I’ve of course seen the hype around Simone St. James’ books and always thought they looked right up my street. Get it? Terrible joke, sorry. When I received the opportunity to read this, there was no way I could say no. There is a good mix of horror, crime, thriller, supernatural and mystery, and a good mix of different characters, all flawed in some way or other. I was impressed with the variety of ways the author conveyed just how hot the weather is throughout the book. I had a strong idea of where the book was heading early on—Gothika vibes—but this book was so much more than that.

I wasn’t sure how I felt about the two main characters at first. They hadn’t been together very long and were both keeping secrets from each other, so how strong could their relationship really be, and how much did they truly trust each other? And when Detective Quentin, a most frustrating character, spilled their secrets in what felt an attempt to tear them apart and pit them against each other, I did wonder how they would come back from it, but they proved that time doesn’t always equate to the strength of love and commitment.

I really liked Rose, the widowed B&B owner. I found her strong, passionate and, unexpectedly, very kind. Someone who has high potential to rub people up the wrong way, and often does, but yet will be your loyalist acquaintance from up close and from a distance. And although she doesn’t have the easiest of lives, a certain small revelation at the end of the book left me knowing she’s okay and she’s going to be okay. I couldn’t help wishing her husband was still alive as I read the book, as I got the impression they had made a formidable team and he could really have made an impact in solving this investigation a lot quicker.

The small-town vibes really made me feel trapped and added to the chilling feel, and although I don't tend to like slow reads, this one kept me glued, as when it picked up, it REALLY picked up.

Thank you to NetGalley, Simone St. James and Michael Joseph for this DRC in exchange for an honest review.

I adore Simon St. James books, because they always keep me at the edge of my seat and are very suspenseful. Most of the times they give me chills. Unfortunately, the "Murder Road" was missing some of the mentioned above.
However I need to admit that nobody writes the supernatural thrillers like Simone St. James. In this story the young married couple turns the wrong turn on the road and instead of going to peaceful place for their honeymoon, they end up in the middle of the night on the empty road, trying to save the girl they found on the side of the road from bleeding to death.... And they become the main suspects in the case of murder of the said girl... The plot of this book focuses mainly on the characters for most of the book. Their past, darkest secrets, traumas and their new life as married couple. I didn't mind this, as their secrets and past lives were surprising in the turn of events, and every one of their secrets could be used against them in the investigation. And past links to the present- which is one of my favorite themes in the books of Simone St. James. But there are some things happening to the town and the couple, that were never seen or experienced before, and no one can explain them. But is this all real, something unexplained is hunting them and the small town or is this just their pure imagination and tangled minds? I have a feeling that focusing on the characters, author took away a bit of suspense of the whole story and didn't give us to many breaking plot twists. But the unexplained supernatural parts of the story were written so well, that I wouldn't tell the things that were happening were unusual. Reading this book you don't feel like Simone St. James was seeking for the cheap thrills in this book- she written it all so well that you could tell this all was real, and all this really happened. I liked how slowly we reached to the end and the explanation of it's all, and how few characters showed up in this book.
I am giving this book only three starts, because I think I am used to more chilling and scary stories from the author. And this one didn't give me this. But it was definitely a page turner!

The review is available on my Goodreads and is coming to my Instagram on the day of the premiere!

After a whirlwind romance, April and Eddie marry and drive off to a lakeside park for their honeymoon. But they take the wrong turning off the motorway and find themselves lost in the middle of nowhere. A young woman appears on the lonely, dark road. They offer her a lift but when she gets into the backseat they realise she’s been stabbed. She directs them to the nearest hospital but dies shortly after they get there. April and Eddie find themselves arrested on suspicion not only of this murder but also of killing several hitchhikers along the same road. The attacks go back years to when the couple were young children, so they can’t be responsible for them all.
And yet Eddie and April have secrets, not only things they withhold from the police but also from each other. Why was Eddie discharged from the army? And why hasn’t April told her husband that April isn’t her real name?
As the couple do some digging to find the real culprit, they encounter a vengeful, unquiet ghost who haunts the road. They realise proving their innocence will require cold, sceptical local detectives to suspend their considerable disbelief.
April made a determined, likeable narrator and Eddie, too, was a strong, yet vulnerable lead. The supporting characters were well drawn. My absolute favourite was Rose, their reluctant landlady at the guesthouse the police put them in. (And Trish, if you’re reading this, go see a neurologist…)
Simone St James writes terrific ghost stories, some with the feel of historical fiction (such as Silence for the Dead), some set in the more recent past (The Sun Down Motel) and others that blend distant and more recent past (The Broken Girls). Murder Road has a more modern feel, although it’s set in the mid-90s. (It startles me to realise a decade that seems five minutes ago is now some 30 years in the past.) I would guess the author chose that time rather than present day so that the protagonists couldn’t solve the mystery with a couple of internet searches. Instead they had to visit remote locations, track down witnesses, engage with conspiracy theorists and scour old newspapers. It was refreshing to read a mystery that had a contemporary feel but without references to mobile phones and social media.
As usual Simone St James built up tension beautifully and blended the otherworldly with the gritty real world seamlessly. Four and a half stars.
With thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an early copy in exchange for an independent review.

I posted my review on my blog: https://www.rachelsargeant.co.uk/my-book-reviews-for-march-2024/ and GoodReads and BookBub. Amazon review to follow on publication tomorrow.

I loved "The Broken Girls" and have followed all of Simone St. James's works since reading it. While I was underwhelmed with "The Book of Cold Cases", I can confidently say she's back with another hit!

Though the book isn't as spooky as her earlier works, it makes for a great thriller with great characters and an intriguing mystery as the plot. The beginning had me hooked and the rest of the story is just as good.

The book also has some hilariously memorable side characters (I would love a spin-off series or just a few short stories with the Snell sisters) and other intriguing ones like Rose and Detective Quentin.

I wish I had enjoyed reading about April and Eddie as much because even with their backstories, I found them to be rather dull. It seems we were told how they are rather than shown who they are.

Overall, an enjoyable supernatural thriller that has me looking forward to more from the author. Thanks to Netgalley and Michael Joseph for the e-copy!

I chose to read a free eARC of Murder Road but that has in no way influenced my review.

It's July 1995 and newlyweds Eddie and April are driving to their honeymoon at Five Pines Resort when Eddie takes a wrong turn. April, who has been asleep in the passenger seat, senses they're lost the moment she wakes up. Trying to correct Eddie's mistake, they spot a young woman by the side of the road. Unable to leave the woman on her own on such a dark, lonely road the Carters offer her a lift. Reluctantly the woman agrees but it soon becomes clear that they need to get to a hospital ASAP. Because the woman is bleeding from a horrific stomach wound all over the back seat of their car. When the hitchhiker utters the words 'I'm sorry, he's coming' both Eddie and April know they've somehow ended up in a nightmare, and this is only the beginning...

Murder Road is a highly addictive, thoroughly gripping supernatural thriller which I devoured over the course of a day. Chilling, engrossing and nigh-on impossible to put down, I was drawn into April and Eddie's story as they became prime suspects for the murder of Rhonda Jean, the hitchhiker they picked up on Atticus Line. With little to no evidence, Detective Quentin and his bumbling, less-effective partner, Detective Beam, do everything in their power to make the evidence stick. Because Rhonda Jean isn't the first hitchhiker to be killed on that particular stretch of road. Sure there is more to the story, April decides to dig further into the horrific deaths that have been happening since the 1970s on Atticus Line. But the truth is more terrifying than April ever imagined it could be.

Would I recommend this book? I would, yes. I loved Murder Road with its atmospheric, creepy setting and small-town vibes. I fell completely in love with April and Eddie who both have their own secrets which they are yet to tell their new spouse. The other characters are all so wonderfully written. Detective Quentin is deliciously frustrating and highly antagonising. He's like a dog with a bone and just won't quit. He'll do whatever it takes to make the few facts he has stick to April and Eddie. He makes some highly inappropriate moves to ensure there is tension between April and Eddie. Violence is never the answer but I was ready to thump him one! Detective Beam is the more crumpled, older detective. Waiting it out until the day he can claim his pension but he's more than happy to offer up his opinion on April. Both Detectives take an instant dislike to April. But have they got the true measure of her? I have to mention Rose who is the owner of the B&B the couple stay at. She's highly disagreeable with a gruff exterior. But when it comes to Eddie, her frosty shell does melt a little. In a town where Eddie and April are very much alone, Rose is the only person on their side. The characters are all so beautifully written. It was a joy (if a somewhat unnerving joy!) to spend time in their company. The plot moves at a steady, intriguing pace with twists and turns along the way keeping the reader immersed in the story. Personally, I was hooked throughout. I couldn't turn the pages fast enough! It's been a while since I last felt so completely absorbed by a book. All in all, I loved Murder Road. I've been wanting to read a Simone St. James book for a while now having heard so many positive things about the author's writing and I'm so pleased I started with this one (I have a couple on the TBR but I haven't had a chance to read them yet). It's a creepy, unsettling tale with an overarching, cleverly crafted sense of impending doom and I loved every moment of it. Absolutely excellent in every respect. Highly recommended.

I chose to read and review a free eARC of Murder Road. The above review is my own unbiased opinion.

diving back into a st james novel was so fun. this book had the perfect creepy vibes, perfect supernatural element and had me unable to put the book down. i absolutely loved this and am already excited for whats to come next!

I've never read a supernatural book before or this author I didn't think I would enjoy it as much as I did and now look forward to reading the other books I have by her

This is my first Simone St James book, although I’m aware of her work from recommendations and know that she’s skilled at creepy thrills. It’s also technically a historical novel (I feel old!) as it’s set in the 1990s, which predates mobile phones, the internet and other easy ways to report ghosts and murders. When the characters set out to do research on murder victims, they head to the library. It’s far easier for people to vanish.

Combined with the small-town vibe of the setting, this book really made me feel trapped. It’s not exactly literally inescapable (the roads from Coldlake Falls lead both in and out, which is good to know), but the scenario draws our protagonists back… and instead of yelling ‘get the heck OUT!’, I was definitely there with them. This is a mystery that needs to be resolved.

Plus the tale of the Lost Girl on Atticus Line isn’t the only secret. Eddie is a lovely ‘hero-husband’, for example, but he’s ex-army and suffering with PTSD at a time when men didn’t talk about such things. And protagonist April absolutely has her own baggage, in spades.

From the action-packed opening, the story slows to allow breathing space and consideration, upping the atmosphere and carefully unravelling the truths behind what we think we know. It’s never overwhelming, but nothing should be taken at face value. If you want to last the journey, you need to keep turning the pages, as first and foremost this is a mystery. Clues aren’t revealed all at once. Also don’t underestimate the Princess Diana Lady. Just saying.

There was one particular bugbear for me: the very stereotypical depiction of police. Possibly because I’m in the UK, I really couldn’t accept how downright stupid and cartoon-baddy they were. Maybe this is in line with ‘90s dramas, but I truly wished one sadly-deceased policeman was still present to balance them out. This is in sharp contrast to the sympathetic and accurate portrayal of antisocial local teens looking to find their place and survive in a crazy adult’s world.

And April… I really wasn’t sure I was going to like our leading lady at first. A pretty blonde with her new husband, caught in a strange supernatural (?) story. She’s that for approximately the first couple of chapters, before revealing her spine of steel, brains and heart. She’s a fighter and a survivor, which threatens those cops and had me rooting for her the entire rest of the way. She’s not an unreliable narrator; she just doesn’t tell anyone everything at once, and that includes You.

I didn’t find this a speedy read, but that’s because like any good rollercoaster, it has its highs and lows. When it’s fast, it moves! - before the detective work takes the time it would actually require in a strange place full of unhelpful people.

At its core, this book seems real. I kept thinking of an episode of ‘Supernatural’ with a similar hook, but with its mostly-multilayered cast and excellent storytelling, this tale is so much more plausible; the ‘what would I do’ aspect of each speedbump was more than strong enough to keep my attention. By the time we find out if it is otherworldly or not, that seems appropriate too.

I enjoyed my time on Murder Road, and if you like retro-thrillers with sympathetic protagonists, I think you will too.

I wasn’t convinced in the beginning, but as with all the author’s books the tale twists and turns as it develops. The main characters, who initially seemed bland, turned out to have a lot more to them. A newly married couple on their way to their honeymoon destination take a “wrong” turn and end up being accused of a crime. A lot doesn’t make sense but I should have had faith that this was for good reason. For example- I would have been so out of that town as soon as I could get away and with a few complaints about the police department!
I was rating this book it as a solid 4 stars until the end- which left me well satisfied so 5 it is.

This is the third book I have read by Simone St James. It is not my favorite (that would be The Sun Down Motel) but still very enjoyable. It is hard to put down even though it is very creepy and mysterious.
"If You See Her, You”ll Be The Next One Dead"!

Thank you to NetGalley and Michael Joseph, Penguin Random House for an advanced copy in exchange for my review.

I was extremely frustrated at the opening to Murder Road, for me the premise fell apart at the ridiculous behaviour of the detectives. I flat out refuse to believe that a couple of newlyweds finding and driving an injured woman to hospital would then immediately become prime suspects in her death. No evidence, no murder weapon, no motive. It makes no sense.

Murder Road was interesting yes but it felt like a Lifetime movie. As much as I did want to uncover the secrets, the story was simple and silly. The characters were loveable caricatures but despite the serious nature of their histories it was all so over dramatic I couldnt connect emotionally to any of them.

There's a lot of 90s pop culture shoe horned in to remind you of the time period and whilst I enjoy a little nostalgia I got sick to death of hearing about the Princess Diana decor in an American B&B.

An entertaining book if you want to spend a few hours without putting any thought into it.

This is my first read if anything by Simone St James and sadly this wasn't for me. I found the story did not pull me in at all. There were parts that were a little repetitive and seemed like they were written for a young audience.
I couldn't connect with any of the main characters at all and I found the female main character a little annoying, with her childish talk of how the other men in the story looked or smelled nice and her back story just did not keep me interested to find out more.

I did however like the parts with the two younger girls playing detective and helping them nearer the end. This seemed to fit the whole feel of the story best and I think It may have been better if it was written regarding these two trying to solve the murders in some way instead of the actual main characters.

I do see other people have enjoyed this so don't let me opinion put you off reading this alone. Sadly, it wasn't for me.

Many thanks to the Author, Michael Joseph, Penguin Random House and Netgalley for the ARC.

Review to appear at SFFWorld.com on 23rd March.

It's July 1995. April and Eddie Carter are newly-weds on their way to a stay at the Five Pines Resort, a cheap motel on the edge of Lake Michigan.
They're on a long dark road, late at night, and they see a woman up ahead, clearly in trouble. They stop and pick her up. It's only once she's in the car that they see the blood. And then they see the headlights, and at last, the woman, whose name is Rhonda Jane, speaks, her voice faint. "I'm sorry, he's coming."

The hitchhiker's injuries prove fatal, and the couple are trapped in the small town of Coldlake Falls, prime suspects in the eyes of local police. The detective interviewing them suspect April and Eddie of the murder and are told to not leave town.
Forced to stay in the small settlement whilst the crime is being investigated, Eddie and April find that Rhonda Jane is not the first victim to be found along Atticus Road. There are deaths and mysterious disappearances that go back to the Sixties, with the cases still unsolved.

The police seem particularly unhelpful. Whilst under suspicion themselves, they try to both find evidence that shows their innocence and uncover who the real murderer is. Being 1995, this means no mobile phones, or instant photographs or videos for evidence, of course. Further mysteries unravel – who is ‘The Lost Girl’? And why according to local legend does a sighting of her mean that you’re the next victim? As Eddie and April have seen her, does it mean that they could be next?

Although there are elements that give good solid X-Files type chills, this is really more of a murder mystery than an out and out horror story, but Simone does well to keep the lines blurred between the supernatural and the ‘real’, which keeps both the characters and the reader guessing along the way.
What complicates matters further is that the couple discover that they don’t know each other as well as perhaps they should – both of them have secrets from their past that may well have been left hidden.
All is resolved by the end. It’s a solid page-turner that drags you in and kept me reading, with touches of Stephen King small town America, and some minor chills to keep your interest.

But by the end, what struck me most was what was perhaps the main moral of the story? Make sure you know your partner before you marry them….

Many thanks to Michael J. Books and Penguin UK Books for a free copy of “Murder road” in exchange for my honest opinion.

I am a big fan of Simone St. James, she is my favourite horror and mystery author. I’ve read almost all of her books and I enjoyed all of them. It’s no surprise I enjoyed “Murder road” as well.

As all of her novels, the story starts in the past, in July 1995, when Eddie and April are on their way to a cabin for their honeymoon on a shore of Lake Michigan. But along the way, Eddie takes a wrong turn onto Atticus Line, a dark road where the lives of many hitchhikers were taken, since 1976. Ahead of them, a woman is on the road and she looks likes she’s in trouble. So Eddie stops the car and when the woman gets in, they see that she’s covered in blood.
Now, they are suspended of her murder and, to show the police that they’re innocent, they start investigate on their own.
And this is the point where their lives change.

I actually enjoyed this book a lot! Simone St. James is perfect at describing eerie scenes and ghost appearances. Her books are the only ones that give me goosebumps and I’m always excited when she’s out with a new novel.
“Murder road” is the same. Starting very chill for a creepy book, a few pages in and you’re surrounded by things that appear in the darkness and you’re in creepy forests and you hear strange footsteps next to you from something you can’t see.

I loved the 90’s vibes and I was surprised that there’s no time jump between periods like in her other books. But I wasn’t sad about it!
I liked how real the characters were, how flawed and how much they tried their best to solve this strange mystery.
I liked how eerie was the atmosphere and how the murders were done (which is a strange thing to say, but trust me, it was ingenious). I liked the town where the action took place, Cold Lake Falls, a very strange city woth mysterious inhabitants. Something the author is good at, beside writing horror books, is making the side characters likeable. I loved the Snell sisters and I loved the B&B’s owner, Rose and her story.

“Murder road” is a page-turner, extremely captivating and chilling. It’s an unsettling story, perfect for dark, rainy and windy nights, while trees are screeching so you can be truly scared!

The writing is great and easy to read, the chapters are short as they should and the characters are likeable.
I was not extremely satisfied with the ending, I felt it was just a tiny bit rushed, but I wasn’t mad about it! It was still a good ghost story, with well-developed characters and an enjoyable journey. I was absorbed from the start of the book and I couldn’t put it down. The mysteries were intriguing and interesting and I must say that I didn’t figure it out who the killer was, which doesn’t happen often.
If you’re not a fan of horror, but you would like to try a book, this is for you! I received immensely and I can’t wait for her new book!

A great book and brilliant characters. I thoroughly enjoyed it. I loved the pacing. It had me hooked from start to finish. A great pageturner

St James' writing is brilliant and this concept was amazing. Overall, it mostly paid off with a dark and twisty plot centering around generational trauma and forgotten victims, with an interesting take on ghosts and hauntings. However, I wasn't a huge fan of the final twist.

Yet another Simone St. James novel I DEVOURED!

Right from the get go we are thrust into a thrilling plot with horrific consequences. Newlywed couple, Eddie and April are heading out to their honeymoon destination when things take a turn (literally) for the worst. Coming across an injured hitchhiker, they try to get her to a hospital whilst being chased down by a truck.

At the local hospital the hitchhiker dies soon and the police have their number one suspects in sight. Forced to stay in the small town, it becomes clear there is more to the incident that occured on Atticus Lane.

I was hooked the whole time this mystery was unravelling. I would definitely say this is multi-genre, with supernatural elements, horror, mystery and a little light touch of romance. So if you're looking for a ghost story with a cold case mystery that has you sweating from anxiety, I think this could be for you 😂

I was completely obsessed with the 90's setting, it was so atmospheric and I could clearly picture everything which was super spooky! Especially the scenes on Atticus Lane!

April & Eddie are newlyweds driving on their way to a resort at Lake Michigan for their honeymoon when they see a hitchhiker on a lonely stretch of road just outside Coldlake Falls. Something about the way the hitchhiker is walking tells April that it's a woman & she doesn't want to leave her vulnerable in the dark so they pull over. The young woman seems reluctant to accept help but eventually she gets in the car. Once in the car, April & Eddie realise something is very wrong & the young woman has been stabbed. Suddenly headlights appear behind them & the woman says "I'm sorry, he's coming." They decide to try to outrun their pursuer & take the woman to the hospital but this ends with them being questioned by the local police & asked to stay in town for now. It turns out that this isn't the first victim to die on this stretch of road & the police believe April & Eddie know more than what they are saying.

'The Sun Down Motel' & 'The Broken Girls' by the author were 5 star reads for me, unfortunately this one is more like 'The Book of Cold Cases' which I found only okay. I think for me, the problem was that the main characters were just not that interesting - side characters such as Rose (the bed & breakfast owner) & the Snell sisters were much more intriguing. None of the twists were really a surprise & the haunting aspect (there's always a supernatural aspect with this author's books which usually works really well) felt quite flat to me. It is still a good read but in my view it doesn't live up to the author's best works. Slightly disappointing. 3.5 stars (rounded down)

My thanks to NetGalley & publishers, Penguin Random House/Michael Joseph, for the opportunity to read an ARC.

#Netgalley #Gifted

I’ve read a good few of this author’s books by now and I keep coming back for more; supernatural thrillers aren’t always my thing but I like Simone St. James’s writing style, and she certainly makes the hairs on the back of my neck stand up, so here we are again!

It’s July 1995 and newlyweds April and Eddie are on a road trip towards a cheap and cheerful honeymoon. Unfortunately for them, they’ve taken a wrong turn. They find themselves on a deserted road and stop for a hitchhiker, who at first seems a bit strange and monosyllabic, that is until they spot the blood seeping out of her abdominal wound.
They bring her to the nearest hospital where they become suspects number one and two with the local police, not just in this girls attack, but in a series of unsolved murders that took place on the road they were on, dating back to the 70’s.

They both have dark pasts that add to the mounting suspicion against them and so they set about solving the town’s many cold cases before they end up in prison for crimes they didn’t commit.

The first half of this book has serious momentum; I flew through it, loving the dynamics between the two main characters and also, just how creepy the story is! April in particular is a great protagonist; a scrappy survivor type, and I was really rooting for her.

When it got about midway, I felt the pace slowed a bit and possibly overall the book was a bit longer than necessary. That said, it quickly picked up again after that middle section and I found myself eager for the big reveal at the ending.

To reiterate; the main plot here involves supernatural goings on; I know that’s not something everyone enjoys in a book, so be warned!

Aside from that element of the storyline, it’s also a murder mystery/detective drama, which is very much my cup of tea. Overall I enjoyed this and will of course, be reading whatever St. James writes next.

With many thanks to @netgalley @penguinrandomhouse for my early copy, #MurderRoad is available to buy on the 28th of March.

This marks my first venture into the works of this author, and it certainly did not disappoint. From the outset, the narrative brims with tantalizing mysteries that persist until the final chapters, heightening the story's eerie atmosphere. As I delved deeper, the allure of unraveling each twist became irresistible, culminating in a spine-tingling encounter that left me reaching for the light switch.

The characters proved equally engaging, particularly the two troubled souls who find solace in each other's company. Even the supporting cast, such as the seemingly harsh Rose with a heart of gold, the inquisitive Snell sisters teetering on the brink of danger, and the initially abrasive Quentin who reveals unexpected depth, were fully fleshed out and added depth to the narrative.

Overall, this impeccably crafted tale held me captive from start to finish, showcasing the author's skill in weaving a gripping thriller.