Surprisingly unputdownable as a family flees horror and death searching for a safe place. ( )

I've learned to expect a pulse-pounding ride from a Blake Crouch novel, and this one certainly delivered! As a wife, as well as a parent of a young child, I could so easily put myself in both Dee and Jack's shoes. I've been fascinated by the possibility of an apocalyptic phenomenon happening within our lifetime. Would I be able to protect my family? How would we survive? Crouch tackles these same questions from the perspective of an Average Joe (or Jack, rather), and his struggles to survive and protect his family are both poignant and terrifying.

I thought Naomi and Cole were both extremely well written. They felt, genuinely, like children--not mini-adults--put in horrifying situations and behaving, well, as children would. Dee grated on my nerves a bit, but she, too, seemed human and realistic; on the verge of complete discombobulation but holding it together for her children. My only slight complaint is with the ending. It felt like a Deus Ex Machina contrivance. Too abrupt, and much too convenient. Still, I enjoyed the journey to getting there, and the epilogue left me misty-eyed. ( )

Was a fast read. I quite enjoyed the slightly different cause of the “outbreak”… You do have to suspend disbelief at the capabilities of the hero - from university professor to Jack Reacher is a bit of a leap, but… it was well handled, and necessary for the story to progress. It had a lot of short scenes, which is how the tension was maintained, and a satisfactory and believable resolution. ( )

this is the first book i read from Blake Crouch. i enjoyed it very much. its short but its a good thrilling story with many moments where you dont want to put it down.

i also liked how he wrote the main characters. you really dont want anything bad to happen to the family and all the things they go through in this story is fairly realistic given the situation. i did wish it was a little longer and maybe had a more clear ending but the whole time reading it i was engaged the whole time and was never bored. ( )

Wow, that was intense. Definitely a horrible situation that was very frightening. ( )