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Peter Ash #7
The Runaway
When Peter Ash rescues a stranded woman, he finds she's in far deeper trouble than he bargained for.
Peter Ash is driving through northern Nebraska when he meets a young pregnant woman alone on a gravel road, her car out of gas. Peter offers her a lift, but quickly finds her angry ex-cop ex-husband hot on their trail. It seems Helene has seen something she was never meant to see.... and that protecting her will put both their lives on the line.
Peter Ash is driving through northern Nebraska when he meets a young pregnant woman alone on a gravel road, her car out of gas. Peter offers her a lift, but quickly finds her angry ex-cop ex-husband hot on their trail. It seems Helene has seen something she was never meant to see.... and that protecting her will put both their lives on the line.
390 pages, Paperback
First published January 18, 2022
497 people are currently reading
2443 people want to read
About the author
Nick Petrie
24 books1,198 followersNick Petrie received his MFA in fiction from the University of Washington, won a Hopwood Award for short fiction while an undergraduate at the University of Michigan, and his story “At the Laundromat” won the 2006 Short Story Contest in The Seattle Review, a national literary journal. A husband and father, he has worked as a carpenter, remodeling contractor, and building inspector. He lives in Milwaukee.
For more on Nick Petrie, see his website NickPetrie.com, or find him on Facebook or Twitter.
For more on Nick Petrie, see his website NickPetrie.com, or find him on Facebook or Twitter.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 485 reviews
March 2, 2022
Apparently sociopaths can be very charming.
4.5⭐
Ooh Nick Petrie's novel with two PoVs, a bit then - now, I totally enjoyed this one! The Runaway is a crime, action, thriller with a former Marine lead- Peter Ash. It can be read as a standalone thriller.
Peter is on his way back to Milwaukee after picking up his '68 Chevy truck from Portland. While driving through Nebraska, he stopped to help a young pregnant Helene whose little car seems to be broken down. Peter has a tendency to help those in need. Being the trouble magnet that he is, not only did Helene need a ride, but she's also trying to escape her dangerous and depraved husband, an ex-cop no less.
The Runaway is gripping, fast-paced and action packed. I enjoyed the chase across multiple states that had me on the edge of my seat. There wasn't a single moment when I felt bored. I enjoyed the characters like Helene and even the villains were well written. His buddy Lewis and girlfriend June have a small role in this one. I actually thought Petrie couldn't write female characters, but he proved me wrong. Helene is likable, I guess June is June.
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4.5⭐
Ooh Nick Petrie's novel with two PoVs, a bit then - now, I totally enjoyed this one! The Runaway is a crime, action, thriller with a former Marine lead- Peter Ash. It can be read as a standalone thriller.
Peter is on his way back to Milwaukee after picking up his '68 Chevy truck from Portland. While driving through Nebraska, he stopped to help a young pregnant Helene whose little car seems to be broken down. Peter has a tendency to help those in need. Being the trouble magnet that he is, not only did Helene need a ride, but she's also trying to escape her dangerous and depraved husband, an ex-cop no less.
The Runaway is gripping, fast-paced and action packed. I enjoyed the chase across multiple states that had me on the edge of my seat. There wasn't a single moment when I felt bored. I enjoyed the characters like Helene and even the villains were well written. His buddy Lewis and girlfriend June have a small role in this one. I actually thought Petrie couldn't write female characters, but he proved me wrong. Helene is likable, I guess June is June.
Read for Book Across America BINGO - Snag A Read For Free Group
November 21, 2021
The Runaway
by Nick Petrie is an action crime thriller that has suspense, intrigue, and many pulse-pounding moments. It is the seventh book in the Peter Ash series and is set in multiple states, but mainly Montana, Nebraska, South Dakota, and Minnesota. Peter is headed east to join the family construction business and stops to help a woman whose car has broken down, but encounters more trouble for himself and for her than one would expect.
He is ex-military and still suffers from PTSD and also has a strong need to help others. But he also gets a thrill out of exciting (to him), but dangerous situations that most people would avoid. He has grit, energy and an inner strength. But will he survive the woman’s vicious husband and his friends or has he finally met his match? Helene is young, married only a few months, insecure, and immature. Will she find growth and depth as the story progresses? Both Peter and Helene are complex characters that are well-drawn. The point of view mainly switches between them with a few cameos from others. Several secondary characters play prominent roles and are well-developed. Who are the prey and who is the predator?
The plot is clever and tight which leads readers on an edge-of-your-seat adventure. Evolving plot facts are sometimes unexpected twists and turns that keep both Peter and readers on their toes. Tension, danger, and excitement was sustained throughout the book. With vivid world building that felt believable, this novel had a strong sense of place. Two time lines a few months apart are handled proficiently by the author. A smooth flowing narrative with perfect pacing keeps readers hanging on for dear life.
There is some discussion of weapons and gear, but not as much as most books in this genre. Themes include family, friendship, anger, jealousy, charisma, desire, greed, domestic abuse, courage, resilience, and murder.
Overall, this book was a well-crafted, swiftly paced, and gripping page-turner with fascinating characters. If you enjoy heart-pounding action crime thrillers with a strong lead character intent on helping those in trouble, then this may be the series for you. This was the first novel that I have read by this author, but it won’t be my last. It worked well as a standalone novel, but I want to read the earlier books. Additionally, I can’t wait to see what the author has in store for Peter in the next one.
The publisher, PENGUIN GROUP Putnam - G.P. Putnam's Sons, provided a complimentary ARC of the book. This is my honest review. Opinions are mine alone and are not biased in any way. Publication date is scheduled for January 18, 2022. This review was originally posted at Mystery and Suspense Magazine.
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My 4 star review will be posted 3-4 days after it is published in Mystery and Suspense Magazine.
He is ex-military and still suffers from PTSD and also has a strong need to help others. But he also gets a thrill out of exciting (to him), but dangerous situations that most people would avoid. He has grit, energy and an inner strength. But will he survive the woman’s vicious husband and his friends or has he finally met his match? Helene is young, married only a few months, insecure, and immature. Will she find growth and depth as the story progresses? Both Peter and Helene are complex characters that are well-drawn. The point of view mainly switches between them with a few cameos from others. Several secondary characters play prominent roles and are well-developed. Who are the prey and who is the predator?
The plot is clever and tight which leads readers on an edge-of-your-seat adventure. Evolving plot facts are sometimes unexpected twists and turns that keep both Peter and readers on their toes. Tension, danger, and excitement was sustained throughout the book. With vivid world building that felt believable, this novel had a strong sense of place. Two time lines a few months apart are handled proficiently by the author. A smooth flowing narrative with perfect pacing keeps readers hanging on for dear life.
There is some discussion of weapons and gear, but not as much as most books in this genre. Themes include family, friendship, anger, jealousy, charisma, desire, greed, domestic abuse, courage, resilience, and murder.
Overall, this book was a well-crafted, swiftly paced, and gripping page-turner with fascinating characters. If you enjoy heart-pounding action crime thrillers with a strong lead character intent on helping those in trouble, then this may be the series for you. This was the first novel that I have read by this author, but it won’t be my last. It worked well as a standalone novel, but I want to read the earlier books. Additionally, I can’t wait to see what the author has in store for Peter in the next one.
The publisher, PENGUIN GROUP Putnam - G.P. Putnam's Sons, provided a complimentary ARC of the book. This is my honest review. Opinions are mine alone and are not biased in any way. Publication date is scheduled for January 18, 2022. This review was originally posted at Mystery and Suspense Magazine.
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My 4 star review will be posted 3-4 days after it is published in Mystery and Suspense Magazine.
October 12, 2022
I'm not the audience for this book. You like this author? Awesome. Move along. Nothing to see here.
Here's the deal: there's this person I'm dating and this is the second book they gave me to try. The author is from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, so there's a semi-local connection for us, and we both rather like mysteries.
This is 100% not a mystery.
This is a thriller, decently told, but full of triggers. I get what the author is doing here, so like, whatever makes him happy to write, but it's totally not my jam. I should have stopped while I was ahead, but dammit! My dating friend has passed so many books on to me and I have had such little time to read lately that I was getting a guilt complex that they were being generous and I had so little time for their little thoughtfulnesses. So I wanted to give a couple the good ol' college try and not be a opinionated, self-limiting person like I normally am who says, 'no thank you, I know what I like, and almost always it's quirky sci-fi mysteries with antisocial heroes, except when they are quirky fantasies with antisocial heroes.'
It begins in the past with Helene, working at a rural gas station and reflecting anxiously on the direction her life is headed. I almost quit after chapter two. I was pretty sure the potential threat was going to end in an actual rape, but partner wanted me to hang out long enough to meet Peter Ash, series hero. His perspective is in the current time period, so it means it takes a few minutes to figure out the situation, and much longer to figure out which bad man is the current bad man, if you know what I mean. So I admit to Petrie getting a little natural curiosity going as to that, but quite honestly, not enough that I would have kept going without my friend's encouragement.
The female character is actually kind of interesting, in a naive but scrappy kind of way. Peter Ash, on the other hand, is pretty stereotypical, PTSD post-war amazing survival/combat skills main man (strangely, have not run into one of those as a woman yet). Think Joe Pike, for instance. Or Jack Reacher. Or even Harry Bosch. So, not as interesting, honestly. I'm told he suffered from serious claustrophobia earlier in the series.
I will say there are a couple of interesting twists, one in how the thriller plays out and a much more interesting one in a particular character. The villian ends up being completely uninteresting once it is clear he is completely * and not in a good way. I really started to dislike it during the last quarter when it went off the rails.
Oh, and there is literally a * Yikes.
Guess what?
No thank you; I know what I like.
*mild subject spoilers
Here's the deal: there's this person I'm dating and this is the second book they gave me to try. The author is from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, so there's a semi-local connection for us, and we both rather like mysteries.
This is 100% not a mystery.
This is a thriller, decently told, but full of triggers. I get what the author is doing here, so like, whatever makes him happy to write, but it's totally not my jam. I should have stopped while I was ahead, but dammit! My dating friend has passed so many books on to me and I have had such little time to read lately that I was getting a guilt complex that they were being generous and I had so little time for their little thoughtfulnesses. So I wanted to give a couple the good ol' college try and not be a opinionated, self-limiting person like I normally am who says, 'no thank you, I know what I like, and almost always it's quirky sci-fi mysteries with antisocial heroes, except when they are quirky fantasies with antisocial heroes.'
It begins in the past with Helene, working at a rural gas station and reflecting anxiously on the direction her life is headed. I almost quit after chapter two. I was pretty sure the potential threat was going to end in an actual rape, but partner wanted me to hang out long enough to meet Peter Ash, series hero. His perspective is in the current time period, so it means it takes a few minutes to figure out the situation, and much longer to figure out which bad man is the current bad man, if you know what I mean. So I admit to Petrie getting a little natural curiosity going as to that, but quite honestly, not enough that I would have kept going without my friend's encouragement.
The female character is actually kind of interesting, in a naive but scrappy kind of way. Peter Ash, on the other hand, is pretty stereotypical, PTSD post-war amazing survival/combat skills main man (strangely, have not run into one of those as a woman yet). Think Joe Pike, for instance. Or Jack Reacher. Or even Harry Bosch. So, not as interesting, honestly. I'm told he suffered from serious claustrophobia earlier in the series.
I will say there are a couple of interesting twists, one in how the thriller plays out and a much more interesting one in a particular character. The villian ends up being completely uninteresting once it is clear he is completely * and not in a good way. I really started to dislike it during the last quarter when it went off the rails.
Oh, and there is literally a * Yikes.
Guess what?
No thank you; I know what I like.
*mild subject spoilers
September 22, 2021
Had the privilege of reading this book early. Love the Peter Ash series! And the Runaway in question in this novel…. Look out. Exactly my kind of heroine! Much murder and mayhem ensue.
July 7, 2022
Peter Ash is a magnet for trouble but he usually for a good reason. A good samarian. This time, he stops to check on a pregnant young lady and almost immediately he's being chased and shot at. Helping the lady puts him in the sights of a true psychopath. And I mean PYSCHO. Petrie has created a truly awful, repulsive villain.
I can't recommend Petrie's Peter Ash series enough. They all have action galore, characters with heart, and some very unique plots.
I can't recommend Petrie's Peter Ash series enough. They all have action galore, characters with heart, and some very unique plots.
January 9, 2022
Thank you NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam for this arc.
Reading this will get your heart rate up and pulse pounding.
Peter Ash, a war vet / former Marine with PTSD went for a drive to clear his head and relax one day.... Along the way, he comes across a young and very pregnant Helene who was trying to run away from her husband. Chaos ensues.
The story bobbles about between Helene's past (how her relationship with Roy developed) and the present -- meet up with Peter. There was a lot of blood, a whole lot of guts and gore, countless car wrecks and at least 2 jumps escaping into or out of a river. "Action/Thriller" is a pretty weak description of this book.
Lewis and June were back in this book, but more like cameo appearances. Overall, the characters were probably the weakest part of the book, but they were fleshed out well enough not to feel like mere plot contrivances.
A great read for a sluggish grey Saturday afternoon.
Reading this will get your heart rate up and pulse pounding.
Peter Ash, a war vet / former Marine with PTSD went for a drive to clear his head and relax one day.... Along the way, he comes across a young and very pregnant Helene who was trying to run away from her husband. Chaos ensues.
The story bobbles about between Helene's past (how her relationship with Roy developed) and the present -- meet up with Peter. There was a lot of blood, a whole lot of guts and gore, countless car wrecks and at least 2 jumps escaping into or out of a river. "Action/Thriller" is a pretty weak description of this book.
Lewis and June were back in this book, but more like cameo appearances. Overall, the characters were probably the weakest part of the book, but they were fleshed out well enough not to feel like mere plot contrivances.
A great read for a sluggish grey Saturday afternoon.
January 20, 2022
Talk about a page turner, Nick Petrie, knows how to tell one hell of a story.
The Runaway, is book 7 in the Peter Ash series. Yes, this book is part of a series BUT can be read as a standalone and I honestly believe this is the best in the series, yet.
Peter Ash, is an ex-Marine. As established in prior books, he suffers from PTSD but has learned how to control it.. In true Peter Ash, fashion, he can not help himself or the need he has to help others. When Peter stumbles upon a stranded motorist, he is quick to lend a hand. Not only is this poor woman stranded but she is also pregnant and someone wants her dead.
Without giving anything away, I can tell you this, you will fall in love with Peter Ash, and root for him throughout this entire series. Now, I said that this is part of a series and can be read as a standalone BUT when the series is this good, why would you not want to? I am a super fan of Nick Petrie, and can not wait to see what he publishes next.
You will not regret picking this book up. Five Stars.
The Runaway, is book 7 in the Peter Ash series. Yes, this book is part of a series BUT can be read as a standalone and I honestly believe this is the best in the series, yet.
Peter Ash, is an ex-Marine. As established in prior books, he suffers from PTSD but has learned how to control it.. In true Peter Ash, fashion, he can not help himself or the need he has to help others. When Peter stumbles upon a stranded motorist, he is quick to lend a hand. Not only is this poor woman stranded but she is also pregnant and someone wants her dead.
Without giving anything away, I can tell you this, you will fall in love with Peter Ash, and root for him throughout this entire series. Now, I said that this is part of a series and can be read as a standalone BUT when the series is this good, why would you not want to? I am a super fan of Nick Petrie, and can not wait to see what he publishes next.
You will not regret picking this book up. Five Stars.
July 19, 2022
What a disappointment! I have read all the books in this series and generally enjoyed them. But this is not a book about Peter Ash, the ex-Marine with a pure heart and debilitating PTSD. It is primarily about Helene Johannson, a 18 year old girl who leaves a desperate situation in a small Midwest town with a handsome stranger who turns out to be a big-time home robber and a serial killer. Kept a prisoner, she is forced to make a number of difficult choices to stay alive. Her story and that of her keeper did not interest me at all. Peter gets involved and risks his life multiple times to rescue Helene. The story has little tension to it, with only the most superficial of character development, and some ridiculous choices by the characters. Despite being a suspect in eight or more murders, including four policemen and policewomen, the bad guy draws very little attention from the authorities - that's ridiculous. I hope the next book is better.
June 24, 2022
There are uncountable numbers of books about those who have served in the military, experienced unthinkable trauma, and returned to their home country (usually the US or UK- although the United part of either seems to be debatable these days). These war-scarred people usually seem to have incredible close-combat skills, including hand-to-hand fighting, are great with all types of handheld weaponry, and a mind for both tactical and strategic planning. Peter Ash, the central character in The Runaway is such a person. I find most books of this genre to be awful but, in my not too humble opinion, the Peter Ash series is a notable exception as is the Sydney Rose Parnell series FYI.
Ash, who was a Recon Marine (the toughest kind), has severe claustrophobia and cannot comfortably exist in any enclosed space, no matter how large it is, so he spends his life sleeping under the stars. On his way from the NW US to his home in the Midwest, he happens upon a car, apparently broken down on a lonely stretch of highway in Nebraska (Are there any other kinds in Nebraska?). Being a good guy, he stops to see if he can help and encounters a pregnant woman who is trying to get away from an abusive husband. There is also a significant backstory about the woman but I try to keep my reviews briefer than the book itself. Suffice it to say that she has had a very difficult life.
Ash, of course, takes her with him but, they have to go West, rather than East, as he was previously heading to escape hubby. The husband, after a chase and some elusive driving, eventually has them trapped. The woman begs him to leave because she is sure that her husband will kill him. She was aware of two other people that he had killed, so Peter, promising to come back for her barely escapes by diving over some rock formations into the Missouri River. Chaos ensues.
It turns out that the woman´s husband is a REALLY bad guy and it takes Peter some time to catch up with him and his gang (yes, he has a small gang).
Petrie keeps a pretty unique plot moving right along and there is a great deal of action as well as planning so all but the most extreme action junky will be quite happy. The book is well written, has a couple of twists, and has some very interesting, well-developed characters. About the only complaint that I have is that the primary antagonist (aka the husband) does something very much out of character toward the end. As is the case for most books of this genre, the reader has to be willing to suspend reality from time to time, but not enough to negate a four-star rating.
Fini
Ash, who was a Recon Marine (the toughest kind), has severe claustrophobia and cannot comfortably exist in any enclosed space, no matter how large it is, so he spends his life sleeping under the stars. On his way from the NW US to his home in the Midwest, he happens upon a car, apparently broken down on a lonely stretch of highway in Nebraska (Are there any other kinds in Nebraska?). Being a good guy, he stops to see if he can help and encounters a pregnant woman who is trying to get away from an abusive husband. There is also a significant backstory about the woman but I try to keep my reviews briefer than the book itself. Suffice it to say that she has had a very difficult life.
Ash, of course, takes her with him but, they have to go West, rather than East, as he was previously heading to escape hubby. The husband, after a chase and some elusive driving, eventually has them trapped. The woman begs him to leave because she is sure that her husband will kill him. She was aware of two other people that he had killed, so Peter, promising to come back for her barely escapes by diving over some rock formations into the Missouri River. Chaos ensues.
It turns out that the woman´s husband is a REALLY bad guy and it takes Peter some time to catch up with him and his gang (yes, he has a small gang).
Petrie keeps a pretty unique plot moving right along and there is a great deal of action as well as planning so all but the most extreme action junky will be quite happy. The book is well written, has a couple of twists, and has some very interesting, well-developed characters. About the only complaint that I have is that the primary antagonist (aka the husband) does something very much out of character toward the end. As is the case for most books of this genre, the reader has to be willing to suspend reality from time to time, but not enough to negate a four-star rating.
Fini
January 31, 2022
+++ 4.5 Stars +++, maybe should have given 5 because I love Peter Ash and this series. Helene took a lot of center stage.
Coldwater, Montana is so small that it's not even on a map. 18 year old Helene worked two pathetic jobs after her mother's death. She didn't even get minimum wage at the convenience store working for a corrupt predator deputy that owned the little town and everybody in it. She only wants out and hitches a ride with two strangers that filled up with gas there. Little did she know what she was in for.
All ex-Marine Peter Ash did was give a ride to a pregnant woman whose car had broken down. He wasn't expecting to be nearly assassinated and the woman taken. Nah, he won't let this happen.
Over the years, how many girls have I yelled at not to get in that vehicle. Countless. Never turns out well.
Peter Ash is one of my heroes. Rates up there with Jack Reacher. I got to see old friends June and Lewis (sidekick similar to Hawk in the Spenser series).
There's a whole lot I liked in this book: Bobbie and her fierce dog Cupcake, Helene's mother's sayings, and Helene's grit. The author developed Helene's character well and until the end I didn't know if she was going to choose full-out bad. If you like action packed chase scenes and multiple shootouts, you should like this book. This story is # 7 in the series. Not necessary to read in order but I would to get context of the characters.
Coldwater, Montana is so small that it's not even on a map. 18 year old Helene worked two pathetic jobs after her mother's death. She didn't even get minimum wage at the convenience store working for a corrupt predator deputy that owned the little town and everybody in it. She only wants out and hitches a ride with two strangers that filled up with gas there. Little did she know what she was in for.
All ex-Marine Peter Ash did was give a ride to a pregnant woman whose car had broken down. He wasn't expecting to be nearly assassinated and the woman taken. Nah, he won't let this happen.
Over the years, how many girls have I yelled at not to get in that vehicle. Countless. Never turns out well.
Peter Ash is one of my heroes. Rates up there with Jack Reacher. I got to see old friends June and Lewis (sidekick similar to Hawk in the Spenser series).
There's a whole lot I liked in this book: Bobbie and her fierce dog Cupcake, Helene's mother's sayings, and Helene's grit. The author developed Helene's character well and until the end I didn't know if she was going to choose full-out bad. If you like action packed chase scenes and multiple shootouts, you should like this book. This story is # 7 in the series. Not necessary to read in order but I would to get context of the characters.
March 5, 2022
The first book in this exciting and fresh series – “The Drifter” – introduced Peter Ash, an ex-military man who suffers greatly from post-traumatic claustrophobia from tours in Iraq and Afghanistan. A promotional blurb on the cover from Lee Child certainly didn’t hurt either.
His second book – “Burning Bright” – continued Peter’s attempt at re-integrating himself into society, provided a tighter and more intricate plotline, and introduced June Cassidy, a strong potential love interest.
In his third book – “Light It Up” – Peter helped his good friend, Henry Nygaard, and his daughter, who run a security company providing protection to legalized cannabis companies in Denver, Colorado. Peter investigated how their deliveries were being ambushed by a professional team.
In his fourth book – “Tear it Down” – Peter Ash went to Memphis to help a friend, Wanda Wyatt, a war correspondent and photographer who’s being receiving serious threats. By the time Peter drives cross-country to get there, he finds that those threats have accelerated into an unknown person driving a dump truck right into Wanda’s house.
In his fifth book – “The Wild One” – Peter Ash traveled to Reykjavik to find the grandson of an American woman whose daughter was murdered. When he arrives, Ash found himself falsely wanted for murder and on the run from two governments.
In his sixth book – “The Breaker” – Peter Ash interrupts a crime while trying to stay away from being arrested, and finds himself facing off against a ruthless criminal with a new revolutionary technology that could be used for war. .
Now, in his seventh book – “The Runaway” – Peter Ash finds himself in trouble again (of course.) This time he is driving through norther Nebraska when he happens along a young pregnant woman with a broken-down car. It doesn’t take long before Ash realizes there are consequences of giving her a ride. Negative consequences. Deadly consequences.
This pregnant woman happens to be on the run from a dangerous husband, an ex-cop who’s more than willing to kill to get his wife back. And he’s not alone. He has a tight-knit team that works with him in his criminal activities and obeys his every command. Together, they decide to chase down Ash and take his wife back.
This begins a dangerous and deadly cat-and-mouse game played out across the lonely highways of the Nebraskan heartland where Peter Ash will need all of his prior military and survival skills to keep himself alive against a madman who will stop at nothing to claim back control of his wife.
As with the previous books in this series, there continues to be a lot of good things to like about Peter Ash and hi development as a strong leading character. For this book, Petrie changes directions and structure in his storytelling. His approach reminded me a lot of Ian Fleming’s change-of-pace James Bond thriller, “The Spy Who Loved Me”, in which Bond served in a secondary role as the mysterious stranger, saving Vivienne Michel from armed mobsters. Like that novel, in which the story was told from Vivienne’s perspective, Petrie uses a similar strategy – moving back and forth from Helene’s and Ash’s viewpoint – to give power and depth to his storytelling. Truth be told, this is really Helene’s story more than Ash’s in several ways, and Petrie makes it worth and payoff in several fascinating and interesting ways.
When I started reading this book, I was a bit worried. I had less than stellar feelings about the last two Reacher novels since Lee starting working with his brother. The idea of the fearless hero was starting to wane on me, and since I find the Peter Ash novels to be a kind of Reacher junior, I was concerned about too much of the same thing old thing. But I was reminded again of how wrong that poor assumption on my part was.
This was a great, adrenaline-filled-rush read. Simple as that.
Even though this type of story has been told before, Petrie has breathed new life into it and brought new angles, twists, and turns that made it fresh and exhilarating. For me, the story of Helene was a personal journey that easily captured my interest. It was layered with tragedy, conflict, and depth that served as a great contrast to Peter’s own history and personal conflicts. It is not easy by any means for a male writer to take on such a complex female character and pull it off. In my humble opinion, Petrie pulls it off with surprisingly great success.
On a personal level, Petrie pulled me in and got me to care about what happened to Helene as well as Ash. I was emotionally invested in both of their challenges and their outcomes mattered to me. I especially drawn to Helene’s situation, her background and constant struggles to find a safe situation. I appreciated how her situation and challenges served as a counter-balance to Ashe’s own physical battles. Helene was unique, and in many ways, this was her story more than Ash’s, but alas, he served his role well.
I have said this in previous Peter Ash reviews, and it is especially apropos with this one. I am finding that with each book, Petrie is gaining creativity and credibility as a mystery/thriller writer and storyteller. I find one of his greatest strengths is in connecting several complex elements and plotting together in an engaging delivery and outcome. I must also mention that Helene’s husband was a great villain. In several ways, he was a complex and layered as her, making him a worthy and despicable bad-guy to hate and root against.
In “The Runaway”, Nick Petrie has again done his homework, delivering a new spin on an old tale in the thriller genre. He has taken the foundation that prior great mystery and adventure writers have established and moved the art a step forward. Although he is only seven books into his career, I believe he is making a significant impact in this genre by creating a flawed anti-hero, unable to conform to societal norms, and created opportunities for him to make a difference in the only ways he knows how. His moral code of conduct is eerily similar to such literary heroes like Robert B. Parker’s “Spenser”, Lee Child’s “Reacher”, and Craig Johnson’s “Longmire”.
I have become an avid fan of what Petrie has created, and have no problem going out of my way to recommend his “Peter Ash” series to others with a confident and knowing smile. If you haven’t read one of his books yet, may I suggest that you start with the first one and give it a try. I dare you…
His second book – “Burning Bright” – continued Peter’s attempt at re-integrating himself into society, provided a tighter and more intricate plotline, and introduced June Cassidy, a strong potential love interest.
In his third book – “Light It Up” – Peter helped his good friend, Henry Nygaard, and his daughter, who run a security company providing protection to legalized cannabis companies in Denver, Colorado. Peter investigated how their deliveries were being ambushed by a professional team.
In his fourth book – “Tear it Down” – Peter Ash went to Memphis to help a friend, Wanda Wyatt, a war correspondent and photographer who’s being receiving serious threats. By the time Peter drives cross-country to get there, he finds that those threats have accelerated into an unknown person driving a dump truck right into Wanda’s house.
In his fifth book – “The Wild One” – Peter Ash traveled to Reykjavik to find the grandson of an American woman whose daughter was murdered. When he arrives, Ash found himself falsely wanted for murder and on the run from two governments.
In his sixth book – “The Breaker” – Peter Ash interrupts a crime while trying to stay away from being arrested, and finds himself facing off against a ruthless criminal with a new revolutionary technology that could be used for war. .
Now, in his seventh book – “The Runaway” – Peter Ash finds himself in trouble again (of course.) This time he is driving through norther Nebraska when he happens along a young pregnant woman with a broken-down car. It doesn’t take long before Ash realizes there are consequences of giving her a ride. Negative consequences. Deadly consequences.
This pregnant woman happens to be on the run from a dangerous husband, an ex-cop who’s more than willing to kill to get his wife back. And he’s not alone. He has a tight-knit team that works with him in his criminal activities and obeys his every command. Together, they decide to chase down Ash and take his wife back.
This begins a dangerous and deadly cat-and-mouse game played out across the lonely highways of the Nebraskan heartland where Peter Ash will need all of his prior military and survival skills to keep himself alive against a madman who will stop at nothing to claim back control of his wife.
As with the previous books in this series, there continues to be a lot of good things to like about Peter Ash and hi development as a strong leading character. For this book, Petrie changes directions and structure in his storytelling. His approach reminded me a lot of Ian Fleming’s change-of-pace James Bond thriller, “The Spy Who Loved Me”, in which Bond served in a secondary role as the mysterious stranger, saving Vivienne Michel from armed mobsters. Like that novel, in which the story was told from Vivienne’s perspective, Petrie uses a similar strategy – moving back and forth from Helene’s and Ash’s viewpoint – to give power and depth to his storytelling. Truth be told, this is really Helene’s story more than Ash’s in several ways, and Petrie makes it worth and payoff in several fascinating and interesting ways.
When I started reading this book, I was a bit worried. I had less than stellar feelings about the last two Reacher novels since Lee starting working with his brother. The idea of the fearless hero was starting to wane on me, and since I find the Peter Ash novels to be a kind of Reacher junior, I was concerned about too much of the same thing old thing. But I was reminded again of how wrong that poor assumption on my part was.
This was a great, adrenaline-filled-rush read. Simple as that.
Even though this type of story has been told before, Petrie has breathed new life into it and brought new angles, twists, and turns that made it fresh and exhilarating. For me, the story of Helene was a personal journey that easily captured my interest. It was layered with tragedy, conflict, and depth that served as a great contrast to Peter’s own history and personal conflicts. It is not easy by any means for a male writer to take on such a complex female character and pull it off. In my humble opinion, Petrie pulls it off with surprisingly great success.
On a personal level, Petrie pulled me in and got me to care about what happened to Helene as well as Ash. I was emotionally invested in both of their challenges and their outcomes mattered to me. I especially drawn to Helene’s situation, her background and constant struggles to find a safe situation. I appreciated how her situation and challenges served as a counter-balance to Ashe’s own physical battles. Helene was unique, and in many ways, this was her story more than Ash’s, but alas, he served his role well.
I have said this in previous Peter Ash reviews, and it is especially apropos with this one. I am finding that with each book, Petrie is gaining creativity and credibility as a mystery/thriller writer and storyteller. I find one of his greatest strengths is in connecting several complex elements and plotting together in an engaging delivery and outcome. I must also mention that Helene’s husband was a great villain. In several ways, he was a complex and layered as her, making him a worthy and despicable bad-guy to hate and root against.
In “The Runaway”, Nick Petrie has again done his homework, delivering a new spin on an old tale in the thriller genre. He has taken the foundation that prior great mystery and adventure writers have established and moved the art a step forward. Although he is only seven books into his career, I believe he is making a significant impact in this genre by creating a flawed anti-hero, unable to conform to societal norms, and created opportunities for him to make a difference in the only ways he knows how. His moral code of conduct is eerily similar to such literary heroes like Robert B. Parker’s “Spenser”, Lee Child’s “Reacher”, and Craig Johnson’s “Longmire”.
I have become an avid fan of what Petrie has created, and have no problem going out of my way to recommend his “Peter Ash” series to others with a confident and knowing smile. If you haven’t read one of his books yet, may I suggest that you start with the first one and give it a try. I dare you…
December 15, 2021
This is one of the best books in this series about Peter Ash. The Runaway by Nick Petrie has all the things that made me fall for this series when I found them a couple of years ago. Well written, hard to put down and a storyline like not many others. This is a really dark story and I didn't know how it would turn out. Full of suspense and action. I must thank @this_is_edelweiss and @penguinrandomhouse for giving me this advance copy and @_nickpetrie_ for writing this stuff. Great work.
July 31, 2023
Another great installment in the Peter Ash series. This paragraph describes and sums up the main character best:
“June was well aware of Peter’s tendency to step into other people’s problems. She knew it was one of the things that kept his post-traumatic static from raging out of control. It provided the periodic doses of atonement he needed to keep washing himself clean of that war. Plus his inner Marine liked the adrenaline.”
If that’s not enough, Petrie is the first author I’ve come across to give a local burrito shop a shoutout in the acknowledgment section at the end 😆 Gotta love when the author and main character appreciate a well-made burrito.
“June was well aware of Peter’s tendency to step into other people’s problems. She knew it was one of the things that kept his post-traumatic static from raging out of control. It provided the periodic doses of atonement he needed to keep washing himself clean of that war. Plus his inner Marine liked the adrenaline.”
If that’s not enough, Petrie is the first author I’ve come across to give a local burrito shop a shoutout in the acknowledgment section at the end 😆 Gotta love when the author and main character appreciate a well-made burrito.
January 13, 2022
Peter Ash is driving down the road, when he stops to see if a stranded motorist needs help. The motorist is a pregnant woman, married, and held captive by a psychopath who robs high end houses for a living.
Peter spends the book hunting and being hunted by this lunatic.
Fast moving and tense.
Peter spends the book hunting and being hunted by this lunatic.
Fast moving and tense.
April 16, 2022
Started out as a potential 5. Then 4. Ultimately, a 3 star read. Don’t be fooled by that high rating as I was.
January 13, 2022
This is the newest installment featuring Peter Ash, former marine, suffering PTSD which he calls White Static. He keeps it at bay by helping others needing his assistance. Kind of like a Jack Reacher. Trouble seems to find him and he can’t turn his back on the call if he can help. In this case he comes across a pregnant young wife, Helene, fleeing from an abusive husband. Her husband is a piece of work, more than just abusive. As the novel progresses we see he is a murdering psychopath. Scarier than hell. Helene has some back-bone and uses it when necessary, but you can’t help but feel her terror. The writer does a good job portraying the emotions of the cast of characters.
This can be read as a stand alone, even though it’s a series about Peter and his lady, June, both evidently with a lot of history behind them. The reader sees glimpses of this throughout, but in this installment, June comes in at the second half. The first half is a lot of wordy descriptive scenes as Peter treks through the wilderness, forcing me to skim at times.
The second half ratchets it up a few notches, As the bodies start to fall, we wonder how this scenario will end, and just have to see it through. It kept me captivated. I’m sure followers of the series will not be disappointed. Release date is January 18, 2022. My thanks to NetGalley and publishers for the e-arc. I’m pleased to have another author to follow, Nick Petrie.
This can be read as a stand alone, even though it’s a series about Peter and his lady, June, both evidently with a lot of history behind them. The reader sees glimpses of this throughout, but in this installment, June comes in at the second half. The first half is a lot of wordy descriptive scenes as Peter treks through the wilderness, forcing me to skim at times.
The second half ratchets it up a few notches, As the bodies start to fall, we wonder how this scenario will end, and just have to see it through. It kept me captivated. I’m sure followers of the series will not be disappointed. Release date is January 18, 2022. My thanks to NetGalley and publishers for the e-arc. I’m pleased to have another author to follow, Nick Petrie.
September 8, 2023
Book Review – The Runaway – Nick Petrie
In author Nick Petrie’s seventh book in the Peter Ash series, “The Runaway,” Ash rescues a stranded pregnant woman on a gravel road in Northern Nebraska, not realizing the trouble he’s about to get himself into. What begins as an act of kindness soon turns into a deadly cat-and-mouse chase across the highways with the pregnant woman’s vicious ex-cop husband hot on their trail. The woman – The Runaway – has seen something she should not have seen and protecting her from her psychotic and brutal husband might prove to be more than Ash can handle. To save the woman and himself, Ash must use everything he has learned as a Marine to escape a ruthless killer with instincts and skills that match and perhaps exceeds Ash’s skills. Although a well written and suspenseful story, if I had to rank the Peter Ash novels, The Runaway would not be one of my favorites, but again, it was still good but less about Peter Ash. It did not live up to Peter Ash’s usual level of skill as an ‘alpha predator,’ an ‘ass-kicker.’ He seemed to be on the running from the aggressive, violent husband. If you know the Peter Ash series, readers know that Ash is nobody’s victim and definitely kicks more ass than this book would have him ‘not’ doing! As I said earlier, it's a good story, but I have come to expect more from Peter Ash in this action thriller genre. He was too domesticated in this tale, but Petrie’s storytelling was still striking, engaging, and gripping. The writing feels real and genuine, and I enjoy the precept of the former war veteran – with a group of friends – trying to do good and being helpful to those in need. The Runaway is a deep, rich, human-interest story that kept me engaged and excited despite the more tamed Peter Ash regarding action. Still a good read and very much worth the time.
In author Nick Petrie’s seventh book in the Peter Ash series, “The Runaway,” Ash rescues a stranded pregnant woman on a gravel road in Northern Nebraska, not realizing the trouble he’s about to get himself into. What begins as an act of kindness soon turns into a deadly cat-and-mouse chase across the highways with the pregnant woman’s vicious ex-cop husband hot on their trail. The woman – The Runaway – has seen something she should not have seen and protecting her from her psychotic and brutal husband might prove to be more than Ash can handle. To save the woman and himself, Ash must use everything he has learned as a Marine to escape a ruthless killer with instincts and skills that match and perhaps exceeds Ash’s skills. Although a well written and suspenseful story, if I had to rank the Peter Ash novels, The Runaway would not be one of my favorites, but again, it was still good but less about Peter Ash. It did not live up to Peter Ash’s usual level of skill as an ‘alpha predator,’ an ‘ass-kicker.’ He seemed to be on the running from the aggressive, violent husband. If you know the Peter Ash series, readers know that Ash is nobody’s victim and definitely kicks more ass than this book would have him ‘not’ doing! As I said earlier, it's a good story, but I have come to expect more from Peter Ash in this action thriller genre. He was too domesticated in this tale, but Petrie’s storytelling was still striking, engaging, and gripping. The writing feels real and genuine, and I enjoy the precept of the former war veteran – with a group of friends – trying to do good and being helpful to those in need. The Runaway is a deep, rich, human-interest story that kept me engaged and excited despite the more tamed Peter Ash regarding action. Still a good read and very much worth the time.
July 31, 2022
This series just keeps getting better. June, Lewis and Peter make an incredible team. Their relationship to each other enhances the excitement of Petrie's series. I hope Nick Petrie writes quickly for I am mowing through this series.
February 14, 2022
I was not as enthusiastic about this latest Pete Ash books as I usually am about the books in this series. One reason is that Lewis and June show up late and have little to do with the plot. But the main reason I did not like this book is that the gratuitous violence has escalated too much for me. I like Pete and his character has been thoroughly developed by Petrie to the point where there is little else to know. Lewis and June represented solid characters that gave balance to Pete, though obviously each has a violent nature. But it is one thing to pursue bad guys and another to have the bad guy just knock off people at a a high volume. Yep, this guy Roy is nasty and his buddies are not far behind. But Petrie seems to relish the violence that this character represents. Killing off people who represent a real threat is something I can accept in a violent criminal. But to develop Roy as a psychopathic killer just seems gratuitously overboard to me, beyond what is necessary to create a formidable foe for Pete. The character of Helene, developed as a helpless victim who becomes savvy enough to ultimately escape her circumstance, seems a bit overblown, too. She turns out to not be as sympathetic as I would have liked, but at least her actions are explicable, if a bit overboard. The good things about this book are the action sequences, always a pleasure in a Peter Ash book.
October 19, 2021
Peter Ash stops to help a very pregnant young woman with apparent car trouble in the middle of nowhere and in no time at all finds himself under pursuit by multiple vehicles of hostile men armed with military grade weapons. He barely escapes with his life by jumping off a cliff into a river and later asks himself if it’s wrong to be having so much fun.
No reader could be faulted for wondering the same thing.
Author Nick Petrie really delivers nonstop action in this, the seventh in his Peter Ash series, THE RUNAWAY. This book works fine as a stand alone, prior books are not required reading. But why miss out on the enjoyment? This is an excellent series. My only complaint is that now I’ll need to wait for the next book to come out. Here’s hoping it’ll only be a year because I really enjoy this series. I received my copy from the publisher through NetGalley.
No reader could be faulted for wondering the same thing.
Author Nick Petrie really delivers nonstop action in this, the seventh in his Peter Ash series, THE RUNAWAY. This book works fine as a stand alone, prior books are not required reading. But why miss out on the enjoyment? This is an excellent series. My only complaint is that now I’ll need to wait for the next book to come out. Here’s hoping it’ll only be a year because I really enjoy this series. I received my copy from the publisher through NetGalley.
December 24, 2025
This was an exciting read. It is the seventh book in the Peter Ash series, but the first one that I have read. I certainly had no problem jumping right into the series. I think the mystery reviewer in The NY Times said that the character Peter Ash is the next Jack Reacher, and I would have to agree that the two characters share a number of similarities. The farther into this book one reads, the more the reader learns how evil the antagonist in the novel is. Helene endures an incredible amount of suffering throughout the story. While I had a pretty good sense of how the story would end, nevertheless it was a fast paced, action packed novel that I enjoyed reading.
March 24, 2022
This wasn’t the best Petrie and Ash book but it was solid. Solid Petrie is still pretty good. Leaving Louis and June out of it to the end is what diminished it for me.
Roy was incredibly evil and well written. Helene’s story wasn’t quite as solid. But I was rooting for her throughout and she surprised me in the end.
I’m ready for the new Ash book right now. Read this series if you haven’t found it yet.
Roy was incredibly evil and well written. Helene’s story wasn’t quite as solid. But I was rooting for her throughout and she surprised me in the end.
I’m ready for the new Ash book right now. Read this series if you haven’t found it yet.
February 11, 2022
I came across an article that said Nick Petrie is the new Lee Child, so I thought I'd give this a try.
Like other good thriller writers, Petrie is brilliant at keeping the tension tight, moving the story along, and providing an almost obscene level of homicide.
But, like many other thriller writers, his characters are just stereotyped enough to make them a little flat. Not as bad as Robert Ludlum, but still not the most richly drawn people.
In this novel, the hero, Marine veteran Peter Ash, encounters a very pregnant young woman whose car has broken down. He agrees, against his better judgment, to take her to a nearby town, and before he knows it, he is being pursued by several vehicles bristling with weapons. When he is boxed in, he takes a Butch Cassidy leap into the river below, survives, and then, because of who he is, he decides to try to rescue the young woman and get his truck back.
The attempt to keep the young mom, Helene, safe and get her out of the clutches of her brutal husband occupies the rest of the book. The good guys will prevail, but not before a lot of collateral damage.
Jumping back and forth in time, Petrie sketches how Helene met her husband, why she married him (not very convincing), and then her immediate realization that he was a classic abuser who wanted complete control over her life, while he and his criminal crew carried out high-end burglaries.
Petrie tries to give us some nuance in the development of Helene's personality, but her husband is almost laughably evil, and so, I had to withhold one star from this otherwise rollicking tale.
Like other good thriller writers, Petrie is brilliant at keeping the tension tight, moving the story along, and providing an almost obscene level of homicide.
But, like many other thriller writers, his characters are just stereotyped enough to make them a little flat. Not as bad as Robert Ludlum, but still not the most richly drawn people.
In this novel, the hero, Marine veteran Peter Ash, encounters a very pregnant young woman whose car has broken down. He agrees, against his better judgment, to take her to a nearby town, and before he knows it, he is being pursued by several vehicles bristling with weapons. When he is boxed in, he takes a Butch Cassidy leap into the river below, survives, and then, because of who he is, he decides to try to rescue the young woman and get his truck back.
The attempt to keep the young mom, Helene, safe and get her out of the clutches of her brutal husband occupies the rest of the book. The good guys will prevail, but not before a lot of collateral damage.
Jumping back and forth in time, Petrie sketches how Helene met her husband, why she married him (not very convincing), and then her immediate realization that he was a classic abuser who wanted complete control over her life, while he and his criminal crew carried out high-end burglaries.
Petrie tries to give us some nuance in the development of Helene's personality, but her husband is almost laughably evil, and so, I had to withhold one star from this otherwise rollicking tale.
July 24, 2022
Review to follow.
April 3, 2022
Nick Petrie's Peter Ash has withstood the inevitable comparisons to Lee Child's Jack Reacher (even supported by a cover blurb authored by Child himself) and seems to be doing just fine on his own. "The Runaway" continues the theme of Ash wandering the countryside, encountering someone needing help of the sort only he can provide, and becoming so psychologically invested in following through with his commitment that he nearly finds himself pushing up daisies. Come to think of it, maybe that's not so unlike Reacher.....
The Runaway follows two different tracks detailing the travails of Helene, a young woman bored stiff with her life as a gas station/convenience store clerk at an outpost in the middle of Nowhere, Nebraska. One track takes her from the point where she decides she's had enough of her poverty and the unwanted sexual advances of her boss and opts out, hitching a ride with a couple guys who 'seem OK'. The other fast forwards a few months when she's barefoot and pregnant with a broken down car and into her life comes Peter Ash. The story follows both tracks as Helene eventually discovers the guys she hitched a ride with really weren't 'OK' and Ash commits to helping the pregnant woman escape from her controlling husband, a very bad dude with a team of buddies who put Ash on the run. Ash barely survives and instead of getting the hell out of there like a normal person he decides that his commitment to Helene takes precedence and he begins his quest to discover where she ended up and who has possession of her. In the meantime, in alternating groups of chapters, we learn about Helene's life with the group of home invaders she's now hooked up with and her desperation to free herself from them.
The Runaway contains a little less Ash than others in the series, mainly due to the focus on the past and present activities of the Helene character and the group of people who have, in effect, kidnapped her. Ash's coterie of competent helpers (girlfriend June, jack-of-all-trades Lewis, especially) are largely absent but do show up at a critical stage. Petrie's writing is top-notch and propulsive as hell, which is a good thing because the action is non-stop.
So, is Ash the 'new Reacher'? There are obvious similarities: both are ex-military, bright, action-oriented, bigger than normal humans, comfortable with firearms, and seem to be 'good' at heart. The differences are also pretty stark: Ash isn't the physical monster Reacher is, he has a steady girlfriend, he has PTSD that affects his behavior, and he seems to be a little less violent and averse to actually killing people than Reacher. From a writing standpoint, I actually prefer Petrie though Child's long term success with his series is testament to his competence. I think the arc of the Reacher series is pointing downward while Ash is still on the upswing with many more adventures ahead. It's great to have both of them available, that's for sure.
The Runaway follows two different tracks detailing the travails of Helene, a young woman bored stiff with her life as a gas station/convenience store clerk at an outpost in the middle of Nowhere, Nebraska. One track takes her from the point where she decides she's had enough of her poverty and the unwanted sexual advances of her boss and opts out, hitching a ride with a couple guys who 'seem OK'. The other fast forwards a few months when she's barefoot and pregnant with a broken down car and into her life comes Peter Ash. The story follows both tracks as Helene eventually discovers the guys she hitched a ride with really weren't 'OK' and Ash commits to helping the pregnant woman escape from her controlling husband, a very bad dude with a team of buddies who put Ash on the run. Ash barely survives and instead of getting the hell out of there like a normal person he decides that his commitment to Helene takes precedence and he begins his quest to discover where she ended up and who has possession of her. In the meantime, in alternating groups of chapters, we learn about Helene's life with the group of home invaders she's now hooked up with and her desperation to free herself from them.
The Runaway contains a little less Ash than others in the series, mainly due to the focus on the past and present activities of the Helene character and the group of people who have, in effect, kidnapped her. Ash's coterie of competent helpers (girlfriend June, jack-of-all-trades Lewis, especially) are largely absent but do show up at a critical stage. Petrie's writing is top-notch and propulsive as hell, which is a good thing because the action is non-stop.
So, is Ash the 'new Reacher'? There are obvious similarities: both are ex-military, bright, action-oriented, bigger than normal humans, comfortable with firearms, and seem to be 'good' at heart. The differences are also pretty stark: Ash isn't the physical monster Reacher is, he has a steady girlfriend, he has PTSD that affects his behavior, and he seems to be a little less violent and averse to actually killing people than Reacher. From a writing standpoint, I actually prefer Petrie though Child's long term success with his series is testament to his competence. I think the arc of the Reacher series is pointing downward while Ash is still on the upswing with many more adventures ahead. It's great to have both of them available, that's for sure.
February 4, 2022
Have enjoyed reading Nick Petrie since he started the Peter Ash series. This one though is way below his standard, it was more about the runaway girl than Peter Ash . His sidekick Lewis and girlfriend June hardly featured in this book, I wonder why he even wrote them into this story. Overall a big disappointment, I hope he remembers the earlier books when he gets down to writing the next one.
September 9, 2025
This is book #7 in the Peter Ash series. I haven't read all of them but the ones I have read, I've enjoyed. This one, however, wasn't bad, but it was my least favorite so far.
First the audiobook narrator didn't work for me. His attempts at female voices had me rolling my eyes. The female MC sounded either hot or cold, without much nuance.
That said, I still liked Peter Ash as an MC. When in a bind, he's the guy you want in your corner. He's willing to go the distance no matter what. I also like his tight-knit band of allies. We all want friends like that. The plotline itself was interesting and creative, but not without its flaws.
One major downside, besides the narrator, was the gratuitous body count. The deaths piled up quickly and without real purpose. It felt more for shock value and less about plot development. After awhile it became repetitive and it caused more eye rolling.
Overall, I liked the MC and the storyline. It was appreciated but I only have 3 stars for this one.
First the audiobook narrator didn't work for me. His attempts at female voices had me rolling my eyes. The female MC sounded either hot or cold, without much nuance.
That said, I still liked Peter Ash as an MC. When in a bind, he's the guy you want in your corner. He's willing to go the distance no matter what. I also like his tight-knit band of allies. We all want friends like that. The plotline itself was interesting and creative, but not without its flaws.
One major downside, besides the narrator, was the gratuitous body count. The deaths piled up quickly and without real purpose. It felt more for shock value and less about plot development. After awhile it became repetitive and it caused more eye rolling.
Overall, I liked the MC and the storyline. It was appreciated but I only have 3 stars for this one.
January 20, 2022
Well, I can honestly say that I am already hugely invested in this series. I have come to love Peter, June and Lewis. It is actually slightly humorous that it doesn't seem like they can go too far without getting into trouble. So...that is how this one starts.
Peter is on his way home from somewhere, when he sees a car on the side of the road and decides to stop and help. Without going into spoilers, let's just say that the "bad guy" in this story is TRULY one of the worst. There are the things that we have come to expect.....lots of drama and action. Scary moments where we have to hold our breath.... and butterflies in your stomach when you just absolutely "Know" that things are NOT going to end up well.
Yep....this story is full of these moments.
After already reading 6 books in this series, I have come to have faith in Peter, and his "crew". I will just say this. If you are starting with this book - I think it would be okay and things would make sense to make it a stand alone book. But...why would you not want to know the background of the relationships that you see in this book?
Regardless, this is one of the best books in this series. Whether or not you are a long time fan or a first time reader.....it is scary. The "bad guy" is really BAD.
So....another winner in this series.
Can't wait until the next book to see if Peter has learned his lesson or not (if you seriously believe he's going to change.....well, I have no words.....)
Peter is on his way home from somewhere, when he sees a car on the side of the road and decides to stop and help. Without going into spoilers, let's just say that the "bad guy" in this story is TRULY one of the worst. There are the things that we have come to expect.....lots of drama and action. Scary moments where we have to hold our breath.... and butterflies in your stomach when you just absolutely "Know" that things are NOT going to end up well.
Yep....this story is full of these moments.
After already reading 6 books in this series, I have come to have faith in Peter, and his "crew". I will just say this. If you are starting with this book - I think it would be okay and things would make sense to make it a stand alone book. But...why would you not want to know the background of the relationships that you see in this book?
Regardless, this is one of the best books in this series. Whether or not you are a long time fan or a first time reader.....it is scary. The "bad guy" is really BAD.
So....another winner in this series.
Can't wait until the next book to see if Peter has learned his lesson or not (if you seriously believe he's going to change.....well, I have no words.....)
February 3, 2022
This book kept me on the edge of my seat. Peter tries to be a hero and gets into trouble along the way.
August 15, 2022
Listened to it on Audible and then read the book - a gripping story with some interesting twists!
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