Horror Aficionados discussion
This topic is about
Murder Road
Group Reads
>
April 2024 Group Read #1: Murder Road by Simone St. James
Just finished! Excellent read. Very nice twist towards the end!
Mod
haha.The publisher asked permission to use a quote from one of ..."
That's amazing, but not "surprising"--your reviews pull me into a book every time.
Mod
Wow thanks. Half the time I think I wish I was a better writer 'cause I think my reviews didn't express my thoughts nearly as well they could.
Unfortunately, this is first time read for Ms St. James. I enjoyed majority but in the end seemed like Riley Sager light.
Mod
To me, St James' books are just entertainment, not great literature. I'm liking this story alright but I'm not blown away by anything, at least not yet.
Mod
haha.The publisher asked permission to use a quote from one of ..."
OMGGGG get out, that's wicked!!
It was alright. I think the issue was that I didn't really click with the main characters. I liked the Snell sisters a lot. I've read two of the author's other books, and I liked them more.
I didn’t care for the main characters either, especially our narrator, it felt like that friend who thinks everything that happens revolves around her or that she is the one that has experienced every trauma and more than anyone else. I so loved sundown motel and felt even though that was also a mystery with a supernatural spin this just left me cold and eventually disinterested.
i checked the wait times for this one on Libby, it's several months -_-
I am starting this book this week. Love Simone St. James books! :)
Started last night and I'm 50 pages in. The detective sure is a piece of work! It seems like it will be a quick, easy read.
Just finished reading this last weekend and it was first dip in Simone St James work. It's definitely more of a thriller than horror and it was okay -- on par with Riley Sager, Megan Miranda and the like. I don't need to like or identify with any of the characters to enjoy a good story and this was twisty and turny, but not really all that creepy for me. I read it as the selection for a Thrillers book club I'm in and when I saw it as a choice for HA, I thought it was a little light. I'm interested in what you all think of it as a horror novel. Maybe I've ruined myself with books like Come Closer or stuff from Ania Ahlborn, but this paranormal thriller just wasn't all that scary. Setting it in the 90s felt like a smart choice, since 90s are having a resurgence right now. It looks like I should read The Sundown Motel next from other people's comments. Maybe I'll do that during my next flight -- the book was interesting enough to keep me reading and not too complicated to make me feel like I couldn't take breaks and lose the threads. I gave it 3 stars -- not great, not awful.
Just started this one last night. Started out interesting. Haven't got very far into yet. Hoping to read more of it today. :)
I agree Michelle, I felt very mixed about it and didn’t feel like it was much horror at all, more of a mystery detective novel w a spiritual twist which is fine but I just couldn’t get that into this one overall.
This was definitely a really fast read for me, but I liked it a lot more than Sun Down Motel. I admit, I don't love her writing, but I was definitely engrossed in the book. Things I liked: (view spoiler)
Things I didn't like: (view spoiler)
Found this in at a library near by! Going this evening to pick it up.
Mod
Nice! :D I'm only a bit in, it's been A WEEK lol so trying to play catch up.
Kasia wrote: "Latasha wrote: "Found this in at a library near by! Going this evening to pick it up."Nice! :D I'm only a bit in, it's been A WEEK lol so trying to play catch up."
Who knows how long it will take me to get through it.
Soon, soon… my precious!(sorry, can barely wait to read it)
I finished last night. It was an easy and somewhat entertaining, but ultimately forgettable, read for me. I didn't connect to the main characters at all.
Read it and loved it. Enjoy!
I picked it up and have already started reading it. It’s hard to put down!
I bought this at the weekend finished last night, Thought it was just ok.
Mod
Hope you enjoy it!
I finished it yesterday and thought it was okay. The plot had potential but I found April to be a little annoying and the ending felt rushed.
Just finished and I will start with saying it is indeed a genuine page-turner. In my experience, that phrase gets thrown about too often and I usually take it with several grains of salt, but this one pulled me in right away and kept my attention.I found Eddie to be a bit much from the narrator's perspective: of course the entirety of this tale takes place well within the 'honeymoon phase', so I suppose I can forgive some of her gushing.
The ending was simultaneously surprising and disappointing. There are motivations and characterizations that left me feeling further detached from the central figures, rather than any sense of 'aha, now that makes sense'; the motivations are mostly arbitrary, and I didn't really feel anything as a result.
(view spoiler)
Again, solid and tightly woven; the potential only partially realized with the resolution(s). I could definitely see this as a reasonably successful psychological thriller on the big screen or television.
3/5 stars
Just started today. This will be my first Simone St. James book so I'm excited to see what all the hype is about :)
I agree Ryan, detached is the same way I felt too and it was for both of her main characters for me. I was disappointed as I’ve read some of her other books and I really cared about those characters so was surprised this felt so shallow. I still love her writing but this was just a miss for me!
message 82:
by
Erin *Proud Book Hoarder*
(last edited Apr 16, 2024 04:12PM)
(new)
-
rated it 3 stars
Yeah I didn't enjoy this one that much. I also felt no connection with the characters or the story for some reason, didn't work for me nearly as much as The Broken Girls.
Well as much as I love this author's work this one didn't come up to par with me. This is the second book that has been below the four star mark with this author. I wasn't crazy about her book Ghost 19 either. I will work on a review later today for this book. Still gathering my thoughts on it. My rating for it though is two stars.
At the 50% mark. This is reminding me of those somewhat entertaining but forgettable late 90s/early 2000s horror films like Dead End. Very fast paced from the start, and now I'm waiting for the inevitable 'big twist' before the ending.The hinting at dark secrets from the main character is keeping me intrigued. I hope the twist is good and not too predictable.
I finished this yesterday. I liked it but agree it’s not as good as her others. I didn’t mind the characters. Sure April was a little annoying but I could over look it. Didn’t hate but didn’t love it either.
Latasha wrote: "I finished this yesterday. I liked it but agree it’s not as good as her others. I didn’t mind the characters. Sure April was a little annoying but I could over look it. Didn’t hate but didn’t love ..."I'm on chapter 38 and I am feeling like this isn't a 5 star like the other two of hers I've read. Not bad at all, but not a "wow!" story.
Mod
I think my favorites were THE BOOK OF COLD CASES, and THE SUNDOWN MOTEL.
I'm done! I really liked the way it ended. I love ghosts especially when (view spoiler)Great point, Kimberly. I loved the 90's feel and if there were cell phones the police aspect would've been totally different as they could've tracked the pings and there would be camera footage most likely available. The crime era before all the technology we have now has an element that is so horrific to me!
I enjoyed the reminder of the era when we read that Grace was out at the cinema seeing "Delores Claiborne". Love that 90's King movie!
I just read "Sundown Motel" and finished that a few days ago. I think my very favorite out of the three I've read so far now is "Broken Girls".
Adriennelee wrote: "Started last night and I'm 50 pages in. The detective sure is a piece of work! It seems like it will be a quick, easy read."I couldn't stand Detective Quinton. He doesn't get any better throughout!
Mod
Great point, Kimberly. I loved the 90's feel and if there were cell phones the police aspect would've be..."
That is the only book of hers that I haven't read yet!
Morgan wrote: "As much as I love Simone St. James, and as excited as I was to start this one, I had a surprisingly hard time getting invested in this one once I started. However, I have been in a reading slump la..."Totally get that! I've had a slump lately too when my routine got out of whack after I was out of town for a few days, and then got really busy with extra days at work. I'm getting back in the swing!
Kimberly wrote: " That is the only book of hers that I haven't read yet!." Ohh I think you'll really like it! Let me know what you think when you do get around to it :D
And I haven't read "The Book of Cold Cases" so I gotta get on that soon!
Mod
Ohh I think you'll really like it! Let me know what you think when you do get around to it :D
And I haven't read "The ..."
Another book "ADD TO CART"! LOL!
@Kimberly: yes indeed! Lol I have been going through my books to donate/sell some but I've bought more in the past month than I got rid of!
100 pages in so far. I love when a book grabs your attention from the first chapter
Just started it, and seems like a good read as of yet. <3
Finally got my library copy! Can’t wait to read just in time 😂
I started this one yesterday. I’ve read two of her novels before and enjoyed both so I’m excited for it! Trying to speed through my other read to focus on this one.
I'm finished! I really enjoyed this spooky twist on the "bad things happen to hitchhikers" trope. Good twists, interesting characters (the true crime loving sisters were a hoot) and I loved the 90's vibe.
Okay, while I really enjoyed the book & love her works, I guess this won't be a full 5 Stars for me. (Still have to write the review)The main story is great and the setting in the 90's was to my liking, but a few things irked me.
About April and Eddie: (view spoiler)
Some of the other characters: (view spoiler)
Pros:(view spoiler)
Cons:(view spoiler)
But still, as I said… it was fluidly written and easy to read.
Horror Aficionados
Books mentioned in this topic
Come Closer (other topics)The Angel of Indian Lake (other topics)
haha.The publisher asked permission to use a quote from one of my review on one of the last Josh Malerman books, and Rio Youers quoted my review on Twitter.