“A pulse-pounding and blood-soaked tale of survival on the highway as a hitchhiking teenager is thrust into a deadly game of cat and mouse with a brutal serial killer. Perfect for fans of Grady Hendrix, Rachel Harrison and Keith Rosson.
Eighteen-year-old Harper has decided to run away from home after she has another blow-out argument with her mother. However, her two best friends, little sister, and ex-boyfriend all stop her from hitchhiking her way up Route 80 in Wyoming by joining her on an intervention disguised as a road trip. What they don’t realize is that Harper has been marked by a very unique serial killer who’s been trolling the highway for the past three years, and now the killer is after all of them in this fast-paced and deadly chase novel that will have your heart racing well above the speed limit as the interstate becomes a graveyard.”
Hello and welcome to damppebbles. Today I am delighted to share my review of Killer on the Road by Stephen Graham Jones. Killer on the Road was published by Titan Books on 17th June 2025 and is available in hardcover, audio and digital formats. I chose to read a free ARC of Killer on the Road but that has in no way influenced my review. My grateful thanks to Kabriya at Titan Books for sending me a proof copy.
It’s a Stephen Graham Jones x Titan Books triple bonus year, people! I am beyond excited that 2025 sees the release of three books by one of the masters of the horror genre, Stephen Graham Jones. SGJ has rapidly become one of my favourite ‘must-read at any cost’ authors. His books are powerful, terrifying and ultimately, full of heart. When I discovered the lovely folk at Titan Books planned to release three SGJ books in 2025, I was giddy with glee. The Buffalo Hunter Hunter hit bookshelves earlier this year. Killer on the Road, the book I’m going to be sharing with you today, was released in mid-June. And my current read, The Babysitter Lives, is due to be published later this month. What a treat for all SGJ fans! And of course, for those who are yet to discover the magic of this extremely talented writer. Exciting times!
Harper has had just about enough of her mother’s interfering, so she decides to take matters into her own hands, leaving her family home behind and heading to the highway to hitch a ride. Anywhere miles away from her mother will do. Plus, there’s always a chance she’ll cross paths with her father. A trucker himself who left for the road one day and never came home. But not long after leaving, she unexpectedly meets up with some familiar faces. Two of Harper’s high school friends, her ex-boyfriend, Dillon, and her younger sister, Meg. But her friends aren’t the only ones looking for Harper. Little do they know that they have been specially selected by a sadistic serial killer who patrols the highway looking for his next victim. As the miles pass by, the tension mounts. Bucketmouth is on the hunt and he has Harper firmly in his sights…
Killer on the Road is a dark, thrilling and thoroughly gripping game of cat and mouse. Where the two main players face off against one another, trying to always keep one deadly step ahead. Kick-ass teenage girl versus monster from your worst nightmares. Something SGJ always does so very well. With a deliciously shocking prologue, the reader is pulled kicking and screaming (and wincing) into this high-octane story. From that point, it’s nigh-on impossible to tear yourself away from the story. I found myself immediately siding with Harper. But then, that’s what I find SGJ always does so well. He can write a female lead that you believe in 100%. They’re flawed, far from perfect, but gosh, you’re heartily cheering them on from the sidelines (which is where I’ll stay, thank you very much, safe and sound!).
Would I recommend this book? I would, yes. Killer on the Road drips with razor-sharp tension from the opening page. Stuffed to the brim with peril, overflowing with intrigue and suspense. And with relentless, palpable terror, this is one road trip you should be flooring the gas to get your hands on! There are plenty of moments where you want to hide behind your hand (or the couch!) but you just can’t stop reading. Bucketmouth is a bit of a different serial killer which only added to the intrigue for me. I wanted to know more about this character, the whys and wherefores, which SGJ thankfully provides in spades. I really enjoyed this book. My only tiny niggle as a British reader was that I had to Google a lot of the US truck/trucker terminology/phrases (plus perhaps a distinct lack of knowledge on my part really didn’t help). I was aware of the subject matter of this book going in so I feel that’s more on me than the author. It took me out of the story a little every so often though, which is the only reason I mention it. What I did fully understand was the emotion of the novel which was like a perfectly placed sucker punch. Wow! SGJ does what he does so well, once again. All in all, I thoroughly enjoyed every dark and deadly moment I spent with this book. It’s a high-octane read, a thrill ride from start to finish and I remain a HUGE fan of this author who can’t seem to put a foot wrong. Tense, compulsive, fast-paced and addictive. Recommended.
I chose to read and review a free ARC of Killer on the Road. The above review is my own unbiased opinion.
Killer on the Road by Stephen Graham Jones was published in the UK by Titan Books on 17th June 2025 and is available in hardcover, audio and digital formats (please note, the following links are affiliate links which means I receive a small percentage of the purchase price at no extra cost to you): | amazon.co.uk | Waterstones | bookshop.org | Goodreads | damppebbles bookshop.org shop | damppebbles amazon.co.uk shop | damppebbles amazon.com shop |
Stephen Graham Jones is the NYT bestselling author thirty-five or so books. He really likes werewolves and slashers. Favourite novels change daily, but Valis and Love Medicine and Lonesome Dove and It and The Things They Carried are all usually up there somewhere. Stephen lives in Boulder, Colorado. It’s a big change from the West Texas he grew up in.
