The Night Road by Kevin Lucia

 

For most of her life, Grace Donaldson's passion has been running. As a star in Cross Country and Track and Field, Grace ran to win, because losing wasn't an option. For her, running was freedom, and she was only ever her true self when racing toward the finish line.

Her senior year, that all changed. Afterward, instead of running toward something, Grace started running away. From her pain, her anger, and her guilt. Now, as her younger sister lies on her deathbed from attempted suicide and Grace's darkness threatens to consume her, she discovers The Night Road, and the chance to run toward something again, instead of away... if she's willing to pay a terrible price.

Grace used to love running cross country, and track and field. Her sister Lilly was also a runner for a time, but it is Grace who won too many trophies to count.

These days running is not so much something she enjoys, as something she is bound to do. It is an uncontrollable urge, her drug of choice, her escape, and the only thing that makes her life bearable. She runs to forget, to be released for a short time of the guilt she feels, over her sister being in the hospital, close to death. 

She is out for a run when she first spots the crows, and another mysterious runner in black, the identity of whom she feels compelled to discover.

This is a story of love and guilt, regret and betrayal, told at a quick pace with a dash of Irish folklore to give it a nice kick. I was dying to know what led to Lilly's grim prognosis and why Grace blamed herself. There was mention of an "other thing" That Grace didn't want anyone to know which really piqued my curiosity and kept me turning pages to the shocking conclusion.

There are also some incredibly haunting illustrations included which I loved.

4 out of 5 stars

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My thanks to Cemetery Dance Publications for the advance copy.

About the author

Kevin Lucia's short fiction has appeared in several anthologies, most recently with Neil Gaiman, Clive Barker, Bentley Little, Peter Straub and Robert McCammon.

His first short story collection, Things Slip Through was published November 2013, followed by Devourer of Souls in June 2014, Through A Mirror, Darkly, June 2015, and and his second short story collection, Things You Need, September 2018. His novella Mystery Road was published by Cemetery Dance Publications May, 2020.

Below by Laurel Hightower

 

HOW FAR WOULD YOU GO TO HELP A STRANGER?

While driving through the mountains of West Virginia during a late-night snowstorm, a recently divorced woman experiences bizarre electrical problems, leaving her with little choice but to place her trust with a charismatic truck driver. But when an unexplainable creature with haunting red eyes gets between them, she is forced to make one of the toughest decisions of her life. Will she abandon the stranger who kept her safe—or will she climb down below, where reality has shapeshifted into a living nightmare? 

Addy is taking a 500 mile road trip on her own when she ends up on a highway to hell that will test her sanity and her will to live.

"It came out of nowhere."

She is stranded on a dark stretch of road that is known for it's weird happenings and there's no help in sight. Addy has a history of not trusting her own judgement, letting her ex-husband talk over her, talk down to her, and decide for her. Now she only has herself to rely on.

This is my first time reading this author, and I was only about 10 pages in when I jumped online to order her previous book because her writing is exquisite. The scares are many, the pace is breathtaking, and at 106 pages I could have easily finished it in one sitting except for the fact that I wanted to savor it, and that just maybe there were times I was afraid to turn the page.
Below is terrifying, freaky, and yet somehow uplifting. Highly recommended to all horror fans.

5 out of 5 Stars

My thanks to Ghoulish Books and PMM Publishing for the advance copy.

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The Younger Wife by Sally Hepworth

 

THE HUSBAND
A heart surgeon at the top of his field, Stephen Aston is getting married again. But first he must divorce his current wife, even though she can no longer speak for herself.

THE DAUGHTERS
Tully and Rachel Aston look upon their father’s fiancée, Heather, as nothing but an interloper. Heather is younger than both of them. Clearly, she’s after their father’s money.

THE FORMER WIFE
With their mother in a precarious position, Tully and Rachel are determined to get to the truth about their family’s secrets, the new wife closing in, and who their father really is.

THE YOUNGER WIFE
Heather has secrets of her own. Will getting to the truth unleash the most dangerous impulses in all of them? 

Stephen Aston is still quite a catch in his 60's. Trim, fit, charismatic, and oh so caring and handsome. It's no wonder a woman who is young enough to be his daughter has accepted his marriage proposal. Especially considering that he can provide the kind of life she's only dreamed of. No, not just his money, but acceptance, social standing, fitting in, being part of a normal family. Of course he's not entirely perfect, or surely he would stand by his wedding vows instead of divorcing his current wife now that she is ill. At least he's been a wonderful father to his two grown daughters. Or has he? He couldn't have anything to do with all their struggles and emotional problems could he? 

Having enjoyed several of this author's previous titles I was pleased to accept an invitation from St. Martin's Press to read an advance copy of her newest novel.

I have seen this book classified as a thriller, and as suspense, but in my humble opinion I would file it under General Fiction/Domestic Drama/ leaning towards Women's Fiction.

This is heavy on the dysfunctional family aspect, juicier than an episode of Desperate Housewives and I'm totally here for it. I loved both daughters and their poor mom Pam who suffers dementia. Even the too young replacement bride grew on me, and trying to figure out if Stephen was a good guy or a bad guy really kept me on my toes right to the final page. 

If you are in the mood for a scandalous good time with loads of secrets to uncover, grab yourself a copy. You've been invited to the wedding of The Younger Wife.

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About the author

Sally Hepworth is the New York Times bestselling author of six novels, most recently The Good Sister, which was an instant bestseller.

Sally's books have been heralded “enchanting” by The Herald Sun, “smart and engaging” by Publisher’s Weekly, and New York Times bestselling authors Liane Moriarty and Emily Giffin have praised Sally’s novels as “women’s fiction at its finest” and “totally absorbing”.

Sally's novels are available worldwide in English and have been translated into 20 languages.
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Sally lives in Melbourne, Australia with her husband and three children.

Hardcore Kelli by Wrath James White

 

Katy is a former boxer who is currently working as a stripper when her fighting career came to an abrupt end after a disastrous fight put a stop to her calling before it could even begin. A head injury has left her quick to anger and quicker to lash out at those around her. When an incident at the club leaves her unemployed and with nowhere to go, she is forced to return home to stay with her mother and young sister, whom she hasn’t spoken to for years.

Katy’s young sister idolizes her and is thrilled when she agrees to come out trick or treating with her on Halloween. Even better, Katy dresses up as her favorite superhero; Hardcore Kelli, someone to whom Katy bears an uncanny resemblance. When her young sister goes missing, the line between Katy and Hardcore Kelli becomes blurred as she sets out to find her, leaving a trail of bodies in her wake.

Katy has been used, abused and traumatized, and now the former boxer turned ex-stripper is on her way home to the mother she hasn't seen in years, and the little sister she never really got to know.

Events of the past have left Katy suffering night terrors and a host of emotional and mental disturbances and what may also be undiagnosed PTSD.

Her happy homecoming turns sour when she goes out to hunt down the reason why her sister has gone missing after school. Believing she is the super hero "Hardcore Kelli" from her little sister's comic books she sets off down a dark path of death and destruction. Has she really become a super hero or has she suffered a psychotic break with reality? I'll leave it for you to decide.

This was a quick read with a lot of blood spatter and a very gruesome ending. It's not my usual type of horror because I tend to go for the more supernatural, occult, ghostly reads. This book focuses on the horror that humans perpetrate, and a woman who has been pushed to and beyond the brink.

Revenge may not always be sweet but the vengeance here is quite satisfying.

4 out of 5 stars

My thanks to Cemetery Dance Publications for the review copy.

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