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The Country Road Murders
After a shocking accident, Silas Tucker’s legendary football career is suddenly over in this action-packed sports thriller powered by loyalty, competition, and family.
Humbled, but never defeated, he returns to his backwoods hometown, Cross Rivers, North Carolina, where his father was murdered.
He goes back to what’s left of his family and their small, struggling farm. He reunites with his best friend in the world—Taylor McCarter Webb, who is now married.
Then Silas is pulled into a deadly battle with the Southern Mafia who control drugs, trafficking and murder.
As the suspense crescendos, Silas follows one rule for survival: you don’t ride these country roads alone, or in the dead of night.
Humbled, but never defeated, he returns to his backwoods hometown, Cross Rivers, North Carolina, where his father was murdered.
He goes back to what’s left of his family and their small, struggling farm. He reunites with his best friend in the world—Taylor McCarter Webb, who is now married.
Then Silas is pulled into a deadly battle with the Southern Mafia who control drugs, trafficking and murder.
As the suspense crescendos, Silas follows one rule for survival: you don’t ride these country roads alone, or in the dead of night.
416 pages, Hardcover
First published February 9, 2026
About the author
James Patterson
974 books358k followersOfficial US Site
Official UK Site
James Patterson is the most popular storyteller of our time and the creator of such unforgettable characters and series as Alex Cross, the Women’s Murder Club, Jane Smith, and Maximum Ride. He has coauthored #1 bestselling novels with Bill Clinton, Dolly Parton, Michael Crichton, and Viola Davis, as well as collaborated on #1 bestselling nonfiction, including The Idaho Four, Walk in My Combat Boots, and Filthy Rich. Patterson has told the story of his own life in the #1 bestselling autobiography James Patterson by James Patterson. He is the recipient of an Edgar Award, ten Emmy Awards, the Literarian Award from the National Book Foundation, and the National Humanities Medal.
Official UK Site
James Patterson is the most popular storyteller of our time and the creator of such unforgettable characters and series as Alex Cross, the Women’s Murder Club, Jane Smith, and Maximum Ride. He has coauthored #1 bestselling novels with Bill Clinton, Dolly Parton, Michael Crichton, and Viola Davis, as well as collaborated on #1 bestselling nonfiction, including The Idaho Four, Walk in My Combat Boots, and Filthy Rich. Patterson has told the story of his own life in the #1 bestselling autobiography James Patterson by James Patterson. He is the recipient of an Edgar Award, ten Emmy Awards, the Literarian Award from the National Book Foundation, and the National Humanities Medal.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 182 reviews
July 18, 2026
In some ways, this book almost felt like a remake of “Walking Tall,” as local football legend Silas Tucker takes on the dangerous Southern Mafia in his rural North Carolina hometown . Amidst a background of murder, mayhem, sex trafficking, crooked cops, and drug dealers, Silas continually deals with the situation by knocking a few heads together, as well as getting in the face of some pretty spooky backwoods characters. In any event, you won’t need a crystal ball to predict how this fight will eventually turn out.
Along with a pretty predictable storyline, the novel felt like the authors were determined to write an undated version of “Walking Tall.” Added to this mix was a truly bizarre love triangle, which involved Silas being deeply in love with a local girl who is married to his best friend….and, weirder still, the woman openly expresses her love to both men, as if this is a common occurrence in most marriages. All in all, despite some 400-pages, this was a fairly quick read with few surprises from beginning to end.
Along with a pretty predictable storyline, the novel felt like the authors were determined to write an undated version of “Walking Tall.” Added to this mix was a truly bizarre love triangle, which involved Silas being deeply in love with a local girl who is married to his best friend….and, weirder still, the woman openly expresses her love to both men, as if this is a common occurrence in most marriages. All in all, despite some 400-pages, this was a fairly quick read with few surprises from beginning to end.
July 24, 2026
“If you only had one more game to play in life, how much would a game like that be worth to you?”
Baseball
Football
Country music
Small town Western North Carolina
“Country roads, take me home
To the place I belong….” - John Denver
Drugs, drug overdoses
Human trafficking
Southern Mafia
More country music
“In my mind, I'm gone to Carolina / Can't you see the sunshine? Can't you just feel the moonshine?"
- James Taylor
More football
“You know what’s just about the best kind of big game in this world? Page one and chapter one of a book you really want to read.”
Baseball
Football
Country music
Small town Western North Carolina
“Country roads, take me home
To the place I belong….” - John Denver
Drugs, drug overdoses
Human trafficking
Southern Mafia
More country music
“In my mind, I'm gone to Carolina / Can't you see the sunshine? Can't you just feel the moonshine?"
- James Taylor
More football
“You know what’s just about the best kind of big game in this world? Page one and chapter one of a book you really want to read.”
July 29, 2026
Hey – we have another James Patterson and Mike Lupica co-authored novel. The two writers who have been working on the “Jane Smith Thriller” series, and are three books into that one, have come together again for separate one-off thriller.
The good news is that this is an engaging and entertaining summer escape read. The kind of one that helped make Patterson one of the world’s most popular storytellers.
“The Country Road Murders” starts off with a surprising and shocking prologue, which I will let you read for yourself. All I will say it grabs by your attention immediately within four pages in a big way.
Once that is over and we get going, it becomes the story of Silas Tucker, who grew up on a farm in the backwoods country farm of Cross Rivers, North Carolina, a place known for its violence and proud of it. A place where his father was sheriff until he was murdered. A place where the Southern Mafia resides, under the powerful control of Briar Crockett and his sons, overseeing the local drugs and trafficking throughout the county and beyond. A place where no one rides the country roads alone at night…
Silas is a major football star. An all-American quarterback, that just led North Carolina to its first ever collegiate national championship and found himself being the number one pick in the NFL draft by the Pittsburg Steelers.
However, Silas lets his friend and fellow college teammate, Mitchell Garland, drive his Porsche home from a celebration part, and a horrible accident leaves Silas with serious life-threatening injuries a long road back to recovery. His throwing arm shoulder is a torn-up mess and he returns home to his grandmother, EmmaJean (EJ), to help run their small family run farm while he seeks physical and emotional recovery.
There he is reunited with his best friend, Taylor Webb, who is his secret long-time love since childhood. She is married to his next best friend, Ben, who serves as the local law enforcement. They have all been friends since they were kids, and are the tightest threesome there is.
However, Silas unwittingly finds himself in trouble on multiple fronts. First, teenage girls and young women are going missing in the county, which piques his interest and concern. Second, he finds himself unwittingly pulled into the middle of the Southern Mafia business matters, creating a fight that cannot be avoided if he is to help save his hometown from the criminals. Before he knows it, Silas isn’t only hunting a killer, he’s fighting to just keep himself alive…
Let me start off with a personal comment. After struggling through Patterson’s previous novel – “Rocket’s Red Glare” – earlier this Summer and finding myself frustrated with the ending, this novel was a breath of fresh air and provided a nice recovery from the bad taste still lingering with me.
Let’s go with the good stuff, which starts with the characters, focus on family and small-town values, and the power of friendship that drives the conflicts in this novel. Patterson seems to be able to pick from movies, TV shows, and other popular novels or successful writers and then create his own version of a story that usually provides interesting characters and storylines to maintain our interest. For me, I found this book to be very reminiscent of recent novels by one of my favorite authors, S.A. Cosby. It has his distinctive southern setting and themes, style and rhythmic atmosphere, in which characters are put in a pressure cooker and forced to face incredible adversity and challenges. Never has small towns been so dangerous and filled with low life expectancies. To me, Silas is very much like a lead protagonist from a Cosby novel – in over his head, but stubborn enough to not give in or give up on what he believes is right.
I found this to be a good summer read. Briskly paced tempo. Interesting and well-developed mysteries to solve. Likeable characters with depth and layered family relationships. Villains that are easy to hat and root against. Patterson did a pretty good job of developing the two major plotlines and bringing them together in the end in a pretty decent, but predictable, climactic showdown. Still, Patterson and Lupica deliver an escapist novel that’s worthy of being read as long as you are willing to suspend some of your basis in reality on several occasions.
Overall, I found this to be one of Patterson’s better novels published this year. Not necessarily one of his best, but better than average, and if you treat it as an escapist Summer read, you should enjoy it. I know that I did. A guilty pleasure that hits the spot.
I give it 3.5 out of 5 stars (and yes, Goodreads doesn't round off, so I rounded down).
The good news is that this is an engaging and entertaining summer escape read. The kind of one that helped make Patterson one of the world’s most popular storytellers.
“The Country Road Murders” starts off with a surprising and shocking prologue, which I will let you read for yourself. All I will say it grabs by your attention immediately within four pages in a big way.
Once that is over and we get going, it becomes the story of Silas Tucker, who grew up on a farm in the backwoods country farm of Cross Rivers, North Carolina, a place known for its violence and proud of it. A place where his father was sheriff until he was murdered. A place where the Southern Mafia resides, under the powerful control of Briar Crockett and his sons, overseeing the local drugs and trafficking throughout the county and beyond. A place where no one rides the country roads alone at night…
Silas is a major football star. An all-American quarterback, that just led North Carolina to its first ever collegiate national championship and found himself being the number one pick in the NFL draft by the Pittsburg Steelers.
However, Silas lets his friend and fellow college teammate, Mitchell Garland, drive his Porsche home from a celebration part, and a horrible accident leaves Silas with serious life-threatening injuries a long road back to recovery. His throwing arm shoulder is a torn-up mess and he returns home to his grandmother, EmmaJean (EJ), to help run their small family run farm while he seeks physical and emotional recovery.
There he is reunited with his best friend, Taylor Webb, who is his secret long-time love since childhood. She is married to his next best friend, Ben, who serves as the local law enforcement. They have all been friends since they were kids, and are the tightest threesome there is.
However, Silas unwittingly finds himself in trouble on multiple fronts. First, teenage girls and young women are going missing in the county, which piques his interest and concern. Second, he finds himself unwittingly pulled into the middle of the Southern Mafia business matters, creating a fight that cannot be avoided if he is to help save his hometown from the criminals. Before he knows it, Silas isn’t only hunting a killer, he’s fighting to just keep himself alive…
Let me start off with a personal comment. After struggling through Patterson’s previous novel – “Rocket’s Red Glare” – earlier this Summer and finding myself frustrated with the ending, this novel was a breath of fresh air and provided a nice recovery from the bad taste still lingering with me.
Let’s go with the good stuff, which starts with the characters, focus on family and small-town values, and the power of friendship that drives the conflicts in this novel. Patterson seems to be able to pick from movies, TV shows, and other popular novels or successful writers and then create his own version of a story that usually provides interesting characters and storylines to maintain our interest. For me, I found this book to be very reminiscent of recent novels by one of my favorite authors, S.A. Cosby. It has his distinctive southern setting and themes, style and rhythmic atmosphere, in which characters are put in a pressure cooker and forced to face incredible adversity and challenges. Never has small towns been so dangerous and filled with low life expectancies. To me, Silas is very much like a lead protagonist from a Cosby novel – in over his head, but stubborn enough to not give in or give up on what he believes is right.
I found this to be a good summer read. Briskly paced tempo. Interesting and well-developed mysteries to solve. Likeable characters with depth and layered family relationships. Villains that are easy to hat and root against. Patterson did a pretty good job of developing the two major plotlines and bringing them together in the end in a pretty decent, but predictable, climactic showdown. Still, Patterson and Lupica deliver an escapist novel that’s worthy of being read as long as you are willing to suspend some of your basis in reality on several occasions.
Overall, I found this to be one of Patterson’s better novels published this year. Not necessarily one of his best, but better than average, and if you treat it as an escapist Summer read, you should enjoy it. I know that I did. A guilty pleasure that hits the spot.
I give it 3.5 out of 5 stars (and yes, Goodreads doesn't round off, so I rounded down).
July 13, 2026
Silas Tucker was once a collegiate sports hero with dreams of playing professional baseball or football. Those dreams came to a devastating end after he is seriously injured in a car accident. Looking for a fresh start, Silas returns to his hometown of Cross Rivers, North Carolina, hoping to his life, find a new purpose, and finally discover some peace.
Instead, he finds a town in turmoil. Young women have begun disappearing, and Cross Rivers has fallen under the grip of a powerful Southern mafia organization. As the investigation unfolds, it becomes clear that the criminal organization is involved in far more than anyone imagined, and the missing women may be connected to something much bigger.
While the police work tirelessly to stop the violence, Silas finds himself pulled into the center of the investigation. Determined to protect his community, he also hopes to uncover the truth behind his father’s murder years earlier, a crime that has haunted him for much of his life.
The Country Road Murders is a fast-paced, action-packed thriller filled with suspense, danger, and a relentless search for justice. The tension steadily builds with each chapter, leading to an exciting and satisfying conclusion. Listening to the excellent audiobook narration definitely pulled me deeper into the story. James Patterson once again delivers a story that kept me turning the pages. It was nearly impossible to put down, and I thoroughly enjoyed every minute of it.
Many thanks to Little, Brown and Company and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.
Instead, he finds a town in turmoil. Young women have begun disappearing, and Cross Rivers has fallen under the grip of a powerful Southern mafia organization. As the investigation unfolds, it becomes clear that the criminal organization is involved in far more than anyone imagined, and the missing women may be connected to something much bigger.
While the police work tirelessly to stop the violence, Silas finds himself pulled into the center of the investigation. Determined to protect his community, he also hopes to uncover the truth behind his father’s murder years earlier, a crime that has haunted him for much of his life.
The Country Road Murders is a fast-paced, action-packed thriller filled with suspense, danger, and a relentless search for justice. The tension steadily builds with each chapter, leading to an exciting and satisfying conclusion. Listening to the excellent audiobook narration definitely pulled me deeper into the story. James Patterson once again delivers a story that kept me turning the pages. It was nearly impossible to put down, and I thoroughly enjoyed every minute of it.
Many thanks to Little, Brown and Company and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.
July 11, 2026
Silas Turner, hometown football hero of Cross Rivers, North Carolina, has returned after his professional career was crushed even before it began after a tragic accident. Trying to physically heal and figure out his future, he’s living again with his grandmother EJ (EmmaJean) and her struggling soybean farm. Silas’ father was the school principal, murdered by persons unknown ten years ago. Cross Rivers is overrun by the evil* Crockett family, known as the Southern Mafia, and at least five young girls from around the county have recently gone missing. Silas is young, but very tired of being bullied by the Crocketts who are openly dealing drugs at the high school and have the county sheriff in their pocket.
*evil enough to try to run over Silas’ fairly immortal dog, Bumper.
Joining Silas is his longtime childhood friend Taylor McCarter Webb, married to her high school sweetheart Burt Webb, the very young interim police chief of Cross Rivers (also at odds with the county sheriff). Eventually the kidnappings and corruption come to the attention of the governor and he sends fierce and formidable special agent Helene Mayes to form a task force to take down the baddies.
The action is non-stop and we get treated to scenes from a championship game, probably thanks to co-author sports columnist Mike Lupica.
The audiobook, voiced by Tom Pelphry with a sharp southern accent, is a performance unto itself. Bravo!
Silas is one of Patterson’s nearly perfect heroes — handsome, caring, strong, ethical, determined, law-abiding and worth a sequel or two, possibly with Helene as well. 5 stars!
Literary Pet Peeve Checklist:
Green Eyes (only 2% of the real world, yet it seems like 90% of all fictional females): YES Taylor has blue-green eyes.
Horticultural Faux Pas (plants out of season or growing zones, like daffodils in autumn or bougainvillea in Alaska): NO We are in soybean country in eastern North Carolina.
Thank you to Little, Brown and Company, Hachette Audio and NetGalley for advanced copies!
*evil enough to try to run over Silas’ fairly immortal dog, Bumper.
Joining Silas is his longtime childhood friend Taylor McCarter Webb, married to her high school sweetheart Burt Webb, the very young interim police chief of Cross Rivers (also at odds with the county sheriff). Eventually the kidnappings and corruption come to the attention of the governor and he sends fierce and formidable special agent Helene Mayes to form a task force to take down the baddies.
The action is non-stop and we get treated to scenes from a championship game, probably thanks to co-author sports columnist Mike Lupica.
The audiobook, voiced by Tom Pelphry with a sharp southern accent, is a performance unto itself. Bravo!
Silas is one of Patterson’s nearly perfect heroes — handsome, caring, strong, ethical, determined, law-abiding and worth a sequel or two, possibly with Helene as well. 5 stars!
Literary Pet Peeve Checklist:
Green Eyes (only 2% of the real world, yet it seems like 90% of all fictional females): YES Taylor has blue-green eyes.
Horticultural Faux Pas (plants out of season or growing zones, like daffodils in autumn or bougainvillea in Alaska): NO We are in soybean country in eastern North Carolina.
Thank you to Little, Brown and Company, Hachette Audio and NetGalley for advanced copies!
July 14, 2026
The Southern Mafia has instilled fear in the hearts of the people of the small town of Cross River, North Carolina, for many years, along with corruption in the law enforcement community and poisoning the young people of this town with their drugs.
Their reign is about to be tested. Hometown hero Silas Tucke, along with some outside law enforcement, are ready for war with this crime family with Helene Maye leading the charge. This woman was tough as nails; a wonder woman who led with no fear, but with her own brand of intimidation. She had no fear, only a sense of justice.
This is another new style of book for James Patterson and Mike Lupica. This one is a sports drama/mystery jam packed with plenty of personal loss and tragedy, emotional land mines and a sense of evil simmering just below the surface. It’s another winner for 2026.
Thank you to Little Brown and Company and NetGalley for this ARC. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Their reign is about to be tested. Hometown hero Silas Tucke, along with some outside law enforcement, are ready for war with this crime family with Helene Maye leading the charge. This woman was tough as nails; a wonder woman who led with no fear, but with her own brand of intimidation. She had no fear, only a sense of justice.
This is another new style of book for James Patterson and Mike Lupica. This one is a sports drama/mystery jam packed with plenty of personal loss and tragedy, emotional land mines and a sense of evil simmering just below the surface. It’s another winner for 2026.
Thank you to Little Brown and Company and NetGalley for this ARC. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
July 11, 2026
A fast and fun read with some things that reminded me of the Alex Cross books! I hope there are more books with these characters!
July 23, 2026
This story could have been 200 pages shorter. It was predictable and trite. It spent too much time on painting a stereotypical picture of Southern small time life and egos. Just because James Patterson's name is attached to a book does not automatically mean it is 4*. Waste of my time.
July 31, 2026
The Country Road Murders, a propulsive sports thriller by bestselling author James Patterson and renowned sports journalist Mike Lupica, delivers a gripping tale of shattered dreams, small-town corruption, and relentless vigilante justice. Blending the high-stakes tension of a crime novel with the emotional resonance of a sports drama, the book explores what happens when a community’s brightest star is forced to return to his roots in the aftermath of a devastating tragedy. Set against the atmospheric, backwoods backdrop of Cross Rivers, North Carolina, the story paints a vivid picture of a struggling town gripped by fear, demanding a different kind of hero to confront the sinister elements lurking just beneath the surface. Patterson and Lupica masterfully weave a narrative powered by loyalty, family, and survival, ensuring readers are kept on the edge of their seats from the opening whistle to the final confrontation.
At the center of this narrative is Silas Tucker, a legendary hometown football hero whose life was seemingly destined for greatness. Once a celebrated collegiate sports star with legitimate aspirations of playing professional baseball or football, Silas experiences a cruel twist of fate when a shocking car accident abruptly ends his athletic career before it can truly begin. Humbled and physically bruised, but never entirely defeated by his circumstances, Silas makes the difficult decision to return to Cross Rivers, looking for a fresh start, a new sense of purpose, and the peace that has long eluded him. He moves back in with his grandmother, affectionately known as EJ (EmmaJean), to help her manage what is left of their struggling family soybean farm, trading the roar of the stadium crowds for the quiet desperation of rural life.
However, Silas quickly discovers that the quiet hometown of his youth is far from peaceful. Cross Rivers has fallen under the suffocating grip of a powerful criminal organization known locally as the Southern Mafia. Controlled by the menacing Crockett family, this criminal enterprise has poisoned the community by trafficking drugs, instilling deep-seated fear among the residents, and corrupting the local law enforcement apparatus. The stakes are raised to terrifying new heights when a chilling pattern emerges: young, teenage girls from around the county have recently begun vanishing without a trace, with at least five missing by the time Silas arrives. The local police force, either severely outmatched or actively compromised by the Crockett family’s influence, is seemingly powerless to stop the violence, leaving the town utterly terrified and desperate for intervention.
For Silas, the encroaching darkness in Cross Rivers is deeply personal, reopening old wounds that never truly healed. A decade ago, his father—a respected local school principal—was brutally gunned down on a deserted country road when Silas was just a boy. The killers were never brought to justice, and the unsolved murder has haunted Silas for most of his life. As the modern-day investigation unfolds and the Southern Mafia tightens its stranglehold on the town, it becomes increasingly clear that the criminal organization is involved in far more than simple drug peddling, and the missing women may be connected to the same dark underbelly that claimed his father’s life. Realizing that the law alone is not enough to protect his community, Silas is pulled into the deadly battle, embracing a role reminiscent of a classic vigilante as he begins to take justice into his own hands by physically confronting the local criminals.
In his dangerous crusade against the Crocketts, Silas is not entirely alone, though his alliances are fraught with personal and professional complications. He reunites with his childhood best friend, Taylor McCarter Webb, a local woman he still deeply loves, who is now uncomfortably married to her high school sweetheart, Burt Webb. Adding to the complex dynamic, the young Burt serves as the interim police chief of Cross Rivers and finds himself frequently at odds with the corrupt county sheriff. The story introduces a compelling love triangle that adds emotional landmines to the ongoing physical danger. Eventually, the sheer scale of the corruption and kidnappings catches the attention of the state's governor, who dispatches Helene Mayes, a fierce and formidable special agent, to form a specialized task force aimed at dismantling the Southern Mafia once and for all.
The climax of The Country Road Murders is an intense, non-stop crescendo of action where Silas must navigate a treacherous path to save the missing girls, uncover the final truths behind his father's tragic death, and dismantle the Crockett family's empire. With the constant reminder that one should never ride these country roads alone in the dead of night, the novel races toward an exciting and immensely satisfying conclusion. Silas Tucker emerges as an iconic Patterson protagonist—handsome, highly ethical, unyieldingly strong, and determined to fight for those who cannot fight for themselves. By blending Lupica's sports-writing flair with Patterson's mastery of the thriller genre, the authors deliver a story that is as much about the resilience of the human spirit as it is about taking down the bad guys, ensuring that readers will eagerly anticipate Silas Tucker's next chapter.
At the center of this narrative is Silas Tucker, a legendary hometown football hero whose life was seemingly destined for greatness. Once a celebrated collegiate sports star with legitimate aspirations of playing professional baseball or football, Silas experiences a cruel twist of fate when a shocking car accident abruptly ends his athletic career before it can truly begin. Humbled and physically bruised, but never entirely defeated by his circumstances, Silas makes the difficult decision to return to Cross Rivers, looking for a fresh start, a new sense of purpose, and the peace that has long eluded him. He moves back in with his grandmother, affectionately known as EJ (EmmaJean), to help her manage what is left of their struggling family soybean farm, trading the roar of the stadium crowds for the quiet desperation of rural life.
However, Silas quickly discovers that the quiet hometown of his youth is far from peaceful. Cross Rivers has fallen under the suffocating grip of a powerful criminal organization known locally as the Southern Mafia. Controlled by the menacing Crockett family, this criminal enterprise has poisoned the community by trafficking drugs, instilling deep-seated fear among the residents, and corrupting the local law enforcement apparatus. The stakes are raised to terrifying new heights when a chilling pattern emerges: young, teenage girls from around the county have recently begun vanishing without a trace, with at least five missing by the time Silas arrives. The local police force, either severely outmatched or actively compromised by the Crockett family’s influence, is seemingly powerless to stop the violence, leaving the town utterly terrified and desperate for intervention.
For Silas, the encroaching darkness in Cross Rivers is deeply personal, reopening old wounds that never truly healed. A decade ago, his father—a respected local school principal—was brutally gunned down on a deserted country road when Silas was just a boy. The killers were never brought to justice, and the unsolved murder has haunted Silas for most of his life. As the modern-day investigation unfolds and the Southern Mafia tightens its stranglehold on the town, it becomes increasingly clear that the criminal organization is involved in far more than simple drug peddling, and the missing women may be connected to the same dark underbelly that claimed his father’s life. Realizing that the law alone is not enough to protect his community, Silas is pulled into the deadly battle, embracing a role reminiscent of a classic vigilante as he begins to take justice into his own hands by physically confronting the local criminals.
In his dangerous crusade against the Crocketts, Silas is not entirely alone, though his alliances are fraught with personal and professional complications. He reunites with his childhood best friend, Taylor McCarter Webb, a local woman he still deeply loves, who is now uncomfortably married to her high school sweetheart, Burt Webb. Adding to the complex dynamic, the young Burt serves as the interim police chief of Cross Rivers and finds himself frequently at odds with the corrupt county sheriff. The story introduces a compelling love triangle that adds emotional landmines to the ongoing physical danger. Eventually, the sheer scale of the corruption and kidnappings catches the attention of the state's governor, who dispatches Helene Mayes, a fierce and formidable special agent, to form a specialized task force aimed at dismantling the Southern Mafia once and for all.
The climax of The Country Road Murders is an intense, non-stop crescendo of action where Silas must navigate a treacherous path to save the missing girls, uncover the final truths behind his father's tragic death, and dismantle the Crockett family's empire. With the constant reminder that one should never ride these country roads alone in the dead of night, the novel races toward an exciting and immensely satisfying conclusion. Silas Tucker emerges as an iconic Patterson protagonist—handsome, highly ethical, unyieldingly strong, and determined to fight for those who cannot fight for themselves. By blending Lupica's sports-writing flair with Patterson's mastery of the thriller genre, the authors deliver a story that is as much about the resilience of the human spirit as it is about taking down the bad guys, ensuring that readers will eagerly anticipate Silas Tucker's next chapter.
July 14, 2026
Thanks to NetGalley for an advanced listener's copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
James Patterson has likely released over 200 books since I was last following his work in high school. I don't have very high expectations from his work as a result, because I'm sure the co-authors are doing a bunch of the heavy lifting on this and in this book, it's very clear. The football parts of the book are miles better than the crime ones, if only because they feel engaged and true to the character we follow. The premise of a local hero returning to his roots could be fantastic, and the set up of the crimes in his remote town should've been a slam dunk for an exciting, fresh look into how crime affects a community. It was just not tense enough, not well paced, and lacked cohesion in a way that's just disappointing.
Besides the football arc, the remainder of the book is a loose mess of a town that could resemble Stars Hollow if only it weren't for the one evil family in town. The racial makeup of any town being unknown for a book set in the American South is plain weird, and I assumed Silas was Black for a large part of the book until several "unfriendly" members of the local police force seemed to like him enough to only stop and frisk and not use lethal force on him. He seems to also have had a plumb easy time charming his way into football opportunities that I doubt anyone else gets in his compromised condition. I like his relationship with his grandmother and his friends, except it was amply clear from the very start that the writers needed to clear the way for him and his high school bff to reunite so that immediately compromises a couple of the characters the protagonist is meant to care for and the writers just don't bother to develop.
I don't mind a lot of the villains in James Patterson's writing, even if they're as paper thin as in some of his Michael Bennett books, but it was fun in that context and completely unsurprising in this one. We don't get a crumb of generational stress if they want us to believe we're talking about the Southern mafia, and there was ample scope for it. I'm just asking for crumbs at this point because the patriarch was easily a more interesting character on paper than most others.
Any discerning reader knows that James Patterson loves the police, and clearly has a vested interest in pushing militarizing technologies that would barely work in new york, let alone a tiny sheriff-run outfit. We barely get into the policing aspects of a crime story, except to state that heightened surveillance and an app and vigilantes with guns are all valid in response to crimes that take place with burner phones and a dirty cop and a mole at best. The conceit of a book that purportedly wants to keep women safe from murder is that they trust the same police force that let the bad guys go free to exact revenge on the same bad guys with no hesitation. Also, it must be said that there is no string of murders! The title of this book is clearly misleading!
At best, they try to talk about drug problems in Appalachia with some nuance, but any concerned citizen beating up low level drug dealers is the solution for the issue it would seem. The narrative talked about a "War on Drugs" in the region as a potential solution but since nobody cares that it didn't work out super well for anyone the last time, we aren't supposed to either. Yet again, the effects of the economy and modern policing and the correct interventions on a population level simply do not matter. Because we have our trusty old quarterback telling kids to stay off drugs in an assembly.
Even if I were reading this book 15 years ago with no understanding of criminal justice as a broken, corrupt system by design, I don't think this book is very enjoyable. There are a lot of loose threads that yearn for connection within the book, and I didn't enjoy either parts of the book enough to seek out either author's writing for a little while. What I do like is how easily this book rolls off the ear, and the narrator and snappy chapter breaks are in no small part to thank for that.
James Patterson has likely released over 200 books since I was last following his work in high school. I don't have very high expectations from his work as a result, because I'm sure the co-authors are doing a bunch of the heavy lifting on this and in this book, it's very clear. The football parts of the book are miles better than the crime ones, if only because they feel engaged and true to the character we follow. The premise of a local hero returning to his roots could be fantastic, and the set up of the crimes in his remote town should've been a slam dunk for an exciting, fresh look into how crime affects a community. It was just not tense enough, not well paced, and lacked cohesion in a way that's just disappointing.
Besides the football arc, the remainder of the book is a loose mess of a town that could resemble Stars Hollow if only it weren't for the one evil family in town. The racial makeup of any town being unknown for a book set in the American South is plain weird, and I assumed Silas was Black for a large part of the book until several "unfriendly" members of the local police force seemed to like him enough to only stop and frisk and not use lethal force on him. He seems to also have had a plumb easy time charming his way into football opportunities that I doubt anyone else gets in his compromised condition. I like his relationship with his grandmother and his friends, except it was amply clear from the very start that the writers needed to clear the way for him and his high school bff to reunite so that immediately compromises a couple of the characters the protagonist is meant to care for and the writers just don't bother to develop.
I don't mind a lot of the villains in James Patterson's writing, even if they're as paper thin as in some of his Michael Bennett books, but it was fun in that context and completely unsurprising in this one. We don't get a crumb of generational stress if they want us to believe we're talking about the Southern mafia, and there was ample scope for it. I'm just asking for crumbs at this point because the patriarch was easily a more interesting character on paper than most others.
Any discerning reader knows that James Patterson loves the police, and clearly has a vested interest in pushing militarizing technologies that would barely work in new york, let alone a tiny sheriff-run outfit. We barely get into the policing aspects of a crime story, except to state that heightened surveillance and an app and vigilantes with guns are all valid in response to crimes that take place with burner phones and a dirty cop and a mole at best. The conceit of a book that purportedly wants to keep women safe from murder is that they trust the same police force that let the bad guys go free to exact revenge on the same bad guys with no hesitation. Also, it must be said that there is no string of murders! The title of this book is clearly misleading!
At best, they try to talk about drug problems in Appalachia with some nuance, but any concerned citizen beating up low level drug dealers is the solution for the issue it would seem. The narrative talked about a "War on Drugs" in the region as a potential solution but since nobody cares that it didn't work out super well for anyone the last time, we aren't supposed to either. Yet again, the effects of the economy and modern policing and the correct interventions on a population level simply do not matter. Because we have our trusty old quarterback telling kids to stay off drugs in an assembly.
Even if I were reading this book 15 years ago with no understanding of criminal justice as a broken, corrupt system by design, I don't think this book is very enjoyable. There are a lot of loose threads that yearn for connection within the book, and I didn't enjoy either parts of the book enough to seek out either author's writing for a little while. What I do like is how easily this book rolls off the ear, and the narrator and snappy chapter breaks are in no small part to thank for that.
July 23, 2026
Another story set in a southern small town. Under staffed police force, questionable support from the sheriff and one overbearing family running roughshod over the whole community while running their own little drug cartel. Stop me if you've read this before.
Enter the hometown quarterback hero fixing to pack his bags as he heads to the pros as a first round draft pick by the Pittsburgh Steelers. But wait, there's bright red Porsche sitting outside of the goodbye party venue just itching to show our hero and his bestie just what it can do. I don't have to tell you what happens on those twisty country roads....you already have the picture.
This whole book is so predictable, yet in James Patterson and Mike Lupica's hands at least it's an easy read and a good page turner. There's the back story of the missing girls all around the same age that aren't even really addressed in the story until almost the end of the book, they are all just taken away. It's bizarre, chapter after chapter you think we'll find out who's holding the girls and what consequences they are facing. You have a pretty good idea who's responsible but that storyline doesn't get barely a mention.
Now if you're interested in our hero's rehab after the accident well you’re all set, we probably have three hundred visits to the gym with him as he strengthens every part of his body, muscle by muscle, tendon by tendon. All the while living back at the farm with grandma, EJ eating southern fried everything. (I wanted to have dinner with grandma)
Luckily, just as things are getting totally out of hand the governor sends in a ringer, a previous women's basketball star now part of a new alphabet team, no not the FBI or the CIA, lots more letters than that. She's going to kick A-- and take names. Oh and did I mention our hero learns to shoot a gun. That comes in handy too.
And there's the love triangle...not wanting to take anything away from that storyline but you'll figure that one out for yourself.
This one as so many of the Patterson books lately missed the boat for me. The ending is sooooo predictable the only thing I found enjoyable and entertaining was the football references. Thanks to Mike Lupica for making that almost believable. Again, not wanting to give you a spoiler. I read a couple reviews ranking this one five stars, I'd give it 2.5....rounded op to three. Try a little harder James.
Enter the hometown quarterback hero fixing to pack his bags as he heads to the pros as a first round draft pick by the Pittsburgh Steelers. But wait, there's bright red Porsche sitting outside of the goodbye party venue just itching to show our hero and his bestie just what it can do. I don't have to tell you what happens on those twisty country roads....you already have the picture.
This whole book is so predictable, yet in James Patterson and Mike Lupica's hands at least it's an easy read and a good page turner. There's the back story of the missing girls all around the same age that aren't even really addressed in the story until almost the end of the book, they are all just taken away. It's bizarre, chapter after chapter you think we'll find out who's holding the girls and what consequences they are facing. You have a pretty good idea who's responsible but that storyline doesn't get barely a mention.
Now if you're interested in our hero's rehab after the accident well you’re all set, we probably have three hundred visits to the gym with him as he strengthens every part of his body, muscle by muscle, tendon by tendon. All the while living back at the farm with grandma, EJ eating southern fried everything. (I wanted to have dinner with grandma)
Luckily, just as things are getting totally out of hand the governor sends in a ringer, a previous women's basketball star now part of a new alphabet team, no not the FBI or the CIA, lots more letters than that. She's going to kick A-- and take names. Oh and did I mention our hero learns to shoot a gun. That comes in handy too.
And there's the love triangle...not wanting to take anything away from that storyline but you'll figure that one out for yourself.
This one as so many of the Patterson books lately missed the boat for me. The ending is sooooo predictable the only thing I found enjoyable and entertaining was the football references. Thanks to Mike Lupica for making that almost believable. Again, not wanting to give you a spoiler. I read a couple reviews ranking this one five stars, I'd give it 2.5....rounded op to three. Try a little harder James.
July 28, 2026
Mixing sports, drama, a southern crime syndicate and a hometown hero, this book was different in all of the right ways. Silas Tucker is forced unexpectedly to leave behind his promising career in sports and to return to his small town of Cross River, North Carolina. That’s where his father, Sheriff Silas Tucker was murdered, so there are a lot of bad memories for young Silas there but there are also a lot of people who loved his dad and are ready to stand behind him in whatever he tries to do for a second career. What Silas and his supporters decide to do boggled my mind because he wants to tackle the crime problem in Cross River by shutting down the family running the Southern Mafia in town. The action is fast-paced, the story is mesmerizing and the good guys are easy to cheer for and totally realistic. This is an intense thriller, with pulse pounding action and edgy suspense that kept me guessing. With head-spinning twists and relentless tension, this book is a fast read that affirms good over evil, but the victory doesn’t come easily.
I voluntarily received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review, and all opinions expressed are my own.
I voluntarily received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review, and all opinions expressed are my own.
July 17, 2026
"The Country Road Murders" by James Patterson and Mike Lupica is an action-packed 5-star read! Silas Tucker is a small-town football hero who was living the American dream as a successful quarterback destined for greatness in the NFL. That dream is shattered one tragic night. Silas may not be the quarterback he once was, but he is still a man who deeply cares about the people in his hometown.
The quick, short chapters that James Patterson is known for make this a fast and engaging read. From the very beginning, the story is packed with action. Whether it's on the football field or in the dark woods at night, the pace never lets up. While this appears to be a standalone novel, I would love to see it become a series. I really enjoyed Silas and his grandmother, and I'd happily read another sports mystery or action thriller from this writing duo!
Thanks to Little, Brown and Company, James Patterson & Mike Lupica, and NetGalley for providing me with the opportunity to read this ARC and share my honest review.
The quick, short chapters that James Patterson is known for make this a fast and engaging read. From the very beginning, the story is packed with action. Whether it's on the football field or in the dark woods at night, the pace never lets up. While this appears to be a standalone novel, I would love to see it become a series. I really enjoyed Silas and his grandmother, and I'd happily read another sports mystery or action thriller from this writing duo!
Thanks to Little, Brown and Company, James Patterson & Mike Lupica, and NetGalley for providing me with the opportunity to read this ARC and share my honest review.
July 30, 2026
On the whole, this is a good book, if you can overlook the country music references and the over abundance of clichés.
However, even the plot is pretty trite. Not saying that small southern towns can’t be corrupt with all the “grift and graft,” but the “Southern Mafia?…”
This line sums up football for me: “Hit and get hit.”
I do find that a border collie makes any book better.
However, even the plot is pretty trite. Not saying that small southern towns can’t be corrupt with all the “grift and graft,” but the “Southern Mafia?…”
This line sums up football for me: “Hit and get hit.”
I do find that a border collie makes any book better.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
A shattered dream. A missing local girl. A backwoods criminal syndicate that rules the night.
In The Country Road Murders, New York Times bestselling powerhouse James Patterson and sports media hall-of-famer Mike Lupica deliver a high-octane, action-packed North Carolina small-town crime thriller suspense novel. The story hinges on a sidelined, former collegiate football hero facing immense physical and systemic hurdles to avenge his father's unsolved murder and stop a predatory criminal syndicate.
Grit-infused sports survival vs. backwoods mafia corruption.
A devastating, career-ending injury turns into a high-stakes, paranoid investigation when a desperate hometown return forces an ex-athlete to wage a vigilante war against a local mafia family.
Elevator Pitch
A propulsive, fast-paced sports-centric thriller where a shattered former quarterback returns to his rural, crime-ridden North Carolina hometown and lands directly in the crosshairs of a ruthless criminal syndicate responsible for a wave of missing young women.
The Hook
GLITZY SPORTS GLORY VS. BACKWOODS MAFIA CORRUPTION.
"A shattered football hero returns to his rural North Carolina hometown only to wage a ruthless vigilante war against a predatory criminal syndicate."
Review Breakdown
Intro
Silas Tucker was destined for gridiron glory until a shocking, career-ending accident completely shattered his dreams. Humbled but fiercely determined, he returns to the struggling North Carolina family farm of his grandmother to put himself through intense physical labor to heal. But the quiet sanctuary of Cross Rivers is a complete illusion.
The town is firmly controlled by the Crocketts—a local family dubbed the "Southern Mafia" who oversee a booming drug and human trafficking ring. When a local father begs him to find his missing daughter, Silas realizes the disappearances track straight back to the same syndicate he suspects gunned down his own father years ago, forcing him to take justice into his own hands.
Setting
The atmospheric, deceptive underbelly of Cross Rivers, North Carolina, moving from rustic, hard-scrabble family farms to the unpaved, unmonitored country roads where the law doesn't reach.
Vibe
High-test, gritty, and relentlessly cinematic. It pairs the explosive, fast-moving pacing of an unputdownable Patterson thriller with the deeply authentic athletic grit and small-town male camaraderie of a Lupica sports novel.
Genre
Action Thriller / Sports Suspense / Small-Town Crime.
Themes
~The Re-Invention of Identity After Failure
~Blind Small-Town Loyalty and Brotherhood
~The Poisonous Grip of Generational Organized Crime
~Vigilante Justice Versus Fractured Law Enforcement
Standout Characters
~Silas Tucker: A fiercely resilient, former quarterback whose raw physical stamina and lack of fear make him an incredibly explosive force as he avenges his family.
~Taylor McCarter Webb: Silas's fiercely loyal childhood best friend, whose marriage to a local junior police officer inserts her directly into the line of fire.
~The Crockett Family: A ruthless, deeply entrenched "Southern Mafia" clan who weaponize violence and control to completely terrorize the rural community.
Author Writing Standout
James Patterson and Mike Lupica blend their individual strengths flawlessly. Lupica’s signature, detailed handling of athlete psychology and rehabilitation balances perfectly with Patterson's legendary, lightning-fast short chapters and high-stakes tension.
THE MANICURED STADIUMS ARE GONE, AND THE RECKONING IS LOCAL.
"A hard-hitting, fiercely entertaining action thriller packed with crisp set pieces and an explosive, jaw-dropping showdown."
Takeaway
When a small-town legal system fails, it takes a broken hero with nothing left to lose to permanently tear down a corrupt empire.
Title Significance
The Country Road Murders represents the primary warning and central rule for survival in Cross Rivers: you don't ride these unmonitored country roads alone or in the dead of night.
Metaphor
The local country roads function as an artery for the town's hidden decay—seemingly quiet and serene by day, but carrying a lethal stream of corruption and missing lives under the cover of darkness.
Why You Should Read
It is a fiercely entertaining, hyper-masculine, and deeply satisfying popcorn thriller that perfectly blends a classic revenge plot with elite, high-stakes sports drama.
My Thoughts
DON'T RIDE THESE COUNTRY ROADS ALONE OR IN THE DEAD OF NIGHT.
"James Patterson and Mike Lupica deliver an absolute adrenaline rush of a thriller exploring the terrifying cost of small-town secrets and revenge."
The pacing is an absolute adrenaline rush! Having read Patterson and Lupica's previous collaborative work, the synergy here is incredibly sharp. Watching Silas re-channel his intense quarterback work ethic into an entirely different kind of high-stakes battle is exceptionally well-done. The action set pieces are crisp, and the final showdown against the Southern Mafia delivers pure, explosive satisfaction.
Verdict: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5)
"A phenomenal, hard-hitting summer blockbuster thriller that keeps its foot entirely on the gas pedal from the very first page."
Recs (Read-a-likes)
Still hooked on that perfect blend of small-town Southern grit and fast-paced sports mystery? Here is exactly what you should read next to get that same gripping vibe.
For the Small-Town Southern Setting & Corruption:
~Texas Outlaw by James Patterson – Features a Texas Ranger sent to a corrupt, isolated town to unravel a web of local secrets.
~Dark of the Moon (Virgil Flowers Series) by John Sandford – A gripping mystery focused on an investigator hunting killers hidden within a tight-knit, rural community.
For the Sports Backstory & High Stakes:
Deal Breaker (Myron Bolitar Series) by Harlan Coben – Centers on a former star athlete who dives into dangerous criminal investigations.
For the Exact Same Writing Team & Pacing:
~12 Months to Live (Jane Smith Series) by James Patterson and Mike Lupica – The flagship series from this duo, delivering their signature lightning-fast chapters and intense legal/crime action.
For the "Lone Hero vs. Local Crime Family" Vibe:
~Worth Dying For (Jack Reacher Series) by Lee Child – Follows a lone protagonist who stumbles into a rural town ruled by a deeply entrenched, ruthless family ring.
Special thanks to Little Brown & Company and NetGalley for sharing an advanced reading copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.
blog review posted @
JudithDCollins.com
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
Pub Date July 13, 2026
My Rating: 5 Stars
July Newsletter
July 2026 Must-Read Books
In The Country Road Murders, New York Times bestselling powerhouse James Patterson and sports media hall-of-famer Mike Lupica deliver a high-octane, action-packed North Carolina small-town crime thriller suspense novel. The story hinges on a sidelined, former collegiate football hero facing immense physical and systemic hurdles to avenge his father's unsolved murder and stop a predatory criminal syndicate.
Grit-infused sports survival vs. backwoods mafia corruption.
A devastating, career-ending injury turns into a high-stakes, paranoid investigation when a desperate hometown return forces an ex-athlete to wage a vigilante war against a local mafia family.
Elevator Pitch
A propulsive, fast-paced sports-centric thriller where a shattered former quarterback returns to his rural, crime-ridden North Carolina hometown and lands directly in the crosshairs of a ruthless criminal syndicate responsible for a wave of missing young women.
The Hook
GLITZY SPORTS GLORY VS. BACKWOODS MAFIA CORRUPTION.
"A shattered football hero returns to his rural North Carolina hometown only to wage a ruthless vigilante war against a predatory criminal syndicate."
Review Breakdown
Intro
Silas Tucker was destined for gridiron glory until a shocking, career-ending accident completely shattered his dreams. Humbled but fiercely determined, he returns to the struggling North Carolina family farm of his grandmother to put himself through intense physical labor to heal. But the quiet sanctuary of Cross Rivers is a complete illusion.
The town is firmly controlled by the Crocketts—a local family dubbed the "Southern Mafia" who oversee a booming drug and human trafficking ring. When a local father begs him to find his missing daughter, Silas realizes the disappearances track straight back to the same syndicate he suspects gunned down his own father years ago, forcing him to take justice into his own hands.
Setting
The atmospheric, deceptive underbelly of Cross Rivers, North Carolina, moving from rustic, hard-scrabble family farms to the unpaved, unmonitored country roads where the law doesn't reach.
Vibe
High-test, gritty, and relentlessly cinematic. It pairs the explosive, fast-moving pacing of an unputdownable Patterson thriller with the deeply authentic athletic grit and small-town male camaraderie of a Lupica sports novel.
Genre
Action Thriller / Sports Suspense / Small-Town Crime.
Themes
~The Re-Invention of Identity After Failure
~Blind Small-Town Loyalty and Brotherhood
~The Poisonous Grip of Generational Organized Crime
~Vigilante Justice Versus Fractured Law Enforcement
Standout Characters
~Silas Tucker: A fiercely resilient, former quarterback whose raw physical stamina and lack of fear make him an incredibly explosive force as he avenges his family.
~Taylor McCarter Webb: Silas's fiercely loyal childhood best friend, whose marriage to a local junior police officer inserts her directly into the line of fire.
~The Crockett Family: A ruthless, deeply entrenched "Southern Mafia" clan who weaponize violence and control to completely terrorize the rural community.
Author Writing Standout
James Patterson and Mike Lupica blend their individual strengths flawlessly. Lupica’s signature, detailed handling of athlete psychology and rehabilitation balances perfectly with Patterson's legendary, lightning-fast short chapters and high-stakes tension.
THE MANICURED STADIUMS ARE GONE, AND THE RECKONING IS LOCAL.
"A hard-hitting, fiercely entertaining action thriller packed with crisp set pieces and an explosive, jaw-dropping showdown."
Takeaway
When a small-town legal system fails, it takes a broken hero with nothing left to lose to permanently tear down a corrupt empire.
Title Significance
The Country Road Murders represents the primary warning and central rule for survival in Cross Rivers: you don't ride these unmonitored country roads alone or in the dead of night.
Metaphor
The local country roads function as an artery for the town's hidden decay—seemingly quiet and serene by day, but carrying a lethal stream of corruption and missing lives under the cover of darkness.
Why You Should Read
It is a fiercely entertaining, hyper-masculine, and deeply satisfying popcorn thriller that perfectly blends a classic revenge plot with elite, high-stakes sports drama.
My Thoughts
DON'T RIDE THESE COUNTRY ROADS ALONE OR IN THE DEAD OF NIGHT.
"James Patterson and Mike Lupica deliver an absolute adrenaline rush of a thriller exploring the terrifying cost of small-town secrets and revenge."
The pacing is an absolute adrenaline rush! Having read Patterson and Lupica's previous collaborative work, the synergy here is incredibly sharp. Watching Silas re-channel his intense quarterback work ethic into an entirely different kind of high-stakes battle is exceptionally well-done. The action set pieces are crisp, and the final showdown against the Southern Mafia delivers pure, explosive satisfaction.
Verdict: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5)
"A phenomenal, hard-hitting summer blockbuster thriller that keeps its foot entirely on the gas pedal from the very first page."
Recs (Read-a-likes)
Still hooked on that perfect blend of small-town Southern grit and fast-paced sports mystery? Here is exactly what you should read next to get that same gripping vibe.
For the Small-Town Southern Setting & Corruption:
~Texas Outlaw by James Patterson – Features a Texas Ranger sent to a corrupt, isolated town to unravel a web of local secrets.
~Dark of the Moon (Virgil Flowers Series) by John Sandford – A gripping mystery focused on an investigator hunting killers hidden within a tight-knit, rural community.
For the Sports Backstory & High Stakes:
Deal Breaker (Myron Bolitar Series) by Harlan Coben – Centers on a former star athlete who dives into dangerous criminal investigations.
For the Exact Same Writing Team & Pacing:
~12 Months to Live (Jane Smith Series) by James Patterson and Mike Lupica – The flagship series from this duo, delivering their signature lightning-fast chapters and intense legal/crime action.
For the "Lone Hero vs. Local Crime Family" Vibe:
~Worth Dying For (Jack Reacher Series) by Lee Child – Follows a lone protagonist who stumbles into a rural town ruled by a deeply entrenched, ruthless family ring.
Special thanks to Little Brown & Company and NetGalley for sharing an advanced reading copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.
blog review posted @
JudithDCollins.com
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
Pub Date July 13, 2026
My Rating: 5 Stars
July Newsletter
July 2026 Must-Read Books
July 26, 2026
4 1/2 Stars
The best-selling author in the world, James Patterson, has co-written before with award-winning sportswriter Mike Lupica, but in their latest collaboration THE COUNTRY ROAD MURDERS, he has never leaned into Lupica’s sports knowledge like he does in this novel. The result is a small-town crime thriller with a great underlying professional sports sub-plot that makes for a truly unique read.
This also happens to be one of the most brutal Patterson novels in recent memory and it all kicks off with the Prologue which knocked me for a loop. High School Principal in Cross Rivers, North Carolina, Silas Tucker is a large man and former football hero. One night driving home after enjoying a good meal and music from Levon Helm and The Band, he comes across a motorcycle turned over on State Road 31 ahead of him. He gets out to investigate, but it is a completely unexpected set-up as a young man shoots him dead point blank in the face. It was that young man’s first kill.
The story jumps ten years in time, and it here where we meet the protagonist of our novel and soon to be yet another tragic figure --- Silas Tucker Jr. He is just as big as his father and even more talented athletically. Nicknamed ‘109’, Silas is an All-American College Quarterback with rumors of the NFL becoming stronger each day. He ended up taking his team to the National Championship and ended up being the first-round draft pick of the Pittsburgh Steelers. Silas seemed to have it all, until everything ended one night when he was the passenger in the car driven by teammate and fellow NFL draftee Gideon Garland. Gideon would not survive the crash that occurred and Silas was brought back to life two different times and put back together in such a way that he would live but never be able to throw a football again.
Silas had to rebound once before when his father was murdered and would have to dig down deep for the fortitude to do it once more. He is working now as a farmhand for a dear friend of his father’s and trying to come to terms that his life was never going to be what he dreamed it would. He also is finding out the hard way that he lives in Cross Rivers, voted the third most violent small town in America. A town run by the Southern Mafia in the form of the Briar Crockett family, who may very well have been responsible for his father’s murder and were definitely responsible for the epidemic drug dealing and premature-related deaths in the county. More recently, a string of missing young women has pointed to the Briar’s being involved in the human trafficking trade and Silas cannot just sit back and not do whatever he can about it.
It’s an uphill battle when the local sheriff is in Briar’s pocket. Silas only has one ally, the Police Officer husband of his best friend Taylor, whom he has always carried a torch for, a former football teammate named Burt Webb. Silas will continue to butt heads with the sons of the Briar, Roof and Lynyrd, whom he also played high school ball with. They have several skirmishes which do not end well for the Briar boys but always results in some tragic form of retribution, showing Silas just who is really running things in Cross Rivers.
Every time it seems like Silas and the good residents of Cross Rivers have a small win, they are immediately brought back to reality with extreme violence often resulting in another person on his side being killed. Believe me when I say no character is safe in this novel. Silas will continue to lose nearly everything before finally figuring things out in time to help turn the tide in his town and his life. We even get to ride through a subplot where the Steelers reach out to him with the wild idea about having him switch to Defensive End, but he surprisingly does not make the team even after a great tryout because the coach could not convince the team owner, general manager or defensive coordinator that a former start QB could switch to defense. It is immensely satisfying when we get to see Silas also get his pro football dreams return in a very unexpected way at the end of the novel.
THE COUNTRY ROAD MURDERS is by far the best Patterson-Lupica collaboration yet and one of the most satisfying James Patterson novels I have read in a long time, which is really saying something as he is the master of the thriller.
Reviewed by Ray Palen for Book Reporter
The best-selling author in the world, James Patterson, has co-written before with award-winning sportswriter Mike Lupica, but in their latest collaboration THE COUNTRY ROAD MURDERS, he has never leaned into Lupica’s sports knowledge like he does in this novel. The result is a small-town crime thriller with a great underlying professional sports sub-plot that makes for a truly unique read.
This also happens to be one of the most brutal Patterson novels in recent memory and it all kicks off with the Prologue which knocked me for a loop. High School Principal in Cross Rivers, North Carolina, Silas Tucker is a large man and former football hero. One night driving home after enjoying a good meal and music from Levon Helm and The Band, he comes across a motorcycle turned over on State Road 31 ahead of him. He gets out to investigate, but it is a completely unexpected set-up as a young man shoots him dead point blank in the face. It was that young man’s first kill.
The story jumps ten years in time, and it here where we meet the protagonist of our novel and soon to be yet another tragic figure --- Silas Tucker Jr. He is just as big as his father and even more talented athletically. Nicknamed ‘109’, Silas is an All-American College Quarterback with rumors of the NFL becoming stronger each day. He ended up taking his team to the National Championship and ended up being the first-round draft pick of the Pittsburgh Steelers. Silas seemed to have it all, until everything ended one night when he was the passenger in the car driven by teammate and fellow NFL draftee Gideon Garland. Gideon would not survive the crash that occurred and Silas was brought back to life two different times and put back together in such a way that he would live but never be able to throw a football again.
Silas had to rebound once before when his father was murdered and would have to dig down deep for the fortitude to do it once more. He is working now as a farmhand for a dear friend of his father’s and trying to come to terms that his life was never going to be what he dreamed it would. He also is finding out the hard way that he lives in Cross Rivers, voted the third most violent small town in America. A town run by the Southern Mafia in the form of the Briar Crockett family, who may very well have been responsible for his father’s murder and were definitely responsible for the epidemic drug dealing and premature-related deaths in the county. More recently, a string of missing young women has pointed to the Briar’s being involved in the human trafficking trade and Silas cannot just sit back and not do whatever he can about it.
It’s an uphill battle when the local sheriff is in Briar’s pocket. Silas only has one ally, the Police Officer husband of his best friend Taylor, whom he has always carried a torch for, a former football teammate named Burt Webb. Silas will continue to butt heads with the sons of the Briar, Roof and Lynyrd, whom he also played high school ball with. They have several skirmishes which do not end well for the Briar boys but always results in some tragic form of retribution, showing Silas just who is really running things in Cross Rivers.
Every time it seems like Silas and the good residents of Cross Rivers have a small win, they are immediately brought back to reality with extreme violence often resulting in another person on his side being killed. Believe me when I say no character is safe in this novel. Silas will continue to lose nearly everything before finally figuring things out in time to help turn the tide in his town and his life. We even get to ride through a subplot where the Steelers reach out to him with the wild idea about having him switch to Defensive End, but he surprisingly does not make the team even after a great tryout because the coach could not convince the team owner, general manager or defensive coordinator that a former start QB could switch to defense. It is immensely satisfying when we get to see Silas also get his pro football dreams return in a very unexpected way at the end of the novel.
THE COUNTRY ROAD MURDERS is by far the best Patterson-Lupica collaboration yet and one of the most satisfying James Patterson novels I have read in a long time, which is really saying something as he is the master of the thriller.
Reviewed by Ray Palen for Book Reporter
July 27, 2026
#1 bestselling author James Patterson has teamed up with award-winning sportswriter Mike Lupica numerous times. But in their latest collaboration, THE COUNTRY ROAD MURDERS, Patterson has never leaned into Lupica’s sports knowledge like he does here. The result is a small-town crime thriller with a great underlying professional sports subplot that makes for a truly unique read.
This also happens to be one of the most brutal Patterson novels in recent memory, and it all kicks off with the prologue, which knocked me for a loop. Silas Tucker, a high school principal in Cross Rivers, North Carolina, is a large man and a former football hero. One night, while driving home after enjoying a good meal and music from Levon Helm and The Band, he comes across a motorcycle turned over on State Road 31 ahead of him. He gets out to investigate, but it is a completely unexpected setup as a young man shoots him point blank in the face. It's his first kill.
The story then jumps ahead 10 years, where we meet Silas Tucker Jr. He is just as big as his father and even more talented athletically. Nicknamed “109,” Silas is an all-American college quarterback with rumors of the NFL becoming stronger each day. He ends up taking his team to the National Championship and being the first-round draft pick of the Pittsburgh Steelers. Silas seems to have it all, until everything ends one night when he is the passenger in a car driven by teammate and fellow NFL draftee Gideon Garland. Gideon will not survive the ensuing crash, and Silas is brought back to life two different times but will never be able to throw a football again.
Silas had to rebound when his father was killed and will have to dig down deep for the fortitude to do it once more. He is working now as a farmhand for a dear friend of his father’s and trying to come to terms with the fact that his life is never going to be what he dreamed it would be. He also is finding out the hard way that he lives in Cross Rivers, voted the third most violent small town in America. It is run by the Southern Mafia in the form of the Crockett family, who very well may have been responsible for his father’s murder and is definitely to blame for the epidemic drug dealing and premature deaths in the county. More recently, a string of missing young women has pointed to the Crocketts being involved in human trafficking. Silas cannot just sit back and do nothing about it.
It’s an uphill battle when the local sheriff is in the family’s pockets. Silas has only one ally: the police officer husband of his best friend Taylor, Burt Webb, who was one of his teammates. He will continue to butt heads with Roof and Lynyrd Crockett, with whom he also played high school football. They have several skirmishes that do not end well for the Crockett boys but always result in some tragic form of retribution, showing Silas just who is really running the show in Cross Rivers.
Every time it seems that Silas and the good residents of Cross Rivers have a small win, they are immediately brought back to reality with extreme violence that often leads to another person on his side being killed. Believe me when I say that no character is safe in this novel. We also get to enjoy a storyline where the Steelers reach out to Silas with a wild idea.
THE COUNTRY ROAD MURDERS is by far the best Patterson/Lupica collaboration yet and one of the most satisfying James Patterson novels I have read in a long time, which is really saying something about the master of the thriller.
Reviewed by Ray Palen
This also happens to be one of the most brutal Patterson novels in recent memory, and it all kicks off with the prologue, which knocked me for a loop. Silas Tucker, a high school principal in Cross Rivers, North Carolina, is a large man and a former football hero. One night, while driving home after enjoying a good meal and music from Levon Helm and The Band, he comes across a motorcycle turned over on State Road 31 ahead of him. He gets out to investigate, but it is a completely unexpected setup as a young man shoots him point blank in the face. It's his first kill.
The story then jumps ahead 10 years, where we meet Silas Tucker Jr. He is just as big as his father and even more talented athletically. Nicknamed “109,” Silas is an all-American college quarterback with rumors of the NFL becoming stronger each day. He ends up taking his team to the National Championship and being the first-round draft pick of the Pittsburgh Steelers. Silas seems to have it all, until everything ends one night when he is the passenger in a car driven by teammate and fellow NFL draftee Gideon Garland. Gideon will not survive the ensuing crash, and Silas is brought back to life two different times but will never be able to throw a football again.
Silas had to rebound when his father was killed and will have to dig down deep for the fortitude to do it once more. He is working now as a farmhand for a dear friend of his father’s and trying to come to terms with the fact that his life is never going to be what he dreamed it would be. He also is finding out the hard way that he lives in Cross Rivers, voted the third most violent small town in America. It is run by the Southern Mafia in the form of the Crockett family, who very well may have been responsible for his father’s murder and is definitely to blame for the epidemic drug dealing and premature deaths in the county. More recently, a string of missing young women has pointed to the Crocketts being involved in human trafficking. Silas cannot just sit back and do nothing about it.
It’s an uphill battle when the local sheriff is in the family’s pockets. Silas has only one ally: the police officer husband of his best friend Taylor, Burt Webb, who was one of his teammates. He will continue to butt heads with Roof and Lynyrd Crockett, with whom he also played high school football. They have several skirmishes that do not end well for the Crockett boys but always result in some tragic form of retribution, showing Silas just who is really running the show in Cross Rivers.
Every time it seems that Silas and the good residents of Cross Rivers have a small win, they are immediately brought back to reality with extreme violence that often leads to another person on his side being killed. Believe me when I say that no character is safe in this novel. We also get to enjoy a storyline where the Steelers reach out to Silas with a wild idea.
THE COUNTRY ROAD MURDERS is by far the best Patterson/Lupica collaboration yet and one of the most satisfying James Patterson novels I have read in a long time, which is really saying something about the master of the thriller.
Reviewed by Ray Palen
July 23, 2026
I’m a fan of both James Patterson and Mike Lupica since thrillers and sports are two of my favorite genres. Surprisingly, what stood out most to me in The Country Road Murders was the main character, Silas. Athletic, thoughtful and caring despite a difficult upbringing, he reminded me of some of my former students. He is the kind of young person whose toughness is easy to see, but whose heart is what you remember.
📚 Judi’s Report Card on The Country Road Murders:
Main Character: A ❤️🏈
Silas was the strongest part of the book for me. I love how he treated his grandmother and best friends.
Supporting Characters: B+ 👥
The supporting cast added heart and helped show different sides of Silas, although a few characters could have been developed more.
Writing: A- ✍️📖
Patterson and Lupica kept the story readable and engaging, with clear writing, natural dialogue, and short chapters that moved quickly.
Mystery & Suspense: B 🔍🚨
There wasn’t a lot of mystery to the story. The characters were ultimately more memorable to me than the investigation itself.
Pacing: B ⏱️
Most of the story moved along quickly. I especially liked the football parts of the storyline.
Overall Grade: B ⭐⭐⭐⭐
I enjoyed the story, especially the characterization. There wasn’t enough mystery/thriller for me, but it was still a fun read.
My Thoughts on The Country Road Murders:
Blend of Genres:
One of the reasons that I like when Patterson teams up with Lupica is because there is always a blend of genres. With Lupica, you know you are going to get a strong sports background to the story. The football element felt realistic and added to the story.
With Patterson, you know you are going to get shorter chapters with some mystery. There was also the small-town feeling, family secrets, romance, friendship, and organized crime.
Characterization:
The characterization was the strength of the book. I like that there were so many sides to Silas. His character was well-developed, and I never stopped cheering him on. His relationship with Taylor, his best friend since elementary school, and his grandmother, EJ, showed Silas’ soft, caring side. His drive to take out his opponents on the field and the Southern Mafia off the field showed his grit and determination. Since EJ raised Silas since he was fourteen, you can tell where he got his determination from throughout the years.
There were a lot of supporting characters, so you couldn’t dive into them as much, but EJ and Taylor were my two favorites. Their love for Silas showed no boundaries, especially while he was struggling.
My Rating:
Overall, The Country Road Murders is worth reading, as long as you do not expect an intense mystery or thriller. If you like small-town stories, sports, and a cast that includes loyal friends, strong family figures, and determined underdogs, then you will enjoy this book.
Thank you to NetGalley, Little, Brown & Co, James Patterson and Mike Lupica for my free copy of this book. This is my honest opinion.
📚 Judi’s Report Card on The Country Road Murders:
Main Character: A ❤️🏈
Silas was the strongest part of the book for me. I love how he treated his grandmother and best friends.
Supporting Characters: B+ 👥
The supporting cast added heart and helped show different sides of Silas, although a few characters could have been developed more.
Writing: A- ✍️📖
Patterson and Lupica kept the story readable and engaging, with clear writing, natural dialogue, and short chapters that moved quickly.
Mystery & Suspense: B 🔍🚨
There wasn’t a lot of mystery to the story. The characters were ultimately more memorable to me than the investigation itself.
Pacing: B ⏱️
Most of the story moved along quickly. I especially liked the football parts of the storyline.
Overall Grade: B ⭐⭐⭐⭐
I enjoyed the story, especially the characterization. There wasn’t enough mystery/thriller for me, but it was still a fun read.
My Thoughts on The Country Road Murders:
Blend of Genres:
One of the reasons that I like when Patterson teams up with Lupica is because there is always a blend of genres. With Lupica, you know you are going to get a strong sports background to the story. The football element felt realistic and added to the story.
With Patterson, you know you are going to get shorter chapters with some mystery. There was also the small-town feeling, family secrets, romance, friendship, and organized crime.
Characterization:
The characterization was the strength of the book. I like that there were so many sides to Silas. His character was well-developed, and I never stopped cheering him on. His relationship with Taylor, his best friend since elementary school, and his grandmother, EJ, showed Silas’ soft, caring side. His drive to take out his opponents on the field and the Southern Mafia off the field showed his grit and determination. Since EJ raised Silas since he was fourteen, you can tell where he got his determination from throughout the years.
There were a lot of supporting characters, so you couldn’t dive into them as much, but EJ and Taylor were my two favorites. Their love for Silas showed no boundaries, especially while he was struggling.
My Rating:
Overall, The Country Road Murders is worth reading, as long as you do not expect an intense mystery or thriller. If you like small-town stories, sports, and a cast that includes loyal friends, strong family figures, and determined underdogs, then you will enjoy this book.
Thank you to NetGalley, Little, Brown & Co, James Patterson and Mike Lupica for my free copy of this book. This is my honest opinion.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Once in a while, you run across a book that is so good you not only don’t want to put it down, but you can’t even fathom starting to read another one – and it happened for me with this one. It pulled from me just about every emotion, from an occasional chuckle to actual tears in my eyes (and it takes an act of Congress to make me cry). It started off interesting but a little slow, perhaps, but then the story (and impeccable writing thereof) kicked in, and I was totally engrossed the rest of the way. Without doubt, this one of the best books I’ve ever read.
The story’s narrator is Silas Tucker, a superstar football player at a rather backwoods school where his father was principal. A decade earlier, the elder Tucker was murdered, the killer still unknown; he never lived to see his son get drafted by an NFL team after a stellar college career. But as they say, man makes plans and God laughs; suddenly, Silas’s life as he knew it is gone – maybe forever – and he returns home to try and build a new life.
His little town of Cross Rivers, North Carolina, though, has longstanding issues – most notably that even the local leaders are terrified by the so-called “Southern Mafia,” consisting primarily of members of the particularly nasty Crockett family. The town also is known far and wide because in the short span of a few months, five young girls from the community have gone missing (and another one goes down even as Silas drives back home).
Silas relies on a couple of his besties from years past, including Taylor McCarter Webb (nee McCarter; she’s now married to a local police officer who is another of Silas’s best friends. Silas tools around doing farm work, and then the father of one of the missing girls asks him to help find her. Though reluctant, he decides to pitch in.
It’s here that the action really picks up, and it’s where mine in the form of a review shuts down; there’s nothing more I can say without revealing too much (and it’s way, way too good to not let other readers experience it for themselves). The story is suspenseful, emotional and absolutely riveting, right down to the final page. A stellar effort for sure, and I offer a big THANK YOU to the publisher, via NetGalley, for allowing me to read and review a pre-release copy. Now please – pre-order a copy (or reserve one at your library) and read it for yourself – you’ll see!
The story’s narrator is Silas Tucker, a superstar football player at a rather backwoods school where his father was principal. A decade earlier, the elder Tucker was murdered, the killer still unknown; he never lived to see his son get drafted by an NFL team after a stellar college career. But as they say, man makes plans and God laughs; suddenly, Silas’s life as he knew it is gone – maybe forever – and he returns home to try and build a new life.
His little town of Cross Rivers, North Carolina, though, has longstanding issues – most notably that even the local leaders are terrified by the so-called “Southern Mafia,” consisting primarily of members of the particularly nasty Crockett family. The town also is known far and wide because in the short span of a few months, five young girls from the community have gone missing (and another one goes down even as Silas drives back home).
Silas relies on a couple of his besties from years past, including Taylor McCarter Webb (nee McCarter; she’s now married to a local police officer who is another of Silas’s best friends. Silas tools around doing farm work, and then the father of one of the missing girls asks him to help find her. Though reluctant, he decides to pitch in.
It’s here that the action really picks up, and it’s where mine in the form of a review shuts down; there’s nothing more I can say without revealing too much (and it’s way, way too good to not let other readers experience it for themselves). The story is suspenseful, emotional and absolutely riveting, right down to the final page. A stellar effort for sure, and I offer a big THANK YOU to the publisher, via NetGalley, for allowing me to read and review a pre-release copy. Now please – pre-order a copy (or reserve one at your library) and read it for yourself – you’ll see!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Another terrific read from Patterson and Lupica!
I’m hoping this is the start of a new series! 🙏🏼🤞🏼
We’re in Cross Rivers North Carolina. Silas Tucker has just made it to the big leagues! He’s been recruited to play football… for the Steelers! He is on Cloud Nine! And then, an accident, pulls the rug out from under him.
Instead of playing football, he’s heading back to his grandmas house in NC to heal… and help her with her soybean farm.
One thing you should know. There is an evil family living there.. for years…
Known as the Mafia of the South. Their last name is Crockett.
There’s a father and his two sons. And all of them are NO good… one worse than the other.
And it seems, they are out to get Silas. Because he plans on keeping his hometown safe.
And after seeing drugs being sold, out in the open at the HS, he brings it up to the chief of police. Who then harasses Silas. And threatens to arrest him…. 😳. So apparently, he is in someone’s pocket.
Additionally, multiple young (15-16 year old) blonde girls have gone missing. No calls, no ransom. No sign of any of them again. Just poof 💨 … gone.
This one delves into a few hot topics… Small towns. Police being paid off. Drugs in schools. Sex trafficking. And so much more…
If this sounds like something that you’d be interested in, please don’t pass this one by. It. Was. Terrific!
5 bold, scary, bright, gun-slinging, tough-grandma, dogs-with-nine-lives stars for me!! 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
#TheCountryRoadMurders by @JamesPatterson and @MikeLupica. Narrated beautifully by @TomPelphrey.
This one has just been released. Please look 👀 for it on shelves now!
Thanks so much to #NetGalley, @HachetteAudio and @LittleBrownAndCompany for an ALC of the audiobook in exchange for an honest review.
You can also find my reviews on: Goodreads,
Instagram: @BookReviews_with_emsr and/or
My Facebook Book Club: Book Reviews With Elaine
Thanks so much for reading! And if you ‘liked’ my review, please share with your friends, & click ‘LIKE’ below… And, let me know YOUR thoughts if you read it!!
And as always, thanks for reading along with me! 📚⭐️📖🩷
I’m hoping this is the start of a new series! 🙏🏼🤞🏼
We’re in Cross Rivers North Carolina. Silas Tucker has just made it to the big leagues! He’s been recruited to play football… for the Steelers! He is on Cloud Nine! And then, an accident, pulls the rug out from under him.
Instead of playing football, he’s heading back to his grandmas house in NC to heal… and help her with her soybean farm.
One thing you should know. There is an evil family living there.. for years…
Known as the Mafia of the South. Their last name is Crockett.
There’s a father and his two sons. And all of them are NO good… one worse than the other.
And it seems, they are out to get Silas. Because he plans on keeping his hometown safe.
And after seeing drugs being sold, out in the open at the HS, he brings it up to the chief of police. Who then harasses Silas. And threatens to arrest him…. 😳. So apparently, he is in someone’s pocket.
Additionally, multiple young (15-16 year old) blonde girls have gone missing. No calls, no ransom. No sign of any of them again. Just poof 💨 … gone.
This one delves into a few hot topics… Small towns. Police being paid off. Drugs in schools. Sex trafficking. And so much more…
If this sounds like something that you’d be interested in, please don’t pass this one by. It. Was. Terrific!
5 bold, scary, bright, gun-slinging, tough-grandma, dogs-with-nine-lives stars for me!! 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
#TheCountryRoadMurders by @JamesPatterson and @MikeLupica. Narrated beautifully by @TomPelphrey.
This one has just been released. Please look 👀 for it on shelves now!
Thanks so much to #NetGalley, @HachetteAudio and @LittleBrownAndCompany for an ALC of the audiobook in exchange for an honest review.
You can also find my reviews on: Goodreads,
Instagram: @BookReviews_with_emsr and/or
My Facebook Book Club: Book Reviews With Elaine
Thanks so much for reading! And if you ‘liked’ my review, please share with your friends, & click ‘LIKE’ below… And, let me know YOUR thoughts if you read it!!
And as always, thanks for reading along with me! 📚⭐️📖🩷
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The Country Road Murders by James Patterson and Mike Lupica. I generally avoid James Patterson but because Mike Lupica was the partner author, I gave it a go. Not surprising, there were plenty of football references and descriptions. But, the story was basically of a small town in North Carolina. Silas Tucker (son) is a star football player who has just been drafted by the Steelers. His manager had given him the keys to a brand new Porsche as part of the community good-bye celebration. He let his best friend drive it but they ended up in a wreck that killed his friend and stole Silas’ football career, leaving him at loose ends. His parents were dead; his father, also Silas Tucker, was murdered years before and his mother died from cancer. He had been raised from the age of fourteen by his grandmother, EmmaJean, known to all as EJ. His two best friends, Taylor and Burt, had married and Burt was police chief. But the real person in charge was a man named Crockett, who hd two sons who were hoodlums. There were drugs galore and lately, teenage girls had been disappearing.
Silas is a stubborn character. Football is his life, but this town is his home and he doesn’t like the direction it is going. He become a bit of a vigilante but the sheriff hates him as he hated his father. He suspected the man was also on the payroll of Crockett, making him a target. He became the face of a task force gearing up to take this family down. There were more deaths and more missing girls as the task force worked to bring them to justice. They came after all the members of the group, including Silas. Threats were made, but finally things fell into place. It was an intriguing book. The characters, even the bad ones, had interesting personalities. The plot was complicated enough and the football references fir the bill perfectly. Good book.
I was invited to read The Country Road Murders by Little Brown and Company. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #Netgalley #LittleBrownAndCompany #JamesPatterson #MikeLupica #TheCountryRoadMurders
Silas is a stubborn character. Football is his life, but this town is his home and he doesn’t like the direction it is going. He become a bit of a vigilante but the sheriff hates him as he hated his father. He suspected the man was also on the payroll of Crockett, making him a target. He became the face of a task force gearing up to take this family down. There were more deaths and more missing girls as the task force worked to bring them to justice. They came after all the members of the group, including Silas. Threats were made, but finally things fell into place. It was an intriguing book. The characters, even the bad ones, had interesting personalities. The plot was complicated enough and the football references fir the bill perfectly. Good book.
I was invited to read The Country Road Murders by Little Brown and Company. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #Netgalley #LittleBrownAndCompany #JamesPatterson #MikeLupica #TheCountryRoadMurders
July 15, 2026
Thank you for Hachette Audio, Little, Brown & Company, and NetGalley for the ALC of this book.
James Patterson and Mike Lupica know how to keep the pages turning, and The Country Road Murders had me hooked from the very beginning. What starts as a story about a fallen football star returning home quickly turns into a tense, action-packed thriller filled with family secrets, dangerous enemies, and twists I never saw coming.
Silas was such an easy character to root for. I loved watching him navigate grief, loyalty, and trying to rebuild his life while everything around him seemed determined to pull him back into chaos. The small-town setting mixed with the crime thriller elements created a constant feeling that something bad was lurking around every corner.
And can we talk about the twists?! My jaw literally dropped approximately four different times throughout this book. Every time I thought I had things figured out, another revelation completely changed the direction of the story. Those moments were what kept me flying through the pages.
The only reason this wasn’t a full five stars for me is that some parts felt a little rushed, and I would have loved more depth with a few of the side characters and relationships. Even so, the fast pace, nonstop suspense, and shocking reveals made this an incredibly entertaining read.
If you’re looking for a thriller packed with small-town secrets, organized crime, family loyalty, and enough twists to keep you guessing until the very end, The Country Road Murders is definitely worth picking up. My jaw is still recovering from those plot twists.
Side note: The narrator, Tom Pelphrey absolutely brought Silas to life in a way that made the story even more immersive. The emotion, intensity, and personality he gave to the character made it feel like I was right there alongside him. If you’re debating between reading this one or listening to it, I can’t recommend the audiobook enough. The narrator elevated an already great thriller into an even better experience.
James Patterson and Mike Lupica know how to keep the pages turning, and The Country Road Murders had me hooked from the very beginning. What starts as a story about a fallen football star returning home quickly turns into a tense, action-packed thriller filled with family secrets, dangerous enemies, and twists I never saw coming.
Silas was such an easy character to root for. I loved watching him navigate grief, loyalty, and trying to rebuild his life while everything around him seemed determined to pull him back into chaos. The small-town setting mixed with the crime thriller elements created a constant feeling that something bad was lurking around every corner.
And can we talk about the twists?! My jaw literally dropped approximately four different times throughout this book. Every time I thought I had things figured out, another revelation completely changed the direction of the story. Those moments were what kept me flying through the pages.
The only reason this wasn’t a full five stars for me is that some parts felt a little rushed, and I would have loved more depth with a few of the side characters and relationships. Even so, the fast pace, nonstop suspense, and shocking reveals made this an incredibly entertaining read.
If you’re looking for a thriller packed with small-town secrets, organized crime, family loyalty, and enough twists to keep you guessing until the very end, The Country Road Murders is definitely worth picking up. My jaw is still recovering from those plot twists.
Side note: The narrator, Tom Pelphrey absolutely brought Silas to life in a way that made the story even more immersive. The emotion, intensity, and personality he gave to the character made it feel like I was right there alongside him. If you’re debating between reading this one or listening to it, I can’t recommend the audiobook enough. The narrator elevated an already great thriller into an even better experience.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
A hometown haunted by unsolved murders. A football star forced to confront his past. A criminal syndicate that seems untouchable. The Country Road Murders delivers an entertaining blend of small-town mystery, crime thriller, and sports drama that kept me hooked from beginning to end.
Silas Tucker is on the verge of achieving every athlete's dream after an incredible college football career. But before he can begin his NFL journey, he's drawn back to Cross Rivers, North Carolina—a town still reeling from the unsolved murder of his father, the beloved high school principal, a decade earlier. As if that mystery weren't enough, the community is living in fear as young girls continue to disappear, while the notorious Crockett family and the so-called "Southern Mafia" cast a dark shadow over the town. When another girl goes missing just as Silas arrives home, he finds himself pulled into a dangerous web of secrets, corruption, and violence.
James Patterson's signature short chapters and fast-paced storytelling make this a book that's incredibly easy to fly through, while Mike Lupica's deep knowledge of sports adds authenticity to Silas's journey as an elite athlete navigating both personal loss and professional expectations. The combination creates a thriller that balances action, suspense, and emotional stakes.
I also loved experiencing this story on audio. Tom Pelphrey's narration brought the characters and tension to life, capturing both the emotional weight of Silas's story and the escalating suspense with a performance that kept me fully immersed.
Overall, The Country Road Murders is a gripping thriller filled with twists, small-town intrigue, compelling characters, and nonstop momentum. If you enjoy crime fiction with a sports backdrop, family secrets, and high-stakes suspense, this one is well worth picking up.
Thank you to James Patterson, Mike Lupica, Hachette Audio, Little Brown & Company, and NetGalley for the ALC.
Silas Tucker is on the verge of achieving every athlete's dream after an incredible college football career. But before he can begin his NFL journey, he's drawn back to Cross Rivers, North Carolina—a town still reeling from the unsolved murder of his father, the beloved high school principal, a decade earlier. As if that mystery weren't enough, the community is living in fear as young girls continue to disappear, while the notorious Crockett family and the so-called "Southern Mafia" cast a dark shadow over the town. When another girl goes missing just as Silas arrives home, he finds himself pulled into a dangerous web of secrets, corruption, and violence.
James Patterson's signature short chapters and fast-paced storytelling make this a book that's incredibly easy to fly through, while Mike Lupica's deep knowledge of sports adds authenticity to Silas's journey as an elite athlete navigating both personal loss and professional expectations. The combination creates a thriller that balances action, suspense, and emotional stakes.
I also loved experiencing this story on audio. Tom Pelphrey's narration brought the characters and tension to life, capturing both the emotional weight of Silas's story and the escalating suspense with a performance that kept me fully immersed.
Overall, The Country Road Murders is a gripping thriller filled with twists, small-town intrigue, compelling characters, and nonstop momentum. If you enjoy crime fiction with a sports backdrop, family secrets, and high-stakes suspense, this one is well worth picking up.
Thank you to James Patterson, Mike Lupica, Hachette Audio, Little Brown & Company, and NetGalley for the ALC.
July 22, 2026
This was not what I was expecting from James Patterson but I actually enjoyed it. It was rather long, which is unusual for me to say but with everything going on it did need to be.
The story is very character driven and is more about Silas Tucker's career and come back than what I would call a normal mystery. Especially as girls are going missing and he doesn't investigate, as he and the whole town knows who or at least which family is responsible and it's more a story of making a stand against a mafia family. Who retaliate with deadly force and guns start a blazing.
The sports career plays a big part of who Silas is and while I might not know the difference between a line backer or quarter backer it did not effect the enjoyment of the story or the understanding of the personal struggle.
I liked the characters and have to say I was backing Silas all the way, especially with everyone goes through. There was a few surprises and not everybody makes it but surprisingly I didn't need tissues.
I would read or listen to another book by this author duo.
Just when Silas Tucker's football career is about to beginning in the big league tragedy strikes. Leaving him no choice but to give up the game. He returns to his home town, only to discover its not the peaceful heaven he remembers. A family has taken over the town, with the police turning a blind eye to there drug dealing , drug over doses and crime is on the rise. So is the kidnapping of young girls. Silas might not be able to throw a ball but if it means taking back his town he is not afraid to throw a punch or town. Can Silas and his friends take back there town before anybody else gets hurt?because for Silas looking his father when he was a young boy was one death too many.
I liked the narrator. He had the right sounding voice to inspire a come back and help you imagine Silas as he makes his stand.
I was given this free review copy audio book at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
The story is very character driven and is more about Silas Tucker's career and come back than what I would call a normal mystery. Especially as girls are going missing and he doesn't investigate, as he and the whole town knows who or at least which family is responsible and it's more a story of making a stand against a mafia family. Who retaliate with deadly force and guns start a blazing.
The sports career plays a big part of who Silas is and while I might not know the difference between a line backer or quarter backer it did not effect the enjoyment of the story or the understanding of the personal struggle.
I liked the characters and have to say I was backing Silas all the way, especially with everyone goes through. There was a few surprises and not everybody makes it but surprisingly I didn't need tissues.
I would read or listen to another book by this author duo.
Just when Silas Tucker's football career is about to beginning in the big league tragedy strikes. Leaving him no choice but to give up the game. He returns to his home town, only to discover its not the peaceful heaven he remembers. A family has taken over the town, with the police turning a blind eye to there drug dealing , drug over doses and crime is on the rise. So is the kidnapping of young girls. Silas might not be able to throw a ball but if it means taking back his town he is not afraid to throw a punch or town. Can Silas and his friends take back there town before anybody else gets hurt?because for Silas looking his father when he was a young boy was one death too many.
I liked the narrator. He had the right sounding voice to inspire a come back and help you imagine Silas as he makes his stand.
I was given this free review copy audio book at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
Review of advance copy received from Author
⭐ ARC Review: Country Road Murders
by James Patterson & Mike Lupica
Huge thank you to the #jamespatterstreetteam for the advance copy of Country Road Murders. The moment this book hit my hot little hands, I could not put it down. Every chapter had me perched on the edge of my seat, flipping pages like I needed to know what happened yesterday.
Silas Tucker’s life was turned upside down when he was just a wee lad, forced to rebuild under his grandmother’s roof. Football became his escape, his identity, his lifeline. Early on, he’s known as Mr. 109 — a number full of promise, pride, and the feeling that he was finally becoming someone.
Then one dreadful night shatters everything.
Mr. 109 becomes a big nothing. A ghost in his own hometown. A kid people whisper about instead of cheer for.
And that’s why the ending hits so hard.
When they call number 77, it’s not just a roster change — it’s a resurrection.Because 77 was his father’s number, the one that meant hope, home, and everything Silas lost too young. Stepping into 77 isn’t just stepping back onto the field… it’s stepping into legacy. It’s honoring the man who shaped him, even in absence. It’s reclaiming the future that was stolen from him.
Silas is the kind of character you walk beside, hoping every dream he carries finally gets to breathe. And when that number is called? You want to see his face. You feel that moment in your chest.
The quote that stuck with me:
“What are you going to do, Silas?”I smile down at her. “The same thing I’ve always done when I’ve been up against it,” I say. “Call my own number.”
That line is the heartbeat of the whole book — grit, defiance, and choosing yourself even when the world doesn’t.
If you love small‑town secrets, sports‑driven heart, and thrillers with emotional punch, this one deserves a spot on your nightstand.
by James Patterson & Mike Lupica
Huge thank you to the #jamespatterstreetteam for the advance copy of Country Road Murders. The moment this book hit my hot little hands, I could not put it down. Every chapter had me perched on the edge of my seat, flipping pages like I needed to know what happened yesterday.
Silas Tucker’s life was turned upside down when he was just a wee lad, forced to rebuild under his grandmother’s roof. Football became his escape, his identity, his lifeline. Early on, he’s known as Mr. 109 — a number full of promise, pride, and the feeling that he was finally becoming someone.
Then one dreadful night shatters everything.
Mr. 109 becomes a big nothing. A ghost in his own hometown. A kid people whisper about instead of cheer for.
And that’s why the ending hits so hard.
When they call number 77, it’s not just a roster change — it’s a resurrection.Because 77 was his father’s number, the one that meant hope, home, and everything Silas lost too young. Stepping into 77 isn’t just stepping back onto the field… it’s stepping into legacy. It’s honoring the man who shaped him, even in absence. It’s reclaiming the future that was stolen from him.
Silas is the kind of character you walk beside, hoping every dream he carries finally gets to breathe. And when that number is called? You want to see his face. You feel that moment in your chest.
The quote that stuck with me:
“What are you going to do, Silas?”I smile down at her. “The same thing I’ve always done when I’ve been up against it,” I say. “Call my own number.”
That line is the heartbeat of the whole book — grit, defiance, and choosing yourself even when the world doesn’t.
If you love small‑town secrets, sports‑driven heart, and thrillers with emotional punch, this one deserves a spot on your nightstand.
Read
July 19, 2026This has nothing to do with country road murders.
One murder on the road, really, and it's at the start of the book.
Silas Tucker's father was that fatality, and now about 10 years later he's been signed on as a post-college #1 QB draft pick for the Steelers. Right after his NC town's goodbye party though, he is in an accident that leaves his throwing arm useless.
With almost 400 pages and short-lived 115 chapters of semi-predictable nonsense, bland characters, little growth (save for Silas' healing), and a crime-ridden Appalacian town, the book presents a good story premise with little to show for it. Silas and his best friend Burt (a cop who is married to his other best friend, Taylor [whose full name we get way too often] are on a mission to rid their town of the drugs they are certain the Southern Mafia family, the Crocketts, are responsible for. They also are determined to find what happened to the 4+ girls that have gone missing in the county that year.
Silas obviously pines for Taylor, pushes himself beyond his body's limits, has some irrational behavior, and feels almost two-dimensional. I was interested in the non-murders and murders, and drug issues, but I was given too many random fights and Silas doing anything else. Sometimes the writing felt stilted, and there were too many insertions of bands/songs for me to enjoy in a book that isn't about music. While I could see this as being intentional as part of the world-building, it felt overdone and instead irritated me.
Points-of-view are swapped at random, even though most is from Silas' POV.
I think EJ, Silas' grandmother, was the most interesting character in the book.
The plot twist in chapter 89 was unexpected
One murder on the road, really, and it's at the start of the book.
Silas Tucker's father was that fatality, and now about 10 years later he's been signed on as a post-college #1 QB draft pick for the Steelers. Right after his NC town's goodbye party though, he is in an accident that leaves his throwing arm useless.
With almost 400 pages and short-lived 115 chapters of semi-predictable nonsense, bland characters, little growth (save for Silas' healing), and a crime-ridden Appalacian town, the book presents a good story premise with little to show for it. Silas and his best friend Burt (a cop who is married to his other best friend, Taylor [whose full name we get way too often] are on a mission to rid their town of the drugs they are certain the Southern Mafia family, the Crocketts, are responsible for. They also are determined to find what happened to the 4+ girls that have gone missing in the county that year.
Silas obviously pines for Taylor, pushes himself beyond his body's limits, has some irrational behavior, and feels almost two-dimensional. I was interested in the non-murders and murders, and drug issues, but I was given too many random fights and Silas doing anything else. Sometimes the writing felt stilted, and there were too many insertions of bands/songs for me to enjoy in a book that isn't about music. While I could see this as being intentional as part of the world-building, it felt overdone and instead irritated me.
Points-of-view are swapped at random, even though most is from Silas' POV.
I think EJ, Silas' grandmother, was the most interesting character in the book.
The plot twist in chapter 89 was unexpected
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
A college football star and local Southern small-town hero finds himself unexpectedly sidelined from starting as a quarterback with the Pittsburgh Pirates due to an injury. Silas Tucker must face the shattering of his dreams as well as the loss of a close friend, with no clear path forward. He returns to the North Carolina farm of his father’s mom who raised him and puts himself into hard farm work as well as working out intensely to deal with what’s happened to him. Slias also relies on his best friend Taylor and her husband, a local junior police officer to help him heal.
But Silas and his loyal friends get drawn in to a much larger issue surrounding a family, the Crocketts, the town has dubbed the “Southern Mafia” due to all the drug dealing, crime, violence and mayhem that seems to track back to them. Two huge issues loom in Cross Rivers: a huge uptick in drug dealing to high school students and the sudden disappearances of many young women in the town who seem to have been snatched but without any ransom notes. One of the missing girl’s Dads begs Silas for his help in finding her.
Silas is off to investigate the missing girls and already has a beef with the family: who he thinks may have been tied to his father’s unsolved murder. Silas’ Dad was the principal of the local high school and a highly principled man. Silas follows in his Dad’s footsteps as he turns his football hero status in the town to take on and try to take down the Southern mafia.
From there on out the suspense and tension is non-stop and just keeps ratcheting up! A fantastic read!
Thanks to Little Brown & Company and NetGalley for an advance reader’s copy.
But Silas and his loyal friends get drawn in to a much larger issue surrounding a family, the Crocketts, the town has dubbed the “Southern Mafia” due to all the drug dealing, crime, violence and mayhem that seems to track back to them. Two huge issues loom in Cross Rivers: a huge uptick in drug dealing to high school students and the sudden disappearances of many young women in the town who seem to have been snatched but without any ransom notes. One of the missing girl’s Dads begs Silas for his help in finding her.
Silas is off to investigate the missing girls and already has a beef with the family: who he thinks may have been tied to his father’s unsolved murder. Silas’ Dad was the principal of the local high school and a highly principled man. Silas follows in his Dad’s footsteps as he turns his football hero status in the town to take on and try to take down the Southern mafia.
From there on out the suspense and tension is non-stop and just keeps ratcheting up! A fantastic read!
Thanks to Little Brown & Company and NetGalley for an advance reader’s copy.
July 20, 2026
I received a copy of the audiobook from NetGalley and listened to it in tandem with reading.
The audiobook: the narrator had the right voice to portray the main character, sounding exactly as how I imagined him to. Maybe it’s just me but sometimes I felt like the volume was going up and down and I struggled to understand when the volume was down because he seemed to mumble. But I’m also at the stage of my life where I put subtitles on the tv shows that I watch.
The story: I really enjoyed this story! There was a lot of action and I was invested from the start. I did feel like there was a bit of repetition (Taylor talking about how she loves two men x4) and the size, strength and speed of the MC was constantly repeated throughout the story. I liked the American football 🏈 angle for the MC though, and understood the complete devastation the character must have felt to have his lifetime dreams and goals squished in a second. I would have liked a pov of one of the missing girls… this book was a little male-character heavy and there seemed to be a bit of a lack of emotion regarding the missing girls. Overall though it was an interesting book and I had to switch to physically reading the book at about 75% because the audio was too slow for me to get through (even at 2x speed), I just had to know what happens next lol. Solid 4⭐️ read. Although, I think I would recommend physically reading it over listening.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for a complimentary advanced copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own and are in no way influenced by the author, publisher or NetGalley.
The audiobook: the narrator had the right voice to portray the main character, sounding exactly as how I imagined him to. Maybe it’s just me but sometimes I felt like the volume was going up and down and I struggled to understand when the volume was down because he seemed to mumble. But I’m also at the stage of my life where I put subtitles on the tv shows that I watch.
The story: I really enjoyed this story! There was a lot of action and I was invested from the start. I did feel like there was a bit of repetition (Taylor talking about how she loves two men x4) and the size, strength and speed of the MC was constantly repeated throughout the story. I liked the American football 🏈 angle for the MC though, and understood the complete devastation the character must have felt to have his lifetime dreams and goals squished in a second. I would have liked a pov of one of the missing girls… this book was a little male-character heavy and there seemed to be a bit of a lack of emotion regarding the missing girls. Overall though it was an interesting book and I had to switch to physically reading the book at about 75% because the audio was too slow for me to get through (even at 2x speed), I just had to know what happens next lol. Solid 4⭐️ read. Although, I think I would recommend physically reading it over listening.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for a complimentary advanced copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own and are in no way influenced by the author, publisher or NetGalley.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Presented from the point of view of Silas, our protagonist, a standout football player far more talented than your average small town North Carolina student athlete. Drafted after college his future is headed to where he has always dreamed, unfortunately due to an accident, it is derailed and he returns back home. There is lives with his grandmother who raised him after his father’s sudden death. Farm life is where he is needed but he has unresolved issues with some of the locals which lead him into dangerous territory.
Small towns don’t always mean they are safe and Silas is on a mission to help clean up Cross Rivers’s drug overdoses and find who is behind the missing local teenage girls. People say it’s the Southern Mafia an turn a blind eye to the current events to stay safe and out of the way. But it becomes personal for Silas. He joins his best friend’s husband who is a police officer along with a few others to stop these tragic events and the downfall of Cross Rivers.
Just when things can’t get tense, they get even more dangerous and the suspense kicks in and you are off reading till late in the night to figure out what and who is behind all the terror happening in this small town.
True to James Patterson’s short chapters and quick pace this book reads fast and with Mike Lupica’s knowledge of sports the story has great insight into football and athletes’ push for excellence.
Thanks to Little, Brown and Company and NetGalley for allowing me to read a digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Small towns don’t always mean they are safe and Silas is on a mission to help clean up Cross Rivers’s drug overdoses and find who is behind the missing local teenage girls. People say it’s the Southern Mafia an turn a blind eye to the current events to stay safe and out of the way. But it becomes personal for Silas. He joins his best friend’s husband who is a police officer along with a few others to stop these tragic events and the downfall of Cross Rivers.
Just when things can’t get tense, they get even more dangerous and the suspense kicks in and you are off reading till late in the night to figure out what and who is behind all the terror happening in this small town.
True to James Patterson’s short chapters and quick pace this book reads fast and with Mike Lupica’s knowledge of sports the story has great insight into football and athletes’ push for excellence.
Thanks to Little, Brown and Company and NetGalley for allowing me to read a digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.
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