Dark Roads by Chevy Stevens

I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Title: Dark Roads
Author: Chevy Stevens
Release Date: 8.3.21
Publisher: St. Martin's


Publisher's Summary
The Cold Creek Highway stretches close to five hundred miles through British Columbia’s rugged wilderness to the west coast. Isolated and vast, it has become a prime hunting ground for predators. For decades, young women traveling the road have gone missing. Motorists and hitchhikers, those passing through or living in one of the small towns scattered along the region, have fallen prey time and again. And no killer or abductor who has stalked the highway has ever been brought to justice.

Hailey McBride calls Cold Creek home. Her father taught her to respect nature, how to live and survive off the land, and to never travel the highway alone. Now he’s gone, leaving her a teenage orphan in the care of her aunt whose police officer husband uses his badge as a means to bully and control Hailey. Overwhelmed by grief and forbidden to work, socialize, or date, Hailey vanishes into the mountainous terrain, hoping everyone will believe she’s left town. Rumors spread that she was taken by the highway killer—who’s claimed another victim over the summer. 

One year later, Beth Chevalier arrives in Cold Creek, where her sister Amber lived—and where she was murdered. Estranged from her parents and seeking closure, Beth takes a waitressing job at the local diner, just as Amber did, desperate to understand what happened to her and why. But Beth’s search for answers puts a target on her back—and threatens to reveal the truth behind Hailey’s disappearance…



My Review

"How many victims are there? The newspapers will tell you that twenty cases have been connected to the highway, more than half were First Nations, all of them young."

I know that when I start a Chevy Stevens book I won't want to do anything else from the moment I pick it up until the last page because I get totally sucked in. First of all, Stevens opens this novel in a unique way that gave me chills and quickly introduced Vaughn, who has won the title of "Most Hated Character" for me. That's right, he even beat out Paul from Kaira Rouda's Best Day Ever, who has held the title for the last four years. Seriously, I screamed and threw that book repeatedly and gave up after the first 50 pages because I hated him so much! Vaughn infuriated me enough to make me not be able to read the book at night because I would get so wound up that I couldn't sleep, and when I did go to sleep I had nightmares. That all being said, I find it extremely impressive when authors can evoke such a reaction. All of Stevens' characters are complex and I especially love that she doesn't rely on them making a silly mistake to build her storylines (you know, the equivalent of someone going in the basement in a horror movie.) Her characters are always smart and her writing keeps my heart pounding. I don't have a lot of auto-buy authors but Chevy Stevens is one. I will recommend this book and her previous novels to anyone who loves a truly great thriller.  

The Unfit Heiress by Audrey Clare Farley

I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. 

Title: The Unfit Heiress: The Tragic Life and Scandalous Sterilization of Ann Cooper Hewitt  
Author: Audrey Clare Farley
Release Date: 4.20.21
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing

Publisher's Summary 
At the turn of the twentieth century, American women began to reject Victorian propriety in favor of passion and livelihood outside the home. This alarmed authorities, who feared certain "over-sexed" women could destroy civilization if allowed to reproduce and pass on their defects. Set against this backdrop, The Unfit Heiress chronicles the fight for inheritance, both genetic and monetary, between Ann Cooper Hewitt and her mother Maryon.

In 1934, aided by a California eugenics law, the socialite Maryon Cooper Hewitt had her "promiscuous" daughter declared feebleminded and sterilized without her knowledge. She did this to deprive Ann of millions of dollars from her father's estate, which contained a child-bearing stipulation. When a sensational court case ensued, the American public was captivated. So were eugenicists, who saw an opportunity to restrict reproductive rights in America for decades to come.

My Review

Are you pissed about Britney not having reproductive freedom? 

Are you pissed that her parent is controlling that aspect of her life in order to continually profit?

Then you need to meet Ann Cooper Hewitt and her mother Maryon. 

As you can see from the summary above, there are some striking similarities. In addition to learning the continually scandalous details of these women's lives (Maryon's much more so than her daughter's,) I also learned so much about the shocking history of American eugenics. I think #1 for me was that California's sterilization practices were held as models for the Nazi regime. Here are a few more statistics and points of note (there are so many that I could go on and on, but I feel like these really show a timeline.) It is estimated that over 60,000 people (most of them women) were sterilized against their will following the 1927 Buck v Bell Supreme Court ruling (a legal precedent allowing states to sterilize inmates of public institutions.) Between 1997 and 2010 more than 1,400 women were sterilized in California prisons and as recent as last year, unnecessary hysterectomies were being performed on immigrants in custody at an ICE detention center in Georgia.

This is one of the best nonfiction books I've read this year and is now at the top of my all-time best list, too. A necessary read for anyone interested in reproductive freedoms and/or 1930's American tabloid backstories. 

**note: while this book did not delve into the full scope of those affected by forcible/coerced sterilizations, it is important to note that Latina, Black, and Native American women have been disproportionately affected. 

6 Sizzling Hot Reads for Summer 2021

 

Check out my latest book feature in Buckhaven Lifestyle and Smyrna Vinings Lifestyle magazines 

"6 Sizzling Hot Reads for Summer 2021"

It doesn’t matter if you’re heading to a tropical island or putting your feet in the backyard wading pool—you need the perfect summer read. Here are six sizzling new releases to help you soak up every minute of the season. Grab your sunscreen, sunglasses, and one (or all) of these hot new books today.


Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid
The end of summer means one thing in Malibu—the legendary, annual party held at the Riva mansion. Word of mouth invitations determine the elite Malibu guest list and everyone in attendance wants a chance to rub elbows with the four famous Riva siblings. On an August night in 1983, the yearly party spirals out of control with secrets that shaped the celebrity family rising to the surface, and by morning the Riva mansion has gone up in flames.

Survive the Night byRiley Sager
Blaming herself for the death of her roommate by the Campus Killer, Charlie Jordan decides to abruptly leave her New Jersey university in the middle of a semester. Initially thankful to have found a ride home to Ohio through a ride board, Charlie begins to suspect that the stranger she is sharing the car with may not simply be a university janitor—he may be the Campus Killer.

The Guncle by Steven Rowley
A humorous tale of love and patience in the wake of an unexpected family tragedy. When formerly famous gay sitcom star Patrick O’Hara’s sister-in-law/best friend dies after a long illness, her widower Greg confesses his addiction to painkillers at her funeral. Agreeing to care for the children while Greg attends rehab, Patrick must learn to navigate the daily life of being a guardian to his young niece and nephew. But, beyond having a set of “Guncle Rules,” he has no idea what he’s doing.

Chasing the Thrill: Obsession, Death, and Glory in America’s Most Extraordinary Treasure Hunt by Daniel Barbarisi
From 2010 to 2020, an eccentric community of treasure hunters searched throughout the Rocky Mountains for a hidden treasure chest full of gold and jewels. Following the nine clues in New Mexico art dealer Forest Fenn’s cryptic poem, the treasure hunt gained interest and notoriety. Beginning as a fun hobby for some, the hunt quickly turned into a risk for the community with one man spending $30,000 digging holes in a state park and at least five people dead.

Ace of Spades by Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé
Shortly after Devon Richards and Chiamaka Adebayo are selected to be part of Niveus Private Academy’s senior class prefects, someone calling themselves “Aces" begins sending school-wide anonymous text messages. Aces shows no signs of stopping as they continue to reveal dark secrets about the elite private school’s only two Black students. Can Devon and Chiamaka stop Aces before the bullying becomes deadly?

Take Me Home Tonight by Morgan Matson
Waiting for the high school play’s cast list to be posted, Kat concocts a plan to ensure she is given a part. She will travel with her best friend Stevie from their Connecticut suburb to New York City, where they will attend the play their drama teacher has written and directed. Equipped with a plan and high hopes, their big night in the city that never sleeps becomes a comedy of errors through which they learn valuable lessons about their friendship, themselves, and their dreams for the future.