Murder Road

Murder Road is Simone St. James’s ninth novel, published in 2024 by Berkley. Set in 1995, Murder Road combines elements of the mystery, horror, and paranormal thriller genres as April Carter and her husband, Eddie, work to solve a series of murders on a lonely stretch of road in Michigan. As April and Eddie work to solve the crimes, they also reveal secrets about their histories that test their new marriage. St. James is known for exploring the psychology of her characters, and in this novel, she delves into themes of Overcoming Past Trauma, Finding Connection in Common Experience, and The Difference Between Appearance and Reality.

This study guide refers to the 2024 Berkley Kindle edition of the novel.

Content Warning: The source text and this guide discuss domestic violence, post-traumatic stress disorder, psychological manipulation, alcohol and substance use disorder, suicide, and murder.

Plot Summary

Murder Road tells the story of April and Eddie Carter’s honeymoon, which goes drastically awry near the town of Coldlake Falls. Eddie and April are on their way to a small lake resort several hours from their hometown of Ann Arbor, Michigan when they find themselves on a lonely road off the interstate.