Chevy Stevens is one of my favorite authors, and this story did not disappoint. Not only was the narration perfect for this book, the story was incredible. Well done!

This was a great book! I was hooked from the prologue and the farther I read, the harder it was to put it down. I like how the book it’s split into 3 parts and how the prologue and epilogue come together. I have to admit, I didn’t know how was narrating the prologue until the epilogue…Make sure to read the author’s note at the end. Overall, I truly enjoyed this book and see myself recommending to my friends.

The narrators did a great job!

Thanks NetGalley, Chevy Stevens, and MacMilan Audio for this ARC!

Today, I have an audiobook recommendation for the mystery and thriller fans. Canadian author, Chevy Stevens is back again with another chilling novel called Dark Roads. I’ve only read one other book by the author, and was extremely impressed by her writing. I even got my dad hooked on her books, and I’m pretty sure he’s already read a good handful of them. Dark Roads is a slow burning mystery that revolves around The Cold Creek Highway, and the numerous women who’ve gone missing in the area for decades. Sadly, no justice has ever been served for these women, and the abductor is still out there stalking his next victim. I was on edge the entire time, and bit my nails to the quick! I had a few predictions about the outcome, but was SO completely wrong, and totally blindsided by the turn of events. My eyes widened, and my jaw dropped as I listened to things unfold. The majority of the novel is set in the rugged wilderness, and even at a campground! This is honestly one of my very favorite settings. I love the outdoorsy feel, the creepiness, and spooky vibes! Stevens excelled at describing the dark and haunting scenes that took place. I do want to point out that there a few scenes of graphic violence against women that some may find disturbing. My stomach got a little queasy, that’s for sure. Please take the time to read the author’s note at the end of the novel. Stevens explains her reasons for writing this story, and how she was inspired by real crimes that occurred on the Highway of Tears in Northern British Columbia. The note was extremely eye-opening, and really put things into perspective. Dark Roads releases on August 3rd, so be sure to grab a copy next month. 4/5 suspenseful stars for this upcoming release!

Dark Roads by Chevy Stevens
Narrated by Angela Dawe; Brittany Pressley; Isabella Star LaBlanc

For decades, women have gone missing from or have been found murdered along the fictional Cold Creek Highway, in British Columbia. Five hundred desolate miles of highway where women hitchhikers and drivers with broken down vehicles have been preyed upon and the killer or killers never found. The story begins as we get to experience the brutal death of one of the victims, just another anonymous battered soul to roam the scene of unspeakable violence.

We then meet seventeen year old Hailey, having recently lost her only living parent and now living with her aunt and her despicable, cruel, cop step-uncle, Vaugh. Everyone is scared of Vaugh, as he throws his weight around town and Vaugh has his sights set on Hailey, never letting her have a moment to herself, actively doing his best to instill fear in her that there is nothing she can do or say that he won't know. Hailey longs for the past days with her father, who taught her to love the wilderness and all the survival skills she would ever need, as they had enjoyed time in the wilderness surrounding their town.

Vaugh hates Hailey's longtime friendship with Johnny, her best friend, and her newfound friendship with Amber, a waitress at the local diner. When Hailey finds evidence that Vaugh could be behind a lot of the bad that has gone on in the area, she fears for her life and flees to the hills. Townsfolk think that the serial killer has gotten Hailey although she had just wanted people to think she had run away. But maybe it's better this way, because Hailey thrives on her freedom, with a stray dog she names Wolf, a dog who adopted her and is her savior in so many ways.

A year after Hailey disappears, during which time Amber has been murdered in the manner of so many other young women, Amber's sister, Beth, comes to town, filled with a grief so overpowering that she's dropped out of college and lost her internship. Beth plants herself in the midst of danger, calling attention to herself as the sister of Amber and as someone who is going to ask questions and dig into secrets. It doesn't help that Beth gets through her days and nights by medicating herself with alcohol and prescription meds. There is little to protect her from bad cops and murderous predators.

This story, seen mostly from the perspective of Hailey and Beth, got under my skin. The sense of danger and that one wrong move could mean either one of them could be squashed by either the public monster, Vaugh, or the unknown killer, with one misstep, is constant. When violence does happen, more than once, it's shown in all it's horrible, painful, brutality. There are people who seem to care, such as Johnny, but can he and others be trusted? It's as if there is a huge black cloud over the area and it's got the law behind it, with nowhere to go to find an escape from the evil and death that is coming.

I wanted so much to be able to help Hailey and Beth but had to watch from the sidelines as darkness marched closer and closer. The bright spot in all of this is the dog Wolf, ever faithful, so very smart, the best friend a human could ever want. I'm so thankful to the author for taking care of Wolf and not allowing him to just be a plot device to move the story further along.

The narration of this story was excellent. The voices of the young women fit the story so well and conveyed all the emotions of what was happening in the lives of these women.

Thank you to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for this ARC.

It’s so great when I read a novel and IT SURPRISES ME IN A GOOD WAY!!! I have never read a book by Chevy Stevens before and had no idea what I was in for.

After the mysterious prologue, the novel starts with introducing us to the characters in the novel.

Hailey, who had been living with her dad in Cold Creek, is traumatized. Her dad died in a car accident and she is living with her aunt Lana, her young cousin and brother-in-law Sgt. Vaughn.

Hailey doesn’t like Vaughn, he is a police officer who comes off more as a bully. He is constantly checking on Hailey and telling her to stay off of the Cold Creek Highway. He stands too close to her and makes her feel vulnerable.

There are billboards with photos of all of the young women who have gone missing and notices warning young women not to hitchhike or travel the highway alone. The Cold Creek Highway is a long stretch, 500 miles long, through the thick wilderness of British Columbia.

Amber is a young woman working at a local restaurant, it’s owned by Mason. It’s pretty much the only restaurant in this small town. Amber and Hailey become quite close. When Amber disappears it’s the last straw for Hailey and she decides she has to get out of her aunt’s house! SHE HAS TO BECOME INVISIBLE!

The plot started out a bit slowly for me but quickly picked up pace nearing the halfway point.

One year later, a memorial is being held for all of the missing girls and Beth, Amber’s sister, has come to town.

Beth decides to stay, gets a job in the same restaurant where her sister worked and is trying to figure out who was responsible for what happened to her Amber. This part of the plot felt a bit weak, it was hard to believe that she would want to REPEAT her sister’s last weeks.

There are quite a few memorable characters, most notably Jonny, a young, good looking guy who works with his dad repairing dirt bikes. Vaughn seems to have a vendetta against Jonny.

There are some exciting action scenes in the second half which had me holding my breath, hoping for a good outcome. Lots of scenes in the beautiful outdoors, hiking, swimming, etc. The area was well described and I felt immersed in the story.

I couldn’t possibly write a review for this novel without mentioning Wolf, the dog befriended by Hailey who is her best friend and her protector!! They have some close calls with danger throughout the book.

I was fortunate to have both the physical ARC and the audiobook for this novel. I found that the beginning was quicker to get through actually reading the novel but I really enjoyed the tense, anxious, thriller feeling I got when listening to the end of the second half. I would recommend both the physical book and the audiobook for the best possible experience :)

The author’s notes contain information about the actual Highway that this novel is loosely based on, all of the women who have gone missing with their abductors never caught.

I received an ARC of this novel from the publisher through NetGalley and an audiobook from MacMillan audio through NetGalley.

The novel is set to publish on August 3, 2021

Will post to Amazon upon publication

I listened to this on audio and it was so good. Hailey looses her father who taught her everything especially how to live outdoors and be friends with nature. After his untimely death she now has to live with her aunt and police offer husband who she hates so she decides to go and live in woods. Beth arrives in town because she wants to find out who killed her sister so with the help of Hailey she's now on that journey. This book really kept my interest for most of it. There were times during Beth's story where it dragged a little but it was bearable. This story was really good and it's the first book I've read by this author and it will not be the last. I highly recommend this book and the narrator was fantastic. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher St. Martin's Press for the advanced audio copy of this book in return for my honest reveiw.

Go get this book and enjoy the ride.

Dark Roads is a thrilling mystery about daring young women who persevere through hardship. Hailey grew up in Cold Creek, a small town in Northern British Columbia. Her father taught her to survive in the wild, so when he died suddenly and her new step-uncle tried to control her life, Hailey disappeared into the wilderness to survive on her own. A year later, Beth travels to Cold Creek after her sister Amber is found murdered there, and takes a job as a waitress so she can get a feel for the town and try to figure out what happened. Both of the main characters as well as many others (even a very smart wild dog) are complex and interesting, and that alone would have kept me intrigued, but the mystery of what happened to the women who have disappeared unfolds in a suspenseful and surprising turn of events I did not see coming.

The audiobook narration is fantastic, with 3 separate narrators for Hailey, Beth and Amber, and you can really feel the pain, fear and anguish in their voices. I have enjoyed other books by Chevy Stevens but this one truly blew me away, I think it's her best book yet.

I grew up in British Columbia and have followed the heartbreaking story of the Highway of Tears in Northern BC in the news, where many Aboriginal women have gone missing and their crimes have remained unsolved for decades. The parallels between the fictional Cold Creek Highway in Dark Roads and the Highway of Tears are not accidental, and the author addresses this both before and after the story. I felt this added to an already great suspenseful story to make it even more compelling and relevant.

This was another fantastic book by Chevy, y'all aren't gonna wanna miss out!!

The character development was Spot. On. Yalllllll! I'm so sad to see this book end! I felt like I knew Haley and omg her hero doggie!! I loved, loved, loved it!

And also, those twists! Y'all will NOT see the final one coming, I sure as hell didn't. #surpriseKiller I've enjoyed every single book by this author, I know I'll enjoy the next one as well! 4.5 gold stars, you go girl!!!

Thanks netgalley for giving me the advanced copy of the audiobook so that I could listen and give y'all my honest thoughts and opinions 🧡

This was a great edge of your seat who done it murder mystery by Chevy Stevens. Whoa! She didn't disappoint with this one.

This story takes place in a small town along the fictional Cold Creek Highway in British Columbia where many young women have gone missing. We're introduced to Hailey and Beth who are two strong female characters with connections to one of the missing women. The reader follows Hailey and Beth along their journey trying to discover who the killer/killers are that are hiding in plain sight.

I listened to the audio format of this book. The narrators were fantastic and added to the suspense of this story.

Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Thank you to NetGalley and MacMillan Audio for this advanced listeners copy of Dark Roads by Chevy Stevens, narrated by Angela Dawe, Brittany Pressley and Isabella Star LaBlanc.

Dark Roads tells the story of a small Canadian town and the disappearance and deaths of local girls. There are three main characters, Hailey, Beth and Johnny. Hailey is a local girl, who loves dirtbikes, the outdoors and her best friend, Johnny. Hailey is living with her Aunt and Uncle, a man that she does not like or trust, even though he is one of the local police force. When Hailey's new girlfriend Amber becomes the latest victim of what seems to be a serial killer and Hailey's suspicions of her Uncle grow she knows she needs to take action to protect herself. Hailey makes some decisions that will have long-lasting implications for her whole community. Not much longer later Amber's sister Beth comes to town to try to find out what happened to her sister and becomes entangled with the locals, including Johnny. Beth doesn't want to leave until she avenges her sister's death but will she survive or become another victim?

I loved almost everything about this book. The plot was fast-paced and kept me sitting in my car listening well after I got home. I was shocked and outraged at some of the plot twists, always the sign of well-written thriller in my opinion. Two things detracted from the perfection of Dark Roads enough for me to give this four stars instead of five. First, the narrator who portrays Beth has a very robotic tone to her voice that made me wonder whether she was real or computer-generated. Second, I didn't feel like there was a reason for two of the characters to become romantically-involved. For me, it detracted from the supieriority of the plot by making the characters seem petty and jealous. This is a great listen though, even with those two caveats. Perfect for a long car ride or flight.

This was such a good book that kept me on the edge of my seat! A classic "who-done-it" where there are so many possible suspects! I loved how the book switched point of views in the middle of the book and gave the reader a new perspective! Chevy Stevens knocked it out of the park with this book!

The book, will keep you on the edge of your seat, and just when you think you have all the answers, guess again, or maybe you are right?
Young woman missing, murdered, brutalized, what is going on?
We meet some of those who become the victims, and this is a vey dark road we are traveling.
With the author’s notes we learn that this story is based on an actual serial killer, killing up to twenty woman on the “Highway of Tears.” The location and names were change in this read, but the roots are in truth.
Be careful you will soon be holding your breath!
Mine was an audio book and the narrators are awesome!
I received this book through Net Galley and the Macmillian Audio, and was not required to give a positive review.

Although girls have gone missing or have been found dead along the Cold Creek Highway in British Columbia for decades, a recent increase in numbers has everyone on edge. When Hailey McBride moves in with her aunt and uncle after the death of her father, her controlling uncle has her suspecting that he knows more about the killer on the logging road than he lets on. I was immediately drawn into this thriller and rooted for Hailey to figure out what was going on in her town. After her sister is found murdered along the logging road, Beth Chevalier leaves college to go to Cold Creek to find her sister’s killer and ends up almost being a victim herself. The book starts out as Hailey’s story, switches to Beth’s, then moves to alternating between the two as their stories become intertwined.

I listened to this on audio, and I enjoyed both narrators for Hailey and Beth as they kept me listening on the edge of my seat.

Thank you to Net Galley for an advance copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

Dark Roads by Chevy Stevens is a totally gripping and truly disturbing novel! This book had me completely hooked from the very beginning and I think I finished it in less than two days. 

I thoroughly enjoyed every minute of the audiobook while alternating between reading the ebook. The audiobook narrated by Angela Dawe; Brittany Pressley; Isabella Star LaBlanc is excellent! Similarly, Stevens' writing is excellent and so easy to read. 

This book is full of distributing content but if you're looking for a thriller packed with suspense, mystery and juicy details, look no further. 

Thank you, NetGalley, Macmillan Audio, and St. Martin's Press for a copy of this book for review!

I absolutely loved this book, I’ve never been huge on audiobooks but I’m becoming such a fan. I love this author and I know I wouldn’t be let down I gave it five stars, I was so interested and invested in the entire time such a page turner.

This was my first book by Chevy Stevens, but it will definitely not be my last. This was a gripping and suspenseful story that kept me glued to the story. And while I figured out some things I did not figure out everything by far which is always awesome in a thriller. I loved all three narrators and felt they did a great job giving voices to the women in this story. This story takes place in a fictional town by a fictional highway but it shows focus on the fact that indigenous women are much more likely to be the victim of violence. I can promise that anyone who reads this book will think twice about hitchhiking (as they should!). Hailey loses her father and has to live with her aunt and uncle which would be fine if her uncle Vaughn (Von? Since I listened I’m not sure about spelling) weren’t a overcontrolling cop. Hailey discovers he has a disgusting and criminal hobby and gets scared and runs away. The second main character and narrated perspective is Beth from a year later when Beth comes to Cold Creek for a memorial of the women murdered along the highway - most of the crimes never solved. They are both compelling and different characters, but my absolute favorite character in this book is Wolf….no contest.

This is my first book by this author, but definitely won't be my last.

This book had all that I love in suspense/thrillers. Action. Drama. Twist and turns. AND - I didn't guess whodunnit halfway through which to me is a huge plus!

Hailey and Beth - my mama heart felt for both of them and I wanted to take care of them both. Hailey definitely was able to take care of herself (for the most part) and big props to her daddy for teaching her those survival skills. I'm sure he never knew she would need them. Vaughn - wanted to strangle him. He just is one of those men! Jonny didn't seem like a bad kid. A bit lost perhaps. But Vaughn's hatred for him seemed over the top. The young people seemed like a bunch of lost souls who were dealt horrible hands and were just trying to survive. Vaughn gave no assistance to any of them.

And Wolf - my heart! Any book with a dog main character is a winner for me. He was the best friend Hailey didn't realize she needed.

Thanks to Netgalley & St. Martin's Press for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review. Now I'm off to find more books by Chevy Stevens!

Audiobook Review: Dark Roads by Chevy Stevens – Chilling Fact-Based Fiction

The Dark Roads of novelist Chevy Stevens’ newest thriller encompass Cold Creek Highway, which stretches 500 miles through British Columbia’s rugged wilderness to the west coast. Isolated and vast, this lonely, sparsely-populated byway has become a prime hunting ground for transient predators. For decades, young women—especially Indigenous women—traveling the road have gone missing. Motorists and hitchhikers, those passing through or living in one of the small towns scattered along the region, have fallen prey time and again. Making matters worse, no killer or abductor who has stalked the highway has ever been brought to justice.

Stevens based her location on the infamous Highway of Tears, a long corridor of Highway 16 between Prince George and Prince Rupert, British Columbia, Canada, which has been the location of many missing and murdered Indigenous women beginning in 1970. The story starts with the ghost of one of these girls explaining the situation, but not revealing the identity of her killer—or her own. After that, the tale launches into that of one of the two heroines who command the readers’ (or listeners’ in this case) attention throughout the harrowing tale.

Hailey McBride is the first: she’s a high school student who’s been through a lot of tragedy and is struggling with her sexual identity. Her recently-deceased father taught her to respect nature, how to live and survive off the land, and instilled in her a healthy fear of the highway. But he’s gone, leaving her a teenage orphan in the care of her aunt whose police officer husband uses his badge as a means to bully and control everyone… especially Hailey. When she discovers that Vaughn has been taking nude photos of her with a hidden camera, Hailey vanishes into the mountainous terrain, hoping everyone will believe she’s run away. Rumors spread that she was taken by the highway killer―who’s claimed another victim over the summer—but she’s too afraid to reveal herself. So, she watches and she waits.

Beth Chevalier is the second main character of Dark Roads, and her story picks up one year after Hailey’s “disappearance.” She arrives in Cold Creek, where her sister Amber lived―and where she was murdered by the mysterious highwayman. Estranged from her parents and desperate for closure, Beth takes a waitressing job at the local diner, just as Amber did, in an attempt to understand what happened and why. Soon, she meets Office Vaughn and Beth’s hunt for answers puts a target on her back―and threatens to reveal the truth behind Hailey’s disappearance.

The whole thing wraps with the ghost, revealing who she is, what happened to her, and why she stays in Cold Creek.

I’ve read a few of Stevens’ previous novels and have become a fan—this is my first time listening to one of her stories as an audiobook, and I think it helped bolster this atypically scattered, uneven story. While the tale is compelling and the moments of suspense are beautifully written, Stevens tries to keep too many balls in the air as she juggles a lot of characters and tackles deep themes (sexuality, coming of age, pedophilia, murder, the shoddy treatment of Indigenous people, etc.). Also, there’s way too much about Hailey’s dog—while I do love animals, I found the many, many long passages about the dog tedious and unnecessary.

As I mentioned, though, the narrators that save the day. I don’t think Dark Roads would have been as entertaining in physical book or e-formats. The three women—Hailey, Beth, and the ghost—are portrayed by Angela Dawe, Brittany Pressley, are Isabella Star LaBlanc and they do a fantastic job of seamlessly embodying characters of all ages, plus female and male.

While Dark Roads may not be Stevens’ best novel to date, it is still better-written and more entertaining than most thrillers out this year—and, fans of true crime can get their fix with more Highway of Tears mythology.
(Staci Layne Wilson for We Live Entertainment)

Thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for an advanced audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

This was my first Chevy Stevens novel and I will definitely read more from her in the future.

Hailey McBride is a 17 year old orphan living with her aunt after the death of her father. Her uncle is a local police officer, bully and a creep and makes it difficult for Hailey to stay there. There is also a long history of women missing and being murdered.

I found it very frustrating for Hailey’s that she had no power in her home life and how the town was subject to her uncle’s cruelty.

The narrators Angela Dawe, Brittany Pressley and Isabella Star LaBlanc all did a wonderful job.

This is a dark novel that takes place in a desolate Canadian town. It follows the stories of several women who cross paths with some violent men. Overall, it's extremely engaging and well written, but the violence towards women may be too triggering for some.