Thank you to #MacMillanAudio and #Netgalley for this advance listener copy in exchange for my non biased review.

Spoiler Free Review:

Wow! I really liked this book! I'm going to be honest and say that the description of this book did not catch my interest. But from the first few minutes, I was hooked right in. In Dark Roads by Chevy Stevens, we are told the story of a serial killer through various viewpoints. One of the two main protagonists, Hailey, was an extremely likeable character from the beginning. Hailey discovers a secret in the beginning of the story and disappears. There is not much of the plot that I can reveal as it's good to go into this knowing as little about the story as possible. This is a well written mystery and while parts were predictable, I think they were written to be that way, leading up to the twist you don't see coming. All in all, a fantastic, very fast paced thriller. It kept me guessing until the end. A very solid 4.5 stars.

As for the narration, I was pleasantly surprised. Sometimes, female narrators don't do male voices well, but this one was well done. I'm glad I was able to get the audiobook version as an ALC.

This book grabbed me from the very beginning. Cold Creek is a small community along the highway in BC. The highway has a history of young women going missing that stretches back for years.
Hailey McBride is 17, recently orphaned and gone to live with her aunt and policeman husband. The husband, known as the Ice Man by the local youths, is a controlling bully. Stephens does a great job of getting the cloying nature of the Ice Man’s control exactly right. The book literally made my skin crawl in spots. Given what she’s dealing with, she runs away. Thankfully, her father trained her how to survive in the wilderness and she uses it to good effect.
The book shifts to Beth’s POV. Beth is the older sister of one of the murdered women and comes to investigate. She takes a job waitressing at the same diner as her sister. Her inquiries put her at risk, too.
Of course, my favorite character was Wolf. Although Johnny was pretty special, too. Everyone is well developed.
The book moved at a fast pace and kept me engaged throughout. I didn’t feel like there were any slow or draggy sections, as so often happens. It’s graphic and not for the faint of heart. Stevens threw enough twists in to keep me on my toes. I’m becoming a huge fan of Ms. Stevens as I’ve enjoyed everything of hers I’ve read.
This works so well as an audiobook. The narrators all did great jobs.
My thanks to netgalley and Macmillan Audio for an advance copy of this book.

This book was my first by Chevy Stevens, and it definitely won’t be my last! The story was complex, with intense action scenes. The only reason I didnt give it five stars was because I found it to be a little slow in between the action. I still highly recommend it!

Dark Roads by Chevy Stevens
Narrated by: Angela Dawe; Brittany Pressley; Isabella Star LaBlanc
Publication Date: August 3, 2021
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Thank you to @netgalley @macmillan.audio @stmartinspress for the ALC in return for my honest review.
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My thoughts…
This book was inspired by the true story of The Highway of Tears Murders. Overall, the audiobook was okay; sometimes an accent was inconsistent that I was distracted. Overall, the novel was okay. It felt stretched out and the characters weren’t as fully developed as I hoped. It did have some creepy vibes, but wasn’t the thriller that I was expecting, as it focused more on survival and a coming-of-age story. I did appreciate the ending.
If you enjoy psychological-crime thriller, you might enjoy this book.

I had never read a Chevy Stevens novel prior to Dark Roads, but when this book was announced I heard a lot of buzz about how excited people were for her latest. I’m definitely going to have to check out her backlog!

Dark Roads was so much more than a thriller. There’s a dirty cop using his position to control Hailey and other members of the town; racism, classism, homophobia, and the constant worry many women face of something happening to them while they travel alone.

Hailey was an amazing MC. I loved her resourcefulness, and really admired that she didn’t just leave her town behind and instead stuck around to make sure the highway killer was caught. I enjoyed Beth’s chapters as well, but Hailey was definitely my favorite character and I was always anxious for her and Wolf to show up again.

I loved Wolf, and got so anxious when he got hurt. A doggie sidekick can always make a story for me, and this clever mutt was no exception. He was the perfect companion for Hailey while she was alone in the mountains, and served to add another level of emotion to the book.

The writing style and the way this book was laid out were incredible. Hailey’s story was so suspenseful that I couldn’t stop listening. The audio copy was excellent. The narrator did a great job of conveying the emotion of such a heavy topic, and really brought the story to life.

3.5 stars
The story starts off strongly with a prologue about young indigenous girls who are missing and/or killed along Cold Creek Highway in British Columbia, and the murders that are rarely acknowledged or solved. The fictional story in Dark Roads is inspired by these events. I applaud the author for bringing awareness to this subject.

But then. No indigenous characters? Or if they were, they were so generic as to be unidentifiable as such. Perhaps the author was fearful of repercussions from the cancel culture since she herself is not indigenous. Whatever the reason, I felt the story would have been stronger if the main character had been indigenous.

Hailey, whose parents have died, is living in an untenable situation. I don’t want to give away too much about Hailey’s story line, but I found it compelling and interesting, even if drawn out a bit too long. I did enjoy the wilderness survival scenes, and those that involved her dog, Wolf (my favorite character!), but I was not convinced Hailey had the skills to pull off such an endeavor.

Then the story line changed to Beth, who arrives in town to attend a memorial for her sister Amber, Hailey’s best friend, who was thought to be the victim of the area’s serial killer. She stays and decides to find out exactly what happened to her sister and my interest flagged, but I was interested enough to continue reading to see how the stories intersected.

This is a character-driven mystery that had a bit of a YA flavor, perhaps because Hailey was a teenager. I listened to the audiobook and while the narrators were excellent, the story was either way too long, or it just felt that way. I wish the author had chosen to leave out the romantic relationships in the story, as I felt they detracted from the story.

Suspenseful, and creepy novel with a touch of outdoor nature added in., Good plot twists, storylines and characters. Ending was clear in that all situations were resolved and didn't leave the reader wondering about earlier happenings.

Good read. Not as suspenseful as some suspense and mystery novels, but still a good book. Mystery, murder, love, family, companionship.

Dark Roads is a thriller that takes place in British Columbia, narrated in two voices: Hailey and Beth. Hailey needs to get away from a mentally abusive uncle. When she disappears, everyone thinks she fell prey to the highway killer. A year later, Beth arrives in Cold Creek determined to solve the murder of her sister, Amber.

Chevy Stevens is masterful at revving up the anxiety level at just the right time and then bringing you back down.
Narrators were both enjoyable, though one does have some words she says differently (British playing at an American accent?) that pulled me out of the story now and then.

I was given an early listen in exchange for an honest review thanks to NetGalley

Trigger warning: sexual assault, violence, violence against women

This is the first book from this author that I’ve had the chance to read/listen to
Thoroughly enjoyed it
The characters were dynamic and had depth
You cannot help but fall in love with several of them (not Vaughn)
The story while fiction, takes a look at a realistic problem among Indigenous women in Canada (Highway of Tears) through a fictional town, Clear Creek
The author pulls you in from the very first seconds of the story and holds onto you through the epilogue
Highly recommend

What a crazy ride! This book was so well written and had me glued to it until I finished. I didn't want to put it down. I had my suspicions on what was happening but never saw that ending coming. All that aside, there is a true component to this story which the author touches on at the end. The statistics are staggering and this book has compelled me to look more into it.

The narration was well done, no issues.

Along the Coldcreek Highway in British Columbia, many women have gone missing over the past decades. Young women are repeatedly told not to travel alone and never to hitch hike. Yet they continue to put themselves in dangerous situations. This book is narrated by two very strong young women and keeps the reader on edge until the very last word.

Part One is told by Hailey, a young woman that just lost her dad in a tragic accident and now resides with her Aunt Lana and Uncle Vaughn. As Hailey learns some disturbing things about Vaughn, she decides she must disappear to save herself. Soon everyone thinks she’s a victim of the Highway Killer.

Part Two is voiced by Beth. After her sister Amber (Hailey’s love interest) is found dead, Beth comes to town for closure. Looking for clues and hoping to somehow find out what really happened to her sister, she instead finds the missing Hailey!

And finally in Part Three the two reluctantly pair up to hopefully find all the answers and to bring Amber’s killer to justice.

Well crafted with some great characters (my favorite being Wolf), this book was a compelling read about a dark and dreary Highway that holds way too many secrets!

While I like the audio voice of Hailey, the voice of Beth took a bit to get used to, but being engrossed in the story it didn’t take long!

I loved, loved it! Chevy Stevens set this book up so well, that I could not stop listening. My kids were being ignored so I could keep listening to this book LOL! The town, the characters, the twists and turns were all on point in my opinion. I would highly recommend this book to my Thriller loving friends.

First line of the book really grabs the reader: “No one ever wakes up thinking, I’m going to die on a dark road tonight, but that’s the point isn’t it?”
This book has a great story line but you need to stick with it. At times it can get lengthy and drawn out but stick with it. I promise you won’t be disappointed in the ending.

Cold Creek is a town where many girls go missing or killed. Hailey, who is 17, parents died and she is staying with her aunt and disgusting uncle who is a cop of Cold Creek. She discovers videos of naked girls from Cold Creek on her Uncles computer. He has his cameras everywhere. She decides she has no other choice but to run-away. She has help from a friend and began living in the woods for a year.

Soon after Hailey disappeared her friend Amber showed up dead off the Highway. Hailey knows her Uncle is the killer, but doesn’t know who to trust with this information.

Amber’s sister decides to visit and do her own investigation of her sister’s death and Hailey’s disappearance.

I loved this book, and I thought I had the ending figured out. But nope I was wrong. Filled with twists that kept me on my edge of my seat. Plus, apparently in Canada there is a Highway of Death, that many women go missing or murdered!

Well, I certainly found another author to keep on my radar! I really enjoyed this one. The pace is quick after things really get going and I enjoyed that the reader gets the story from multiple characters' voices. The narrators are also excellent and certainly add to the story. I've already placed another of Chevy's books on hold at my library.

Thank you to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for the ALC in exchange for my honest review.

Unpopular Opinion - I just could not love this book.

I felt for the characters but lacked a connection. The plot of a serial killer/rapist who primarily focused on First Nation young women was very compelling. Minorities clearly suffer from lack of attention, importance, etc. as well women. But I didn't feel this was the focus of the book.

Hailey's dad dies tragically in an accident - forcing her to move in with her aunt, her husband and young son. Vaughn is known in the community as The Ice Man - he becomes obsessed with Hailey; how she spends her time, her friends, etc. Sets a great, creepy vibe.
Hailey finds evidence of Vaughn victimizing not just her but also other young women in the community. She makes an anonymous call to another police officer and runs to hide in the woods.
A year later, Beth - one of the victim's of the serial killer/rapist, comes to town determined to solve her sister's murder. She becomes Vaughn's new obsession.

I appreciated the focus of young women who are often abused and victimized. But this book didn't hold my attention.
I actually listened to the audiobook which I felt kept me listening - great narrators.

really enjoyed listening to this book, it was super fast paced. The characters and their storylines kept me guessing right until the very end. Everything I predicted was so wrong so the ending was even more satisfying! However, this is an all too real storyline happening far too often in Canada today, and I believe this novel was inspired by B.C.’s Highway of Tears. I definitely recommend this if you love a good thriller.

The small town of Cold Creek is the setting for the new thriller from Chevy Stevens. The town is shrouded by rugged wilderness and a serial killer that preys on young girls. The story centers around 17 year old Hailey who has recently lost her father and is living with her aunt, and her family. Her uncle is a police officer that thrives on bullying, and using his power to instill fear into the residents of the town as well as Hailey. The freedom she had when living with her father is quickly taken away and she is forbidden to socialize or go anywhere without his permission. Hailey quickly develops a plan to run away with the help of her best friend. The highway killer is still looking for his next victim so when Hailey disappears everyone assumes that she met the killer and is lost forever. Shortly after Hailey's disappearance another victim of the highway killer is discovered.
The victim's sister Beth comes to town looking for answers. Eventually Beth uncovers the same secrets that put Hailey in the killer's crosshairs.

This story is full of dark discoveries and a heart stopping finale that will keep you engaged up until the explosive ending. The main characters are damaged but are also strong and resilient. This story brought forth so many emotions, foreboding, fear, anger and despair to name a few.

This book kept me on the edge of my seat! I really enjoyed this intense story that was very difficult to put down. I enjoyed the narrators and loved how there were multiple narrators that were easy to distinguish the perspectives of the characters. Chevy Stevens does not disappoint in creating realistic and likeable characters – both main and sub-characters and villains that you love to hate. The mystery kept me guessing until the end.