Dark Roads

March 1, 2021

Women keep disappearing on a desolate stretch of road called Cold Creek Highway, which is the perfect cover when Hailey McBride decides to run away from a life she can no longer abide. Later, troubled Beth Chevalier comes to Cold Creek to attend a memorial for the victims--and find out what happened to her sister Amber. With a 100,000-copy first printing.

Copyright 2021 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

June 28, 2021
Hailey McBride, the 17-year-old narrator of part one of this exciting if flawed thriller from bestseller Stevens (Never Let You Go), has been living since her father died with her aunt and police officer uncle, Erick Vaughn, near Canada’s reputedly haunted Cold Creek Highway, where an unknown number of young women have disappeared over the decades, the supposed victims of a serial killer. The highway killer myth doesn’t scare Hailey as much as the volatile Vaughn’s controlling ways and his constant spying on her. She runs away, believing she can use the outdoor skills her father taught her to survive the harsh wilderness. Hailey also hopes people will believe she was the killer’s latest victim. A year later, in part two, Beth Chevalier arrives in Cold Creek to attend the annual memorial service for the highway victims, who include her sister. Once Hailey and Beth cross paths, the serial killer hunt gets lost amid what becomes a survivalist and coming-of-age story. Clever twists toward the end compensate for the temporary loss of momentum. Stevens remains a writer to watch. Agent: Mel Berger, WME.

August 13, 2021

At the heart of Stevens's latest stand-alone thriller (after Never Let you Go) are two resilient young women whose lives become joined by the same dark, violent set of events. Hailey McBride is 17 years old and recently orphaned in the town of Cold Creek, British Columbia. The loss of her father has sent her reeling, and now she's forced to live with a domineering, terrifying uncle, who also happens to be the chief of police. Hailey begins to suspect that her uncle's threatening behavior may be even worse than she thinks and wonders if it might be connected to the string of murders of young women in the area--then Hailey disappears. She leaves behind a girlfriend, Amber, who soon meets with violence as well. A year later, Amber's sister Beth drops out of college, quits her job, and moves to Cold Creek, determined to find out what happened to her sister and Hailey. As Beth delves into the locals' secrets, her life and Hailey's collide to explosive effect. VERDICT Though dark and foreboding, none of the violence here is gratuitous and the strength and resilience shown by Stevens's female characters offers leavening moments of heart and hope. For fans of Karin Slaughter and Lisa Gardner.--Jane Jorgenson, Madison P.L., WI

Copyright 2021 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.