Murder Road

By: Simone St. James

Narrated by: Brittany Pressley

Length: 9 hrs and 10 mins

Publisher's summary

A young couple find themselves haunted by a string of gruesome murders committed along an old deserted road in this terrifying new novel from the New York Times bestselling author of The Book of Cold Cases.

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 hitchhiker 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.

©2024 Simone St. James (P)2024 Penguin Audio

Critic reviews

"From its nerve-shredding start to its thrilling end, MURDER ROAD steers the reader down creepy backroads, past urban legends so vivid you'd swear they were true, and into the marriage of two damaged souls you can't help but root for. Part love story, part campfire tale, it's a trip well worth taking."—Riley Sager, New York Times bestselling author of The Only One Left

“As creepy and unsettling as a rain-faded wreath and teddy bear found by the side of the road to mark a missing person, Murder Road lingers like a ghost long after it’s finished.”—Grady Hendrix, New York Times bestselling author of How to Sell a Haunted House

"From its terrifying opening to its jaw-dropping conclusion, this thriller has it all—small town secrets, ominous dark deeds after midnight, and a young couple desperate to learn the truth before it costs them their very lives. You will follow this shocking road to its climatic end!”—Lisa Gardner, #1 New York Times Bestselling author of Still See You Everywhere

Loved the 90’s setting

Another hit with one of my favorite narrators! Love the Snell Sisters, they should have their own book:)

Atmospheric and haunting story that was narrated perfectly.

Both eerily scary and a lovely delve into familial relationships. Rich, poignant characters with well developed lives and individual personal strife. The narrator offered an opportunity to feel, firsthand, the myriad of emotions of the main character. And the other characters were easily imagined and personified. Kudos to Simone St. James for another great story and to Brittany Presley for a lovely narration.

Well written and held my attention.

The reader pleasant to listen to. I didn't guess the ending ahead of time. I will recommed to friends.

Story was fun to follow.

The characters were likeable. The mystery was engaging and kept me guessing. I enjoyed this book.

Fantastic!

Great narration, spectacular writing, and an enjoyable reading experience! I recommend this to anyone who loves the thriller genre :)

Unexpected twists

Excellent book and I don’t need to say anymore however this says I have to have a 15 word minimum to submit, which is absolutely stupid

90s Supernatural Thriller

What would you do if you picked up a hitchhiker on an abandoned road, found out she was bleeding from stab wounds, and then started being chased by a large truck? If this sounds like the start of a really good 90s horror movie, then this book may just be perfect for you. And let me say that this situation is only what happens in the first few chapters; the rest of the book is an even wilder ride. 😱

Did you ever watch Unsolved Mysteries? "Murder Road" gives off the same 90s vibes. We have a stretch of abandoned road (Atticus Line), an urban legend (The Lost Girl), and a whole bunch of murdered hitchhikers that span over 60 years.

PLUS, we then have the illusive, secret pasts of our cute newlywed couple: April and Eddie. Simone St. James uses all of these plot devices to create an eerie, scary thriller that I was completely invested in.

It probably added to the creepiness of this book that I listened to Brittany Pressley narrate this eerie thriller while driving down country roads at 2 AM from a karate tournament. To say I was a bit freaked out is a gross understatement 🫣 The audio is tense and added another dimension to the story.

If you have read any Simone St. James books, you know the author is an expert at balancing cliffhangers, character development, and fast-paced action. There was never a moment where I was bored in this story.

One of the best things about this book is that it blends together genres; it has supernatural horror elements, a thriller twist, and a mystery, all blended into one creepy book. Plus, you have all the 90s nostalgia elements that I loved. Overall, if you are looking for a ghost story that will have you keeping the lights on while you read it, this is your book!

Genuinely creepy

I like SSJ’s other books, which are atmospheric and haunted. I loved this one for its downright creepiness.

Sympathetic and interesting characters, a compelling mystery, and a scene I was glad to be listening to in daylight, made Murder Road a fun read.

I’d recommend this one to fans of Dean Koontz. (I think it’s far better than a lot of what Koontz writes, but has a similar feel to it.)

Great

This was a very enjoyable spooky book. Anither hit! Can't wait for the next one.

Another Must Read

Scares, Tension and Characters that you care about. Loved it. The book flew by too fast. I miss the characters already.