Murder Road review: You ever read a book from an author and immediately know you need more from them? But simultaneously don't want to finish all their books because you won't have any left? Yeah, that's me with Simone St. James. I have had The Broken Girls on my shelf since it came out and I'm scared to read it because I know I'm bound to love it so much. Irrational, I know. But will I ever stop? Nope. Did I also collect her backlist in its entirety? Yep. Have I read those? Nope. It's a sickness, ya'll. But when I do decide to go in, I won't stop till I've devoured her entire catalog. I think 2024 might be the year. I feel it in my bones. In March 2020, I read The Sun Down Motel and loved it. That was a month into it's release (Feb 2020). Then The Book of Cold Cases came out in March 2022 and sounded so up my alley I couldn't read it fast enough. True crime blogger? Um, yep, totally my brand. For some reason, this one didn't work for me as well. But, then I saw St. James was releasing Murder Road. Title, cover, description- it all worked for me...sign me up! So I was approached to do a review and received an ARC, shoutout to Berkley for the opportunity! The description reads like a horror movie, and I don't know about you but I'm a huge horror buff. To the point that one of my best girlfriends and I call certain movies (looking at you Scream) "comfort" horror. April and Eddie are our good samaritans, trying to help out what appears to be a drunk or lost woman on a lone stretch of highway. Here's their first problem, the book takes place in '95 and by then we all knew you shouldn't be picking up hitchhikers! My true crime roots told me that back in the 70s-80s (second-hand because I was born in '87). But it's actually not the hitchhiker that is the problem, it's what comes after! The person they picked up was injured and by the time they get them to the hospital, the hitchhiker succumbs to their injuries.

So here comes the entanglement with the local police, the police have been looking to pin this and similar crimes on someone for years. April and Eddie seem to have the bad luck of wrong time, wrong place. In typical St. James, the book is described as having a paranormal/supernatural element. But wait-I haven't even mentioned the worst part for April and Eddie, they are supposed to be on their honeymoon. Talk about the honeymoon from hell!

This book really worked for me, not all supernatural elements in books do but I loved this twist. Detective Jen was on the case, and per usual I was working it from every angle. I get excited when I can predict an outcome but I don't want it to be too easy. This was a perfect story for me, small town cops, mysterious backstories and a possible serial killer or killers. This one was hard to put down and gave such an eerie tone that I sometimes didn't want to read at night. It takes a lot to do that to me, so kudos St. James! This book is out now, so be sure to snag it at your favorite bookstore or place a hold at the library to. Happy reading!

Murder Road by Simone St. James tells the story of newlyweds Eddie and April who are on their way to a small resort for their honeymoon when they notice a woman walking on a secluded road in the middle of the night. They're not far from their destination and decide to pick the girl up, but as they continue on their way they notice that something is terribly wrong with the hitchhiker. She's bleeding. She's dying. And there's a pickup following them. As they quickly find their way to a hospital (using a paper map - it's the 90's!) they are soon looked at with suspicion. A couple from out of town, clothes and car covered with blood and a now dead hitchhiker - they're quickly detained by the police and questioned. There are a lot of strange things happening around Coldlake Falls, specifically the stretch of road where they found the girl called Atticus Line (aka Murder Rd). April and Eddie deal with secrets in their pasts as they help local teens investigate a series of murders - while the police think they are to blame.

Over all, this was an okay book. I thought it was a bit too long and too repetitive. I thought that this was my least favorite St. James book by far. She had a lot to live up to after The Sun-Down Motel and The Book of Cold Cases, and this was a bit of a disappointment. The supernatural element was lacking the creepy factor. Eddie and April basically had to do the police's jobs. And the twists were not really a surprise for me.

I did enjoy the 90s setting and a couple of the supporting characters (the Snell Sisters and Rose). I thought overall it was okay but definitely not one of Simone St. James finest books, however if you do like ghosty/supernatural storylines you will enjoy this.

This book didn’t waste time getting to the point which I appreciated. There was a mystery surrounding Eddie and April and I couldn’t figure it out. April was more mysterious, which made her more intriguing to me. These newlyweds didn’t really know each other, so I couldn’t get a read on them as a couple. I didn’t particularly like any of the characters at first. My favorite was the side character Rose, who gave me all the sass and grumpiness I needed.

As always with this authors titles, there was a paranormal element to the story. The tension was very clear from the start, and I wanted to know what or who was haunting the road. I was not expecting the story to turn the way it did, and I wasn’t really a fan. I usually am a huge fan of Simone St. James’ books, but this one just missed the mark for me. I had more unanswered questions by the end, when I initially thought the story started off solid.

Thank you @prhaudio for access to the audiobook version of this novel. Brittany Pressley did an amazing job with this one and I found it so hard to turn it off! #prhaudioinfluencer. Also, thank you so much Berkley Publishing for access to the arc of Murder Road and for gifting me a finished copy of this novel #berkley #berkleypartner

Wow, the audiobook version was so good for this novel and honestly sent chills down my spine during different scenes because they were JUST THAT CREEPY!!!! The storyline was intriguing and the focus on the history of Atticus Line was really well done. I like the characters and all the layers that were revealed with them regarding their troubled pasts and secrets they held from others slowly coming out. Rose and Snell sisters were great secondary characters and really brought a lot to the story for me. The supernatural aspects were well executed and the reveal was satisfactory for me. Overall, a solid read that makes me excited to pick up more of Simone St. James’ previously released novels!

April and Eddie are on their honeymoon. After a whirlwind romance and quick marriage they will spend 5 days in a hotel not far from their Ann Arbor home. When they end up lost on Atticus Line and pick up a hitchhiker, their plans are hugely diverted. When the woman in the backseat ends up dead they are suddenly involved in way more than they intended to be. They are murder suspects, ghost hunters and so much more as they find out secrets about this strange town and each other.

If you are down for a good ghost story then pick this one up! St. James is a master teller of the paranormal and this was one of her best!

Murder Road is a spine-chilling mystery that combines elements of supernatural horror with a traditional thriller. The story begins in July 1995 when April and Eddie, a young couple, are on their way to a small resort town for their honeymoon. A wrong turn leads them to Atticus Line, a deserted road with a dark history. They spot a lone hitchhiker and decide to give her a ride, only to discover blood seeping from her jacket and a truck barreling down the road, chasing them.

After dropping the injured hitchhiker at the local hospital, they are shocked to find out that she dies soon after. This unfortunate event draws the couple into a series of unexplained murders that have plagued Atticus Line for years. The Coldlake Falls police suspect them of being involved in the deaths, and April and Eddie must clear their names. As they investigate the town's history and the sinister occurrences along the road, they uncover something far more disturbing—an otherworldly presence that seems to control the fate of those who traverse this path.

**Review:**
Simone St. James crafts a gripping tale that expertly weaves suspense, horror, and supernatural elements into a seamless narrative. The premise of a deserted road with a history of gruesome murders sets the stage for a story filled with tension and an eerie atmosphere. The book's characters, April and Eddie, are likeable and relatable, making their predicament all the more compelling.

As they delve deeper into the mystery, the pacing of the novel keeps readers engaged, with each revelation leading to more questions and escalating suspense. St. James' skill in creating a sense of dread and foreboding is evident throughout the story, and the supernatural twist adds a layer of complexity that elevates the plot beyond a typical thriller.

The interactions with the Coldlake Falls police and the town's inhabitants reveal a community with its secrets, adding to the intrigue. The themes of trust, betrayal, and the unknown make "Murder Road" a captivating read that will keep you guessing until the end.

Tropes
- Small town with dark secrets
- Supernatural elements
- Unexplained murders
- Wrongfully accused protagonists
- Investigation and uncovering of secrets

Murder Road is a gripping and atmospheric mystery that blends the best elements of horror and thriller. With its compelling characters and haunting setting, this novel is a must-read for fans of eerie and suspenseful stories.

Loved this one. A great elaborate twist at the end but what I love about all of Simone's books are there's a blend of mystery and thrilling moments. This MAY be my favorite but she is an author that I own almost every book and will reread them at some point.

Another excellent supernatural mystery by Simone St. James!

April and Eddie drive to their honeymoon destination but are waylaid when they find a young woman walking down the road. They offer her a ride and then discover she’s been stabbed so they rush her to the hospital. Little do they know, they’re opening a door to the evil that’s the cause of the disappearances over the past 20 years.

April and Eddie are lost, looking for the town where they plan to spend their honeymoon. When they spot what appears to be a hitchhiker, they stop to help. But not long after, 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 police. Unexplained murders have been happening along Atticus Road. As April and Eddie dig into the town's history, they soon learn that there is something dark and supernatural at work.

MURDER ROAD is an eerie, small-town murder mystery that’ll have you side-eyeing all its residents. April and Eddie were a compelling couple. April was likable but secretive. I wanted to peel back her layers and learn about her history. Meanwhile, Eddie was more reserved and so darn sweet and protective. He was a great husband, even while still working through his past trauma. I didn’t care for the detectives, though. Besides one, they seemed one-dimensional and in a hurry to point unwarranted fingers.

As the chapters progressed, the unexplained hitchhiker murders cranked up the suspense, and I couldn’t put the book down. I needed to know who was behind these murders! Simone added a supernatural element to the plot, but I wish it had come earlier in the narrative. It would have been much more cohesive. Besides that, I enjoyed the story as a whole, even if I figured out the main twist early on. I’m looking forward to reading Simone’s backlist since this, surprisingly, is my first book by this talented author!

I have really enjoyed some of this author's previous books and while this one was still entertaining I found the supernatural element a little heavier in this book and a little too much for my tastes. I enjoyed both the main and side characters (especially Rose) and the mystery, but was somewhat disappointed in the resolution. That being said, I finished it in two days, so it was an easy read and held my interest,.. just be warned this one has quite a bit more than a touch of supernatural. 3.5/5 stars!

This book blew me away! I love Simone St. James and her writing. It kept me in the edge of my seat the whole time. A must read for this year. 5 easy stars ⭐️

I'm going to pretend that this book doesn't exist so that Simone St. James has only written 5 star books for me.

I definitely feel like my lower rating is 100% a me thing. Looking at other reviews I'm actually excited that people devoured this book and loved it.

I personally found it to be repetitive and boring. The first half of the book was an easy 5 stars for me. I was captivated, it was spooky, and the mystery had me wanting more. The middle kind of went downhill and then the ending had me sighing because it just wasn't it.

I just didn't quite click with any of the characters and the writing felt very flat. The 90's references were way overdone and at what point is it enough? I think the ending wasn't exciting and didn't fit the vibe of where this book was going.

Again though, I think this is 100% a me thing.

Unfortunately, this was not my favorite thriller. The storyline was okay, the characters were kind of interesting. But I mostly felt like it was just missing something the whole time. It also felt like it was far too rushed. There were moments were I thought it was getting pretty good, then it got cheesy and a bit disappointing. However, this is a book I will still recommend to patrons. I do understand not every book is for everyone. And I just didn't vibe with this particular book.

This was creepy and twisty and I loved every page of it.

I don't want to spoil anything because it's fantastic the way it unfolds, but I will say that I loved these characters. Especially the way they loved each other.

Oh, and I could have read a million more pages of the Snell sisters.

**Huge thanks to the publisher for providing the arc free of charge**

4.25/5

It should come as no surprise that Simone St. James is one of my favorite authors, and I have been a long-time fan of the way she can mix a dash of romance with a supernatural thriller. Murder Road delivers on both counts, and it is made even creepier thanks to our mysterious ghost and the lack of technology. St. James takes us back to 1995 in this story, and it definitely made me feel a little nostalgic even though I will forever be grateful that now we have mobile phones with GPS at our fingertips. I loved April and Eddie, and they are a perfectly flawed couple trying to navigate this creepy mystery along with small-town mentalities.

Brittany Pressley is our narrator extraordinaire for the audiobook and I told the author at a recent book signing that she must never have anyone else narrate. Pressley is the cream of the crop when it comes to audiobook narrators, and she completely embodied and enhanced the storyline. Murder Road came SO close to being a 5-star read for me, but the driving factor behind a certain something just made absolutely no sense to me, and I was very disappointed with that part. I can’t say more than that due to spoilers but oh how I struggled. Otherwise, this was a smashing success and delivered on so many levels including shocking secrets and twists.

Broken Girls and The Sundown Motel are Simone St. James's best books, in my opinion. Murder Road just didn't grab me like those did. The plot seemed disjointed for the first half of the book, and the characters seemed flat.

When April and Eddie are on their way to a resort for their honeymoon, they stumble upon a hitchhiker. When they pick her up though, they realize she’s been stabbed. This starts a series of events that leads them to be murder suspects, but there is something more sinister happening in Cold Lake Falls. There are more unsolved hitchhiker deaths, and April and Eddie decide to get to the bottom of these mysterious instances with the help of a B&B owner and two teenage sisters. Simone St. James is back with another supernatural thriller, and like her others, it doesn’t disappoint. While the characters aren’t exactly likeable, readers will still find themselves rooting for them. This is a must read for St. James fans and mystery readers. What’s more mysterious than an abandoned, possibly haunted, road in the 1990’s?

Short synopsis: April and her new husband Eddie find a hitchhiker on a deserted road headed to their honeymoon destination. When she dies in the hospital Eddie and April immediately become suspects.

My thoughts: I love how going into any St. James novel I know I’m going to have to suspend some belief, because there is usually some sort of supernatural/ghost element.

This was so fun and had me hooked from the first pages. I loved how April and Eddie’s not so perfect pasts, and the story of the Lost Girl unraveled… I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough!

The spooky elements were done so well! I found myself holding my breath on behalf of the characters!

Read if you love
- Supernatural mysteries
- Small towns
- Atmospheric settings
- Time flashbacks
- Honeymoons gone wrong

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

Simone St. James is quickly becoming an auto-buy author for me and this book (the third I've read by her) is no exception to that. She is very good at weaving together what should be a basic, realistic mystery/thriller and giving them spooky, paranormal twists. With this one, I was so sure I had it figured out, and then she made me doubt myself, only to then confirm my earlier suspicions had been correct - that made for quite a fun reading journey.

I love Simone St. James, and this book solidified her as one of my favorite authors - every single book I've read by her hooks me almost immediately, and I INHALE her stories!

This story follows newlyweds Eddie and April on their to their honeymoon, when they stumble upon a hitchhiker with a stab wound. Things ramp up from there and never let go!

Wholeheartedly recommend. This book was SO good!