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When She Escaped: A Thriller
A thriller author discovers her novel has a chilling connection to her past.
At the luxurious Raven’s Hollow Lodge, bestselling novelist Zipporah Bazile arrives to write her next psychological thriller—a haunting story about a woman imprisoned in the basement of a remote cabin.
When Zipporah ventures beyond her suite to explore the resort, strange events occur. Someone is following her on the trails, digging online for information about her life, and slipping a mysterious powder into her drinks. Her growing romantic connection with another resort guest only deepens her paranoia. Is he part of the danger, or someone she can trust?
Shocking revelations soon threaten Zipporah's grip on reality, forcing her to question everything about her novel, past, and identity. She must confront the terrifying possibility that the ending she's writing might be her own.
An atmospheric psychological thriller with a shocking twist, perfect for Freida McFadden fans.
At the luxurious Raven’s Hollow Lodge, bestselling novelist Zipporah Bazile arrives to write her next psychological thriller—a haunting story about a woman imprisoned in the basement of a remote cabin.
When Zipporah ventures beyond her suite to explore the resort, strange events occur. Someone is following her on the trails, digging online for information about her life, and slipping a mysterious powder into her drinks. Her growing romantic connection with another resort guest only deepens her paranoia. Is he part of the danger, or someone she can trust?
Shocking revelations soon threaten Zipporah's grip on reality, forcing her to question everything about her novel, past, and identity. She must confront the terrifying possibility that the ending she's writing might be her own.
An atmospheric psychological thriller with a shocking twist, perfect for Freida McFadden fans.
Audible Audio
Published June 10, 2025
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About the author
Jenifer Ruff
64 books617 followersUSA Today bestselling author Jenifer Ruff writes dark and twisty mystery thrillers, including the award-winning Agent Victoria Heslin Series. Jenifer spends her days writing with the goal of keeping her readers eagerly turning the pages and putting the clues together. She adores peace and quiet, animals, and exercise, especially hiking. If she’s not writing, she’s probably out exploring trails with her dogs. Sign up for her Reader's Newsletter at Jenruff.com and never miss a new release.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 306 reviews
June 4, 2025
This is a book that begs to be read quickly as the action is fast-paced and completely mesmerizing. The story of Emma, a young woman who has undergone a traumatic event and has difficulty coping with her present reality has secrets and a past that she does not remember well. The story has some definite twists and surprises that I will not divulge here, but trust me when I say that they are worth reading the book to find out. Emma is an editor who goes to a mountain resort in Colorado in order to revitalize her life and perhaps restore some memories that she feels she is missing. There she meets handsome Robert Yates who plucks all of her heartstrings but also has warning bells ringing in her head. Emma has difficulty trusting people, but she doesn’t know why. She just wants to write her book, but when she suffers from writer’s block, she is more upset than seems to be warranted. The setting is perfect for this psych thriller, and the characters are believable and dynamic. I especially liked getting to know Emma’s backstory which makes the book eerie and ramps up the creep factor. With an unexpected surprise and some gory scenes, this book is not for the faint of heart, but those who enjoy psych thrillers will gobble this one up and want more from this author.
Disclaimer: I voluntarily received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review, and all opinions expressed are my own.
Disclaimer: I voluntarily received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review, and all opinions expressed are my own.
July 25, 2025
I had a wonderful experience with this book; it felt like I was reading two incredible stories all within one book!
September 21, 2025
Really interesting book with a unique twist. This one went super fast for me and definitely had lots of moments of unease for sure. I also loved almost getting like 2 books in one with how the author wrote this. after reading this book i definitely want to read more from this author ! 3.5 stars.
June 14, 2025
This thriller has a bit of a slow start, but definitely gets exciting as the plot progresses.
The mid point twist was interesting, and had me reviewing the first half of the book again with this new knowledge. I did find that giving the reveal away so early lessened the anticipation for the rest of the book. I kept waiting for something else crazy to happen but instead it’s like the last half just kept on explaining things.
I’d definitely consider reading another book by this author. The imagery and descriptions in this story definitely transported me away from reality.
Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and Greyt Companion Press for a copy.
The mid point twist was interesting, and had me reviewing the first half of the book again with this new knowledge. I did find that giving the reveal away so early lessened the anticipation for the rest of the book. I kept waiting for something else crazy to happen but instead it’s like the last half just kept on explaining things.
I’d definitely consider reading another book by this author. The imagery and descriptions in this story definitely transported me away from reality.
Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and Greyt Companion Press for a copy.
July 16, 2025
This was so dumb I'm not sure it wasn't actually written by AI. Seriously.
Let me elaborate. The main "plot twist" is so stupid, not to say problematic it boggles the mind someone (human) would dare employ it in the year 2025 (seriously -- groan. Hello? The unenlightened 1980s called, they would like their favorite thriller trope back), the characters don't feel like they spring from an actual human mind, and the whole thing is so riddled with plot holes than your (presumably human) 5th grader would be able to come up with a better story.
The writing itself felt stilted and artificial as well, there was no sense of atmosphere or dread or anything... just day after day unspooling in an endless string of excruciatingly detail-stuffed chapters the setup of which never varies -- it starts with the MC waking up and ends with her going to bed, and in between there's lots and lots of stuff that's either clunky (e.g. her interactions with Male Dreamboat Character, who is soooooo, sooooooooooooo handsome and considerate and successful and good in bed (of course) and just all-around perfect it makes you want to barf... I was hoping , but sadly, no such luck) or just sleep-inducingly boring. Like, do I care what dumb sports-related activity that stupid airhead engages in that day, or what she's wearing while doing them? Nope... just tell me she slides down some icy slope or other and breaks her neck, then I might be interested.
Even the parts that were supposed to be scary read like they were phoned in from, I don't know, Mars or so: "His word were like icy tendrils squeezing the life from her heart. The terrifying truth destroyed her entire understanding of safety and hope." If you were to look up "Tell don't show" in the Big Book of Bad Writing, this is the entry you'd find.
Apart from the play-by-play of the MC's activities of the day, we also get treated to detailed descriptions of whatever the MC and the author's wish-fulfilment idea of a male love interest are having for breakfast, lunch or dinner (100% meat-based, incidentally), so if reading about "bacon quiche and steak salad" rocks your boat, prepare to be spoiled. (Is that combination even a thing? Dead pig and cow corpse, all in one go? Ew.)
The dialogue veers between inane and downright otherworldly weird:
"'I was in Venice two summers ago. Have you ever been?' I ask before taking a sip of wine.
'I haven't, but I once boarded a flight to Rome that ended up having mechanical issues. We had to get off the plane, and the flight scheduled for the next day got delayed over and over, then canceled as well. It was such an ordeal that I gave up on Italy and hopped on the next flight to Florida instead. So, I never made it to Italy, but somehow my suitcase did. Italy is still on my list.'"
So. Two things. First: dude, the answer to that question you were asked? It's "no".
Second, if you meet someone who reacts to a simple yes/no question like "Ever been to XYZ?" by proceeding to vomit incoherent word salad all over your face: RUN. I mean, even just going, "No, but I once boarded a flight to some other place" would be a big red flag with "delulu" written all over it, but continuing on and on (and then some) with some not-quite-there story about, well, nothing... thanks, but no.
There's some interesting concepts of psychology at work here as well, for example in the description of the book-within-the-book's heroine Hannah and how she reacts to being locked up without food, fashion, company or entertainment in some evil dude's wilderness bunker. So she doesn't know when or even if she'll receive something to eat again, or whether her captor's dead and she'll have to die of starvation orstupidity exposure in that ice-cold basement hole, or whether Evil Dude will come and drag her out to finally kill her in the woods behind his house, so you can imagine the psychological state she's in... or can you? Let's hear from Hannah herself: "How long since her captor last checked on her? Twenty-four hours? More?
At home, she had three authors' manuscripts waiting for edits on her computer. If only she had her laptop, she could keep working and stay on top of the deadlines she always accepted from her boss. With all this time, she could finally write her novel."
Um. Really? That's what's going through your head? You might get raped, murdered, dismembered and thrown into the woods within the next minute or hour or day, but what you're REALLY worried about is staying on top of your deadlines?? And sure, why not get started on that novel of yours, all that "free time" down in your stinking bunker without food or even just adequate clothing...
Oh, and even if Hannah seems to be a tad la-di-da about things, we know how terribly evil that Evil Dude is, because HE SKIMPS ON TOILETRIES! Poor Hannah finds that "clumps of her long hair began to fall out, a consequence of cheap shampoo and malnourishment". That devil! Not only does he lock that poor girl up, he supplies her with inferior shampoo as well!!!
And so on.
Like I said, IMO only so-called A"I" could come up with crazy yet stupid crap like that.
As usual, my thanks to Netgalley and the publisher. I'm only giving this two stars because it managed to make me laugh very hard at least every other page, so there's that.
Also, will never buy cheap shampoo again.
Let me elaborate. The main "plot twist" is so stupid, not to say problematic it boggles the mind someone (human) would dare employ it in the year 2025 (seriously -- groan. Hello? The unenlightened 1980s called, they would like their favorite thriller trope back), the characters don't feel like they spring from an actual human mind, and the whole thing is so riddled with plot holes than your (presumably human) 5th grader would be able to come up with a better story.
The writing itself felt stilted and artificial as well, there was no sense of atmosphere or dread or anything... just day after day unspooling in an endless string of excruciatingly detail-stuffed chapters the setup of which never varies -- it starts with the MC waking up and ends with her going to bed, and in between there's lots and lots of stuff that's either clunky (e.g. her interactions with Male Dreamboat Character, who is soooooo, sooooooooooooo handsome and considerate and successful and good in bed (of course) and just all-around perfect it makes you want to barf... I was hoping , but sadly, no such luck) or just sleep-inducingly boring. Like, do I care what dumb sports-related activity that stupid airhead engages in that day, or what she's wearing while doing them? Nope... just tell me she slides down some icy slope or other and breaks her neck, then I might be interested.
Even the parts that were supposed to be scary read like they were phoned in from, I don't know, Mars or so: "His word were like icy tendrils squeezing the life from her heart. The terrifying truth destroyed her entire understanding of safety and hope." If you were to look up "Tell don't show" in the Big Book of Bad Writing, this is the entry you'd find.
Apart from the play-by-play of the MC's activities of the day, we also get treated to detailed descriptions of whatever the MC and the author's wish-fulfilment idea of a male love interest are having for breakfast, lunch or dinner (100% meat-based, incidentally), so if reading about "bacon quiche and steak salad" rocks your boat, prepare to be spoiled. (Is that combination even a thing? Dead pig and cow corpse, all in one go? Ew.)
The dialogue veers between inane and downright otherworldly weird:
"'I was in Venice two summers ago. Have you ever been?' I ask before taking a sip of wine.
'I haven't, but I once boarded a flight to Rome that ended up having mechanical issues. We had to get off the plane, and the flight scheduled for the next day got delayed over and over, then canceled as well. It was such an ordeal that I gave up on Italy and hopped on the next flight to Florida instead. So, I never made it to Italy, but somehow my suitcase did. Italy is still on my list.'"
So. Two things. First: dude, the answer to that question you were asked? It's "no".
Second, if you meet someone who reacts to a simple yes/no question like "Ever been to XYZ?" by proceeding to vomit incoherent word salad all over your face: RUN. I mean, even just going, "No, but I once boarded a flight to some other place" would be a big red flag with "delulu" written all over it, but continuing on and on (and then some) with some not-quite-there story about, well, nothing... thanks, but no.
There's some interesting concepts of psychology at work here as well, for example in the description of the book-within-the-book's heroine Hannah and how she reacts to being locked up without food, fashion, company or entertainment in some evil dude's wilderness bunker. So she doesn't know when or even if she'll receive something to eat again, or whether her captor's dead and she'll have to die of starvation or
At home, she had three authors' manuscripts waiting for edits on her computer. If only she had her laptop, she could keep working and stay on top of the deadlines she always accepted from her boss. With all this time, she could finally write her novel."
Um. Really? That's what's going through your head? You might get raped, murdered, dismembered and thrown into the woods within the next minute or hour or day, but what you're REALLY worried about is staying on top of your deadlines?? And sure, why not get started on that novel of yours, all that "free time" down in your stinking bunker without food or even just adequate clothing...
Oh, and even if Hannah seems to be a tad la-di-da about things, we know how terribly evil that Evil Dude is, because HE SKIMPS ON TOILETRIES! Poor Hannah finds that "clumps of her long hair began to fall out, a consequence of cheap shampoo and malnourishment". That devil! Not only does he lock that poor girl up, he supplies her with inferior shampoo as well!!!
And so on.
Like I said, IMO only so-called A"I" could come up with crazy yet stupid crap like that.
As usual, my thanks to Netgalley and the publisher. I'm only giving this two stars because it managed to make me laugh very hard at least every other page, so there's that.
Also, will never buy cheap shampoo again.
May 24, 2025
4.25 ⭐️
An absolutely twisted mind bender page turner!!
First book I’ve read by Jenifer Ruff and it was unputdownable. All I will disclose about the premise is this…
A secluded mountain cabin.
A famous author.
A truth best left hidden.
This is a book you will want to add to your ‘to be read’ list. It’s that gripping. Although I’ve read other psychological suspense novels with this premise, Ruff’s execution was what set this book apart. One reason this stood out was the book within a book element. This provided a more enriched story while it explored different narrative voices and added layered meaning to the main premise of the story. On top of that, the inner story revealed the backstory of the characters and events, and the perspectives of the various characters. The second reason this book stood out was the short, fast paced chapters. Rudd created a sense of urgency with the pacing; and as a result, I was thoroughly engaged throughout. There was never a dull moment. And the third reason I thought this story stood out was the atmospheric setting Ruff generated. The emotions, feelings and moods she conveyed of the main characters had me compelled to keep reading making this book utterly hard to put down. Above all reasons, the ambiguous psychological depth of this story had me pondering at length. Without giving too much away, Ruff brilliantly explored a dark mysterious theme that made this story all consuming.
All said, I devoured When She Escaped in a day. Jenifer Ruff delivered a superbly twisted psychological suspense novel that had me engrossed from the very start to the very end. Brilliantly executed!
Thanks to Net Galley & Greyt Companion Press for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
An absolutely twisted mind bender page turner!!
First book I’ve read by Jenifer Ruff and it was unputdownable. All I will disclose about the premise is this…
A secluded mountain cabin.
A famous author.
A truth best left hidden.
This is a book you will want to add to your ‘to be read’ list. It’s that gripping. Although I’ve read other psychological suspense novels with this premise, Ruff’s execution was what set this book apart. One reason this stood out was the book within a book element. This provided a more enriched story while it explored different narrative voices and added layered meaning to the main premise of the story. On top of that, the inner story revealed the backstory of the characters and events, and the perspectives of the various characters. The second reason this book stood out was the short, fast paced chapters. Rudd created a sense of urgency with the pacing; and as a result, I was thoroughly engaged throughout. There was never a dull moment. And the third reason I thought this story stood out was the atmospheric setting Ruff generated. The emotions, feelings and moods she conveyed of the main characters had me compelled to keep reading making this book utterly hard to put down. Above all reasons, the ambiguous psychological depth of this story had me pondering at length. Without giving too much away, Ruff brilliantly explored a dark mysterious theme that made this story all consuming.
All said, I devoured When She Escaped in a day. Jenifer Ruff delivered a superbly twisted psychological suspense novel that had me engrossed from the very start to the very end. Brilliantly executed!
Thanks to Net Galley & Greyt Companion Press for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
November 22, 2025
Dudeeee!!! What a mystery ride.
July 26, 2025
Interesting psychological thriller!
June 15, 2025
⭐️⭐️½ – When She Escaped by Jenifer Ruff
A psychological thriller set in a luxury mountain resort, When She Escaped had the bones of an intriguing premise—a bestselling author isolating herself to write a new novel about a woman imprisoned in a remote cabin, only to start losing her grip on reality. But unfortunately, the execution didn’t live up to its potential.
The opening line—“Hannah Williams is going to die. I have to kill her.”—was jarring and awkward, immediately throwing me off. The cover, which didn’t match the plot, also gave away key elements and left me confused about what kind of story I was reading. While the synopsis teases a remote, secluded setting, Zipporah is actually at an upscale lodge, which undermines the tension from the outset.
I was initially drawn to the meta concept of a writer entangled in her own thriller, and the mysterious guest she grows close to—an angle that could’ve provided rich suspense. But what followed was a muddled narrative that lacked cohesion, with a twist that landed too early and drained the rest of the story of any real tension.
The characters, especially Zipporah and Robert, felt flat and emotionally distant. Their connection lacked chemistry and depth, and there wasn’t enough genuine character development to make their story compelling. Much of the book relied on telling rather than showing, which made it hard to connect or feel invested in the stakes.
The writing style also felt bloated at times, with unnecessary details that slowed the pacing. The major twist came halfway through the book and while it was unexpected, it ultimately derailed the suspense rather than heightening it.
And unfortunately, the ending didn't offer the punch needed to redeem the earlier flaws.
Thank you to the author, the publisher (Greyt Companion Press), and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this ARC.
A psychological thriller set in a luxury mountain resort, When She Escaped had the bones of an intriguing premise—a bestselling author isolating herself to write a new novel about a woman imprisoned in a remote cabin, only to start losing her grip on reality. But unfortunately, the execution didn’t live up to its potential.
The opening line—“Hannah Williams is going to die. I have to kill her.”—was jarring and awkward, immediately throwing me off. The cover, which didn’t match the plot, also gave away key elements and left me confused about what kind of story I was reading. While the synopsis teases a remote, secluded setting, Zipporah is actually at an upscale lodge, which undermines the tension from the outset.
I was initially drawn to the meta concept of a writer entangled in her own thriller, and the mysterious guest she grows close to—an angle that could’ve provided rich suspense. But what followed was a muddled narrative that lacked cohesion, with a twist that landed too early and drained the rest of the story of any real tension.
The characters, especially Zipporah and Robert, felt flat and emotionally distant. Their connection lacked chemistry and depth, and there wasn’t enough genuine character development to make their story compelling. Much of the book relied on telling rather than showing, which made it hard to connect or feel invested in the stakes.
The writing style also felt bloated at times, with unnecessary details that slowed the pacing. The major twist came halfway through the book and while it was unexpected, it ultimately derailed the suspense rather than heightening it.
And unfortunately, the ending didn't offer the punch needed to redeem the earlier flaws.
Thank you to the author, the publisher (Greyt Companion Press), and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this ARC.
September 8, 2025
It was interesting at first but then found myself dragging to finish it. Not too many thriller aspects throughout the book to keep me hooked for more than 30 min at a time which is why it took me forever to finish.
June 19, 2025
We're following a famous author Zipporah who takes a retreat to a luxurious lodge to write her next psychological thriller which is a story about a woman who is kidnapped and held captive in the basement of a remote cabin. There are "book within a book" chapters where we get to read pages from the manuscript she's writing. The other chapters follow the author while she explores the resort and enjoys other activities between writing. She meets a man who is also staying at the resort, and they hit it off quick. They start having dinners together and going on excursions. She doesn't tell him her real name as she doesn't want anyone to know who she is. Strange things start happening and she thinks her new friend is digging too deep and may have found out who she is and she's not sure she can trust him. A shocking twist fractures Zipporah's reality, and she starts to spiral and question everything about herself.
This book was very gripping and fast paced. I read it in one day. I didn't see where the plot was going and was pleasantly surprised by the twist. I do feel like the twist came in a bit early but overall, I had a great time reading this. I would definitely read from this author again.
Thank you NetGalley & Greyt Companion Press for an eARC of this book in exchange of my honest review. #WhenSheEscapedAThriller #NetGalley
This book was very gripping and fast paced. I read it in one day. I didn't see where the plot was going and was pleasantly surprised by the twist. I do feel like the twist came in a bit early but overall, I had a great time reading this. I would definitely read from this author again.
Thank you NetGalley & Greyt Companion Press for an eARC of this book in exchange of my honest review. #WhenSheEscapedAThriller #NetGalley
May 29, 2025
⋆ ˚｡⋆୨୧˚ 3 stars ˚୨୧⋆｡˚ ⋆
this thriller had me hooked from the very first sentence with its unsettling premise. the short chapters in this book made it very easy to fly through the story while saying "just one more chapter" and then reading more than the one said chapter. also, the approach to this thriller was new and unique to me. i have never read anything like this before.
on the other hand, something i didn't really enjoy was the fact that the major twist happened at about the halfway point of the book. don't get me wrong, i was not expecting it and i was definitely shocked, but it wasn't the same afterwards because the thriller lost its suspenseful tension. i was hoping for another twist at the end to make up for it, but unfortunately that didn't happen. i was still invested in the story because i was curious how it was all going to end.
that being said, this was still an enjoyable and gripping thriller, but personally, i prefer when the twist happens towards the end of the book, and that the book keeps me on the edge of my seat for a little longer.
˗ˋˏ ୨୧ thank you to NetGalley, Greyt Companion Press, and Jenifer Ruff for the digital arc in exchange for an honest review! ୨୧ ˎˊ˗
this thriller had me hooked from the very first sentence with its unsettling premise. the short chapters in this book made it very easy to fly through the story while saying "just one more chapter" and then reading more than the one said chapter. also, the approach to this thriller was new and unique to me. i have never read anything like this before.
on the other hand, something i didn't really enjoy was the fact that the major twist happened at about the halfway point of the book. don't get me wrong, i was not expecting it and i was definitely shocked, but it wasn't the same afterwards because the thriller lost its suspenseful tension. i was hoping for another twist at the end to make up for it, but unfortunately that didn't happen. i was still invested in the story because i was curious how it was all going to end.
that being said, this was still an enjoyable and gripping thriller, but personally, i prefer when the twist happens towards the end of the book, and that the book keeps me on the edge of my seat for a little longer.
˗ˋˏ ୨୧ thank you to NetGalley, Greyt Companion Press, and Jenifer Ruff for the digital arc in exchange for an honest review! ୨୧ ˎˊ˗
May 4, 2025
I enjoyed this book. This talented author has created another gripping story that will have you questioning everything you think you know. The story starts slowly as we are following an author's story, this means as well as experiencing her stay at the lodge we also get treated to chapters of her manuscript as she writes them. There is tension in both settings, which builds the story up and keeps the reader reading. Like normal with this author, things take a twist and will have you saying just one more chapter. As everything has relevance it's hard to write a review with out giving the plot away, so I will just finish by saying it's a must read book.
Zipporah has a number of published books under her belt but still wanting to keep her anonymity she checks into a mountain lodge under an assumed name, to write her next book. The story that seemed to write its self hits a stumbling block and Zipporah decides a break is just what she needs. The problem is the more time she spends out side her room the more she feels uncomfortable and something is wrong with the tranquil setting. Can Zipporah figure out what's wrong before something bad goes wrong? And what about finding the ending to her latest block buster?
I was given this free review copy book at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
Zipporah has a number of published books under her belt but still wanting to keep her anonymity she checks into a mountain lodge under an assumed name, to write her next book. The story that seemed to write its self hits a stumbling block and Zipporah decides a break is just what she needs. The problem is the more time she spends out side her room the more she feels uncomfortable and something is wrong with the tranquil setting. Can Zipporah figure out what's wrong before something bad goes wrong? And what about finding the ending to her latest block buster?
I was given this free review copy book at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
November 24, 2025
3.5 ⭐️ i ate this one uppp. very different from anything i’ve ever read, lowkey enjoyed it and crushed it in one day.
June 12, 2025
I am giving this book two stars only because the writing style drew me in, and it was a quick read. The twist in this thriller was weak. It did not wow me at all. I personally don’t like thrillers that involve a character having multiple personalities. I wouldn’t recommend this book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 15, 2025
Fourth AES book club book. It was good but I like the other ones we’ve read better! I feel like the back 50% could’ve been 100 pages shorter. This would have been a good novella. Once I guessed the twist everything was very predictable afterwards.
dnf
July 13, 2025DNF about an hour into the audiobook.
Why do I care about Hannah’s story? ☠️ Those sections were waaaaay too long and dragged the book.
Why do I care about Hannah’s story? ☠️ Those sections were waaaaay too long and dragged the book.
May 29, 2025
I had the chance to read an advance copy of When She Escaped by Jenifer Ruff, a psychological thriller that immediately grabbed my attention with its chilling premise. The story follows a young woman who flees from captivity, setting off a suspenseful chain of events that draws in both law enforcement and those with secrets of their own. The setup is tense and layered, and early on, the story pulls you right into its mystery.
One of the strong points of this novel is its pacing. The short chapters made it incredibly easy to keep flipping pages. I found myself saying “just one more chapter” more than a few times. Ruff does a solid job building suspense, and the writing itself is smooth and engaging. I appreciated that the narrative stayed tight and didn’t meander, which isn’t always the case in this genre.
That said, the major twist landed around the halfway point, and for me, that shifted the momentum of the story. It didn’t fall apart, but it definitely lost some of the tension and urgency that made the first half so compelling. I stayed invested enough to see how things played out, but I wasn’t on the edge of my seat like I hoped to be.
In fairness, I’ve read thrillers that didn’t deliver nearly as well, and Ruff’s writing is stronger than some of the big-name authors who dominate bestseller lists. So while this book didn’t completely wow me, I still found it to be a quick and entertaining read. If you’re in the mood for something fast-paced and easy to get into, this could be a good pick. Just don’t expect it to keep ramping up all the way through.
Overall, an enjoyable read with a solid premise that just didn’t fully live up to its early promise. A respectable three stars from me.
Thank you to NetGalley and Greyt Companion Press for the advance copy. All opinions are my own.
One of the strong points of this novel is its pacing. The short chapters made it incredibly easy to keep flipping pages. I found myself saying “just one more chapter” more than a few times. Ruff does a solid job building suspense, and the writing itself is smooth and engaging. I appreciated that the narrative stayed tight and didn’t meander, which isn’t always the case in this genre.
That said, the major twist landed around the halfway point, and for me, that shifted the momentum of the story. It didn’t fall apart, but it definitely lost some of the tension and urgency that made the first half so compelling. I stayed invested enough to see how things played out, but I wasn’t on the edge of my seat like I hoped to be.
In fairness, I’ve read thrillers that didn’t deliver nearly as well, and Ruff’s writing is stronger than some of the big-name authors who dominate bestseller lists. So while this book didn’t completely wow me, I still found it to be a quick and entertaining read. If you’re in the mood for something fast-paced and easy to get into, this could be a good pick. Just don’t expect it to keep ramping up all the way through.
Overall, an enjoyable read with a solid premise that just didn’t fully live up to its early promise. A respectable three stars from me.
Thank you to NetGalley and Greyt Companion Press for the advance copy. All opinions are my own.
September 7, 2025
This book was FASCINATING.
It wasn’t an “edge of your seat thriller” (at least for me) It leaned more into the psychological side of things, which has me HOOKED. I could not put this down, i just had to know where this story was going.
Without spoiling the big twist, this felt like a story within a story. Almost a mystery that we got to solve and experience along side the main characters. I was completely immersed and captivated on where the author was taking us on this journey with the FMC. And on that note, the author did an amazing job telling this story with varying characters and multiple POV’s.
It was fast paced, easy to follow, and had me grasping for more the whole way through.
While not as “thrilling” or as much of a rollercoaster as I usually prefer, this book had me rooting for character’s triumph, while also having me invested in the psychological aspect of these characters.
And now…goodbye productivity, hello obsessive backlist binge. Because I absolutely HAVE to read more of her books 🤩
It wasn’t an “edge of your seat thriller” (at least for me) It leaned more into the psychological side of things, which has me HOOKED. I could not put this down, i just had to know where this story was going.
Without spoiling the big twist, this felt like a story within a story. Almost a mystery that we got to solve and experience along side the main characters. I was completely immersed and captivated on where the author was taking us on this journey with the FMC. And on that note, the author did an amazing job telling this story with varying characters and multiple POV’s.
It was fast paced, easy to follow, and had me grasping for more the whole way through.
While not as “thrilling” or as much of a rollercoaster as I usually prefer, this book had me rooting for character’s triumph, while also having me invested in the psychological aspect of these characters.
And now…goodbye productivity, hello obsessive backlist binge. Because I absolutely HAVE to read more of her books 🤩
May 24, 2025
This book was not what I expected and I can confidently say, I have never read a book like this. I enjoyed the unique twist to a common thriller trope. A woman goes to a resort to work on her new novel but not everything is as it seems.
Part one of the book was 2-3 stars, while parts 2 and 3 were 4 stars. The character’s paranoia, along with the constant repetition, made part one hard to read. I respect that it was written in the mindset of the narrator, but I found it annoying. That being said, I kept reading to figure out what happened. The novel within the novel was interesting and added another layer that kept me hooked.
Thank you to NetGalley and Xpresso Book Tours for providing me with an advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review.
Part one of the book was 2-3 stars, while parts 2 and 3 were 4 stars. The character’s paranoia, along with the constant repetition, made part one hard to read. I respect that it was written in the mindset of the narrator, but I found it annoying. That being said, I kept reading to figure out what happened. The novel within the novel was interesting and added another layer that kept me hooked.
Thank you to NetGalley and Xpresso Book Tours for providing me with an advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review.
June 13, 2025
I was already highly intrigued by the cover - it just looked like I was going to enjoy it - and I’m happy to say this book did not disappoint. What an absolute gripping, fast-paced banger! I ate this up.
The story grabs you from the very first page and doesn’t let go. The short, punchy chapters make it super easy to fly through, and you just keep thinking, “Okay, one more…” until suddenly you're at the end.
One of my favorite aspects was the setting: a secluded mountain cabin. It adds this constant sense of unease that really creeps under your skin. Combine that with Emma’s background story and you’ve got the perfect recipe for seriously unsettling vibes.
I also really liked the ''book within a book'' part. It added another layer of mystery and kept me second-guessing everything. Just when you think you’ve got it figured out, it flips the script again.
Highly recommend if you're into thrillers that keep you guessing and don’t let up!
Many thanks to NetGalley and Greyt Companion Press for the digital copy in exchange for my honest review.
The story grabs you from the very first page and doesn’t let go. The short, punchy chapters make it super easy to fly through, and you just keep thinking, “Okay, one more…” until suddenly you're at the end.
One of my favorite aspects was the setting: a secluded mountain cabin. It adds this constant sense of unease that really creeps under your skin. Combine that with Emma’s background story and you’ve got the perfect recipe for seriously unsettling vibes.
I also really liked the ''book within a book'' part. It added another layer of mystery and kept me second-guessing everything. Just when you think you’ve got it figured out, it flips the script again.
Highly recommend if you're into thrillers that keep you guessing and don’t let up!
Many thanks to NetGalley and Greyt Companion Press for the digital copy in exchange for my honest review.
May 8, 2025
First, thank you Netgalley and Greyt Companion Press for this ARC!
Oh wow... what a book! Here we meet Zip, a famous author checking into this retreat to work on her new novel - a story about a woman being abducted and held captive in a cabin in the woods. But Zip feels paranoid and being stalked, and then, while she struggles from a writer's block, strange things start to happen at the retreat that make her start to question her sanity...
I can just say, I did not see that plot twist coming. My jaw was literally on the floor! You should all go and read this book once it does come out! I promise you are not going to regret it!
Oh wow... what a book! Here we meet Zip, a famous author checking into this retreat to work on her new novel - a story about a woman being abducted and held captive in a cabin in the woods. But Zip feels paranoid and being stalked, and then, while she struggles from a writer's block, strange things start to happen at the retreat that make her start to question her sanity...
I can just say, I did not see that plot twist coming. My jaw was literally on the floor! You should all go and read this book once it does come out! I promise you are not going to regret it!
June 8, 2025
rounding up from 4.5 stars
This is the first standalone I've read from Jenifer Ruff. I love the Agent Victoria Heslin series! I should have known that Jenifer never disappoints! This book grabbed me from the very beginning and I ended up reading it straight through. It's one of those books that has you suspecting everyone and trusting no one. Everyone seems to have ulterior motives. then the book took an unexpected turn about halfway through. This wasn't just a plot twist, it was a complete mindbender! At first I wasn't sure if I liked where it was going, but I ended up loving it!
Thank you to Jenifer Ruff. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
This is the first standalone I've read from Jenifer Ruff. I love the Agent Victoria Heslin series! I should have known that Jenifer never disappoints! This book grabbed me from the very beginning and I ended up reading it straight through. It's one of those books that has you suspecting everyone and trusting no one. Everyone seems to have ulterior motives. then the book took an unexpected turn about halfway through. This wasn't just a plot twist, it was a complete mindbender! At first I wasn't sure if I liked where it was going, but I ended up loving it!
Thank you to Jenifer Ruff. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
June 12, 2025
This book was good!! I got it as a NetGalley ARC but it had so many typos but made the book almost unreadable. I waited for release and got the audio.
I am so glad I got into this book as it was such a rollercoaster ride with the plot and emotions. By the end of the book my jaw was on the ground.
I didn’t really remember what this book was about and I think that is the best way to go into this book. Going into this book blind will leave you with the same emotions I had.
This book will leave you not wanting to go to a gas station alone ever again.
Genre: Thriller
APK: Ebook
Pages: 280
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
Series or Standalone: Stand-alone
I am so glad I got into this book as it was such a rollercoaster ride with the plot and emotions. By the end of the book my jaw was on the ground.
I didn’t really remember what this book was about and I think that is the best way to go into this book. Going into this book blind will leave you with the same emotions I had.
This book will leave you not wanting to go to a gas station alone ever again.
Genre: Thriller
APK: Ebook
Pages: 280
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
Series or Standalone: Stand-alone
December 8, 2025
This book got me out of a reading slump, it was fast paced, the setting was interesting, and honestly i didn’t know where it was going in the beginning.
However, around the middle, when we got the revelation, i felt like it started to drag a little, i didn’t mind it though and was still having fun with the book and the characters.
I had this feeling like something gotta go horribly wrong at the end but the ending was good lol
So yeah it’s quick, fun, good for a quick read.
However, around the middle, when we got the revelation, i felt like it started to drag a little, i didn’t mind it though and was still having fun with the book and the characters.
I had this feeling like something gotta go horribly wrong at the end but the ending was good lol
So yeah it’s quick, fun, good for a quick read.
May 20, 2025
I have been hooked on Jenifer Ruff’s books since book 1 of Agent Victoria Heslin and when she said she was writing a stand alone thriller – I said Ima get that one too – This book did not disappoint one bit, it took twists and turns that blew my mind. I heard myself saying out loud on many occasions, I didn’t see that coming! Loved it is an understatement! Thank you NetGalley for the ARC #JeniferRuff #WhenSheEscaped #NetGalley
May 21, 2025
ARC REVIEW:
This was a great thriller! I enjoyed the suspense and trying to figure out what was going right along with the FMC! I didn’t see that twist coming either! A complete page-turner with short chapters, and writing that keeps you wanting more!
Thank you NetGalley and Greyt Companion Press for the gifted copy of this book!
This was a great thriller! I enjoyed the suspense and trying to figure out what was going right along with the FMC! I didn’t see that twist coming either! A complete page-turner with short chapters, and writing that keeps you wanting more!
Thank you NetGalley and Greyt Companion Press for the gifted copy of this book!
September 29, 2025
Zip Brazil’s an author writing her next thriller novel and escapes to Ravens Hollow to write. She finds herself thinking someone is following her and she’s starting to suspect her New Romantic interest at the resort. Right when I felt the story needed a nudge - BAM there it was and wow what a ride! Loved this book!
December 15, 2025
4.5🌟 (rounded up for GR)
I binged the hell out of this audiobook!! I was instantly captivated and could not set it down. This was such a great thriller with some really incredible twists. The characters and how they come together and reveal their true identities was exceptional. The way it's written was really neat, flipping between what's currently happening and what's being written in the manuscript. I loved the ending as well - it was beautifully tied up in my opinion. Overall, this was an awesome ride and I will definitely be seeking out other books by Jennifer Ruff.
I binged the hell out of this audiobook!! I was instantly captivated and could not set it down. This was such a great thriller with some really incredible twists. The characters and how they come together and reveal their true identities was exceptional. The way it's written was really neat, flipping between what's currently happening and what's being written in the manuscript. I loved the ending as well - it was beautifully tied up in my opinion. Overall, this was an awesome ride and I will definitely be seeking out other books by Jennifer Ruff.
May 11, 2025
ARC READ - NetGallery / Greyt Companion Press
A gripping thriller suspense novel. Another favourite from Jennifer Ruff. Impossible to put down and that twist? It completely got me!
A gripping thriller suspense novel. Another favourite from Jennifer Ruff. Impossible to put down and that twist? It completely got me!
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