Run

I can best describe this as a running-from-zombies journey without zombies, but with a much more dangerous opponent - regular people. People that are alive, with guns galore, and with a strange and sudden desire to kill discriminately. People that were your friend at a barbeque just a day earlier, now coming after you after disposing of their family first. The worst of human nature is explored, with other unaffected still posing a signicant threat as well.

Main dude is Jack Colclough. He isn't perfect, but he's a perfectly good hero. His family is falling apart, but when their names are suddenly read out on the radio as targets, he and his family have no choice but to band together and to try to survive as best as they can, in a world that is out to get them. I felt for him, rooted for him, and wished that he would remove his plot armour at a few points throughout the story.

His wife Dee is pretty Deecent overall. The kids, however, feel more like heavy luggage they have to carry around. Close to zero agency, standing around and simply existing as a motivation for their parents to keep on going. Cole had at least a little significance to what was happening, but I feel like whatever he had going on was not explained as elaborately as I would have liked.

There were some parts that dragged a bit - a bit too road-trippy, but hey, they are on the run so I can forgive them actually being on the run being told too. I just wish some of the more exciting locations they got to were explored a little more. I felt like every time they hit a milestone and actually got somewhere, they were only there for about five minutes and then it was back to being in a car; back on that endless road trip.

What I do love about this story is how full circle it is. It ends where it begins and begins where it ends, and only after reading it through, you can truly understand those first chapters properly. What I don't love is that I now need to find the time to read more Blake Crouch novels!