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lynguy1's review
4.0
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.
spestories's review against another edition
4.0
I really enjoy all the Peter Ash books by Nick Petrie. They are so well researched and descriptive. Sometimes you have to really think that Peter Ash is almost a superhero by his actions and what he endures.
booksbrewsmke's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.5
liberrydude's review against another edition
3.0
Peter is played by a runaway pregnant 19 year old, Helene. Helene has fled a bad situation at home in Montana only to find herself in a worse situation in rural Nebraska married to a psychopath who is so cruel and his skill set so accomplished to be unbelievable.
I’ve enjoyed the other books in this series. This one not as much. Credulity is exceeded on a routine basis. Helene despite her circumstances is not an empathetic character. I guess this shows Peter’s inability to walk away from a bad situation and saving someone who is not worthy of his attention. The body count is staggering and the cruelty is excessive.
I’ve enjoyed the other books in this series. This one not as much. Credulity is exceeded on a routine basis. Helene despite her circumstances is not an empathetic character. I guess this shows Peter’s inability to walk away from a bad situation and saving someone who is not worthy of his attention. The body count is staggering and the cruelty is excessive.
abibliofob's review against another edition
5.0
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.
mojoshivers's review
4.0
This wasn’t your typical Peter Ash novel. Missing were the weird nods to future tech that prompt some type of government/industrial conspiracy. Also missing was the example of Peter going all Rambo to pull apart the conspiracy one dead body at a time.
But you know what? I kind of liked it. It isn’t the first time Nick Petrie called an audible on the series playbook and it probably won’t be the last. As it turns out, writing a novel about an abuser and his victim play out a psychological battle over her soul, seeing whether he could turn his all-too-innocent nineteen-year-old newlywed wife into a remorseless killer like himself made for an exciting story.
Sure, Peter, Lewis, and June all pitched in to bring about the climatic showdown, but this book was Helene’s from the jump. Even now I don’t doubt she came out of the experience more bloodthirsty than she came in. And, yes, technically she only killed other murderers and would-be rapists. But just like Dexter before her, who’s to say if killing only bad guys isn’t a lesser sin than killing so-called innocents?
All I know for sure is that Peter might be right, you don’t want to fuck with Helene now that she’s got a taste for killing and a daughter to justify her every move as one of protecting/ensuring her future. That’s a mama bear that’s just looking for an excuse to put you in the ground.
Chilling.
But you know what? I kind of liked it. It isn’t the first time Nick Petrie called an audible on the series playbook and it probably won’t be the last. As it turns out, writing a novel about an abuser and his victim play out a psychological battle over her soul, seeing whether he could turn his all-too-innocent nineteen-year-old newlywed wife into a remorseless killer like himself made for an exciting story.
Sure, Peter, Lewis, and June all pitched in to bring about the climatic showdown, but this book was Helene’s from the jump. Even now I don’t doubt she came out of the experience more bloodthirsty than she came in. And, yes, technically she only killed other murderers and would-be rapists. But just like Dexter before her, who’s to say if killing only bad guys isn’t a lesser sin than killing so-called innocents?
All I know for sure is that Peter might be right, you don’t want to fuck with Helene now that she’s got a taste for killing and a daughter to justify her every move as one of protecting/ensuring her future. That’s a mama bear that’s just looking for an excuse to put you in the ground.
Chilling.
susieq17's review
5.0
Another great Peter Ash novel. This time he helps a pregnant young woman. The action seldom slows down. June and Lewis show up to help. Nick Petrie is an excellent author, and write females characters especially well. The dedication made me cry. Just wonderful.