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A review by annemiles
Gray After Dark by Noelle W. Ihli
2.0
I don't know if I just don't vibe with this author because everyone, especially #booktok, seems to love Ihli's books. I was so excited to read "Run on Red" last year after it blew up on tik tok, and what a fucking disappointment. I did like "Ask for Andrea" and had high hopes for this newest release after reading glowing reviews on good reads and hearing amazing things about it on social media. This book seemed so generic, I'm puzzled at the hype.
It is loosely based on a true story, but it's a story thriller books tell time and time again. A girl is abducted and is trapped in a cabin, basement, sound proof room- you name it, by some sadistic asshole(s). I don't dislike the trope, but this book didn't hit with the suspense for me. "Still Missing" did this same story with way more suspense, and the stakes felt so high, even with lackluster writing. The Wife Upstairs[Hawkins, not McFadden], Behind Closed Doors and When She Returned were also highly entertaining to me. I know there's more, but that's just a few off the top of my head.
Gray After Dark felt so slow, I was waiting for my anxiety to kick up a notch, but I just felt bored. The chapters of the missing woman's friend, Brent, were terribly dull, I was so close to quitting this book so many times because of it. Miley's chapters were a bit more exciting, but not by much. I couldn't seem to care that she was abducted or if she could manage to get away.
85% through the book is when things finally pick up. The last part was the only bit I read that held my interest. It's a shame it couldn't do that by at least the halfway point. It seems I'm in the minority so if you like this author and if you loved "Run On Red," you will probably really like this. For me, this was a miss.🤷♀️
It is loosely based on a true story, but it's a story thriller books tell time and time again. A girl is abducted and is trapped in a cabin, basement, sound proof room- you name it, by some sadistic asshole(s). I don't dislike the trope, but this book didn't hit with the suspense for me. "Still Missing" did this same story with way more suspense, and the stakes felt so high, even with lackluster writing. The Wife Upstairs[Hawkins, not McFadden], Behind Closed Doors and When She Returned were also highly entertaining to me. I know there's more, but that's just a few off the top of my head.
Gray After Dark felt so slow, I was waiting for my anxiety to kick up a notch, but I just felt bored. The chapters of the missing woman's friend, Brent, were terribly dull, I was so close to quitting this book so many times because of it. Miley's chapters were a bit more exciting, but not by much. I couldn't seem to care that she was abducted or if she could manage to get away.
85% through the book is when things finally pick up. The last part was the only bit I read that held my interest. It's a shame it couldn't do that by at least the halfway point. It seems I'm in the minority so if you like this author and if you loved "Run On Red," you will probably really like this. For me, this was a miss.🤷♀️