Publishers Weekly
06/28/2021
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. (Aug.)
From the Publisher
Praise for Dark Roads:
"Masterful... for all fans of psychological thrillers." —Booklist Online
"Gripping, unsettling, and brimming with suspense, Dark Roads is another worthy entry from the accomplished mystery storyteller." —BookRiot
"A well told and all-too-believable tale, Dark Roads borrows from the real-life tragedies along the Highway of Tears in British Columbia. It's a surprisingly fast read, full of action, surprises, despair and hope. It's a keeper for thriller fans." —Minneapolis Star Tribune
"My favorite Chevy Stevens book since Still Missing. Stevens reliably creates complex, resilient female characters, and Hailey and Beth - whose lives collide in Dark Roads - are utterly compelling. The suspense builds with every page, and the ending is a complete shocker." —Sarah Pekkanen, #1 New York Times Bestselling Author of The Wife Between Us
"Aptly named, Dark Roads is deep, dark, and unsettling. From the opening page, it’s clear you’re in the hands of a master storyteller. The missing, the dead, those left behind, the ones who know what's happened, all explode onto the page. With brilliant characterizations, tight plotting, and a setting bound to give you chills, this is Steven's finest book to date. A tour de force mystery you do not want to miss."
—J.T. Ellison, New York Times bestselling author of Her Dark Lies
“Chevy Stevens is a brilliant and unique talent and Dark Roads is an instant classic. My hat’s off to her.” — C. J. Box, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Long Range
"Chevy Stevens is back and better than ever with a grisly tale that will make you think twice before driving down any deserted highways at night. Dark Roads is a chilling, pulse-pounding thriller that also tugs at the heartstrings. It's everything you've come to love from a master of the psych thriller genre!" — Mary Kubica, New York Times bestselling author of The Other Mrs.
"Chevy Stevens does it again in her new thriller, Dark Roads....Dark Roads is a fast-paced thriller filled with action and brilliant characters. The characters are very real and come to life on the page as they find themselves in danger on several occasions. This is a must-read for fans of the author. It’s a real page-turner."
—Portland Book Review
Praise for Chevy Stevens:
"Gripping...unforgettable." —Gillian Flynn
"Heart-pounding." —Lisa Gardner
"Will have you spellbound." —Karin Slaughter
“Engrossing, suspenseful.” –Library Journal
"Utterly absorbing." —Kathy Reichs
“Chilling, compelling.” —William Landay
“Tense…Action-packed.” –Kirkus Reviews
“Fast-paced and thought-provoking.” –Kimberly McCreight
“An emotional rollercoaster you’ll be sorry to get off of when you finish the last page.” –Jennifer McMahon
“Stevens skillfully builds suspense.” –Publishers Weekly
“Haunting and harrowing.” –Megan Abbott
“Taught and riveting.” –Hilary Davidson
“Deep and exciting.” –Lisa Unger
“Riveting.” –Alafair Burke
Library Journal
08/13/2021
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
