A very good psychological thriller with a surprise ending. Many women have gone missing along a country highway Amber who has left her parents home moves to a small town near the highway and obtained a job at a truck stop on the highway. Amber starts up a relationship with Hailey, but soon Amber goes missing. Hailey’s father has recently died and she has been forced to live with her aunt and husband, Vaughn, who she does not like. Hailey is suspects Vaughn is up to no good and sneaks into his office. She finds pictures on his computer that make her think he is the killer. Hailey decides to run away and with the help of Jonny, her lifelong friend, escapes to the woods. Beth, Amber’s sister, moves to the town to find answers to her sister’s death. She ends up working at the same restaurant that her sister worked at. Hailey tells Jonny about her suspicions and they both try to find evidence against him. The author believably links Beth to Jonny, and eventually to Hailey. There is suspense throughout the novel with you anxious to read the next chapter. The author has both Hailey and Beth narrating different chapters. The only thing I found confusing was that the author didn’t separate different timeframes by putting in a divider ( a couple of spaces) with in the chapter. That’s why I’m giving it a 4.5 rather than a 5 stars. The characters are well developed and interesting. Overall it was a very good suspenseful story.

The description of this book had me immediately hooked, and the first chapter felt so promising. However, by the time I was about 20% in, I was getting restless. I'd expected a thriller and there was no real mystery so far, other than acknowledging the serial killer(s), but even that came off underwhelming. The story felt more YA and kind of meandered without really leading anywhere.

I always enjoy Chevy Stevens thrillers, and her new Dark Roads is good! It is a fiction book, but it was inspired by the Highway of Tears where women have gone missing or murdered for decades-a fact I did not know, and it saddens me. I appreciate Stevens writing a little about it on the back of the book to make me aware. The initial main character, Hailey, is likeable...however I really did have a hard time with belief of how she was living in the middle of the book, but then again, just because I am a wimp doesn’t mean she is a wimp. Hailey is strong, physically and emotionally. Well done!

I was given an ARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest opinion.

Where do I even begin with this book? I’ve been a fan of Chevy Stevens from the very beginning. The depth in her characters never ceases to amaze me, and I am continually amazed by the twists she puts into her thrillers. I was thrilled to receive this ARC from NetGalley, but after reading the first chapter I knew that I was in for more than I had even hope for with this one! The creep factor was definitely raised in this one, and yet it was all very believable. Always know where you are heading, and always be prepared... these are just the tip of the iceberg. Bravo for this epic read, and then there’s Wolf. Wolf is what we all need in life.

Thank you Netgalley and St. Martin's press for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this novel, Dark Roads by Chevy Stevens.

This book sucked me in from the prologue and held me tight until long after I finished reading the Epilogue.

I became deeply invested in Hailey and her dog, Wolf as the story progresses. Beth, the secondary main character, did not appear until halfway through the book but I soon became deeply invested in her as well.

This book has everything you need to be creeped out: a mysterious highway where women are taken, some of their bodies are found later, others are never found; a creepy police officer and the deep, spooky woods.

This book will keep you reading until long past when you should have gone to bed since you will want to find out what happens.

This is only my second book by Chevy Stevens but i will definitely be going back to read her other books..

A strong outing for an increasingly good writer, this newest from Chevy Stevens is atmospheric, its densely forested northern Canada landscape acutely observed, particularly by one of its narrators, a young woman who survives four wilderness seasons of near isolation while hiding from whoever's been killing girls like her along Coal Creek Parkway for many years It could be someone she knows, like her aunt's creepy husband, a cop who takes way too much interest in her friends and activities Or it could be a stranger . The only one she trusts besides Jonny, her best friend and the only person who knows she's still alive, is Amber, who stirs her romantic feelings. But then Amber is murdered, too and it's beginning to look like Hailey is already living on borrowed time . A nicely paced and plotted story, with engaging characters and a satisfying conclusion

I am a Chevy Stevens fan and I was looking forward to this one.

Cold Creek Highway seems to be some kind of a Bermuda Triangle where people just constantly disappear (or have been found murdered). Hailey thought it would be an excellent place to “disappear” from a bad living situation. She could not have predicted what would happen next!

Beth is visiting Cold Creek to attend a memorial for the highway murders because her sister was murdered there one year prior. She finds out that secrets are being kept about the highway and the residents can’t be trusted.

I do enjoy thrillers and I did like this book. Although it was not my favorite Chevy Stevens book, it was still a good book.

Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for my ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I read my first Chevy Stevens book about three years ago and ended up reading the rest of them within a short amount of time. I was super excited to see that she had a new book coming out this year and it did not disappoint!
I started this book in the afternoon and ended up staying up until 2 a.m. to finish it. This story was gritty, atmospheric, and suspenseful. The setting being primarily woods, back roads, and trails made it perfectly creepy. The twist wasn’t shocking, but rather I read it with a bad feeling in the pit of my stomach because I saw it coming and didn’t want to believe it. In my opinion, that can be just as good as a big shock when it’s done the right way, and it definitely was. The ending was great and tied everything up just right.

Hello, Chevy Stevens! It's been awhile since this author had a new release and it did not disappoint! Stevens' signature fast-paced, twisty narrative provides the reader with a wild, entagled mystery. Thoroughly enjoyed this one and look forward to her next one!

I received an advanced reader's copy in exchange for an honest review

Not my favorite from this author- definitely not her best. Hope the next one is up to snuff

This was a quick “slow” read. I finished in two days, but it didn’t really capture my interest,

I think I expected too much out of this one. I thought I’d be reading a thriller—a twisty mystery about a serial killer and a girl on the run.

But the pacing was too slow and there was nothing particularly spooky about this book. The first half is a meandering run of Hailey going into survivalist mode that read more YA than anything approaching women’s fiction. And the heavy handed evil cop was a little too much. The same goes when we switch to Beth’s POV. There’s too much day to day activity that doesn’t help add to the plot.

I did appreciate the author’s message to commemorate the victims of a very real crime and bring attention to the plight facing First Nations women, but other than that, this fell a little flat for me.

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for making this available for review.

Oh my!! What a book. I just knew I had it all figured out, but boy was I wrong. I absolutely love books that take that unimaginable twist.
This is the first book I’ve read from this author, but I will be checking into some more.

Dark Roads was one of the best books I’ve read this year. The topic will keep you simultaneously scared and mesmerized. I couldn’t stop reading to eat, sleep or work. I just finished it and my first thought was “oh darn, it’s over. What now? I chastised myself for reading it so quickly. I hardly ever come across a novel I enjoy this much. You won’t be sorry you started this read and I can promise you the ending is both shocking and tantalizing.

Thank you for allowing me to read an advance copy. You certainly brightened up a dreary pandemic day for me.

I have heard many good things about Chevy Stevens' writing skills but I've never read one of her books. Dark Roads is the first one I've read and I was so drawn to it. This story grabs you from the start and you can't stop till you've finished it. Great characters and amazing story what more could you ask for, I can't wait to get a hold of another book by her.

Review originally published on https://www.mysteryandsuspense.com/ on 12/3/20.

Review also posted at: https://bonkersforthebooks.wordpress.com

Over the past year or so, I’ve wondered at random times, “What is Chevy Stevens up to, and when will she release a new book?” As a fan, you can imagine my delight when I saw that DARK ROADS was announced as her upcoming novel...and the result of her work is compelling.

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.

On top of that, there are 2.5 moments (from what I gathered) that are meant to surprise. I guessed 1.5 of them beforehand, but ALL of them are executed flawlessly. It’s also very atmospheric. I had no problem picturing everything in my mind, and I think that’s one of an author’s greatest attributes. It’s so hard to do it well, but Chevy Stevens succeeds.

All in all, while the story detours from truly frightening, it makes a right turn in the woods and captivates with intensity and intrigue. Oh, and there’s a canine costar to boot...who may very well be my favorite character.

The author’s note is also worth a read, as she was inspired by the Highway of Tears, a real situation with murdered or missing women in Northern British Columbia.

3.5 stars.

Sincere thank you to St. Martin’s Press for providing me an ARC. All opinions are my own.