Book Review: Murder Road by Simone St. James

I received a review copy from the publisher. This does not affect the contents of my review and all opinions are my own.

Murder Road by Simone St. James

Mogsy’s Rating: 4.5 of 5 stars

Genre: Thriller, Mystery, Horror

Series: Stand Alone

Publisher: Berkley (March 5, 2024)

Length: 350 pages

Author Information: Website

On a dark and lonely road in rural Michigan, July 1995. Newlyweds April and Eddie Carter are on their way to their honeymoon destination when they make a wrong turn onto Atticus Lane. In the blackness of the night, they suddenly spot a lone hitchhiker in their headlights, stumbling and incoherent. At first, the couple think the hitchhiker, a young woman, is drunk. But when they get her into the car, April realizes the stranger is covered in blood. “I’m sorry,” the woman says. “He’s coming.” Soon, their car is pursued by a pickup truck barreling through the darkness.

Chased into the sleepy town of Coldlake Falls, they make their escape. But it is too late for the young woman, who dies at the local hospital, and the police are now making the Carters their prime suspects for her mysterious death. It seems that this is not the first time something like this has happened on Atticus Lane, where murders involving hitchhikers have been happening for years. As April and Eddie try to clear their names and find the real culprit, they uncover a haunted history in Coldlake Falls going back decades. But the two of them have secrets of their own as well—something to hide and something to fear—and the truth may yet tear them apart.

This is the premise of Murder Road, the newest thriller by Simone St. James which combines horror, mystery, and a generous helping of the supernatural. This is also the third book I’ve read by the author, and so far, it’s probably my favorite—and the creepiest. St. James has a real knack for crafting hauntingly atmospheric stories, and the suspense in this one was through the roof! Remember to proceed with caution, and whatever you do, don’t read this alone at night!

From the start, the story had me hooked with its nostalgic mid-90’s setting, and as someone who has lived through that glorious decade, I felt instantly transported back to the time of grunge rock, Princess Diana love, and when ubiquitous smartphone use was still a distant reality. The plot itself was a rollercoaster of questions and elusive answers which are revealed gradually, and the mystery comes at us from two angles—first, who has been killing hitchhikers along Atticus Line, and second, who are April and Eddie, and what aren’t they telling each other?

On that note, the characterizations of our newly married couple were excellent, drawing readers deeper into their complicated lives full of past trauma and lies of omission, and strong supporting characters mostly made up of Coldlake Falls residents rounds out the rest of the cast. From the surly local cops to the quirky owner of the bed and breakfast, their various personalities helped bring the town to life.

Speaking of which, Coldlake Falls itself could be a character in its own right, a town full of suspicious people, thick with unease from witnessing so much death and tragedy, not to mention it is also home to a legend about a vengeful spirit. In other words, the perfect setting for a ghost story.

If you are an admirer of Simone St. James, Murder Road is not one you’ll want to miss, and for fans of chilling tales that send shivers down you spin, this novel delivers in spades. Just remember to keep the lights on while you read—you never know who or what might be lurking in the shadows.