I LOOOVED THIS BOOK. AAAAHHH. God, where do I begin? First of all, I actually listened to the audiobook, and the narrator is *perfect*. The story itself pulled me in so many different directions and it was hard to predict where it would go, which I loved. At times, I would think X, but then it turns out to be something else. The pacing builds up from slow to lightning fast, and it kept me hooked from beginning to end. It's also really atmospheric, to the point where I could almost feel the cold, refreshing mountain air around me. Would definitely recommend this.

I love a good suspense novel and this one kept me guessing. Add in amazing characters and it's impossible not to get sucked in.

This is more of a slow burn, character driven story, which I loved. Stevens creates such a vivd atmosphere - you feel like you're in this rural part of British Columbia - and knowing that book is based on actual events makes it that much more chilling. I was uneasy the entire time I was reading and I mean that in the best way! Can't wait to read more from this author.

I've been a big Chevy Stevens fan since reading Still Missing a few years ago. This latest book definitely did not disappoint. Like all of her books, it's dark and twisty, entertaining and thought-provoking. At the heart of it are two young women who have a third in common. Hailey is a native of the Cold Creek area. Beth's sister, Amber, was one of many young women murdered in the area in recent years, all murders that have gone unsolved. Beth moves there to get a sense of the area and what may have happened to her sister there. Hailey is a teen who had befriended and admired Amber, and has struggled since the murder of Amber and the death of her beloved father. Through it all we aren't quite sure who the actual villain(s) may be, and the tension is well-drawn-out, as it as been with all her books. All in all, well done. As usual.
Thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for providing a copy for an unbiased review.

An interesting and often well written book, DARK ROADS is certainly a book to read if you need a compelling, interesting read for your spare time. However, I will admit that the book often dragged on and I sometimes found myself at a loss for what might pull me in and what might compel me to finish the book or move through the rest of the (slightly massive) novel that Stevens has written--rather well, but still lacking at times in different ways (story, complex narrative, intriguing mystery are all only sort of here) but still, it's a good book and a fun read.

This novel, based on a true story, put me outside my reading realm. I don't usually read these books, but this one drew me in because of the claim to be based on a true story. People doing the unthinkable, those who claim to be one thing and turn out to be another and stretching the limits of survival.

It took me a while to get into it and it was not a fast read for me, but I stuck with it and in the end, found that it had held me in it's web!! Sometimes it's well worth stepping outside your box and exploring the other world out there!!

For many years, women have disappeared along Cold Creek Highway. Occasionally a body is found, but most times there is no closure for the families of the missing. And what's even more disturbing is that no one has ever identified any of the perpetrators of these crimes.

Hailey, a lifelong resident of Cold Creek, is devastated by the loss of her father, who taught her everything she knows about respecting and surviving off the land. She is miserable when she is forced to move in with her aunt and her controlling husband, who just happens to be a sergeant with the local police. Hailey feels stifled by her new surroundings and is not allowed to spend time with her friends at her favorite places. Unable to deal with the strict rules and her new living situation, Hailey decides to run away and go off the grid. The residents of Cold Creek assume that Hailey is another victim of the killer who lurks along the highway, especially after Hailey's friend Amber is found murdered. Amber's sister, Beth, arrives in Cold Creek to try and solve her sister's murder, but her presence also may lead to the truth about Hailey. And Hailey is definitely not ready to be found.

First, I'm a huge fan of Chevy Stevens and will always read anything she writes. Second, I want a Wolf in my life!! OK, moving on.... Dark Roads is a suspenseful read with some twists I did not see coming. Just when I thought I had everything figured out, I found out that I was so wrong! I really enjoyed how this book was written and the point of views used. What made this thriller so scary is that it could definitely happen in real life (make sure to read Stevens' letter to the reader at the end). And I'm not going to lie, that epilogue made me a bit teary. If you're a fan of Stevens like I am, you won't be disappointed with Dark Roads!

Let's just get into the basics of the novel, a stretch of remote highway in Canada where women go missing by the dozens. The girl at the heart of this story has ties to those who have been abducted murdered and also has suspicions about who is behind it. It really did grab me by the synopsis and even more the first page but unfortunately as I continued the story became a bit stale for me and the characters were duller than I'd like.
Full review to come on YouTube.

This was your basic thriller/suspense novel. There were girls who were being murdered and suspicious adults. You could tell very early on who the bad guy was, although there was a slight twist that I didn't expect coming that was enjoyable.
The dog was an excellent character who I cared deeply for. I wish there were other characters that I cared as much for though.
Thank you Netgalley for the opportunity to read this ARC.

When it comes to instilling dread in her readers, Chevy Stevens is the queen of tension. Every word in Dark Roads comes with a fear factor, taking the reader along for a story that won’t soon be forgotten. The novel is based on the Highway of Tears in British Columbia, where more than eighty women and girls have disappeared, never to be found. In the book, it is called Cold Creek Highway. The story is narrated by Hailey, a seventeen-year-old whose parents are deceased, who has been taken in by the local cop and his wife and Beth, who moves to Cold Creek to search for her sister’s killer. The highway and the lives alongside it are the main subjects here. The characters, good ones and bad ones, are fascinating and multi-faceted. Not much else can be revealed and I highly recommend you read Dark Roads for yourself. A thriller written by Chevy Stevens is time well-spent. Thank you to St. Martin’s Press, NetGalley and the author for an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

For decades Cold Creek Highway in British Columbia has been the hunting ground for a killer, Women have gone missing or been found murdered on the long stretch of desolate highway and the killer has never been found. We meet a young woman named Hailey, who recently lost her father, her only living parent, in a car crash. She finds herself living with her cruel step-uncle Erick Vaughn who is also a cop, his wife Lana and their son Cash. Hailey and her father loved the wilderness and he taught her survival skills that she uses when she flees the town to hide in the hills to escape her uncle. The townspeople think the serial killer has taken Hailey and she thrives on her new found freedom. Hailey finds a stray dog she names Wolf who becomes her protector and companion, After a time, Hailey's friend Amber becomes one of the murdered women and her sister Beth comes to town to ask probing questions and looking for answers. She has difficulty coping with the loss of her sister, and self medicates with alcohol and prescription drugs that leave her vulnerable to bad cops and killers. The brutality of the violence in this story is swift and dark.
The story is mostly told through the viewpoints of Hailey and Beth, both of whom at times feel trapped and threatened in the town. There is an atmosphere of distrust and impending danger throughout the story and it makes for a very good thriller. Stevens makes you want to shout out to the young women to be more careful and more aware of their surroundings. Many creepy suspects in this tiny town to keep you guessing.
Thank you to NetGalley, the author and publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this ARC. Some elements of the book that I really liked, but it wasn't a perfect read for me. When I first read the description for this novel, I was intrigued. I always enjoy stories that happen in small, rural, and haunted towns, with strong female characters. However I found it to drag a lot and it fell so short of my expectations.

It had been awhile since I'd read Chevy Stevens, but had always totally enjoyed her books. This one wasn't her best, Characters and premise were good, but it was a slow read, just not enough suspense to keep you interested for long.

Things aren’t always the way they seem.

This story will get you riled up and aggravated but in the best way.

Dead girls on the highway, an overbearing uncle, an orphan, and a best friend - what do they all have in common?

Trying to piece this together will keep you reading long past bedtime. Don’t let the actions of these characters make you put this book down. Finish it, feel the accomplishment of figuring it out, and breathe a sigh of contentment because it’s wrapped up.

this is the definition of an action paced thriller! I couldn't put it odwn and stayed up late to finish it. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for keeping me up late!

I received a complimentary digital copy of this book from the publisher and NetGalley. This review is my voluntary and unbiased opinion.

This eerie story tells the sad story of how you never can tell who to trust. You take chances, trust people and possibly make a bad decision. Unfortunately, for some people this could be deadly. How well do we really know our neighbors and friends? It’s a scary thought to be in a position where you don’t feel like you can trust anyone.

Hailey McBride finds herself in such a desperate situation after her father dies. Her mother had died of cancer when she was 5 years old so she learned all her life lessons from her father. Little did she know that those lessons about survival would save her life. Hailey is left in the care of her Aunt Lana, her second husband Eric Vaughn, and her young cousin Cash. Vaughn is the police chief with an icy, mean reputation. All Hailey wants is to grieve and live her life like a regular teen. Vaughn is overbearing and borderline abusive with his intimidating stalking.

Hailey becomes freaked out when she discovers some shocking information which confirmed her fears about Vaughn. She sets out to find proof of his activities but ends up finding more trouble for herself. Her only friend Jonny Miller helps her as she plans to leave town to escape Vaughn’s control. She leaves behind Amber Chavelier, her new love interest, to protect her from Vaughn who will do anything to control Hailey. Her worst fears come true when she encounters the remains of a dead body off the side of the road and discovers it’s Amber. Hailey is devastated but watches as Vaughn is first to arrive at the scene and take pictures.

Later, Beth Chavelier moves to Cold Creek to understand what happened to her sister Amber. She ends up getting a job at the same diner where Amber had worked. Despite the warnings to be careful, Beth is careless and drinks and takes pills to cope with the pain. She doesn’t realize that being under the influence puts her in dangerous situations that end up being deadly.

This is a twisted convoluted story of how easy it can be to get wrapped up in a web you can’t get out of until it’s too late.

“ ‘You weren’t scared?’ ‘I guess I feel like the worst thing has already happened to me.’ ”

For decades, young women trevling the Cold Creek Highway in British Columbia have been abducted. Gone without a trace. Hailey McBride, a teenaged orphan, is finding it impossible to stay in Cold Creek after the death of her father. Her uncle is a crooked cop and has it in for her and her best friend, and she just can’t see a way out. Can she save herself and bring her Aunt’s husband down all on her own?

“You can’t let evil win.”

I had no idea that this story is loosely based on the highway of tears in northern British Columbia, an actual highway where women have been murdered or gone missing since the 1970’s. Indigenous women have a disproportionately higher rate of homicide and violence against them in Canada, and I applaud the author for doing her part, albeit in a fictional story, to bring awareness to this injustice. I loved touting for Hailey as she tried to do the right thing in this crazy town.

Thank you to Netgalley, St. Martin’s Press, and the author for the ARC and ALC in exchange for an honest review.

Dark Roads by Chevy Stevens is a thriller about a mysterious road where women disappear-- never to be found again. A young girl, Hailey, vanishes without a trace. One year later, Beth, moves home to try to figure out what happened to her sister who was murdered years ago. In the search for answers about her sister’s death, Beth also discovers secrets about Hailey’s disappearance. Will Beth regret coming home and revealing secrets hidden?

I really enjoyed this book. There were several twists and turns throughout the story that keep you on your toes. I also loved how this story contained two different mysteries that cross paths throughout the story. I was not sure how this book was going to end or where it was going to go-- for me that's what makes it a good thriller. It also had me hooked up until the very end.

This is actually the first book that I have read by Chevy Stevens, and it will not be the last. I am looking forward to reading more of Steven’s work.

My Review Of
DARK ROADS
By Chevy Stevens
Gifted & Published by {Partner}@StMartinsPress
On Sale: 8/3/21 - Purchase Link in my Bio
*****
This was a rousing & eerie read that went rather slower than I liked. So much of the story is drawn out into things I feel I didn’t really want to know & believe shouldn’t have been included in the telling. The concept was gripping & stirred the pot for me to keep me reading & hanging on. Even thinking of girls being assaulted, either physically or through pornographic photographs made me physically ill. Yet it drew me to want to see where the story would go; in hopes there would be redemption for the victims that were killed or assaulted. It went from there to a story that changed topic and placed more emphasis on a much less interesting topic that transpired over too long of a period of time. I believe it would have been so much better if it kept to the original plot, was faster paced and if the ending was less predictable.

The beginning of this book took me by storm and I was so excited to go on this mysterious thriller ride. But somewhere in between I got lost with all the different personalities. The end of the book did not keep up the same pace and it kind of fell flat for me at the end. I will read more by Chevy Stevens. I just think this one missed the mark for me.

Dark Roads is a well-written, fast paced thriller, with great, believable characters. From the protagonist to her dog, I was completely invested in everyone. Dark Roads hooked me from the first chapter, and I couldn’t put it down. If I had to pick a fault, I think I would have liked a bit more detail given to the villain -- motivations, justifications, just a little something more. But still, if you love a good thriller, don’t miss this one.

I’m so grateful to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the opportunity to read and review Dark Roads.