This is a story about three women's friendship and there is a mystery too. Cassandra, Sidney, and Amanda met in middle school and formed a lifelong friendship.

Cassandra's mother killed her father when he caught Cassandra in the face with a fishhook. Of course, he had been abusing her mother Iris for years previous to that incident. Iris pled guilty, didn't want to plead extenuating circumstances, and didn't want Cassandra to have to testify. At age sixteen, Cassandra becomes a virtual orphan with her father dead and her mother in prison. Cassandra decides that she wants to help other spouses who are in abusive situations when she graduates from high school and her friends Sidney and Amanda want to help her.

Cassandra names their organization Operation Starfish and they wrack up successes. But when one of the women they got out of a situation turns around and going back to her abusing husband who promptly kills her, Cassandra breaks up OpStar and leaves town. Leaving Sidney and Amanda to wonder where she went and try to fill the hole in their friendship.

Five years later, Cassandra is back and a suspect in the murder of the man who killed his wife and caused their organization to cease operation. Sidney and Amanda are quick to rush to her side along with Sean Beane who has been keeping an eye on the members of OpStar since they rescued his sister from a bad situation. He's fallen for Amanda.

The story isn't as straightforward as this precis. It is gradually revealed in flashbacks and comments between the three women. The story is filled with banter and pop culture references. Each of the women is a really, really quirky character. From Cassandra's obsession with dinner for breakfast to bookstore owner Amanda's desire to host a book signing for Edward Gorey (despite the fact that he died years ago) to Sidney's fear of moths, each woman is a unique individual.

Fans of Davidson's writing style - her characters have no filters - will enjoy this story of friendship with a bit of mystery dropped in.

This is a book with a lot going on. One thing I especially liked was learning about motorcycles and the women who drove them, throughout history. I'm also a rider and an avid crocheter, so I thought this would speak to me on many different levels. To my disappointment, it didn't really. I struggled with this book, laughed in places and loved the kinship of the three “sisters” and the trauma they face and help solve, and then the constant, never ending snark and sarcasm, which turned tedious about halfway through the story. It was ok, not my favorite by this author.

this was amazing, not a 5 star but still good regardless, I liked it a lot

thank you netgalley for the arc

Women's Fiction Steamy Romantic Mystery in which three estranged biker friends, who ran an operation to remove domestic violence survivors from danger, reunite after five years when a man from their past is murdered.

3/5 stars: Davidson brings her trademark snarky humor to this Women's Fiction release that has a romance and mystery subplot. But mainly the plot revolves around the three friends reunion and the operation they ran helping domestic violence survivors escape their abusers. So take care and check the CWs. Davidson's ability to write such incredibly likable characters shines through, each of the three MCs has a unique voice and are ball-busting ladies I loved getting to know. This is well-written with a couple pretty steamy OPS scene and Davidson did a lot of research on female motorcyclists which was interesting to read but overall I thought this was a bit too much plot for one book.


I received this eARC thanks to NetGalley and Montlake in exchange for an honest review. Publishing dates are subject to change.

Road Queens is a cross between a heist, a rom-com, and a girl power movie and it is delightful. Davidson has a knack for creating characters that you would like to spend time with outside of the covers of the book they currently inhabit.

She explores the concept of ‘found family’ throughout this book and how you can be so furious at a loved one while simultaneously wanting to help them out. Funny, charming, acerbic where it needs to be, definitely check this one out! Not a series (AFAIK) so a good place to check her writing out if you haven’t before. (NB: Many of her earlier novels have been paranormal romance, so if that’s not your jam, skip them. Although you might want to give her a try, she’s a great writer!)

I received a free copy from NetGalley for my unbiased opinion.



#RoadQueens #NetGalley

I read many books of MaryJanice Davidson, i loved the "Undead" series, and when i found out that a new book was coming
i was thrilled and excited to read it.
The writing is fluent and well written, the Davidson sassiness is unmistakable.
The protagonists are Cassandra, Amanda and Sidney, a trio of bikers(and i think that's enough to make you read this book, i
mean, we are talking about badass women bikers).
Anyway, their purpose is noble, they want to help domestic violence survirors, aka Operation Starfish.
The premises are promising, but i'm not 100% satisfied.
It was difficult to keep track of the story, there are too many characters, and the flashbacks were confusing.
However i still recomend this book, the writing is totally Davidson style, and the topics covered are important and not trivial.
Definitely a different and out of the ordinary story.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read an ARC so that I may give my honest feedback and review.

Arrested as a murderer suspect Cassandra two friends Sidney and Amanda turn up to the police station.
Five years have passed since Cassandra walked away from her hometown and their friendship. Can they help each other? Deal with the past and find out who's the real murderer?
Friendship, love, helping abused spouses not what you expect but an enjoyable and enlightening read

Road Queens is about sisterhood, friendship and loyalty all wrapped up in one. The bond that is formed in friendship where it goes beyond that to sisterhood and you love those people no matter what. Amanda, Sidney, and Cassandra take you through all of the feels. At a young age they start an organization called Operation Starfish to help women and men who are being abused in their relationships. Something happens and they dismantle the organization and Cassie disappears from Amanda and Sidney's life. Five years later - Cassie re-enters their life and they are investigating to prove that she is not a killer.

The characters had great development and I loved the flashback stories so that you had further development of the characters. Definitely was rooting for these three women!

Thank you #NetGalley for the advance copy!

Thank you to Netgalley and the Publisher for this Advanced Readers Copy of Road Queens by MaryJanice Davidson!

I downloaded this book from Netgalley back in August and read about 15% of it before I gave up and jumped onto another book. Since then I have read another 20+ books without coming back to finish this one off. I may come back to it at some point, but most likely not as there are so many other books out there.

Thanks to Netgalley for access to this E-ARC! I really enjoyed this one. It was really fun & the vibes were just perfect. Also loved the characters. Definitely will read more from this author.

This is one of those five-star reads that took a while to get to the five-stars. I don’t know if it was just that there was so much going on, but at times I got a little lost, but overall, I really liked this story. All three women would make you smile, Cassandra, Amanda and Sidney will make you smile, they will make you grind your teeth, but most of all they will make your heart warm. I really hope we get from Operation Starfish, as they do so much good, even if there was one bad experience. The mystery will keep you guessing, and I will admit I didn’t get it for so long, and I was one of those people five minutes into sixth sense who got it, so it was well done. Everyone plays their part and they all revel small parts of the story, I liked that we don’t know the full details about Mr Beane at first, that adds something to the story. What I most liked was the fact that this story doesn’t shy away from the reality of domestic abuse, and how difficult it can be to leave, this gives us a real view, and it shines a spotlight on the unexpected people can help. Pick this story up, as it will warm a cold heart, and surprise even those who feel they can’t be surprised any more.

I absolutely enjoyed this book. I’ve read and loved the author’s Queen Betsy "Undead and Unwed "series and this book is on par! A story of friendship and murder with some laughs in between. Very fast-paced suspenseful mystery!

Thank you to NetGalley, the author and Montlake publishing for this arc in exchange for my review!

Long with a good basis, but overdone snark. I struggled with this book, laughed in places and loved the kinship of the three “sisters” and the trauma they face and help solve, and then the constant, never ending snark and sarcasm, which turned tedious about halfway through the story. Ok read.

Road Queens was truly empowering! I enjoyed reading about these women and their multitude of journeys. This story had a lot going for it. I found the theme truly different then what i've read before. I've known to read and know so much about women riders! It's something i never thought id care or enjoy reading about but this proved me wrong!

Operation Starfish is run by 3 madcap friends to try to help people involved in domestic violence. Through flashbacks you come to see how Operation Starfish was born and how close to home it came to the 3 friends. These 3 bikers are the friends we all need in our lives. They are always there when you need them, and they can also make you laugh. There is a mysterious death which has Cassandra as number one suspect. The 3 friends Amanda, Sidney and Cassandra find they have to investigate themselves with help from PI Sean Beane. A fast-paced story with lol sarcasm will have you romping through this story.
Thank you NetGalley and (publisher, Montlake) for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

What a fantastic book! I loved the characters of Amanda, Sidney, Cassandra and Sean. The storyline was unique, and while the madcap humor of MJ was there, so too was the somber issue of domestic violence brought to the forefront, and exposed for the traumatic assault that it is. If you love MJ Davidson's work, you need to read this book and see her tackle an ongoing issue that has plagued society for millennium. I hope that this will become a series, and that we will get to know these characters much better.
I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book, which was provided by the publisher via NetGalley.

Put a smile on my face. The author has a perfect sense of comedic timing when it comes to scenes. In the epilogue, there are a lot of favorite foods mentioned. I got a kick out of seeing what they were up to. I received a review copy from NetGalley and have left my opinion.

I love this author , have read everything she has written , I liked this storyine , the group of characters were funny and sarcastic , just the way the author writes , I liked the concept of the storyline , happy to read this and look forward to more from this author .

"Road Queens" by MaryJanice Davidson takes readers on a thrilling journey filled with intrigue, suspense, and the rekindling of an unbreakable bond among three women.

The story revolves around Operation Starfish, an organization founded by a group of bikers committed to rescuing survivors of domestic violence. When a mission ends tragically, the group disbands, and their friendship is fractured. However, fate brings Amanda, Sidney, and Cassandra back together five years later when Cassandra becomes the prime suspect in a murder case involving her abusive husband.

The premise of the book promises a gripping narrative that blends elements of crime, mystery, and romance. The reuniting of these three strong-willed women to confront their past and clear Cassandra's name sets the stage for a story of resilience and determination. The added complexity of Investigator Sean Beane, whose true intentions are shrouded in mystery, adds a layer of intrigue to the plot.

Davidson seems to excel in creating a narrative where past mistakes, regrets, and secrets are confronted head-on. As the trio of biker babes navigates their tumultuous history, blossoming romances, and a murder investigation, readers can expect a rollercoaster of emotions and unexpected twists.

The theme of female empowerment and friendship is at the core of "Road Queens," making it an engaging read for those who appreciate stories about women supporting and standing up for one another. The book's blend of suspense, romance, and the open road promises to keep readers hooked until the very end.