The author of this book is well known for writing those southern Gothic horror and very creepy tales in general. This book had me on my toes for a while, the setting was utterly creepy and this is not the book to read at night. I loved the road trip aspect, I feel like this is a trope you don’t see very often and I also like how it is set in modern day so you can be familiar with the places the characters visit and end up. Fantastic read with tons of creepy feel!!!

Between Fargo, Georgia and the Okefenokee Swamp runs State Road 117 alongside the Suwannee River. If you drive the road from east to west will you cross six bridges, however, if you instead drive from west to east you might find seven bridges. You just pray to God that you don't find seven bridges.

Titus and Melanie Bell were not so lucky.

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This book has such a great premise and the description gave me chills. I had to request it to find out what was going to happen!

Titus and Melanie Bell are on their honeymoon and have reservations in the Okefenokee Swamp cabins for a canoeing trip. But shortly before they reach their destination, the road narrows into a rickety bridge with old stone pilings, with room for only one car.

Much later, Titus wakes up lying in the middle of the road, no bridge in sight. Melanie is missing. When he calls the police, they tell him there is no such bridge on Route 177 . . .

How could you not what to know what was happening with that insane twist!?

A great book with twists and turns and horror and fear. Just great, really enjoyed it. Will read more from this author for sure.

This book was just an okay read. Although there were a few twists in it the story overall was quite predictable and did not keep me interested.

While the writing was good, I was not able to finish because, to be honest - it left me a little scared, which is what the author intended.

Interesting creepy book, if you are a horror lover then you'll enjoy it!
Well developed characters, well written, a good read for a rainy night.

Being from the south, I'm naturally drawn to the southern gothic sub-genre. The setting here is well crafted, atmospheric. The dual narrative aspect is a little jarring and disjointed at times, but comes together well in the end. The only real complaint here is that the characters are a bit thin, hardly standing out in any particular way.

Mark my words this book is going to be a huge hit for this author. This is an exceptional book.

I really don't want to discuss the plot because I want everyone to discover this story on their own terms. It's intricate. It's breathtaking. It's heart-pumping. It's shiver inducing. It's everything I could ever ask for in this genre. I started this book yesterday morning and tore through 75% without even realizing it. I was completely riveted to the pages.

Thank you to NetGalley and publishing company for providing me with a digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I was provided an e-arc from netgalley to read and review

I unfortunately missed the opportunity to read

A great idea, but the execution flopped towards the end. I think Cherie had a lot of elements to work with and in the end the story got away from her and didn't really know how to end it. But a good, entertaining read nevertheless.

I am a member of the American Library Association Reading List Award Committee. This title was on the 2020 shortlist. The complete list of winners and shortlisted titles is at <a href="https://rusaupdate.org/2020/01/2020-reading-list-years-best-in-genre-fiction-for-adult-readers/">

Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher and the author for the opportunity to read a complimentary copy of this book in return for a review based upon my honest opinion,

I had a really hard getting into this book; it felt disjointed and at odds with itself. I felt it was more thriller than horror and overall liked the story-line. I thought the author did a pretty good job of the settings, they seemed to fit the mood of the book. Overall, I just thought it felt unfinished.

I loved the southern gothic synopsis of this book. However, it did lose my attention at times due to repetitive writing. I'd definitely recommend this book. It just wasn't for me.

I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. Thank you NetGalley.

Cherie Priest has an unique style of writing that has a way of drawing you in. This was my first book by her, and I wasn't disappointed. The characters were well-developed. The storyline - unique and easy to follow.

While there were some slow areas, the book moved along at a good pace and the plot was incredible.

Don't go driving into the Okenfenokee Swamp when it's dark. That was the first mistake that Titus and Melanie Bell made. Not paying attention and turning around when things get a unfamiliar and weird was their second. As a result, Melanie goes missing and Titus winds up in the town of Staywater, filled with odd folks that don't always give him a straight answer. Two of the odd folks are a pair of spinster grandmothers and their godson Cameron. It all makes for a great set up for a creepy Southern Gothic horror story.

Cherie Priest knows creepy and she keeps ramping up that factor, with a friendly ghost in the local bar, an abandoned house full of dolls and a other oddities. But the story feels too rambly and repetative and lacks tension. It's mostly Titus not getting any answers and Cameron puzzling about his lot in life. Either the book should be shorter or the various back and side stories need expansion and depth. When everyone finally starts taking action toward the end, it finally feels like a real story and comes to a reasonable finish.

I found this to be an easy, entertaining, but a little frustrating read.

Took me longer than a week to read this. Only 336 pages, so it should've been quicker. Not a bad book, but very easy to put down.

This was such an amazing read that I couldn’t put it down. It went everywhere with me. To the doctors office, the dentist, the eye doctor. IT WENT ABSOLUTELY EVERYWHERE. I was so sad when it ended that I immediately went and bought more books from this author!

From the synopsis, I wasn't entirely sure what to expect from this one - but I wasn't disappointed in the least. Described as being a "southern gothic with a modern twist", I felt really absorbed by the swampy southern atmosphere created by Cherie Priest's writing. Thick and luscious while also being creepy and tense, this one was unputdownable!

Thank you to Macmillan-Tor/Forge Tor Books and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book for an unbiased review.

The Toll is a horror book which taps into several different streams of Southern Gothic. It follows Titus and Davina Bell leave their hotel in Fargo for a second honeymoon canoeing the Okefenokee Swamp. Shortly before they reach their destination, they draw up to a halt at the edge of a rickety bridge with old stone pilings, with room for only one car . . .

However, Titus is found lying in the middle of the road and Davina cannot be located. This is where our story really starts. I had fun reading this but I did find some of the dialogue repetitive, some of the humour didn't hit the notes it needed so to speak and some good editing in certain areas was required.

Despite that I can see it being well received, especially in the YA market more than the adult horror genre.

Overall 3.5 stars

I want to thank Macmillan-Tor/Forge Tor Books and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book for an unbiased review.

Dark and Creepy!

The story begins with a young couple (Titus & Melanie) on their honeymoon headed to the Okefenokee State Park in the deep south of Florida to go camping and canoeing and just relax with one another. After traveling through the swampland and riding over many small bridges, they start to drive over a very narrow and what appears to be not too sturdy bridge, when suddenly Titus begins to feel lightheaded and very sleepy. The next thing Titus remembers is waking up flat on his back on a paved road several yards away from his car with the doors wide open and Melanie is nowhere to be seen! The mystery and horror will now takes you on a journey that is fun to travel until the end of the book.

Cherie Priest has told a clever and creepy story that captures the look and feel of the swampland territory and the flavor of the small community of people who live there. This book was very well-written and fun to read. There were several stories woven around Melanie's disappearance which made it become a very spooky and twisted mystery. I enjoyed this novel very much and would gladly read more books by this author!

I do recommend this book to other horror lovers who enjoy a quirky and fun storyline and I have given this book 4 Creepy🌟🌟🌟🌟Stars!!