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theavidreaderandbibliophile's review
4.0
Girl on the Run by Daryl Wood Gerber is a new suspense novel (her first). Chessa Paxton wakes up with the body of her dead husband in the room. There is blood everywhere and police officers. The last thing that Chessa remembers is attending The Happily Ever After Ball at the Boardwalk Casino in South Lake Tahoe, Nevada. Chessa is the assistant in charge of special events at the Boardwalk Casino and she organized this event. Chessa is attending with her husband, Zach Szabo. She remembers asking for water and then nothing. What happened to during those lost hours? Detective Tallchief (a blowhard running for mayor) believes Chessa is guilty of the crime. Detective Marcus Newman is not so sure. But then Chessa (who is confused, dazed, and still a little out of it) takes off out the bathroom window. She has no plan other than to run. Chessa does not want to be framed for a crime like her father. Chessa sets out to prove her innocence and find the real killer. Things really heat up when they find eleven other bodies in meadow who were also at the ball along with Chessa’s missing shoe.
Girl on the Run is a very good debut suspense novel (the author normally writes cozy mysteries). I figured out what the twist at the end would be, but I do not think many people will see it coming (it is really good). For the most part, Girl on the Run had a fast pace (which I liked). I enjoyed the investigation as Marcus and Chessa went about solving the murders (I love getting the clues and putting them together). I especially relished the Jason Bourne reference. I give Girl on the Run 4 out of 5 stars (which means I liked it). I look forward to Daryl Wood Gerber’s next book.
I received a complimentary copy of Girl on the Run from NetGalley (and the publisher) in exchange for an honest evaluation of the novel.
Girl on the Run is a very good debut suspense novel (the author normally writes cozy mysteries). I figured out what the twist at the end would be, but I do not think many people will see it coming (it is really good). For the most part, Girl on the Run had a fast pace (which I liked). I enjoyed the investigation as Marcus and Chessa went about solving the murders (I love getting the clues and putting them together). I especially relished the Jason Bourne reference. I give Girl on the Run 4 out of 5 stars (which means I liked it). I look forward to Daryl Wood Gerber’s next book.
I received a complimentary copy of Girl on the Run from NetGalley (and the publisher) in exchange for an honest evaluation of the novel.
kimdavishb's review
5.0
Girl on the Run is the new suspense book written by Daryl Wood Gerber, who up until now has written in the cozy mystery genre. The author has done a marvelous job of building tension and keeping me on the edge of my seat. The story truly made me regret when I had to close the book in order to attend to responsibilities and all I could think about was wondering when I could get back to the story and find out what happens to Chessa Paxton.
Chessa is attending the Happily Ever After Ball dressed as Sleeping Beauty, along with her husband Zach. They’ve had a fight right before the party when she finds he has four passports under various aliases. She drinks a bit of water then almost passes out. Her husband loads her into the casino’s van and that’s the last thing she remembers….until waking up the next day with her husband stabbed to death and blood covering her ball gown.
The police are certain she’s the murderer, especially when they find signed divorce papers in the house. She doesn’t want to go to prison like her father who was convicted of murder, so she makes a run for it with the hopes of finding out the truth. With a Senator for a step-father, a celebrity tele-evangelist and wealthy business owners as family friends, Chessa should have people who would want to help her. Instead, she considers them suspects and barely manages to stay one step ahead of an unknown person who is out to kill her and the law one step behind them.
The pace of this suspense story was like a roller coaster ride… always moving but then some unexpected twists and turns were thrown in which left me thinking about the book long after I had finished. Well done, Daryl Wood Gerber!
I was provided a copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion. All thoughts are my own and were not influenced in any way.
Chessa is attending the Happily Ever After Ball dressed as Sleeping Beauty, along with her husband Zach. They’ve had a fight right before the party when she finds he has four passports under various aliases. She drinks a bit of water then almost passes out. Her husband loads her into the casino’s van and that’s the last thing she remembers….until waking up the next day with her husband stabbed to death and blood covering her ball gown.
The police are certain she’s the murderer, especially when they find signed divorce papers in the house. She doesn’t want to go to prison like her father who was convicted of murder, so she makes a run for it with the hopes of finding out the truth. With a Senator for a step-father, a celebrity tele-evangelist and wealthy business owners as family friends, Chessa should have people who would want to help her. Instead, she considers them suspects and barely manages to stay one step ahead of an unknown person who is out to kill her and the law one step behind them.
The pace of this suspense story was like a roller coaster ride… always moving but then some unexpected twists and turns were thrown in which left me thinking about the book long after I had finished. Well done, Daryl Wood Gerber!
I was provided a copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion. All thoughts are my own and were not influenced in any way.
peggyemi's review
4.0
I am a fan of the cozy mystery series written by Daryl Wood Gerber so when I had a chance to read her first foray into the Suspense/Thriller side of the mystery genre, I was excited. I can report, that I was not disappointed. This author is a wonderful writer and had me engaged from the beginning turning pages until I reach the very end. This is a departure from her cozy mystery writing in the best way. The characters in this story are complex with depth and layers. Chessa Paxton is a wonderful protagonist and is smart, vulnerable, strong, and determined . She finds herself in an impossible situation wondering who she can trust.
This was well plotted, compelling story that has intrigue, twists, turns, suspense, and tension. Daryl Wood Gerber takes you along on a thrill ride that just keeps getting better and better as the story progresses. The reader is kept engaged in the story as the plot races along to a great ending. While I am a fan of her cozy mystery series, I hope that this author continues to write in this genre a well. She has combine all her talents to write a top notch suspense/thriller novel that leaves readers wanting more of these types of novels from her.
I received an ARC from the publisher through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This did not influence my opinion and the thoughts expressed are my own.
This was well plotted, compelling story that has intrigue, twists, turns, suspense, and tension. Daryl Wood Gerber takes you along on a thrill ride that just keeps getting better and better as the story progresses. The reader is kept engaged in the story as the plot races along to a great ending. While I am a fan of her cozy mystery series, I hope that this author continues to write in this genre a well. She has combine all her talents to write a top notch suspense/thriller novel that leaves readers wanting more of these types of novels from her.
I received an ARC from the publisher through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This did not influence my opinion and the thoughts expressed are my own.
lostgirlsw's review
5.0
What drew me to this book was the setting. A fairytale ball and a murder mystery that takes place at Lake Tahoe, a place I absolutely love. Chessa wakes up to find her husband murdered and all the evidence points to her as the killer. She can barely remember what happened the night before, which leads her to believe that she was drugged. Her father is in jail for murder and she is terrified that she will suffer the same fate. So she runs!
Chessa is determined to prove her innocence before the police or the real killer can catch her. With the cops on her tail and nowhere safe to turn, Chessa has to solve the mystery and stay one step ahead. I loved the action, including boat and motorcycle chases around Lake Tahoe. Being familiar with the area, it was a lot of fun to read this book and recall all the places mentioned that I have had the pleasure of visiting.
Chessa is intelligent and constantly on her toes. She's also very skilled at creating costumes. She helped many of her friends create their fairytale costumes for the ball. She has the ability to quickly switch disguises and blend in with ease. She is a strong, capable character who doesn't back down. This story is fast paced and the ending was great! I'm looking forward to this author's next suspense.
Thank you Netgalley and Chucklin, Inc. for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.
-SW
Chessa is determined to prove her innocence before the police or the real killer can catch her. With the cops on her tail and nowhere safe to turn, Chessa has to solve the mystery and stay one step ahead. I loved the action, including boat and motorcycle chases around Lake Tahoe. Being familiar with the area, it was a lot of fun to read this book and recall all the places mentioned that I have had the pleasure of visiting.
Chessa is intelligent and constantly on her toes. She's also very skilled at creating costumes. She helped many of her friends create their fairytale costumes for the ball. She has the ability to quickly switch disguises and blend in with ease. She is a strong, capable character who doesn't back down. This story is fast paced and the ending was great! I'm looking forward to this author's next suspense.
Thank you Netgalley and Chucklin, Inc. for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.
-SW
cj_mo_2222's review
4.0
Daryl Wood Gerber, better known for her cozy mysteries, has written an intriguing thriller. The main character is event planner Chessa Paxton, who wakes up one morning to find her husband Zach dead beside her. She soon learns there was also a mass murder of several people who had attended the same fairy tale themed charity ball that she had helped to plan. Now she is suspected of murdering her husband and of being involved in the other murders, so Chessa goes on the run to avoid arrest, prove her innocence, and keep from becoming the next victim.
Although I was sympathetic to Chessa's situation, I didn't immediately connect with her character. Some of her decisions early in the story didn't make sense and she seemed unbelievably naive. I didn't like the lead investigator Marcus at first either, although he proved himself to be an honest man who just wanted to get to the truth of the murders. As the story progressed, I warmed up to Chessa and was rooting for her to succeed. It was an interesting premise to have her on the run investigating, as well as fighting for her life.
Interactions between Chessa and various friends as well as seeing the warm relationship between Marcus and his foster mother Zelda helped give the characters depth. On the other hand, the scenes between Marcus and his ex-girlfriend Ginnie didn't add to the story and could have easily been omitted.
I can't say I was on the edge of my seat reading this book, but by the middle of the story, I was eager to find out what would happen next. I wanted to find out if Chessa was really innocent, and if so, would she be able to prove it. I enjoyed the ending and actually wish the last chapter would have been longer with more details about the characters after the case was resolved. Even though it began slowly, I enjoyed the book and would rate it 3.5 to 4 stars. I hope this this author writes additional thrillers since the book was well-written, and the plot had several interesting twists.
I received this book from NetGalley, through the courtesy of Chucklin, Inc. The book was provided to me in exchange for an honest review.
Although I was sympathetic to Chessa's situation, I didn't immediately connect with her character. Some of her decisions early in the story didn't make sense and she seemed unbelievably naive. I didn't like the lead investigator Marcus at first either, although he proved himself to be an honest man who just wanted to get to the truth of the murders. As the story progressed, I warmed up to Chessa and was rooting for her to succeed. It was an interesting premise to have her on the run investigating, as well as fighting for her life.
Interactions between Chessa and various friends as well as seeing the warm relationship between Marcus and his foster mother Zelda helped give the characters depth. On the other hand, the scenes between Marcus and his ex-girlfriend Ginnie didn't add to the story and could have easily been omitted.
I can't say I was on the edge of my seat reading this book, but by the middle of the story, I was eager to find out what would happen next. I wanted to find out if Chessa was really innocent, and if so, would she be able to prove it. I enjoyed the ending and actually wish the last chapter would have been longer with more details about the characters after the case was resolved. Even though it began slowly, I enjoyed the book and would rate it 3.5 to 4 stars. I hope this this author writes additional thrillers since the book was well-written, and the plot had several interesting twists.
I received this book from NetGalley, through the courtesy of Chucklin, Inc. The book was provided to me in exchange for an honest review.
susan_and_shep_13's review
4.0
Chessa Paxton has it all...the career of her dreams, a handsome, adoring husband, a cute cottage on the shores of Lake Tahoe and the event of the season before her; The Happily Ever After Ball. Then Chessa's fairy tale becomes a nightmare filled with deception, danger and murder. Who are wolves dressed in sheep's clothing and who can she really trust? A mask can hide so many things. Everything seems like a dream, but Chessa has to figure out exactly who is who to clear her name and there is no time to spare for the Big Bad Wolf is gaining on her. Sleeping Beauty becomes the Girl On The Run and she is running as if her life depends upon it - because it does!
Daryl Wood Gerber has transitioned nicely from the world of Cozy Mysteries into the realm of Suspense with her latest book Girl On The Run. As a mystery lover, I pride myself on being able to channel my own inner Nancy Drew and Miss Marple and figure out who the killer is long before the last chapter. Girl On The Run had me guessing right up to the surprising reveal! And that is always a good thing when the surprise makes sense and is accompanied by excellent writing and well-developed characters; which is what you will find in Girl On The Run. I highly recommend this fast paced read that is filled with twists and turns and well developed characters and believable story lines. You will not be disappointed!
Susan Puckett - Mystery Fanatic and all around Book Lover - "I can not live without books" - Thomas Jefferson.
Daryl Wood Gerber has transitioned nicely from the world of Cozy Mysteries into the realm of Suspense with her latest book Girl On The Run. As a mystery lover, I pride myself on being able to channel my own inner Nancy Drew and Miss Marple and figure out who the killer is long before the last chapter. Girl On The Run had me guessing right up to the surprising reveal! And that is always a good thing when the surprise makes sense and is accompanied by excellent writing and well-developed characters; which is what you will find in Girl On The Run. I highly recommend this fast paced read that is filled with twists and turns and well developed characters and believable story lines. You will not be disappointed!
Susan Puckett - Mystery Fanatic and all around Book Lover - "I can not live without books" - Thomas Jefferson.
ctrem83's review
5.0
Daryl Wood Gerber, the Agatha Award-winning, best selling author has done it again!
This time taking her readers on a true thrill ride. Stepping away from her usual genre of cozy mysteries, she shows that she can compete with any suspense writer out there and has totally hit a home run with [b:Girl on the Run|29386803|Girl on the Run|Daryl Wood Gerber|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1456861087s/29386803.jpg|49635495].
The characters in this new novel are captivating and intriguing to say the least. I found myself question each character and their involvement in this gripping thriller. The depth of the characters was perfect, as you felt that you got to know their inner workings and reasoning for their role in the story.
This book is an absolute page-turner, taking you on twists and turns you will not forget. I felt like I was along for the ride and had become part of the story, with my heart beating fast and the feeling of not knowing what was going to happen next, which is always a great aspect of a book!
5 huge stars for this book!
Can't wait for the next one [a:Daryl Wood Gerber|4750535|Daryl Wood Gerber|https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1375225771p2/4750535.jpg]!
This time taking her readers on a true thrill ride. Stepping away from her usual genre of cozy mysteries, she shows that she can compete with any suspense writer out there and has totally hit a home run with [b:Girl on the Run|29386803|Girl on the Run|Daryl Wood Gerber|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1456861087s/29386803.jpg|49635495].
The characters in this new novel are captivating and intriguing to say the least. I found myself question each character and their involvement in this gripping thriller. The depth of the characters was perfect, as you felt that you got to know their inner workings and reasoning for their role in the story.
This book is an absolute page-turner, taking you on twists and turns you will not forget. I felt like I was along for the ride and had become part of the story, with my heart beating fast and the feeling of not knowing what was going to happen next, which is always a great aspect of a book!
5 huge stars for this book!
Can't wait for the next one [a:Daryl Wood Gerber|4750535|Daryl Wood Gerber|https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1375225771p2/4750535.jpg]!
yetanothersusan's review
4.0
I am feeling very judgy-judgy right now so please read this review with that in mind. If I were the author of several "cozies," when I decided to branch out into a more serious suspense thriller type book, I would probably avoid things like starting it at a fairy tale ball. I went from a suspense cover, to Disney princesses, to a massacre in the woods, to a religious zealot. The trip was a bit topsy-turvy.
That being said, once we got past the ball, the storyline turned into a very detailed and devious book with a main character fearing for her freedom and life while trying to clear her name and discover her husband's secret. Many of the characters that might have been mere outlines in other books were well thought out and detailed. This added to the richness of the book. Whether intentioned or not, the book offered several somewhat humorous points and could have possibly been a nice set up for a series. This book is perhaps best for those who enjoy cozies and are venturing themselves into more of a suspense genre.
A preview copy of this book was provided by NetGalley and Chucklin, Inc. in exchange for an objective review.
That being said, once we got past the ball, the storyline turned into a very detailed and devious book with a main character fearing for her freedom and life while trying to clear her name and discover her husband's secret. Many of the characters that might have been mere outlines in other books were well thought out and detailed. This added to the richness of the book. Whether intentioned or not, the book offered several somewhat humorous points and could have possibly been a nice set up for a series. This book is perhaps best for those who enjoy cozies and are venturing themselves into more of a suspense genre.
A preview copy of this book was provided by NetGalley and Chucklin, Inc. in exchange for an objective review.
longtimereader's review
4.0
Chessa is on the run. This gritty gal is fighting for survival. Her happily-ever-after with a ball included isn't going like it should be. All she did was wake up and find her husband dead, and herself covered in his blood. Soon Chessa is navigating through twist and turn, after twist and turn in her life.
The strong, sound writing, and the great tie up of all the lose ends and questions I had at the end were very good. I really appreciated that!
This book is almost a 5 star read.
My copy came from Net Galley in exchange for my honest review and nothing more.
The strong, sound writing, and the great tie up of all the lose ends and questions I had at the end were very good. I really appreciated that!
This book is almost a 5 star read.
My copy came from Net Galley in exchange for my honest review and nothing more.
dollycas's review
5.0
Dollycas’s Thoughts
A fantastic debut into the suspense genre for Daryl Wood Gerber.
Chessa Paxton attends the Happily Ever After Ball with her husband. All her hard work and planning seem to be a great success. Then she wakes up in her home next her husband with blood all over and her husband dead. She realizes quickly she is the prime suspect and with father already a convicted murderer she knows she doesn’t have a chance. She knows she has to get out of there and she does. She runs! She has to prove she didn’t do it but all she can remember are little snippets of what she thinks happened. With a few disguises and a little help from her friends she tries to find the real killer. While the police are searching for her and not the real killer she finds out that it isn’t easy to hide. The police want to arrest her and the killer wants her dead.
I was spellbound from start to finish. The author grabbed my attention and wouldn’t let go. I couldn’t read and flip the pages fast enough. I was so impressed by Chessa courage to find the truth. She was always thinking and planning, staying at least 1 step ahead of the police. Was she remembering correctly? Why was she still alive? Just so she could be framed for the murder? She doesn’t give up. She is determined to find the truth or die trying.
I was so completely engaged by this character and engrossed in the story. Each twist drew me deeper and deeper in, real life around me ceased to exist. The author has written a story with depth and layers full of true mayhem. All the characters are spectacularly written and the situations are so real. I could easily see this book turned into a movie. I had a vivid picture of everyone and everything that happened.
You may know Daryl Wood Gerber, aka Avery Aames for her cozy mystery series’. Let me tell you there is nothing cozy about this story. She has entered the Thriller/Suspense class with a BANG! Drama from page 1 and a story that will give you chills. RUN, don’t walk, to purchase this book, heck pre-order it as soon as you can.
Paradise Rating
A fantastic debut into the suspense genre for Daryl Wood Gerber.
Chessa Paxton attends the Happily Ever After Ball with her husband. All her hard work and planning seem to be a great success. Then she wakes up in her home next her husband with blood all over and her husband dead. She realizes quickly she is the prime suspect and with father already a convicted murderer she knows she doesn’t have a chance. She knows she has to get out of there and she does. She runs! She has to prove she didn’t do it but all she can remember are little snippets of what she thinks happened. With a few disguises and a little help from her friends she tries to find the real killer. While the police are searching for her and not the real killer she finds out that it isn’t easy to hide. The police want to arrest her and the killer wants her dead.
I was spellbound from start to finish. The author grabbed my attention and wouldn’t let go. I couldn’t read and flip the pages fast enough. I was so impressed by Chessa courage to find the truth. She was always thinking and planning, staying at least 1 step ahead of the police. Was she remembering correctly? Why was she still alive? Just so she could be framed for the murder? She doesn’t give up. She is determined to find the truth or die trying.
I was so completely engaged by this character and engrossed in the story. Each twist drew me deeper and deeper in, real life around me ceased to exist. The author has written a story with depth and layers full of true mayhem. All the characters are spectacularly written and the situations are so real. I could easily see this book turned into a movie. I had a vivid picture of everyone and everything that happened.
You may know Daryl Wood Gerber, aka Avery Aames for her cozy mystery series’. Let me tell you there is nothing cozy about this story. She has entered the Thriller/Suspense class with a BANG! Drama from page 1 and a story that will give you chills. RUN, don’t walk, to purchase this book, heck pre-order it as soon as you can.
Paradise Rating