BOOkclub Get on this Highway to hell
Dark Highway
Do you remember my review of Lisa Gray’s second novel, bad Memory?
I was bursting for a third novel in Gray’s Jessica Shaw series and, as luck would have it, the Amazon no1, Washington Post and Wall Street Journal best-selling author has unleashed another belter on the world, Dark Highway.
Laurie Simmonds, an artist from LA, disappeared from her home two months ago. She tells a friend that she is nipping away for the afternoon, but her campervan is discovered abandoned on the isolated Twentynine Palms Highway. Miles away from anything and anyone.
Police believe she’s simply upped and left her life but her parents want answers, so put their faith in private investigator Jessica Shaw to dig out the truth to Laurie’s mysterious disappearance.
Jessica, a lone wolf in the world, has partnered up with fellow PI Matt Connor to get to the bottom of Laurie’s whereabouts, but when the duo uncover leads about two other missing women, their vanishings connected to that same lonely highway, this duo aren’t going to let the dust settle until they have some answers.
Yet, nothing seems to add up with these women.
None of them share any common physical characteristics; they’re all of different ages and are not connected in any way.
But Jessica’s not convinced. Why the same highway? Following further digging by her and Matt, a link emerges between the women and a group of former college friends, and Jessica feels they’re slowly edging closer and closer to the truth.
However, when she shares this link with Laurie’s parents, they get spooked and immediately tell her to drop the case.
But that won’t stop the determined PI, regardless of whether there’s money behind the investigation. There could be more women at risk and, if her suspicions are correct, she must act fast before it’s too late.
I’m a massive fan of the Jessica Shaw series, so reading book three has been a real highlight of 2020 for me
Lisa Gray’s writing just gets better and better with every novel and Dark Highway is no exception.
Jessica is the most charismatic, gritty and determined character and it’s so difficult not to fall in line with her and follow her every move.
Dark Highway is one of those addictive reads. Just like Bad Memory, you’ll be drawn into Jessica’s investigation, and just when you think you’ve sussed it out, a twist comes along and has your jaw on the floor.
Several times I gasped audibly when all the little clues slowly began to add up. And even then, Gray smacks you round the chops with her writing skill and talent.
The only downside to reading Dark Highway is that now I have to wait and hope for Jessica Shaw book four. There has to be more to her story. And my imagination isn’t good enough to fill in the blanks myself.