KC Jones has written a genuinely creepy little novel. White Line Fever tells the story of a group of women who take a road they shouldn't have, leading to an evening of supernatural terror. The themes were a little heavy-handed for my taste (Livia's father and husband drama kept being repeated, and repeated, and repeated) but when the book stuck to scares it was very effective.

White Line Fever is a taut, nightmare of a thriller. A group of girlfriends who call themselves the Scoundrels decide to take a 15 mile, long-deserted shortcut and it pushes the boundaries of their friendships and their sanity in this heart-pounding stunner by KC Jones.

Thank you to the publisher for gifting me a copy. It is my pleasure to write an honest review.

The book is well written and has a good pace. I liked the horror-thriller elements... until the end. The resolution between the MC and the antagonist wasn't super fulfilling, normal the resolution with her husband. I did enjoy the friendships and the back-and-forth timeline. I just think the characters and emotional aspects of the MC's history could have been given more weight. But it's good for it's genre!

This book has a lot of promise. It did drag in places and I felt like I was never going to get through it. However, sticking with it, it starts pulling the random pieces together. I do wish the prologue would have been connected in a little sooner so that pieces clicked a little better sooner. Overall, it was a good read, though some trigger warnings may be useful for some.

This is my first read by this author and it won't be my last. I absolutely loved it. The world building was phenomenal. I couldn't put it down.

This would have been a much easier read if it were straight up supernatural horror, but the cruelty of Livia’s dad and husband made this one hard. The real monsters always are the men, eh? I enjoyed the tie in with the ghost hunters, but all in all, this could have done with a bit of editing because how many times do we need to see the baddies (human and otherwise) attack to get the point. Am curious enough to read more from this author, but this one wasn’t for me.

3.5⭐️ same energy and tone (not plot) as the early 2000s horror movies like final destination/house of wax etc. -with dialogue that’s questionable at best but campy in an addictive way.
- The characters do use social media and modern slang, making it feel oddly nostalgic yet somehow current (but like not really).
- I went in blind on Halloween Eve and flew through it in two days. The writing is super straightforward, though every now and then there’s a $20 word thrown in that pulled me out of the story (it felt jarring against the otherwise casual tone).
Once you get past the bro y prologue the story does get better.
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Honestly, I couldn’t connect with the characters or the plot. The suspense and ick are the best parts of this. The main character and her friends had me cringing or rolling my eyes more often than not. But if you go in just looking for entertainment and a bit of suspense about what wtf is going to happen next, it delivers. The atmosphere is solid, with plenty of creepy crawly vibes to keep you on edge.

White Line Fever by KC Jones is a spine-chilling, adrenaline-fueled horror that will satisfy every Halloween-loving, thrill-seeking reader. Although it releases in March, it's the kind of book you'll want to keep around for a re-read under the covers, lights on, long into the spooky season! After finishing, you might even reconsider those carefree road trips, haunted by memories of The Devil’s Driveway and the eerie road's relentless dangers.

The story follows Livia and her close-knit crew of childhood friends, known as The Scoundrels, who are ready for a weekend getaway to clear their minds and maybe sip a few Bloody Marys. But this trip is far from a carefree escape. After a harrowing encounter with a menacing truck driver, they decide to take a quick detour down County Road 951, also known as The Devil’s Driveway. What starts as a shortcut through the Cascade foothills quickly becomes a nightmare with each haunting mile testing their courage, sanity, and the bonds of friendship.

The road itself is a monster, forcing these women down a winding memory lane that exposes buried secrets and trauma. Each turn presses them harder, revealing the darkest aspects of their pasts and pushing their friendship to its absolute limits. With danger at every turn and no room to escape, this journey becomes a ruthless game of survival—who will make it out alive?

Jones has crafted a claustrophobic horror that forces readers to face both outer and inner fears. By the last page, White Line Fever feels like a relentless roller coaster of suspense that’s hard to put down. I highly recommend this to thrill-seekers and horror fans alike!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Tor Publishing Group for providing this heart-pounding ARC.

From Bram Stoker Award finalist KC Jones comes White Line Fever—a relentless, pulse-pounding thriller that transforms a road trip into a nightmarish fight for survival. Livia and her crew—the Scoundrels—think they're taking a shortcut, but this desolate road hides unspeakable terror. What begins as a detour morphs into a heart-stopping battle against an unseen evil. As friendships fracture and sanity slips, these 15 miles could be their last. Buckle up for a ride that will haunt your dreams long after the final page. Will they escape... or will they be the road's next victims?

Many thanks to Edelweiss and Tor Nightfire for the opportunity to read and review White Line Fever prior to publication.