Simone St. James is an auto read author for me and I was thrilled for the chance to read and support her latest, MURDER ROAD. As the title suggests, this story is filled with mysterious, gruesome deaths of hitchhikers on a quiet backroad. Throw in some amateur sleuth sisters, a couple on their honeymoon that get wrapped up in a murder investigation and an odd bird named Rose, with a Princess Diana obsession (by far my favorite character), you have a good time on your hands. Without giving too much away, I enjoyed the story, but the build up to the gotcha moment… fell flat. Overall, a quick read, entertaining, and certainly. won’t stop me from continuing to support her work!

4/5 stars

Thank you Berkley Publishing Group for the advanced reading copy!

April and Eddie, en route to their honeymoon, find themselves on Atticus Line just outside of Coldlake Falls when a hitchhiker gets into their car... full of blood. Suddenly, they're at the heart of the town's biggest and longest-running mystery. With the Coldlake Falls police on their back, a decades old mystery and a... ghost(?) on their heels, they start to dig into the legend's history and find themselves even deeper than they could have ever imagined.

I don’t usually love horror, but I really enjoyed this book! There was a ghostly touch to it, but it didn’t feel so unrealistic and fake like most horror novels do (in my opinion!). Both Eddie and April were flawed, but likeable characters, and I really liked the ways they handled these situations. This book also had a great mental health representation, without being too stereotypical or offensive -- a big win in my book!

Overall, I enjoyed this book! It was a great way to try something out of my comfort zone while still being fed the fun and enticing line of a good mystery. There were some great surprises, twists and turns, and nothing felt too obvious. I can't wait to go back and read more by Simone St. James!

A hauntingly addictive supernatural thriller ! Simone St. James never writes a bad book. This book was creepy and at times, I had to walk away because the goosebumps were that intense . I’m a firm believer in the paranormal so her books are always right up my alley. The book is set in 1995 (which is also my birth year) so the era was perfect for a 90s Baby and Atticus line was giving off major Clinton Road vibes. ( my Jersey friends will know what I’m talking about)

I have zero complaints, it’s yet another top of the line supernatural thriller. I’d recommend this book to anyone who loves the paranormal and/or are true crime junkies !

I love Simone St. James and this is a new favourite for me! 🤩

In July 1995, April and Eddie, on their honeymoon journey, pick up a bleeding hitchhiker on a deserted road. After discovering the hitchhiker’s fatal injuries, they become prime suspects in a series of unexplained murders along Atticus Line, putting them at odds with the Coldlake Falls police. As April and Eddie start to dig into the history of the town and that horrible stretch of road to clear their names, they soon learn that there is something supernatural at work

𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬:
First and foremost, a book set in the 90’s is always going to be a big WIN for me! I loved the eerie/creepy atmosphere of Murder Road, the supernatural elements that were tied in, and of course watching our main characters dig deep into the small towns history. If you’re looking for a bingeable thriller, pick this one up 😏

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮’𝐫𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐟𝐨𝐫:
✔ Set in the 90’s
✔️Paranormal activity
✔️A honeymoon gone wrong
✔ Unexplained murders
✔ A terrifying road

My rating: 4.5 ⭐️

I have read multiple Simone St. James books and I know that she always has a paranormal element to them. I tend to like that, but for this book, it just didn't flow for me.

To be honest, I think it had more to do with that characters. The main couple was really annoying and the cops were so obnoxious. Once the couple got off on the murder charges, they really didn't need to stay. So, it was more of a logical thing for me rather than the paranormal aspect.

Still, I read it quickly so her writing kept me engaged. Hence, why I am giving it three stars

Thank you to Berkley and Netgalley for my e-ARC of Murder Road!

𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐃 𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐒 𝐈𝐅 𝐘𝐎𝐔
👻 love paranormal reads
🕵🏻‍♂️ have ever been part of a murder investigation
👍🏻 believe hitchhiking is dangerous
🤐 are hiding secrets from your spouse

• 𝐖𝐇𝐀𝐓 𝐈𝐓’𝐒 𝐀𝐁𝐎𝐔𝐓

July 1995. April and Eddie have taken a wrong turn. They’re looking for the small resort town where they plan to spend their honeymoon. When they spot what appears to a lone hitchhiker along the deserted road, they stop to help. But not long after the hitchiker gets into their car, they see the blood seeping from her jacket and a truck barreling down Atticus Line after them.

When the hitchhiker dies at the local hospital, April and Eddie find themselves in the crosshairs of the Coldlake Falls police. Unexplained murders have been happening along Atticus Line for years and the cops finally have two witnesses who easily become their only suspects. As April and Eddie start to dig into the history of the town and that horrible stretch of road to clear their names, they soon learn that there is something supernatural at work, something that could not only tear the town and its dark secrets apart, but take April and Eddie down with it all.

• 𝐌𝐘 𝐓𝐇𝐎𝐔𝐆𝐇𝐓𝐒

This was my first Simone St. James read and it was so good! I love paranormal mysteries, so this had all the elements I loved! The writing was quick and easy to read, the chapters were fairly short, and all in all, I flew through this book in just a few sittings. I wasn’t sure who might have been doing the murders, and was impressed with the direction everything went in by the end. It gave What Lies Below vibes, iykyk. I can’t wait to read her other previous novels!

A honeymoon story turned murder mystery! (It's actually much darker than that) Simone St James keeps delivering great reads and this one is just icing on the cake. The plot is well crafted and all offers many threads to follow, so my sleuthing and predicting hobby was well appeased! Such a good thriller and I loved the side characters! I kinda wish the teenage sisters had their own series (I'd love to read more about them!). All in all, there hasn't been a novel St. James has written that I haven't liked and I can't wait to see what she brings next.

⭐⭐⭐💫 Simone St. James brings a chilling blend of supernatural thrills and mystery in "Murder Road," a gripping tale set in July 1995.

Newlyweds April and Eddie's honeymoon takes a dark turn when they venture onto the ominous Atticus Line, a road marked by a history of gruesome murders. Their attempt to help a bleeding hitchhiker leads to suspicion and entangles them in a web of Coldlake Falls' mysterious past.

With nods to 90s nostalgia and eerie car rides on the desolate Murder Road, St. James delivers a tale that will keep you hooked, complete with a haunting cover that sets the tone for the ominous journey ahead. If you're a fan of St. James's previous works, mark your calendars for the release on March 5, 2024.

📚🚗💀 #BookReview #MurderRoad #SupernaturalThriller #SimoneStJames

When it comes to creepy, and towing that line between supernatural and real, thriller and horror, no one beats Simone St. James. This book is no exception. Brilliant and provacative.

Get ready for a thrill ride!!! Murder Road is a murderino's jam. It's like a detectives giant murder board with all the strings connecting the pieces to solve. I really loved the cast of characters - especially Rose the B&B owner. I wish I could stay at her B&B and hear her small town stories. I love Simone St. James books. She is the queen of spooky suspense.

MURDER ROAD takes us back in time to the summer of 1995 when technology was in its infanthood, Hootie and the Blowfish had the number one hit, Braveheart was a blockbuster and the OJ trial was looming around the corner. How do I know? I remember it well. And I do love a bit of nostalgia! This book really scratched that itch for me.

I love how @simonestjames blends genres so well. Here we have a mystery with just enough supernatural flare. Add in her signature thrills and chills with a little romance thrown into the mix, and you have one heck of a read. It’s urban legend meets sweet love story.

Every single character in this book is beautifully written. Here we have damaged people on a search for redemption, and each one is expertly crafted.

Don’t miss this one.

My thanks to @berkleypub and @netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this book before its publication date.

The latest novel from Simone St. James, Murder Road, is a gripping tale of murder and the supernatural with twists, turns and the paranormal.

The story of Murder Road revolves around April and Eddie, a young couple on their honeymoon who find themselves caught up in a string of gruesome murders committed along Atticus Line, an isolated road. When they stop to help a hitchhiker, they become the prime suspects in the police investigation. As they try to clear their names and uncover the truth behind the murders, they realize that something supernatural is at work in the town of Coldlake Falls.

One of the strengths of this book is its plot. The story is well-crafted and keeps the reader engaged until the very end. The pacing is excellent, with enough tension and suspense to keep you turning the pages. The supernatural elements are woven in seamlessly, adding to the intrigue and mystery of the story.

The characters in Murder Road are also well-drawn and compelling. April and Eddie are likable and relatable, and the other characters in the book are equally well-developed. The author does an excellent job of creating a sense of dread and unease, making the reader care about the characters and what happens to them.

The small town of Coldlake Falls is vividly brought to life, with its murky secrets and dark history. The remote location of Atticus Line adds to the sense of isolation and danger that pervades the story. The author's descriptive writing style transports the reader to this eerie, atmospheric place.

Murder Road is a solid supernatural thriller that delivers on its promise of scares and twists. Simone St. James has once again proven her prowess in the genre, crafting a tale that will keep you guessing until the very end. With its engaging plot, well-developed characters, and eerie setting, Murder Road is a haunting and atmospheric tale that will stay with you long after you've turned the final page.

My 3rd by this author and now I'm going to go back to read the rest!

The synopsis of this story doesn't do it justice. I was just meh about starting it, I probably wouldn't have even picked it up except for knowing the author. I was wrong. I enjoyed the primary story with the characters but appreciated even more getting to know them and their backstories.

From the beginning to the end, a solid tale of semi-supernatural (but not too much) mystery. For sure a suggested read if you enjoy this genre.

it pains me to give Simone St. James anything less than a four-star review and initially, I rated this a four, but after a couple of days I realized this is probably lower for me unfortunately.

the beginning started strong, with plenty of spooky vibes and great visualization, but somewhere at like 40% I started to get bored and the story started to drag. there were only three scenes that I can remember that had me feeling on edge. throughout the story you could tell the author was leading you one way but even I, who can never predict anything, was thinking are we really going to take this route? (pun intended) overall, I was a little bummed with the ending of the main storyline, but the ending of the novel itself was a little creepy so I'll give kudos to that.

the book had all the right pieces but it felt like pieces to a few different puzzles. in her other books, you can tell that St. James likes to give her characters rich backgrounds and this shows in Murder Road, but I think this book focused more on character growth and growing the main relationship than it did the suspense and spooky plot line. it's not a romance by any means but I would say this book focuses more on the couple than her other books have.

I will definitely still read St. James in the future as she does a great job writing for those of us chickens who like a little spook but are also forever stuck in the romance genre.

This book was exactly the thriller I needed! It was spooky, eerie, and suspenseful with 90's vibes! Right from the start my heart was pounding. The mystery sucked me in and I was constantly wondering what was going to happen next. I also loved the main characters, April and Eddie. The way they worked together and understood each other was an element that balanced out the supernatural elements. There was never a dull moment. Even when the mystery was solved, I was still fully invested.

I have read THE BOOK OF COLD CASES which I enjoyed so much. But I have to say... I liked MURDER ROAD even better! I look forward to reading more of this author's backlist!

If you are in need of an atmospheric spooky thriller- then add this to your TBR! It comes out in March!

Thank you NetGalley and Berkeley Publishing Group for sending this ARC ebook in exchange for my honest review!

I am never disappointed with Simone St.James books. Murder Road has you hooked from the very begining. April and Eddie are on their honeymoon after a 6 month romance. They both have secrets that they are keeping from each other. April secret is her past and Eddie's is his time he served in Iraq. They end up on the wrong road and soon come upon a hitchhiker. Rhonda Jean has been stabbed and later dies in the hospotal. Now Eddie and April are murder suspects in a small town and are trying to clear their names so that they may enjoy their honeymoon before it's over. My all time favorite parts was the Snell sisters. They were so funny and very eager to help out April and Eddie. This is one of the best books that I have read this year and my favorite so far from Simone St.James.

The latest book from Ms. St. James features a murderous ghost who haunts a lonely road in Michigan where she incites unsuspecting drivers to pick up hitchhikers and murder them. This book was not up to the author's usual standards but was a quick read.

What a kick! A wonderful riff on the ghost hitchhiker urban legend. Haunting, and had me reading it well into the night.

An intriguing supernatural mystery about a haunted highway set in 1995. This book is a bit of a departure from St James' previous works - which either take place much further back in time, feature a couple getting together over the course of the mystery/haunting, or have a dual timeline. Murder Road stays in one timeline, and 1995 is much closer to the present day that St James typically ventures, as well our main characters are on their honeymoon - but they are confronted with a number of issues (legal, financial, familial) that would test any relationship.
The characters are definitely the strength of this story - I wasn't as drawn in by the plot, as I had been in her previous works.
Definitely a fun, spooky read - but not a favourite for me.
Thank you to the publisher, via NetGalley, for providing me with an arc for review.

Simone St James writes paranormal stories in a way that is not over the top unbelievable. This story absolutely gripped me from the beginning and I was throughly entertained the entire time. The twists left me questioning everything and I loved how it all came together. Perfect amount of thrill, suspense, ghosts, and drama