If you are a fan of thrillers that keep you on the edge of your seat, consider checking out Gray After Dark by Noelle W. Ihli. This book is the perfect choice to satisfy that craving for a thrilling read with a strong main character and compelling side characters.
After a tragic accident that sidelines Miley’s dreams of Olympic gold, she takes a summer job at a mountain guest lodge in the remote Frank Church Wilderness. There are tales of a staffer going missing years ago, but that doesn’t scare Miley away from continuing her training on the multiple trails around the lodge.
However, Miley finds herself being abducted during a morning run and held captive in an off-grid cabin. What entails is a journey of survival and grit as she must use her cunning and strength to escape, making unlikely alliances in the process.
What I Liked
The Characters
I really loved all of the characters in this book. I found Miley the perfect combination of strong and fragile. She continues to fight for her freedom while grappling with the guilt and grief of her mother’s death, and doesn’t let her predicament douse her fire. She continues fighting until the end, never giving up. Brent too is a very strong character. He continues searching for Miley despite being told that she had mostly likely died. The author did a great job of portraying his anxiety. The longer he goes without finding her, the more irritated and short-tempered he becomes, which I feel is so realistic. No way I would be calm while trying to find my best friend in the wilderness. And finally, Wes and Raina. Without them, our main characters would not have been able to survive their plights. Both Wes and Raina were extremely important to the plot and imperative to Miley and Brent’s journeys. I might have liked them both a bit more than the main characters, if I’m being honest. My biggest compliment is that all of the characters felt very realistically-written and fleshed out.
The Setting
I had absolutely no problem visualizing the setting while listening to Gray After Dark. I could clearly picture the woods, the lake, and the cabin that Miley is held in. While Brent and Wes were roughing it in the wilderness, I could feel their grime and fatigue. The author is extremely talented in setting the scene and making the reader feel like they are in the book.
The Ending
Wow, wow, wow! The last 30% of this book was the best part. It was what made this book a thriller. I literally felt like I was on the edge of my seat while listening. Any author who can make me hold my breath gets an A+ in my book. It was so tense, and I was so tense while listening! It has been a while since a book has kept me so enraptured like the end of Gray After Dark did.
The Narrators
I listened to the audio book for Gray After Dark, and I can honestly say that they did a phenomenal job. The narrator can make or break a book for me. Megan Tusing and Will Damron never once took me out of the story. I felt like they became Miley and Brent. Because of this, I was even more invested in the outcome for the characters.
What I Didn't Like
My biggest issue with this book was the pacing. While the last 30% of this book was super exciting, the first 70% went by pretty slowly. After Miley was abducted, it was a lot of tromping through the woods for a good while. Then once they arrived at the cabin, it was a lot of just sitting around (with some violence in there, but nothing much to move the plot along). Overall, I think the book could’ve been condensed a bit to prevent the slow moments.
Final Thoughts
Overall, Gray After Dark was a great survival thriller that makes you feel like you are in the Frank Church Wilderness. While it did move a bit slowly, the nail-biting action at the end made it all worth it. Add that to the wonderful narrators and great cast, and this book firmly places itself as a 4-star read for me. I highly recommend it to anyone looking for their next thrilling read!
Have you read the book? What did you think about it? Let me know in the comments below!
