I received an ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Unfortunately, this was a DNF for me. I’m going to have to try again another time. The intro hooked me right away, and I was ready for a great story.
I lost my interest with Hailey and Vaughn’s intro. Do relationships like theirs exist? Without a doubt. But I felt their interactions were exaggerated; Vaughn’s character as a dedicated cop was written to a point of being unbelievable. Do cops like that exist? Without a doubt.
I stopped right after Hailey met a love interest... I enjoyed the fact that Hailey was interested in a girl, but it felt a little forced.
Like I said, I’ll pick it up again in the future and give it another shot.

I have just finished reading Dark Roads by Author Chevy Stevens.

Dark Roads is a Crime Thriller taking place on Vancouver Island. Cold Creek Highway is a stretch of road where many women have gone missing over the decades.

This is a small-town logging highway where truck drivers travel.

It was an enjoyable read for me, and is loosely written involving real life occurrences.

Many women have never been accounted for, and so many families have never found out where their loved ones have gone.

The book has a good flow to it, and the characters felt very real.

I have not read anything by Chevy Stevens before, but will look for more of her books to read in the future.


Thank You to NetGalley, Author Chevy Stevens, and St. Martin's Press for my advanced copy to read, and review.

#NetGalley

I am new to writing reviews so please bear with me. I was gifted this ARC via NetGalley, with the promise of sharing my honest opinions.

I am an avid reader of Chevy Stevens. I have enjoyed her previous work. However, she knocked it out of the park with Dark Roads.

From the first chapter, this book take a grip on you and makes you consistently wonder what happens next, who is responsible, who is good and who is bad. There's many twists and turns and a fair level of suspense throughout the entire book.

I finished this book in one setting because it was too good to stop, I HAD to know what was going to happen. The ending wrapped up the story completely and did not feel rushed.

I was very pleased with this book and would give it a solid 5 stars.

Dark Roads is different from the author's previous novels in that it has a very dark and disturbing plot and theme which might be upsetting to readers who are sensitive to violence against women. In the Author's Note at the end, Chevy Stevens relates that she was inspired by the actual missing and murdered indigenous young women and girls along the highway in British Columbia over several decades.
The title of this psychological suspense thriller is both literal and symbolic. The roads leading away from the small town of Cold Creek to the nearby highway is indeed dark and unlit. The uninhabitable woods surrounding Cold Creek are also dark and dangerous. But the title also refers to the dark recesses of the minds and motives of some of the main characters.
I was drawn in from the very first page of the Prologue, which sets the scene and theme and is poignantly narrated in the voice of one of the victims of a serial killer who preys on young women, some of whom are indigenous, in the area of Cold Creek Highway.
The plot-driven story is told through the viewpoints of 17-year old Hailey, who is living with her Aunt Lara and Uncle Vaughn after the untimely death of her father in a car accident. Vaughn is on the police force and has a few dark secrets of his own. He's the character I found most untrustworthy, despicable, evil and controlling. Hailey is convinced that he is the serial killer plaguing the town. But she needs proof. Although young, Hailey is incredibly mature in many ways, having learned survival skills from her beloved father. Her resilience and bravery enable her to live in the woods for an extended period of time. The other interwoven viewpoint is that of 21-year old Beth who has moved to Cold Creek, determined to get acquainted with the residents in order to find out what has happened to her younger sister Amber who went missing a year ago. Tension is ratcheted relentlessly in the many pulse-pounding chase scenes, especially in the beautiful but also dangerous wilderness, which make this story a page-turner.
While predictable in some areas, the unexpected twist for me was in the last pages where loose ends are satisfactorily tied up. The descriptive beatings, brutal murders, and other gritty details, while quite gruesome, are counterbalanced by the one character who is sure to win over your heart. And that is Wolf, the stray dog that Hailey befriends and becomes her loyal and protective companion.
Many thanks to NetGalley for a digital ARC of Dark Roads.

Someone has been killing young women in Cold Creek for a while. Don’t go on the Cold Creek highway alone... Hailey feels that she must run away and live in the woods in Cold Creek after finding living with her aunt and uncle unbearable. She hopes to be believed a victim of that same killer.
Beth returns to Cold Creek a year after the death of her sister to attend a memorial for the victims of the killer. Her life is falling apart and she hopes to find answers and closure. It seems she may find more than she bargained for.
This is the first book that I’ve read by Chevy Stevens, and I really enjoyed it! While the character develop like have been a bit better it didn’t throw me off the book. The plot development and place were great and I was really invested in the story. I will certainly read more from this author!

When Hailey's father dies, she goes to live with her aunt and uncle. Her uncle, who is a cop in town, is overbearing and downright creepy. The only bright spot in her life is meeting and beginning to fall for Amber, but her uncle quickly turns that sour as well. Her only option is to run away, into the woods that border the highway where girls go missing, and try to live off the land, using what her father taught her, until she can figure out a way out of her situation. While she's out foraging one day, she finds the body of Amber. All signs point to the serial killer who has been terrorizing Cold Creek for years. In an effort to find answers and closure, Amber's sister, Beth, moves into town. When she starts asking questions, she quickly realizes that finding answers may cost her her life.

I've been a fan of Chevy Stevens since Still Missing, which I read when it was first released. Years later, I still find myself thinking about that story line. Flash forward to this book, and, after reading the author's note, I can see myself thinking about this book, too, for different reasons. I love books that can help shed light on true topics, and that's what Stevens does with this book. That being said, there was a lot going on in this one. I didn't see how it would all come together from the synopsis, but it does, so that was satisfying. Stevens has a knack for creating characters that you will either love or hate. There were times I found myself so annoyed with Hailey. Times I wanted to shake Beth (drinking and pills - ugh). And times that I wanted to hug them just the same. Oh and Wolf. You put a dog in there & you've got me, hook, line, and sinker! Overall, this was a quick thriller where I was able to put together some parts. Still worth the read, especially for the author's note. Glad Chevy is back. ♥️

I have been a fan of Chevy Stevens since Still Missing was released. This book did not disappoint. I thought the start was predictable and fully expected to know the ending by the second chapter. The story took turns that I did not expect and kept me engaged until the end.

If I could give this book more than five stars I would! This book had everything I love about thrillers -great characters and lots of suspense! This book surprised me how much I absolutely loved it! I love when a book flips between a couple characters it keeps you captivated! I started this book on a Friday finished Sunday so needless to say I got nothing done all weekend but it was so worth it. Highly recommend to anyone who wants to read a quick suspenseful book!!

I have loved Chevy Stevens books in the past but this was a "do not finish" for me . I read about 67% on my kindle and had to put it down. The story started out fairly strong but once the sister came into the picture it just sort of fell apart for me. I kept getting Hailey and Amber confused. This was not a good book in my opinion.

No one writes dark and real characters better than Chevy Stevens. Her absence was a void in this genre snd she had done better with her comeback than I thought.

Compulsively readable

For decades, people have been warned about the Cold Creek Highway. Hitchhikers have vanished along it over the years, and women have been known to have their cars break down... and never be seen again. When Hailey McBride decides to run away from an unbearable living situation, she thinks that her outdoor skills will help her disappear into the Cold Creek wilderness, and she counts on people thinking that she was the victim of the killer.

One year later, Beth Chevalier arrives in Cold Creek to attend a memorial for the victims of the highway, but it might as well be one week for the amount of pain that Beth is still dealing with after her sister, Amber, was murdered the previous summer. Beth has quit university, is lying to her parents, and popping pills like Tic Tacs. Maybe this will finally bring her peace.

When she gets a job at a local diner where Amber once worked, she connects with people who knew her sister. Beth wants to find who killed her sister and put her own life back together, but as she gets closer to the truth, she learns that there is more than one person lying in Cold Creek.

This was the first book I have ever read by this author. I am so glad that I read it. The writing was fantastic. I was sucked right in from the very beginning of the story. The characters were very relatable. Descriptions were amazing. A truly great read. I’m heading over to Amazon right now to find more from this author. Loved it!

Don’t be on Cold Creek Highway alone, many girls have vanished from this road without a trace for years!
Hailey is convinced her uncle has something to do with these disappearances, but when she opens his computer, she gets more than she expected!
A dark highway, teenagers, missing girls and more in this book that you can’t turn the pages fast enough.
My first book by this author and definitely not my last!

Dark Roads

What could have been better?
I felt like the story lacked character development, especially with the two main characters Hailey and Beth. I struggled to feel like I knew either characters well by the end of the book, and the lack of development made it hard to feel connected to them or any other character (except for the dog Wolf, he was great), they all felt a little one dimensional. The story also fell flat during some sections in the middle as it strayed to create a romance element between characters. I also felt like it lacked a sense of mystery when it came to the antagonist and plot, which is what I really look for in a thriller.

What I liked?
Overall, the story is written well. The descriptions immersed me in the setting and I could clearly see the connections between characters. Going on, I felt like the beginning really drew me in with the action. I think from the prologue, I was pulled in, and found the story to be fast paced with a lot of suspense, action, and a strong end.

If you liked No Exit, I feel like some of the suspenseful elements were really similar so I would give it a try!

Dark Roads is exactly what the title denotes, and I loved it! What a wonderful, suspenseful, and compelling page turner this was, and one I could not put down. Chevy Stevens’ incredible writing will immerse you into the narrative as if you were right there observing the characters’ journey unfold.
The story unfolds in a small town, Cold Creek where for many years, women have been found murdered along the highway and the cases remain unsolved. Hailey has been orphaned and lives with her aunt and husband who is one of the town’s law enforcers. She finds living with her aunt and uncle unbearable and when her close friend Amber disappears, she runs away and makes her home in the wilderness alone. Hailey wants the town to believe she has become the killer’s latest victim, and the ruse works. Beth, Amber’s distraught sister arrives in Cold Creek to find out what happened to her. Hailey and Beth’s quest are intertwined as they are trying to uncover the killer, the lies and deceit. You will be on the edge of your seat until the shocking truth comes out.
This thriller stuck with me long after I read the last page and will not be easily forgotten. I will be reading more novels by Chevy Stevens. Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for this ARC.

Whew. WHAT A BOOK!

I spent the past day devouring this book and I'm still loving everything about it. If you are looking for a book to sweep you up and be impossible to put down, this one is for you.

A small town in Canada has a highway with a dark history. Hailey and Beth are the main storytellers and you'll see how this city's mysteries affect both women in different ways.

There's twists, turns and everything you think you've figured out may not be how you think it is.

SO SO SO good.

Also, there is the Good Boy in the form of the lovely dog Wolf and I want more stories just about Wolf, thank you.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an eARC copy of this novel in exchange for my honest review.

KEYWORDS: Thriller, missing women, small town, cautionary tales, multiple perspectives (2)



SYNOPSIS: Highway of Tears in Northern British Columbia inspired the author to write Dark Roads. It follows a small town (Cold Creek) and the disappearance/murders that happen along the Cold Creek highway. Many women are cautioned not to be on the highway alone or at night. Hailey suspects Vaughn (her aunt’s husband) is having an affair and tries to get to the bottom of it. Instead she ends up stumbling upon something much more sinister.



CHARACTERS:

Hailey – Main Character

Jonny – Hailey’s best friend

Lana – Hailey’s Aunt

Cash – Lana’s son

Vaughn – Lana’s Husband / Police Officer

Mason – Owner of Mason’s Diner

Amber – Waitress at Mason’s Diner

Beth – Amber’s sister



REVIEW: This was a great thriller and my first time picking up a novel by Chevy Stephens. This book didn’t disappoint and kept me on my toes for sure. Some of the scenes were straight up creepy and made me a little uneasy while reading. I flew through Part One because it had me on the edge of my seat following Hailey’s POV. Part Two starts out a little slower but then it picks up again and I couldn’t put it down until I finished LOL. I highly recommend reading it with the lights on and not while camping (unless you want the full creepy experience). I really enjoyed this thriller novel and hope to check out more by Chevy Stevens.



Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and Netgalley for the opportunity to read the advanced readers copy of Dark Roads!

Wow, just, wow. Riveting, un-putdownable book! Chevy Stevens never fails to amaze. I loved the characters, mostly. Loved that the story did not go the way I saw it going.

Thanks to netgalley and the author for the ARC.

Wow, this thriller was so well written that I literally couldn't keep reading - it was far too realistic and unsettling for me. I nearly had an anxiety attack when I got to the section about the creepy uncle filming the niece with hidden cameras. Geeze. That's kind of abuse is very hard for young girls to fight, much less get anyone else to believe. Sorry Mr. Stevens but I couldn't keep reading - I was too creeped out.

3.5\5 As a Canadian who grew up in a rural area, the setting of this story spoke to me. The landscapes, the small-town people, the characters... these points all aligned with my hometown and other towns I have visited throughout my life in Alberta and British Columbia. When I began reading this, I was pretty sure it was about The Highway Of Tears, a stretch of highway in Canada that is known for women disappearing and being murdered from, especially First Nations women and Two Spirit people, who are murdered at a horrifying ten times higher rate. It is heart-breaking, infuriating, and often times still overlooked. Many people don’t know about this. I liked that the author wrote a blurb at the end of the book to include websites and links to find more information on this topic as it is very important to be aware of what is happening in our country to First Nations peoples. I encourage you to research MMIW if you haven’t yet. In this story, the author changed the Highway of Tears to a fiction highway, Cold Creek Highway, and to a fictional town and with fictional people.

I enjoyed this story for the unpredictable ending, but also for the characters. I liked Hailey, I liked Beth, I liked Jonny. All of the main characters had a tenacity about them, and a willpower to move forward despite their circumstances. I did find them all frustrating at different times, mostly Hailey and Beth. I found Hailey living in the woods alone for a year unbelievable as she was so young, but due to the remote area, what do I know, this might be possible. The story moves pretty fast, and I liked how the bonds between them all grew, although Jonny was definitely the most steady character. The people we aren’t supposed to like are written in a way you can’t do anything but dislike them. Vaughn was so creepy, and his overbearing narcissism shone through clearly. He was a great villain and I felt true anger as I read from Hailey’s perspective especially. There are many moments of tension that I found written well throughout.

While I enjoyed the characters and in general the writing, I found the plot lost some of the tension I enjoyed at the beginning towards the end. The conclusion was a bit anti-climactic for me, but I’m glad certain characters received justice, although in some aspects it doesn’t feel enough. Due to the topic and setting I wish there had been more First Nations characters or discussion within the story on MMIW like in the very beginning of the book. All in all this was a fun book to read, easy to sit down with in one sitting, and I’d definitely read more from this author. Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC.

I love Chevey Stevens and this latest book by her was everything I wanted it to be. Cold Creek Highway has been well known for decades. There have been countless warnings: Don’t hitchhike, don’t drive on the highway at night, and do your absolute best to avoid it altogether. Why? Because hitchhikers have disappeared and cars have broken down, and there are many women whose dead bodies were found near the highway...or never found at all.

Hailey McBride is well aware of the dangers of Cold Creek Highway, having been a resident of Cold Creek for all of her life. After her father dies, she ends up in a dreadful living situation. One thing leads to another, and she feels that her only way out is to disappear and use her outdoor skills to survive. She doesn’t predict that the town will think she is a victim of the serial killer hunting the highway. She also doesn’t predict the dangers she will land in.

Beth Chevalier visits Cold Creek to attend the annual memorial for the highway victims. She has a personal investment, as her sister was murdered a year ago. With her mind held captive with grief, she stays in town and gets to know the citizens, hoping to find out who killed her sister. Through the dark roads of the highway and the woods, she soon finds that nothing is as it seems, and not everybody should be trusted at first glance.

I have to say that this book didn’t go in the direction I thought it would. I was expecting a scary story with lots of creepy moments involving a serial killer. My brief disappointment didn’t last for long. Although not scary in the literal sense, this is a fast-paced, action-packed thriller that rarely gave me time to relax and breathe. It’s almost a survivalist story where tons of woodsy, outdoor elements come into play with the characters. It’s certainly never boring.