No Place to Run

Thanks Net Galley for this arc.
I really, really, really enjoyed this. I always think the first chapter of any book is incredibly important, to grab your attention and hold it, I especially love first chapters in an elderly persons POV I always think it’s such a good way to start and I’m intrigued then, I need to know more. Well I was definitely hooked from the get go with this book.

Francesca is travelling on a long distance train after depositing her husbands ashes, she cannot sleep and goes to sit by the window to see the sunrise, the train goes past a clearing and she sees a young girl running with a man chasing her. I’m hooked, reel your line back in because I’m a goner. The young girl had gone missing two years previous and her older brother Aiden now goes to the area to try and find any information and to find his sister. No one seems to want to help him, the police are all hush hush. Then Aiden meets Lana, the locals think she’s nuts with conspiracy theory’s, her brother died the previous year in a freak accident that she just doesn’t believe. And everything just goes tits up from there with them trying to find out what’s going on.

There’s dual POV with the chapter changes going between Aiden trying to find his sister and The Farm views. It’s mysterious, it’s gripping. There’s twists that are just crazy. It’s so jam packed and when I read the last chapter I was like oh shit. I need more, I want more, is there going to be a second book? I hope so!

This book had so much potential but it fell flat. In the beginning it was thrilling and had me on the edge of my seat. However, a few chapters and a couple of plot twists later, I did not like the direction it took.

Francesca, an elderly woman on a train sees a woman running into a clearing in the woods. A man is running behind her. Francesca and the woman lock eyes. Francesca doesn’t forget a face and believes that she has seen that girls face somewhere before. She scours the internet and finds the girl on a missing persons website. Francesca decides to write an e-mail saying she believes she has spotted the missing girl.

Aiden Faith has been on a guilt driven quest to find his sister Scarlet who has been missing for two years. When he receives Francesca’s tip, he decides he needs to check it out. So begins a crazy series of events culminating into a lackluster ending. Will he find his sister?

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this arc in exchange for my honest review.

Yes, yes, yes! I was doing my happy dance at work when I saw that No Place to Run was available to read for free! Mark Edwards is one of my favorite go-to authors of creepy, scary, give me the heebie jeebies, sleep with my lights on, psychological thrillers! His talent for horror is insane!!

While this book was engaging and had me tense at times, I did not experience the usual creepiness that comes with reading Edwards' novels. I would classify this book as more of a "wild goose chase" mystery than a thriller. This was mildly disappointing, as I crave the psychological, mind blown, WTF? moments and "hiding under my blankets" fear that Edwards' writing so excellently instills in his readers. I want to be really scared!!! Unfortunately, I didn't feel that here.

I still really enjoyed this story and finished in a day. It was just different than his usual books.
He is a brilliant writer and I am a HUGE fan!! I've read all of his books and will continue to do so....waiting very impatiently for the next one to come out. On an end note, I feel like Mark Edwards is an underdog in this genre and deserves more recognition. I highly recommend you start reading his books if you haven't already done so. For fans of true horror where the monsters are REAL, you do not want to take a pass on Mark Edwards! Trust me!

Special thanks to NetGalley, Amazon Publishing UK and Mark Edwards for allowing me free access to this digital ARC!

another brilliant book by Mark Edwards. I was hooked from the first page. Aiden is a brilliant character that is really relatable. The story line was full of lots of twists and turns and over all well thought out. I really like the setting I felt like it added the right amount of eerieness to the story. some scenes added the extra thrill without drawing away from the story. the ending was pretty open fingers crossed for a second book

This wasn’t in the typical style of this author. I was expecting a lot more than it delivered. It started off really well but then it hit a plateau and struggled to hold my attention.

An entertaining read,that really delivers the tension home.
It went from feeling like a teen romance,to feeling like an action film in the blink of an eye.
Full of twists,right to the very end.
An enjoyable way to spend a few hours.

I'm a huge fan of Mark Edwards' books but unfortunately, this one fell a little flat for me!

I did really enjoy it but I felt like it was more of a mystery style book than his usual thrillers that keep you on the edge of your seat from start to finish.

A lot of strong characters and I liked the different POV's but I just thought it was missing something.

I really enjoyed this book from the beginning to the end. It was a very different type of story than any other Mark Edwards book that I have read. It had action, drama and suspense all rolled into one. It was a hit Netflix movie just waiting to be made. What started out as a missing person plot line twists and turns into so much more and it was crazy! The ending blew my mind!

This is a very good book. The pacing was great, the characters realistic and the storyline was interesting. I absolutely love Mark Edwards' writing style, it's so easy to read whilst also being atmospheric and really drawing you into the plot.

My main issue is that this the third book by the author I have read where the plot is a man trying to find a missing woman who is in some sort of a cult. There are variances of course but the general gist is the same and it leaves me wondering how many times the same plot can be recycled.

Having said that I still really enjoyed this one as it held its own surprises and was very well written.

I was really looking forward to this book - I love Mark Edwards and have read all of his books. Unfortunately, I can't say this is one of my favorites. He's such a great writer and this one drew me in right away, but it just ended up a little flat. It begins with a woman names Francesca traveling on a train on the west coast of the US. A few hours into her journey, she happens to catch sight of a young woman running through a clearing. Not just running, but being chased by a man. The strangest part? Francesca recognizes her - her name is Scarlett and she went missing a few years back from Seattle. She has no doubt that this was the same young woman, her photo was everywhere in the media for months and her flaming red hair was unmistakable.

She contacts a website run by the missing girl's brother, Aidan, and the story shifts to his point of view. She disappeared when she came to stay with him two years ago at his apartment, on vacation from her home in the UK. Even though he knows this could be yet another false sighting of Scarlett, he feels he can't NOT make the trip down to where she was spotted. He'd never forgive himself if he missed out on the chance to find her. He takes the same train trip as Francesca so that he could find the exact clearing and head to the nearest town. Upon arrival, he doesn't have much hope for success, the townspeople are cold and aloof and the local police aren't much better. They humor him by visiting the clearing but tell him there's nothing there to be found, and therefore, nothing else they can do. But when he meets Lana, who also had a sibling disappear, he feels confident that together they can't be ignored.

He doesn't realize that the locals are tired of her ranting about conspiracies and coverups, and they have long since stopped listening to her. Her brother Samuel was declared dead in a wildfire the year before, even though his body was never found, only his cell phone. She swears he would never have gone near the fires and that the mayor and the police are lying about his death. Samuel was dating the mayor's daughter and was last seen at their estate - thus her belief in the mayor's involvement. Along with running the town, he also runs a large construction company and the local water bottling plant. With his influence and power, Lana believes he could make anyone disappear. She convinces Aiden that they need to investigate how deep the corruption is before they become the next ones to vanish.

Along with Aiden's narrative, we also see from another perspective that's tied to the mystery, but it's hard to say much without giving part of the plot away. It's that part of the story that left me with a 'that's what this is all about?' feeling of disappointment. It's believable, and relevant to current events in the world I suppose, but it's just not what I was expecting. The author is capable of so much more, and his stories tend to be creepier and spookier than this was. You realize early on who the evildoers are, if not why they are doing it and to what extent. It's a perfectly good story, just not what I was expecting from this incredible author.

Aidan's sister Scarlett visited him 2 years ago in Seattle, and suddenly vanished... Aidan has almost given up hope of ever finding her, but then a woman sees someone who looks like Scarlett running through a forest and Aidan knows he must try to find out what happened to his sister. Was she kidnapped? Is she still alive? Are the locals hiding something, and why?

I'm a huge fan of Mark Edwards and his latest book does not disappoint. It is thrilling, tense and creepy and I just loved it! I loved the characters, especially Aidan and his new friend Lana, and I couldn't stop reading until I reached the brilliant ending. Recommended!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy of the book in return for my honest feedback.

Fifteen year old Scarlett disappears into thin air while on a trip to see her brother Aidan in Seattle.
A woman sees a girl running for her life in a forest in Northern California,she is sure the girl is Scarlett.
Aidan heads South to find out for himself,he arrives to find a town covered in missing persons posters.
The locals are afraid and the sheriff won't talk,so it seems like a dead end.
Adian meets a local woman called Lana and while working together to find out what happened they both make enemies that will do anything to protect the truth about what really happens in the forest.
Very gripping and twisty and the ending was amazing.
Just what I've come to expect from Mark Edwards.
Thanks to Netgalley and Amazon Publishing for the ARC.

Amazing! Hooked from start to finish.
this was a breath of fresh air compared to marks previous novels and I loved it. completely different and unique.
there were twists EVERY chapter, I can't believe how much was packed into this novel and it still flowed so well.
there's a couple reasons I haven't given this book 5 Stars, the first being there was certain parts I just felt uncomfortable reading (personal opinion, just not for me) and secondly I WISH a certain part was different. Can't say without spoiling but I just wanted it to be different 😂.
All in all, great book, definitely recommend to all thriller fans who want a gripping, unique book!

Wow! Crazy story! But good! This book was a little different, the storyline had suspense, action, intrigue, and a bunch of end of days conspiracy people! I could definitely see this happening though! The characters were interesting and the storyline flowed nicely! I definitely recommend reading this book! Its well worth reading! Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for sharing this book with me!

Aidan is looking for his sister who has been missing for two years. He receives a lead from a woman on a train which brings him to a small town in California. In California, he discovers corruption he believes is connected to his missing sister.

This book was definitely well thought out with lots of intricacies that are all connected to each other. You get a lot of different perspectives, which allows the reader to know some things before Aidan learns about them.

This isn’t the usual thriller I go for but it was interesting and held my attention. It was mildly predictable but there was at least one twist I didn’t expect.

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC.
Wow!!! This book was an amazing read and had plenty of turns and twists that I didnt expect.
It kept me hooked from the first page and found the setting and characters set out and described really well without dragging on or becoming boring.

The ending was left open so I am really hoping for book 2!!

Aidan is a British man living in Seattle who has his younger sister Scarlett over to visit. She's 15 and causing trouble at home so comes out to spend some time with her brother but during the trip she disappears. Years later, a woman on a train catches sight of Scarlett in the woods and they have an idea of where to search for her. I found this book was trying a little too hard to be clever and some of the twists just got a bit confusing and too unbelievable.

Francesca captured my attention in the prologue immediately. As usual, Edward’s attention to detail made me see the setting, as though I were familiar with the area. As soon as the story truly started, the characters became real. I became invested completely in the story. I want to know what happened to Samuel and Scarlett. I need to know what Shannon is planning. I love the foreshadowing. Though the words are distinctly British in most of the tale, the connotations are transcendent. The ecological theme and the dichotomy of progress and waste was ever present. No spoilers… well worth the read!!

No Place to Run by Mark Edwards

Mark Edwards is a really good author , and I like the fact that he doesn't keep to the same area when he sets the plot. This one is in Seattle and Northern California.
We meet Aidan who is searching for his 15 years old sister Scarlett who was seen running into a forest , then disappearing . He meets a woman who helps him in his search.
I was quite invested in finding out Scarletts plight , and enjoyed the suspense , and twists and turns.

Thanks to netgalley for letting me review this for an honest review.. i have loved all of mark Edward's books, this however didnt quite grab my attention like all his others
Aidens sister scarlett is missing., After a lady passing through the countryside on a train recognises her being chased towards the tracks.,He travels to america to try and find her and meets with a woman called lana who is looking for her brother samuel,.The town is hiding a BIG secret and everything is pointing to a cult ...... can aiden find scarlet, and can lana be reunited with samuel???? Worth a read

3.5 stars
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC copy.

The book starts with a very strong prologue. An elderly woman on a train sees a woman being chased through her window and recognizes her as a girl who has been missing since the past two years. From there I was intrigued by the book.

The brother of the girl, even though a little skeptical, goes to the place the elderly woman described and tries to find out the answers, but gets pulled into a series of events he never expected. 

The plot line was good, but the middle part of the book should have a been a little better. But I loved the author's writing style. This was his third book that I've read and I'm definitely going to read more from him.

Mark, you’ve done it again! From the very beginning, I was fully immersed into this book. Lately, I’ve been reading books that only start picking up and getting good at 60% into the story. Not a Mark Edwards book! & this book was no exception. I really think I had such a hard time putting this one down for that very reason. There were no boring breaks in the book. It felt like every page was dripping with a new thrill and was packed with action.

The concept of No Place to Run is refreshingly new. I haven’t read a similar premise. The concept is scary, because there are actually people on both ends of the spectrum. People who don’t believe in Global Warming and people who will do absolutely anything to combat it, including illegal actions. There wasn’t a whole lot of mystery, the who and why were very apparent from early on. But in true Mark Edwards fashion, the writing makes you want more until you finally get to the “what”. I loved how the one mystery of where Scarlett is wasn’t reviled until the end of the book.

I loved how No Place to Run ended as well. It was satisfying yet left some room for a bit of wonder. This one was different from the norm. No creepiness or spookiness involved, which I have loved from Mark Edward’s books, but definitely worth the read! Such a great book. Run, don’t walk to buy this one!

I do love reading Mark Edwards books - this was so different from the other books that I have read but that is not a bad thing.

I was hooked from the moment I started reading and stayed up late to finish. I really wanted to see how it ended. There were some things that didn't make sense but I just went with the flow, as they were necessary for the plot.

Although taken to the extremes it is plausible.

I was given an advance copy by the publishers and netgalley but the review is entirely my own.

Thanks NetGalley, Amazon Publishing and Mark Edwards for an ARC to review.
As usual Mark Edwards doesn't fail to create a unique heart beating page turner.
Always looking forward to anything new by him.
Follow Aidan and Lana in their desperate adventure to find their missing siblings.
Get to know the mysterious guru behind all this.
The end is near!

I was immediately drawn into this plot and the writing kept me reading. Although I felt that sometimes the plot was far fetched this in no way spoilt my enjoyment. I was swept along happily into all the twists and turns and ugly places. The main characters were easy to like and the dark characters very dark which gave a good versus evil quality to this one. This author is one of my favourites and he has not let me down.

No Place To Run by Mark Edwards
Publish date - 21 June 2022

This novel from page one was fast paced. It starts from page one and you keep reading. Lots of characters to love and hate in equal measure. Shouting at characters in most of Mark's books is a trait of mine. Why? You can't do anything about it, but I do it anyway!

I enjoyed the style of writing and with short chapters, you whizz through the pages! For me, the storyline in parts is a bit exaggerated but it was all part of the reading experience. The ending made you think!

I would recommend this novel

I give a 4 star rating

I WANT TO THANK NETGALLEY FOR THE OPPORTUNITY OF READING AN ADVANCED COPY OF THIS BOOK FOR AN HONEST REVIEW

As a popular author, I was excited to read my first Mark Edwards book and now I want to read more! The story: 2 years have passed since teenage Scarlett went missing and by chance, a stranger believes she catches sight of her in a clearing while she travels on the train. She’s confident that it’s Scarlett and she believes that she’s running from something. Her older sibling Aidan embarks on a mission to find her and discovers a world of crazy disappearances. He teams up with Lana who is desperately searching for her younger brother who is presumed dead, but she doesn’t believe it. The missing teenagers stories are intertwined yet wildly different and I was gripped for the duration of the book!

In a weird happenstance, a woman on a train recognizes a girl running in a field; a girl who went missing two years previously. When the woman notifies the girl’s family, the older brother, Aidan, decides to take some time off work to see if there’s anything to the older woman’s claims. By doing this, Aidan bites off way more than he can chew, getting mixed up in some dangerous situations he never could’ve imagined. Like most of Mark Edwards’ books, this was face paced with lots of things going on to keep the reader guessing all the way to the end. Although a little predictable at the very end, the book moves so quickly you won’t mind where it takes you.

Special Note: Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for allowing me to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Mark Edwards is one of my favorite authors. His book "The Retreat" is one of my all-time favorites.
So when this book was available to read on Netgalley I couldn't believe my eyes at first.
As expected, this is now another favorite of mine by his.
The writing, the plot, the characters, the well-paced twists - everything was perfection.

Two years ago, on a trip to Seattle to visit her brother Aidan, fifteen-year-old Scarlett vanished into thin air. After years of false leads and dead ends, Aidan has almost given up hope. But then a woman sees a girl running for her life across a forest clearing in Northern California. She is convinced the girl is the missing Scarlett. But could it really be her?

Heading south, Aidan finds a fire-ravaged town covered in missing-teenager posters. The locals seem afraid, the sheriff won’t answer any questions and it looks like another dead end – until a chance meeting with returned local Lana gives Aidan his first clue. But as they piece together what happened, Lana and Aidan make deadly enemies. Enemies willing to do anything to silence them - and to protect the terrible truth about what is really going on in the forest...

I am a fan of Mark Edwards, I believe he is definitely an underrated writer. His books are always creepy, mysterious, thrilling, etc. No one writes a psychological thriller like Mark Edwards! This being said, No Place to Run was different from his other works, not to day bad different, just different. The book held my attention and the 2 main characters were very well written. The book is about a. Missing girl but also branches into secrets and conspiracies. There were a few twists and turns, some I saw coming, but at least one big one I didn't see! Overall the book was good, I'd say more mystery then thriller, but would still recommend! Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for a honest review.

Reading books is often about escapism – travelling to another place and getting away from the troubles of the “real world”. I often read books set outside the UK for that reason. But, sometimes there is no escape.

The thing that I have always enjoyed most about Mark Edwards’ books is that he takes characters that you can identify with, creates situations that seem believable and unremarkable, and then twists everything around. How many times have I thought “that could have been me?” when reading one of his books? It doesn’t matter that aspects of the situation are different. It doesn’t matter if things get escalated so we have to suspend aspects of belief (I have written many times about the importance of having “pillars of truth”, particularly in the first half of a book/movie). You are onboard for the ride. More than most authors I know, Edwards does this all so well.

Many of the early books of Edwards’ that I read were set primarily in the UK. But he has also done some set in the USA, and “No Place To Run” is the third one recently (and, I believe, the last for a while). Set in the USA? “Yes”, I thought. “Some escapism (from the UK)”. But, no. By the time I’d finished the Prologue, it was clear that there would be no escape.

It was also clear early on that this book is yet another “confliction” novel, as I like to call them, by Edwards – one of those books where you are conflicted as you desperately want to know what happens next, but also don’t want it to end.

The nature of Edwards’ books is that I really can’t say much without spoiling some of the contents for you. You just need to read it for yourself.

Together with the story, there were a few lines that I particularly enjoyed – such as referring to a major news story as “media catnip” for journalists. This is a phrase I intend to drop into my academic writing at some point. And quoting Mark Edwards in one of my academic texts would seem appropriate given that the Mayor in “No Place To Run” is one Christopher Hood. We are told that the characters are “purely fictional” – perhaps I should leave this to others to judge!

All of Edwards’ books would make great movies, but, this is the one that is perhaps most in-tune with the contemporary world and would act as the best introduction to what his stories and characters can be like.

In the meantime, make sure you get a copy of “No Place To Run” as it’s a fabulous book.

Book 19 of 2022

No Where to Run by Mark Edwards
Pub day: 21st June
Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟

Mark Edwards brings us another psychological thriller with a new cast of interesting characters. I found a couple of them annoyingly sleazy, which was the point and two main characters who were brilliant together. I loved their dynamics and how they filtered through the story.

It had a great storyline, great twists, it had elements of gruesome scenes and a great ending.


I was pleasantly surprised by the reasonings that the antagonist was motivated by. Very clever and also the last quarter was really gripping especially once we had more of an idea of what those motivations were based on.

It reminded me of another book I’ve recently read, but I can’t mention it due to spoilers but the storyline has an element of similarity which I really loved.

My only criticisms are that the first half was quite a slow burn in places as we learnt about the characters, I wanted the momentum to pick up sooner. Also this isn’t really a criticism but more that I loved the past chapters which led up to one of the characters disappearance, I just wanted more of them. However this is a personal thing and overall it was another great thriller from Mark Edwards.

The momentum really picks up in the last third and Mark Edwards really delivers that fast pace race to the finish line. The tension was brilliant and I glided over the fact that I like to try to guess the last of any twists that may pop up as you near the finish. Great conclusion and everything tied up as always!

So I'm just going to go cut to the chase I love Mark Edwards. There aren't many authors that I can say I've loved every single one of their books. He is one.
Edwards writes psychological thrillers featuring your average Joe main character. Dark and terryfying, unimaginable things happen to them. They could happen to anyone of us.
No Place to Run is just as twisted, just as dark and I couldn't read it fast enough. I loved the characters, they were real and darkly funny and I'm going to miss them now I'm finished the book. Brilliant as always and highly recommended. I recommend reading everyone of his books (including the ones written with Louise Voss).. Be warned you will be left terrified.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Thanks @markedwardsauthor @netgalley and @amazonbooks for my advanced reader copy x

I enjoyed this book, like with other Mark Edwards books I flew through it! I really like his writing style and I’m always hooked from the first page.

No Place to Run for me didn’t have as much twist and turns as his previous releases but I was still kept interested and wanted to see how it ended.

The setting was perfect and while I was reading the book I could imagine it happening in real life and that definitely had me shook.I really liked how the book was told in different POVs aswell.

Overall if you are a Mark Edwards fan I do think it’s worth a read and I did enjoy it, I wouldn’t say it’s one of my favourites though📚

No Place to Run is being released on the 21st June and of course I preordered a copy already to add to my bookshelf.

It started off great and about halfway through, it got a bit predictable and the characters were for the most part unpleasant. I have read other books by this author and this is the first one that has disappointed me.

Aiden has been desperately searching for his teenage sister, Scarlett for 2 years. She was coming to visit Aiden in Seattle when she simply vanished. After lots of false leads and dead ends, Aiden has nearly lost all hope of finding Scarlett. Then a clue came from a woman in Northern California that is convinced that she saw the missing girl running in the forest. Aiden goes there immediately and finds that no one will help him including the local police. Will he ever find his long lost sister?

I am a huge Mark Edwards fan. I have read all of his books. This one certainly on par with his collection. The subject matter was a little bit different but he maintained all of the great twists and turns that he is famous for. It was very entertaining and Mark Edwards’ fans will likely enjoy it.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for my ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This review will be posted to my Instagram Blog (@coffee.break.book.reviews) in the near future.

I often have mixed feelings about Mark Edwards' books, but there's no denying he writes readable stories.

Here, a Seattle-based Brit with the rather unlikely name of Aidan (no, not Adam) Faith has spent two years searching for his missing sister, the even more implausibly named Scarlett Faith. Teenager Scarlett went missing while visiting Aidan, and there's been no sign of her since... at least, not until a woman named Francesca sees, from a train window, a young woman she's sure is Scarlett, fleeing a pursuer in the woods.

This new lead, tenuous as it is, sends Aidan on a dangerous quest to find his sister, teaming up en route with a woman named Lana who's also seeking answers about what happened to her younger brother, supposedly killed in a wildfire.

It's all a bit far-fetched - ok, very far-fetched - and there's a streak of sadism in certain characters which I've noted in other Edwards books and could, frankly, do without.

It's also not clear why the sensible-seeming Francesca, witnessing what is very likely a crime from her train window, doesn't immediately alert the train authorities.

Nevertheless an enjoyable read, though you need to increasingly suspend your disbelief as the story goes on.

Just finished reading No Place to Run by Mark Edwards. This book is not what I consider a typical Mark Edwards book but is entertaining none the less.
An older woman on a train spots a young woman running for her life across a field being chased by a man. She realizes she has seen this girl before and she has been missing for two years. After researching, she gets in touch with the girl’s brother, who has been constantly trying to find her.. What ensues is a whirlwind of twists and turns, danger and deceit and not knowing who to trust.
This book is definitely a sign of the times and delves into current events of situations happening in our world today.

I must admit to feeling a little disappointed with this book. When I saw a new Mark Edwards I was really excited but unfortunately it did not live up to my expectations. However I am giving it 4* as it was exciting in parts and the storyline was good.
I would probably recommend it to someone who has not read his previous books.
Thank you Amazon Publishing and Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to give my unbiased opinion

A pacy entertaining read from Mark Edwards, maybe slightly less twisty than usual but a page turner none the less.

A brothers desperate search for his sister after a brief encounter sets the scene for this story which soon takes a turn down an even darker path.

I enjoyed it muchly, read it in a couple of sittings, the characters were engaging and the setting was atmospheric. Overall a great read.

I have read a few Mark Edward books in the past and have loved them. However I have mixed feelings about this book. The book started off well and is quite fast paced, but I did not like the actual storyline. I also thought the book dragged for a bit and there were paragraphs and paragraphs about the issues we are facing today. It wasn’t exactly the psychological thriller I have come to expect from the author. Overall I thought this book was a bit of a letdown.
Thank you to the publishers for an advanced copy of this ebook and giving me a chance to review it.

A cracking read from Mark Edwards. Aidan’s much younger sister Scarlett visits him in the US and goes missing. A sighting of Scarlett by Francesca, an elderly lady, on a Seattle bound train leads Aidan to investigate what has really happened to his sister. My only criticism would be that the plot became a little predictable towards the end.

Mr Edwards is a master of intrigue and suspense in his novels and No Place to Run is no exception.

Aidan had left his family home in England for a new life in Seattle, but he didn't just leave his parents behind but his thirteen year old sister Scarlett.
Now fifteen the family decided that she is old enough to visit Aidan in America.
The first few day's are a little tense between them until by accident they come across a environmental protest, which Scarlett is very passionate about.
Fast forward two years....that's how long Scarlett has been missing on Aidens watch. He let his young sister go missing and he can't let it go.

A chance sighting of Scarlett by a elderly woman passenger on a train running for her life takes Aidan to Northern California and the search for his sister.
But small towns hold secrets that they don't want to reveal and this small town is no exception!

This book has so many interesting characters and it has so many twists that your head will feel like the exorcist!

Another hit!! It never ceases to amaze me how Mark Edwards has the ability to draw you in instantly!!! With each turn of the page it grips you wondering, questioning, yearning for more. This book makes you question the morals of the present world and environmental changes where anything is possible. And in the end the extreme conditions in the book make so much sense in reality. Absolutely love this book! Definitely worth the read!!

15 year old Scarlett disappears while visiting her brother, Aidan in America. Two years later and no sign of Scarlett to date, an elderly lady spots someone meeting her unique description while on a train. She contacts Aidan and he is on a mission to find Scarlett and meets up with Lana, who is trying to find her brother who disappeared in a ‘fire’. The two need to be careful, because as they closer to the truth, the dangers become real and escalate quickly.
The storyline concept has potential, but didn’t find this book as gripping as other Mark Edwards books.

Another belter from Mark Edwards, This book, just like The Hollows is set in the US but the main character, Aidan is British but working in Seattle. There are nice nods towards Kurt Cobain and Nirvana and the whole grunge scene in Seattle. Aidan's sister Scarlett has been missing for a couple of years which happened under Aidan's watch and he will do anything to try and find her.

Without giving too much away he teams up with the intriguing Lana whose brother is also missing, but he is believed to have died in a recent bush fire although Lana doesn't believe the stories that are being told about his supposed death. Aidan and Lana make a bucket load of enemies in their quest for the truth about their loved ones. You get a real feel of some of the more remote parts of the US and the mysterious people who live there.

As the book progresses you get a real cinematic feel to the story as it comes to a nail biting conclusion. Does Aidan get reunited with Scarlett? Does Lana find out the truth about her brother? This book is more than just a missing person story. and you will find the themes quite topical. Another page turner from Mark, slightly different to some of his previous books but equally addictive. Thank you to Mark, his publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity of reading an ARC of No Place to Run, prior to publication date.

Edwards a.lways delivers on suspense and tension with a strong storyline and 3-dimensional characters. If you like a good page-turner, this is it

I'm a big fan of Mark Edwards and have read and loved every one but I wasn't a massive fan of this one. It seemed a little different style, more like a normal mystery book rather than his usual psychological thriller, I'm usually.gripped from the first page and can't put it down and although I did enjoy this it felt slower and lacking in something. Mark is still a brilliant author and can't wait for his next book.

When a teenage girl, missing for two years is spotted by a train passenger in a remote Californian forest her brother, tortured by her disappearance, sets off to investigate and uncover the truth. Influenced by current environmental issues with interesting characters the story has the usual twists, is absorbing and picks up the pace to a page turning conclusion.

My first read by this author, I picked this up with high hopes as I know he is highly acclaimed for his psychological thrillers.

Aiden's younger sister Scarlett vanished two years ago and hasn't been seen since, Aiden will follow any lead to try and find her.

The story starts really well, a lady travelling on a cross country train sees a young woman running throughout the woods pursued by an angry man. Recognising the woman as Scarlett the lady contacts Aiden, setting him off on the next leg of his quest to find his sister.

It's a sprawling adventure quest rather than a psych thriller, and for the most part I quite enjoyed it. The characters are good, the locations are inventive and the plot flows along nicely.

I felt the latter parts dragged on, and no spoilers but I thought the final location and segment was a step too long and too far.

Overall, not really one for me, but I intend to try some of the author's highly rated thrillers.

Thanks to Netgalley and Thomas & Mercer

I am a huge fan of Mark Edwards and this book didn’t disappoint.

Scarlett goes to stay with her brother Aiden and disappears. 2 years on and he hasn’t given up hope of finding her. A loads contacts him as she believes she passes her on a train.
Aiden sets off to see if it was really his sister and then the story really begins.
Lots of twists and turns an interesting topic also.
….and the ending is open for a sequel.

Great read

Scarlett went to visit her brother and vanished into thin air. Her brother tried to look for her. Then few years their is this girl that running for her life. Could this be his sister or someone that looks like her? Aiden finds a town with missing teenage posters. What lies in this forest near the town?
Fast paced book and not what was expecting but good book. Thanks to Netgalley in exchange for a review.
Publishing date June 21st 2022.

2.5 stars. Mark Edwards is at his best when he's ramping up the tension by inflicting more and more psychological horror on his protagonists. This book wasn't that at all. I loved the way it started with an elderly woman seeing a missing girl from a train, in the middle of the night--felt very Hitchcockian. But the rest of the book really didn't live up to the beginning. It turned out to be more of a cheap action thriller, not my thing and far from a great example of that genre. I hope the author's next book gets back to the psychological suspense he's so good at

A standalone novel by author Mark Edwards who is one of the authors I always look out for. Entertaining read but not up to the standard of many of his other books in my opinion. After a good start it didn’t shift up a gear and although still a good read it never reached the highs I anticipated.

Fifteen year old Scarlett disappeared two years ago when she was visiting her brother Aiden in Seattle. Since then Aiden has actively searched for his sister , followed leads but always hitting dead ends and he is fearing he will never see her again. But when a woman sees a girl running for her life across a forest clearing in Northern California, she is convinced the girl is the missing Scarlett.

Aiden is eager to follow this up and heads south to a town well accustomed to missing teenagers. With no one willing to talk to him it looks like another dead end until a chance meeting with Lana gives Aidan his first clue. Their search for the truth to what happened to his sister puts them in danger with others who are just as keen to hide the truth and to the going on in the forest.

This is still a decent read but I thought a little below the high standard we have got to expect from author Mark Edwards.

I would like to thank both Netgalley and Thomas & Mercer for supplying a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

Aiden is an English man living and working in Seattle when his younger sister. scarlet comes to stay. After a few days sightseeing he wakes up one morning to find her missing. Thus begins a desperate search to find her.

When Aiden's little sister Scarlett vanished into thin air whilst visiting him in Seattle, Aiden feels responsible and will do anything to try and find her. However there seems to be no leads until one night a lady traveling on a night train thinks she sees her running across a clearing, and Aiden has no option but to try to find her. This sparks off a series of events, completely outside Aiden's experience, and getting more and more dangerous with every turn.

This is another Mark Edwards triumph. I couldn't put it down till I was finished, and had unravelled all the twists. It was creepy, eerie, shocking, but never boring. I absolutely loved it.

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4561865999

What an exciting thrill ride this books was. Highly clever and intriguing plot. Jaw dropping moments, twist and turns, and just when you thought you had it figured out, the author hit you with another scenario. Well written characters and excellent story telling kept me on the edge of my seat until the very end.

My review is voluntary and all comments and opinions expressed are
my own.

Mark Edwards is one of my favourite authors and this one didn’t disappoint.
The plot is unique and engaging and I raced through to the end.
A great read and one I’d recommend.

Wow, absolutely loved this book. The plot really had me hooked from the start, a disappearance then a sighting... I couldn't put the book down dying to know what happened, would Aidan find his sister, would she be alive? The research that must have went into this book blew me away, I felt like I was right there in the forest. The depth of the descriptions of Shannon's journey of self discovery made me wanted to pack up and go travelling. Definitely one of my favourites of Mark Edwards.

I really enjoyed this read. A brother is searching for his missing sister and a lead comes from an old woman who swore she saw his sister running from people in the meadow across from the moving train she was on. Despite lingering doubts about how solid the lead was, his desperation to find his sister won over.

I love missing person cases. This one was a little tame and it took a strange turn that didn't feel right to the rest of the story toward the end but Edwards tied it up neatly with a bow.

It was well written with a good cast of characters and a good amount of mystery and enough suspense to keep you reading. Not one of Edwards best, but not his worst.

When a complete stranger called Francesca gets in contact with Aidan telling him that she has seen his sister Scarlett being chased across a bleak and uneven piece of ground surrounded by a forest, he cannot help himself from going across the country from Seattle to Northern California, a journey of well over 800 miles. He does not hold out much of a chance of finding his sister because Francesca was on a train journey and it was only just sunrise when she and Scarlett caught a glimpse of each other before the train raced away. This lady had never even met Scarlet either. But Aidan literally had to investigate whether it was true or just another false alarm. Scarlett had been missing for over two years and he carried the guilt of losing his little sister while she was visiting him from her home in the UK. She had only been fifteen years of age when he woke up one morning to find her missing. There were so many times that he felt hope in the past he argued with himself, but what if it was Scarlet?
When Aiden arrives at the nearest town to where Scarlet had last been sighted he noticed other ‘Missing Persons’ posters. This both intrigued and excited him. The area had been devastated by forest fires and the community looked suspicious and not altogether happy to see a stranger and especially to answer Aiden’s questions. In the café he met a girl called Lana. She was a local resident who had returned home. Her brother was missing as well and she could not accept that he had been killed by the forest fires. They team up to carry out their own investigations but this was not a good idea. Someone did not want them meddling and bringing up events of the past. Little did they know, but they were in mortal danger.
I was totally riveted at the very beginning of this story. The author posed a tense mystery and told his story well. There were many characters in this novel and, as in life itself, they were an eclectic mixture of good and bad, concentrated mostly on mean, gun-toting characters that would stop at nothing to achieve what they wanted most of all. With themes of coercion, enslaving and brainwashing this novel did not live up to its initial promise. It was too unbelievable, violent and evil. I have read and thoroughly enjoyed many of this author’s novels, but this one fell short for me. It was uneven in pace and too gratuitously violent. It did not reach its true potential.
I received a copy of this novel through my membership of NetGalley and from publisher Thomas & Mercer in return for an honest review. It is a 3* review from me.

Another solid thriller from the very reliable Mark Edwards.
Once again (3rd novel in a row) this one is set in the US rather than the UK.
The premise is in an interesting one and starts strong with a good opening on a train from LA to Seattle.

I must admit I did find as the plot developed and we knew what was happening it did lose some its intrigue and developed into a slightly generic chase plot.

Mark is a very talented author and his writing style is excellent but for me this one was pretty much middle of the road. Perhaps a reset, and setting his next novel back in the UK may mix it up a little as it did remind me at parts a little too much of The House Guest.

The story begins with Francesca traveling on a train on the west coast of the US. A few hours into her journey, she catches sight of a young woman in distress. The scene is set and I loved discovering where this tale would take me. Gripping, compelling and fast-paced.
Recommended read.

I really enjoyed this book, all of the twists and turns the author took us on. I liked Aiden as a character and in particular his believability. If I was him I would hope I wouldn’t give up looking either. Not that I would like to be in that position and neither did I expect what happened. The ending seemed open enough for a sequel, even though Mark has primarily written standalones (Magpies withstanding). I would definitely read that too.

Thanks to the publishers and netgalley for the ARC in return for an honest and unbiased review.
I'm a big fan of Mark Edwards and have read most of his publications and enjoyed them.
I initially liked the idea of this book but it just didn't seem very believable once I got into it and I felt it was all just a little bit transparent for my liking.
I'm sure plenty of readers will thoroughly enjoy reading this, but for me it was fairly average.
I will still, however look forward to the next release from Mark Edwards.

3.5 rounded down.

Francesca is on board the Sightseer on the 32 hour train journey from Los Angeles back to Seattle when she sees a young woman being chased alongside the tracks hotly pursued by a balding man. She is alarmed and also convinced she recognises the woman and contacts British Aidan Faith about his missing sister Scarlett.
Francesca seems very credible and so Aidan follows the trail, along the way he meets up with Lana Carrera also searching for a missing sibling.
The novel backtracks to 2017 and 15 year old Scarlett‘s visit from the UK to visit Aidan in Seattle and the story of her disappearance.

The novel starts really strongly and I’m all in as Mark Edward’s novels usually keeps me riveted. It’s full of atmosphere, there are some excellent descriptions as Aidan encounters some shall we say “interesting characters“. Aidan and Lana’s feelings of desperately searching for a needle in a very large haystack comes across strongly. There are some weird and very tense moments, it’s a bit creepy and the mystery certainly deepens and there are some very exciting most breathtaking scenes as Aidan and Lana step into something that’s beginning to look like a conspiracy with the author takes a deep dive into some serious issues.

However, although I really do like the premise it all begins to get a bit too far-fetched for me because some of the issues are extremely serious they may be dealt with a bit too superficially. The ending is rather fortuitous for my taste and it seems to fizzle out and run out of steam. It starts thrillingly but it’s not intensely thrilling like most of Mark Edwards books and in my opinion it’s not this authors best. I’m also not keen on some dialogue which strikes an inauthentic note.

Overall though, it’s a quick and mostly enjoyable read.

With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Amazon Publishing UK for that much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.

Literally as soon as I saw Mark Edward’s had written a new book I requested to read it! And I was kindly and very gladly excepted.

No place to run has your hooked from the first chapter. Mark has a way of making your heart race and the pages turn quickly. And of course this book didn’t disappoint.

It’s a very unique storyline and very clever. You can really imagine it being made into a movie or tv drama. It had a Riverdale vibe (Netflix show) which I really liked.

The little twist at the end was very clever and one I definitely didn’t see coming! Overall an amazing read once again from Mark Edwards..

Thank you NetGalley for allowing me the opportunity to read and review this book.

Mark Edwards fans…. You will devour this book! Mark has done it again with another wild ride of a novel featuring some intense characters with a side of plot twists. Aidan is looking for his sister who disappeared. He meets Lana on his journey whom is also looking for their lost sibling. Lies uncoil as they dive deeper into their search.

A woman on a train sees Aidan’s missing sister and encourages him to go on the journey to the location she saw the girl. As the story continues it does not go the way you think. I never thought that this novel would push the limits of what my imagination would see and prove that there are worse things in the world than my first instincts.

This book is not for the faint of heart, you have to be open minded to the possibility you’re going to read something that you really do not want to. It does not go into grave details, but there are moments where I had to stop reading and take a breath knowing that the horrors of the world are being mentioned. Your worst nightmares come true and I’m not talking about the boogeyman, unfortunately.

Mark Edwards continues to be one of my favorite authors for his bravery to try something new and different. Each story he tells has me on the edge of my seat never wanting to put the book down until I have completed it.

Thank you again Mark Edwards and NetGalley for the opportunity to have the advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review.

I will definitely be buying this book to add to my collection.

Another book that I could not put down , its an amazing story from start to finish , I found it very different in a lot of way's to his previous books, Two years ago, on a trip to Seattle to visit her brother Aidan, fifteen-year-old Scarlett vanished into thin air. After years of false leads and dead ends, Aidan has almost given up hope. But then a woman sees a girl running for her life across a forest clearing in Northern California. She is convinced the girl is the missing Scarlett. But could it really be her? this is well worth reading , I would love to see it as a film.

Each story I read from this author has me on the edge of my seat reading non stop til the end.This one is no different. Always well written. Always loving the characters. No spoilers! A young girl goes missing. Her brother never gives up hope trying to find her.After years of false leads and dead ends.He received yet another call! Will he find her? It's a must read as with all of Mark Edwards books

I loved this book, it has a great storyline and believable characters, I haven’t read a bad book by Mark Edwards yet.

Another first class thriller from Mark Edwards. A woman sees a girl in trouble who disappeared two years earlier. Her brothers is looking for her. A thrilling novel a must read.
I received this book from Amazon publishing UK via Netgalley for a review

I usually love missing person cases but this one fell a little flat to me. It ended up tying up neatly at the end, but I wouldn't say that this was the author's best (or worst).

Thank you NetGalley for the preview read! I had not previously read any books by Mark Edwards so wasn’t sure what to expect, but was attracted by the plot and title. Love a missing person story and this was no exception. The characters were great and very relatable, from both sides of the pond! Of course lots of unbelievable ‘that would never happen in real life’ moments but they had me gripped. Some parts were downright shocking. Especially as these organisations and types of people really exist somewhere… worrying stuff. Some great twists which I didn’t guess too. I read it fairly quickly and it kept me awake at night! Sign of a good book!

In the small town of Northern California where teenagers disappear for no apparent reason and a brother who is desperate to learn any clues regarding his sister's disappearance. Is she still alive? Are the locals hiding something, and why?
************************************
I'm a huge fan of Mark Edwards and this book does not disappoint me. It is thrilling, tense and creepy and I truly enjoyed it. Mark has a way of making your heart race and the pages turn quickly. I loved how the story ended as well, it was satisfying yet left some room for a bit of wonder.

Thanks to NetGalley and Mark Edwards for an ARC to review.

Another fabulous book by Mark Edwards. Such a gripping read, I struggled to put this one down. I really enjoyed the plot of this story. It had some great characters and really dealt with some modern day issues. Well done Mark, loved loved loved it!

Loved this psychological thriller. Just great characters and storyline. So many ups and downs, twists and turns. Flawless execution for a complex story.
Highly recommend
Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book

Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to read an advance copy of No Place to Run by Mark Edwards who is one of my favorite authors. In my opinion, he is a master of the psychological thriller genre. In his latest book he has taken a different direction and has tackled current real life issues involving the environment. The plot and characters kept me engaged throughout and I believe that the ending left a possibility of a sequel down the road..

While I still prefer the horror, creepy storytelling, I applaud Mark for stepping out of his comfort zone with a story that will be thoroughly enjoyed by his existing fans as well as attracting many new fans..

This was a hard book to review. The book starts well introducing Francesca, an older lady on a train who thinks she saw Scarlett. The book doesn't feature much of Francesca but I wish it had. The book then follows the brother Aidan, who eventually meets Lana and they work together looking for their loved ones. They are likeable characters and work well together.

The book introduces reveals and plot twists throughout the book. It does keep you guessing. There are no shocking moments and it didn't get my heart racing with fear, therefore felt more like a mystery than a thriller.

However the overall premise of the book is strange. Even though the story could happen in real life, the ending felt far-fetched. It wouldn't be the type of story I would have read if I had known. I don't want to say too much as it will spoil the book.

However I decided to accept the book for what it was and it was interesting. It is very different from most books in this genre. It covers an important current topic and you do think 'what if?'.

If you are willing to accept the book for what it is and appreciate it becomes far-fetched with a different storyline to many books, then I recommend the book.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I received a copy of this book via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Francesca is on a train coming back from scattering the ashes of her late husband when she witnesses a young woman being chased by two men. Francesca recognises the girl as one that went missing a couple of years ago. She has a memory for faces. She manages to get in contact with the girls brother Adam. Adam is 15 year old Scarlets older brother. She had gone missing whilst in his care two years previously and had not given up trying to find her. Adam decides to go and investigate Francesca’s sighting. Whilst in the area he meets up with a girl whose brother was to believed to have died in a fire but nothing about it adds up. They team up to try and find their siblings.

This book was definitely not for me. I have read most of Mark Edwards books and loved them. I think that I have pinpointed why I disliked this book so much. When I think of Mark Edwards I think of him as the king of the psychological thriller. This was definitely not that. This book involved chases, drugs and lots of guns. If you like more of an action thriller then this is the book for you. I did enjoy learning about the lead up to Scarlet’s disappearance but everything about him trying to find her I am afraid to say bored me. It feels like the author is trying to break away from the psychological thriller genre which is fine but I wish that I had been aware before I started this one.

Full review to come on Goodreads and Amazon. Thank you to the publisher, author, and NetGalley for a review copy.

I’m a huge fan of Mark Edwards. He’s able to spin such amazing, unexpected psychological thrillers out of seemingly ordinary plotlines, I can’t help but be impressed by his latest novel. Top marks from me. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I've read all of Mark Edwards books and this is up there with all the others. Some of the Characters you love and some you just want to shout out (and maybe more!!). Looking forward to the next book.

I love Mark Edwards books and this one didn't let me down. Good thriller book keeping you wanting to "read one more chapter". The book keeps you guessing right up till the end.

I found this book a bit of a let down after reading Mark's other books and enjoying them. I must admit i skimmed through parts as it dragged on a bit. Hopefully Mark's next book will be another good one.

An exciting read. This is my third experience with this author. He knows how to engage the reader and keep the excitement going. If you love mystery thrillers, I recommend this book.

Thank you NetGalley for letting me read and review.

In true Mark Edwards way, a page turner!!! I could NOT put it down! Meet Aiden, a young man who's sister has gone missing while visiting him. While searching for her, he meets Lana who doesn't believe the story told that her brother died in a fire. Together they go on a breath taking ride to find their siblings. This is a fast paced story of corruption, murder and indoctrination.

I really enjoyed this. There was not a lot of what I consider boring, long winded descriptions and storytelling that makes me kind of lose interest. It literally kept going and spinning and reaching momentum until the end.

Thank you NetGalley, Mark Edwards and Amazon Publishing for this advanced copy!

This book was an absolute wild ride! What started out as a simple story of a brother going out in search of his missing sister after a suspected sighting turned into a  story twisting between crime, corruption and cults. This book has so many elements to it; missing persons, preppers, drugs, kidnappings, climate change/climate emergency and human trafficking. There's a huge amount going on but it doesn't lose itself, everything comes together seamlessly making a thrilling read from start to finish! Edward's writing had me loving certain characters while loathing others and wanting to read on the whole time.
No Place to Run is such an engaging, fast paced mystery that goes down many different paths but in the end, it delivers which is all that matters to me! It was the first book that I have read from Edwards but definitely will not be my last!

*Thank you to Thomas & Mercer, Mark Edwards, and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review*

Previously published at https://www.mysteryandsuspense.com/no-place-to-run/

Francesca, an elderly widow, is on a train from California to Seattle, having just spread her husband’s ashes. As she is sitting in the dining car, early in the morning, she sees a young redheaded girl running through the woods, seemingly being chased by a man. When she meets the eyes of the girl, she recognizes her as a girl who has been missing from Seattle for two years, Scarlett Faith.

Two years ago, Aidan Faith’s younger sister, 15-year-old Scarlett, flew to Seattle to visit him from the UK. She had never been to America, and he was excited to show her many things. But then she disappears into thin air. No one has seen her until Aidan gets a call from a complete stranger telling him they have spotted Scarlett in Northern California. Aiden, after meeting with Francesca, thinks she is telling the truth and immediately books a trip on the same train she took, the Coast Starlight to Northern California, a journey of 800 miles.

When Aiden arrives at the nearest town to where Scarlet had last been sighted, he notices that there is an unusually large amount of missing persons posters – all teens and young adults. Forest fires had recently devastated the town of Eaglewood, California. He finds the locals standoff-ish until he meets Lana Carrera, who is searching for her missing brother, believed to have died in the wildfires, but Samuel’s body has never been found. Lana is a local resident and not well-liked in town because of her questions regarding her brother’s death. It seems an entire town is involved in a cover-up, but Lana and Aidan can’t figure out what it is.

There are so many triggering themes in this book; trafficking, rape, kidnap, drugs and murder. I have devoured most of Mark Edwards’ books as I am one of his biggest fans, but be prepared that this one is darker than any book I have read by him. While it does not go into detail, it is implied. I was completely engrossed in this book right from the first page. There were many great characters in this novel with depth, measuring from awful to great. The heavy themes of brainwashing and cults are explained with detail, but the ending was a big surprise to me. One of my favorite things about Edwards’ novels is you always know there is something coming around the corner that you didn’t see. No Place to Run did not disappoint.

I’ve read a number of Mark Edwards previous books and really enjoyed them and recently joined NetGalley, No Place to Run was one of my first approved books to review from NetGalley so I was quite excited to see it was one of Mark Edwards works.
I really enjoyed this, it was a multiparty story and I found myself looking forward to coming back to it each night to find out what Aiden and Lana were up to now. The plot was really relevant to the current world climate. The only thing I felt needed more finesse was the development of the relationship between the two main characters, which I won’t spoil here. I just felt it was a little rushed towards the end. Otherwise a great read and hopefully we see a sequel for our two main characters.

Another brilliant Mark Edwards book. The twists are excellent as always. Adam is a likeable character and his determination and personality are so relatable. I found myself binging as much as I could.
How the story started with Francesca on the way the train really pulled me in... The story weaved mysteriously from that point. Anguish, fear and lots of other emotions came out and I felt every one!

I wholeheartedly reccomend Mark Edwards and this book for anyone who is looking for a gripping page turner!

I wanted to love this book simply because it was written by one of my favourite authors. Mark's books are usually fabulous psychological thrillers that literally keep me reading all night. Yes, unfortunately, there is a but coming. I just did not like this one, I found it flat, the characters were unbelievable and boring. Sorry!

I really liked the last book I read by Mark Edwards, but for some reason, this wasn't the same writing style? The beginning was so strong then it kind of fizzled out. It wasn't bad by any means, but knowing how the author usually writes made it hard to get through. I will definitely still keep an eye out for the next book.

I am an avid reader of Mark Edwards and enjoy his works. To have the opportunity to read this new book prior to publication was exciting.
A good storyline and premise, and I loved how it all tied up at the end. In true Edwards fashion, with a massive twist that I wasn't expecting.
Would recommend this book to all Edwards fans, and fans of thriller, crime and mystery books.
In terms of rating out of 5, I would give this a 4 - it was not quite as enthralling as his other works such as The Magpies and Follow You Home, however it was gripping and, with a little tidying up prior to publication, could be an excellent 5* book.

A gritty, intense, fast-paced, riveting, edgy thrill ride full of dark secrets, shocking plot twists and pulse-pounding, palpable tension. A MUST for fans who thrive on high octane. superbly-written, unputdownable thrillers!

*I received a complimentary ARC of this book in order to read and provide a voluntary, unbiased and honest review, should I choose to do so. #NoPlacetoRun #NetGalley

Another suspenseful, twisty psychological thriller from Mark Edwards. It was an eerie read in a good way. Definitely left me on the edge of my seat the whole way through. Fast-paced and a good amount of action in every chapter. Mark Edwards never disappoints! And NPTR is no exception to that, but is exceptional :)

I'm torn on what to say here. I never dislike or am not intrigued by a Mark Edwards book, but this was just okay to me. It was fine, not bad, but not the best I've read from him.

Another great book by Mark Edwards!

I will admit halfway through this book I was hesitant to continue because of the direction of the content. I ended up trusting my past history with Mark Edwards' books and read through. It was fantastic!
I was not expecting the end of this book, especially when characters were reunited. It was a gasping moment for sure!

Cannot wait to read what he writes next!

“No Place to Run” is a fast-paced, enjoyable read, with some great characters and an absorbing plot.
Difficult to say too much without spoiling the story, but the Ecological Survival aspect was interwoven into the story brilliantly. It’s a cause that is tangible to all of us (ok, most of us. There are still the deniers with their heads in the ever warming sand) and really helps make the entire plot (and its numerous sub-plots) believable and entertaining.

I would say there is a level of predictability to the book, however, considering everything the book had to offer, this should definitely not be a deterrent.

Aidan Faith's teenaged sister, Scarlett, disappeared while visiting him two years ago, and he's never given up the search for her, though the trail has gone ice cold. However, one morning, a woman taking the train up the California coast swears she saw Scarlett racing through a random field near a small town nearly destroyed by wildfires the year before. Unable to ignore what he's sure will be another dead end, Aidan heads to the field, only to discover that something weird is happening in this small town. Pairing up with a local outcast who also has a missing sibling, he soon stumbles on something much bigger than he ever imagined.

It's safe to say I'm a huge fan of Mark Edwards and eagerly wait the release of each and every novel he writes. So I'm aware that I'm predisposed to like books, but they're just so full of suspense and action right from the very beginning, usually by the time I'm 20 percent of the way in, I can't stop reading! And this book was no exception, though I would say it was slightly slower paced than his others.

But that's not to say there's not plenty of suspense or twists and turns in this one. It kept my attention the entire wya through and I was hooked right from the beginning again. As each new revelation came out, I was more and more pulled into the story, trying to figure out how everything fit together, because there's a lot of moving parts that Edwards' is able to balance well and keep moving. I also though the ending was perfect and as usual, wrapped most things up, while leaving just that little bit of creepy suspense open to make you question everything. I love it.

I don't want to say too much because part of the fun is not really knowing where things are going to go. It's best to go in blind. I can't wait to see what world we get to explore next!

A very good fast paced mystery/thriller.
It kept me coming back and I didn't want to put it down.

I felt the length of the book was perfect and nothing felt like filler.

I loved the characters however I do feel like I wanted to know more of their back stories and thoughts/feelings

This book starts with a random 'alleged' sighting of a missing teenager.
An elderly lady who is travelling back from a trip to scatter her husbands ashes, spots a girl running near the train tracks and instantly recognises her face from all the media coverage of her disappearance.
The girls brother Aidan goes off to investigate and meets a conspiracy theorist called Lana who's brother died in mysterious circumstances.....
Together they land themselves in a whole lot of bother!
This book was very different from the other books I've read from the same author, but equally as gripping and engrossing. I'm really hoping with how the book ended that we get a follow up book 2.! there's certainly scope for more from this story and I'm intrigued to see what happens next!

The book opens with an unexpected key to solving an abduction that happened two years ago. As is typical of Mark Edwards, this story involves twisting subplots and numerous characters. I recommend keeping paper and pen handy to keep track of the characters. In this book, Mark weaves current world issues with suspense and surprises that will keep you guessing to the end. There is no doubt in my mind that Mark’s fans will be pestering him for a prequel or a sequel to this book.

Pacy, Exhilarating Suspense…
A missing girl, a determined relative and an unexpected sighting. Aiden is still searching for his missing sister. He’s been searching so long, and been given false hope in the past, so when a woman claims that she’s seen a girl that may have been the missing Scarlett he simply doesn’t know what to believe. He does know that he has to follow it up. Pacy, exhilarating suspense with a credible and well crafted cast and an action packed narrative from a natural born storyteller.

I have read the majority of the authors previous book and have usually found them enjoyable, with a good storyline and leaving me wanting to keeping on reading. However, this one did not have the same impact for some reason. Some of the twists were a bit predictable and I found the characters to be less relatable. I would reccommend it though it just isnt quite at the quality of his previous ones for me.

The premise of this book was good, a man looking for his missing sister, a woman looking for her brother that she didn't believe was dead. There was a lot of stuff about climate change in it but mixed in with lots of violence and unbelievable action. I skimmed through it to see how it resolved but it was not for me

Francesca Gilbert is returning home to Seattle via train and just as the sun begins to rise over Northern Carolina a woman comes running out of the trees towards the train, followed closely by a man, who appears to be chasing her. As the train passes she makes eye contact with the woman and is convinced that she recognises her, could this really be fifteen year old Scarlett Faith who went missing two years earlier whilst staying with her brother Aidan in Seattle? When Aidan receives an email from Francesca, describing what she saw, he knows he has to go and at least check it out, he's never got over the guilt of her going missing on his watch. The events that follow are much more complex than Aidan ever expected, certain people in the town of Eaglewood seem to be reluctant to answer his questions, will he ever uncover the truth of what's happening in the forest, but more importantly, will he ever see his sister alive again?

No Place to Run is set across two timelines, starting in the present day and then going back two years, in the days leading up to Scarlett's disappearance. It starts as a slow burner where we learn about the characters, some of them very undesirable. It's a great plot with lots of twists thrown in to keep the reader hooked. Halfway through it picks up speed with lots of the action that we are used to seeing from Edwards in his books. One thing I will say is that I would consider this more of an action thriller than a psychological thriller, the content isn't as dark as in previous work by this author, however this did not detract from my enjoyment of a great read, which I totally recommend.

I'd like to thank Mark Edwards, Thomas & Mercer and Netgalley for inviting me to read this, I will post my review on Goodreads now and Amazon on publication day.

Wow, wow.

When a train passenger looks out of the window and sees a young woman apparently running for her life; she recognizes the girl and later contacts the family. It appears the running woman is a teenager that was reported missing years ago.
The brother of this missing girl, - Aiden - regains hope of finding his sister Scarlett after this new lead; but when he starts asking around in the small town where she was last seen, he is met with suspicion and hostility. The police are not too keen on him snooping around either. Aiden finds out that more youngsters either died or disappeared from the face of the earth over the past few years, and he teams up with a young woman, - Lana - whose younger brother died under suspicious circumstances in the dense, surrounding forest.
This is the beginning of a search, which seems to have no end, and during which they have to fear for their own lives as well.

I was slightly misled by the cover and the title, because this story was different from what I had expected, in a good way though!
The first part focuses mainly on the search for the missing sister, with flashbacks of her visiting Seattle.
The story speeds up in the second part, from save-the-planet guff, to the legalisation of drugs and human trafficking, with an explosive and unexpected twist at the end. Part 2 & 3 make up for the weaker first part.
The story is abundant with nasty, and unlikable characters, but that didn’t really bother me, I just wanted to keep on reading. The use of vulgar language, and sexism could have been less, I think the story would have been just as strong without.
That said, I have to admit that the story grabbed and surprised me; I haven’t read anything by this author before, but that will definitely change after having read this book! An exciting, explosive and highly entertaining thriller. Recommended!

Thank you Netlgalley and the author for this arc. This opinion is my own.

Aidan’s fifteen year old sister disappeared two years ago and there has now been a sighting of her in a wood being chased by a man. Aidan will stop at nothing to find his sister and travels to the wood where she was last seen.
Quite a bit of action in this book and some twists.
Thank you to NetGalley and Amazon Publishing for my e-copy in exchange for an honest review.

No Place to Run is the latest book from Mark Edwards which is set in the USA,i must admit I’m not a great fan of books that are set in the USA but for Mark Edwards i make an exception because he’s that. good.Aidan Faith is looking for his sister Scarlett who has gone missing when on a trip to see Aidan in Seattle,Now years later he still won’t give up on his search,and when a old lady sees someone she thinks is Scarlett from a train window and tells Aidan what she has seen his search on a new meaning to find his sister,along the way he meets up with Lana who is searching for her brother.During the search they come across a sect which is connected to the disappearances and that throws up a whole load of trouble for them both.This is good physiological thriller as always from Mark Edwards but hopefully he will return to what he does best which is writing superb physiological thrillers based in the UK,but that is just my opinion and it doesn’t detract from this being a good 4 star read which I recommend to anyone who enjoys this genre.

Another great read by Mark Edwards! This one evoked similar feelings to "Follow You Home" the first book I read by him. A man on a quest to find his missing sister gets caught in a tangled web of other missing young people.
You won't be disappointed! I loved the ending and was simultaneously mad at Scarlett :)

Thanks NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for honest feedback.

I'm not too sure what to make of this one by Mark. It's a bit of a departure from what he normally writes. It's definitely not a psychological thriller, I would go so far as to say it's a little bit Sci fi which I don't like.
Scarlett is a fifteen year old who is visiting her older brother Aiden in America. After a couple of days Scarlett goes missing.
Aiden's life is turned upside down and in trying to find clues as to her whereabouts he meets a lot of shady characters.
I really likes Lana, she was really feisty as she had a brother who also went missing.
This is generally about environmentalists and saving the planet.
Overall this really wasn't for me. The ending was a bit bonkers for me.
I hope Matk returns to what he does best and that's nail biting, gripping tension which was sadly lacking in this one.
Thanks to Netgalley and Amazon Publishing UK for the ARC in return for an honest review.

I love mark edwards style of writing and this did not disappoint. Crazily fast paced and exciting this book is brilliant!

I also love the pace of Edwards books and this one started off strong! Although it wasn't my favorite of his books and I think it will be one that wont stay with me. I still felt it was a very good book, just not quite as good as Edwards other books.

Whilst the concept of this really had me gripped, it just felt a bit unrealistic and almost dystopian for me by the end. I disliked the speed of aspects of the story and found the ending a bit disappointing. An OK read, but not my favourite of Mark's books.

Another winner from Mark Edwards! I'm a big fan of his books and this one certainly did not disappoint!

No Place to Run is about Aiden, a young man searching for his sister who went missing while visiting him in Seattle. He gets a tip of her whereabouts from an older woman on a train who believes she sees her running through a clearing in the forest. Aiden can't forgive himself for the fact that his sister went missing while on his watch and he decides he needs to follow this tip.
While searching for his sister in a small Northern California town he meets Lana, whose brother has also gone missing... Coincidence?
And this is where we begin the thrill ride that is this book! I couldn't put it down! The twists and turns will keep you on the edge of your seat until the very end... but, is it the end?!

A good read. Probably not quite as brilliant as his other books, but still very good anyway. A good read. Probably not quite as brilliant as his other books, but still very good anyway.

We start off with Francesca who is travelling on a train going to scatter her late husbands ashes, but whilst on the journey she spots a familiar face running out of the woods towards the train. Then we meet Aidan who lost his sister in London, whom Francesca thinks shes seen on the train, and whilst trying to find her comes across Lana who has lost her brother to a wildfire. They will do whatever it takes to see if their siblings are both alive, even if it means risking their lives.

The book is similar to What you wish for in a cult sense, but delves more into how brainwashing and beliefs can overpower reality.

The twists were interesting for sure and left me doubting what I believed was happening in the book. I would love to see a sequel to this book to see where the story pans next, as I don't feel this is the ending.

No Place to Run by Mark Edwards was a good mystery to read. It was stated in the back of the book that the author likes to write psychological thrillers in which scary things happen to ordinary people. This was one of those books. I could definitely see these things happening.

The book started off strong, kept my interest, and had a good story and mystery. I liked the main character, Aidan. The author's writing style was nice.

I would read more from this author.

#NoPlacetoRun #NetGalley @AmazonPub

This book starts out with Francesca, who is a 75 year old woman, on a train. As she’s looking out the train’s window, she sees a girl with a man chasing after her. She puts two and two together and realizes it looks just like a girl named Scarlett who has been missing for 2 years. Francesca finds Scarlett’s brother and tells him she thinks she saw his sister. The search continues throughout the book and they find others who are also missing. Human trafficking comes to light and it plays a huge part in this story. The first part had me glued to the pages but then midway it slowed way down. In fact, I really struggled to finish it to the end. I will still read other books by this author. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this early release in exchange for my honest review. To be published June 2022.

Fast paced and exciting with a central character that you can believe in. Really enjoy all of Mark’s books and this didn’t disappoint. Thanks for the opportunity to read

Francesca is on a train heading home after scattering her husbands ashes. When she spots a young woman being chased by a man in a clearing, she instantly recognises her as a woman who went missing two years ago.

Francesca contacts Aidan Faith to let him know she has seen his sister, Scarlett. Aidan has been looking for her since she disappeared at the age of fifteen.

When Aidan goes to search for Scarlett, he gets no help, not even the local police who seem eager to get him to leave.

Lana’s brother, Samuel, supposedly died in a forest fire but Lana is convinced he is still alive and that the local mayor knows more than he is saying. Lana and Aidan team up to find their younger siblings.

This story had me intrigued from the outset. Some great characters, fighting for justice and also some low life characters that have you wondering just what goes on in some peoples heads! There were some great twists in the story and I thought this was an interesting plot that did make me stop and think.

Just how far would you go to protect the planet?

My thanks to NetGalley and Amazon Publishing UK and Mark Edwards for a copy in exchange for my honest review.

No Place To Run Mark Edwards
As a huge fan of Mark Edwards, I was delighted to get started on this book. The book gets off to an exciting start and we follow Aidan as he searches for his sister. Fans of Mark will enjoy this.

Mark Edwards has quickly turned into one of my favorite thriller authors and I knew that I wanted to read No Place To Run even before I read the blurb. The author has a way of creating an ominous and creepy atmosphere through vivid descriptions that works perfectly for the psychological thriller/horror genre, and I simply couldn't wait to dive into his newest story for another dose. No Place To Run is the fourth book I've read by this author, and it's the first that didn't receive an (almost) perfect rating. I'm still surprised myself, but there was just something about this story that sadly failed to hit the mark for me...

There is no doubt about the fact that No Place To Run started out strong. The prologue is pure Mark Edwards; the writing instantly creating suspense while also drawing you in. The first couple of chapters had me fully hooked as well, and I fully expected to enjoy the rest of the story just as much... But somehow I didn't feel that what came next was as strong as the beginning. I wasn't expecting the whole cult angle; while interesting, I do think that part of the plot was way too farfetched and especially in the second half. The plot also started to feel more like a cheap action movie with all the violence and gun fights... I don't mind a dose of action in my thrillers, but I wasn't sure if I liked how it was incorporated here. Likewise, I felt like the ending was a little too convenient to be credible.

I had mixed thoughts about the characters. I liked that most of them weren't all good or all bad, as it comes over as more natural and flawed characters are that much more intriguing. The story uses a multiple POV structure, but the plot mainly focuses on Aidan and Shannon. I much preferred Aidan's POV though; his character is quite easy to connect to and I liked his dynamics with Lana. I wasn't so sure about Shannon's POV though. While important to the plot with its inside view and information about the cult, I can't say that I enjoyed seeing things through her eyes and her chapters started to drag considerably for me.

That said, No Place To Run is by no means a bad read and Mark Edwards writes in a way that makes it very easy to keep turning those pages despite a few slower parts. It just wasn't of the same high quality I've come to expect after reading some of his previous books... The action parts and cult element probably had something to do with it, and the fact that this story lacked the psychological horror vibe he does so well. Still, fans of more action focused thrillers with a doomsday element will probably have a great time with this one.

I really enjoyed this book. It sucks you straight in and you’re immediately invested in finding out what happened to Scarlett. Twisty, dark and consuming.

This book surprised me. It was not at all what I expected. It was very good, kept me reading late into the night. The only issues I had were they were in America, but the book used UK spellings. That confused me sometimes. All in all, a fun read. I'm hoping for a follow up book....I need to know what happens in the future!
Thanks to netgalley, the publisher and author for the advanced copy for an honest review.

Mark Edward's has done it again. 'No Place to Run' is an eerie thriller with surprising twists and turns. I was completely engaged throughout and couldn't put it down. If you love a well written, dusturbing , mystery, 'No Place to Run' is what you're looking for!

It’s a thumbs up from me!

2017 – Aidan Faith is excited to have his sister Scarlett visit him in Seattle, all the way from UK. It’s the fifteen-year-old’s first trip aboard, and Aidan plans to show her all the local sights – The Space Needle, Viretta Park, the Museum of Pop Culture, Bellevue Square. But, everything goes horribly wrong when Scarlett vanishes without a trace.

2019 – Scarlett is still missing, but Aidan has never given up hope that she is out there somewhere. Then, he receives a potential lead from a reliable witness via the FindScarlettFaith.com website he set up. One that sees him travelling all the way to a small town in Northern California. He knows it’s a long shot, but Aidan will leave no stone unturned to get to the truth of what happened to his sister – no matter how much danger it places his own life in.

Mark Edwards latest thriller could have easily backfired, as it was a thriller trope that has been done countless times before. What made it different though was the way in which the author used a current, relevant crisis as a dire warning/cautionary tale. Definitely made things more disturbing, tense, and believable. There were multiple twists and misleads – a couple which were a little predictable, but the majority were shockers. And, that was one hell of a clever opening chapter – a unique way to set the stage. Further to this, what were later revealed to be the two main themes, were eluded to in some very subtle, blink-and-you-would have missed it, ways. Another highlight were the psychological games, manipulation, and deception.

Due to personal preference this one wasn’t a 5 star read for me as my favourite Mark Edwards books are the one’s with a supernatural vibe. As the title suggests, No Place to Run was more of an action thriller with lots of shoot-outs, gun violence, running, hiding and evading, and car and foot chases. You get the picture. Having said that, there was a chapter involving a local abandoned house that gave me the spooky feels.

The plot moved at a fast pace, particularly the last half – always a major plus in my book.
Just to forewarn you, No Place to Run does deal with some pretty serious crimes, therefore may be triggering for some readers. This one seemed more graphic than his previous books – maybe because things like this do happen, whereas, due to the supernatural aspect, his other books were more fantastical?

I have no hesitation in recommending this action-packed, cat-and-mouse, adrenaline-pumping domestic thriller.

I’d like to thank Netgalley UK, Amazon Publishing UK, and Mark Edwards for the e-ARC.

Publication Date: 21st June, 2022.

I’m a big fan of the author, so I was expecting better from this novel. It starts with an older lady witnessing what looks like a crime from a train, which pleased my Agatha-Christie-loving heart enormously. The action then jumps to Aidan, a British expat looking for his missing sister in Seattle. The first thirds of the plot were very suspenseful, but the twists kept getting more and more implausible, until the story lost me completely. Also, Edwards has explored this subject before, in what I think is a better manner. I liked the main characters, Aidan and his ally Lana, who is looking for her brother. The “Englishman in NY” vibe from Aidan’s fish out of water perspective brings a welcome levity to the story but, other than that, it was not for me.
I chose to read this book and all opinions in this review are my own and completely unbiased. Thank you, #NetGalley/#Amazon Publishing UK!

Thank you Amazon Publishing and Netgalley for this book. I have read everything by Mark and was so excited to get this book but and I know you know it’s coming this was not Mark’s usual type of book and to be honest I found it a little disappointing, the characters were bland, the storylines been done before and it’s was up to his usual standard for me, Sorry for the negativity but his previous books have been so much better. Can we have a psychological thriller next time please,

A good read which I thoroughly enjoyed, a good story line with well described characters which kept me involved although I did feel it seemed to fall a bit flat around the middle of the book but did pick up slightly towards the end.

Thank you to Netgalley and Amazon Publishing for giving me the opportunity to read this ARC which I can recommend.

Due to personal preference this one wasn’t exactly a five star read for me as Mark Edwards is one of my favorites. He writes more of a supernatural vibe. As the title suggests no place to run it was more of an action thriller which I was looking forward to, lots of shoot outs, gun violence, running, car and foot chases you get the idea. Having said that there was one chapter in particular involving a local abandon house that gave me the heebie-jeebies. The plot moved at a fast pace which I Love. There may be parts in this book that may trigger for some readers this one seems to be a bit more graphic than his previous reads but that possibly could be because things that happened in this book really do happen in life. I have no hesitation in recommending this I give this book a four star.

I love Mark Edward's books so was delighted to get an early copy of this one to review.
As with all his books I really enjoyed this, there was plenty of tension and twists and turns. However, and this is purely a personal preference, I am not keen on 'cult' type storylines and I felt this one contained too many action/chase scenes. I prefer the action to be more focussed on what is going on in people's heads in a domestic type setting.
Again, just my preference, I did enjoy the book especially when we find out what the 'cult' was leading to, what a horrific nightmare scenario that people thought this would be some kind of utopia! The claustrophobia was giving me the fear it was so well written.

I have read one other book by this author. This one was just okay. I thought it was going to be something else entirely. I still love his writing and will continue reading more from him.

A fabulous read! Aiden's younger sister comes to stay and goes missing! 2 years later she hasn't been found despite Aiden never giving up the search. Then he hears from a woman who was on a train and sees a girl in the forest alongside the train track running for her life. She believes this to be Scarlett, Aiden's missing sister. This leads Aiden on a trail to find the girl -is it his sister?
A book with many twists and turns-unputdownable!

Aidan's teenage sister disappears while on a visit to him in the states. 2 years later he finds out about a possible sighting of her. This is the start of an often dangerous hunt for Scarlett
This had me hooked from the beginning. Thanks to Netgalley and Mark Edwards for the ARC

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC of No Place To Run by Mark Edwards.
I love Mark Edwards books so was really excited to read this one, the first chapter had me gripped and intrigued. Sadly as the book went on it sort of fell flat for me it seemed to be lacking the usual Mark Edwards thrilling creepiness, saying that it is a good read with a fair few twist and turns.

Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Honestly, this book wasn’t for me! But that is okay because it still was enjoyable at times. The first few chapters had me hooked with the pacing and mystery. The story unfolds with epic twists but then it plateaued for me. I had a hard time finishing this read. I often found myself itching to read something else, and I would put this one away for a bit. I think my issue was I expected more thrill to the story. I love a book that keeps me wanting to keep reading chapter after chapter. I will say this book is more or a mystery story with a few great twists. Very well written with fleshed out characters. This just wasn’t for me. 3 stars out of 5!

Aiden's 15-year old sister disappeared 2 years ago. When a woman on a train sees her being chased, she contacts Aiden and tells him what she saw. So, of course, Aiden decides to take the same train and investigate. He runs into a woman at a local diner, Lana, whose brother is presumed dead after forest fires ravaged the area. Lana doesn't believe that her brother is really dead since his body hasn't been found and he would never have ventured into the forest with the fire so close.

There are a few twists in this book, and Mark Edwards does a good job of keeping the suspense throughout the story. However, I didn't really like the direction the story took. At about the halfway point, you really get a better understanding of why people are 'disappearing'. For me, the reasoning behind the "bad guys" is too far fetched and had me rolling my eyes, including the ending.

I love this author and really wanted to enjoy this book more. It was tense at times but where was the spine tingling tension and creepiness this author is well known for? This was like reading a mystery than the thriller I was promised. For me lack lustre and very disappointing. I hope other readers will enjoy it more just not for me.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC.

This book starts off with a bang. The prologue is intriguing and really made me want to see what happened next. Aidan is desperate to find his younger sister, Scarlett, who went missing while visiting him two years ago. A tip off begins an adventure that sees Aidan trying to unearth the mystery of her disappearance, starting in the small town of Eaglewood, where all is not as it seems. Who exactly can he trust? And has Scarlett been here, or is this a wild goose chase? I thoroughly enjoyed the first half of this book, and could not put it down. It’s tense and frightening, and packed with adventure. Towards the end, however, parts of it felt a little as though I’d read it all before, and my interest waned a little. Overall, however, it was a good read and I did enjoy the very end.

Anticipated pub: 21 June 2022

Mr. Edwards sure knows how to spin a mystery! This had several thrilling moments and several mysteries all twisted up in one fast-paced, heart-pounding (and heart breaking at times) story. I found some aspects more enjoyable than others.... let me explain:

--The relationship between Aidan and Lana seemed to go from zero to a hundred really quickly. Not sure I really was feeling it but they were bonded over something pretty specific and horrible so I can sort of understand? (shrug)
--I wasn't feeling Aidan and Scarlett's relationship either. My sibling is much closer in age so maybe I just can't appreciate the larger age gap sibling relationship dynamic? In any case Scarlett wasn't my favorite character but I think the author did a good job of explaining what her headspace looks like: Young, impressionable girl, acts like she is older than she is, wants to be treated like an adult rather than a child... I can see that.
--I find cult stories fascinating, this has that creepy, "how could someone fall for that" vibe going on. Shannon is a real peach (sarcasm) of a character; but she's well written and I appreciated the chapters dedicated to explaining her history.

I thought this was paced really well, I didn't find myself bored and was turning pages in a rush to find out how this would all end up.

Overall I really enjoyed!

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the early copy to read and review.

Off the Rails

2.5 stars

No Place to Run is a thriller about a missing girl, a creepy town, and a cult of eco-terrorists.

An elderly woman on a train happens to glance out to see a young woman being chased across a field. She identifies the girl as Scarlett Faith, a teenager who went missing two years ago while visiting her brother Aidan in Seattle. Aiden begins investigating the sighting, and is led on a wild goose chase that exposes a crazy, demented plan involving the end of the world.

The beginning had me hooked, but sadly, it was downhill from there. The plot quickly turns chaotic, and I had to suspend my disbelief. There was also a glaring plot hole that I almost couldn’t read past.

The narrative covers multiple perspectives, but Aidan’s character was the only one that felt fully fleshed out. Oddly enough, I enjoyed the perspective of the cult leader, Shannon, and would have liked to have had more chapters from her POV.

This was my least favorite Mark Edwards' book. The plot grew so unbelievable that I was seriously considering DNF’ng. Thankfully, it got better at the 50% mark and took a turn for the better. It’s an action-packed over-the-top read. Had it not been for Edwards’ signature wit and dark humor, I don’t know if I would have made it through this one.

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

I am a huge fan of Mark Edwards. His last books all had a creepy atmosphere and an interesting and unusual storyline. So I was excited to read his new book. To say I was disappointed would be an exaggeration but this book did not fulfill my expectation. It is more an action thriller than a psychological thriller and I missed the creepiness.

An elderly lady with the ability to remember every face she ever saw in her life spots a young girl running out of the woods while she travels by train. She immediately knows where she saw that face. It belongs to a missing girl. Scarlett went missing two years ago while visiting her brother in Seattle. She contacts the brother and tells him her story. Aidan is skeptical but he decides to investigate. He arrives in a small town where people get missing all the time. The major won’t answer his questions and the police does not take him seriously. Only when he meets the sister of a missing young man things get interesting. That’s the beginning of a wild and chaotic chase which leads him to a cult who prepares for the end of the world.

As I mentioned, I missed the creepy atmosphere Edwards usually creates. This book is more of an average action thriller than a psychological thriller. The story kept me interested but it also turned into a chaotic and unrealistic mess. The characters are all very flat, maybe except for Aidan. The story is not as carefully developed has his other books and I really missed the psychological horror he used to inflict on his characters. Aidan turn into an action hero, guided by Lana who could be also has been named Lara (Croft). I am not so much into action thrillers and I really missed Edward’s usual psychological suspense. It is still a decent book, but comparing to his other books this one falls behind.

Another belter from one of my favourite authors, I loved this Americana thrill-ride and didn't want it to end.

Thanks netgalley for this very interesting and thought provoking book.
This may happen not in my life time but how many people want to
Save the planet we have to though not to the extreme these people went to.
I really enjoyed this book and it will
Stay in
My mind to
Tell my grandchildren save the planet

I am so happy I was able to read this book ahead of publication! I read all Mark Edwards' books and he's one of my favourite authors for creepy psychological thrillers, and guess what... he didn't disappoint me!

Although I wouldn't necessarily class this book as a thriller, it is definitely tense and mysterious. It is a bit different from Edwards' usual books, and there are no major mind-blowing revelations, but is packed full of action and will keep you at the edge of your seat. At some point the setting gets very claustrophobic and gave me nightmares, so yes, you could say that it got under my skin!

Bonus: it finished with an open ending... is there a cheeky sequel coming up? One can certainly hope.

Thank you so much NetGallery and Amazon Publishing UK for an advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

4⭐️
I have read and loved some of the authors early works.
This one is a mystery thriller set in the US. It’s action orientated.

Two years ago Scarlett disappeared while on a visit to her brother Aidan.
He has almost given up hope of finding her when a woman Francesca an elderly lady claims to have seen her from a train window being chased by by a man.

It starts off with a good hook, and continues well.
It has 2 time frames the present and 2 years earlier with several POV.
Aidan teams up with Lana who is looking for her brother who she refuses to believe died in a forest fire which is the official line, as they found no body. Lana is very conspiracy driven with her theory.

The second half becomes much more action orientated.

I enjoyed it, but didn’t love it. The first half was the strongest for me.

Very complex and weird story. Characters were good and story topical but I found it quite hard going.

This wasn’t the normal mega scary read that falls from Mark Edward’s pen but I really liked the slight change in style to a missing person thriller. Oh don’t get me wrong there is still plenty of suspense and hold your breath moments, it’s not that different! Written from various POV and in two timelines this has an attention grabbing first chapter that will have you page turning very quickly.

Briefly, Aiden is working in Seattle and his 15 year old sister Scarlett arrives from the UK for a visit. When she goes missing, neither he, nor the police , can find any trace of her. He cannot forgive himself so when an elderly woman is convinced she saw her in Northern California his search starts again. Arriving in a small town he notices lots of missing posters and when he meets Lana, who was told her brother had been killed in a fire, but she believes is still alive, their investigations attract the attention of some seriously dangerous people.

The search involves corrupt officials, drug growing farms and a deadly cult run by a woman who believes the world will end in fire and has plans to survive it. Okay so it was a bit over the top however it was a clever book with twists and turns and plenty of dark humour. I really enjoyed it. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

My oh my!! What have I just read? Mark Edwards is just a genius and absolutely brilliant! I’ve read many of Mark’s books and this is quite possibly the best yet.

There is so much to unravel with this book. Edwards has included So many themes and issues which need to be discussed- but I’m not giving away any spoilers. This has made my jaw drop, my pulse race and been completely addictive.

The opening of this book starts with Francesca who is on a train journey and sees what looks like a girl in the forest being chased. This unravels our story quickly from here, the events very quickly spam and take you deeper and deeper.

I have loved Aidan and Lana, they have been likeable and realistic characters who have been stubborn and determined- a little like me really. Seeing the secrets begin to unravel is interesting and intriguing. I have been craving more and more as I have been completely unable to work out where this was going.

Scarlett has been a character I am really unsure of. I wonder if Edwards plans to revisit her with a future book which I would definitely be wanting to read to know more.

I can safely say if I wasn’t a fan of Edwards already, this book would be converting me. Whether a fan of this author, or a new reader… this is a must read. I have devoured page after page with no regrets.

A book worthy of all the stars.

This book follows Aidan Faith who has been looking for his missing sister for two years.

When an elderly lady thinks she spots his sister from the window of a train, this new lead takes Aidan to the small town of Eaglewood.

Once in the town he speaks to the residents to see if they recognise his sister, but it seems like there is something that they are hiding.

Will Aidan find his sister? What is going on in Eaglewood?

This book is one intense ride, as Aidan discovers more about the town and follows more leads to find his sister.

There is plenty of danger and there is also a cult theme throughout, which adds to the shocking nature of the storyline.

I felt myself hoping that Aidan will find his sister so he can rid himself of the guilt he is feeling as she went missing under his watch.

Overall, an intense thriller where Aidan’s mission to find his missing sister turns dangerous.

I received an E-ARC with a request for my honest review.

This is a fast paced story about a guy searching for his missing sister. Not my favourite book from this author (I have read most of them) but there is plenty to enjoy in this action packed story. 3.5 stars

Thank you to NetGalley, Amazon Publishing and Mark Edwards for an ARC in return for an honest review.

A fire-ravaged town with a missing girl. A silenced town who may know the truth.

Where to start! This has all the hallmarks of being an amazing psychological thriller and it completely hits the mark. It’s dark, intense and a little terrifying! The dual point of view is a masterpiece and add a whole additional layer of tension. Thoroughly recommend.

This book was a fantastic psychological thriller that I could not leave down until I had finished it. It was such a different story to a lot of books I have read, so many twists and turns and lots of suspense that left you wanting to keep reading after every chapter. The characters were all very intriguing and so well written that you felt you were with them at every point. I would really recommend this book to everybody that loves amazing mystery and thriller books by a fantastic author.

Two years ago Aidans sister Scarlett came from the UK to visit him in Seattle and then disappeared. He has spent that time looking for her but she has just vanished, until now. An elderly lady sees a young woman from a train and is convinced it is Scarlett so Aidan follows the trail. He comes to a small town wher he finds there a number of missing young people. Someone must have the answers!
This is another great read from Mark Edwards. It is a mystery, full of tension and strange characters. It draws us into the world of strange groups that attract young people and what happens when they follow and people are left behind.
Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher and Mark Edwards for granting me an advance copy in exchange for an honest review

Really enjoyed this latest book by Mark Edwards, it gripped me straight away.
There were some clever twists in the story and there was never a dull moment.
Some really likeable characters and not so likeable too. Thoroughly recommend reading this.
Thank you to Netgalley Amazon Publisjing UK and Mark Edwards for an ARC in return for an honest review.

I am a huge fan of Mark Edwards’s books, but I did not enjoy this one at all. The premise is good - lots of young people go missing from a town, including Aidan’s sister when she goes to visit him in the US. An elderly lady spots her from a train window and Aiden, with the help of Lana, whose brother went missing, he goes to track his sister down. Most of the book is written in the forms of conversations and most people get shot and/or killed in the second half of the book. Felt like a change of direction for Mark. Looking at other reviews, I can see many other readers loved this book, but it just wasn’t for me.

A sighting from a train window.. a missing child, running from a man!

I am sad to say, this started off very promising (and so was the blurb!), but the further I got the more disappointment I felt.

I not only felt like I was asked a lot to suspend my belief but to also overlook a gaping pothole. I just cannot do that, sadly.

Thank you, NetGalley for the ARC!

This started of with a bang for me drawing my attention...but unfortunately fell flat after that. The storyline seemed drawn out and made me lose interest in whether any of them would be found.
I usually love Mark Edwards books this one just didn't come across as his usual thrilling books.

Thanks to the author, the publisher abd NetGalley for an early release of this book.

With a gripping opening scene, No Place To Run is likely to have you hooked from the very beginning. We have a missing girl, an eerie town full of sinister characters, and a host of eco-protesters on the brink of action.

It's all very tense and exciting, and I was eager to uncover what was going on. Unfortunately, everything felt very chaotic and unbelievable for me after that, and I really struggled to get excited by it.

I've read two of Mark Edwards' books before and they were both psychological thrillers so I was expecting No Place To Run to be dark and twisty. Instead, it's very crime-heavy with an almost dystopian edge to it.

Some readers are sure to love the direction that this thriller takes, but I just didn't enjoy it. There were too many characters (and none of them were particularly interesting), the revelations were underwhelming, and it just lacked any thrills overall for me.

I'm a huge fan of Mark Edwards' books and was delighted to received a review copy in exchange for an honest review.

Truth be told, I really struggled with this book. The first 50% was really good, I liked Aidan and the way his missing sister was seen by the woman on the train. The town was a sinister place where, like a good Stephen King book, everyone was in on "something"! The writing was quick, snappy and it was turning into a roller coaster read.

The second half though descended into ridiculousness. If there had been one "farm", either Moses or Shannon's that might have been more believable but having both was totally beyond my brain to accept. Im really sorry to say that I just couldn't read anymore and I dnf'd at 83% because I didn't care about any of the characters any more or what happened.

3.5 stars rounded down

Two years ago, on a trip to Seattle to visit her brother Aidan, fifteen year old Scarlett vanished into thin air. After years of false leads and dead ends, Aidan has almost given up hope. But then a woman sees a girl running for her life across a forest clearing in Northern California. She's convinced the girl is the missing Scarlett. But could it really be her? Heading south, Aidan finds a fire-ravaged town covered in missing-teenager posters. The locals seem afraid, the sheriff won't answer any questions.

There's lots going on in the book. What starts off as a brother looking for his missing sister, it quickly adds: kidnapping, human trafficking, missing persons, corruption, cults and crime. The story has two time frames: the present day and the past, two years ago. It's also told from several perspectives. Aidan meets and teams up with Lana, who refuses to believe her brother is dead. The pace is slow in the first half of the book, but it does pick up a little. It's a tense read in places but violent in other places. Although I did enjoy it, this is the first book by the author that's fell a bit short for me.

I would like to thank #NetGalley #AmazonPublishingGroupUK and the author #MarkEdwards for my ARC of #NoPlaceToRun in exchange for an honest review.

I went into No Place To Run almost completely blind, so I was pretty surprised when soon the story took a turn I was not expecting and that, although not my favorite kind of plot, still made a really entertaining read.

When a woman aboard a train see a young girl being chased alongside the tracks by a man, she immediately recognizes her as Scarlett Faith, a young girl that went missing two years before. After contacting Scarlett’s brother, Aidan, he will go looking for her and will have the help of Lana, another woman looking for her missing brother.

The opening scene was fantastic! It got me immediately hooked. What looked like a case of a missing teen soon turned out to be a much more complex plot of which I will not say much to not spoil it for you.

From here the plot turned into a more action packed kind of story with several “oh, sh*t!” moments that kept the story moving forward at a rapid pace. The atmosphere was not creepy per se but it kept turning more tense as we learn details about the conspiracy Scarlett got involved with. The author certainly dived into some serious topics, but I would have like some more depth in some of them.

Both Aidan and Lana came as likable characters, especially Lana, in their dogged search of their missing siblings, and the dynamic between them was really good.

Although it was a really engaging read, overall it was a bit far fetched and over the top for me. I also missed a bit more tension in the resolution. For the predicament he was in, I thought Aidan had it a little too easy at the end.

No Place To Run is more action than psychological thriller, and despite being different to the other books I’ve read by him, the writing was so good that it managed to kept me engrossed in the story despite the theme not being my favorite, hence the 4 stars.

No Place To Run is my first introduction to author Mark Edwards and I'll be honest the story wasn't quite what I was expecting. Nevertheless, I found it to be a very engaging thriller, and the premise was certainly an interesting one.

Furthermore, it does start off with a bang as a seventy-five-year-old widow travelling back home to Seattle witnesses an incident out of the window of her train involving who she believes is a young girl called Scarlett who has been missing for two years.

And when Scarlett's brother Aidan learns of the sighting, he immediately sets out to search for her in the town closest to where she was last seen. But its a town that's used to missing teens and one where the locals aren't keen to help. That is until Aidan comes across Lana whose also there searching for a missing sibling.

Yet, their presence and questions soon put them in danger and as a game of cat and mouse ensues the action really heats up, and with flashbacks to Scarlett's visit to Seattle two years earlier and a few twists along the way. This was an enjoyable read.

But it didn't quite get my adrenaline pumping or have me desperate to turn the pages and find out what was going to happen next.

Another by Mark Edwards. I was looking forward to this. It started off strong and I was turning the pages quickly. Unfortunately though, I soon found myself struggling. The storyline turned from something really promising to something that was too far fetched for me. It took me a long time to finish this book due to this.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC Of this book in exchange for my honest review.

I’d like to thank Amazon Publishing UK and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read ‘No Place To Run’ written by Mark Edwards in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.

Englishman Aiden Faith arrives in Eaglewood when he learns that his sister Scarlett who’s been missing for the past two years has been seen in a clearing running away from a man. Aiden visits the clearing where his sister was spotted by a woman on a train and speaks to people in Eaglewood hoping they’ll remember seeing her, but he gets the feeling that although some people recognise her they aren’t telling him the truth.

‘No Place To Run’ is a well-written thriller with lots of action, suspense and intrigue, that starts off well and keeps me involved in Aiden’s search for Scarlett, but then it becomes so far-fetched with scheming characters, brain-washing and cults that the story feels too unbelievable to be taken seriously. This is so different to other thrillers I’ve enjoyed reading by this author and I’m afraid to admit I lost interest halfway through with no desire to continue reading. I’m sure I’m in the minority as from reading other reviews this book is well thought of, so I apologise that this is one of those novels that does nothing for me.

Two years ago, on a trip to Seattle to visit her brother Aidan, fifteen-year-old Scarlett vanished into thin air. After years of false leads and dead ends, Aidan has almost given up hope. But then a woman sees a girl running for her life across a forest clearing in Northern California. She is convinced the girl is the missing Scarlett. But could it really be her?

Heading south, Aidan finds a fire-ravaged town covered in missing-teenager posters. The locals seem afraid, the sheriff won’t answer any questions and it looks like another dead end – until a chance meeting with returned local Lana gives Aidan his first clue. But as they piece together what happened, Lana and Aidan make deadly enemies. Enemies willing to do anything to silence them - and to protect the terrible truth about what is really going on in the forest...

This isn't my first Mark Edwards read so I had high hopes of an engaging, nail biting read. Did I get one?

Yes and No - the no is because the subject of why Scarlett had gone missing was not my cup of tea - however this didn't stop me from reading it.

Mark has a great way of writing in such an easy to read way the chapters speed by and there's twists and turns aplenty! Each chapter ends you wanting to find out what happens next and before you know it it's 3am and you have 4 hours before you need to be up.

The characters were well developed and each one had flaws even the "good" ones.

As I said this wasn't based on a subject I would normally pick up and it was clear that Mark had really thought about the content and lots of research and detail had been used.

Thoroughly recommend.

I received this ARC via NetGalley from the publisher in exchange for a honest review.

This but wasn’t quite what I was expecting but it a good way!

You travel along with Aiden as he try’s to find his sister a couple of years after she went missing in Seattle and I was so shocked at how the story unfolded I didn’t see any of it coming tbh but I was pleasantly surprised.

The start drew me in when you read about Francesca sitting on a train wide awake looking out of the window while everyone else is asleep, I wish you got to find out more about her or if she became involved a little with finding Scarlett that my only little niggle about the book.

Two years ago, Scarlett vanishes whilst visiting her brother Aiden. He blames himself and has never stopped looking for her. Leads come and fizzle out, sightings turn into dead ends. He has almost given up... until... one day he gets a massage from a woman who is convinced she has seen his sister. She was on a train and saw a woman being chased across a forest clearing. She tells all to Aiden and he drops everything to check out the woman's tale... Alighting from the train close to the sighting, he finds himself in a strange sort of town. Unfriendly locals, and a sheriff who would rather he just left town. Which is what he starts to think is the only option, until he meets Lana...
And that's all I'm saying as it all goes a little weird and it's best to discover it in all its glory as the author intended. Suffice to say that, if you have read this author's previous books, you'll know that you'll be in for a very wild ride...
This is one of my favourite authors and he has never failed to completely bowl me over with each and every book he has released. Until this one. Which, although I enjoyed, just lacked a certain something that all his other books have, in spades. It's probably more me than him, but usually his books are so on the nose that they tend to terrify me along the way. Maybe it's the subject matter, the direction that this one goes in, the one I can't expand on due to spoilers, that just didn't resonate with me as much as previous books have done.
The characters were good and, on the whole, easy to connect to / emote with along the way. The plot was well crafted, and executed with no superfluous waffle or padding. The story ramped up with appropriate action all the way until we reached a rather unexpected but satisfying end. A wee tad over the top and maybe a smidge implausible, but satisfying nonetheless.
All in all, although not as good as previous books have been for me, it will no way put me off jumping on his next book as soon as I can get my mitts on it.
My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.

I love Mark Edwards, he is one of my favorite authors. I've absolutely loved every other book he's written, and I wanted to love this one just as much, but I just couldn't stay connected while reading it.

It was definitely missing his usual thriller/creepy vibe that so many of his novels have. I am going to listen to the audiobook version when it comes out to see if I like it more with a narrator telling me the story.

Thank you Mark Edwards and Netgalley for the advanced copy! I look forward to reading Mark's next book.

Another rollercoaster ride with this new story from a favourite author is coming out next week.

Cold cases are really interesting to read and watch and in this case, the author has brought up so much more than just the investigation of a missing person.

The emotions and frustrations are felt right from the beginning. The first chapter grabs you in when a woman watches through the window of her train how a young girl is chased by a man in a wood. From here on, everything goes upside down.

Aiden is the missing girl's brother, and he’s been looking for her for over two years. When he finally gets a notice that she might be in a small town where everyone seems to be afraid of anyone.

The police won’t help him and while everything looks like a dead end again, something swifts. He meets Lana, a woman that nobody believes but sometimes, when you lose hope, you know to give a chance to anyone even if it might not lead to anything concrete.

This is another page turner story that many readers will enjoy.

🆓📖Very grateful to the publisher for my review copy.

Mark Edwards has done it again! No Place to Run is his third book set in the U.S. and Edwards has crafted an action packed, compelling adventure tale. In a departure from his usual chiller-thrillers with spooky vibes, this story is a suspenseful missing-persons mystery.

Aidan Faith, originally from the UK, is working in the tech industry in Seattle. His teenage sister, Scarlett, comes to visit and to take in all the sights of the area on her first trip to the U.S. Things go terribly wrong, and Scarlett goes missing. After a large manhunt with no results, two years have gone by, and Aidan is still looking for her.
From the riveting opening scene, through his convoluted search for Scarlett, Aidan is relentless, encountering eco-terrorists, an environmental activist cult, and a number of sordid characters. The action and suspense is truly nonstop, and the story is given added gravitas by its themes of environmentalism, youth commitment to saving the planet, climate change and trafficking of minors.
Aidan’s persistence in searching for his sister is admirable and really drives the plot. Lana, who is looking for a missing brother, is a likeable female protagonist. Both protagonists exemplify the values of strong sibling bonds and Aidan’s strong belief that “Family…came first. It always came first.” Shannon is a well-drawn disturbed cult leader whose back story has interesting depth.
As usual, the writing is beautifully descriptive and atmospheric; the author especially caught the essence of vibrant urban Seattle, the wild but scarred beauty of Northern California after its wildfires, and the rugged forests of the rural Northwest.

I highly recommend this book to readers who enjoy their mysteries well-written, with plenty of action and with some serious contemporary issues to be considered as the story unfolds. I am looking forward to Mark Edwards’ next work!!

A huge thank you to Thomas & Mercer Publishers, and NetGalley for the ARC. This is my honest review.

Having read most of Mark Edwards’ novels and grown to love his immensely readable style of tense, dark psychological thriller, I have to admit that this one took me a little bit by surprise. But not entirely in a bad way.

The story launches in typical Edwards’ fashion, with a gripping premise that immediately sucks you into the narrative.

Traveling up the west coast of America on an overnight train, elderly widow Francesca spots a young woman running for her life across a forest clearing just as dawn breaks. The woman’s face is somehow familiar, and Francesca is convinced it belongs to a teenager reported missing two years before.

When Aiden, the elder brother of missing Scarlett, learns that his sister might still be alive, he heads down to Northern California and the town of her siting to see if he can find her.

The first half of this book is very much a slow burn; heavy on atmosphere and exposition and hints of dark mysteries being concealed in the small town, where Aiden is repeatedly warned off his search.

What follows, though, when everything kicks off, is a masterfully structured plot, packed with gun-toting bad guys, unexpected twists and heart-pounding action. The writing is sharp and pacey, and I consumed the last few chapters like a dervish.

Granted, there’s an awful lot to take in; in fact, some might accuse Edwards of pushing the boundaries of credibility. But, for me, this story spoke unnervingly of possibility. And the more I thought about it, the more I came to respect Edwards’ intentions. Sects and zealots do exist, after all, and there are no limits to the extent they might go to to achieve their ends.

Some Edwards’ fans may take against his hallmark creeping suspense fiction being replaced by a dystopian action thriller, but I think he’s done a fine job and tip my hat to him for stepping out of his comfort zone and trying something new. I would certainly read more from him in this vein.

Aidan is the son who can do no wrong in his parents’ eyes. That is until his sister disappeared visiting him stateside, not that they openly blamed him but it must have been a black mark on his impeccable record. So when a chance sighting of his sibling comes to light, he is compelled to follow the breadcrumbs to find her. And these breadcrumbs take him to something more horrifying than a house made of gingerbread, cake, and candy but definitely something sinister at the centre of it all.

As I got deeper and deeper into this missing person mystery, I discovered a very dark world that Edwards had created. A world that in all honesty, I could imagine existing in the States but hoped was just what I’d seen in films. A world where in a small town pull the shutters down to the outsiders and don’t like troublemakers or questions. This community – just 😱😱😱 they really are something!

No Place To Run is a cracking thriller that kept me captivated, but I didn’t get the hebbie jeebie head-f*** feeling that I got from some of his previous novels. For me this was a slight sidestep away from Edwards’s usual psych-thriller book. That said, I really enjoyed my trip to Northern California. It was a long way from the sunny beaches of Baywatch or the glamour of Beverly Hills which is what I imagine when I think California! I felt like I was in a remote part of the US, transported to a small town cut off by woodland and farms. If you like an intense fast-paced thriller that’ll keep you guessing, No Place To Run will tick all the boxes. I would never have predicted what was going to happen and the full story of Scarlett’s disappearance.

Seventy five year old Francesca is on a long rail journey home after scattering her beloved husband’s ashes when, very early in the morning, she sees a young woman running in a clearing. Their eyes meet and she thinks the woman looks familiar. Once she remembers where she seen her before she contacts Aidan Faith, the woman’s brother. He is sceptical but also desperate to find his sister who has been missing for two years. He sets about following Francesca’s exact train journey.

Of course there is nothing to see but he meets an interesting girl on the train who gets off when he does. She is picked up by Jimmy and is heading to the Ranch. In the nearest town to the clearing Aidan asks around. Elizabeth in the cafe seems to recognise Scarlett but doesn’t say so. He does, however, hook up with Lana Carrera who is looking for her brother who supposedly died in a recent forest fire. Lana doesn’t believe her brother is dead and she knows that Elizabeth (from the cafe) was his girlfriend.

Elizabeth agrees to meet them at the local ‘murder house’ (not important to the story) but because her father, the mayor, has monitoring software on her phone he sends a ‘welcoming committee’ and things go pear shaped pretty quickly. Lana and Aidan escape but realise they have to find this ranch.

The Ranch is some sort of cult, headed up by Shannon Reinhardt, but not a s*x cult. It’s more an eco-warrior cult but that’s not it either as our two intrepid searchers learn. It’s even worse than that. Young people are being duped in a really nasty way.

This was not Edwards’ best book. The ending was a little too convenient and abrupt. The story itself was a little fantastical, I can’t imagine the bad guys getting away with things for so long without being caught out. And the characters were a little thin. Nevertheless it was an engaging and readable story which built up a head of steam as we neared the climax. Many thanks to Netgalley and Amazon Publishing UK for the much appreciated arc which I reviewed voluntarily and honestly.

Absolutely loved this from the first page. This author never disappoints. His characters are ordinary people that get thrust into situations that they could never have dreamed possible.

A must read!

No Place To Run by Mark Edwards



Title - No Place To Run

Author - Mark Edwards

Genre - Mystery, Thriller

Published - June 2022

Pages - 347



Two years ago fifteen-year-old Scarlett took a trip to Seattle to visit her brother Aidan where she vanished into thin air. Aiden's been looking for her and has had nothing but dead ends and misdirections. He's almost lost hope until someone sees a young woman running for her life through the forest in Northern Carolina. Could this really be Scarlett? When Aiden heads south, he finds a town riddled with missing teen posters. The locals are scared, and the sheriff won't talk. Then Aiden meets Luna and gains his first clue, between the two of them they start making enemies. Enemies who want them silenced for good.



This book is slightly different from Mark Edward's usual books. I did enjoy it although I do prefer his books that have a more supernatural tone to them. The book was fast-paced well written, and the characters were likeable and well developed. The plot was interesting, kept me hooked and needing to read on.



Mark Edwards is a great storyteller and this book is just another shining example of this.

Francesca is traveling back on a train after scattering her beloved husband’s ashes, and she happens to see a young woman who appears to be running from someone. Their eyes meet and Francesca thinks she recognizes her as a girl who went missing 2 years ago. She contacts the number for the search for the missing girl, which gets her in touch with the girls brother, who has never given up searching for her as he feels responsible for her disappearance. He doesn’t find his sister when he takes the same train ride, but he does meet Kristin, who is picked up and being taken to The Ranch. He follows her and starts asking around about what goes on there and meets up with Lana, who is also searching for her missing brother. While they hunt for the missing ones together, they develop feelings, but also discover a weird eco warrior cult run by Shannon and her minions. Aiden and Lana have to go through a lot to try to get their siblings back and try to help set free the others that have been brainwashed as well.
I didn’t love this one, but it was definitely something different by this author, who I enjoy.
Thanks to Amazon Publishing UK and NetGalley for this eArc in exchange for my review.

Mark Edwards doing what he does best! Capturing your interest and not letting it go again until you have finished the book! He has a way of pulling you in and making it so it’s hard to put it down, even when real life catches up with you!
You can tell he always puts a lot of research into his books to make sure they are accurate to the places and people you meet along the way.
I don’t want to give anything away so just grab it and get stuck in, expect lots of twists and turns along the way!

3.5 stars

No Place to Run by Mark Edwards is a psychological thriller.

First, let me thank NetGalley, the publisher Amazon Publishing and of course the author, for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.


My Synopsis:   (No major reveals, but if concerned, skip to My Opinions)
Aidan has been living with the guilt of losing his younger sister two years ago, when she was visiting him in Seattle.  She was 15 at the time, and he was 27.  It was supposed to be a wonderful reunion, but instead, she disappeared.   He has been looking for her ever since, papering all of Seattle with posters of her face, hoping someone would see her.  He has been on the news, he has been with the police, he has started a web-site....all in the hopes that someone has seen her.

Now, while most of the other passengers slept, a 75 year old woman on a train swears she saw Scarlett running from a man, in Northern California.

Aiden gives chase.  He meets Lana in the small town of Eaglewood.  She is looking for her brother, although the police and mayor of the town swear he is dead.  Together, they are looking for the truth, and in doing so, make some deadly enemies.

From kidnapping, police corruption and  human trafficking to doomsday eco-terrorists, the truth can be hard to find.


My Opinions:   
Well, it started out rather slow, and rather predictable, until about half way through, and then Edwards threw us a curve, and from there on, it continued to be a bumpy ride....and quite good.

I admit to not liking Scarlet from the start...a whiny teenager.  However, I loved both Aiden and Lana from the get-go.  The characters were all quite deep, although some of the back-stories were a little too long (Shannon in particular).

For the most part, it was a fast and entertaining read...even if climate change is not a favorite topic of mine, and extremists are even less so.   But, if not great, it did keep me somewhat captivated.

Francesca is on a night train and the only one seemingly awake looking out if the window when she sees a young girl being chased through a clearing, but before she can take any action, the train has sped past. She realises that she recognises the girl and with a bit of investigation finds that she was reported missing two years ago. She gets in contact with her brother who has never given up on finding his little sister and we then follow him on his mission to follow this lead.

This book started off great with a brilliant opening that got my attention immediately, but I felt that it dragged a little in the middle then got a little predictable towards the end.

What an exciting thrill ride this book was. Highly clever and intriguing plot. Jaw dropping moments, twist and turns, and just when you thought you had it figured out, the author hit you with another scenario. Well written characters and excellent story telling kept me on the edge of my seat until the very end.