Honeymoon from hell! Hitchhikers… murders… legends… this book has them all. I love the 90s vibes as I’m a true 90s gal. I wasn’t obsessed with the ending but it was still great.

April and Eddie are just married and headed to their honeymoon when they take a wrong turn. A wrong turn that leads them to a young woman walking down the road alone in the dark. After picking her up, they see she is covered in blood and they head right to the hospital where she dies. Suddenly they are suspects in not only this murder, but the many murders that have happened on that road over the years.

Whew, this one took me on the full ride. Little bit of ghost story, little bit of thriller, whole lot of crazy! I have loved St James novels in the past, and this one did not disappoint! She has such a way of combining realism with the supernatural, which is not easy to do well. Every time I thought I had an idea where the story was going, St James threw something else my way to throw me off. This is a fantastic book from a trusted author!

Simone St. James is an auto-buy author of mine, as I loved “The Book of Cold Cases” and “The Sun Down Motel”. So when I saw “Murder Road” I jumped at the chance to read it early. Suspension of disbelief is required to enjoy this book’s narrative. I found the plot to be a bit generic. The introduction of the Snell sisters, two more armchair detectives, halfway in the book didn’t help the story. There was a last minute chilling thrill at the book’s end. I listened to and enjoyed the audiobook version on publication day. 3.5 stars rounded up. Thanks to Berkley Publishing Group and NetGalley for the ARC. I received an advance review copy for free and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Simone St. James is an author I don't think ever misses, and I was really swept up by Murder Road. It balanced horror and mystery really well, and I don't think the horror-averse (me, typically!) should avoid this one- it's more spooky than anything, with an eerie setting that is well captured. The 90s era time is captured well, and fits this story.

I love Simone St. James' ghost stories - maybe even moreso than her books that are more strictly thrillers, I think? The eerie way she's able to so perfectly describe creepy scenes and characters and experiences always reminds me of watching a scary movie or early episodes of Supernatural - so spooky & well done!! The newlywed couple in this were very cute; I don't normally like couples (or specifically the husbands, if I'm being honest) in books - they're usually so bland and boring and I'm like, WHY are you with this man?! But Eddie was interesting and kind and treated April so well, and April's backstory was really interesting.

This was fun!! 3.5 stars, rounded up -- there were a few things I found a little silly toward the end, or maybe just a little too conveniently explained? But I did enjoy the journey!

“…no one had a sense of drama like a teenage girl..”

Eddie and April Carter have been married two days when the unthinkable happens: a middle-of-the-night wrong turn leads them down an isolated road where they find a young girl walking alone. It’s only after she gets in their car that they realize she’s been stabbed. Things go from bad to worse when she later dies at the hospital — and without any other witnesses and a car full of blood, these two out-of-town strangers are suddenly the lead suspects.

Unable to leave town during the investigation, Eddie and April do some digging of their own and uncover a string of murders along Atticus Line that go back two decades. All remain unsolved — and all begin with the legend of the Lost Girl, the first girl to be murdered. She’s the only victim who remains unidentified and it’s said if you see her, you’re next.

Simone St. James is always a solid read for when I want a fun mystery that’s a touch spooky. (Matt makes fun of me but my comfort shows are paranormal series, please give me all the hauntings, all the ghosts, everything that goes bump in the night! I’ll eat up every last crumb and then some!)

MURDER ROAD was a shockingly quick read, I finished in two sittings, and I did enjoy it but feel it it was lacking something her other books had. I loved the 90s setting — get ready for LOTS of talk about OJ’s trial and Princess Diana — but wanted a bit more of the paranormal aspect.

& this is a minor issue but continued to stick out for me: Eddie and April have been married two days at the start of the book, have only known each other since February (it’s now July). Yet there’s constant talk of ‘I had never known him to do x’ or ‘he knew that I was always x.’ They’ve known each other a total of six months at this point.

While I feel the ending could have been tightened up (it came off as a bit of a cop-out) MURDER ROAD was an enjoyable, entertaining weekend read and I’ll be here with open arms for Simone’s next!

Not my fav Simone St. James book but it was enjoyable enough. The first 30ish% is amazing and the last...10% is awesome. I saw the twist coming but still enjoyed a spooky factor with the supernatural element.

Thank you Berkley and Netgalley for providing me an ARC for an honest review!

**4.5 rounded up**

Summary:
Simone St. James’s latest book, Murder Road, follows these newlyweds, April and Eddie. It’s 1995 and they’re on their honeymoon cruising down this eerie, deserted road when they spot a hitchhiker who seems like she's in trouble. Being the kind people they are, they pick her up, but things take a chilling turn when they see blood on her jacket and a truck hot on their heels.
Next thing they know, they're tangled up in a series of gruesome murders that have plagued this road for years.
But suddenly, THEY’RE the prime suspects, with the police breathing down THEIR necks.
They’re determined to clear their names, so April and Eddie start digging into the town's dark history, only to uncover something supernatural lurking in the shadows.
They not only have to unravel the town's secrets but also fight for their lives against forces they never imagined.

My thoughts:
This book gave me that same creepy, eerie feeling that her book, The Sun Down Motel did, which was great.
I liked that you’re not only learning about this town they stumbled upon, but also April and Eddie
April and Eddie have their own personal demons and they allow one another grace to deal with their past in their own ways.
This was an absolute page-turner and I absolutely recommend it if you’re a fan of Simone St. James, if you’re a fan of books with old towns with mysterious pasts, if you’re a fan of main characters with mysterious pasts…
Definitely pick this one up!

Thank you, Partners @berkleypub, @netgalley, @prhaudio, and @simonestjames for my #giftedbooks! 🙏🏻

This is my first Simone St. James book and won't be my last. I love her ability to create a creepy thriller filled with twists and turns I did not see coming. The final twist is a doozy and took my breath away!

I listened to this book on audio and narrator Brittany Pressley did an excellent job of bringing this thriller to life.

This book centers on newlyweds April and Eddie heading toward their honeymoon in Cold Creek Falls, MI when they pick up a young girl who has been stabbed. As they race to get her to the hospital they also raise suspicion from local law enforcement. When the girl dies, April and Eddie find themselves as suspects.

In an effort to prove themselves innocent. They begin sleuthing around and learn about "The Lost Girl" who was killed and left for dead on Atticus Line in 1976. She's been haunting this area since then. Filled with strong supernatural elements that kept me engaged from start to finish, I was on the edges of my seat the entire time.

Set in 1995, this book resonated with me. I was 19 and could see this happening in real life. This book is filled with secrets and eerie elements. It's hard to know who to trust. Supporting characters Rose and the Snell sisters added a dimension I thoroughly loved!

I was so excited for this book and I did finish it but ultimately, it was not for me. I LOVED the first 40ish % of this book. It kept me intrigued and I couldn't want to see what April/Eddie were going to uncover. Unfortunately, after that it kind of started to be unrealistic and just so many sub plots that it veered so far off the main plot at multiple times. I also found the main characters to be pretty flat.

If you like a lot of paranormal elements then I think you would LOVE this. The writing is great but ultimately the story wasn't for me as a whole.

3.5 stars. Although I enjoyed this book while reading, I feel like it is not a book that is going to stick with me. This book felt a little different from previous books and kind of lacked the atmospheric suspense they had. It is still a good read and I would recommend it, just feel like I like her other works better.

Having recently finished “Murder Road" by Simone St. James, I am happy to have had the chance to read the Advanced Reader’s Edition e-copy; thank you NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group!

“There was something very, very wrong with this road.”

I've driven the dark roads of northern Michigan on many vacations with my hubby, and thankfully we've never traveled on one as desolate and creepy as Atticus Line.

I was pulled in as this ghostly murder mystery was revealed and enjoyed most of the journey. Was it hard to believe at times? Sure it was. But I love being able to suspend reality for a bit when traveling through the mind of this author. This story was perfect to read at night, alone in the dark. It gave such a creepy and ghostly vibe; exactly what I hope for when I pick up a story from Ms. St. James.

LOVE LOVE LOVED this book! Simone St. James is a genius at writing thrilling paranormal books!! On their honeymoon, April and Eddie take a wrong turn and end up on a dark creepy road. When they come across a girl who's been attacked and stabbed, they pick her up and take her to the hospital. But then they appear suspicious...Knowing they didn't do anything wrong, April and Eddie are determined to prove their innocence and get out of this god forsaken town!

This was one of my most anticipated 2024 releases and it did not disappoint!! I’m typically not a fan of ghost/paranormal stories, but I am always a fan of how Simone St. James writes them!

April and Eddie took a wrong turn on the way to the resort town where they plan to spend their honeymoon. They find themselves on a deserted road where they come across a lone hitchhiker. They offer to give the woman a ride, and once she gets inside their car they notice she is bleeding badly. The woman does not survive, leaving April and Eddie suspects in a murder case. There has been a series of unsolved murders on the same road, and Eddie and April are determined to solve the mystery.

The atmosphere that St. James created on this deserted road was top tier. It was beyond creepy and revealed that something sinister was lurking. The short chapters made me keep justifying squeezing in one more chapter 🙊

I’ve enjoyed all of the books I’ve read by this author, but MURDER ROAD is definitely up there as one of my favorites!

It's July 1995. Eddie and April Carter are looking forward to celebrating their honeymoon on the shores of Lake Michigan. Their plans get derailed when they take a wrong turn off the interstate onto a lonely highway. There they pick up Rhonda Jean, a hitchhiker that has been attacked. Was she the latest victim of "The Lost Girl" or was her attacker more earthly? Eddie and April need to solve the mystery before they lose their freedom, or worse, lose their lives.

Simone St. James has created yet another terrifying story that will keep you on the edge of your seat guessing what the next twist will be. The ghostly element that she adds to her stories is also present in this book and helps add to the mystery that blurs the lines between reality and legends.

Thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for the advanced copy to read in exchange for an honest review.

Absolutely perfectly creepy like all Simone St. James novels. I will read everything she writes! This may be the one that scared me the most!

Murder Road is not a book you want to read when you're alone in the dark. There were times it had me jumping from my seat out of suspense, and I loved every minute of it. It blends elements of mystery, thriller, drama and the paranormal perfectly and will keep you turning the pages.

Newlyweds April and Eddie Carter find themselves on a deserted stretch of road while heading on their honeymoon when they come upon a girl walking along the side of the road, only to discover she'd been gravely injured. They rush her to the hospital, where they quickly become murder suspects. But they find out that there is more to Atticus Line than meets the eye.

This book was a true page-turner. I devoured this book. Just when I thought I had the plot figured out, it would take another turn. The ending was absolutely fantastic. A fun factoid, my dad's name was Ed Carter so it was fun seeing a character with the same name!

I've only read a couple books by SImone St. James but I need to go back and read the rest because her books are exactly the type of thriller I love.

Thank you Berkley Publishing and NetGalley for the free eARC in exchange for my honest review.
4.5/5 stars

I highly recommend Murder Road if you like an edge of your seat thriller with a supernatural element. I could hardly put the book down! Great characters with a 90's nostalgia factor.

Thanks to NetGalley and Berkeley for the advanced digital copy of the book.

𝐁𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐑𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰

ᴍᴜʀᴅᴇʀ ʀᴏᴀᴅ
sɪᴍᴏɴᴇ sᴛ. ᴊᴀᴍᴇs
ʙᴇʀᴋʟᴇʏ ᴘᴜʙʟɪsʜɪɴɢ
ᴀᴠᴀɪʟᴀʙʟᴇ ɴᴏᴡ
✩✩✩✩✩

Happy Friday Eve! Last night I finished 𝐌𝐮𝐫𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐑𝐨𝐚𝐝 by author @simonestjames and it did not disappoint. This paranormal thriller was super CREEPY, the setting atmospheric, and the storyline addictive and unpredictable.

I love books set in the 90’s and the author did a great job bringing us back into that era. The setting was so meticulously described- a deserted highway known as Atticus Line in the middle of nowhere Michigan. Our main characters Eddie and April end up on Atticus Line and everything goes haywire.

I love thrillers that have a dash of paranormal and horror. Author Simone St. James can always execute a creepy thriller that isn’t extreme horror, but still makes you want to hide under the covers. I had no idea where this story was going or who to trust, the first half of this book I was completely clueless on what was actually going on. Lastly, I loved the romance aspect between Eddie & April, this book really has it all- unpredictable storyline, dash of paranormal, creepy vibes, fun setting.

4.5 ★ rounded up to 5★♥︎! 100% recommend! Thank you @berkleypub @netgalley for the early copy.

𝐒𝐘𝐍𝐎𝐏𝐒𝐈𝐒: “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.“

You know those books that just hook you right from the start? The ones where you have an immediate sense of dread, but never want to look away? That was me reading Murder Road. I absolutely loved this book!

Right from the beginning I was thinking “oh no” and “this isn’t going to end well” and “maybe we don’t do that”. I mean those comments in the best way. The kind where you watch a scary movie through your hands. And these things are happening to a couple just trying to get to their honeymoon destination! Did I mention they’re both clearly hiding some things from each other?

The drama! The mystery! The chills! The reveals! The 90’s nostalgia! Murder Road will definitely be in my favorites stack at the end of 2024!

I don’t know what to talk about without the potential to spoil the plot, so let’s just skip to the part where you read it and then we chat about it together!