What do you think?
Rate this book
Run for Your Life
2 hours, 3 minutes
A gripping short psychological thriller from USA Today bestselling author Lucinda Berry about how our safest routines can become our deadliest traps.
Riley Fletcher’s morning run should have been ordinary—muscle memory, fresh air, home by breakfast. Instead, she wakes bound and bleeding in a lakeside cabin, her captor a ghost from her past: Dawson Miller, a former coworker with nothing left to lose.
Escape seems simple until her injuries leave her dependent on the very man who took her. As he tends her wounds with unsettling care, Riley realizes this isn’t random violence. Dawson has a plan—one that’s been carefully constructed, methodically prepared. And somehow, she’s essential to it.
Trapped and injured, Riley must find the strength to outwit her captor and unravel his twisted scheme before it’s too late. Because if she doesn’t stop him, no one will.
A gripping short psychological thriller from USA Today bestselling author Lucinda Berry about how our safest routines can become our deadliest traps.
Riley Fletcher’s morning run should have been ordinary—muscle memory, fresh air, home by breakfast. Instead, she wakes bound and bleeding in a lakeside cabin, her captor a ghost from her past: Dawson Miller, a former coworker with nothing left to lose.
Escape seems simple until her injuries leave her dependent on the very man who took her. As he tends her wounds with unsettling care, Riley realizes this isn’t random violence. Dawson has a plan—one that’s been carefully constructed, methodically prepared. And somehow, she’s essential to it.
Trapped and injured, Riley must find the strength to outwit her captor and unravel his twisted scheme before it’s too late. Because if she doesn’t stop him, no one will.
Audible Audio
First published July 7, 2026
About the author
Lucinda Berry
34 books24.1k followersUSA Today bestselling author Lucinda Berry is a former psychologist and leading researcher in childhood trauma. She’s written multiple bestsellers reaching millions of readers worldwide. Some of her bestselling works include The Perfect Child, Saving Noah, When She Returned, The Best of Friends, and Keep Your Friends Close. Her books have been optioned for film and translated into several languages.
If Berry isn’t chasing after her son, you can find her running through Los Angeles, prepping for her next marathon. To hear about her upcoming releases and other author news, visit her on social media (@lucindaberryauthor) or sign up for her newsletter at https://lucindaberry.com.
If Berry isn’t chasing after her son, you can find her running through Los Angeles, prepping for her next marathon. To hear about her upcoming releases and other author news, visit her on social media (@lucindaberryauthor) or sign up for her newsletter at https://lucindaberry.com.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 876 reviews
July 11, 2026
I know I say this for most short stories, but.. seriously I want a full novel version of this!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
THE HEALTHCARE SYSTEM IS A JOKE
In Run For Your Life, a typical day for Riley is going for her morning run, but today things take a turn for the worse when she wakes up after being hit and is bound and bleeding in a lakeside cabin. She knows her captor and she needs to find out why he is doing what his doing and will she be able to escape.
For such a short story this read really packed a punch! The action starts from go and doesn’t let up till the last pages. I love a thrilling survival story and this book delivered.
The audiobook was fantastic and the narrator Elena Rey really made me feel claustrophobic and reeling hoping that Riley would be able to find a way to get away from her captor.
For 72 pages it was detailed and impactful and I loved how the story just flowed effortlessly well.
I was expecting to feel sad and have compassion for the situation, but I did and I really hope that the healthcare system in America improves because innocent people are suffering unwillingly due to circumstances that is no fault of their own.
4.25 ⭐
Thank you so much to Brilliance Publishing, Lucinda Berry and Netgalley for giving me an ALC
In Run For Your Life, a typical day for Riley is going for her morning run, but today things take a turn for the worse when she wakes up after being hit and is bound and bleeding in a lakeside cabin. She knows her captor and she needs to find out why he is doing what his doing and will she be able to escape.
For such a short story this read really packed a punch! The action starts from go and doesn’t let up till the last pages. I love a thrilling survival story and this book delivered.
The audiobook was fantastic and the narrator Elena Rey really made me feel claustrophobic and reeling hoping that Riley would be able to find a way to get away from her captor.
For 72 pages it was detailed and impactful and I loved how the story just flowed effortlessly well.
I was expecting to feel sad and have compassion for the situation, but I did and I really hope that the healthcare system in America improves because innocent people are suffering unwillingly due to circumstances that is no fault of their own.
4.25 ⭐
Thank you so much to Brilliance Publishing, Lucinda Berry and Netgalley for giving me an ALC
Read
July 8, 2026For such a short story, it did not waste time. It was fast-paced, tense, and easy to fly through in one sitting, but the ending still managed to hit me harder than I expected.
What got me was that by the end, I understood everyone’s perspective. That does not excuse anyone’s choices, but it made the whole thing feel more human, which is probably why I got a little emotional. Rude, honestly.
Elena Rey was phenomenal. Her narration made the story feel even more convincing, and she brought so much emotion to the performance.
I’d recommend it to listeners who enjoy short psychological thrillers, survival stories, fast pacing, emotional endings, and strong audiobook narration.
What got me was that by the end, I understood everyone’s perspective. That does not excuse anyone’s choices, but it made the whole thing feel more human, which is probably why I got a little emotional. Rude, honestly.
Elena Rey was phenomenal. Her narration made the story feel even more convincing, and she brought so much emotion to the performance.
I’d recommend it to listeners who enjoy short psychological thrillers, survival stories, fast pacing, emotional endings, and strong audiobook narration.
July 8, 2026
Thoughts | 3.5 ⭐️
For 72 pages this was a decent somewhat emotional story highlighting corrupt health care, I did feel that it ended rather abruptly; would've loved a full length read but nevertheless still enjoyable solid 4 stars vibes wise storyline 3 stars
Plot Summary
Riley Fletcher’s routine morning run takes a terrifying turn when she wakes up injured and held captive by Dawson Miller, a former colleague with a dangerous plan. As she struggles to escape, Riley realises her abduction is far from random. With time running out, she must uncover Dawson’s motives and outsmart him before his carefully planned scheme is carried out.
My Bookstagram
For 72 pages this was a decent somewhat emotional story highlighting corrupt health care, I did feel that it ended rather abruptly; would've loved a full length read but nevertheless still enjoyable solid 4 stars vibes wise storyline 3 stars
Plot Summary
Riley Fletcher’s routine morning run takes a terrifying turn when she wakes up injured and held captive by Dawson Miller, a former colleague with a dangerous plan. As she struggles to escape, Riley realises her abduction is far from random. With time running out, she must uncover Dawson’s motives and outsmart him before his carefully planned scheme is carried out.
My Bookstagram
July 7, 2026
Being a short story at just 72 pages, I went in not expecting a whole lot, but was pleasantly surprised by how much of an impression it left.
Riley heads out for her usual morning run before waking injured and held captive. I initially thought this was going to be a straightforward kidnapping story where we simply watch the protagonist try to escape, but it quickly becomes something much heavier, exploring grief, trauma and the devastating consequences of a broken healthcare system.
If you're looking for a quick survival thriller with a little more substance than you'd expect, this is well worth the hour or so it takes to read.
Riley heads out for her usual morning run before waking injured and held captive. I initially thought this was going to be a straightforward kidnapping story where we simply watch the protagonist try to escape, but it quickly becomes something much heavier, exploring grief, trauma and the devastating consequences of a broken healthcare system.
If you're looking for a quick survival thriller with a little more substance than you'd expect, this is well worth the hour or so it takes to read.
July 13, 2026
3.75 ⭐️- This was fast paced and to the point. It’s a good listen if you’re on a short road trip or have some chores to get done (I think I listened to it in like an hour and half). I’m just greedy with Lucinda Berry and of course I want more. This could be a whole novel and I’d eat it up. But I’ll take a short story.
July 19, 2026
if I was kidnapped, I would also fight for my life just to get back home to my cats.
July 16, 2026
3.5 I wish it was a full novel
July 9, 2026
Run for Your Life materialized in front of me like a shadow in a locked room, whispered “run,” and then politely handed me a cup of tea. Because Run for Your Life by Lucinda Berry is exactly that kind of unhinged novella: short, sharp, and designed to make you question every routine you’ve ever had.
I finished this book feeling like someone had replaced my brain with a live wire and then dared me to touch it.
This is Lucinda Berry in her purest form: no filler, no fluff, no emotional safety net. Just a woman going for her normal morning run and suddenly waking up bound, bleeding, and trapped in a lakeside cabin with a man who should have stayed a footnote in her past.
Riley Fletcher is the kind of heroine who thinks she’s having a normal day—muscle memory, fresh air, home by breakfast—until the universe says, “Actually, sweetheart, let’s traumatize you.” She wakes up injured, disoriented, and staring into the eyes of Dawson Miller, a former coworker who has absolutely snapped, shattered, and rearranged himself into something dangerous.
And here’s where Berry does her signature psychological chokehold.
Dawson isn’t a random attacker.
He isn’t chaotic for chaos’s sake.
He’s a man with a plan—methodical, prepared, and terrifyingly calm.
He tends Riley’s wounds with unsettling care, the kind that makes your skin crawl because it’s not kindness—it’s control. He needs her alive. He needs her functional. He needs her for something she doesn’t understand yet.
The tension is suffocating.
The cabin feels like a trap disguised as a sanctuary.
Every interaction is a psychological chess match where Riley is injured, terrified, and forced to rely on the very man who abducted her.
Berry thrives in this space—the claustrophobic, intimate horror of being trapped with someone who believes they’re justified. Dawson’s twisted scheme unfolds piece by piece, and Riley has to outthink him while bleeding, terrified, and painfully aware that no one is coming to save her.
It’s fast.
It’s brutal without being graphic.
It’s psychological warfare in 72 pages.
By the end, I wasn’t reading—I was sprinting emotionally, clutching the novella like it might bite me. Berry knows exactly how to weaponize tension, and she does it with surgical precision.
I finished this book feeling like someone had replaced my brain with a live wire and then dared me to touch it.
This is Lucinda Berry in her purest form: no filler, no fluff, no emotional safety net. Just a woman going for her normal morning run and suddenly waking up bound, bleeding, and trapped in a lakeside cabin with a man who should have stayed a footnote in her past.
Riley Fletcher is the kind of heroine who thinks she’s having a normal day—muscle memory, fresh air, home by breakfast—until the universe says, “Actually, sweetheart, let’s traumatize you.” She wakes up injured, disoriented, and staring into the eyes of Dawson Miller, a former coworker who has absolutely snapped, shattered, and rearranged himself into something dangerous.
And here’s where Berry does her signature psychological chokehold.
Dawson isn’t a random attacker.
He isn’t chaotic for chaos’s sake.
He’s a man with a plan—methodical, prepared, and terrifyingly calm.
He tends Riley’s wounds with unsettling care, the kind that makes your skin crawl because it’s not kindness—it’s control. He needs her alive. He needs her functional. He needs her for something she doesn’t understand yet.
The tension is suffocating.
The cabin feels like a trap disguised as a sanctuary.
Every interaction is a psychological chess match where Riley is injured, terrified, and forced to rely on the very man who abducted her.
Berry thrives in this space—the claustrophobic, intimate horror of being trapped with someone who believes they’re justified. Dawson’s twisted scheme unfolds piece by piece, and Riley has to outthink him while bleeding, terrified, and painfully aware that no one is coming to save her.
It’s fast.
It’s brutal without being graphic.
It’s psychological warfare in 72 pages.
By the end, I wasn’t reading—I was sprinting emotionally, clutching the novella like it might bite me. Berry knows exactly how to weaponize tension, and she does it with surgical precision.
July 8, 2026
The author posted a tiktok saying this book was in memory and in honor of two women who were abducted and killed on runs. I don’t know how you say that and then write an abductor with a “sympathetic” motive.
Also I can’t get past that the main character has so much time alone with a gun and actively chooses to put it back instead of shoot the guy when he walks through the door. “Could I really shoot him after he’s been nice to me?” YES, yes you can?!
Ugh.
Also I can’t get past that the main character has so much time alone with a gun and actively chooses to put it back instead of shoot the guy when he walks through the door. “Could I really shoot him after he’s been nice to me?” YES, yes you can?!
Ugh.
July 27, 2026
Run for Your Life is proof that Lucinda Berry doesn’t need hundreds of pages to tell a gripping story. At only 72 pages, I flew through this in one sitting.
The story throws Riley into danger almost immediately and never really lets up. What starts as a kidnapping thriller soon becomes much more than that, exploring grief, loss and the choices people make when they’re pushed beyond breaking point. For such a short novella, I was surprised by how much emotion Lucinda Berry managed to fit into the story.
One thing I really appreciated was learning afterwards that Lucinda Berry named her main character, Riley Fletcher, in honour of Laken Riley and Eliza Fletcher, two women who were murdered while out running. As someone who enjoys true crime, I thought that was a really meaningful tribute and knowing the inspiration behind the story made it even more impactful.
My only criticism is that it was over too soon. This premise had all the makings of a full-length novel and I would’ve happily spent another couple of hundred pages with these characters. Just as I felt like I was really settling into the story, it came to an end.
If you’re after a one-sitting thriller that packs a punch while also honouring real-life victims, pick up Run for Your Life.
The story throws Riley into danger almost immediately and never really lets up. What starts as a kidnapping thriller soon becomes much more than that, exploring grief, loss and the choices people make when they’re pushed beyond breaking point. For such a short novella, I was surprised by how much emotion Lucinda Berry managed to fit into the story.
One thing I really appreciated was learning afterwards that Lucinda Berry named her main character, Riley Fletcher, in honour of Laken Riley and Eliza Fletcher, two women who were murdered while out running. As someone who enjoys true crime, I thought that was a really meaningful tribute and knowing the inspiration behind the story made it even more impactful.
My only criticism is that it was over too soon. This premise had all the makings of a full-length novel and I would’ve happily spent another couple of hundred pages with these characters. Just as I felt like I was really settling into the story, it came to an end.
If you’re after a one-sitting thriller that packs a punch while also honouring real-life victims, pick up Run for Your Life.
July 22, 2026
This was a fun quick thriller.
July 14, 2026
Such an intense read! Super intriguing and full of that raw realism I can always count on in a Lucinda Berry book.
July 28, 2026
pointless
July 8, 2026
For a short story this one was packed with content, and was quite unique. It was essentially a kidnap story but with a little twist on it.
One morning whilst out on a run Riley is grabbed and taken to a remote cabin, she was essentially experiencing every woman’s worst nightmare and was sure she was about to experience the worst thing you could as a woman, because isn’t that the reason a man would take a woman in this way.
But her kidnapper has selected her for a reason and he tells her of a job she has so to and it turns out to be more terrifying than she ever could have realised. Lucinda Berry sure knows how to write, whether that be long or short stories.
One morning whilst out on a run Riley is grabbed and taken to a remote cabin, she was essentially experiencing every woman’s worst nightmare and was sure she was about to experience the worst thing you could as a woman, because isn’t that the reason a man would take a woman in this way.
But her kidnapper has selected her for a reason and he tells her of a job she has so to and it turns out to be more terrifying than she ever could have realised. Lucinda Berry sure knows how to write, whether that be long or short stories.
July 10, 2026
Short Amazon Original 72 pages
July 9, 2026
Good thing this was a short story because it wasnt great. Any longer and it would have been added to my DNF collection.
July 17, 2026
Wow! This was such a good short story. I’m genuinely a little boggled at how Lucinda Berry managed to pull this off so masterfully in such a small number of pages. 🤔🤩
It wastes no time pulling you in and despite its length, the story never felt rushed. Every scene had a purpose, and the suspense kept building until the very end.
It wastes no time pulling you in and despite its length, the story never felt rushed. Every scene had a purpose, and the suspense kept building until the very end.
July 25, 2026
Definitely enjoyed this short story!
Full review to come soon!
Full review to come soon!
July 28, 2026
When you think the (final) twist is going to appear, the book ends and you catch your kindle and want to throw it to the wall. I know this is a short story without any chance of being a brilliant one, but girl, this is real shit even if you use it when you go to the bathroom, sorry my English. Period.
July 11, 2026
3.65⭐️
A short story of bravery and empathy.
A short story of bravery and empathy.
July 16, 2026
Literally so boring 🥱. Fast paced of nothingness.
Half star, seriously.
Half star, seriously.
July 24, 2026
This was so sad. It's fast-paced, well executed but also just such a sad reflection of the healthcare system and it's effects on people's lives.
July 18, 2026
Run For Your Life by Lucinda Berry is a fast-paced, action-filled, exhilarating read! I was terrified for Riley’s life, let alone her health. Then this huge, gruff, angry monster of a man turns into a caring, concerned human being. Dawson’s actions become so twisted that I feel he's not that bad, and he suddenly comes to his senses, realizing he can't continue down this crazy, dangerous path, especially when I learn his story.
I'm so scared for Riley, and yet my heart breaks for Dawson. I'm like, what the hell? Is my heart hurting for Dawson? What is wrong with me? Then I'm thinking, is Dawson truly caring about Riley’s health, or are his actions only to make sure Riley is ok so he can continue with his plan? I understand his anger, pain, and vengeance, but it's still so wrong to handle his feelings this way!! It just can't be this way in the real world. Riley did well; she stayed calm and did the only thing she could to save herself and so many others.
Phew! What a fast, impactful read!
I'm so scared for Riley, and yet my heart breaks for Dawson. I'm like, what the hell? Is my heart hurting for Dawson? What is wrong with me? Then I'm thinking, is Dawson truly caring about Riley’s health, or are his actions only to make sure Riley is ok so he can continue with his plan? I understand his anger, pain, and vengeance, but it's still so wrong to handle his feelings this way!! It just can't be this way in the real world. Riley did well; she stayed calm and did the only thing she could to save herself and so many others.
Phew! What a fast, impactful read!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 9, 2026
3.5⭐️
This was a lot more sad than I had anticipated. It kept me engaged the entire time. I think it would have made a great full length book.
This was a lot more sad than I had anticipated. It kept me engaged the entire time. I think it would have made a great full length book.
July 19, 2026
This is a novella you can devour in one quick sitting—half an hour is probably enough to get through it.
It was an okay read: fast-paced, scary, and heartbreaking all at the same time. The motive piqued my curiosity. At first, I thought it was going to be one of those typical stories where a woman is held against her will for the most obvious reason. Instead, it swerved away from the expected and gave us something with a little more heart beneath all the grief and rage.
Not bad for a short story.
It was an okay read: fast-paced, scary, and heartbreaking all at the same time. The motive piqued my curiosity. At first, I thought it was going to be one of those typical stories where a woman is held against her will for the most obvious reason. Instead, it swerved away from the expected and gave us something with a little more heart beneath all the grief and rage.
Not bad for a short story.
July 3, 2026
3.5⭐️
BLURB:
Riley Fletcher is abducted while out for a morning run and wakes up bound in a remote cabin, kidnapped by Dawson Miller. As she tries to escape, she uncovers the revenge-fueled reason behind her abduction.
REVIEW:
If you’ve read Lucinda Berry before, you’ll know her stories explore important themes like trauma, obsession, and grief and always include mental health representation—and this short story has all of these in a very short format. The story essentially focuses on two characters, Riley Fletcher (the woman abducted) and Dawson Miller (the captor), and is mostly about their constantly shifting dynamic. Trope lovers will find a lot to enjoy—calculated kidnapping, a cat-and-mouse dynamic, survival against the odds, psychological manipulation, hidden motives, a morally gray villain, and a slow reveal of the truth!
The entire story is told through Riley’s POV. She’s emotionally reactive and does a lot of mental gymnastics trying to figure out why she was taken and what her best chance of escape is, and she sometimes sounds repetitive. Even though the kidnapping starts as a violent abduction, once they’re isolated in the cabin, Dawson’s behavior gradually changes. He shows unexpected moments of compassion, and Riley becomes increasingly invested in understanding why he abducted her. Soon, you have to really suspend your disbelief with what unfolds between them, but their dialogue, especially from Dawson’s side, is gripping. As the reason behind him kidnapping Riley is slowly revealed, it becomes clear how his obsession with revenge has clouded his judgment and made him lose touch with reality. Definitely a borderline morally black character, but not entirely unlikable!
At just 72 pages—or around two hours on audio—this is an easy one-sitting read. If you enjoy stories with psychological manipulation and mind games, you’ll likely enjoy this story, but don’t expect anything groundbreaking or intricate. There is a final twist that adds some more thrill, but the story is wrapped up very quickly afterwards. And by the end, Riley’s dog may just be your favorite character and will make you smile!
BLURB:
Riley Fletcher is abducted while out for a morning run and wakes up bound in a remote cabin, kidnapped by Dawson Miller. As she tries to escape, she uncovers the revenge-fueled reason behind her abduction.
REVIEW:
If you’ve read Lucinda Berry before, you’ll know her stories explore important themes like trauma, obsession, and grief and always include mental health representation—and this short story has all of these in a very short format. The story essentially focuses on two characters, Riley Fletcher (the woman abducted) and Dawson Miller (the captor), and is mostly about their constantly shifting dynamic. Trope lovers will find a lot to enjoy—calculated kidnapping, a cat-and-mouse dynamic, survival against the odds, psychological manipulation, hidden motives, a morally gray villain, and a slow reveal of the truth!
The entire story is told through Riley’s POV. She’s emotionally reactive and does a lot of mental gymnastics trying to figure out why she was taken and what her best chance of escape is, and she sometimes sounds repetitive. Even though the kidnapping starts as a violent abduction, once they’re isolated in the cabin, Dawson’s behavior gradually changes. He shows unexpected moments of compassion, and Riley becomes increasingly invested in understanding why he abducted her. Soon, you have to really suspend your disbelief with what unfolds between them, but their dialogue, especially from Dawson’s side, is gripping. As the reason behind him kidnapping Riley is slowly revealed, it becomes clear how his obsession with revenge has clouded his judgment and made him lose touch with reality. Definitely a borderline morally black character, but not entirely unlikable!
At just 72 pages—or around two hours on audio—this is an easy one-sitting read. If you enjoy stories with psychological manipulation and mind games, you’ll likely enjoy this story, but don’t expect anything groundbreaking or intricate. There is a final twist that adds some more thrill, but the story is wrapped up very quickly afterwards. And by the end, Riley’s dog may just be your favorite character and will make you smile!
July 31, 2026
I flew through this one, and while it's only a novella, Lucinda Berry still managed to make my pulse race. The premise immediately pulled me in, and I loved how quickly the tension escalated. Every time I thought I understood where the story was heading, another layer of the situation unfolded, making it much more than a straightforward kidnapping thriller.
What I appreciated most was that, beneath all the suspense, there was an emotional core that made me question who the real victim was. Lucinda has a way of exploring impossible situations without making them feel black and white, and I found myself feeling sympathy in places I never expected. That moral complexity stayed with me long after I finished.
I do wish it had been a full length novel because I wanted more time with the characters and their backstories. The ending packed a punch, but I wasn't quite ready to leave the story behind. Even so, for such a short read, it delivered plenty of tension, emotion, and thought provoking moments. If you're looking for a fast psychological thriller that gives you something to think about after the final page, this one is absolutely worth picking up.
What I appreciated most was that, beneath all the suspense, there was an emotional core that made me question who the real victim was. Lucinda has a way of exploring impossible situations without making them feel black and white, and I found myself feeling sympathy in places I never expected. That moral complexity stayed with me long after I finished.
I do wish it had been a full length novel because I wanted more time with the characters and their backstories. The ending packed a punch, but I wasn't quite ready to leave the story behind. Even so, for such a short read, it delivered plenty of tension, emotion, and thought provoking moments. If you're looking for a fast psychological thriller that gives you something to think about after the final page, this one is absolutely worth picking up.
August 3, 2026
3.5⭐️ Run for Your Life follows Riley Fletcher, who is attacked and kidnapped during her usual morning run. She wakes up in a secluded cabin deep in the woods, only to discover that her captor is someone she knows: Dawson Miller. With no idea why he chose her, Riley is forced to rely on him as she recovers from her injuries. But as she regains her strength, she realizes Dawson has a much bigger plan- and she may be the only one who can stop him.
This was a short novella that can easily be read in a single sitting. While I usually love a kidnapping thriller, this one just didn’t fully hook me.I think this story would have worked better as a full-length novel, as everything felt a little too rushed for the plot and character development. That said, it was still an easy and entertaining read, I just wish it had been given more room to unfold.
This was a short novella that can easily be read in a single sitting. While I usually love a kidnapping thriller, this one just didn’t fully hook me.I think this story would have worked better as a full-length novel, as everything felt a little too rushed for the plot and character development. That said, it was still an easy and entertaining read, I just wish it had been given more room to unfold.
July 12, 2026
This was really good for a thriller novella, dead didn’t expect it to end the way it did
Displaying 1 - 30 of 876 reviews