A Book A Week

There’s something liberating about hitting the open road, leaving behind schedules and responsibilities, if only for a little while. Just you, your thoughts, and the miles stretching ahead. Of course, reality has its limits—gas, speed limits, food, and sleep all play a role—but for a brief moment, a road trip can feel like the perfect escape from life’s burdens.

For Livia and her friends, that escape is precisely what they need. Reeling from the discovery of her husband’s affair, Livia is desperate to get away, and her friends are more than willing to help her forget her troubles for a few days. Their trip through the Cascade foothills of Central Oregon starts as a simple getaway, but a reckless tow truck driver tailing them turns their carefree ride into something far more unsettling.

Hoping to lose him, they veer onto County Road 95, an unremarkable backroad with a chilling local reputation. Known as The Devil’s Driveway, the 15-mile stretch quickly turns their road trip into a nightmare. What starts as a detour soon becomes a desperate fight for survival, pushing the four women to the edge of their sanity. And with every twist and turn, something even more terrifying waits ahead.

I was immediately drawn to the concept of a haunted highway and gladly accepted the audiobook version of White Line Fever from K.C. Jones’ publisher. Kate Hanford’s expert narration added a chilling urgency to the story, keeping me hooked and looking for any excuse to keep listening. Jones gradually unveils the full scope of the horror his characters face, starting with eerie instances of lost time, dissociation, and hallucinations before escalating into true, unrelenting terror.

Throughout the novel, Jones weaves in flashbacks to Livia’s past, adding depth to her character. While I appreciated these insights, they occasionally disrupted the pacing, and I often found myself more eager to return to the escalating tension on the road. Still, White Line Fever hurtles toward a harrowing climax that delivers thrills and meaningful character growth. A solid horror thriller, it’s an especially gripping listen.

For more information, visit the author's website, Amazon, and Goodreads. 

(2025, 23)