Let me begin by saying that I am a Simone St. James devotee. I think she is the master of the game in paranormal mystery. The Sun Down Motel is a particular favorite of mine as is The Haunting of Maddy Clare. Murder Road, however, is not of the same caliber as many of the author's previous works.

Difficult to put my finger on why. All the elements are there--creepy setting, young couple in jeopardy, long term mysterious haunting, nicely developed supporting characters--but, despite some great moments, Murder Road wasn't a page turner for me. Perhaps pacing, perhaps the lack of logic about some of the actions of the main characters, perhaps my lack of connection with the main characters.

Despite this, Simone St. James' average is better than the best work of most authors in this genre.

As always, looking forward to the next book.

Full Disclosure--NetGalley and the publisher provided me with a digital ARC of this book. This is my honest review.

I read it in a day and like all of her books- I loved it. She’s not for everyone- you have to like a good ghost story… and you have to be willing to go with the flow even when things seem improbable. But she will suck you in and you’ll be invested til the last page… and then you’ll want to go back and read it again because you already miss the characters and wonder what they are doing now. I do hope (no spoilers) based on the ending that there will be spinoff! And now I’ll be in a reading funk for awhile because very few books can compete with a Simone St. James ARC. Huge thanks to NetGalley. This was the book I was most looking forward to in 2024!

Finished in a day! The way I loved this book! The short chapters drew me in and did not let me go. I love St. James weaves the supernatural into her thrillers. She paces her books so well and Murder Road is no exception. I can't wait to get more people to read this one. I do wish we learned more about why the ghost was haunting the road, but other than that, this book is great!

Simone St. James' writing style continues to make for propulsive page turners that keep you invested in the central mystery and its protagonists. Murder Road dials up the ghostly encounters and atmosphere, bolstered by a colorful cadre of supporting characters, antagonistic or otherwise. It's an easy recommend, though it does veer into repetitive territory for those familiar with St. James' genre-bending works.

As usual Simone knocks my socks off. Murder Road is a winding twisting dark mystery just like the road you find yourself on through the book. Hang on for a wild ride that’s many layers will leave you shook.

Let’s just be real honest, you have me at hello at the mere mention of a wrong turn taken on a deserted highway and an 18-wheeler barreling down on a couple in a book blurb . . . .

Add in a bleeding hitchhiker and, well . . . . I might have wet myself a little.

Okay so I freaking LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOVED The Sun Down Motel by this author – everything from the cover art to the last page. But then I found The Broken Girls to be just okay and didn’t much care for The Book of Cold Cases at all. I fully take the blame, because I wasn’t aware that the supernatural was St. James’ niche and that all of her stories included it. I assumed that I would not be picking up more of stuff, but then I saw this blurb and thought yep – a ghostly thing could absolutely work here. And it did!

Recommended : )

ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you, NetGalley!

I’m so in the minority in not liking this book that much, so maybe it’s a me problem!

I’ve read many of Simone St. James’ books and enjoyed them all in different ways, but I could not get into this one. The characters were frustrating, the ghosts seemed flimsy, and I just didn’t enjoy it. Sorry Simone!

Simone St. James never misses. If you're looking for a thriller writer that you can rely on- look no further. This is a creepy, eerie, atmospheric read. It really sucks you in and keeps you invested from start to finish. I don't want to get into it too much because I think thrillers are better when you go in as blind as possible, but definitely don't miss out on this one!

I thought this book was an enjoyable fun read. I love the atmospheric elements that Simone St. James uses throughout her books with characters' body temperament experiencing fright and paranormal activity. I appreciated the one-person linear narrative. This page-turning read kept me engaged with the plot and gave enough character backstory that had me invested until the ending. Although the ending was a bit predictable, it was an overall entertaining read that I'll recommend to readers that enjoy a combination of light thriller, suspense, and horror.

'Don't drive down Atticus Line'

This book was unput-downable! It pulled me in from the very first chapter & I binged it in one sitting. It has all the great bones of a good thriller: missing girls, cold cases, secretive pasts, and of course St. James' signature supernatural element which had me sleeping with the lights on.

April and Eddie are en route to their honeymoon when they make a wrong turn on the deserted Atticus Line highway. When April sees a young girl alone by the side of the road, the newlyweds stop to pick up the hitchhiker, who turns out to be fatally injured and lands them as prime suspects in a murder investigation. But this is only the start. The hitchhiker isn't the first person to die on Atticus Line, which is said to be haunted by its very first victim, 'The Lost Girl'. April and Eddie seem to be drawn to the 'The Lost Girl' and follow clues to uncover who she was while simultaneously working to clear their names and keep their own dark secrets from coming out.

This book was spooky with a capital S. The storyline with 'The Lost Girl' alone is enough to keep you up at night. There are themes of PTSD, racism and traumatic pasts. There were great secondary characters and I was also a huge fan of the 90's nostalgia.

If you like small town mysteries with a giant dose of creepy, or if you like Simone St. James in general, this book is for you. 4.5 stars bumped up to a 5. An early 2024 favourite...

Sundown Motel will always be my favorite SSJ movie; however, I think this one takes second in my book. The story was compelling,. It still has a paranormal twist, but perfectly executed.

Not my favorite Simone St. James. It didn't really catch me from the beginning and I put it down a LOT.

My first St. James book didn't pan out as well as I had hoped. I enjoyed the first half, then I lost interest and just went through the motions to finish it. I don't think this author is for me, but I would consider trying again someday.

4.5/5
St. James certain knows how to write a thrilling ghost story. I was hooked from start to finish. I though this one had a much more satisfying conclusion than a few of her other books.

I've become a big Simone St. James fan over the past few years, and get very excited when I see she has a new book coming out. Her latest, Murder Road, does not disappoint.

This was a well-paced, suspenseful, paranormal mystery with some interesting twists in the plot and ultimate reveal. Set in a small Michigan town near Lake Huron, it follows the harrowing story of newlyweds April & Eddie Carter who, while driving to their honeymoon destination, take a wrong turn down a deadly road.

The story is told from April's point of view, and it starts off with a very informal tone, almost as if the reader was picking up the story a little ways in. There are also some elements of the plot that feel a bit contrived if one really stops to think about it., but SSJ is able to pull it all off quite well, wrapping up the ending with a satisfying conclusion.

Elements she does well are the atmosphere (haunting, cloying, suffocating), character development (solid and nuanced, including some of the key side characters), and sense of time & place (hello insular small town in the 1990's). There were times when the cultural references felt almost overdone, but if you were a young person in the 90's and enjoy feelings of nostalgia while engrossed in a good book, this one is right up your alley.

I finished this book in the span of 24 hours (which is rare for me) and highly recommend it.

Wow!! Another suspenseful and spooky read from Simone St. James! April and Eddie take a wrong turn on the way to their honeymoon and they end up on “murder road”. This was a gripping novel that kept you on the edge of your seat until the end. With likable characters and a great plot, I would definitely recommend Murder Road. I would like to thank Netgalley for providing me with an advance reader copy in exchange for my honest and unbiased opinion of this book.

There hasn't been a Simone St.James book that I've disliked and this continues the trend. This book had me wanting more and I was sad when it was over. The amount of thrills in this book!

I’ve come to the conclusion this author isn’t for me. The premise is always somewhat interesting but the execution doesn’t work. I’ve decided not to continue with this author. If you like slow burns and a few creepy elements this might work for you.

"Murder Road" by Simone St. James is a haunting blend of mystery and the supernatural, showcasing the author's mastery in crafting chilling tales. Set in the 90s, the story follows newlyweds April and Eddie, whose honeymoon takes a dark turn when they encounter a hitchhiker on a deserted road. As they become entangled in a series of gruesome murders plaguing Atticus Line, they find themselves at the center of a supernatural mystery that could unravel the town's dark secrets.
St. James excels in creating well-rounded characters, making it easy for readers to connect with April and Eddie, despite their checkered pasts. The addition of Rose, a captivating character, adds depth to the narrative. The mystery unfolds seamlessly, keeping readers on edge as they delve into the dark history of the town and its sinister road.
The supernatural element, embodied by the eerie presence of The Lost Girl, adds a spine-chilling layer to the story. St. James skillfully weaves the supernatural into reality, creating a perfect balance that enhances the overall atmospheric tension.
While the mystery is engrossing, the resolution towards the end feels rushed and somewhat unsatisfying. The answer to the murders appears thrown in, lacking the thorough integration seen throughout the rest of the narrative. Despite this, "Murder Road" remains a standout piece in St. James's repertoire, earning a well-deserved best ranking for its atmospheric setting, compelling characters, and a spine-tingling blend of mystery and the supernatural.

I can’t remember the last time I had to turn on the lights after finishing a book but the spookiness of this book made that necessary! I couldn’t put this one down. Great characters and plot!