Chevy Stevens is one of the best of the absolute best when it comes to building suspense. Dark Roads is no exception. Atmospheric, with characters honed to perfection, Stevens breaths life into her story. Dark Roads will take you from today's headlines into the darkest places of the human soul, stripped of compassion or empathy, set only on feeding the darkest needs. Stevens' attention to detail is phenomenal. These Dark Roads will take you through twists and turns at record speed, but all will become clear in the satisfying end. If you love thrillers, buckle your seatbelts because Dark Roads is one wild ride!

What I loved most about this book was the emotional depth. It’s not just about the mystery—it’s about grief, healing, and the lengths we go to for justice. The characters are written very well. If you're a fan of suspenseful thrillers with a strong emotional core and an unforgettable setting, this book is an absolute must-read. It’s a dark, twisted ride you won’t want to get off of!

Unfortunately I was unable to download this book before the archive date, so I'm not able to leave a review. I look forward to reading and reviewing books by this author in the future.

This book had several positive aspects that kept me wanting to read, while there were parts that I thought could’ve been improved.

The first quarter and the last quarter of the book were intense, fast-paced, and kept me glued to its pages. Trying to piece together the puzzle was fun and it all was falling into place at the end. Kudos to the author for making those parts exciting. I also liked the switching between characters toward the end since it made everything go by even faster.

Hailey is very determined and clearly resourceful. I love her relationship with her dog and her relationship with her very best friend, Jonny. Though she made some risky choices, her heart was always in the right place.

On the other hand, the middle section that amounted to about 1/2 the book was not as exciting. The description of how Hailey was preparing for survival just became tedious to read. At the time, it seemed almost pointless to be included. I can see why it was important as the story unfolded, but perhaps it didn’t need to be as long. Beth’s issues being described wasn’t as interesting to read too. I can see why her character was important to the plot, I just thought that and the relationship aspects/non-aspects/back-and-forth just wasn’t gripping enough.

Considering it all, I rate “Dark Roads” a 3 out of 5 stars.

My opinions are my own. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me the opportunity to read this murder mystery.

Dark Roads is a gripping thriller that completely hooked me. Seriously, I finished it in one day.

The premise itself is so compelling—young women going missing along an isolated stretch of road, and the way Stevens builds tension around this dark, dangerous landscape is masterful. The isolated setting is perfect for the story, creating a sense of dread that lingers throughout the novel. Hailey’s story, in particular, is heartbreaking and intense. The grief she experiences after the death of her father, combined with her complicated relationship with her aunt and uncle, adds an emotional depth to her character that I really appreciated. Her eventual disappearance, and the questions it raises, kept me turning pages.

I also loved Beth’s storyline. Her journey to uncover the truth about her sister Amber’s murder brings an additional layer of suspense and personal stakes to the novel. Stevens does an excellent job of making both women’s experiences feel intertwined in a way that doesn’t feel forced. There’s a real sense of unraveling mysteries both personal and larger-scale as Beth gets closer to the dark secrets that Cold Creek holds.

As with every other book I've read by her, Stevens does a fantastic job of keeping you guessing while slowly revealing crucial details. Some of the surprises in the story were ones I didn’t see coming at all, and that’s always such a rewarding experience when reading a thriller. The pacing never drags, and the story is perfectly balanced between character development and mystery.

What I really loved about Dark Roads, though, was how it dug deep into themes of trauma, survival, and justice. Hailey’s resilience and Beth’s determination to seek the truth resonate long after you finish reading. It’s a book that stays with you, not just because of the plot twists, but because of the emotional journey these characters go through. Stevens created Cold Creek as a stand in for the Highway of Tears in British Columbia, a stretch of highway where an alarming number of women, mostly Indigenous, have gone missing. It's such an important issue and I appreciated the author's note about it and the care with which she handled the topic.

If you're a fan of dark, atmospheric thrillers with strong female protagonists and an edge-of-your-seat mystery, Dark Roads is a must-read. Chevy Stevens absolutely nails it with this one—it's a compelling, chilling ride that I highly recommend!

All the creepy police feels in this book... Hailey was a courageous female lead, doing whatever she needed to survive, while also trying to figure out the murders occurring on the Cold Creek Highway. Even though she was young, she used her smarts and escaped while helping others along the way.

Based partially on true highway killer in British Columbia, Chevy Stevens writes a story that keeps you on your toes. Bad cop, Vaughn, and Hailey's uncle, scares everyone, and out to get the some of the locals. Hailey tries to catch him, but the killer keeps killing. When another girl disappears, a friend that Hailey was close to, Hailey disappears, Vaughn is adamant that Hailey is out there somewhere, and local, Johnny, knows where she is. He is relentless. A year later, Amber, the girl's sister appears, and wants to know answers. She is bound and determined to bring the killer to justice. Things just did not go as planned. One person, I guessed was in on it, but the other, nope. Lots of action. Make sure you read the epilogue and author's note as well. Thanks to Ms. Stevens, St. Martin's Press, and NetGalley, for the opportunity to read and review this book.

This was my first Chevy Steven’s read and it was phenomenal. Fast paced, kept me page turning until the last chapter.

I love Chevy Steven’s and wish she was writing more. This wasn’t my favorite but nice to be able to read from this author again.

This story should come with all the trigger warnings: loss of a parent, attempted rape, assault, murder, and stalking, to name a few. I love a good thriller, but this story presses the gas pedal to the floor in terms of the thriller genre. If you are looking for a YA thriller that is the definition of DARK, this story might be for you. But don't blame me when you suffer from a few. sleepless nights!!

This novel follows Hailey who returns to who hometown after being away for a decade. She is almost immediately pulled into a dark web of secrets, deception, and betrayal. Hailey continues to dive deeper into her family's secrets discovering that some things should be left unfound. While the author builds a lot of tension and suspense, I found myself grappling with the development of the plot. The plot lost its footing at times where I felt some of the twists were forced and some predictable. Despite this, the novel is still worth the read for fans of psychological thrillers with the complex characters really keeping readers on edge until the end.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book through Hailey and Beth’s POV. If you’re a fan of multiple point of views and dark writing, then this book is for you. Definitely recommend checking it out!

The Cold Creek Highway stretches close to five hundred miles through British Columbia’s rugged wilderness to the west coast. For decades, young indigenous women traveling the road have gone missing. Authorities have brought no killer or abductor to justice.

In part 1 of Dark Roads, seventeen-year-old Hailey McBride calls Cold Creek home. Her aunt and controlling police-officer step-uncle assume the responsibility of taking care of her after her father's death. Overwhelmed by grief and forbidden to work, socialize, or date, Hailey runs away, believing she can use the outdoor skills her father taught her to survive the harsh wilderness. She also hopes people will believe she was the killer’s latest victim so she can have a fresh start.

A year later, in part two, Beth Chevalier arrives in Cold Creek to attend the annual memorial service for the highway victims, who include her sister. Beth takes a waitressing job at the local diner, just as Amber did, desperate to understand what happened to her and why.

Author Chevy Stevens writes this creepy coming-of-age thriller with multiple perspectives and an atmospheric, suspenseful tone. It’s dark and unsettling. There are clever twists, but once again, the book has LGBT content and pokes fun at Christians. It was a good book, just not great. Others liked it better, so don’t let my review make your decision.

** Thanks to the publisher for a review copy of the book. The opinions are my own.

~Dark Roads ensnares you in an intense narrative set against the backdrop of British Columbia’s Cold Creek Highway, a treacherous route with a long history of being stalked by predators.

~The story intricately connects the lives of Hailey McBride, who disappears into the wild to flee a stifling domestic situation, and Beth Chevalier, who comes to Cold Creek in pursuit of the truth behind her sister’s death.

~Stevens masterfully builds suspense and crafts a chilling narrative that explores themes of loss, survival, and the quest for justice. The characters are deeply developed, each adding layers of complexity to the story as it unfolds. The setting itself becomes a character, with the desolate highway offering a backdrop that is both beautiful and menacing.

What an absolutely riveting read. I'm a big fan of Chevy Stevens and wish she got more attention from readers. This book deserves the attention!

I’m not sure how I feel about this one still. I liked it while I was reading it but I found it very forgettable. I did really like the characters and the story line.

This book was underwhelming for me. I tried to give this book a chance. I had a hard time connecting to the characters. I know this book will be enjoyed by other readers. I will not be sharing this review on my pages.

A brilliant thriller that builds each chapter as a layer in the story of women taken by a darkness that has infected the town and outlying mountains. As each disappears, it seems that no one will ever be held responsible. Chevy Stevens has built a darkness that cannot be pushed aside. Those that enter, never return. This story pulls you in and keeps you watching, looking for any clue to who is hunting the women and will they ever be stopped.

In this book, a lonely stretch of highway becomes a death trap for young girls until two teenagers affected by the tragedy are driven to find out what happened. This book was dark but a very satisfying read. Told by the two girls trying to figure out the truth, it shows how we never really know the truth behind other’s faces.

Chevy Stevens' Dark Roads takes readers on a chilling and suspenseful journey through the rugged wilderness of British Columbia, where the Cold Creek Highway serves as a haunting backdrop for a series of unexplained disappearances and unsolved crimes. With a focus on the intertwining lives of Hailey McBride and Beth Chevalier, the novel delves into the complexities of loss, survival, and the relentless pursuit of truth in the face of lurking danger and unanswered questions.

Stevens' skillful storytelling and atmospheric prose create a palpable sense of foreboding, immersing readers in the unforgiving terrain of Cold Creek and the palpable fear that permeates its isolated communities. Through the portrayal of Hailey and Beth's harrowing experiences, the novel offers a poignant exploration of resilience and the enduring power of determination in the face of overwhelming odds and relentless adversaries.

While Dark Roads successfully maintains a gripping pace and a suspenseful plot, a moderate deduction from a perfect rating is attributed to certain elements that could have been further developed to provide a more comprehensive exploration of the characters' emotional depth and the intricacies of their shared journey. Additionally, some aspects of the narrative could have been further streamlined to ensure a more seamless progression of key plot points and revelations.

In conclusion, Dark Roads stands as a gripping and atmospheric thriller that captivates readers with its evocative portrayal of loss, survival, and the pursuit of justice amidst the perilous backdrop of the Cold Creek Highway. Chevy Stevens' adept storytelling and the intricate weaving of interconnected narratives create a compelling reading experience that lingers long after the final page. With its blend of suspense and emotional resonance, Dark Roads serves as a testament to the author's ability to craft a chilling tale of perseverance and the enduring quest for truth in the face of darkness and danger.