In an attempt to finally outrun the ghosts of his past and Bad Feeling that’s been chasing him for as long as he can remember, Denver’s shining detective, Daniel Stansfield has decided to quit the force. Today is the first day of the rest of his life, starting with his grand plan to reenlist for the third and final time before retiring away to his own secluded cabin in the mountains. That is, of course, if he comes back alive. All of that changes when his six year old cold case gets much more personal and a whole lot warmer.

After a broken hiatus of The Drifters, people unconscious to their surroundings until found walking with the hides of their human victims over their naked bodies- whose only connection is a strand of hair tied around their tongue, the weight of Daniel’s lifelong grief is a beacon for something seemingly sinister. When answers his case feel like they are close to being revealed, so are many more questions he must attempt to decipher before the next victim is found.

CJ Leede has done it again with Headlights! Full of grief and fear, with a fast paced and fully immersive sense of hopeful anticipation, Headlights has quickly become my favorite CJ novel. It left me ravenously clinging to every page. Astonishing work from a powerhouse in horror!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers at Tor Nightfire for this opportunity and to the author for a haunting and beautiful read.

Well, safe to say, CJ Leede has done it again.
Showing us a whole new side to her story telling, Headlights is a wonderful tornado of genres. A story of grief, trauma and what it means to survive I couldn't put this down.
For a more indepth spoiler free review, please check out my youtube review here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GWDaV4G9vRc&t=135s

This book was devastating. It leaves you guessing what will happen at every turn while you explore Daniel's awful memories. It is an amazing blend of body horror, mystery, and truly unfathomable terrors! Highly recommend for anyone looking for a disgusting horror novel with beautiful analogies woven into it.

CJ Leede has fast become one of my favorite authors. Headlights hooked me and kept me enthralled throughout.
I wasn’t sure how it was going to end up… I felt like I was on the journey with the main characters. Also, there were several “no, oh no you’re not” moments. Which is always fun in a weird way when dealing with horror.
I can’t wait to see what you come up with next!

This sucked me in immediately! I have never annotated a book on my kindle so much!! Absolutely gripping, horrifying and visual. I was fully immersed and I’m so so glad the ending wasn’t a letdown.

True Detective x The Shining with a bit of Jordan Peele! I loved all the references to The Shining- my all time favourite horror movie! Dan and Hannah were fabulously haunted

I will say I hate the name Hannah so I was just calling her Anna

If she writes it, I will read it. Thank you TOR Nightfire for this super special most anticipated ARC of 2026 in exchange for my honest review!


CJ Leede’s third book is a STUNNER of a release. I’ve fallen head-over-heels for her writing. Her prose is like a classical orchestra piece, beautiful arranged and paints a gorgeous (and SEAMLESS) picture in your mind. There wasn’t a single moment while reading this book that I dropped the thread of imagination. Please be warned this is a GUT PUNCH of trauma but was SO SO necessary. Folks who love The Shining and the X-Files will just DEVOUR this book. So weird and creepy and silly, an ode to Stephen King’s the Shining, and a TERRIFYING one at that! This is CJ Leede’s best to date.

And this is EXACTLY why I love horror. CJ Leede gave us another grotesquely beautiful story. Underneath the grim horror aspects is a tale about embracing your darkness, even if you have to shatter yourself in the process. It is a beautiful homage to those who have passed on from the world we can see. The ending had a melancholy hope blooming within me, like a flower through a grave.

This book kind of broke me.

Headlights felt like a love letter to Colorado in the same way Maeve Fly was to LA, and I was not emotionally prepared for it.

There’s a moment that gave me The Abyss vibes and other parts that reminded me of The X-Files and I was completely locked in.

I’ve read almost 50 books this year and this is already one of my top reads of 2026. Thank you @tornightfire for the gifted advanced readers copy!

Okay, CJ Leede is officially my type of author. I mean, she was already one of my favorites starting with Maeve Fly, but Headlights right after American Rapture really really solidified her in my personal hall of fame.

Look, I’m not a police procedural drama/thriller girly AT ALL, so I was really hesitant at the beginning of the book. And there were SO MANY names of victims/drifters to remember that I kept getting confused. But really, it didn’t matter. And possibly that was also the point? Highlighting how many different people and families were impacted by this case that it’s difficult to keep track of really emphasizes the depth and complexity of the situation.

This is probably definitely a spoiler? Though I feel it shouldn’t be, but it’s not mentioned in the description of the book, so…

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(there is definitely a paranormal aspect and I really love how that was done; I won’t explain more because I don’t want to actually spoil anything)
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This story is about unresolved trauma, immense grief and fear, environmental and ecological impacts of human expansion, humanity’s innate tunnel vision, and how wildly small and we are in the grand scheme of things.

Thank you NetGalley and Tor Nightfire for an advance copy of this book.

This one gave me the heebiejeebs. Well done CJ Leede, I think I’m obsessed with you. So it’s not an out-and-out gory all the time, kind of horror novel. It’s more of the unsettling, unexplained-weird-things-are-happening supernatural, eco horror/slow-burn thriller kind of vibes. But don’t get me wrong, there’s also gore while in this beautifully-described Colorado setting: explicit murder, people found on the side of the highway wearing the skins of victims that they allegedly never met, cannibalism, to name a few. Think X-Files meets the Shining meets True Detective. The author did a beautiful job writing this book and I highly recommend reading.

Thank you so much NetGalley and CJ Leede for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review

I’m having trouble finding the words to describe this book. True to CJ’s tendency thus far, Headlights is completely different from her prior work, while still retaining her signature prose, unique aesthetics, and emotional depth. This book is like nothing I’ve ever read.

I was immediately and entirely immersed. Every aspect, from scenery to characters, is so skillfully presented that I felt I was experiencing it all myself, with every one of my (filled up) senses. Her writing is gripping, comforting, and distinct. Like an iconic musician can be identified by a single note or chord, her voice is unmistakably recognizable within the first lines. It’s not just storytelling – it’s true artistry. Reading CJ’s books feels like coming home to visit your best friend, and they are always worth the wait.

Also true to her style, CJ creates a universe with so many layers and themes while blending them together seamlessly. The Shining tie-ins offered a nostalgic, rewarding connection to the story while remaining fresh and creative. I never knew what was coming next, but I trusted the process, and it paid off.

Headlights should be consumed slowly (though it’s not easy to put down). It is heavy, it is uncomfortable. It is visceral, and it is brilliant.

One of my favorite elements of CJ’s books – and especially their conclusions – is that she always gives us the story that we need, not the one we think we want.
Trust the process.

It took me about 3 chapters to know this book was a new favorite. I loved the character development throughout the book, and I'll admit... toward about 50% of the way through it started to loose me a little bit and I was second guessing how much I initially thought I loved this book HOWEVER.... It made up for it and then some. I am going to be thinking about this book for a very long time. It encompassed all the things I love in a book. Horror, deep backstory, character development, light romance mixed in, crime investigation, navigating traumas, and spiritual/ almost sci-fi like elements and exploration of life after death. All of these were done so well in my opinion.

Tor - thank you so much for gifting me my favorite book of the year. Of the last five years. Ten.

“I think home is just a place that pulls on you harder than the rest.”

“Something about knowing that even people who might not be all the way good could give a lot of good to the world anyway, it made me feel hope.”

I finished this book under the sun. The juncos, yet to have migrated, singing their song. I streamed John Denver and remembered all the times my mom played her cassettes of his, driving with the windows down, never having been to Colorado. But his music would take you there, make you homesick for a place you’ve never been. And I sat here and thought: damn. That is how Headlights was: a place that pulls on me harder than the rest. What a perfect book.

Headlights will stay with me forever. Just like The Shining. Just like Longlegs, Silence of the Lambs. One of those stories that changes the landscape and alters your brain chemistry. That shows you, regardless of how you age, you can still be awed by something new; imprinted on. Reading Headlights is a core memory.

I love the idea of a world where people Shine. A universe parallel to the one King gifted us. More people like Danny and Dick Hallorann. There is something horrifying and magical about a world with people like that in it, communicating with each other and the earth on a different plane, an “other” place.

Because what a dream. To be able to hear and understand the earth. To want to protect it by spilling blood. Relatable, honestly. The talk of apex predators and the huge impact they have on the eco system around us really sent this book home. As if I couldn’t love it enough, Leede touches on my wolf reintroduction hyperfixation. It was f*cking fantastic.

This is the new horror. Horror with heart. Horror with heat. Horror that makes you flinch, and look inward. Horror that recognizes humans are the true monsters. It is my favorite theme.

I could talk about why I loved this book so much for eternity. But I’m just going to need you to read it. Please. Especially if you are obsessed with wolves, The Shining, and aren’t afraid of some horrifying body gore. Ten stars.

If you've read CJ Leede's other books, buckle up because this book is an unhinged deathtrip across Colorado unlike anything you've seen before. Keep your eyes on what's in your headlights.

Imagine you trying to escape your past when it refuses to give up and manifests in gruesome comebacks. Victims are turning up wearing other people’s skin with no memory of how they got there. As the case spirals, Daniel becomes a suspect and ends up on the run with Hannah, who might be a victim or the cause of it all. There’s a lot packed into this one. It blends crime, supernatural horror, and some seriously disturbing moments, including graphic gore and dark erotic elements. Underneath it all, it’s really about trauma and facing who you are. The Colorado setting adds a great atmosphere, and I liked the subtle horror nods throughout. Intense, messy, and definitely not for everyone, but it stuck with me.

Possibly my favorite book of CJ Leede's so far.

For starters, I loved the writing style, which feels distinctly different from her other work. The prose here is terse and repetitive, but in an obviously intentional, stylistic way. It effectively sets the weary, bleak detective tone that at times reminded me of True Detective but also works such as Alan Wake and even a little bit of Twin Peaks, with a man descending into the depths of a possibly supernatural mystery.

That character at the center of this mystery, Daniel, is full of fear and anger and unresolved trauma that he's spent most of his life trying to flee. Leede does a great job of teasing out his backstory and the ways that his memories affect how he confronts this spree of serial killings that is starting up again. I appreciated that information was doled out slowly enough to keep us on the hook, but not so slowly that it grew tiresome or, worse, confusing.

The book has a ton of Stephen King influence all over it, in both subtle and very obvious ways. Being one of my favorite horror/thriller authors, I liked that a lot, and could see the ways in which Leede seemingly felt inspired by him while still charting her own course with this sort of material.

I was gripped the entire time and I loved the narrative as well as character arc resolutions. Headlights is a fantastic blend of mystery, thriller, and romance, and it's well worth checking out. It'll probably be on my year-end favorites list, and I'm sure it'll be on yours too.

I have a new favorite CJ Leede book.

I loved Maeve Fly and American Rapture, but I think Headlights is my new favorite!

I won’t rehash the synopsis of Headlights here, but if you haven’t read what it is, go do so!

Headlights is part The Silence of the Lambs and part supernatural horror, with The Shining being an explicit influence on this novel in ways that are SO awesome. Seriously, if you’re a fan of The Shining, that is alone reason to read this book.

The crime elements are so disturbing and so well done. The mystery will make you keep wanting to turn the page. The main character, Daniel, is a great character with a traumatic past that seeps its way further and further into the case. I really loved his relationship with another character but will not say so as to avoid spoilers (if you’ve read the book you know who I’m talking about).

The supernatural elements are just the icing on the cake. I LOVED the Witch Walker lore, as I love folk horror, but it also gets, dare I say, a little cosmic in a way? 👀 I won’t say too much!

I also need to mention how strong the setting is, with Colorado being the locale for Headlights, and the setting felt like a character in a really great way.

This is a novel about pain, loss, acceptance, and death, and what it means to carry on after.

Check out Headlights when it releases on June 9th. You might get nightmares, but you won’t be sorry.

Headlights will likely be one of my favorite horror books of the year.

Thanks to Tor Nightfire for the eARC for review on NetGalley!

I’m convinced CJ Leede can do no wrong. At many times, this book felt like a real fever dream, never knowing what’s real and what’s not. The ending felt very unique and I did not see it coming. A bittersweet, devastating, and lovely ending.

Favorite read of 2026 so far!

I always seem to have a CJ Leede book when I’m going through some turmoil. It’s the best kind of distraction!

Special Agent Daniel Stansfield is called back to Colorado to investigate his old case, turned cold. New murders have cropped up and with them new memories of his childhood. Why does this killer seem to be targeting him? Why was the latest murder at the scene of his childhood trauma?

Lots of references to Stephen King’s The Shining. In fact, Daniel is baked after Danny, one of the characters. I feel this pays such great homage to one of my favorite books of all time.

I loved the characters and especially the relationship between Daniel and Hannah. Although they hardly knew each other, I instantly felt their connection and how tied together in mystery and attraction they were.

Definitely recommend for Stephen Jung fans, fans of the supernatural and police procedurals.

Thank you to the publisher for my DRC!

Of course I’ll read anything Leede writes because she’s brilliant, but this one truly blew me away. I got more of a thriller vibe from the first half of the book, and honestly, I’m totally here for it. As I told my favorite buddy reader @lady.and.the.book , I got some Pretty Girl by Slaughter vibes from the very beginning, and whew, I thought that would be hard to top. But in true Leede fashion, she went on and topped it. This story was so layered, it just kept giving—trauma, grief, nature vs. nurture—this really had it all. I feel like our main character Danny was truly the perfect person to carry out this heavy tale—he was so flawed and complex, and his skepticism really played well against the paranormal aspect of the story. I’m not one to typically like paranormal horror, but against such a rough MC, it worked so well for me. This is one that I can see myself rereading in the future, because I feel like there might be more I can gain from it. Plus, I’ll need something to tide me over until the next book Leede puts out (write fast, pretty please 😘)

I work 12 hour days, so the ending is still a surprise for me… but gosh darn it CJ, this is amazing. My native background had me on the edge of my seat. The superstition. Trying to figure out the case. I love how this blended horror and police procedural so naturally. As always, the character development is amazing as is the detail. Yelling for everyone to read!

WOW

I knew from the epigraph (a quote from Stephen King's The Shining, and another from Thomas Harris's The Silence Of The Lambs), I was going to enjoy this one. However, I greatly underestimated just how awesome Headlights was going to be.

I absolutely loved Maeve Fly, and while American Rapture didn't quite do it for me, it was probably hindered by having the nearly impossible job of following Maeve. Headlights, though, might be CJ's best yet.

This book is just flat out brilliant, dark as hell, relentlessly intriguing, compelling, and intense. The horror elements are legitimately scary, the writing techniques used to encapsulate a troubled mind was nothing short of masterful. The emotional aspects are so beautifully executed, and make this review especially hard to write.

Headlights mixes everything you love about True Detective, Supernatural, the Hannibal Lecter books, and The Shining/Doctor Sleep, with that one-of-a-kind CJ Leede touch to create a novel that will keep you on the edge of your seat, mesmerized and blown away from start to tear-filled finish. Plus, a John Denver soundtrack never hurts.

I finished reading Headlights on Sunday and I haven't been able to get it out of my head since (not that I'm trying). CJ has given readers a book that is truly impossible to put down; one that makes you think and work and guess every step of the way, in the best way possible. Headlights is remarkable and I need you all to experience this brilliance.

If you have read this one, what did you think? If you haven't, how excited are you? On a scale of 1-13?
Headlights is an easy 5/5 from me. CJ put together a true masterpiece among the horror/crime thrillers, but also any and every other genre. Headlights balances show & tell to perfection. Find it in stores everywhere, June 9th; but until then, be sure to get those pre-orders in yesterday - You won't want to miss this one.

Wow! This book was 100% different from what I expected. I have previously read Maeve Fly and loved it, so I was delighted to receive an e-ARC of CJ Leede's newest work, Headlights.

Headlights is told from the perspective of Daniel Stansfield. A former FBI special agent who is burned out and looking for a change. However, before he can leave his badge behind, he's pulled back into one of the biggest cases he's ever worked. People are being murdered, and skinned, and seemingly innocent people are found walking around wearing their skins. As Daniel investigates, the case becomes increasingly personal, forcing him to confront the ghosts of his past in several ways.

The symbolism in this book is amazingly intricate and interwoven with themes of conservation and respect for the land, which I was not expecting but was pleasantly surprised by. It's evident that Leede has spent a great deal of time in Colorado and has great respect for the land's beauty, its wildlife, and its unique culture.

While this is very much a horror novel, there is so much more than that awaiting the reader.

Thank you to Tor Nightfire, CJ Leede, and NetGalley for providing me with an advanced copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

immediately up there with my very top books.

My friends. I don't want to give too much away--it would just be an injustice to the story. Having now read 3 of CJ Leede's books, it's evident she writes with her whole heart. The way she is able to put words to feelings I couldn't begin to explain for myself.

At this point it doesn't even sound like I'm referring to a horror book, but it blends seamlessly into this brilliant horror/detective/sexy/bloody mashup. I just have to give appreciation to an author using the horror genre to examine trauma, grief, fear, pain, etc; Clay McLeod Chapman is another author who does it magnificently.

I have quite a poor memory and often don't remember specifics of books, but I remember the way they make me feel and I know Headlights will be one I'll forever be hootin and hollerin about.

That being said, Headlights is still fucked up in so many ways. I mean, ur girl really did the thang. Allll the thangs.

Let me start this off by saying CJ Leede is an auto buy author for me. After finishing Maeve Fly, I instantly went into American Rapture because I love her writing so much. Once I got the news she was working on Headlights I knew it was a MUST read for me and even though it is completely different than her first two books, she did NOT disappoint.🙂‍↔️

I was invested straight from the beginning, constantly having questions I needed answers to which definitely made this a page turner for me. There were so many moments I can feel the emotions coming off the page and I just wanted to pull Danny in for a hug. -Other characters as well, but I don’t want to spoil anything!🙊

The flashbacks throughout the story felt so real, especially being so intertwined with the present.
It felt like I was the one having them, mixing past and reality. I think this book would have a successful movie or TV series adaptation, the book itself was playing in my head as one. The writing is phenomenal and at times has a slower pace, but you will definitely appreciate that as you continue along!

I also really appreciated The Shining references because it is one of my favorite movies!!

I have so much more that I could add, but it’s really hard to discuss those things without giving any spoilers away! That being said once you finish this masterpiece, please feel free to yap to me because I have a lot to say!

“This inhuman place makes human monsters.”- SK

I'm confused and thoroughly impressed. I've never been terrified, turned on, and full of emotions from one book before. CJ! Gurl! Only your words could make me feel this way.

Think 'The Shining' meets 'Silence of the Lambs' with a dash of 'Longlegs' Holy s**t. You all are in for the meatiest and bloodiest treat. After completing this, I'm hungry for more.

I love the feelings this book brought forth in me. Not only did it have my emotions all over the place, the story (even though it was horror at its best) felt like a warm blanket being wrapped around you, where you felt safe and loved. Being comforted by an old friend while people are being murdered, wearing the skin of their victims, and having a piece of hair tied around their tongues. Ahh, like a warm hug.

There aren't a lot of authors that can pull off the pulp feeling while also being current but CJ did it. The story started with a shock and ended in the same fashion. No punches pulled, just a bone-shattering horror mystery that you'll never see coming. And I am obsessed! There was a meat scene somewhere along these pages and talk about sexy. I mean, phew. I didn't even know that was possible. I can't say much else without giving it all away. Just prepare yourself for all kinds of feelings to rise to the surface.

'Headlights' was such an amazing read. Do not sleep on this one because you'll be doing yourself a disservice. Trust CJ with your life because she'll never do you wrong!

CJ Leede does not disappoint. I count down to every release and savor all the words, horror and mystery.

Daniel Stansfield, named after that Daniel in The Shining by his mother who called him her shining boy, is about to reenlist. He's packing up his FBI office, walking away - Daniel didn't bother forming connections at this assignment. After the love of his life divorced him - when Daniel withdrew from the world to recover from the horror of his adoptive parents' deaths, he's barely breathing.

Then a knock on his door.

His former boss and close friend, Jack arrives - to say the killing has begun.

A bizarre form of murder including two people - a catatonic murderer and a victim, Daniel is brought back to the world.

A slow burn, mystery infused with all the delicious horror of CJ Leede - excellent read!

CJ LEEDE I WILL READ ANYTHING YOU WRITE.

I was completely enamored by this story, it’s twists and turns, it’s paranormal nature, and at it’s core: it’s humanity.

Completely expected, yet so unexpected?

I have never read something so body horror-y, actually quite literally straight out of a nightmare, yet have it read so suspenseful it feels more like a Thriller.

I LOVED Headlights.

This book is absolutely insane. Horrifying, gory (though not quite as gleefully so as in Maeve Fly), urgent, nostalgic, heartbreaking, brutal—Headlights is a whirlwind. I recommend going into it knowing as little as possible about the plot; the confusion and desperation to understand just what the hell is happening (in Danny's mind and in the real world) only add to the reading experience.

Grief radiates throughout this novel. The way Headlights explores grief and tragedy and longing and loss is diabolical (complimentary); and ultimately, it more than succeeds.

I think this is CJ Leede's best work to date. Reminiscent of Twin Peaks or a Stephen King novel. This book is so incredibly scary, but also have incredibly beautiful things to say about grief. I haven't cried while reading a horror book in a long time!

And she does it again folks I will follow this author anywhere Mixing in Stephen King and Cryptids we are taken on a journey of serial killings protection and the vastness of the universe. Don’t let me spoil it for you preorder it now. Thanks to NetGalley and Tor nightfire for this amazing e-arc i cannot wait to see what she does next 4.5 stars ⭐️ rounded up.

I struggled through a slump in February and I’m still trying to shake it. Hands down my favorite book of the month was Headlights by CJ Leede. Thank you to Tor Nightfire and NetGalley for the eARC!

TL;DR - five stars, run and preorder now.

Someone told me to get out of a slump, review the book just like you’re talking about it. Since I talk about books at my retail job, this is what I sound like-

Customer: Oh, you’re a reader?
Me: YES. I read a LOT.
Customer- do you have any recs?
Me: (looks around, then whispers) I read horror.
Customer: Oh! Like Stephen King!
Me: Kind of? I mean, yes. I read Stephen King but holy hell, let me tell you about CJ Leede.
Also me:
I read her sophomore work, American Rapture first and it smashed my heart to pieces. Riding that Rapture high, I immediately picked up her debut, Maeve Fly. It was funny and gross and gory and holy shit, I cried AGAIN. Did not expect to cry for that psycho Maeve but damn, it got me right in the feels.
Leede’s third novel, Headlights is coming out this summer, June 9! It’s about a FBI special agent that has spent his life running away. He’s drawn home to protect the ones he loves and try to close an impossible case.
It’s kind of a thriller. There’s the whole FBI trying to catch a killer thing but it’s also full of nostalgia. Have you ever questioned your childhood memories, like did that really happen or did I make it up? Do you like John Denver? Have you ever been to Colorado? Look, I wasn’t sure about a male protagonist but Daniel Stansfield is a hell yes for me. He’s a walking red flag but at his core he’s just a person, trying to figure it out. You’ll want to root for him, just like I did.
Because it’s Leede, you need to know there’s a healthy dose of weird. Oh, and gore but like appropriate gore that will gross you out but it’s for the story, I promise. And it’s kind of hot? Sorry, sorry, that’s too much. Maybe you won’t cry? I totally cried.
Anyways, I really just loved this book and CJ Leede. See you next time and we can talk about it some more!

(Customer runs to local indie book store to preorder Headlights, probably)

I was already a fan of CJ Leede's brand of horror, but this book has truly taken over my brain these past few days. Two of my favorite horror novels (and movies) ever are Silence of the Lambs and The Shining. Headlights starts with an epigraph comprised of quotes from each, and from that point on I was hooked. It has a little bit of the essence of each novel, but proves to be so much more as the story progresses.

As much as this is a story of an FBI agent with a traumatic background, unsolved serial case, and literal shadows haunting him, this story also explores the world we live in and the impact that everything has on each other. The controversy of wolf reintroduction and overdevelopment of public lands are very real issues that are present in our country today. Seeing how these issues are incorporated in the overarching plot was really interesting to see unfold.

This book takes place primarily in Colorado. As someone who currently lives in Colorado, it was so cool to see places that I have frequented as locations that were discussed or visited throughout the events of the book. The Stanley Hotel, for one, was described so accurately that it could match the pictures that I have on my phone. It has given me a list of more places to explore, as a result of curiosity to compare the real-world counterparts to their literary depictions.

The horror element is always my favorite thing about CJ Leede's books. Because it never plays out like I think it will, and I enjoy the surprise of the reality behind the paranormal. In this particular book, the ending was so excruciatingly cathartic that I couldn't help but feel comforted by the time it was over. Absolutely loved this book from start to finish, and it's now my favorite CJ Leede story!

Headlights releases on June 9, 2026. Thank you Tor Nightfire (via Netgalley) for gifting me with an eARC, all thoughts expressed are my own.

As always, thank you firstly to the publisher and author for allowing me to take a peak at this novel prior to its official publication!

I read CJ Leede's Maeve Fly last year and enjoyed it so when I saw Headlights here on NetGalley I was very excited! And I certainly was not disappointed. If I had to describe Headlights via poorly constructed comparison, I would liken it to a sort of Silence of the Lambs/XFiles/Silent Hill mashup in all of the best ways possible.

Danny's backstory is elaborately crafted in an almost leisurely way that leaves you wanting more information but also thinking you know it all - until you suddenly don't. There is just enough attention given to each character featured in this story that as a reader I could actually genuinely care for them and be affected by what they experience. There is such care given to a tender meeting of gruesome depravity and an underlying familial nurturing feeling that it only enhances the discomfort.

I could easily see this being adapted for film one day. Set amongst beautiful landscapes with absolutely horrifying imagery of the Drifters carrying "their" victims, a country music soundtrack playing alongside each turn of events. I loved the inclusion of oldschool country. I feel that a good soundtrack is integral for an emotional experience, and this really heightened the experience of reading Headlights.

I wasn't sure how I was going to feel about the supernatural element once it presented itself, but it was done in a tasteful, cult-y (can the two exist harmoniously?) way instead of anything too fantastical and ridiculous. There were no pieces in this story that felt overly dragged out or boring, and even the sex scenes were meaningful instead of just sex for the sake of sex. And that sex scene... Yikes! I say that in the most endearing way possible.

The only complaints I had about this novel were that there are often slightly excessive repetition used as an indicator that something is very serious or perhaps that a character is reflecting on something. I also felt like the aspect of Danny's hair being found in the mouths of each Drifter was a really creepy detail, but it didn't wrap up well for me. How was that ever explained to the rest of the FBI in the end? How were several things explained in the end (as far as the case goes)? Surely the entire division wasn't briefed on the supernatural. But then also surely SOME ends were left untied? Just a thought, but not enough to take away from my enjoyment of the story.

I would give Headlights a 4.5 star rating if possible, but for the sake of rating here I am rounding up to 5 stars. Excellent work, bravo! I look forward to reading more from CJ.

E-ARC Review; Release date 6/9/2026

CJ Leede deserves all the stars.

Headlights is a gruesome murder-mystery turned cosmic horror where soon-to-be former Special Agent Daniel Stansfield returns to his Colorado hometown to face a strange string of cases he failed to solve four years prior. As the case draws him back into the horrors of his past, Daniel struggles to keep his composure, and soon finds himself on the run with the case’s primary suspect.

This book had me hooked from the start, and while I could have blazed through it, I took my time reading to really savor the story and characters. CJ Leede has a way of writing that satisfies every craving–well fleshed out characters, stunning backdrops, deep rooted horrors, and a build up of tension that’s just *chef’s kiss* when it finally breaks. She doesn’t just write horror, she delivers the entire package.

Headlights is an ode to pain, loss, hope, and acceptance. A love letter to the Colorado wilderness and nuances of humanity; what we put each other (and ourselves) through and what we can overcome.

The climax/ending hits you like a tornado and keeps you spinning in mid-air until it eventually floats you back down. Unlike the gut punch of the final chapters of Rapture, Headlights ends on a softer, more tranquil note–a complete 180 from Daniel at the start of the story.

Headlights was my most anticipated read of 2026 and I’m so thankful to have received an e-ARC from NetGalley and TOR Publishing for review. If you haven’t preordered your copy yet, this is your sign to do so. It is 100% a book you should read (and re-read) upon release.

Vibe check: Ryan Murphy’s Grotesquerie, The Shining, and Life is Strange chapter 5 with a lot of childhood trauma and a dash of girl dinner.

CJ Leede has again delivered such a beautifully emotional, heavy, and incredibly well-written story with this one. She blends those fun, edge-of-your seat detective thrillers with supernatural, sexy, raw, and grotesque themes in a way that is so uniquely her, nobody else could have achieved.

This book reminded yet again why she's one of my favorite working authors at the moment, and I cannot wait for this story to officially release so I can talk about it more and see it achieve the success it deserves.

Cj Leede shows off her diversity with Headlights and solidifies herself as one of the best contemporary horror writers we have. This was a much more serious and darker toned novel than what I’ve come to expect from her. It took a ton of chances and was all the better for it. This sprawling story of serial killers, nature, nurture, and so much more was filled equally with heart and horrors. Danny was such a complex character who had such a heavy life, it was easy to be invested in his storyline. I can’t lie and say that I *100%* understand the resolution but I AM pleased with it. It was the perfect way to wrap up such a dark story without feeling cheesy or unrealistic. Who am I to say the rest of the novel isn’t realistic? I’m not treading those waters even slightly.

Thank you to Tor Nightfire and NetGalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.
My first 5 star of 2026!!! ⭐️
This book does the freaking MOST. The raw, visceral feeling and intensity of this book is something I don’t know I’ve ever encountered before. The plot was unique, the characters were well thought out, you couldn’t see the twist coming even if it hit you in the face. And he named the dog Dolly 😭😭😭

This book is like if Chuck Wendig, J.H Markert and Lauren Beukes had a baby. CJ Leede is an absolutely incredible writer, I gave Maeve Fly 5 stars and I own American Rapture but I must be the biggest idiot in the world for not reading it yet.

Daniel Stansfield has had a rough life--his mother was killed at the hands of his abusive father, he lost his adoptive parents in a car accident, he's divorced, and just when he thinks he can leave his miserable life of an FBI agent behind... the serial killer from an unsolved case strikes again. Drifters are found naked, clad only in the pelt of their victim (of whom they have no memory killing) and with a single hair tied around their tongue. While the killings follow the pattern as the ones four years earlier, a deviation from the formula leads Daniel down an obsessive path. A woman named Heather Lawrence is found, alive, and bound to one of the victims in the motel room where Daniel lived with his mother.

'Headlights' starts as a crime and mystery novel, then veers about a hundred pages in into a supernatural, beyond-the-veil thrill ride. Daniel is far from your standard gruff, former soldier turned law enforcement officer character, being an emotional man who hasn't had much opportunities in his life for comfort and is understandably upset that people have moved on in their lives without him. He has a genuine love for his friends and coworkers, which is refreshing to see in such a protagonist. Heather, and the other characters who populate the Denver branch of the FBI, are all interesting and distinctive voices which help to make the cast of characters feel lush

As much as I loved this book, I did think the references to 'The Shining' became a bit egregious, especially when 'Headlights' felt more like a David Lynch tribute than anything (I prefer Lynch's works to King's, so this is a compliment). A nod here and there wouldn't be bad, but having two copies of the book showing up at times -and- the hotel that the Overlook Hotel was based on just felt a bit too on the nose. The John Denver references were much more distinct and interesting (and the Orville Peck name drop got an audible response from me), and helped to give 'Headlights' its own identity, but I feel that name dropping a well-known horror book multiple times is a bit fatalistic.

The positives outweigh my complaints, and 'Headlights' is a trippy, gory adventure that will surprise readers with how emotionally resonant it is on top of all of that. Come for the mystery, stay for the consensual finger eating.

I finished this book yesterday but it is still hard to process how to review it. American Rapture by CJ Leede is my all time favorite horror book. Headlights was…. so different. While AR was nonstop action packed, Headlights was much slower. I don’t think this is necessarily a bad thing. CJ is such an incredible author. The atmospheric setting in Colorado was beautiful. It wasn’t until about 50% in that things took a supernatural turn… and it went pretty crazy. No spoilers but that bathroom scene- wow! The ending wasn’t what I expected but it was satisfying. I shared a Bookstagram review post for this and have it linked down below.

CJ Leede writes propulsive books that leave you hanging on the edge of your seat, wanting more, while also covering your eyes and leaving the light on a bit longer. I absolutely loved Headlights and it's spin on the spooky psychic kid, grown up into a deeply traumatized FBI agent. This book was suspenseful, scary, and deeply heartfelt. The overall message of facing and working to heal from your trauma was so beautiful. I also loved the message that soulmates come in every relationship under the sun, not just romantic ones. CJ Leede knocked it out of the park again!

C.J leede really knows how to make me feel every emotion in one book! I will pick up everything she writes. Thank you NetGalley for the ARC 🖤

• Headlights

Publishes June 9th 🥩🩸🕵🏻🤠👻🐺 ✨ go preorder!

• CJ ripped my heart apart once again, and I will continue to let her do it to me with every book. Thank you CJ and Tor Nightfire for allowing me to read and review an advanced copy of this beautiful book. Thank you for also getting me into new music with another amazing playlist.

• Glitches, memories, ghosts of a past life, heartbreak, pain, fear, trauma, the need to protect. That's what you're in store for when you open up this book.

Daniel, a burnt out FBI agent, gets pulled back to his hometown by the case that made him leave so long ago. Bodies are piling up. People are being killed, skinned and eaten, and the ones being found guilty are the people found walking naked and wearing the skin of those dead. But why does it keep happening? Who's really orchestrating this macabre crime spree spanning years?

As he finds himself caught back up in the case, he's haunted by the memories of his past life. He's haunted by ghosts and keeps suffering from glitches. He tells himself that none of it is real until one day, one of the people involved in the case pulls on his senses so deeply and they find they have a connection and share similar experiences.

Daniel is suffering from long term trauma, grief and guilt. He brutally lost his mother at a young age and since has been haunted by her memory everywhere he turns. When he comes back for the case, guilt is only added on when he has to face the friends he left behind and wasn't there for all this time.

What drives all of the key players in this story, even the antagonist, is what drives many of us and is key to a lot of my own life - the need to protect. I found that extremely powerful. We all have parts of us, and not all of them are good or perfect. So is this force that Daniel's up against really evil, or driven by something more human, more primal?

This story is a brutally painful and beautiful tale of loss, connection, memory, what truly drives us at our core and the cosmic stardust that makes up all of us. We all shine, but not all the same. We all have a deep need to protect what is ours, but we don't all pay the same respect to others with that same need. The need to protect felt extremely relatable, and I think it will for you all as well.

The way CJ weaves trauma, pain, fear, drive and survival in all of her books will never cease to draw me deeper into every story.

Thank you so very much to Tor Nightfire and Netgalley for the e-ARC!

When I say I sat down to read this with every intention of doing other things tonight as well...yet I ended up binging this entire book. I love this exploration of grief and trauma in a way that only CJ Leede can do. This is very possibly my favorite read this month and I've had some bangers. I cannot wait to have a trophy copy for my shelf because this was incredible. The themes at work here, the use of Stephen King lore, the setting...it all came together to create something truly incredible. This is going to be a top contender for best book of my year, and I cannot wait to see what CJ Leede does next.

Absolutely horrifying and it hits just right.
I haven't read any of Leede's other books, but I'm definitely hoping on that now because wow! this one gets under your skin and makes it's home there.

Twisty, unnerving, reckless, and obscene. An incredibly easy five stars.

There were so many times where I was internally screaming because I thought there was no way that an author would write something this horrifying. Seriously, do not read Headlights around any mealtimes. I kept expecting Leede to take a safer turn, but she never did and it paid off immeasurably.

It’s the type of book that made me nervous to go outside when it is dark out, even if just to walk to my car. I kept the lights on while reading and would have tried to finish in one sitting if not for work and the holidays.

I highly recommend that anyone who traumatized themselves by reading Stephen King books or bingeing Criminal Minds when they were too young to have any business consuming either check Headlights out. It will scratch an itch in your brain.

I was a bit nervous when I started reading the book as I hadn’t seen that it was written from the perspective of a man. I typically read books by women, about women. However, I think Leede did a fantastic job of centering the story of a woman. Leede dug into the horrors of the human mind and how the female body can feel like a prison. I really enjoyed it.

Thank you to NetGalley, TorNightfire, and CJ Leede for the eARC.

Thank you to NetGalley and Tor Nightfire for the eARC! 4.5 stars rounded up.

Agent Daniel Stansfield has a Bad Feeling. He has been running from his past his whole life, yet the trauma follows him. Killers are on the loose in Denver, and each one appears wearing the skin of their victim with no recollection of any crime. Daniel becomes entangled in the case, and realizes that his past might somehow be involved.

As usual, CJ Leede crushed it. I'm biased with my love of nature, country music, and of course, crimes. This book was definitely more suspenseful than Maeve Fly and American Rapture, but I loved it. The plot kept me hooked, and I was finding any spare moment I could to read this book. Leede's characters are full of heart, and their imperfections make them interesting. Hannah was so compelling, and Daniel's growth is fulfilling. The novel is a love letter to Colorado and its flora and fauna, and I could picture it vividly. The ending took me by surprise, and for anyone who has read Maeve Fly or American Rapture and is familiar with Leede's style, there's One Scene that made my jaw drop. It's perfect.

ARC REVIEW
Detective novel + The Shining = Headlights

Special Agent Daniel Stansfield is a veteran FBI agent with a dark past. When he’s pulled back to Denver, Colorado, the city he fled after a traumatic childhood event, he’s tasked with solving a harrowing case.

The case: Innocent people wake up with no memory of how they got there… while wearing the skin of another human they’ve never met.

As the investigation deepens, so does Danny’s past and once I started this story, I was completely hooked.

I’ve read C.J. Leede’s previous novels (Maeve Fly and American Rapture), and after Headlights, she has officially solidified herself as the Queen of Horror, while also proving just how wide her range truly is. Her ability to write emotional, complex, deeply human relationships is astounding—not just between people, but in our connections to animals, memory, grief, behavior, and even our place in the universe. Every element is rendered with care and intention.

This book explores trauma, fear, memory, love, grief, loss, and the power of music in ways that linger long after the final page. One thing I’ve noticed across CJ’s work: no matter how weird, lonely, or broken you feel, there is always someone out there to match your freak, to understand you, to hold your hand… or even just your pinky.

I’m still processing the characters and the emotional weight of this story. It stayed with me.

Highly recommend picking up Headlights when it releases June 9.
Thank you to NetGalley and Tor Nightfire for providing this ARC. All opinions are my own.

This book is very different than CJ's last two books and really showcases how versatile a writer CJ Leede is. This book took me on what I felt like was a spiritual journey. I read it slowly, savored it, no hurry to get to the end, just transfixed and transported along the way. I think this book is really something special. I feel like it changed me in some core way, but I am unsure if I will be able to explain exactly how. I loved the main character, Daniel, in such a profound way. He is messy and damaged and I just felt akin to him somehow. Like different stories and scenarios, but I still felt like I understood him on a fundamental level. Like we could be friends without judgment. Daniel is a veteran and FBI agent. There is a most peculiar serial killer case in Denver, Colorado that he was lead on and gets drawn back into it when the killings start again after years of seemingly being over. It's a detective, serial killer story, with the underlying mystery of who or what is committing the murders, but it's so much more at the same time. It's definitely a love letter to Colorado, no doubt. It also pays homage to The Shining by Stephen King (love that book). But it will make you think about life, our relationships, human behavior, our planet, the animals, what happens after death, what is our place in this world, how we relate to other species. It's about respect for nature, about memories, about music and senses, about trauma and grief and loss, about how we protect those we love, about pain and fear. Gosh, it's just so freaking good! I just finished it this morning, but I know I will be reading it again. I'm still processing it. This was one of my top three most anticipated books of the year, and it blew me out of the water. Thank you CJ for writing this masterpiece. 

Thank you to NetGalley and to Tor Nightfire for the ARC. Book releases 6/9/26.

CJ Leede, you will ALWAYS be famous to me. Might be my favorite horror read of 2026, I just don’t see another book topping this absolute masterpiece of a book. It’s dark, it’s gritty, it forces you to look inside of the darkest parts of yourself. I cannot say enough good things about this one.