So, I haven’t read a lot of Simone St. James’s novels, and I don’t have deep opinions about her writing, but I do know this novel was just “okay-ish”.

Thank you @prhaudio for my early copy of MURDER ROAD by Simone St. James, which is out now.

The couple is very wishy-washy and they just sorta unrealistically jump into solving this crime that just happened to fall into their laps while on a honeymoon. Not that I need to to be realistic, but that process just did not JIVE with me as a reader.

Also, Eddie and the hitchhiker's connection was totally predictable and the ending, while not necessarily predictable, was like “gasp oh my gosh!” but more of a “oh, okay, so that’s the end? Cool.”

I will definitely read another SSJ novel, just to form my own thoughts and foundation for her writing in this genre.

I enjoyed parts of this story but ultimately it's not one of my favorites. I loved how atmospheric it was, the time period, and characters. But some of the paranormal elements just didn't work for me. The middle was really really slow and fell apart for me. I was intrigued enough to finish but there were too many holes in this story.

3.5 One can always count on St. James for a solid, original ghost story. I am particularly impressed when authors can make hot, sunny weather feel creepy and cold. St. James' characters feel real and nuanced and her stories are original and affecting. Keep writing, Ms. St. James, and I'll keep reading!

Simone St. James has become an auto-buy author for me -- however her most recent release, Murder Road, fell a bit flat for me personally...

LOVED the small town setting near Lake Michigan
LOVED the spooky, paranormal aspects

However...
- I didn't fully believe the MC and her husband's relationship -- it seemed awkward and boring
- Because I wasn't invested in their relationship/background stories, the "twists" seemed a bit of a stretch and unimportant

I would've loved if we could've gotten a change in POV or time jump (like so many of her other books), so I could've been more invested

Don't get me wrong, I will definitely continue to read more Simone St. James in the future -- just disappointed this one didn't hit the mark for me.

Thank you Berkley for the free #gifted book.

Simone St. James has been an auto buy author for me for a while now, so I was thrilled (ha) to read Murder Road. She spun a tale of suspense and added a bit of her signature paranormal that I've come to expect and love!

Hitchhikers turning up dead along one road and no leads on who the killer is. Two newlyweds are driving to their honeymoon destination and pick up a girl that clearly needs help - turns out she's been stabbed. When they get to the hospital, she dies, and April and Eddie are immediate suspects. They didn't do it, at least April doesn't think so. But something strange is going on and April is determined to figure out who this girl is, why she was killed, and who killed her and the other victims over the years.

I really don't want to give anything away, but this was a really fun read and had me wondering where it was going and how everything would be explained. There were a couple parts that were a bit creepy, but I didn't find this book quite as spooky as her previous books. That's totally ok though, because I"m already looking forward to her next release, whenever that may be!

I have been a Simone St. James fan for a long time, and this one did not disappoint.

I loved the throwback vibe of the story being set in the 90's. Newlyweds April and Eddie take a wrong turn and come across an injured hitchhiker. She dies on the way to the hospital, and they find themselves as prime suspects in the middle of a murder investigation. This was a bit of a genre bend with some supernatural horror aspects, and a thriller plot twist.

Overall, I really enjoyed this one with the 90's throwback and urban legend vibes.

Simone St. James never disappoints. I love a creepy vibe horror book that's light on graphic violence, but scares me by creating an atmosphere that transports me into the story. And that is probably why I love Simone St. James. We've got a couple on their honeymoon that wind up lost on a mysterious road. This road has been the site of several murders over the last several years. There are rumors of a ghost and some shady behaviors by many of the locals. Our honeymooners make some friends and several enemies on their unplanned visit to Coldlake Falls as they try to solve the mystery of what's really happening in this remote Michigan town.

Creepy galore!
I got chills up and down my spine as I read parts of this book. Supernatural sightings and unsolved murders sling a stretch of road in Michigan.
I was ambivalent about Eddie and April. I knew April had more secrets than Eddie, but each had parts of their past that remained in the dark.
I made a key connection Halfway through the book and I was right in my assessment.
I thought the cause for the first murder was a bit lame.
Eddie and April need to take a different road!

A planned honeymoon celebration goes terribly wrong when the couple lose their way on a dreary road & pick up an injured girl who later dies, apparently murdered. Thrust into the center of a police investigation, April & Eddie fight to prove they’re innocent and help find the real murderer. Folklore of a cursed road, where many have died, questions as to eerie happenings within the community of Coldlake Falls, lead to so many unanswered questions. Sometimes, the answer hits a little too close to home. Can April & Eddie clear their name, or will they be imprisoned in this town and its haunted past forever? Thanks to Berkley Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC. This is my honest review.

A young couple are on their way to their honeymoon when they stumble across a hitchhiker. They offer to give her a ride, but quickly realize she's injured and although they get her to the hospital, she dies. The police are suspicious of them and think they're involved, but the couple decides to find out what happened on their own. Overall, a mystery that has a hint of the supernatural and uncovers the past not only for the couple, but also residents of the town.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for a DRC!

"Murder Road" by Simone St. James is a gripping mystery that delivers suspense and intrigue in equal measure. Set against the backdrop of a small, isolated town, the story follows a young woman who uncovers dark secrets from the past as she investigates a murder that happened decades ago. St. James' writing is atmospheric and immersive, drawing readers into the eerie world she has created. The characters are well-developed and relatable, and the plot is full of twists and turns that will keep readers guessing until the very end. Overall, "Murder Road" is a compelling read that is sure to satisfy fans of the mystery genre.

Simone St. James continues to create stories and images in her writing that keeps you up at night - both wanting to read more and scared for what goes bump into the night. This story follows a couple that get caught in the middle of a murder investigation in a small town on their way to their honeymoon. One would assume they were just at the wrong place at the wrong time, or where they? We soon learn that something mysterious is at play with twist and turns that you don't see coming. This book is perfect for those true crime lovers and enjoy paranormal stories. It is definitely a spooky story but I don't think I would categorize it as horror. It plays on the thrill of the chase of a murderer with giving you goosebumps from something that shouldn't be real. Truly loved this one - probably her best since Broken Girls.

Murder Road is a road best avoided, especially when the moon hangs low and shadows dance with secrets. April and Eric unwittingly journey down this ominous path and stumble upon a young woman, isolated and injured. As they become stranded in a small town brimming with untold secrets, they realize that leaving may not be an option when they become suspects of foul play.

Simone St. James crafts a bewitching, tense, and eerie haunting ambiance that propelled me to eagerly turn the pages in anticipation of each ghostly encounter. Known for her captivating blending of mystery, atmosphere, and supernatural elements, she offers a fresh perspective on familiar plot devices, that adds an extra layer of allure to her storytelling, drawing me into a journey filled with suspense, and fascination.

BUT and I always have one: I felt slightly let down when the motivation was unveiled, and the unresolved conflict surrounding the ghost's motives seemed unclear.

However, The character development is yet another spellbinding aspect of the story, with intricate personalities that are as flawed as resilient. The dynamics between the characters are well-crafted, unveiling their hidden secrets, which adds intricate layers to the narrative and enriches the dynamics of their relationships. My perception of one character underwent a fascinating transformation when their unexpected actions and motivations were revealed, adding an intriguing twist to the storyline.

Despite its flaws, Murder Road is a journey I enjoyed with its suspense, mystery, and supernatural allure that kept me on the edge of my seat from start to finish providing a thrilling ride.

A Witches Word Read

Simone St. James has mastered creepy supernatural thrillers. Murder Road is just another of her works filled with plenty of tension and mystery. Eddie and April pick up a woman whom they assume is a hitchhiker on the side of the road. When they discovered she is injured and bleeding, they rush her to the hospital, only to have her die. They discover that she is only one among several victims in Coldlake Falls and the highway. As the saying goes, no good dead goes unpunished. Eddie and April suddenly find themselves suspects in her murder. With the help of Rose, the B&B proprietor, and two teenage sisters, Beatrice and Gracie, the two work to clear their name and find the real reason behind the murders. They find that the answer is more nefarious than they realized.

I really enjoyed this book. It's full of plenty of nostalgia, intrigue, thrills, and just the right amount of creepy supernatural to excite me. I love writing and how the author navigates through a plot of turns and surprises. St. James does a wonderful of creating atmosphere. Murder Road is a chilling read and unsettling at times. It had me engaged from the very beginning. Fans of St. James will not want to miss this one!

I think I just really like Simone St. James's writing.
Two newlyweds are on their way to their honeymoon when they get lost and find a girl walking a deserted highway. She is bleeding and terrified saying "He's coming."

They take her to the local hospital where she ends up dying. They are automatically suspects in her death.

They start looking for answers when they realize that this road has had deaths happen over the last twenty years.

Now if you don't like a touch of paranormal in a book this may not be for you. BUT I love it. This had just enough of the creep factor to keep me reading.

Booksource: Netgalley in exchange for review.

*I was provided an arc of Murder Road on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*
As soon as I found out Murder Road was about to be published, I scrambled to get my hands on a copy. I adore The Sun Down Motel and the way Simone St. James seamlessly wove the natural and supernatural into one compelling story. This new novel further solidified her place as one of my most beloved authors.

In Murder Road, readers follow a newlywed couple who encounter the victim of an attempted murder that starts a chain of events that alter the course of their lives forever. How did they end up on this road where so many hitchhikers have died through the years? Why doesn't the husband recall turning onto the road in the first place? Does the Lost Girl, the alleged ghost of the initial murder victim, really exist or is she a mere legend?

Murder Road kept me on the edge of my seat. It was spooky enough to make me stay awake at night, but not overly scary or gory. My one complaint was that the ending felt a bit abrupt to me. There was a lot of build up throughout the story and I would have like to have seen the final moments in a bit more detail. However, this is still one of the most wonderful thrillers I have ever read and I will definitely be recommending it to other readers.

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.