind-numbing stars. This book grabbed me from the get go and never let go. First book I’ve read by this author - won’t be my last. An abduction in the mountains by “preppers” - men who live off the land. Sooooo good. The only reason it wasn’t 5 stars is bc I wish the prologue didn’t exist. It gave away too much for me - I k ew certain timelines bc of it.
February 6, 2025
Definitely not a beach read but an extremely powerful thriller. Loosely based on real events it tells the story of an Olympic athlete who is abducted in the wilderness in Idaho. Miley goes to work at a lodge for the summer and one day while out on a run she is kidnapped by two men who want to turn her into one of their brides. What she goes through was horrible but I was extremely amazed at her strength and intelligence. At the end of the story I found out that this was based on someone who went through something very similar and it just blew me away. A dark thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat.
January 21, 2025
4.5★
Oh my goodness this book was so good. A brutal, intense, page-turner and on the edge of your seat, oh and did I mention I was also holding my breath towards the end? If you enjoy reading thrillers then this book is a must-read for you. I honestly didn’t know much about this book going into it and the first fifty to seventy pages are a bit slow, but after that oh boy did the pacing and intensity pick up. I can’t wait to read more books by this author. Highly recommended.
Oh my goodness this book was so good. A brutal, intense, page-turner and on the edge of your seat, oh and did I mention I was also holding my breath towards the end? If you enjoy reading thrillers then this book is a must-read for you. I honestly didn’t know much about this book going into it and the first fifty to seventy pages are a bit slow, but after that oh boy did the pacing and intensity pick up. I can’t wait to read more books by this author. Highly recommended.
February 21, 2025
I devoured this book—it was so fast-paced it felt like the words were flying off the page! I seriously couldn’t put it down. The story was intense, with real heroes, terrifying villains, and a gorgeous wilderness setting that somehow made everything even creepier.
And then I found out it was loosely based on a real Olympic athlete’s kidnapping and assault… what?! That made it even more chilling.
Noelle Ihli has me hooked! This is the second book of hers I’ve read, and now I just want more.
And then I found out it was loosely based on a real Olympic athlete’s kidnapping and assault… what?! That made it even more chilling.
Noelle Ihli has me hooked! This is the second book of hers I’ve read, and now I just want more.
July 18, 2025
My goodness, this was brutal!
Held hostage by nut jobs and forced to live in their reality!
Good story but a little out there.
Solid 3 stars!!!
Held hostage by nut jobs and forced to live in their reality!
Good story but a little out there.
Solid 3 stars!!!
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