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bookedandbusy's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
There was an absolutely incredible thriller! I loved it. I loved the supernatural element, it was so eerie and atmospheric.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Injury/Injury detail, Grief, and Gun violence
Moderate: Terminal illness and Cancer
Minor: Racism and Fire/Fire injury
queergoth_reads's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
I had hoped I'd like this book more than I did. It was a nice easy read and sounds like it would be a perfect book for me but it missed the mark a bit. I found some of the writing a bit clunky and repetitive at times and I didn't really vibe with the characters much. I wasn't massively invested in them. Also the reveal at the end was ultimately kind of disappointing and could have been fleshed out a bit more.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Blood, Death, and Murder
Moderate: Domestic abuse and Death of parent
Minor: Terminal illness
luverbyrd's review against another edition
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
Content Warnings
Minor: Violence, Terminal illness, and Murder
shesflippinpages's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer, Car accident, Drug abuse, Alcoholism, Blood, Kidnapping, Violence, Medical trauma, Terminal illness, Gaslighting, Medical content, Murder, Physical abuse, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Fire/Fire injury, Addiction, Death, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Gun violence, and Stalking
markedwithanm's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment, Murder, and Grief
Moderate: War and Terminal illness
burnourhistory's review
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Blood, and Mental illness
Moderate: Cancer, Addiction, and Child abuse
Minor: Panic attacks/disorders, Terminal illness, and Racism
clarke's review against another edition
mysterious
slow-paced
- Strong character development? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Murder Road was enjoyable for the most part.. I will try to review with as minimal spoilers as possible. I feel like the description provided on netgalley doesn’t accurately depict the book you’re getting - it's mostly solving some murders with a dash of supernatural (but really not that much), not run for your life because youre next thrilling horror. I expected more of an eerie atmosphere or frankly more death at least? The actual summaries on goodreads/storygraph paint a better picture, but I hadn't looked at them prior to requesting/reading.
As for the writing: it could do with another proofread, and there were some annoying inconsistencies (like which car was where for example). The book shifted tense annoyingly - ie it varied between the past tense from April's POV, like she was telling this story/writing it (with fourth wall breaks included), right alongside the present mystery/her present moment thoughts and questions. Information about April was hidden from us as though April didn't have all of it herself, but she did and was hiding it from other characters (not that it was surprising, although I'm sure it was meant to be). This got really annoying, especially the shift between 'what's going on, who killed her??' to 'haha I know what happens' and back again, with some flashbacks added in for good measure. If I had to read her rehashing the mystery again or that Eddie had 'gone too deep and she couldn't follow' one more time?! And did you know it was their honeymoon?? It's hard to miss bc they never say it /s. The timeline/time period also seemed wonky, it could've easily been modern day without iPhones for the majority?
I can't say much about the reveal of the killer without spoiling it but the main mystery was SO OBVIOUS and then there's just a nice random person who's never been mentioned before the end to tie everything up in a bow. Except there's still questions. I also desperately need Trish to have an MRI - why did no one get her an MRI?? Tell her to go to the doctors?? Anything? (Leaving her alone bc she seems fine is not the happy ending you think it is). Otherwise, a lot of the mystery was easy - everyone they spoke to told them something, clues were found easily, and there's a lot of people willing to help these two strangers accused of murder - sleuth sisters, a woman with a not great bnb business, ghosts, you name it. It all just went a little too smoothly (although I doubt their bowel movements did, their diet did not seem great - I think there was 1 salad and 1 banana (covered in ice cream)). And WHO just leaves a house open for anyone to use and never checks on it?
I think if this was sold to me as a murder mystery, maybe I'd enjoy it more, but it's not what I was expecting. The inconsistencies in writing were annoying but not a complete deal breaker. Overall, I just wanted more. Other than the character who popped up at the end, it was all really obvious and I guessed the crux from the off. If you like murder mysteries with a supernatural element, that's 90% focused on past murders, then you will probably like this. I wanted blood and terror. I wanted desperate survival. A trend of merciless killings, with maybe a gorey opener. Not 'oh hitchhikers have been killed on this dark tree-lined road for decades and sometimes there's a light in the trees that is a ghost'. I just wanted more.
Thank you to netgalley for the arc.
As for the writing: it could do with another proofread, and there were some annoying inconsistencies (like which car was where for example). The book shifted tense annoyingly - ie it varied between the past tense from April's POV, like she was telling this story/writing it (with fourth wall breaks included), right alongside the present mystery/her present moment thoughts and questions. Information about April was hidden from us as though April didn't have all of it herself, but she did and was hiding it from other characters (not that it was surprising, although I'm sure it was meant to be). This got really annoying, especially the shift between 'what's going on, who killed her??' to 'haha I know what happens' and back again, with some flashbacks added in for good measure. If I had to read her rehashing the mystery again or that Eddie had 'gone too deep and she couldn't follow' one more time?! And did you know it was their honeymoon?? It's hard to miss bc they never say it /s. The timeline/time period also seemed wonky, it could've easily been modern day without iPhones for the majority?
I can't say much about the reveal of the killer without spoiling it but the main mystery was SO OBVIOUS and then there's just a nice random person who's never been mentioned before the end to tie everything up in a bow. Except there's still questions. I also desperately need Trish to have an MRI - why did no one get her an MRI?? Tell her to go to the doctors?? Anything? (Leaving her alone bc she seems fine is not the happy ending you think it is). Otherwise, a lot of the mystery was easy - everyone they spoke to told them something, clues were found easily, and there's a lot of people willing to help these two strangers accused of murder - sleuth sisters, a woman with a not great bnb business, ghosts, you name it. It all just went a little too smoothly (although I doubt their bowel movements did, their diet did not seem great - I think there was 1 salad and 1 banana (covered in ice cream)). And WHO just leaves a house open for anyone to use and never checks on it?
I think if this was sold to me as a murder mystery, maybe I'd enjoy it more, but it's not what I was expecting. The inconsistencies in writing were annoying but not a complete deal breaker. Overall, I just wanted more. Other than the character who popped up at the end, it was all really obvious and I guessed the crux from the off. If you like murder mysteries with a supernatural element, that's 90% focused on past murders, then you will probably like this. I wanted blood and terror. I wanted desperate survival. A trend of merciless killings, with maybe a gorey opener. Not 'oh hitchhikers have been killed on this dark tree-lined road for decades and sometimes there's a light in the trees that is a ghost'. I just wanted more.
Thank you to netgalley for the arc.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Death, Fire/Fire injury, Murder, Gun violence, Mental illness, Abandonment, Violence, Grief, and Death of parent
Minor: Drug abuse, War, Terminal illness, Vomit, and Cancer
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