The Cursed Road

George Lennox and Richie Stewart #2

by Laura McCluskey

A gripping and atmospheric new detective crime thriller set in the Scottish Highlands
'Eerie and gripping' Daily Mail Don't miss this gripping atmospheric mystery set in the Scottish highlands

ON THE CURSED ROAD EVERY STEP COULD BE YOUR LAST

Deep in the Scottish Highlands, the body of a young woman is found on the cursed road, a narrow track with a bloody history.

It initially looks like an accident, but a name scratched on the dead woman’s arm links to an unsolved case from years ago.

Glaswegian detectives Georgina Lennox and Richard Stewart are sent north to investigate, and they discover a community riven by a centuries’ old blood feud and modern rivalries.

As George and Richie attempt to get to the truth behind the dark rumours, a killer is waiting, determined that some secrets are never uncovered.

Praise for THE CURSED ROAD

‘Vivid, haunting, twisty and gut-wrenching’ Pip Drysdale

‘Tense, chilling and sometimes dark’ Fiona Hardy

‘Brilliant … Crime fiction at its best!’ Tanya Scott

‘If you start reading this, it’s likely you won’t put it down’ Nina Bhadreshwar

Genres: Crime, Mystery, Fiction, Scotland, Thriller, Mystery Thriller, Audiobook

347 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 26, 2026

About the author

Laura McCluskey is a Melbourne-based writer, editor and actor. She created the production company Sibylline Films and co-founded Three Fates Theatre Company. The Wolf Tree is her first novel.

source: Amazon

Reviews

[megs_bookrack]

...and just like that, my dreams have come true! More George and Richie in 2026!!!

💙💚💙💚💙💚💙💚💙💚💙

[Andrea]

4.5★

Loved it! Every bit as good as The Wolf Tree. While this book probably could be read as a standalone, the reader will get a lot more out of it if they have read The Wolf Tree first. Kirsty Cox's narration is once again an absolute delight.

Some time has passed since the case was closed on Eilean Eadar and George is practically a household name in Scotland as the hero of the hour. It's a situation she's not at all comfortable with, particularly after going through the inevitable humiliation of being forced into 'administrative leave' and therapy once her prescription drug addiction became known to her employer, Police Scotland. And although she's seemingly lost the closeness she'd developed with her work partner, Richie, at least she hasn't lost her job. When the two are re-partnered on what appears to be a routine (is that even a thing?) murder case in the Cairngorms - deep in the eastern Highlands - things are awkward between them, to say the least. One night away from home to investigate, then they can return to Glasgow and wrap it up.

But of course, it's not that simple. Aggressive hunters, land disputes, local myths & legends. There are things going on in that small community that simply don't add up.

McCluskey has once again written a twisty, turny police procedural with strong elements of gothic darkness. The two main characters have plenty of growth along the way, and hopefully they'll be back again next time Scotland needs them!

Highly recommended.

[Gloria (Ms. G's Bookshelf)]

⭐️4.5 Stars⭐️
Set in a remote, rugged, misty area in the Scottish Highlands wrapped in shadows The Cursed Road by Laura McCluskey is atmospheric, sinister and absolutely binge worthy. This is Laura McCluskey’s second novel and I loved it!

Detectives Georgina Lennox and Richie Stewart investigate the death of a young woman found on a remote stretch of road, her name carved horrifically into her arm and why? Was her death foul play or an accident?

There are secrets, generational curses, festering family feuds, deer hunts and elements of the supernatural at play.

We are taken on a compelling and eerie investigation led by two deeply flawed protagonists.

The build up to the finale is absolutely nail biting and intense. I loved the way the story kept me on edge, an excellent read.

Publication Date 24 February 2026
Publisher Harper Collins Australia

Thank you so much Harper Collins Australia. This book was part of Harper Collins Bookstagram Club, what an awesome pick!

[Hu]

The Cursed Road follows a chilling investigation that forces its characters to confront buried truths, dangerous secrets, and the haunting consequences of past choices. As tensions rise and danger closes in, the story hurtles forward with relentless momentum, delivering an emotional and atmospheric journey that really packs a punch!

Laura McCluskey brings back George and Richie, first introduced in The Wolf Tree, and while returning readers will appreciate the continuity, this novel reads seamlessly as a powerful standalone. From the very first chapter, the atmosphere is thick with tension; the pacing is enough to get anyones heart racing; it is page‑turning, and genuinely hard to put down. I found myself completely gripped by the intensity of the narrative and deeply moved by the emotional undercurrents woven through every chapter.

What elevates this book even further is the way it tackles important, real‑world issues with nuance and care: the portrayal of events in the media and the ripple effects of journalism, the quiet but vital importance of reaching out for help (and accepting it) and the raw, honest exploration of substance abuse & sobriety. I love when authors use their platform to shine a light on topics that matter, and McCluskey does so with both courage and compassion.

Overall, The Cursed Road is an absolute cracker of a story; gripping, atmospheric, and emotionally resonant. It deserves a place on the shelves of every crime thriller fan. I can't wait for my own physical copy!!

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins Australia for the eARC.

[nina.reads.books]

You might recall I listened to Laura McCluskey’s debut crime novel The Wolf Tree last month in anticipation of reading her second book The Cursed Road via Netgalley this month. I’m glad I did do this because while it would be possible to read the latest as a standalone I think it was richer from having already met the two key detectives Georgina Lennox and Richard Stewart.

Events from the last book have impacted the detectives in different ways and they are not as close as they once were. When a woman’s body is found on a remote road in the Scottish Highlands with a name carved into her arm that has a personal connection for one of them the pair are thrust back into partnership again.

They soon discover that the road the body was found on is known locally as the Cursed Road and has been the scene of generations of disagreements. They interview both locals and newcomers to the area and it is clear that there are hidden secrets and people willing to do anything to protect them. Won't go into the details to keep it interesting!

So how did I find this book? Umm loved it! I love that these books are set in Scotland (so atmospheric!) and even reading this one rather than listening to it I could hear the accent in my head. I love that the detectives are flawed characters but not in an over the top way. I love that the plot was completely unique and that I had no idea for the entire book the way it would go until near the end. More ticks for me were that this was more of a slow burn mystery and it didn’t have a lot of front and centre violence or gore.

I am by no means a regular crime/mystery reader but I do like the occasional dabble and I think I have found a new favourite author. I’m intrigued to know why this Australian author is setting her novels in Scotland because it is definitely working for her!

Thank you @netgalley and @harpercollinsaustralia for my #gifted copy.

[Natalie M]

Took me a minute…

A rather slow start, develops some legs and takes off running at about the halfway point. The characters grew on me but I’m still on the fence with DI George/Georgina. An intriguing plot and culmination really made this a worthwhile read. What an idea!

Definitely a series I will continue reading.

[Joanna]

Another great crime fiction book from Laura McCluskey - I really liked The Wolf Tree but I think I definitely enjoyed this one even more. The crime in question was just more interesting and It felt a little bit tighter than the first book, I liked George a bit more in this one and found her to be a bit more sympathetic.

The tension with Ritchie was interesting but I didn't feel like we fully got a moment of resolution between them and why Ritchie was acting the way he was. Perhaps that's on purpose if there's to be a third book but also this one sort of ends with the implication that Ritchie is going to retire, or at least stay off active duty - so I'm not sure he would have a huge presence in a third book.

I thought the climax of the book was pretty well done, I thought Clara was probably alive but the rest was a surprise - I do wish we saw her reunion with her brother, and the brother and Ritchie. It would've been a nice moment to end things on if Ritchie is retiring.

Really appreciated the way she depicted hunting and that even though the lodge weren't THE baddies they were still gross shitty people.

[Michele (michelethebookdragon)]

4.5⭐

Well there were no second book jitters here. The Cursed Road will grab you and drag you into the misty wilderness of the Scottish Highlands and take you on quite the journey.

When a young woman's body is found on a desolate road outside the village of Kirkcree, no-one would be able to foresee what the police investigation will uncover. Not only has she been shot, but a message on her body will reopen a cold case.

With ancestral feuds going back hundreds of years still festering, a convicted sex offender out of jail and working in the area, a missing persons case that haunts DI Richie Stewart, a tense working relationship between Richie and DI George Lennox, cavalier and entitled sports shooters and a cocky investigative journalist in the mix, there are more than enough sparks to start a fire.

Again the location and the whisper of a Gaelic ghostly mystery added another layer to this book and I could feel the chill of the Highland winds.

I couldn't get enough of this book and finished it within twenty four hours of starting it. It was hard seeing the relationship between Richie and George in the state it was, almost a reversal of the way they were in The Wolf Tree. The build up to the ending was nail-biting and had me on edge.

I really enjoyed this one and if you like atmospheric settings, a gripping storyline and gritty policing then this book will fit the bill.

[E Brodie]

If you love crime fiction that's creepy and atmospheric with a plot steeped in history and mystery, The Cursed Road by Laura McCluskey could be for you.
Set in the Scottish Highlands, Detective Inspectors Georgina Lennox (George) and Richard Stewart (Richie) are sent to investigate the murder of a young woman found on a remote stretch of road. One discovery leads to another and before they know it, links are appearing to unsolved cases of missing women and an ongoing feud between two ancient families.
This is the sequel to Laura's debut novel The Wolf Tree, which I also enjoyed. The Cursed Road can be read as a standalone, but if you don't read The Wolf Tree First, my guess is you'll want to afterwards.
I loved the complexity of George and Richie, both as individual characters and as colleagues recovering from the trauma of the last case they worked together (again, read The Wolf Tree). I also really enjoyed the local folklore that was threaded through this book.
This is a scary campfire story on steroids. If you're looking for a spooky read for October and enjoy police procedural, make this your next read.

[Anabela]

4.5 stars rounded to 5

Set against the wild and haunting backdrop of the Scottish Highlands, The Cursed Road is a gripping mystery packed with atmosphere, folklore, and secrets. When the body of a young woman is discovered with the name of a woman who vanished ten years earlier carved into her arm, detectives George and Richie are sent to investigate, each carrying demons of their own.

From creepy, decrepit mansions to whispers of superstition and local folklore, Laura McCluskey creates a chilling sense of place that kept me turning pages late into the night. The pacing is relentless, the suspect list keeps growing, and I found myself questioning everyone right up to the end.

This is McCluskey’s sophomore novel, and after finishing it, I’m already eager to go back and read her debut, where these characters are first introduced.

Thank you so much to @harpercollinsaustralia for this gifted book.

[Lilya]

4.5!!! I loved this, I really like these characters and this was another spectacular story. One thing I particularly like is how there are ZERO cultural references or anything that would age this story, and the narrative doesn’t hinge on any current events to stand. It really cements the escapism and I wishhh more authors took note. I thought the repair of George and Richie’s relationship was really well paced, and the conclusion didn’t feel rushed at all, it really completed the book. The middle didn’t drag at all like the wolf tree did (it only slightly did) and was entertaining all the way through. The ending was exactly like one of my nightmares lol. Excited for the next one, also I really liked the style of writing🫶🏻

[Cazbookmagnet]

This is book two - please start with Laura McClusky’s incredibly dark and raw The Wolf Tree, where we meet DI Georgina Lennox investigating a suicide on a remote Scottish island.
The Cursed Road is every bit as atmospheric and twisty, the history and landscape of The Highlands near Aviemore as much a character as the many suspects. Fantastic.

[Karen]

The second in this series featuring DIs Georgina Lennox and Richard Stewart and set in Scotland by Melbourne born (author, actor, theatre company founder) Laura McCluskey.
I have been in a bit of a reading slump of late, especially in regard to Australian crime fiction - well at least finding so many of the 'outback noir' genre novels formulaic. By contrast I read this novel over two sittings, was happy to revisit these well drawn characters, and look forward to the next book in the series.

[Ailsa S.]

Not sure how to rate this. Maybe 3.75? It was a bit slower to get into but the second half/final third it picked up (as do most crime novels). Original concept!!

[Diana]

Love this series so much! The characters, the settings, the creepy plots...all are so good 👏🏻

[Dani]

Ahh... I was a little disappointed with this book. I feel like it needed another few months, another round of edits, to feel like a solid book. The story could have been interesting and complex, like The Wolf Tree, but it felt like I was reading a draft of the book.

The twist was very predictable, from before halfway. The clues dropped weren't necessarily obvious, I just think the story was quite shallow that you could see the ocean floor quite easily. The premise was okay but it was executed really poorly this book. I felt lost and a little jaded.

I stayed for the main characters, which I love. This one had less of them but still enjoyable. Some of the emotion and the MC actions weren't consistent with what we know about them from book 1, which was jarring. Most of the secondary characters were vague and unimportant. Hendry really irritated me - introduced out of absolutely nowhere, his personality was charicaturish, and his part at the end of the book was mildly ridiculous. Some characters, like David (?) were wildly over the top and cliche, while some were only moderately over the top and cliche (ranch owners, Zoe, Bear) and were mostly just cringey. I couldn't picture a lot of the characters.

As an aside, there were a few clumsy language errors and a few typos, and some of the descriptions were confusing and just completely unnecessary. Why has more than half a page been dedicated to describing the hotel kitchen? It just doesn't make sense. Hardly any of the descriptions of setting were ever relevant to the story, which made the whole book feel very patchy and meandering.

Overall, I am still hooked on the main characters from book 1 and would probably still read another book, but this one just had no logical or interesting story to follow, wispy characters, weird writing and meaningless descriptions.

[Kimmy C]

The second in the series (first: The Wolf Tree) featuring the Eurythmically named detectives Lennox and Stewart. With the events of Eadar Island in the past, but the psychological repercussions very much in the present, this novel takes us, and the now reluctant work partners, to the Scottish Highlands, where they encounter, variously, deer hunting, insular families, whispers of haunted roads, and a series of missing women over the years. Hard to review without leading to a spoiler, but the directions in this book are many and varied, and the reader is kept guessing until all is made horribly clear about three-quarters of the way through. This may be read as a standalone, but there are references to the first book, so maybe start there - you’d be doing yourself a favour.
The descriptions of the land and situations really transport the reader there; I almost had to pop a cardi on against the misty rain - so I was again surprised to be reminded that this author was born and raised in Australia.

[Willem Langford]

Much like the main character, this book has an identity crisis.

The Cursed Road sees George and Richie investigating a grizzly and mysterious death in a remote Scottish town with a dark secret… again.

The story starts with George having taken a period of administrative leave on account of her addiction. On her return she is tasked with keeping an eye on Richie during the investigation of “Bambi” as her death is linked to a cold case of his from years back. I wasn’t sure how I felt about the conflict between George and Richie in this book. On the one hand it felt like it gave stakes to the addiction plot line from the previous book. On the other hand, it felt like retreading ground especially with how solid George and Richie’s relationship was at the end of the last book. The frost between them melts quickly and the dynamic between them ends up great. They are very believable as partners and complement each other well.

The pair doorknock and meet some very suspicious characters and getting some spooky highland ghost stories. George and Richie get involved in a dispute between rivals the Fairgreave family and a wealthy hunting lodge. Eventually discover that the lodge has employed a recently released criminal who has a history of hurting women. Thinking that they’ve got their man, George and Richie try to apprehend him and then blunder into being kidnapped by the actual perpetrators… again. In the highland castle, George finds that there is a conspiracy wherein Fairgreave men literally take women to be their wives. One of these wives was Matild aka Bambi, another is the missing person from Richie’s cold case as well as a third victim, Emily (I think lol). Hence commences an escape sequence with tension and emotional payoff.

Overall the story is solid and the atmosphere has some very high points but there are some low points also. I actually like the gimmick of the case being tied to some historical myth/unfinished business of the town. It feels very scooby doo in a good way. Hendry Shaw as a character also removes the story from reality. I don’t know how to put it. He is such a book character and so far from being real, again not a bad thing in isolation. The most camp thing is George having a “secret sense” that helps her detect danger or solve mysteries. This also could be great in a more camp story… but, this is not trying to be camp. This is why I say that the book is having an identity crisis. I felt that the book was trying to be taken super seriously which downplays all of these things. If the book was a little bit more out there then it could lean into its strong aesthetic and wink at the audience with the genre elements.

This book was a bit outside of my usual wheelhouse. It was entertaining but it was missing something for me.

2.5/5

[Ellen (the_plentiful_library)]

4.5/5☆

Seeing this book described as atmospheric is entirely spot on. Set in the Scottish Highlands the descriptions of the scenery was so sinister and spooky, I absolutely loved the vibe of this story!

This is book #2 featuring DI's Georgina Lennox and her partner Richie Stewart as they investigate the murder of a woman found in the bush on a stretch of road known as The Cursed Road. While the areas is remote, the road runs between two properties with the owners constantly at war with each other over land. At first the victim's death seems like an accident but then the woman is found to have a name carved into her arm. The name of another girl who went missing 10 years ago.

The Cursed Road is a murder mystery wrapped up with local lore and curses. Although it's book number 2 in the series the book can definitely be read as a stand alone. I did manage to pick the whodunnit but I enjoyed the ride to the end all the same. I did a mix of audio and physical book for this read and the audio was amazing!! For one it was nice to hear all the Scottish words pronounced properly and the banter between the characters was so much more fun with a Scottish accent!
I highly recommend adding this one to your 2026 TBR 🙌🏼

[Hevsie]

After meeting Laura McCluskey last year at a book store crawl and author talk, and then inhaling The Wolf Tree as soon as I got home - I was ready for round two, and this book delivered.

While you can read it as a standalone, the continuation of George and Richie’s messy, crumbling relationship was chef’s kiss drama as an added layer to the mystery.

And honestly the mystery had me feeling like the world’s most dumbest detective 😂 Thank god for George because I was not solving this one. And that plot twist? Absolutely did not see it coming!

Just like in The Wolf Tree, I love Laura McCluskey’s writing style. It’s visually descriptive, atmospheric, and her dialogue feels so natural and easy to follow along

I can’t wait to see where our next crime takes us!

If you love mystery’s, detective novels or supporting Aussies authors - I recommend adding this one to your TBR

[Craig and Phil]

The howling winds and chill of the Scottish highlands and its picturesque beauty make the location a central character in this eerie and enticing story.
A dead body found in a prime hunting terrain leads Detective Georgina Lennox down a road that is cursed with a tainted history.
The isolation and abundance of game make this area a paradise for the hunters and tourists.
Unscrupulous activity and mysterious disappearances allude to embedded secrets and misery.
Historical feuds, wary townsfolk and run down estates add layers to the intrigue and the chilling truth.
The atmospheric setting, captured emotions and the sinister truths transplanted me in Scotland and I was thrilled to reacquaint with George and Ritchie.
The prologue was titled the Doe and it was so well written and anchored my interest immediately as it sets the scene to a fantastic read.

[Reviews.with.Bianca]

I actually enjoyed The Cursed Road more than The Wolf Tree. It was great to be back with George and Richie, and the Scottish Highlands once again created such an eerie, atmospheric backdrop.

That said, I felt the story wandered a little too much at times and lost focus on the main mystery. While I still enjoyed the twists, family secrets, and overall suspense, I found myself wanting it to stay on the central storyline more consistently.

Overall, an enjoyable read, and I’ll definitely continue with the series.

[Anna Loder]

SO atmospheric, clever, compulsive, and character driven..I LOVE everything about this second novel by Laura McCluskey!! What a haunting novel..full of curses, secrets and feuds as well as real comments about hunting, addiction, reporting and violence against women..I can’t wait to read the next George and Richie novel!!

[Mrs Moa]

A grim thriller steeped in mystery, feuding clans, history, superstitions, secrecy and the cracking open of a cold.

A slow burn mystery but I appreciated that when the suspense started to ramp up it was held for a decent chunk of the story - edge of your seat stuff 👌🏻

I was sent this book by the publisher and all opinions are my own.

[jess f 🌱]

georgie i’ll always love u even when you continue to put yourself in the worst situations ALONE

[Amar]

3.75 stars

[Sam Maricic]

Pretty good

[Tabetha (tabsbooknook)]

ARC review: The Cursed Road by @lauramccluskey__ published by @harpercollinsaustralia and supplied by @netgalley
Release date: 24 February 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This is exactly the follow up that The Wolf Tree deserved. I ate this book up and Laura certainly pumped in the adrenaline for those last 80 odd pages.
The Cursed Road is set nearly a year after TWT and we are seeing the fall out from that investigation and the lingering PTSD that both DI George Lennox and DI Richie Stewart are experiencing. This new case gives them the chance to repair their fractured working and personal relationship while being sent up into the Scottish Highlands to solve the murder of an unknown woman who may also be connected to a 10 year old missing persons case that Richie has carried with him for a decade.
This book can be read as a standalone (but TWT definitely deserves a read if you haven’t yet). If you love crime and thriller stories, then this book is for you!

[Glenda Briglia]

Fabulous. Better than Wolf Tree

[Judith]

When I spotted on Netgalley a second book in Laura McCluskey’s DI Georgina Lennox series, I quickly expressed my interest. I’d been well entertained by George’s first appearance in The Wolf Tree, a crime novel set on a remote Scottish Island, full of secrecy, superstition and twists. George is a stroppy character, young for a DI but has a good nose for detective work. So she’s partnered with DI Richard Stewart, an experienced avuncular sort, the good cop to George’s bad, doing his best to keep George out of trouble.

But in The Cursed Road, the tables have been turned. The traumatic events of the first book left both cops reeling, George undergoing some months of recovery and therapy, which have made her stronger, steadier. Richie on the other hand has not done the therapy, won’t look George in the eye, and has a short fuse that has their Superintendent worried. When a case comes up – the discovery of the body of a young woman in a remote corner of the Highlands – the two are sent to the town of Kirkcree to investigate, George also tasked with keeping an eye on Richie, reporting back anything that causes concern.

Emotions are running high for Richie. He’s the lead because ten years ago, a young woman disappeared from the same area. Cara Reid had a difficult start to life, lacked family support, but she always kept in touch with her younger brother, until suddenly she didn’t. Richie has never forgotten the case, blaming himself for not finding her. The new victim was found with Cara’s name scratched on her arm. The two cases must be linked, surely.

George and Richie settle in somewhat testily at their small-town inn, supposedly there for just one night to see what they can find out from interviewing the pathologist and investigating the crime scene. It would be easy to see this as a shooting accident gone wrong. Further along the road where the body was found is an exclusive resort catering to international tourists wanting to hunt deer. Investigations unearth disputes the owners have with an old Scottish family that has lived in the area for centuries in their crumbling castle. Suddenly the story is peppered with interesting characters and potential suspects.

Other people on George’s radar include the creepy guy who eyeballs George at the village pub, and the journalist Hendry Shaw who made a big story out of George and Richie’s discoveries on the island. He particularly highlighted George’s part in the case, which hasn’t helped her relationship with Richie. George doesn’t hesitate to give Hendry a piece of her mind, especially when he follows them to Kirkcree. But is he beginning to wear George down?

A curse, a hundreds-year-old feud and a ghostly apparition all add to the atmosphere in this curious case. Clues and suspicious behaviour stretch the stay of the two detectives and with that the danger level rises. The detective’s partnership is put under pressure and George has to be the mature one, adding a bit of depth to the characterisation. The story builds nicely in pace with a nail-biting finish and George shows her mettle. It all adds to a clever, original and entertaining murder-thriller and a four-and-a-half-star read from me.

The Cursed Road was published this week on 24 February. I received a review copy courtesy of Netgalley and Harper Collins Publishers Australia.