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Running From Dust
Jude Craig is a level-headed teacher in a Yorkshire secondary school. Within a matter of days her professional and personal life is shattered by a series of strange events in her house. What starts with the sound of papers fluttering to the floor quickly escalates to her discovering that someone has been in the house whilst she is sleeping. When Jude is driven out of her job and home she is forced to discover whether she is being haunted, stalked by a pupil, or the terrifying possibility that she is losing her mind.
340 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 8, 2019
16 people are currently reading
77 people want to read
About the author
Jess Whitby
3 books91 followersI am born and bred in Yorkshire in the UK. I've worked for most of my life as a youth worker in various settings - including in schools.
About ten years ago, I re-trained as a counsellor but from a very young age there was something that I always wanted to do - be an author.
As a child, I wrote stories constantly. I won countless story-writing competitions and was encouraged by my teachers to pursue my dream. But then, as many people do, I was told by the Careers Department at my school to "Get real" - everyone wants to be an author after all. It wasn't an overnight thing but slowly and sadly, my writing became less and less.
Then, last year, something inside me re-kindled. The desire to write never went but I moved from wanting to write to actually writing. Once I started, it was impossible to stop. Now I find myself self-publishing my first novel, Running From Dust. Getting to this point has been a journey in itself. I have no idea what the next bit of life holds!
About ten years ago, I re-trained as a counsellor but from a very young age there was something that I always wanted to do - be an author.
As a child, I wrote stories constantly. I won countless story-writing competitions and was encouraged by my teachers to pursue my dream. But then, as many people do, I was told by the Careers Department at my school to "Get real" - everyone wants to be an author after all. It wasn't an overnight thing but slowly and sadly, my writing became less and less.
Then, last year, something inside me re-kindled. The desire to write never went but I moved from wanting to write to actually writing. Once I started, it was impossible to stop. Now I find myself self-publishing my first novel, Running From Dust. Getting to this point has been a journey in itself. I have no idea what the next bit of life holds!
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
July 13, 2019
Was Jude's house haunted?
or... was Jude being stalked?
or... was Jude losing her mind???
Jude, a teacher, lives alone with her dog, Oscar. Steve and Lisa are Jude's best friends.
It started with the sound of paper falling. Or did it start with a call from Laura Wilson, parent of Josh, a temperamental student at Jude's school? Or was it something even darker?
An exciting book by Jess Whitby! I really enjoyed the consistent manner of writing and build up to the end!
It is one of those books where the reader continues to change their mind as to who (if anyone) is messing with Jude's mind.
Recommend.
Thanks to Jess Whitby & NetGalley for a good, fast, read!
or... was Jude being stalked?
or... was Jude losing her mind???
Jude, a teacher, lives alone with her dog, Oscar. Steve and Lisa are Jude's best friends.
It started with the sound of paper falling. Or did it start with a call from Laura Wilson, parent of Josh, a temperamental student at Jude's school? Or was it something even darker?
An exciting book by Jess Whitby! I really enjoyed the consistent manner of writing and build up to the end!
It is one of those books where the reader continues to change their mind as to who (if anyone) is messing with Jude's mind.
Recommend.
Thanks to Jess Whitby & NetGalley for a good, fast, read!
August 25, 2019
First and foremost I have to state this book contains triggers! A fact I feel the author should have stated in the blurb. This is something that is far too often overlooked, the issues aren't overly stated and remain hidden for most of the story but they are there and the reader needs to be prepared.
That being said, I did really enjoy the story. Jude is a lovable teacher who only wants the best for her students, wanting to be able to reach the one student nobody else could. Little did she realize she may just do that and not how she was expecting to either.
When the parent of a troubled teen reaches out to Jude for assistance she wants nothing more than to be able to help, but with everything that is going on at home she may not be able to. We all have heard a strange noise that has awaken us from a nights slumber. When those noises continue and other strange things begin to occur, Jude has to figure out whether it's actually happening or if it's all in her mind. Thankfully, Jude has great friends that are there to help her work through things. But do they really believe her or will she have to seek assistance from an unlikely source?
That being said, I did really enjoy the story. Jude is a lovable teacher who only wants the best for her students, wanting to be able to reach the one student nobody else could. Little did she realize she may just do that and not how she was expecting to either.
When the parent of a troubled teen reaches out to Jude for assistance she wants nothing more than to be able to help, but with everything that is going on at home she may not be able to. We all have heard a strange noise that has awaken us from a nights slumber. When those noises continue and other strange things begin to occur, Jude has to figure out whether it's actually happening or if it's all in her mind. Thankfully, Jude has great friends that are there to help her work through things. But do they really believe her or will she have to seek assistance from an unlikely source?
October 19, 2019
When Jude begins waking up to strange noises in her home her grip on reality starts to become questioned. Is she being stalked, haunted or simply going mad?
Running From Dust was a mixed bag for me – on the one hand it was very readable, I finished it all in one sitting (although admittedly I was on a 6 hour train journey and didn’t have much choice!). On the other hand, I can perhaps see why this book is self-published and hasn’t been picked up by one of the publishing houses. I felt like I’ve read the book, or something very similar before and although it’s a solid story there’s nothing new here. The first half felt very predictable and I quickly guessed what was going on. The characters all felt a bit two dimensional and non-realistic, particularly the Pastoral Care Officer of the school who had an odd backstory I didn’t really understand. The hints and clues throughout were spelled out a bit too obviously in a way that made it easy to guess and this was jarring in places (for example: the character of Vicky and her insistence that the main character goes on a certain website). The decisions the main character was making all seemed like really bad ideas and it was frustrating watching someone slide into mental illness and an alcohol problem and receiving no real help from her friends and colleagues. In the last 10% the book then massively changed genre and I felt this decision cheapened the thriller element that had gone before it. This is slightly redeemed by the final chapter but not really enough for this reader I’m afraid.
The whole book also felt really dragged out and a little repetitive in places – the whole story could do with a ruthless edit and end up 100 pages shorter without any detriment to the story. I started to get a bit bored of Jude freaking out and drinking by the end and wanted a resolution to happen. I know that a lot of successful thrillers change character perspectives for various chapters but I don’t really think the technique worked very well here. There were also a couple of incorrect things in the book – for example, a private Facebook message gets hacked and the character is worried they might have set their privacy settings to public. You can’t change privacy settings on a Facebook message! I also found the idea that the person that had hacked her account had used ‘the dark web’ to do it as a bit laughable – I’m not really sure the author understands what the dark web is!
Overall Running From Dust is solid and readable but with a lot of flaws – it’s too drawn out with two dimensional characters and some unrealistic elements thrown in. Thank you to NetGalley & Jess Whitby for allowing me to read the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Running From Dust was a mixed bag for me – on the one hand it was very readable, I finished it all in one sitting (although admittedly I was on a 6 hour train journey and didn’t have much choice!). On the other hand, I can perhaps see why this book is self-published and hasn’t been picked up by one of the publishing houses. I felt like I’ve read the book, or something very similar before and although it’s a solid story there’s nothing new here. The first half felt very predictable and I quickly guessed what was going on. The characters all felt a bit two dimensional and non-realistic, particularly the Pastoral Care Officer of the school who had an odd backstory I didn’t really understand. The hints and clues throughout were spelled out a bit too obviously in a way that made it easy to guess and this was jarring in places (for example: the character of Vicky and her insistence that the main character goes on a certain website). The decisions the main character was making all seemed like really bad ideas and it was frustrating watching someone slide into mental illness and an alcohol problem and receiving no real help from her friends and colleagues. In the last 10% the book then massively changed genre and I felt this decision cheapened the thriller element that had gone before it. This is slightly redeemed by the final chapter but not really enough for this reader I’m afraid.
The whole book also felt really dragged out and a little repetitive in places – the whole story could do with a ruthless edit and end up 100 pages shorter without any detriment to the story. I started to get a bit bored of Jude freaking out and drinking by the end and wanted a resolution to happen. I know that a lot of successful thrillers change character perspectives for various chapters but I don’t really think the technique worked very well here. There were also a couple of incorrect things in the book – for example, a private Facebook message gets hacked and the character is worried they might have set their privacy settings to public. You can’t change privacy settings on a Facebook message! I also found the idea that the person that had hacked her account had used ‘the dark web’ to do it as a bit laughable – I’m not really sure the author understands what the dark web is!
Overall Running From Dust is solid and readable but with a lot of flaws – it’s too drawn out with two dimensional characters and some unrealistic elements thrown in. Thank you to NetGalley & Jess Whitby for allowing me to read the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
July 29, 2019
Audiobook -
From the outset I was hooked and listened over 2 days.
I really related to Jude - she’s a hardworking, fiercely independent woman who starts experiencing strange things in the night. They feel very real to her but with no proof will anyone believe her?
Cleverly written to keep you guessing - is Jude being stalked? Has someone been in her house? Is she is drinking too much? Or is she having a mental breakdown?
I loved how prominently her dog Oscar featured through out - her true love and her rock.
Well done Jess! - a very strong first book and I look forward to reading your next.
From the outset I was hooked and listened over 2 days.
I really related to Jude - she’s a hardworking, fiercely independent woman who starts experiencing strange things in the night. They feel very real to her but with no proof will anyone believe her?
Cleverly written to keep you guessing - is Jude being stalked? Has someone been in her house? Is she is drinking too much? Or is she having a mental breakdown?
I loved how prominently her dog Oscar featured through out - her true love and her rock.
Well done Jess! - a very strong first book and I look forward to reading your next.
September 3, 2019
What you are essentially looking for in such a chilling tale is that the narrative is so compelling and compulsive that you literally have difficulty in putting the book or Kindle down. For myself this was certainly the case here as almost from the start I was engrossed in finding out what was behind all the strange and creepy events.
I have recently read three other supernatural/psychological tales located in Yorkshire but whereas they were set in isolated farmhouses in the wilderness of the moors this one was situated in a new build house on a residential estate which gives it an extra resonance to most readers. Around the third person narrative there are also first person accounts from various of the characters which is quite cleaver as it adds to the plot and to the different perspectives available. At the core of the story is the old question found in many a thriller of this type which asks the question as to whether the occurrences are caused by a supernatural, criminal or a disturbed mind source or perhaps elements of all three.
The main character is Jude Craig who teaches at a secondary school and starts experiencing strange events in her house. I wont give more of the plot away just to say that there is a terrific twist at the end and the reader will veer from one explanation to another as the story unfolds. Perfect for a wet and windy autumnal night I would certainly recommend this for lovers like myself of this genre.
I have recently read three other supernatural/psychological tales located in Yorkshire but whereas they were set in isolated farmhouses in the wilderness of the moors this one was situated in a new build house on a residential estate which gives it an extra resonance to most readers. Around the third person narrative there are also first person accounts from various of the characters which is quite cleaver as it adds to the plot and to the different perspectives available. At the core of the story is the old question found in many a thriller of this type which asks the question as to whether the occurrences are caused by a supernatural, criminal or a disturbed mind source or perhaps elements of all three.
The main character is Jude Craig who teaches at a secondary school and starts experiencing strange events in her house. I wont give more of the plot away just to say that there is a terrific twist at the end and the reader will veer from one explanation to another as the story unfolds. Perfect for a wet and windy autumnal night I would certainly recommend this for lovers like myself of this genre.
September 23, 2019
4 Cranky Stars
I really enjoyed this story. It’s a new take on the paranormal. I rarely read books with no sort of love story or love interest, but the lack of that in this book didn’t put me off in the slightest.
The reveal of who the big bad really was doesn’t come until well into the book. I liked that a lot because if that happens too early, then the suspense wears off and the book becomes boring. This book had great pacing.
I also really like Jude Craig as a character. She's real. In her mid thirties, smart but damaged. Not sexualized or dumbed down in any way. She was so normal that it was refreshing and relatable.
I really enjoyed this story. It’s a new take on the paranormal. I rarely read books with no sort of love story or love interest, but the lack of that in this book didn’t put me off in the slightest.
The reveal of who the big bad really was doesn’t come until well into the book. I liked that a lot because if that happens too early, then the suspense wears off and the book becomes boring. This book had great pacing.
I also really like Jude Craig as a character. She's real. In her mid thirties, smart but damaged. Not sexualized or dumbed down in any way. She was so normal that it was refreshing and relatable.
May 30, 2019
I will try to write this in a way that doesn’t give any spoilers but still do it justice.
Jude’s character arc is done so well that I felt concerned for her and was practically biting my nails hoping that she wasn’t going crazy.
The accompanying characters play their roles perfectly where you can see their side of view, apart from one very evil woman but I won’t tell you who that is, trust me you’ll know. But you also feel angry with them that they don’t always believe in what Jude says. But even when their faith in her waivers, they are still there and you can feel how much they care about their friend.
As a psychological book goes, this is definitely in my read again pile. I could not put this book down and can’t wait to see what the author does next.
Jude’s character arc is done so well that I felt concerned for her and was practically biting my nails hoping that she wasn’t going crazy.
The accompanying characters play their roles perfectly where you can see their side of view, apart from one very evil woman but I won’t tell you who that is, trust me you’ll know. But you also feel angry with them that they don’t always believe in what Jude says. But even when their faith in her waivers, they are still there and you can feel how much they care about their friend.
As a psychological book goes, this is definitely in my read again pile. I could not put this book down and can’t wait to see what the author does next.
June 29, 2019
Believable characters and a story line that I had to read til the end of the book for. Love the way the story unfolds from each characters perspective - looking forward to the next book by Jess Whitby :-)
September 1, 2019
A fast paced, well-written story where the reader has no real idea of what is actually happening which made it an intriguing read. Is she the well respected local teacher or is the neighborhood ‘crazy lady’. Or both?
November 7, 2019
Jude's story starts like a normal, mundane teacher would have but soon little things start to happen and eventually the tension and horror for one person is hitting you right in the face. If you like to be kept on the edge of your seat this is the book for you.
August 28, 2022
I was leery about an author narrating her own book.This was a nice surprise! Once you turn the spee up a bit,it flows nicely and is actually quite good!The storyline is amazing,and believable.I loved it! I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
March 27, 2021
Good read.
Very enjoyable book, not too long or too short. Cliffhanger for the next book in epilogue is a savvy touch.
Very enjoyable book, not too long or too short. Cliffhanger for the next book in epilogue is a savvy touch.
May 10, 2021
Excellent, a must read
August 17, 2019
This is not my preferred genre, in fact it’s a genre I avoid because I generally find it corny.
Whitby is an excellent author and I was hooked right from the start. Nonetheless when I figured out what was going on I lost interest and more or less scanned the remainder to get a gist of the overall ending.
As a fan of psychological suspense thrillers I can say Whitby has a true talent for keeping you on the edge of your seat. I read the entire book in one day. If Whitby branches out from the paranormal I’d be happy to read it.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for allowing me the pleasure of reading this prerelease.
Whitby is an excellent author and I was hooked right from the start. Nonetheless when I figured out what was going on I lost interest and more or less scanned the remainder to get a gist of the overall ending.
As a fan of psychological suspense thrillers I can say Whitby has a true talent for keeping you on the edge of your seat. I read the entire book in one day. If Whitby branches out from the paranormal I’d be happy to read it.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for allowing me the pleasure of reading this prerelease.
June 12, 2019
Jude can’t sleep. Every night, she’s been waking up in a fright from the sounds she hears in the other room—the sound of paper rustling. Was it an intruder? But there was no one there. Perhaps it was her imagination. At first, she ignored it, but then the sounds continued.
Stalker, haunting…or insanity?
A speculative quandary with many possibilities.
The writing was simple, and Jude’s mystery was alluring. I mean, it could’ve been anything. The plot listed so many different variables that could’ve led anywhere. Was a student crushing on her? Was he watching her at night? Or was she just imagining all of this?
The whole point of this story revolves in trying to conclude whether this was a stalker, a haunting, or insanity. This was a nice, little mystery, provoking the reader to seek the answer to the story’s question; however, it didn’t really quite rise to the occasion. I thought it could’ve been more exciting, but instead it lagged in some areas with lengthy prose and far more details than was necessary. I also questioned whether the other characters’ POV contributed to the story, because, to me, it seemed irrelevant. Yes, they might’ve lent a small piece to the mystery as a whole, but perhaps they didn’t need to be too in-depth. Also, the simple cover doesn’t engage the intended audience as well as it should.
The author has a nice build-up toward the end as readers learn more of the nitty-gritty of this complex puzzle. Overall, story was pretty good, but I think it could’ve been better.
Stalker, haunting…or insanity?
A speculative quandary with many possibilities.
The writing was simple, and Jude’s mystery was alluring. I mean, it could’ve been anything. The plot listed so many different variables that could’ve led anywhere. Was a student crushing on her? Was he watching her at night? Or was she just imagining all of this?
The whole point of this story revolves in trying to conclude whether this was a stalker, a haunting, or insanity. This was a nice, little mystery, provoking the reader to seek the answer to the story’s question; however, it didn’t really quite rise to the occasion. I thought it could’ve been more exciting, but instead it lagged in some areas with lengthy prose and far more details than was necessary. I also questioned whether the other characters’ POV contributed to the story, because, to me, it seemed irrelevant. Yes, they might’ve lent a small piece to the mystery as a whole, but perhaps they didn’t need to be too in-depth. Also, the simple cover doesn’t engage the intended audience as well as it should.
The author has a nice build-up toward the end as readers learn more of the nitty-gritty of this complex puzzle. Overall, story was pretty good, but I think it could’ve been better.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews