Dark Roads

Hailey McBride, the 17-year-old narrator of part one of this exciting if flawed thriller from bestseller Stevens (Never Let You Go), has been living since her father died with her aunt and police officer uncle, Erick Vaughn, near Canada’s reputedly haunted Cold Creek Highway, where an unknown number of young women have disappeared over the decades, the supposed victims of a serial killer. The highway killer myth doesn’t scare Hailey as much as the volatile Vaughn’s controlling ways and his constant spying on her. She runs away, believing she can use the outdoor skills her father taught her to survive the harsh wilderness. Hailey also hopes people will believe she was the killer’s latest victim. A year later, in part two, Beth Chevalier arrives in Cold Creek to attend the annual memorial service for the highway victims, who include her sister. Once Hailey and Beth cross paths, the serial killer hunt gets lost amid what becomes a survivalist and coming-of-age story. Clever twists toward the end compensate for the temporary loss of momentum. Stevens remains a writer to watch. Agent: Mel Berger, WME. (Aug.)