This is a wonderful opening to a suspenseful series that keeps you reading long into the night! (A short review until later.) ( )

When you pick up a book and the first line is, "There's blood on the bottom of my shoes," you know it's going to be good. From the first sentence I was hooked and completely immersed myself in If I Run by Terri Blackstock so much that I finished it in one day. Yes, it's that good.

One of the biggest draws to this story is the writing. This is the first book I've ever read by Terri Blackstock and I promise you it won't be the last. She is a wonderful writer! By the time you read the first paragraph you are intrigued. I found myself craving to know more about this character. Who is Casey Cox? Why she is at a crime scene? Why is she washing blood off her hands? Who's blood is it? Did Casey Cox commit this crime?

Since If I Run is written from Casey's point of view, it really draws you into her dire situation. At first you don't know what to think (did she really do what she's accused of?) but as the story progresses the truth begins to emerge and things are not what they seem. Dylan Roberts is the other first-person point of view in the story. Dylan is hired to find out the truth and bring justice to his best friend's family but the more he digs the more he realizes that he might be after the wrong person.

What really spoke to me about this story was how true to life it was. This could really happen to any of us which is a scary thought that sticks with you throughout the story. The character development is also wonderful! You fall in love with Dylan and Miss Lucy, the Godly older woman that befriends Casey, and you start to hate the people that you realize are responsible for this entire ordeal.

I couldn't put this book down even if I had wanted to! You feel what Casey feels all the way up to the end which had my heart-pounding. Incredible writing!

This book is part of a series but if you choose to read If I Run as a standalone book I don't think you would be disappointed. The main story line is not quite finished but there is a subplot that has resolution. I think if the author would've left the subplot a cliffhanger I would've been less satisfied. Still, I would recommend picking up the sequel, If I'm Found which was just released March 21st, to see what happens to Casey Cox. I do plan on picking it up myself. I want to see if Casey Cox is ever found! ( )

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If I Run by Terri Blackstock is a 2016 publication.

Casey’s best friend has been murdered and she’s the prime suspect. While she runs from law enforcement, Dylan Roberts joins in the chase, independently. As he hunts for Casey, he comes to believe she may be innocent…

But who would want to frame Casey… and why?

This is a fast-paced thriller told partly from Casey’s perspective and partly from Dylan’s, as he begins piecing the puzzle together.

The novel touches on the themes of PTSD and plants the seeds of a Christian message as Casey begins to see her need for answered prayers, faith, and trust in God.

While there were revelations along the way, none of them were exactly shocking. I suppose that’s the hazard of reading so much crime fiction- but the story is still compelling and held my attention without losing any momentum along the way.

One thing to know, if you are considering this one, is that this is the first book in a trilogy. There are still some threads hanging at the end of this book, so you’ll have to read the other two installments to get all the answers and you’ll have to read them in order.

Overall, while some plot points were predictable and the story doesn’t really cover much new territory, but it is still an engaging thriller. I’m on board for the whole trilogy and am looking forward to seeing how everything wraps up.

3.5 stars ( )