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And Then She Ran
How far would you go to keep your baby safe?
Grace bundled her eight-week-old daughter into her carry cot, opened the door and ran.
Her life in New York faded into the background – she needed to keep her baby safe. She needed to get as far away from Patrick as possible.
Now, staying in a remote cottage in Wales, Grace is trying to start again. But she can’t shake the uneasy feeling that she’s been followed.
And then she finds a note. Left on her bed. A tiny scrap of paper with scrawl in bright red pen.
Keep her close. Anything could happen.
She’s been found. Patrick wants his baby back.
But Grace will do everything to stop him.
Grace bundled her eight-week-old daughter into her carry cot, opened the door and ran.
Her life in New York faded into the background – she needed to keep her baby safe. She needed to get as far away from Patrick as possible.
Now, staying in a remote cottage in Wales, Grace is trying to start again. But she can’t shake the uneasy feeling that she’s been followed.
And then she finds a note. Left on her bed. A tiny scrap of paper with scrawl in bright red pen.
Keep her close. Anything could happen.
She’s been found. Patrick wants his baby back.
But Grace will do everything to stop him.
350 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 28, 2021
115 people are currently reading
397 people want to read
About the author
Karen Clarke
46 books289 followersI live in Buckinghamshire with my husband and three grown-up children where I write psychological thrillers for HQDigital/HarperCollins and romantic comedy novels published by Bookouture.
Over the years I've been a secretary/bookkeeper, a wedding photographer, a pub manager, I've worked in a supermarket, a newsagent's and as a librarian - all good for story ideas.
I now write full-time and when I'm not writing, I read a lot, enjoy walking - which is good for plot-wrangling and ideas - photography, watching Netflix, baking and eating cakes. And then more walking to work off the cakes.
Over the years I've been a secretary/bookkeeper, a wedding photographer, a pub manager, I've worked in a supermarket, a newsagent's and as a librarian - all good for story ideas.
I now write full-time and when I'm not writing, I read a lot, enjoy walking - which is good for plot-wrangling and ideas - photography, watching Netflix, baking and eating cakes. And then more walking to work off the cakes.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 103 reviews
December 21, 2023
This will be a strong contender for Thriller/Mystery of the Year.
Rose is on the run with her daughter, escaping to the most remote location she can fathom. When she finally settles into her new digs, she can't shake the feeling that she is being watched. Has she truly escaped? Who or what is going on?
And Then She Ran was gripping from the start - The feeling of paranoia and stress from Rose was almost palpable. The characters were believable and also imperfect, layered and well-developed My only complaint about this book is that I felt like there was too much "Oh, what's that noise? Is there a shadow at the corner of my vision?" for a bit too long about halfway through the book. The author was starting to give us little glimpses of the past, but they were too unevenly paced around the 50% to 70% mark. That being said, the ending made sense but it was not what I was predicting at all! It is rare that an author can have a surprising yet believable ending. This alone will make me dying to read the next Karen Clarke book.
Perfect book for those who love mystery/thriller reads!
*Thank you NetGalley for providing a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.
2024 Reading Schedule
Jan Middlemarch
Feb The Grapes of Wrath
Mar Oliver Twist
Apr Madame Bovary
May A Clockwork Orange
Jun Possession
Jul The Folk of the Faraway Tree Collection
Aug Crime and Punishment
Sep Heart of Darkness
Oct Moby-Dick
Nov Far From the Madding Crowd
Dec A Tale of Two Cities
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Rose is on the run with her daughter, escaping to the most remote location she can fathom. When she finally settles into her new digs, she can't shake the feeling that she is being watched. Has she truly escaped? Who or what is going on?
And Then She Ran was gripping from the start - The feeling of paranoia and stress from Rose was almost palpable. The characters were believable and also imperfect, layered and well-developed My only complaint about this book is that I felt like there was too much "Oh, what's that noise? Is there a shadow at the corner of my vision?" for a bit too long about halfway through the book. The author was starting to give us little glimpses of the past, but they were too unevenly paced around the 50% to 70% mark. That being said, the ending made sense but it was not what I was predicting at all! It is rare that an author can have a surprising yet believable ending. This alone will make me dying to read the next Karen Clarke book.
Perfect book for those who love mystery/thriller reads!
*Thank you NetGalley for providing a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.
2024 Reading Schedule
Jan Middlemarch
Feb The Grapes of Wrath
Mar Oliver Twist
Apr Madame Bovary
May A Clockwork Orange
Jun Possession
Jul The Folk of the Faraway Tree Collection
Aug Crime and Punishment
Sep Heart of Darkness
Oct Moby-Dick
Nov Far From the Madding Crowd
Dec A Tale of Two Cities
Connect With Me!
Blog Twitter BookTube Facebook Insta
April 28, 2021
3.5
And then she ran .....
With her eight week baby Lily all the way from New York City to the North Wales countryside and the safety of her Aunt Morag’s cottage. Grace tells her own story.
This is a decent easy to read thriller that has some good elements to it. There’s an air of mystery surrounding Grace's ex Patrick and around Morag too which keeps the intrigue going throughout. You easily sense Grace’s tension and panic as she’s so easily spooked and there are frissons of unease and a prickle on the back of your neck as you appreciate that some of her paranoia is justified. The characters are good although I feel that Morag is the most fleshed out. She’s very likeable in her gruff directness but she’s also clearly caring and intuitive. Baby Lily is very cute too!! There are some good descriptions of Wales and the local community along with the characters in it which makes for an atmospheric setting. There are some unexpected and surprising twists especially at the end.
However, although it is realistic and true to life as Grace’s thoughts go round and round but unfortunately that doesn’t always make for riveting reading. I would have liked a greater feeling or sensation of threat and menace as it doesn’t always come across as strongly as it could which is a shame as the premise is a good one.
Overall, it’s an enjoyable read and I’d definitely like to read more by the author.
With thanks to NetGalley and HQ, HQ Digital for the arc in return for an honest review.
And then she ran .....
With her eight week baby Lily all the way from New York City to the North Wales countryside and the safety of her Aunt Morag’s cottage. Grace tells her own story.
This is a decent easy to read thriller that has some good elements to it. There’s an air of mystery surrounding Grace's ex Patrick and around Morag too which keeps the intrigue going throughout. You easily sense Grace’s tension and panic as she’s so easily spooked and there are frissons of unease and a prickle on the back of your neck as you appreciate that some of her paranoia is justified. The characters are good although I feel that Morag is the most fleshed out. She’s very likeable in her gruff directness but she’s also clearly caring and intuitive. Baby Lily is very cute too!! There are some good descriptions of Wales and the local community along with the characters in it which makes for an atmospheric setting. There are some unexpected and surprising twists especially at the end.
However, although it is realistic and true to life as Grace’s thoughts go round and round but unfortunately that doesn’t always make for riveting reading. I would have liked a greater feeling or sensation of threat and menace as it doesn’t always come across as strongly as it could which is a shame as the premise is a good one.
Overall, it’s an enjoyable read and I’d definitely like to read more by the author.
With thanks to NetGalley and HQ, HQ Digital for the arc in return for an honest review.
September 7, 2021
Rounded up from roughly 3.5 Stars ⭐️
And then she ran follows Grace as she flees America with her newborn baby. But has she really managed to leave her past behind her or is she being followed.
As an avid thriller reader I loved the sense of tension and intrigue that this novel created. The story was laced with a darkness that I couldn’t get enough of. Although I did guess the twist at the end from very early on, my heart still raced as I read the words. I loved that Karen Clarke was still able to grip me, and leave me on the edge of my seat, despite the surprise not being present for me.
There were some parts that felt a little slow. They lacked the ominous sensation that I loved whilst reading other parts of the book. I also would have loved a more in depth look at some of the characters and their relationships. I feel like there was a lot of scope to create a connection to many of the characters. For me, I only connected with a few of the characters, none of which were Grace which dampened things slightly. But Karen’s writing managed to evoke a deep instinct in me to protect Grace’s baby (Lily), which left me desperately wanting the best for her. I think some of the writing in this was very clever and I will definitely keep an eye out for more of Karen Clarke’s work.
I would recommend this to thriller lovers who like a small town setting. I want to thank Netgalley, HQ Stories and Karen Clarke for allowing me to read this and give my personal thoughts.
And then she ran follows Grace as she flees America with her newborn baby. But has she really managed to leave her past behind her or is she being followed.
As an avid thriller reader I loved the sense of tension and intrigue that this novel created. The story was laced with a darkness that I couldn’t get enough of. Although I did guess the twist at the end from very early on, my heart still raced as I read the words. I loved that Karen Clarke was still able to grip me, and leave me on the edge of my seat, despite the surprise not being present for me.
There were some parts that felt a little slow. They lacked the ominous sensation that I loved whilst reading other parts of the book. I also would have loved a more in depth look at some of the characters and their relationships. I feel like there was a lot of scope to create a connection to many of the characters. For me, I only connected with a few of the characters, none of which were Grace which dampened things slightly. But Karen’s writing managed to evoke a deep instinct in me to protect Grace’s baby (Lily), which left me desperately wanting the best for her. I think some of the writing in this was very clever and I will definitely keep an eye out for more of Karen Clarke’s work.
I would recommend this to thriller lovers who like a small town setting. I want to thank Netgalley, HQ Stories and Karen Clarke for allowing me to read this and give my personal thoughts.
April 22, 2021
3.5 stars rounded up to 4
The fist flew past Grace's face and hit the wall behind her. A switch flicked in her head. Grace bundled her eight week old daughter into her carrycot, opened the door and ran. Her life in New York faded into the background - she needed to keep her baby safe. She needed to get as faraway from Patrick as possible.
Now, staying in a remote cottage in Wales, Grace is trying to start again. But she can't shake the feeling that she's being followed. And then she finds the note left in her bed: Keep her close. Anything can happen.
This is a cleverly crafted story. The story follows Grace as she flees New York with her baby and starts a new life in Wales with her Aunt Morag. Strange things start to happen and Grace is paranoid that she is being watched. The pace is fast and the tension builds as you read the prologue. It's descriptively written with some good twists, especially towards the end. The characters were well developed and likeable. This is an easy book to follow.
I would like to thank #NetGalley, #HQ and the author #KarenClarke for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
The fist flew past Grace's face and hit the wall behind her. A switch flicked in her head. Grace bundled her eight week old daughter into her carrycot, opened the door and ran. Her life in New York faded into the background - she needed to keep her baby safe. She needed to get as faraway from Patrick as possible.
Now, staying in a remote cottage in Wales, Grace is trying to start again. But she can't shake the feeling that she's being followed. And then she finds the note left in her bed: Keep her close. Anything can happen.
This is a cleverly crafted story. The story follows Grace as she flees New York with her baby and starts a new life in Wales with her Aunt Morag. Strange things start to happen and Grace is paranoid that she is being watched. The pace is fast and the tension builds as you read the prologue. It's descriptively written with some good twists, especially towards the end. The characters were well developed and likeable. This is an easy book to follow.
I would like to thank #NetGalley, #HQ and the author #KarenClarke for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
April 9, 2021
Another great book from Karen Clarke which I devoured in just over a day. I loved all the descriptions of Snowdonia and the mount as well as the wet weather which I have experienced many times up there. I enjoyed reading about all the characters especially baby Lilly who sounded like the perfect baby. This book was a brilliant read. My thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review
July 2, 2021
Grace decided to run away with her baby from Manhatten to her aunt’s remote place in UK, hoping that danger didn’t follow her aka the father of her baby. But things started happening soon enough.
Reading a book after a long time by this author, I loved how the words with its vidid imagery of remoteness were used to create an atmosphere. The awkwardness between an aunt and niece was well depicted, so too how they slowly started getting comfortable.t
The story was fast paced, never knew where the hours went and the prose quite alluring even when my brain felt I should have solved this mystery early on. Bit the author had a few tricks up her sleeve with unseen twists.
A couple of subplots later felt off but soon the following explanations smoothed out the rough edges. The coarse texture remained, but I could accept it as a part of thriller writing.
Overall, the book kept me evilly engaged in the story quite to the point of allowing my tea to grow cold. A good breakfast read.
Reading a book after a long time by this author, I loved how the words with its vidid imagery of remoteness were used to create an atmosphere. The awkwardness between an aunt and niece was well depicted, so too how they slowly started getting comfortable.t
The story was fast paced, never knew where the hours went and the prose quite alluring even when my brain felt I should have solved this mystery early on. Bit the author had a few tricks up her sleeve with unseen twists.
A couple of subplots later felt off but soon the following explanations smoothed out the rough edges. The coarse texture remained, but I could accept it as a part of thriller writing.
Overall, the book kept me evilly engaged in the story quite to the point of allowing my tea to grow cold. A good breakfast read.
June 12, 2021
This was definitely a book worth reading. I was gripped page after page as I raced through this tense thriller wondering if Grace was ever going to feel safe again. She has left New York and a man behind, her lover Patrick, in an attempt to start again, but she has a tiny baby in tow, her daughter Lily. Grace as a character seems beleaguered by worry and very determined to keep the past and her private life locked away from prying eyes and listening ears. She settles in a rural community near Fenbrith in Wales in a cottage owned by her aunt Morag who takes her in without question.
I was so invested in the plot line and what would happen next that I felt on edge as I read the book, shocked as each new revelation pieced together Grace's life and relationship in New York. But the book doesn't just take a look at Grace's past, it takes a look at her aunt's and her mother's too. Why is her aunt no longer the intrepid journalist taking photos in war zones and why does Grace not visit her mother in Berkshire? Does her mother even know Grace is now a mother herself? And who is this new man, keen to take Grace out? Can Declan be trusted or is he out to take baby Lily from her?
The remoteness of the cottage, the isolation, the lack of phone signal and the need to keep secrets deeply buried, all conspire to produce a taut and exciting plot, made even more so by the 'look back' at the end of the novel where we find ourselves in a different house with Grace, Patrick and one other. Are we all either completely good or completely bad or can we mostly be good with a terrifying secret that loses some of its hold on us, if only we open up?
Read And Then She Ran, and You Decide!
I was so invested in the plot line and what would happen next that I felt on edge as I read the book, shocked as each new revelation pieced together Grace's life and relationship in New York. But the book doesn't just take a look at Grace's past, it takes a look at her aunt's and her mother's too. Why is her aunt no longer the intrepid journalist taking photos in war zones and why does Grace not visit her mother in Berkshire? Does her mother even know Grace is now a mother herself? And who is this new man, keen to take Grace out? Can Declan be trusted or is he out to take baby Lily from her?
The remoteness of the cottage, the isolation, the lack of phone signal and the need to keep secrets deeply buried, all conspire to produce a taut and exciting plot, made even more so by the 'look back' at the end of the novel where we find ourselves in a different house with Grace, Patrick and one other. Are we all either completely good or completely bad or can we mostly be good with a terrifying secret that loses some of its hold on us, if only we open up?
Read And Then She Ran, and You Decide!
April 3, 2021
Grace has fled New York with her eight week old baby Lily and gone to her Aunt's in a remote village in Wales.
Trying to start over and make a new life for baby Lily, Grace thinks she is being watched, followed.
This book had me invested into Grace's story thoughout and with several twists this keeps you guessing all the way though.
Such a gripping read that a really enjoyed.
Highly recommended
Trying to start over and make a new life for baby Lily, Grace thinks she is being watched, followed.
This book had me invested into Grace's story thoughout and with several twists this keeps you guessing all the way though.
Such a gripping read that a really enjoyed.
Highly recommended
May 25, 2021
An enjoyable, easy to read thriller but sadly lacking the surprise element that I normally enjoy in the genre. The twists weren’t that shocking, but I did like the journey to finding out what happened in the end.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for an advanced digital copy in exchange for my honest review.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for an advanced digital copy in exchange for my honest review.
June 12, 2022
Every single minute of this book describes her fear of her husband following her. Every person she meets, every breath she takes, every piece of paper she touches could mean her husband is following her. Literally almost every single sentence is filled with “someone is watching me“. I made it 20% in, but this was a DNF for me.
June 12, 2021
You know how a book is sometimes billed as a thrilling "how far would you go to keep your baby safe" type of thing but then the entire text is actually a woman making ridiculous decisions that endanger her baby for absolutely no reason? Oh. Is that not a thing? I thought that was a thing...
April 27, 2021
Thank you NetGalley and HQ for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
And Then She Ran follows Grace and her baby Lily fleeing New York. They go to stay with Grace’s aunt Morag in remote Wales, but Grace soon becomes aware of someone watching...
This book is well written and I was shocked by the twists towards the end, however it seemed very elongated. The reader spends a lot of time in Grace’s thoughts, worrying about Lily and being extremely paranoid, but annoyingly choosing to ignore physical signs of someone being in the house. It does start to feel repetitive and dragged out until the twists finally come over 75% of the way through.
I’m glad I stuck with it because it did become very interesting and at the end I was hooked and didn’t want to put the book down. I just wish it was more gripping from the start.
3.5
And Then She Ran follows Grace and her baby Lily fleeing New York. They go to stay with Grace’s aunt Morag in remote Wales, but Grace soon becomes aware of someone watching...
This book is well written and I was shocked by the twists towards the end, however it seemed very elongated. The reader spends a lot of time in Grace’s thoughts, worrying about Lily and being extremely paranoid, but annoyingly choosing to ignore physical signs of someone being in the house. It does start to feel repetitive and dragged out until the twists finally come over 75% of the way through.
I’m glad I stuck with it because it did become very interesting and at the end I was hooked and didn’t want to put the book down. I just wish it was more gripping from the start.
3.5
April 28, 2021
This was absolutely brilliant, it is fast paced and engaging with plenty of twists and turns. I thought I had worked out what was going to happen but I could never of imagined the route the story then went down. It was an addictive and chilling read with a very dramatic ending. Grace is running away from her partner, she has her baby with her and escapes to Wales to her aunts place. Grace is trying to start again until she finds things related to her in the cottage, has her partner found her? and also who is this mysterious guy that is keen on Grace, does he know more than he is letting on? The ending you would never have guessed and it was a brilliant ending too. It had everything I love in a thriller and more and I look forward to Karen’s next book.
January 29, 2022
Grace fleas the US with her infant, Lily, to get away from Lily’s father… a bad man. They go to live with Grace’s Aunt, Morag in a tiny village in the UK. But Grace feels like they aren’t safe… would Patrick send someone to hurt her… and take Lily?
There were a couple good twists in this one. Things aren’t quite what they seem. It was good for Grace to spend time with her Aunt, and she eventually goes to see her mother and they reconnect, too.
Overall it’s a solid 3.5 ⭐️ read, rounded up.
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.
There were a couple good twists in this one. Things aren’t quite what they seem. It was good for Grace to spend time with her Aunt, and she eventually goes to see her mother and they reconnect, too.
Overall it’s a solid 3.5 ⭐️ read, rounded up.
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.
April 30, 2021
Grace flees from New York with her baby, Lily, to hide in a remote area in Wales with her Aunt. This story follows the secrets and horrors of Grace, her Aunt and even her mother. The story explores family relationships within a tense mystery. Well written, a good pace with interesting characters. Add to that a few twists and turns. A good read.
Three and a half stars!
Many thanks to Netgalley/Karen Clarke/HQ Digital for a digital copy of this title. All opinions expressed are my own.
Three and a half stars!
Many thanks to Netgalley/Karen Clarke/HQ Digital for a digital copy of this title. All opinions expressed are my own.
May 24, 2021
Wow! Just wow! Absolutely loved this book and was completely hooked from the very start. It wasn't how I expected it to be and was actually better instead! The storyline was really good and it felt as if you were living the life of the main character alongside them. There was a big twist I hadn't seen coming which made it better and I even she'd some tears when the character was describing everything with her grandfather as I'd been really close to mine before he passed 2 years ago. Overall, I would recommend this book and would happily read it again sometime.
April 2, 2021
Wow Wow Wow, I was delighted to receive this arc through netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
I raced through this book where we find Grace escaping New York with her baby Lily for a small village in North Wales to stay with her Aunt.
We follow the story of why she ran with a few bumps and turns along the way, I would highly recommend this book to everyone.
I raced through this book where we find Grace escaping New York with her baby Lily for a small village in North Wales to stay with her Aunt.
We follow the story of why she ran with a few bumps and turns along the way, I would highly recommend this book to everyone.
April 28, 2021
Review
I couldn't put this book down.
It had me gripped from the start and did not let me go.
I thought I had the storyline sussed but then about 65% it turned and I was back to not knowing.
I've read another of Karen's thriller books this year which I loved and this one didnt disappoint either.
There were plenty of twists and turns that kept me guessing and I love that from a book.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
I couldn't put this book down.
It had me gripped from the start and did not let me go.
I thought I had the storyline sussed but then about 65% it turned and I was back to not knowing.
I've read another of Karen's thriller books this year which I loved and this one didnt disappoint either.
There were plenty of twists and turns that kept me guessing and I love that from a book.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
August 2, 2021
Enjoyed the premise of this story, but felt that it just lacked a little something. Unsure why Declan would have done what he did as had nothing to do with him really…
Liked tough old Morag!
Liked tough old Morag!
February 5, 2022
Very slow and the action took forever to pick up in the story. The ending was meh and disappointing.
April 28, 2021
Full review now up on the blog: https://www.thewritinggreyhound.co.uk...
And Then She Ran is a tense, high-stakes psychological thriller novel.
The story focuses on Grace, a new mother on the run from her baby's father. Grace is forced to flee her home, leaving behind her friends, her job, and all reminders of her old life. Caring solely about protecting Lily, her baby, it isn't long before Grace finds out that you can't outrun everything.
This book is engaging and interesting, well-paced throughout. The full picture behind Grace's sudden flight gets slowly revealed during the story but there are plenty of twists and turns too. This makes for an unpredictable, heart-in-your-mouth story.
Grace and her aunt Morag make an unlikely pair, yet their relationship is charming to read about. Grace is used to a fast-paced lifestyle in a big city, whereas Morag has chosen a solitary, self-sufficient life in rural Wales. Despite their initial differences, though, it soon becomes clear that Grace and Morag are drawn together by more than just their family ties. This book is about bringing people together and strengthening bonds, as much as it is about fleeing to start anew.
This is a thriller novel but there are multiple themes running through the book. From mystery to romance, there's a little bit of everything in this story. It's enjoyable, easy-to-read, and definitely picks up the pace towards the end for a thrilling conclusion.
Although the premise is intriguing, certain elements of the story feel a little far-fetched and unrealistic for my liking. While it does succeed in creating a sense of danger, some of the events don't seem very true to life.
Despite this, And Then She Ran is a great page-turner with a unique premise.
And Then She Ran is a tense, high-stakes psychological thriller novel.
The story focuses on Grace, a new mother on the run from her baby's father. Grace is forced to flee her home, leaving behind her friends, her job, and all reminders of her old life. Caring solely about protecting Lily, her baby, it isn't long before Grace finds out that you can't outrun everything.
This book is engaging and interesting, well-paced throughout. The full picture behind Grace's sudden flight gets slowly revealed during the story but there are plenty of twists and turns too. This makes for an unpredictable, heart-in-your-mouth story.
Grace and her aunt Morag make an unlikely pair, yet their relationship is charming to read about. Grace is used to a fast-paced lifestyle in a big city, whereas Morag has chosen a solitary, self-sufficient life in rural Wales. Despite their initial differences, though, it soon becomes clear that Grace and Morag are drawn together by more than just their family ties. This book is about bringing people together and strengthening bonds, as much as it is about fleeing to start anew.
This is a thriller novel but there are multiple themes running through the book. From mystery to romance, there's a little bit of everything in this story. It's enjoyable, easy-to-read, and definitely picks up the pace towards the end for a thrilling conclusion.
Although the premise is intriguing, certain elements of the story feel a little far-fetched and unrealistic for my liking. While it does succeed in creating a sense of danger, some of the events don't seem very true to life.
Despite this, And Then She Ran is a great page-turner with a unique premise.
April 28, 2021
Thank you to Netgalley and HQ Publishing for the opportunity to read this advanced copy.
I would consider And Then She Ran I lighter mystery/ suspense novel. This story did also touch upon family dynamics/ family drama, which I did very much enjoy.
Grace is living in New York working as a chef when she starts a relationship she should not have started. When she becomes pregnant and becomes a mother, she decides to keep her and her baby safe to flee America and go to Wales to live with her aunt. Throughout this story, the reader is questioning what exactly she was running from and is Grace and her baby being followed, did the baby's father find them?
I really enjoyed the relationship between Grace and her aunt. Her aunt lived in a very isolated location and was very much self-reliant. I really enjoyed getting some back story of these women, and what affected them in their past.
Shortly after Grace arrives strange things start to happen; she finds an ominous note, the phone lines are cut, and she feels like she is being followed. What happened when she fled New York? Is Grace the only one that is hiding something? You can feel the despair and uneasiness that Grace has. Always looking over her shoulder to make sure that she and her baby are safe.
I did find this to be a quick, enjoyable read. I did wish there was more of an after, what happens next with these characters. If you are looking for something on the lighter side of suspense, this one may be for you!
April 29, 2021
A slow burn psychological thriller.
Since the beginning you know that Grace is scared for her life and her little one. She knows that what she has left behind is a dangerous man with a life full of lies, but now she is scared for her life. Is she safe with her aunt? You’ll have to read the book to know!
Since the first moment of the story you can feel the tension and Grace fears for her (and her little one) life; you don’t know why she runs away, only that she is scared of her own shadow. But there are multiple questions that start popping through the reader’s mind as the story begins; why Grace doesn’t want to talk to her mother? Why is she living Morag so apart from the world? Who is watching them from the forest?
This is a book to keep you scared, to make you fear to whom is watching you. But at the same time is a story for discoveries and truths, because Grace’s life seem full of secrets and lies; maybe now, with her life in danger she will have the bravery to ask for the truth from her own family.
I don’t want to talk much about Patrick’s story, he is a bad man and her wife was not much better, but what made them so toxic? Each other or were they rotten before they were together? After ending this book I had some deep thoughts about human nature, but, in the end, there’s one thing that matters. What would you do to protect your family? This slow paced story will keep you turning pages without noticing, are you ready?
Since the beginning you know that Grace is scared for her life and her little one. She knows that what she has left behind is a dangerous man with a life full of lies, but now she is scared for her life. Is she safe with her aunt? You’ll have to read the book to know!
Since the first moment of the story you can feel the tension and Grace fears for her (and her little one) life; you don’t know why she runs away, only that she is scared of her own shadow. But there are multiple questions that start popping through the reader’s mind as the story begins; why Grace doesn’t want to talk to her mother? Why is she living Morag so apart from the world? Who is watching them from the forest?
This is a book to keep you scared, to make you fear to whom is watching you. But at the same time is a story for discoveries and truths, because Grace’s life seem full of secrets and lies; maybe now, with her life in danger she will have the bravery to ask for the truth from her own family.
I don’t want to talk much about Patrick’s story, he is a bad man and her wife was not much better, but what made them so toxic? Each other or were they rotten before they were together? After ending this book I had some deep thoughts about human nature, but, in the end, there’s one thing that matters. What would you do to protect your family? This slow paced story will keep you turning pages without noticing, are you ready?
April 14, 2021
This book has it all- from a heart-warming story of life in a small village in Wales to a gripping psychological thriller. Family rifts are mended, there's a blossoming romance. and even a dog, Skip.
Grace escapes from New York with her daughter, 8 week old Lily. Escaping from Lily's father Patrick, she heads to stay with her reclusive Aunt Morag. They are made very welcome by the friendly villagers but Grace is permanently on edge suspecting that Patrick has sent someone to find them.
When she find a lock of baby hair on the stairs, a missing rabbit from the fridge and someone pushes her on the train, it confirms her suspicions. Grace has feelings for fellow visitor, Dylan but could he be Patrick's messenger?
I felt invested in Grace's journey and all the characters were well painted. I don't want to give any spoilers but what was an enjoyable read became an extremely gripping page turner as the story progressed.
Karen Clarke is a very talented author and I look forward to reading more of her work.
Many thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the advance copy.
Grace escapes from New York with her daughter, 8 week old Lily. Escaping from Lily's father Patrick, she heads to stay with her reclusive Aunt Morag. They are made very welcome by the friendly villagers but Grace is permanently on edge suspecting that Patrick has sent someone to find them.
When she find a lock of baby hair on the stairs, a missing rabbit from the fridge and someone pushes her on the train, it confirms her suspicions. Grace has feelings for fellow visitor, Dylan but could he be Patrick's messenger?
I felt invested in Grace's journey and all the characters were well painted. I don't want to give any spoilers but what was an enjoyable read became an extremely gripping page turner as the story progressed.
Karen Clarke is a very talented author and I look forward to reading more of her work.
Many thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the advance copy.
April 26, 2021
What a fast paced and thrilling read! Great story, pace, and development!
Grace and her newborn baby Lily arrive in Wales leaving New York and Lily’s father, Patrick, behind. Something big happened to have her run but he promised to leave her alone and let her leave.. But would he keep that promise? Her new location is remote and lovely but she starts getting the feeling of being watched. Strange things start happening at her aunts house and she sees a note that says KEEP HER CLOSE ANYTHING COULD HAPPEN... dun dun dunnnn...
You go through a series of surprises and explanations that all tie together in the end. It’s very entertaining and written with such a nice flow I couldn’t put it down. There isn’t too much detail I can say without giving things away! I became attached to Grace and Lily and wanted them to be protected. The character development was vivid and you felt the connections throughout the book. I highly recommend this one.
Thank you to HQ and Netgalley for the arc in exchange for my honest review.
Grace and her newborn baby Lily arrive in Wales leaving New York and Lily’s father, Patrick, behind. Something big happened to have her run but he promised to leave her alone and let her leave.. But would he keep that promise? Her new location is remote and lovely but she starts getting the feeling of being watched. Strange things start happening at her aunts house and she sees a note that says KEEP HER CLOSE ANYTHING COULD HAPPEN... dun dun dunnnn...
You go through a series of surprises and explanations that all tie together in the end. It’s very entertaining and written with such a nice flow I couldn’t put it down. There isn’t too much detail I can say without giving things away! I became attached to Grace and Lily and wanted them to be protected. The character development was vivid and you felt the connections throughout the book. I highly recommend this one.
Thank you to HQ and Netgalley for the arc in exchange for my honest review.
April 27, 2021
Another great psychological thriller from Karen Clarke. This one will keep you guessing until the very end.
Grace has fled New York with her eight week old daughter, Lily. She is trying to keep her baby safe but what is Grace running from ?
Grace travels to a remote Welsh village and stays with her reclusive Aunt Morag. They soon settle in to a little routine but Grace is still very reluctant to let Lily out of her sight, even if it is with Morag. Then Grace starts to feel as if someone is watching her and she then finds a note on her bed ‘Keep her close. Anything could happen’. Could this be Grace’s life in New York catching up with her ? Can Grace find out who is watching her before anything happens to herself or Lily ?
This is a great psychological thriller that will keep you guessing until the very end. The setting of this book is absolutely lovely and I really felt the characters came alive off the pages. This really is a great book with characters you will be backing all the way.
Thank you to HQ and NetGalley for a digital copy of this book.
Grace has fled New York with her eight week old daughter, Lily. She is trying to keep her baby safe but what is Grace running from ?
Grace travels to a remote Welsh village and stays with her reclusive Aunt Morag. They soon settle in to a little routine but Grace is still very reluctant to let Lily out of her sight, even if it is with Morag. Then Grace starts to feel as if someone is watching her and she then finds a note on her bed ‘Keep her close. Anything could happen’. Could this be Grace’s life in New York catching up with her ? Can Grace find out who is watching her before anything happens to herself or Lily ?
This is a great psychological thriller that will keep you guessing until the very end. The setting of this book is absolutely lovely and I really felt the characters came alive off the pages. This really is a great book with characters you will be backing all the way.
Thank you to HQ and NetGalley for a digital copy of this book.
May 22, 2021
Thank you #NetGalley, #HQStories, and author #KarenClarke for the ARC of #AndThenSheRan.
This was my second book by this author, but I plan on reading more! She is on point and has twisted stories to tell. I think we could be friends. 🤪
As the story begins we learn that Grace, who is a new mother is running from the baby's father, Patrick.
Patrick doesn't want Lily. He just wants to be in control. You see, Patrick is married and it's not to Grace. His wife is in the throws of alcoholism and thinks the baby might be the one thing to pull her out of it.
Grace doesn't know what to do and she's scared. She just wants to be free of Patrick to raise her daughter, Lily, in peace.
This is why she takes off to stay with her aunt, Morag, that lives pretty much off the grid. Surely she will be safe there.....until she's not.
Grab this book to see how it ends. You won't be disappointed! You will be able to buy this book at your favorite retailer on 4/28/22. #HappyReading!
This was my second book by this author, but I plan on reading more! She is on point and has twisted stories to tell. I think we could be friends. 🤪
As the story begins we learn that Grace, who is a new mother is running from the baby's father, Patrick.
Patrick doesn't want Lily. He just wants to be in control. You see, Patrick is married and it's not to Grace. His wife is in the throws of alcoholism and thinks the baby might be the one thing to pull her out of it.
Grace doesn't know what to do and she's scared. She just wants to be free of Patrick to raise her daughter, Lily, in peace.
This is why she takes off to stay with her aunt, Morag, that lives pretty much off the grid. Surely she will be safe there.....until she's not.
Grab this book to see how it ends. You won't be disappointed! You will be able to buy this book at your favorite retailer on 4/28/22. #HappyReading!
April 28, 2021
Thank you Netgalley for this ARC copy.
When Grace grabs 8 week old daughter Lily and dashes from New York she hopes ex partner Patrick will finally let her go. With a fractious relationship with her mother her aunt's remote farmhouse in Wales seems to be the best place to disappear and she books herself onto the first flight. After a shaky start Grace and Aunt Morag start to find some common ground and rub along nicely. That is until unexplainable events begin to happen and Grace has the inexplicable notion that she is being watched and followed. Has Patrick broken his promise and coming looking for her? And what will happen when he finds her?
Although I guessed where this was going quite early on it still threw out some good twists and turns. As well as being a good suspense/psychological thriller it also tells three different tales of the power of a mothers love and the length they will go to to protect their children. Would definitely recommend.
When Grace grabs 8 week old daughter Lily and dashes from New York she hopes ex partner Patrick will finally let her go. With a fractious relationship with her mother her aunt's remote farmhouse in Wales seems to be the best place to disappear and she books herself onto the first flight. After a shaky start Grace and Aunt Morag start to find some common ground and rub along nicely. That is until unexplainable events begin to happen and Grace has the inexplicable notion that she is being watched and followed. Has Patrick broken his promise and coming looking for her? And what will happen when he finds her?
Although I guessed where this was going quite early on it still threw out some good twists and turns. As well as being a good suspense/psychological thriller it also tells three different tales of the power of a mothers love and the length they will go to to protect their children. Would definitely recommend.
April 28, 2021
Grace is running from a toxic relationship with Patrick, the married father of her 8 week old daughter, Lily. She is frightened of what may happen if she stays. The only place she can think to go where he won’t be able to find her is to her aunts isolated property in Wales. Although she’s never been there, and hasn’t had contact with her aunt for some time, she feels this is the only place she can hide. But it soon becomes clear that she isn’t as safe as she hoped.
The tension in this book builds beautifully, leaving you on the edge of your seat barely daring to breath at times. Although Grace had never wanted children, she will do whatever she needs to protect her child. She finds a person she can trust in Morag, even if her aunt seems to have secrets of her own. So well written, a real page turner. Loved it.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.
The tension in this book builds beautifully, leaving you on the edge of your seat barely daring to breath at times. Although Grace had never wanted children, she will do whatever she needs to protect her child. She finds a person she can trust in Morag, even if her aunt seems to have secrets of her own. So well written, a real page turner. Loved it.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.
January 4, 2022
Quotes to relish:
‘With Lily in my arms, I moved downstairs, slamming a door in my memory of another staircase..’
‘For someone who professed to have no interest in the past, Morag was surrounded by it.’
‘Memories rose like debris. I couldn’t push them down, no matter how hard I tried. They eclipsed everything as our destination grew closer..’
This story follows Grace, a new mother, on the run with her baby, Lily, to Wales where she seeks safety in the home of her estranged auntie. Will whoever or whatever she is running from get news of where she is? Why is Grace on the run? Why is she on the run with a new-born? These are all questions that are answered in this intense thriller.
Wonderful natural imagery of Wales. Makes me want to visit even more!
Top-notch suspense-building. Especially effective when we get the point of view of the stalker. I haven’t come across many books where the author writes directly from the bad guy/killer/stalker’s point of view, and the author pulls it off brilliantly here.
Lovely long chapters, sometimes a bit too long. A break in between here and there would have been nice.
Great characterisation. I really like that the author drops bits of information and slowly revealed the main character’s (MC) full story, so near the end of the novel the reader gets the full picture. I adore the relationship dynamics we have going on in here. For example, between MC and her auntie, then later, MC and her mother (which I was thrilled about #reconciliation), bonded by shared experiences. Grace’s auntie, Morag, is awesome! The relationship between her and the MC was developed and shown very well. I like how the story ended. It ended on a hopeful and somewhat ambiguous note.
Looking forward to reading more from Karen Clarke. I had no idea she writes rom-com books too.
‘With Lily in my arms, I moved downstairs, slamming a door in my memory of another staircase..’
‘For someone who professed to have no interest in the past, Morag was surrounded by it.’
‘Memories rose like debris. I couldn’t push them down, no matter how hard I tried. They eclipsed everything as our destination grew closer..’
This story follows Grace, a new mother, on the run with her baby, Lily, to Wales where she seeks safety in the home of her estranged auntie. Will whoever or whatever she is running from get news of where she is? Why is Grace on the run? Why is she on the run with a new-born? These are all questions that are answered in this intense thriller.
Wonderful natural imagery of Wales. Makes me want to visit even more!
Top-notch suspense-building. Especially effective when we get the point of view of the stalker. I haven’t come across many books where the author writes directly from the bad guy/killer/stalker’s point of view, and the author pulls it off brilliantly here.
Lovely long chapters, sometimes a bit too long. A break in between here and there would have been nice.
Great characterisation. I really like that the author drops bits of information and slowly revealed the main character’s (MC) full story, so near the end of the novel the reader gets the full picture. I adore the relationship dynamics we have going on in here. For example, between MC and her auntie, then later, MC and her mother (which I was thrilled about #reconciliation), bonded by shared experiences. Grace’s auntie, Morag, is awesome! The relationship between her and the MC was developed and shown very well. I like how the story ended. It ended on a hopeful and somewhat ambiguous note.
Looking forward to reading more from Karen Clarke. I had no idea she writes rom-com books too.
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