Review: The Highway by C. J. Box

A Mysterious Review of The Highway by C. J. Box.

Review summary: The first third of this semi-stand-alone — there are a couple of characters from the a previous stand-alone, who appear here — is really quite compelling, a psychological thriller with edge-of-your-seat suspense and tension. But then it all kind of stalls. It's almost as if the author couldn't decide where to take the story and elected to finish with a routine police procedural/serial killer-style mystery. (Click here for text of full review.)

Our rating:

The Highway
C. J. Box
Minotaur Books (July 2013)

Publisher synopsis: When two sisters set out across a remote stretch of Montana road to visit their friend, little do they know it will be the last time anyone might ever hear from them again. The girls — and their car — simply vanish.

Former police investigator Cody Hoyt has just lost his job and has fallen off the wagon after a long stretch of sobriety. Convinced by his son and his former rookie partner, Cassie Dewell, he begins the drive south to the girls' last known location. As Cody makes his way to the lonely stretch of Montana highway where they went missing, Cassie discovers that Gracie and Danielle Sullivan aren't the first girls who have disappeared in this area. This majestic landscape is the hunting ground for a killer whose viciousness is outmatched only by his intelligence. And he might not be working alone.

Time is running out for Gracie and Danielle … Can Cassie overcome her doubts and lack of experience and use her innate skill? Can Cody Hoyt battle his own demons and find this killer before another victim vanishes on the highway?