A couple recovering from the loss of their newborn son is driving across Canada from Seattle in an RV to attend the Olympics. They meet and befriend a young couple who turn out to be wanted for murder. Kidnapped, injured, and forced to help the couple rob others, will Tom and Alice survive, and could this horrendous experience lead to something wonderful? Story was hard to get into at the beginning but by about 1/3 of the way through, it kept me wanting to know what happened.

Wow, just wow! This one kept my blood pressure up almost the entire time. I was nervous, scared, and obsessed. What can two harmlessly looking teenagers do?! Well, all I’m going to say is that you’ll need a seatbelt. This story just got more intense with each chapter, and I really enjoyed it. It’s raw and sometimes cruel and has a lot of triggers. But I think it was written brilliantly. I’m glad it’s over, but I’m also bummed it’s over. Great thriller with realistic fiction writing.
Thanks, St. Martin’s Press via NetGalley.

Meh. Mediocre overall with cardboard characters, and also a very infuriating one I wanted to slap. A couple's road trip vacation in an RV is ruined when they pick up hitchhikers...

Thanks to NetGalley for the review copy.

*NO spoilers, but trigger warnings are listed at the bottom of this review- which may hint at certain elements in the book.*
I am a fan of Chevy Stevens novels, and The Hitchhikers did NOT disappoint! Some parts felt a little too long/ drug out- but, wow, such a great book!!! By the time I finished I wanted it to keep going, yet also NEEDED to know the ending!!
Thank you to NetGalley, author Chevy Stevens and St.
Martin's Press publishing for this advanced reader's copy in exchange for my honest review! All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.
This book is expected to be published on October 7, 2025! Add it to your list now!!

If you’re into suspenseful, character-driven thrillers, this one’s a wild ride. Set in 1976, a grieving couple—Tom and Alice—hit the road in their RV hoping to mend things. They pick up two hitchhikers, only to find themselves trapped in a terrifying cat‑and‑mouse game  .
The tension builds slowly—but oh man, when the mayhem hits, it hits hard.

What works:
• Creepy roadside atmosphere with that ’70s isolation vibe.
• Complex characters you actually care about.
• A twist-loaded, edge-of-your-seat plot that keeps you turning pages.

Heads-up: It’s a slow burn until things go full thriller—then there’s grit, intensity, and emotional punch.

Rating: 4–4.5/5 – A hard-to-put-down trip with heart and horror. If you like tense, emotional thrillers

Chevy Stevens doesn’t write books — she casts spells. The Hitchhikers is a slow-burning scream tucked inside the trees of British Columbia, where every mile of open road hides something you don’t want to see. It’s gritty, gripping, and terrifying in the quietest, most realistic way.

This isn’t your typical hitchhiker horror. It’s layered, psychological, and painfully human. The kind of thriller where the villain isn’t just a person — it’s fear itself. Stevens gives us raw trauma, imperfect strength, and a protagonist who doesn’t need to be fearless to be fierce.

By the end, you won’t just be looking over your shoulder — you’ll be checking your rearview mirror too.

I am a huge Chevy Stevens fan and this book did NOT disappoint!! Felt like I was watching a movie and could see the entire story being played out as I read! Definitely had my attention early on and I found myself dying to know what was going to happen next!!

Although, there is an error in the writing in Chapter 2, where Alice uses Simon's real name... which messed with the story for a moment.... it truly was a great read and one I'd recommend to anyone!

This was a fantastic thriller - I haven’t read any books by Chevy Stevens and really enjoyed this one. The writing is great and the story character driven. Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the eARC.

I loved the characters in this book. I really disliked Simon and what he did to everyone. How Jenny was so blind to how evil he was. I wish the ending would’ve had more about how they were captured and what they explained to the police. But the last chapter was a twist I didn’t expect.

Wow! This was my first read by Chevy Stevens and will not be my last! (I actually just picked up Still Missing from an overstock sell at my local library 🤗) I love the storyline of The Hitchhikers and, of course, the time period. I was intrigued from the first page and all the way through to the last page. Reading this book was time well spent.

A special “thank you!” to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for this wonderful opportunity to read an early copy of The Hitchhikers!

THE HITCHHIKERS
Chevy Stevens

It’s been years since I’ve read Chevy Stevens and this reminded me why I loved the last one so much. The plot and pacing were well timed and the storyline was propulsive and kept my pages turning effortlessly! I really liked the adaptability of Alice’s character as much as I abhorred the character of Simon even though in the beginning I truly wanted to sympathize with the kids and their situation. The characters of Tom and Jenny left me truly disappointed and I really felt they both lacked some personality for me, I wanted more from both of them as individuals. While I was able to predict the way in which the story was going to end the ride along the way was thrilling and exasperating! Chevy builds the pressure perfectly and I felt the conclusion of this one was completely satisfying as well.
4.5⭐️
Many thanks to @netgalley and @chevystevens and @StMartinsPress for the ARC🖤
#TheHitchhikers #ChevyStevens #arcreader #arcreviewer #thrillerbooks #netgalley #bookstagram

This was surprisingly good. It was something I requested on a whim but I am so glad I did because this was excellent. If you are looking for a story that will suck you in from page 1 and not let go this is it

Chevy Stevens has been one of my favorite authors since I read her first novel, Still Missing, 15 years ago, so I was really excited to receive an advanced copy of The Hitchhikers. I really enjoyed this book...the plot was interesting, I cared about the characters, and I liked that it was told from the perspectives of both Alice and Jenny. I couldn't wait to find out how everything would turn out, and I liked the ending. Chevy Stevens has never disappointed me, and I always look forward to reading her novels. Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for giving me the opportunity to read and review The Hitchhikers! : )

WOW, WOW, WOW!!! I discovered Chevy Stevens a few years ago and quickly devoured all her books and longed for more. . I was super excited to be chosen for The Hitchhikers. Definitely the best book I have read in a long time-I actually slowed down my reading speed to make it last longer and was sad when I finished. A gripping edge of your seat book- you will definitely love this one.. I was sucked in from the first page until to the very last one. Characters were great and the relationships that grew between the characters throughout their ordeal were great. Definitely a winner- now I can’t wait until her next book! Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press and Chevy Steven’s for the opportunity to read and review this ARC. I loved it! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Wow! This is the first book I’ve read by Chevy Stevens and it was fantastic!! Love that it takes place where I live too - I believe the author also lives here. It really makes it more fun. I’ll definitely be reading more by her.

This is one of my new auto buy authors. Absolutely drew me in with 70s nostalgia and the slow, intentional character development. Just when I thought I had it figured out, I didn’t. This is a masterfully artful thriller.

I was on the edge of my seat through the entirety of this book. I was so invested in Tom and Alice it wasn't even funny, I made threats to throw my (kindle) book against the wall many times. And way to go Chevy Stevens for twisting my view on good vs bad / villain vs victim. This story was so well written with many layers. It was violent, sad, suspenseful and redeeming.

I have enjoyed every Chevy Stevens book I have ever read, and now, I can also add this book to that list. Stevens’ writing style is right up my alley, and I was interested and engaged throughout this entire story. If you like other books by this author, you’ll love this one, too.

It wasn’t hard to figure out which direction this book would take. It had the perfect naïve couple picking up hitchhikers who had committed a horrible crime. I wondered how the author would be able to keep this interesting as it was a rather long book. I thought maybe it would get repetitive after a while, but it didn’t. I was always glad to get back to reading once again after I had put it down because life got in the way. The twists were very original and innovative, the pace was suspenseful, the characters were believable, and the ending was satisfying.

Thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review The Hitchhikers. Well done, Ms. Stevens. Well done.

Alice and Tom load up their new RV and begin their trip on the remote Canadian highways. After the tragic loss of their baby, they have planned a trip that will take them to the remote and beautiful areas of Canada, allowing them to look ahead to better times.
Their plans suddenly change when they meet Jenny and Simon, two young hitchhikers stranded without a ride. After offering them a ride, they discover they are not the innocent people they appear to be but are wanted by the police for murder. Alice and Tom’s lives are now in danger. Despite their desperate efforts to escape from them, they have become Jenny and Simon’s prisoners.
Loaded with tension and unending twists and turns, this novel will keep you on the edge of your seat until the absolute end.