This is the latest novel from Simone St. James, an award-winning Canadian author who spent twenty years behind the scenes in the television industry before leaving to write full-time.
In July 1995, April and Eddie have just been married and are driving to a resort town for their honeymoon when they take a wrong turn and spot a lone hitchhiker along the road. When the female hitchiker gets into their car, they see blood seeping from her jacket, and a truck begins chasing after them. Soon after arriving at the local hospital, the girl dies, and they find themselves suddenly involved in a murder investigation. Unable to leave the town of Cold Lake Falls, they soon discover that unexplained murders have happened on that road called the Atticus Line for almost two decades. As April and Eddie investigate the murders further, they discover the legend that something supernatural is at work, luring hitchhikers to their deaths. With the police looking at them as prime suspects, they become determined to find the identity of “The Lost Girl,” the original unidentified murder victim who is believed to be behind the haunting of Atticus Line. But before long, they have their own insidious encounter with the supernatural force haunting the road, and their lives are forever changed.
The story, similar to Simone’s other novels, contains ghostly and supernatural elements and will surely creep out the audience several times. The novel is marketed as a mixed genre of horror and suspense, but the heart of the story is in fact a captivating mystery. Being set in the mid-90s, there are plenty of nostalgic references to music and media, and even a foreshadowing of what was to become of Princess Diana in a cleverly crafted scene. Both April and Eddie are flawed and emotionally unstable from their past traumas, but they demonstrate a brave tenacity throughout the book that is admirable and will likely have listeners rooting for them. Both characters also show significant growth throughout the book, which is quite satisfying.
Narrator Brittany Pressley brings a constant amount of tension and drama to her performance, perfectly mirroring the ghastly atmosphere of the novel. She also does a brilliant job bringing out the flawed aspects of the characters, especially when evoking their unstable, stubborn personalities and the sheer terror they experience during the supernatural scenes. After a buildup of many thrilling scenes, the ending felt a bit flat but did provide enough closure for the various characters and predicaments. If you haven’t listened to this author before or if you’ve enjoyed her previous books, this is definitely worth a listen! Prepare to be creeped out!
