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See How They Run
How far would you go to save your family?
In the dead of night, new parents Alice and Harry French are plunged into their worst nightmare when they wake to find masked men in their bedroom. Men ruthless enough to threaten their baby daughter, Evie.
This is no burglary gone wrong.
The intruders know who they’re looking for – a man called Edward Renshaw.
And they are prepared to kill to get to him.
When the men leave empty handed, little do Alice and Harry realise that their nightmare is just beginning. Is it a case of mistaken identity? Who is Renshaw? And what is he hiding?
One thing is clear – they already know too much.
As Alice and Harry are separated in the run for their lives, there is no time to breathe in their fight to be reunited. And with their attackers closing in, there is only one choice:
STAY ALIVE. OR DON’T.
Terrifying, unputdownable and full of twists and turns, this stunning thriller will have you on the edge of your seat right to the very last page.
In the dead of night, new parents Alice and Harry French are plunged into their worst nightmare when they wake to find masked men in their bedroom. Men ruthless enough to threaten their baby daughter, Evie.
This is no burglary gone wrong.
The intruders know who they’re looking for – a man called Edward Renshaw.
And they are prepared to kill to get to him.
When the men leave empty handed, little do Alice and Harry realise that their nightmare is just beginning. Is it a case of mistaken identity? Who is Renshaw? And what is he hiding?
One thing is clear – they already know too much.
As Alice and Harry are separated in the run for their lives, there is no time to breathe in their fight to be reunited. And with their attackers closing in, there is only one choice:
STAY ALIVE. OR DON’T.
Terrifying, unputdownable and full of twists and turns, this stunning thriller will have you on the edge of your seat right to the very last page.
411 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 6, 2016
816 people are currently reading
2910 people want to read
About the author
Tom Bale
18 books244 followersTom Bale is the author of nine thrillers, published between 2006 and 2018.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 534 reviews
May 15, 2022
I'm sure we've all been there - it's the middle of the night when a sudden noise wakes us from our sleep - unable to move, we lay there hardly daring to breathe, until we realise it was just a random noise, nothing sinister. For Harry and Alice French however, the exact opposite turns out to be true, and that sudden noise does turn out to be very sinister. What follows is THE most terrifying chain of events that could ever happen to such an ordinary everyday couple and their 8 week old baby Evie.
Tom Bale has written a sure-fire winner here, with so many heart stopping moments for this family, AND for me - I've lived every minute of it! With more than its fair share of ruthless characters, it's an intense, relentless, all consuming ride, that had me resenting anything that demanded I put this book down. With only a quarter of 2016 gone, I have to ask myself if this will be one of the most memorable books of this year? Well of course I don't know the answer to that, but I think it might be a serious contender. Absolutely brilliant!
* Thank you to Netgalley and Bookouture for my ARC in exchange for an honest and unbiased review*
Tom Bale has written a sure-fire winner here, with so many heart stopping moments for this family, AND for me - I've lived every minute of it! With more than its fair share of ruthless characters, it's an intense, relentless, all consuming ride, that had me resenting anything that demanded I put this book down. With only a quarter of 2016 gone, I have to ask myself if this will be one of the most memorable books of this year? Well of course I don't know the answer to that, but I think it might be a serious contender. Absolutely brilliant!
* Thank you to Netgalley and Bookouture for my ARC in exchange for an honest and unbiased review*
October 25, 2017
I learned so much by reading this book; for instance, the word fanny does NOT mean the same thing in the UK as it does in the US! HAH! (Sorry Tom for my unintended graphic comments on Twitter but glad we all had a good laugh about it!) In all honesty though, I was clenching my teeth and my butt cheeks through this entire book; from the opening scene to the very last page I felt I could barely breathe! I saw many of my Goodreads friends reading this one and raving about it, but I held back from requesting on NetGalley as I have a baby at home and didn’t know if I could stomach such an intense book involving such a small child and still sleep at night. The author finally changed my mind (and let’s face it, I couldn’t stand to be the only one not reading this book) and I am so glad I caved; this one is sure to be in my top 10 for 2016 reads!
“Harry and Alice could barely have moved if they’d wanted to. They listened to the intruders descending the stairs, the rattle of a bolt being drawn back. The front door opened and shut, firmly, and the men were gone.
It was over.
It was only just beginning.”
Alice and Harry awaken in the night to find two masked men in their room for reasons unknown to them. After a tense discussion, it appears these men believe they are holding a package and/or associate being hunted by a mysterious group who clearly are involved in some shady dealings. After convincing these men that they have the wrong house and have no clue what they are talking about, the intruders leave them with a warning to not call the police or their 8 week old daughter Evie will be hurt. Over the next couple of days, the couple struggles over whether or not to involve the police and ultimately decide against it, but when another package arrives at their door, all means of chaos ensues and we are taken on one crazy, wild ride.
“But there’s also you: after a tiny burp, Evie’s eyes praised open, recognized her mother’s face and lit up with a pure, instinctive joy that was just about the most beautiful thing Alice had ever seen. She blinked away sudden, silly tears. Tears of love and guilt.
When you’ve been blessed with a beautiful, healthy child, wasn’t it unspeakably selfish to mourn what you might be losing of yourself?”
I think we can all agree that the star of this book truly is Evie. The chase alone was thrilling, but adding a newborn child to the mix while running from evil criminals takes it to a whole new level. When discussing with the author about how much this aspect added to the story for me, he stated “I know the opening scene is quite unsettling, even though there is no actual violence. I doubt if I would have written it when my kids were that age- though from memory I was too exhausted most of the time to write ANYTHING… I didn’t want to have the baby as an “accessory” as they sometimes are in fiction, never needing to be fed or changed, etc.” I think because the author had these life experiences, it truly brought the words off the page for many readers. Let’s be honest, the first year with a new baby is unlike anything ever experienced before. Its already exhausting and emotional, and Bale somehow managed to bring the seemingly mundane, but very real struggles of a new mother, such as losing her identity of herself and just becoming “mommy” to light as well. Every time Alice had to stop somewhere and breastfeed her child, I had tears brought to my eyes as it reminded me of the hardest yet most rewarding experiences of my life to date.
In the Afterward, it mentions how the author stayed home with his kids for a time while they were young and that sealed all my wonders of how he could write all the feelings and experiences of what being home with kids truly means; he also included where the inspiration for this story came from which I highly recommend reading. A well done, edge of your seat thriller that goes a little deeper than your typical read in this genre. I’ll be waiting anxiously for his next book!
*I received my copy from NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review. This did not influence my review and all opinions are my own.
“Harry and Alice could barely have moved if they’d wanted to. They listened to the intruders descending the stairs, the rattle of a bolt being drawn back. The front door opened and shut, firmly, and the men were gone.
It was over.
It was only just beginning.”
Alice and Harry awaken in the night to find two masked men in their room for reasons unknown to them. After a tense discussion, it appears these men believe they are holding a package and/or associate being hunted by a mysterious group who clearly are involved in some shady dealings. After convincing these men that they have the wrong house and have no clue what they are talking about, the intruders leave them with a warning to not call the police or their 8 week old daughter Evie will be hurt. Over the next couple of days, the couple struggles over whether or not to involve the police and ultimately decide against it, but when another package arrives at their door, all means of chaos ensues and we are taken on one crazy, wild ride.
“But there’s also you: after a tiny burp, Evie’s eyes praised open, recognized her mother’s face and lit up with a pure, instinctive joy that was just about the most beautiful thing Alice had ever seen. She blinked away sudden, silly tears. Tears of love and guilt.
When you’ve been blessed with a beautiful, healthy child, wasn’t it unspeakably selfish to mourn what you might be losing of yourself?”
I think we can all agree that the star of this book truly is Evie. The chase alone was thrilling, but adding a newborn child to the mix while running from evil criminals takes it to a whole new level. When discussing with the author about how much this aspect added to the story for me, he stated “I know the opening scene is quite unsettling, even though there is no actual violence. I doubt if I would have written it when my kids were that age- though from memory I was too exhausted most of the time to write ANYTHING… I didn’t want to have the baby as an “accessory” as they sometimes are in fiction, never needing to be fed or changed, etc.” I think because the author had these life experiences, it truly brought the words off the page for many readers. Let’s be honest, the first year with a new baby is unlike anything ever experienced before. Its already exhausting and emotional, and Bale somehow managed to bring the seemingly mundane, but very real struggles of a new mother, such as losing her identity of herself and just becoming “mommy” to light as well. Every time Alice had to stop somewhere and breastfeed her child, I had tears brought to my eyes as it reminded me of the hardest yet most rewarding experiences of my life to date.
In the Afterward, it mentions how the author stayed home with his kids for a time while they were young and that sealed all my wonders of how he could write all the feelings and experiences of what being home with kids truly means; he also included where the inspiration for this story came from which I highly recommend reading. A well done, edge of your seat thriller that goes a little deeper than your typical read in this genre. I’ll be waiting anxiously for his next book!
*I received my copy from NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review. This did not influence my review and all opinions are my own.
August 9, 2017
A good old fashioned back to basics page turning mystery that didnt need to rely on the word GIRL in it's title to get reader's attention as word of mouth or should I say reader reviews did the trick.
I have been so disappointed of late with the thriller genre and was delighted when See How They Run was recommend by a Goodreads's friend, so I just had to give it a try and delighted to say it delivered
The opening chapter for this story really caught my attention and sent chills up my spine.
In the dead of Night new parents Alice and Harry French are plunged into their worst nightmare when they wake to find masked men in their bedroom. Men ruthless enough to threaten their baby daughter Evie. But why are they in their home and what do they want.......
The Novel grabs your attention, is fast paced, well written and has interesting characters. Ordinary people caught up in a nightmare really makes this a great tense read with lots of twists and turns to keep the reader interested.
An enjoyable read and my faith in thrillers may be restored for 2017.
I have been so disappointed of late with the thriller genre and was delighted when See How They Run was recommend by a Goodreads's friend, so I just had to give it a try and delighted to say it delivered
The opening chapter for this story really caught my attention and sent chills up my spine.
In the dead of Night new parents Alice and Harry French are plunged into their worst nightmare when they wake to find masked men in their bedroom. Men ruthless enough to threaten their baby daughter Evie. But why are they in their home and what do they want.......
The Novel grabs your attention, is fast paced, well written and has interesting characters. Ordinary people caught up in a nightmare really makes this a great tense read with lots of twists and turns to keep the reader interested.
An enjoyable read and my faith in thrillers may be restored for 2017.
March 25, 2016
4.5 stars
I would like to thank Net Galley, Bookouture, and Tom Bale for an advanced review copy of this novel in exchange for an unbiased review.
Well, my favorite publisher Bookouture has done it once again. They have dug up yet another little gem for us thriller fans. This time it’s Tom Bale’s See How They Run. What a fun ride this one was.
The action begins on page one and keeps on going. Using sprinklings of phrases of chilling foreboding and short chapters ending with nifty mini-cliffhangers, Tom Bale keeps the tension cranked. This is a true nail biter. I actually had to take a break a few times just to relax! A young couple and their 8 week old baby girl get pulled into a very nasty complex situation, and at times I felt like I was right in there with them. The plot is quite intricate. Several of the characters are very mysterious, and it is challenging for both the little family and the reader to figure out who can be trusted. Except for a short section early on, the pace is quick and the pressure is relentless. The last 85% or so was totally unputdownable, keeping me from my chores. Mr. Bale did a nice job unraveling all the questions I had by the time the book ended. This was a very satisfying read for this diehard thriller fan.
My only criticism is that I would like to have seen more backstory on protags Harry and Alice in order to better understand their thoughts and actions.
I read Tom Bale’s first book Skins and Bones a couple of years ago. I thought that was a really good book (though this one is even better) and couldn’t understand why he didn’t have more of a fan base. I believe his signing with Bookouture will finally give him the platform he needs to get his stuff out there, which is very good news indeed for us thriller fans. Give this author a go. You will not be disappointed.
I would like to thank Net Galley, Bookouture, and Tom Bale for an advanced review copy of this novel in exchange for an unbiased review.
Well, my favorite publisher Bookouture has done it once again. They have dug up yet another little gem for us thriller fans. This time it’s Tom Bale’s See How They Run. What a fun ride this one was.
The action begins on page one and keeps on going. Using sprinklings of phrases of chilling foreboding and short chapters ending with nifty mini-cliffhangers, Tom Bale keeps the tension cranked. This is a true nail biter. I actually had to take a break a few times just to relax! A young couple and their 8 week old baby girl get pulled into a very nasty complex situation, and at times I felt like I was right in there with them. The plot is quite intricate. Several of the characters are very mysterious, and it is challenging for both the little family and the reader to figure out who can be trusted. Except for a short section early on, the pace is quick and the pressure is relentless. The last 85% or so was totally unputdownable, keeping me from my chores. Mr. Bale did a nice job unraveling all the questions I had by the time the book ended. This was a very satisfying read for this diehard thriller fan.
My only criticism is that I would like to have seen more backstory on protags Harry and Alice in order to better understand their thoughts and actions.
I read Tom Bale’s first book Skins and Bones a couple of years ago. I thought that was a really good book (though this one is even better) and couldn’t understand why he didn’t have more of a fan base. I believe his signing with Bookouture will finally give him the platform he needs to get his stuff out there, which is very good news indeed for us thriller fans. Give this author a go. You will not be disappointed.
May 29, 2016
4.5* Frightening, heart pounding, and brilliant! Feeling safe in your home will never be the same for Alice and Harry. They are sleeping soundly with their new baby girl lying close by unaware intruders are now standing by their bedside. But these are no ordinary intruders as outlandish latex masks cover their faces; one a clown face while the other wore the very creepy Freddy Krueger mask. Clown face turns on the light which immediately wakens Alice and Harry to the threat that has arrived in their once happy and peaceful life. As they stared back at the horrifying thugs wearing gloves and footwear covered with plastic bags, Alice and Harry knew they were in grave danger and were very much afraid. See How They Run, will leave you breathless and turning those pages at breakneck speed. An excellent book and highly recommended!!
**A special thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley for my free copy in exchange for an honest review.**
**A special thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley for my free copy in exchange for an honest review.**
October 14, 2016
A $2.99 Kindle special....Thank You, Larry...and others from the Goodreads community!
HOOKED FROM THE START.....this rollercoaster mystery thriller --action packed....
twisting -gripping-nonstop suspense is ABSOLUTELY the thrill ride others have been saying! And, added pleasure, if you haven't been to Gloucestershire in many years.
"See How They Run", by Tom Bale is an elaborated plot...fast pacing...one that will keep you guessing. Early in the story, I thought I was so smart... I was SURE I knew the twisty story behind this man named Renshaw....( a guy who the BAD GUYS were looking for). For those who have read this book - you'll laugh when I tell you MY STORY for him....(and how wrong I was).
I was also sure, that Alice, ( stay-at home-new mother...dental hygienist), was going to pull some fricken teeth out of somebody. I was a little disappointed that she didn't!
Getting a little more serious:
To find a couple of strange men standing in your bedroom in the middle of the night -
.....the most sacred room of your house....in the most vulnerable- intimate setting...
while in bed---husband and wife ...with an eight week year old baby sleeping in the
Bassinet.....has got to one of the most frightening experiences of one's life. Nobody's dies in this first nailing biting chapter......but story just BEGINS.....
At times I felt like I stepped into an action packed movie! The story was so 'visual'.
Take a ride with Alice, Harry, and baby Evie...
You'll meet many more characters ...Ruth, Renshaw, DI Warley, Keri, Nerys, Laird, Michael, Greg, Hasan, 'mum', etc.
Baby Evie is often in the readers thoughts. She's an 8 week old baby!!!! Evie is 'on-the-run' .... along with Alice. She must have her feedings and nappies changed...
and at times Alice is "swearing-to-God"....( telling the truth).... on Evie's LIFE!....
Little Evie might be thinking ( of her new crazy chaotic life)....
"What are we doing Mummy?"
Great thriller....without the need for much violence!
HOOKED FROM THE START.....this rollercoaster mystery thriller --action packed....
twisting -gripping-nonstop suspense is ABSOLUTELY the thrill ride others have been saying! And, added pleasure, if you haven't been to Gloucestershire in many years.
"See How They Run", by Tom Bale is an elaborated plot...fast pacing...one that will keep you guessing. Early in the story, I thought I was so smart... I was SURE I knew the twisty story behind this man named Renshaw....( a guy who the BAD GUYS were looking for). For those who have read this book - you'll laugh when I tell you MY STORY for him....(and how wrong I was).
I was also sure, that Alice, ( stay-at home-new mother...dental hygienist), was going to pull some fricken teeth out of somebody. I was a little disappointed that she didn't!
Getting a little more serious:
To find a couple of strange men standing in your bedroom in the middle of the night -
.....the most sacred room of your house....in the most vulnerable- intimate setting...
while in bed---husband and wife ...with an eight week year old baby sleeping in the
Bassinet.....has got to one of the most frightening experiences of one's life. Nobody's dies in this first nailing biting chapter......but story just BEGINS.....
At times I felt like I stepped into an action packed movie! The story was so 'visual'.
Take a ride with Alice, Harry, and baby Evie...
You'll meet many more characters ...Ruth, Renshaw, DI Warley, Keri, Nerys, Laird, Michael, Greg, Hasan, 'mum', etc.
Baby Evie is often in the readers thoughts. She's an 8 week old baby!!!! Evie is 'on-the-run' .... along with Alice. She must have her feedings and nappies changed...
and at times Alice is "swearing-to-God"....( telling the truth).... on Evie's LIFE!....
Little Evie might be thinking ( of her new crazy chaotic life)....
"What are we doing Mummy?"
Great thriller....without the need for much violence!
June 7, 2016
What could be worse than a couple of psychopaths charging into your bedroom in the middle of the night and roughing you up? Having one of the thugs dangling and threatening your precious infant in front of you, that's what. And I must say, what one of the scary guys does (not to the baby, thank god) is really really gross, something I will never forget; the image is forever stuck in my mind.
This author is a smart cookie--he knows that by throwing an infant into the mix, we are guaranteed nail bites and twitching. If you've been a parent, especially, you'll be freaked about the infant's safety the whole time. For most of the story, the baby's in a snuggly. I felt this relief that she was being held, that she was attached, as if being carried in a bag on your mother’s chest is totally safe. I was actually wishing she were still in the safe womb. I felt this complete uneasiness when she was out of the snuggly, when she had an open-air vulnerability. The mom in me was having a heart attack.
People do change the nappies a lot in the story, which mostly I thought cute, though I didn't want to think of baby poop so often. And during diaper changes, the baby is out of the snuggly and unprotected, so I had that to worry about. But I think one of the reasons there’s so much diaper changing is that there's not much a baby does; she can only eat, sleep, pee, poop, burp, coo, and cry—that’s it. So what’s a writer to do except put a lot of diaper changes and feedings into the story? It’s very realistic.
The author gets big points for figuring out how to deal with harried chases with a baby in the picture. I was super impressed with how he was able to convincingly handle having the baby in almost every scene, especially a time when the mom had to do physical feats and had the baby with her. He was very careful with the logistics.
But you definitely don't need to be a parent for this to be an exciting read. The action is non-stop, and I mean non-stop. It starts immediately and before you know it, there are new bad guys (or are they bad? And if so, how bad?). There are two sets of people on the run, meeting up and being followed. Lots of “who do you trust?” moments, Lots of close calls, threats, and subterfuge. There’s a woman with a wig and a mysterious past. There’s betrayal and cruelty. Who is telling the truth? I was constantly asking, how will they get out of this? Should they really be doing this? Are they being smart or dumb here? What new horror now awaits them?
This felt just like a movie, the action so well described and so vivid. There was no fluff, no side trips, just clear prose. And the pace was perfect. Fast and furious, nerve-wracking yet fun.
You can't have it all. What's missing is complex characters. There are no inner monologues, no insights, no fantastic dialogue. We don’t find out much about the victims (or see their personalities), we just know that they have an urgent drive and determination to be safe. This is typical (and sort of a requirement, actually) of an action movie or TV show—getting to know the characters would slow the plot down, and half the fun is the speed.
You had to suspend disbelief a bit, but it's worth it. I think the victims’ first reaction was a little underplayed (I would have thought they’d freak out more, or talk about it more—not try to get back to sleep!), but otherwise they were believable. I'd love to see this story made into a movie.
So since the characters were one-dimensional, it wasn't an A-plus read, but it was well written and damn exciting. There's some extreme violence, but only once, I think, and it wasn't prolonged. I’m a wimp, and it didn’t freak me out.
Thrillers are not my genre, but I liked this book a whole lot. I’m thinking that for people who love this genre, it will be a 5-star read for sure. I'll be recommending this to people looking for a tight, good thriller.
Thank you, NetGalley, for the advance copy.
This author is a smart cookie--he knows that by throwing an infant into the mix, we are guaranteed nail bites and twitching. If you've been a parent, especially, you'll be freaked about the infant's safety the whole time. For most of the story, the baby's in a snuggly. I felt this relief that she was being held, that she was attached, as if being carried in a bag on your mother’s chest is totally safe. I was actually wishing she were still in the safe womb. I felt this complete uneasiness when she was out of the snuggly, when she had an open-air vulnerability. The mom in me was having a heart attack.
People do change the nappies a lot in the story, which mostly I thought cute, though I didn't want to think of baby poop so often. And during diaper changes, the baby is out of the snuggly and unprotected, so I had that to worry about. But I think one of the reasons there’s so much diaper changing is that there's not much a baby does; she can only eat, sleep, pee, poop, burp, coo, and cry—that’s it. So what’s a writer to do except put a lot of diaper changes and feedings into the story? It’s very realistic.
The author gets big points for figuring out how to deal with harried chases with a baby in the picture. I was super impressed with how he was able to convincingly handle having the baby in almost every scene, especially a time when the mom had to do physical feats and had the baby with her. He was very careful with the logistics.
But you definitely don't need to be a parent for this to be an exciting read. The action is non-stop, and I mean non-stop. It starts immediately and before you know it, there are new bad guys (or are they bad? And if so, how bad?). There are two sets of people on the run, meeting up and being followed. Lots of “who do you trust?” moments, Lots of close calls, threats, and subterfuge. There’s a woman with a wig and a mysterious past. There’s betrayal and cruelty. Who is telling the truth? I was constantly asking, how will they get out of this? Should they really be doing this? Are they being smart or dumb here? What new horror now awaits them?
This felt just like a movie, the action so well described and so vivid. There was no fluff, no side trips, just clear prose. And the pace was perfect. Fast and furious, nerve-wracking yet fun.
You can't have it all. What's missing is complex characters. There are no inner monologues, no insights, no fantastic dialogue. We don’t find out much about the victims (or see their personalities), we just know that they have an urgent drive and determination to be safe. This is typical (and sort of a requirement, actually) of an action movie or TV show—getting to know the characters would slow the plot down, and half the fun is the speed.
You had to suspend disbelief a bit, but it's worth it. I think the victims’ first reaction was a little underplayed (I would have thought they’d freak out more, or talk about it more—not try to get back to sleep!), but otherwise they were believable. I'd love to see this story made into a movie.
So since the characters were one-dimensional, it wasn't an A-plus read, but it was well written and damn exciting. There's some extreme violence, but only once, I think, and it wasn't prolonged. I’m a wimp, and it didn’t freak me out.
Thrillers are not my genre, but I liked this book a whole lot. I’m thinking that for people who love this genre, it will be a 5-star read for sure. I'll be recommending this to people looking for a tight, good thriller.
Thank you, NetGalley, for the advance copy.
July 13, 2016
This fast-paced thriller was just what I was in the mood for! I have said it before and I will say it again, Bookouture are one of my FAVOURITE publishers! I have not read a book published by them that I haven’t enjoyed!
One fateful night new parents Harry and Alice are woken by armed masked intruders. They are after a man named Renshaw, who Alice and Harry have never heard of! They threaten the baby and promise that they will be back. Alice and Harry are left completely confused. Who is this “Renshaw”? How will they protect themselves and their baby daughter from these people if they don’t know who he is? This fateful night is the catalyst for the next series of events that will put all their lives in danger.
I’m just going to briefly mention that I did have a few issues with this novel. My issues mostly revolved around the start, and how on earth two intelligent people could NOT CALL THE POLICE! Their excuse why they didn’t was silly and just as unbelievable. Not just that, the fact that Harry WENT TO WORK the next day, was just so stupidly unbelievable to me. I actually had a lot of trouble moving along with the story after that.
However, thankfully the shaky start was soon forgotten, as I became immersed in the action and mystery. Bale created an extremely entertaining story, full of thrills and action.
As a mother, I can only imagine how I would feel if any of the things happened to my baby, like they did to Evie throughout the novel. I think Bale did a pretty good job of creating a mothers anguish in some of those difficult situations. The scenes with the baby were all done quite well. I enjoyed how the baby still did all the normal things, cried, fed, pooped etc, and that Alice still had to take care of all these basic tasks while she was trying to stay alive herself.
I liked how there wasn’t a parade of characters. Just three main ones with a few secondary characters thrown in. In the end the whole thing just worked.
Would I recommend See How They Run?
Absolutely! Any thriller fan should enjoy this one! Another hit by Bookouture!
Many thanks to author Tom Bale and publisher Bookouture via NetGalley for a copy of See How They Run in exchange for my honest review.
For more reviews check out MY BLOG
May 3, 2016
Thank you to NetGalley, Bookouture and Tom Bale for an advanced review copy of SEE HOW THEY RUN in exchange for an honest review. This book is a winner, and I must say that Bookouture is my favorite publisher. I feel like I am in a candy store, when I browse the books for request at Bookouture.
This is a thriller that will have you biting your nails, munching on food, you don’t really need… to deal with the non-stop action and tension created in this amazing but believable plot.
In the middle of the night, Alice and Harry French and their eight week old daughter, Evie, become innocent victims of a home invasion. They wake up to find two masked men intruders, all dressed in black in their bedroom. They weren’t amateurs…and they threatened their baby daughter, Evie.
Then they said “Where is he? Edward Renshaw?” Alice or Harry never heard of this guy!
The invaders had been looking for a parcel, or evidence that a man called Renshaw lived there?
When these thugs grabbed Evie, and dangled her life in front of them, they agreed to co-operate and not contact the police.
“You won’t see us, but we will be watching you report this, and your baby will die.”
How did Alice and Harry get mixed up in this mess? Their life would never be the same. It wasn’t long before they became fugitives on the run.
How far would you go to protect your family?
Their home had been invaded-with far reaching repercussions. Their home became a crime scene.
This is a story that is written around ordinary people whose lives suddenly change on a dime. This is the story of challenges and how people cope with their adversities.
If you love reading thrillers, don’t miss out on this one! You will not be able to put this one down!
This is a thriller that will have you biting your nails, munching on food, you don’t really need… to deal with the non-stop action and tension created in this amazing but believable plot.
In the middle of the night, Alice and Harry French and their eight week old daughter, Evie, become innocent victims of a home invasion. They wake up to find two masked men intruders, all dressed in black in their bedroom. They weren’t amateurs…and they threatened their baby daughter, Evie.
Then they said “Where is he? Edward Renshaw?” Alice or Harry never heard of this guy!
The invaders had been looking for a parcel, or evidence that a man called Renshaw lived there?
When these thugs grabbed Evie, and dangled her life in front of them, they agreed to co-operate and not contact the police.
“You won’t see us, but we will be watching you report this, and your baby will die.”
How did Alice and Harry get mixed up in this mess? Their life would never be the same. It wasn’t long before they became fugitives on the run.
How far would you go to protect your family?
Their home had been invaded-with far reaching repercussions. Their home became a crime scene.
This is a story that is written around ordinary people whose lives suddenly change on a dime. This is the story of challenges and how people cope with their adversities.
If you love reading thrillers, don’t miss out on this one! You will not be able to put this one down!
September 21, 2018
EXCERPT: Any noise in the night could wake him now. Eight weeks since the birth of his daughter and Harry barely remembered how it was to sleep for seven hours straight and wake naturally, refreshed and ready for a new day. All the warnings from their friends about the misery of sleep deprivation had turned out to be spot on.
The sound had come and gone by the time he registered he was awake, eyes glued shut, heart beating fast. Not the baby, he was sure of that. It must have been something outside, perhaps in the alley out the back where urban foxes prowled.
Harry waited, trying to recreate the feeling he'd had, the sense of a dream interrupted by a . . . a thud, a scrape: a surreptitious noise as though something - someone - was trying to go unheard.
Or maybe it had been part of the dream itself. Either way, now that he was awake, he ought to take a look out of the window; check on Evie, and see how much time there was before her next feed. . .
Harry knew he should do these things but he couldn’t. He was frozen in place, eyes tightly shut, not even daring to breathe.
There was an intruder in their home.
ABOUT THIS BOOK: How far would you go to save your family?
In the dead of night, new parents Alice and Harry French are plunged into their worst nightmare when they wake to find masked men in their bedroom. Men ruthless enough to threaten their baby daughter, Evie.
This is no burglary gone wrong.
The intruders know who they’re looking for – a man called Edward Renshaw.
And they are prepared to kill to get to him.
When the men leave empty handed, little do Alice and Harry realise that their nightmare is just beginning. Is it a case of mistaken identity? Who is Renshaw? And what is he hiding?
One thing is clear – they already know too much.
As Alice and Harry are separated in the run for their lives, there is no time to breathe in their fight to be reunited. And with their attackers closing in, there is only one choice:
STAY ALIVE. OR DON’T.
MY THOUGHTS: 💖💖💖💖.5 for See How They Run by Tom Bale.
See How They Run had my heart pounding and my blood racing in the first few pages.
Tom Bale knows people, and this shows in his writing. He knows how we tell each other little lies, harmless lies, and just how these can backfire.
Alice gets a parcel in the post addressed to someone she doesn't know. And when soon after the delivery, a man turns up to claim it saying his sister had gotten the address wrong, she hands it over and thinks no more about it.
Even when intruders break into their home in the early hours of the morning demanding to know the whereabouts of the man and the parcel, assaulting her and threatening the life of Evie, their baby daughter, she denies all knowledge. And she doesn't even tell Harry, her husband, about the parcel.
And Harry, when he meets a woman called Ruth who knows what happened that night and offers to help, does not tell Alice.
Oh what a tangled web we weave......
If you want a good thrilling read, I strongly recommend this book. This is my first Tom Bale, it won't be my last. This is an author I am going to be following closely.
THE AUTHOR: Tom Bale has had a variety of jobs including retail assistant, claims negotiator and project manager, but none was as exhausting as the several years he spent as a househusband with two pre-school children. Tom has been writing since the age of seven, and completed his first novel at fifteen. After twenty years and hundreds of rejection slips, his first novel SINS OF THE FATHER was published under his real name, David Harrison. With his next book, SKIN AND BONES, he acquired an agent, a pseudonym and a book deal that enabled him to write full-time.
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to NetGalley and publishers Bookouture for providing a digital ARC of See How They Run by Tom Bale for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
Please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the about page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com for an explanation of my rating system.
This review and others are also published on my blog sandysbookaday.wordpress.com https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
The sound had come and gone by the time he registered he was awake, eyes glued shut, heart beating fast. Not the baby, he was sure of that. It must have been something outside, perhaps in the alley out the back where urban foxes prowled.
Harry waited, trying to recreate the feeling he'd had, the sense of a dream interrupted by a . . . a thud, a scrape: a surreptitious noise as though something - someone - was trying to go unheard.
Or maybe it had been part of the dream itself. Either way, now that he was awake, he ought to take a look out of the window; check on Evie, and see how much time there was before her next feed. . .
Harry knew he should do these things but he couldn’t. He was frozen in place, eyes tightly shut, not even daring to breathe.
There was an intruder in their home.
ABOUT THIS BOOK: How far would you go to save your family?
In the dead of night, new parents Alice and Harry French are plunged into their worst nightmare when they wake to find masked men in their bedroom. Men ruthless enough to threaten their baby daughter, Evie.
This is no burglary gone wrong.
The intruders know who they’re looking for – a man called Edward Renshaw.
And they are prepared to kill to get to him.
When the men leave empty handed, little do Alice and Harry realise that their nightmare is just beginning. Is it a case of mistaken identity? Who is Renshaw? And what is he hiding?
One thing is clear – they already know too much.
As Alice and Harry are separated in the run for their lives, there is no time to breathe in their fight to be reunited. And with their attackers closing in, there is only one choice:
STAY ALIVE. OR DON’T.
MY THOUGHTS: 💖💖💖💖.5 for See How They Run by Tom Bale.
See How They Run had my heart pounding and my blood racing in the first few pages.
Tom Bale knows people, and this shows in his writing. He knows how we tell each other little lies, harmless lies, and just how these can backfire.
Alice gets a parcel in the post addressed to someone she doesn't know. And when soon after the delivery, a man turns up to claim it saying his sister had gotten the address wrong, she hands it over and thinks no more about it.
Even when intruders break into their home in the early hours of the morning demanding to know the whereabouts of the man and the parcel, assaulting her and threatening the life of Evie, their baby daughter, she denies all knowledge. And she doesn't even tell Harry, her husband, about the parcel.
And Harry, when he meets a woman called Ruth who knows what happened that night and offers to help, does not tell Alice.
Oh what a tangled web we weave......
If you want a good thrilling read, I strongly recommend this book. This is my first Tom Bale, it won't be my last. This is an author I am going to be following closely.
THE AUTHOR: Tom Bale has had a variety of jobs including retail assistant, claims negotiator and project manager, but none was as exhausting as the several years he spent as a househusband with two pre-school children. Tom has been writing since the age of seven, and completed his first novel at fifteen. After twenty years and hundreds of rejection slips, his first novel SINS OF THE FATHER was published under his real name, David Harrison. With his next book, SKIN AND BONES, he acquired an agent, a pseudonym and a book deal that enabled him to write full-time.
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to NetGalley and publishers Bookouture for providing a digital ARC of See How They Run by Tom Bale for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
Please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the about page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com for an explanation of my rating system.
This review and others are also published on my blog sandysbookaday.wordpress.com https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
June 18, 2016
I'd rate this 4.5 stars.
Wow, this book had so many twists and turns, it left me kind of breathless.
As parents of a newborn, Harry and Alice French are fairly sleep-deprived. It seems like whenever they're just about to drift off to sleep, their daughter Evie wakes up, needing to be fed, changed, and/or held. But one night all three do fall asleep...and then Harry and Alice awake to find masked men in their bedroom.
These aren't just your routine burglars looking for some easy-to-find cash, jewelry, or other valuables. These men have baggies around their shoes to avoid leaving any traces behind. They're convinced that Harry and Alice know the whereabouts of a man named Edward Renshaw, a man who goes by other names, such as Grainger or Miller. Not only do the intruders think the Frenches know this man, they think the couple received a package addressed to him, and they want it. They're willing to stop at nothing—including killing Evie—to get what they want.
But Harry and Alice know nothing of Renshaw. They didn't receive a package. After some very harrowing moments, the intruders believe their story and plan to leave the house, but not before warning Harry and Alice that they'll be watching their every move, and if they call the police or tell anyone what happened or that they're looking for Renshaw, the threat is plain—they will kill Evie.
Although relieved the intruders left them reasonably unharmed (at least physically), this incident throws their world into turmoil. Determined to protect their daughter at any cost, both Harry and Alice try to do their own share of detective work to figure out why the intruders thought they knew Renshaw. Each does what they think is right, but the secrets they keep from each other, and the paths they choose to follow put the three of them in even more danger. Figuring out whom to trust becomes harder and harder, and once they are separated, the trouble and the danger grow.
"It got him thinking about timing, and chance, and how the significance of those small, often innocuous decisions never became clear until you looked back and saw how your life had been nudged, irrevocably, in one direction or another, for better or worse."
This was a pretty gripping thriller which read like a movie. There was lots of action and suspense—there were a number of times I had no idea what to expect, and that doesn't happen all that often for me. I liked the way that Tom Bale kept contorting the plot, allowing information to unfold little by little, so we knew the same amount as the characters (for the most part). While there were times I thought the characters were simply stupid for getting themselves into more and more trouble, I guess I could understand how fear could drive them to such actions.
This isn't a perfect book—I didn't feel that we got to know any of the characters enough, and many of the villains are just shadowy characters. But there is so much suspense and excitement in the book it doesn't quite matter. I definitely want to read Bale's next book, which comes out in September. This will be a fun beach read that will probably make you check and double-check your door locks before you go to bed!!
See all of my reviews at http://itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blo....
Wow, this book had so many twists and turns, it left me kind of breathless.
As parents of a newborn, Harry and Alice French are fairly sleep-deprived. It seems like whenever they're just about to drift off to sleep, their daughter Evie wakes up, needing to be fed, changed, and/or held. But one night all three do fall asleep...and then Harry and Alice awake to find masked men in their bedroom.
These aren't just your routine burglars looking for some easy-to-find cash, jewelry, or other valuables. These men have baggies around their shoes to avoid leaving any traces behind. They're convinced that Harry and Alice know the whereabouts of a man named Edward Renshaw, a man who goes by other names, such as Grainger or Miller. Not only do the intruders think the Frenches know this man, they think the couple received a package addressed to him, and they want it. They're willing to stop at nothing—including killing Evie—to get what they want.
But Harry and Alice know nothing of Renshaw. They didn't receive a package. After some very harrowing moments, the intruders believe their story and plan to leave the house, but not before warning Harry and Alice that they'll be watching their every move, and if they call the police or tell anyone what happened or that they're looking for Renshaw, the threat is plain—they will kill Evie.
Although relieved the intruders left them reasonably unharmed (at least physically), this incident throws their world into turmoil. Determined to protect their daughter at any cost, both Harry and Alice try to do their own share of detective work to figure out why the intruders thought they knew Renshaw. Each does what they think is right, but the secrets they keep from each other, and the paths they choose to follow put the three of them in even more danger. Figuring out whom to trust becomes harder and harder, and once they are separated, the trouble and the danger grow.
"It got him thinking about timing, and chance, and how the significance of those small, often innocuous decisions never became clear until you looked back and saw how your life had been nudged, irrevocably, in one direction or another, for better or worse."
This was a pretty gripping thriller which read like a movie. There was lots of action and suspense—there were a number of times I had no idea what to expect, and that doesn't happen all that often for me. I liked the way that Tom Bale kept contorting the plot, allowing information to unfold little by little, so we knew the same amount as the characters (for the most part). While there were times I thought the characters were simply stupid for getting themselves into more and more trouble, I guess I could understand how fear could drive them to such actions.
This isn't a perfect book—I didn't feel that we got to know any of the characters enough, and many of the villains are just shadowy characters. But there is so much suspense and excitement in the book it doesn't quite matter. I definitely want to read Bale's next book, which comes out in September. This will be a fun beach read that will probably make you check and double-check your door locks before you go to bed!!
See all of my reviews at http://itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blo....
May 14, 2016
Good read. I like my crime thrillers a bit more graphic and gruesome. This was an original story that went took many surprising turns I wasn't expecting and I did enjoy it. I liked the main characters, a married couple with a baby, but there were so many other characters it was kind of hard to keep track of the them. Overall, it was a good read that many fans of crime thrillers would love. It was on the tamer side for those who are faint of heart and not accustomed to extreme violence and gore. I'll give it 3 1/2 stars.
May 1, 2016
Home.
Your security blanket, safe-haven, place where you shut out the bad things that happen in the world.
Or so you think...
You wake up to masked strangers staring at you in your bedroom. They want to know where Renshaw is, where is the parcel? You tell them you honestly do not know. They don't believe you.
And with that, Harry, Alice and baby Evie's life is forever changed as they get sucked into a world full of very bad and corrupt people. How far will they have to go to get their perfect life back?
This is a well written, action packed suspense that will keep you turning the pages well into the night.
I highly recommend to all mystery lovers...Tom Bale is one I am now keeping my eye on for his next thriller!
My thanks to NetGalley for providing the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
April 3, 2016
This is a breathtakingly thriller that demands that you read the book and forget about the world. That is exactly what I did. It is written by a accomplished author who knows how to grab the readers attention and never let go. Harry and Alice have intruders break into their home. They want a package that has been delivered to someone called Renshaw. However, Alice and Harry have no idea about either Renshaw or the package. Alice, Harry and their baby, Evie, are threatened should they go to the police.
The nightmare then begins. They go on the run and Harry becomes separated from his wife and baby. Harry is absolutely determined to find his family and protect them. The couple find themselves pushed against the wall and find themselves in the fight of their lives, not knowing who they can trust. They are up against remorseless and ruthless forces. This is one hell of a thrill ride from beginning to end. It is so nailbitingly tense and compelling to read. An author to watch out for. Many thanks to Bookouture for an ARC via netgalley.
The nightmare then begins. They go on the run and Harry becomes separated from his wife and baby. Harry is absolutely determined to find his family and protect them. The couple find themselves pushed against the wall and find themselves in the fight of their lives, not knowing who they can trust. They are up against remorseless and ruthless forces. This is one hell of a thrill ride from beginning to end. It is so nailbitingly tense and compelling to read. An author to watch out for. Many thanks to Bookouture for an ARC via netgalley.
April 15, 2016
I received a copy of See How They Run by Tom Bale through NetGalley for an honest review. I would like to thank Bookouture Publishers and Tom Bale for the opportunity.
Listen: I ate an entire bag of salty, salty pretzels while reading this book. The tension kept springboarding pretzels at me. I couldn't stop. Thirsty! Oh, so thirsty!
A muffled noise. And then again. Did your ears torpedo a message fullblast to your brain already on high alert?
Harry French had lain in exhaustion next to his sleeping wife cocooned in heavy blankets. They are parents of Evie, a restless eight week old delight. With one eye open, Harry realizes that there are no longer just three occupants in his bedroom. Standing over them are two masked men dressed in black and wearing latex gloves. They mean business as they demand a package that had been sent to Harry's address by a man called Edward Renshaw.
Harry and his wife, Alice, have no idea of what is going on and who this Edward Renshaw is. But you and I, we will know how all things swing back to Renshaw. Life will be turned inside out and upside down for Harry and Alice from here on out. Tom Bale takes you on a wild ride as the young couple must protect all that is precious to them. Nothing of what transpired that night must be reported to the authorities. Harry and Alice walk the tightrope without a balance pole. Step by step. Oh, and then there's that threat......they will be back. Yes, they will be back.
I enjoyed See How They Run very much as indicated by the empty pretzel bag. Bale starts up the loud music right out of the shoot and it is relentless. The ending may tapdance into another direction for some, but it is a solid read. I'm looking forward to the next exciting offering by Tom Bale. And I'll be bringing an extra tall glass of water to go with my pretzels next time.
Listen: I ate an entire bag of salty, salty pretzels while reading this book. The tension kept springboarding pretzels at me. I couldn't stop. Thirsty! Oh, so thirsty!
A muffled noise. And then again. Did your ears torpedo a message fullblast to your brain already on high alert?
Harry French had lain in exhaustion next to his sleeping wife cocooned in heavy blankets. They are parents of Evie, a restless eight week old delight. With one eye open, Harry realizes that there are no longer just three occupants in his bedroom. Standing over them are two masked men dressed in black and wearing latex gloves. They mean business as they demand a package that had been sent to Harry's address by a man called Edward Renshaw.
Harry and his wife, Alice, have no idea of what is going on and who this Edward Renshaw is. But you and I, we will know how all things swing back to Renshaw. Life will be turned inside out and upside down for Harry and Alice from here on out. Tom Bale takes you on a wild ride as the young couple must protect all that is precious to them. Nothing of what transpired that night must be reported to the authorities. Harry and Alice walk the tightrope without a balance pole. Step by step. Oh, and then there's that threat......they will be back. Yes, they will be back.
I enjoyed See How They Run very much as indicated by the empty pretzel bag. Bale starts up the loud music right out of the shoot and it is relentless. The ending may tapdance into another direction for some, but it is a solid read. I'm looking forward to the next exciting offering by Tom Bale. And I'll be bringing an extra tall glass of water to go with my pretzels next time.
September 22, 2016
Crazy!! What a ride...or should I say... run!
It all starts with waking up to find someone standing in the doorway of your bedroom at 3 in the morning. A seemingly innocent couple get caught up in an out of control situation that leaves them running to protect each other and their infant daughter.
There are many twists and turns that kept my attention glued to the story. It is fast paced with short chapters that will keep you on the edge and wanting more.
All I can say is be careful accepting mail from your neighbors as you never know where that will lead!
It all starts with waking up to find someone standing in the doorway of your bedroom at 3 in the morning. A seemingly innocent couple get caught up in an out of control situation that leaves them running to protect each other and their infant daughter.
There are many twists and turns that kept my attention glued to the story. It is fast paced with short chapters that will keep you on the edge and wanting more.
All I can say is be careful accepting mail from your neighbors as you never know where that will lead!
March 30, 2016
5 +++++ Unputdownable Stars
Harry French is woken in the night, only a faint noise but it's not his wife Alice, she's still fast asleep next to him and their 8 week old baby Evie hasn't yet woken for her feed.
He was frozen in place, eyes tightly shut, not even daring to breathe. There was an intruder in their home.
This is no burglary, these 2 men, wearing masks are looking for a certain person and something that's been delivered.... to lead them to this house........and they want answers now!!
Desperate to save his family. Harry and Alice are thrown into a start of a nightmare that neither will ever forget.
Who is this man the intruders are looking for and why this family?
My thoughts......
OMG this story absolutely thrilled me from start to finish. What a roller coaster ride. Exciting, nail biting and addictive. I loved it.
Twist after twist you start to realise you don't know who you can trust.
As Harry and Alice and baby Evie become separated I felt I was constantly holding my breath or trying to breathe as the real seriousness of their situation starts to show.
A mixer of characters all with their own secrets. As the plot comes together and answers fall into place, time starts to run out. Alice will do anything to protect her family. The last part was terrifying but exciting at the same time.
Who can they trust?....who can't they trust? Both Alice and Harry will have to make decisions.
Tom Bale is definitely an author to watch. If your looking for an exciting roller coaster thriller this is for you...
This book is up there with my favourites of this year.
Just a word of warning maybe don't start it before bedtime.
Tom Bale
Looking forward to reading more from this author..
***ARC provided by Netgalley via Bookouture in return for an honest review***
Harry French is woken in the night, only a faint noise but it's not his wife Alice, she's still fast asleep next to him and their 8 week old baby Evie hasn't yet woken for her feed.
He was frozen in place, eyes tightly shut, not even daring to breathe. There was an intruder in their home.
This is no burglary, these 2 men, wearing masks are looking for a certain person and something that's been delivered.... to lead them to this house........and they want answers now!!
Desperate to save his family. Harry and Alice are thrown into a start of a nightmare that neither will ever forget.
Who is this man the intruders are looking for and why this family?
My thoughts......
OMG this story absolutely thrilled me from start to finish. What a roller coaster ride. Exciting, nail biting and addictive. I loved it.
Twist after twist you start to realise you don't know who you can trust.
As Harry and Alice and baby Evie become separated I felt I was constantly holding my breath or trying to breathe as the real seriousness of their situation starts to show.
A mixer of characters all with their own secrets. As the plot comes together and answers fall into place, time starts to run out. Alice will do anything to protect her family. The last part was terrifying but exciting at the same time.
Who can they trust?....who can't they trust? Both Alice and Harry will have to make decisions.
Tom Bale is definitely an author to watch. If your looking for an exciting roller coaster thriller this is for you...
This book is up there with my favourites of this year.
Just a word of warning maybe don't start it before bedtime.
Tom Bale
Looking forward to reading more from this author..
***ARC provided by Netgalley via Bookouture in return for an honest review***
October 15, 2018
This was a really thrilling read that honestly went places that I did not expect it to. I had not read any prior reviews so went in to this very open minded on what I was going to get. This is also the first (but not the last) novel by Tom Bale that I have read. Really glad that I grabbed this one. I am so thrilled that Tom has been signed to my favourite book publisher Bookouture. In my opinion they can't publish a bad book so I knew this would be good.
The book starts with a cracking pace and really does not let up all the way through to the end. Opening scenes are quite harrowing and really set a tense scene for going forward. I love a book that can get my interest early on, this one could not be called a slow burner at all. As the plot unravels it's like one of those books where you have a tendency to think it's really unbelievable which is kind of is but you just don't care, it's reading entertainment and it's great!
With a plot that weaves a complex tale, See How They Run takes you on a reading journey into pure escapism and a total desire to know how the story was going to end. You just have to know. I loved a lot of the characters in this novel, some more than others and Tom Bale really has a knack for descriptive writing that not only enables us to picture the characters well, but the environment and peripheral things going on. Sometimes a book for me is a bit like I am watching a TV show or movie and this was one of those.
Some moments in the book really had my mouth open wide, I was not expecting the author to take it where he went and to be honest some scenes are quite disturbing, yet like viewing a train wreck you keep looking, reading, devouring more words because it's just got you hooked and holding on for what comes next. Anyone that enjoys a good plot, strong characters and especially a great pace from start to finish would enjoy immensely reading See How They Run. I am well impressed with Tom's writing ability and eager to read some of his novels he has written prior to this one.
My overall impression? 4.5 stars, I can't quite put my finger on why it did not get a 5 star rating from me. A great read, well written with plenty of action, enough twists and turns to keep you guessing and plenty of great drama.
Many thanks to Bookouture for a copy of this novel to read and review, much appreciated.
Thanks so much for reading my review! If you enjoyed it please leave me a “like” or a comment, I love to interact with other book lovers! For more of my book reviews, plenty of awesome books to win, author interviews and features come over to join me for book fun at: https://www.facebook.com/BookloverCat...
Connect with me on Twitter at https://www.twitter.com/promotethatbook
To enquire about joining my book reviewers team: http://goo.gl/forms/GWMOvlofZg
Finally to enquire about my book publicity services: http://goo.gl/forms/eVwa2HFKnK
The book starts with a cracking pace and really does not let up all the way through to the end. Opening scenes are quite harrowing and really set a tense scene for going forward. I love a book that can get my interest early on, this one could not be called a slow burner at all. As the plot unravels it's like one of those books where you have a tendency to think it's really unbelievable which is kind of is but you just don't care, it's reading entertainment and it's great!
With a plot that weaves a complex tale, See How They Run takes you on a reading journey into pure escapism and a total desire to know how the story was going to end. You just have to know. I loved a lot of the characters in this novel, some more than others and Tom Bale really has a knack for descriptive writing that not only enables us to picture the characters well, but the environment and peripheral things going on. Sometimes a book for me is a bit like I am watching a TV show or movie and this was one of those.
Some moments in the book really had my mouth open wide, I was not expecting the author to take it where he went and to be honest some scenes are quite disturbing, yet like viewing a train wreck you keep looking, reading, devouring more words because it's just got you hooked and holding on for what comes next. Anyone that enjoys a good plot, strong characters and especially a great pace from start to finish would enjoy immensely reading See How They Run. I am well impressed with Tom's writing ability and eager to read some of his novels he has written prior to this one.
My overall impression? 4.5 stars, I can't quite put my finger on why it did not get a 5 star rating from me. A great read, well written with plenty of action, enough twists and turns to keep you guessing and plenty of great drama.
Many thanks to Bookouture for a copy of this novel to read and review, much appreciated.
Thanks so much for reading my review! If you enjoyed it please leave me a “like” or a comment, I love to interact with other book lovers! For more of my book reviews, plenty of awesome books to win, author interviews and features come over to join me for book fun at: https://www.facebook.com/BookloverCat...
Connect with me on Twitter at https://www.twitter.com/promotethatbook
To enquire about joining my book reviewers team: http://goo.gl/forms/GWMOvlofZg
Finally to enquire about my book publicity services: http://goo.gl/forms/eVwa2HFKnK
October 14, 2018
I do not feel I can do a true review on this book. I listened to it over a long period and found I lost track of the story a bit. There were quite a few characters to keep tabs on.
Overall a good story, an exciting beginning with masked men breaking into a home in the middle of the night, the middle of the book was slow paced and the ending tied all the strands together and had a tense and satisfactory finale.
Overall a good story, an exciting beginning with masked men breaking into a home in the middle of the night, the middle of the book was slow paced and the ending tied all the strands together and had a tense and satisfactory finale.
May 18, 2016
See How They Run is an amazing thriller from Tom Bale that grabs you from the first page and keeps you on the edge of your seat, biting your nails and checking your doors. Bookouture knows how to pick winners.
While Alice and Harry French are in bed, sleep deprived from being new parents, they are awakened to masked men in their bedroom. The masked men are looking for a man named Renshaw, who used the French’s address for a package delivery. Alice and Harry convince the men they know nothing and they leave, but threaten them against calling the police. From this point on, you are on a nonstop thrill ride as Alice and Harry try to protect each other and their baby Evie.
This is an ordinary couple thrown into an unimaginable nightmare. They don’t know who to trust, who to turn to and even have trust issues between each other. The author has set a very fast pace with an intricate plot that will continue to keep you guessing and turning the page. This book had everything I am looking for in a thriller!
I can’t thank Bookouture and Net Galley enough for allowing me to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review. It was great!
While Alice and Harry French are in bed, sleep deprived from being new parents, they are awakened to masked men in their bedroom. The masked men are looking for a man named Renshaw, who used the French’s address for a package delivery. Alice and Harry convince the men they know nothing and they leave, but threaten them against calling the police. From this point on, you are on a nonstop thrill ride as Alice and Harry try to protect each other and their baby Evie.
This is an ordinary couple thrown into an unimaginable nightmare. They don’t know who to trust, who to turn to and even have trust issues between each other. The author has set a very fast pace with an intricate plot that will continue to keep you guessing and turning the page. This book had everything I am looking for in a thriller!
I can’t thank Bookouture and Net Galley enough for allowing me to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review. It was great!
September 30, 2016
This book kept me intrigued with the action packed plot. The story was entertaining, suspenseful, and interesting. Highly recommended if you like this genre.
August 6, 2021
Everyone loved this. I thought it was a little convoluted, so many strands.. perhaps it was because I listened to this and wasn't always concentrating.
Armed and masked intruders converge on a young family's home, assaulting each member, including a new born girl.
So many different strands to this story, and yes, we do need layers, but I found this to be lacking. I am in the minority here though.
It was interesting to see baddies that do not fit the mould. There was a touch of heavy violence that readers may not be comfortable with.
Alice and Harry are running all over the country side trying to solve this mystery of intruders demanding a package they know nothing about. Alice is not entirely truthful and it becomes dangerous as she goes on the run with her little one Evie, who is not yet 9 months old. I kept thinking she was lucky to be breast feeding, but she held it together and was able to feed her and still get her down for some sleeps.. see how strange my take away for this book was?
I was left deflated, just not for me, but that is ok - so many more to get to!
Armed and masked intruders converge on a young family's home, assaulting each member, including a new born girl.
So many different strands to this story, and yes, we do need layers, but I found this to be lacking. I am in the minority here though.
It was interesting to see baddies that do not fit the mould. There was a touch of heavy violence that readers may not be comfortable with.
Alice and Harry are running all over the country side trying to solve this mystery of intruders demanding a package they know nothing about. Alice is not entirely truthful and it becomes dangerous as she goes on the run with her little one Evie, who is not yet 9 months old. I kept thinking she was lucky to be breast feeding, but she held it together and was able to feed her and still get her down for some sleeps.. see how strange my take away for this book was?
I was left deflated, just not for me, but that is ok - so many more to get to!
March 25, 2016
Lace up your running shoes – that’s “trainers” for my friends across the pond in Tom Bale’s UK – and brace yourself for a wonderfully wild tale of murder and mayhem. I wish to thank NetGalley, Bookouture, and the author for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest, unbiased review.
Mr. Bale’s See How They Run begins with a late-night break-in at the home of Harry and Alice French, parents of 8-month-old Evie. This isn’t your ordinary burglary, however. These guys are pros, only they’re not looking for cash or for jewelry to hock. They’re looking for a package that they say was delivered for a man called Renshaw. Fine. Except neither spouse has heard of Renshaw or received a package. Wrong address, they tell the men. This should be the end of it, but it’s not.
Threatened with harm to themselves or their baby if they go to the police, Harry and Alice try to put the incident behind them. Little do they know that their nightmare is only beginning. Full of secrets and fears that cause them to second-guess their decisions, Harry and Alice each make choices that have them mired in the morass of mystery. Who is Renshaw? What do those nasty blokes want with him? When Alice and little Evie drop deeper and deeper into danger, Harry’s protective instincts kick in, and he morphs into a man on a single-minded mission: find his wife and daughter – alive and well!
See How They Run is like your worse nightmare on overdrive. I liked Harry and Alice, but I felt that I didn’t know them as well as I wanted to. They are intelligent people. They are dedicated parents. When the safety of their daughter is at stake, their protective instincts kick in. Because of the constant motion and commotion, there is little time for either parent to breathe, much less to think or to feel sentimental. If you are someone who likes plenty of bumps and curves at 90 MPH, then I think you’re in for a real treat with See How They Run.
4 stars
Mr. Bale’s See How They Run begins with a late-night break-in at the home of Harry and Alice French, parents of 8-month-old Evie. This isn’t your ordinary burglary, however. These guys are pros, only they’re not looking for cash or for jewelry to hock. They’re looking for a package that they say was delivered for a man called Renshaw. Fine. Except neither spouse has heard of Renshaw or received a package. Wrong address, they tell the men. This should be the end of it, but it’s not.
Threatened with harm to themselves or their baby if they go to the police, Harry and Alice try to put the incident behind them. Little do they know that their nightmare is only beginning. Full of secrets and fears that cause them to second-guess their decisions, Harry and Alice each make choices that have them mired in the morass of mystery. Who is Renshaw? What do those nasty blokes want with him? When Alice and little Evie drop deeper and deeper into danger, Harry’s protective instincts kick in, and he morphs into a man on a single-minded mission: find his wife and daughter – alive and well!
See How They Run is like your worse nightmare on overdrive. I liked Harry and Alice, but I felt that I didn’t know them as well as I wanted to. They are intelligent people. They are dedicated parents. When the safety of their daughter is at stake, their protective instincts kick in. Because of the constant motion and commotion, there is little time for either parent to breathe, much less to think or to feel sentimental. If you are someone who likes plenty of bumps and curves at 90 MPH, then I think you’re in for a real treat with See How They Run.
4 stars
May 23, 2016
I have no idea how to rate this one. This is a Grisham type mystery/thriller. I don't really read these types of books, but must say, it kept me entertained!
April 17, 2016
Another excellent novel from Bookouture and well done to author Tom Bale an author I had previously not read.
This book is full of suspense and the action really does start from the very first page and lasts throughout. The book starts with husband and wife Harry and Alice French and their eight week old woken in the middle of the night to find two armed masked men in their bedroom. The men are looking for a man called Edward Renshaw but neither of them have heard of him and so the action begins.
This is a well written novel that draws you in and builds the suspense throughout. Full of action and interesting characters the story flows well and builds up to a thrilling conclusion.
https://worcestersource.wordpress.com...
I would like to thank Net Galley and Bookouture for supplying a copy of this novel in exchange for a honest review..
This book is full of suspense and the action really does start from the very first page and lasts throughout. The book starts with husband and wife Harry and Alice French and their eight week old woken in the middle of the night to find two armed masked men in their bedroom. The men are looking for a man called Edward Renshaw but neither of them have heard of him and so the action begins.
This is a well written novel that draws you in and builds the suspense throughout. Full of action and interesting characters the story flows well and builds up to a thrilling conclusion.
https://worcestersource.wordpress.com...
I would like to thank Net Galley and Bookouture for supplying a copy of this novel in exchange for a honest review..
August 15, 2016
My advice to all readers:
1. Start this book when you have plenty of time - you won't want to put it down.
2. Don't skip ahead or skim read - you will miss something important !
3. Breathe ! Don't forget to breathe.
This is the first book I've read by Tom Bale. I would definitely read another...when I catch my breath. The writing constantly moved forward, albeit never on a straight road, but harsh curves left and right at top speeds. Great characters and well contrived plot - and this Canadian learned some new British terms !
I will admit that I had my doubts based on the title - This title has been used over and over again by several authors and it's a pretty big title for a very big author - James Patterson - so it had a lot to live up to in my mind ! The title was appropriate for the novel, for sure, but it is perhaps my only criticism - I'd like to see something more original, something not competitive with such a huge author like James Patterson.
A huge thank you to Tom Bale, the Bookouture, and NetGalley for the advanced reader's copy in exchange for an unbiased and honest review.
1. Start this book when you have plenty of time - you won't want to put it down.
2. Don't skip ahead or skim read - you will miss something important !
3. Breathe ! Don't forget to breathe.
This is the first book I've read by Tom Bale. I would definitely read another...when I catch my breath. The writing constantly moved forward, albeit never on a straight road, but harsh curves left and right at top speeds. Great characters and well contrived plot - and this Canadian learned some new British terms !
I will admit that I had my doubts based on the title - This title has been used over and over again by several authors and it's a pretty big title for a very big author - James Patterson - so it had a lot to live up to in my mind ! The title was appropriate for the novel, for sure, but it is perhaps my only criticism - I'd like to see something more original, something not competitive with such a huge author like James Patterson.
A huge thank you to Tom Bale, the Bookouture, and NetGalley for the advanced reader's copy in exchange for an unbiased and honest review.
June 12, 2016
See How They Run by Tom Bale was a fast paced thriller which was a good read but sometimes i found a very frustrating & annoying at the same time mainly with the dialogue with Alice on the run with Evie & Renshaw not saying i didn't enjoy it but was a bit unrealistic for me.
I know a lot of you wont necessarily agree with me but its just how i read it, the Premise was good i felt for Harry all the way though the story as he was so helpless all he wanted was Alice & Evie back 3 1/2 stars
I know a lot of you wont necessarily agree with me but its just how i read it, the Premise was good i felt for Harry all the way though the story as he was so helpless all he wanted was Alice & Evie back 3 1/2 stars
May 3, 2016
No one wants to wake up during the night to find intruders in their house let alone in your bedroom with your spouse and 8 week old baby daughter close beside you but this is what happens to Harry French.
Two men are in the bedroom trying to find a parcel that had been delivered to the couples home addressed to Edward Renshaw. The couple don't have the package and eventually the men leave telling the young couple not to involve the police.
What the young couple don't realise is this was far from the end for them, it was only just beginning. Who could they trust? Who was telling the truth?
The story starts from page 1 and it hooks you and you will find it hard to put it back down.
The 1st thing I did when I finished this book was to see what other books the author had written because Mr Bale you have a new fan
I would like to thank Net Galley, Bookouture and the author Tom Bale for my ARC in exchange for an honest review
Two men are in the bedroom trying to find a parcel that had been delivered to the couples home addressed to Edward Renshaw. The couple don't have the package and eventually the men leave telling the young couple not to involve the police.
What the young couple don't realise is this was far from the end for them, it was only just beginning. Who could they trust? Who was telling the truth?
The story starts from page 1 and it hooks you and you will find it hard to put it back down.
The 1st thing I did when I finished this book was to see what other books the author had written because Mr Bale you have a new fan
I would like to thank Net Galley, Bookouture and the author Tom Bale for my ARC in exchange for an honest review
May 1, 2016
How far would you go to save your family?
Harry and his wife Alice and eight week old Evie are sleeping, and wake up to find two masked men standing over their bed. The author had me looking over my shoulder as I read. I even went to check that I'd locked my back door! It gave me the chills to read the first chapter, and that was only the beginning...
This little family was in for a real adventure which was not a pleasure trip for them. Their lives turned upside down. There was a cast of unsavory characters and a mysterious woman who follows Harry for information.
This book kept me turning pages quickly to get to find out what was happening to Harry, Alice, and Evie. It was a great book which I highly recommend to all readers of mysteries and suspense.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher, Bookouture, for the chance to review this book.
Harry and his wife Alice and eight week old Evie are sleeping, and wake up to find two masked men standing over their bed. The author had me looking over my shoulder as I read. I even went to check that I'd locked my back door! It gave me the chills to read the first chapter, and that was only the beginning...
This little family was in for a real adventure which was not a pleasure trip for them. Their lives turned upside down. There was a cast of unsavory characters and a mysterious woman who follows Harry for information.
This book kept me turning pages quickly to get to find out what was happening to Harry, Alice, and Evie. It was a great book which I highly recommend to all readers of mysteries and suspense.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher, Bookouture, for the chance to review this book.
September 28, 2017
Unfortunately I really struggled getting through this one, and wanted to DNF it multiple times. See How They Run had an amazing opening, and it gave me goosebumps! I had such high hopes after the opening, but from there the book got really convoluted in my opinion. There were so many character POVs to keep track of, and it took me out of the story when they switched. I also found a lot of the character reactions unrealistic based on the situations that were happening. I know I'm in the minority here, so don't let this stop you from reading the book! This is the third book I've read by Tom Bale, and I haven't rated any of them more than 2.5 stars, so I think I've decided he's just not an author whose style I love, so I won't read any of his future books since I'm just not the right reader for his works!
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