Rest Stop 2: Road to Hell

by Eric Butler

From the author of The Pope Lick Massace, The Shadow Within, and the Donn, TX series.

The grindhouse inspired tale of terror, The Rest Stop, continues …

Families go missing all the time across the country, but for one mother, the trail takes her to an infamous Rest Stop.

A place where people disappear, cars are abandoned, and the police seem to have no answers.

The locals know the truth, though. No one is safe at the rest stop or on the surrounding roads, cuz what Momma and her kin want, they take.

73 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 17, 2025

About the author

I'm an indie Horror writer who lives deep in the heart of Texas. When I'm not writing novels and stories for anthologies, I'm doing the bidding of 3 adorable huskies. I've been married for over 20 years and have a teenager in the house, so I won't be running out of horror material for quite some time.

Reviews

[DA · Rating 5 out of 5]

Want a bloody, violent, disgusting read? Well step right up and grab this book! I was immediately drawn back into the world of the first book. I thought maybe this might be a spin off, but it picks right up where Rest Stop ended and I was so glad of that!
We meet a new character, cousin Dixie, and even though she's just as messed up as the rest of the family, she's also kind of a hero to Kitty. I can't hate Dixie.
The scenes with Skeeter made me want to vomit. Butler did an amazing job describing the smells and appearance of burned flesh.
A messed up, grindhouse type story that to me makes Leather Face seem like a wimp. This is surely something all extreme horror readers would like. You definitely need to read the first book before hand though.

[Veronica ☠️ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Picking up right where we left off in The Rest Stop, our deranged family is back! In a new location due to the circumstances from book 1, things are normal again. What they didn't think of was that Kylie's living family would come and find her. But the family isn't worried, because in this town everyone knows their job and Momma runs it all.

The Firefly family who? This family is a new favourite of mine! This doesn't hold back and is more bloody than the first. Dixie is a new character and I love her craziness. I'd love to know and see more of her. There is a detailed, gross, and yet delicious eye licking scene that made me smile. I love a good description! A twist of an end that leaves you wanting to know what happens next! I love this world and would love to see much more!

[Diana | Indie Book Addict · Rating 5 out of 5]

Butler crushes it in Rest Stop 2: Road to Hell. The first in the series was wicked and this one is just as awesome. We pick up where the first book left off and there is plenty of gore. The characters are just as vile, and we even get a new one who seems like she’s going to fit in quite nicely with the family. Lots of action and things to make you squirm in this one. I cannot wait for more on this family of sickos. This is definitely one of my favorite series from Butler.

[Danielle Yvonne · Rating 5 out of 5]

“What an odd rest stop. Harry found the whole layout bizarre: how the roads in and out could only be seen for a few yards, how difficult the designers made getting from the parking lot to the actual rest stop building, and the way the trees seemed to crowd in on the whole location.”

Well shit. Butler always knows how to get me squirming when it comes to his stories, and this one is no different. 🤌🏼

I loved the first Rest Stop, so I was pumped when I found out there’d be a second. Two does not disappoint in the least. I may actually favor it over the first. I don’t know. They’re equally amazing. This one is brutal as hell. Had a few scenes I gagged through. And even a couple I read w my hands over my eyes peeking through to my kindle. 😅

Welp, I don’t have a road trip planned until end of February, so hopefully I can scrub my brain before then, otherwise it’s gonna be a rough one because I will NOT be stopping at any rest stops. ✋🏼

[Indieterror13 · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Rest Stop and The Rest Stop 2: Road to Hell by Eric Butler Author
I received audio codes for these courtesy of Eric. Let me tell you, I'm really mad at him. There's at least one more of these books, and it's not published yet so I have to wait, LIKE A PEASANT, for the next one.
If you're squeamish, don't.
Micah Cottingham nailed the audio. She's absolutely perfect for these books.
In all seriousness, grab them. They're not terribly long, so it's a good listen in the car. Just don't listen while you're eating.
☠️☠️☠️☠️

[Nat Whiston · Rating 5 out of 5]

So, we dive right back in with part two's harrowing continuation. The story takes an interesting turn when Sheriff Cable is confronted by PI Harry Wilson and Cathy Brown - Kylie’s mom. As they are determined to find out what happened to Jack, in the hopes they will find her two daughters.
Determined to find answers for the family, Harry has little idea what he is walking into. Of course, book two has the same style vibes but feels very reminiscent of Devil’s Rejects. With the interactions between Momma and the rest of the backwards demented family members. But it is also a testament to Eric's skill at keeping a story going. Not just that, but also holding the readers attention with a sequel.
We get to see what happened to characters like Skeeter after the events of book 1 and I gotta say. The character development was interesting to see, then of course we have the introduction of new characters such as Jeff, Charlie and Tommy. Another unwitting victim of the family as he serves a blood preserve for Skeeter.
We also meet Dixie who is a long distance cousin called in to aid the family. However, unlike the rest of her family. She seems to have some form of morality, her attacks are more strategically planned. She also seems to be set more on avenging wronged women. Then she does seem to be on finding more willing victims for momma. As Cathy and Harry investigate things further, it all starts to become clear how truly corrupt the police department is. Leading them to taking it upon themselves to get the answers they need.
The problem with bangers like this one is Eric Butler always leave you wanting more!

[Steph Kneeland · Rating 5 out of 5]

This one read pretty quick. It was packed with action, suspense and gore. I admit I haven't read the first one yet, so I can't say how it ties in, if it even does, to be determined 😉

There were parts of this book that I could feel my face squish in a not pleasant way, nausea building in my gut and I'm not sure I will look at maggots the same way again. 🤢

Any who, it was a great little read and I look forward to reading the The Rest Stop!

[Alex Pascoe · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars. Whatever I felt was missing from The Rest Stop was found in the sequel. Eric did great progressing the story, and keeping it entertaining at the same time which isn't necessarily easy with short books. Amped up the gore and gross without crossing any lines. Great story with just as many twists and turns as that damn road. Now where is part 3?

[Eve L. Fell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Solid Sequel

4/5 🍒

The Psycho Family is back again. This time their operation is more well oiled. They now are dabbling harder into the organ market. They’ve moved locations into a more “professional” setting.

Kylie’s (the missing girl from the first book) mother comes into town with a PI looking into her daughter’s disappearance. The PI starts asking too many questions and realizes the town and even the cops aren’t what they seem.

As things are uncovered and realizations are made will the family be able to continue their operation? Will the PI discover what’s happening and be able to bring them down?

Eric always brings the heat. I liked this sequel and would like to read more about the family, especially Dixie! She needs her own spin off. But I want a prequel on the family too. I will always read Eric Butler’s books! Get this one it’s worth the read.

[Sea Caummisar · Rating 5 out of 5]

In my opinion, the sequel is even better than the first one. Not that the first was bad, because it was great, but I enjoyed this one so much more. Possibly (?) MAYBE due to the fact the story was ongoing, a deeper dive into the characters and their motives. Also, who can trust who? Also, this one had one scene in particular that was bloody, gory and cranked up the extreme level to eleven. One particular scene that will stick with me, rotting in the recess of my mind.
Rest Stop 2 picks up with a mother who hires a PI to help her find the trail of where her loved ones last went missing.
A tale that will you make think twice before turning into a random rest stop on a long road trip

[Danielle Yeager · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it!!
-- picks up where book one leaves off, so read The Rest Stop first (only 55 pages or so)
-- will make you reconsider stopping at a rest area ever again
-- extreme
-- grindhouse
-- quick read
--TCM/House of 1000 Corpses vibes = family of farmhouse sickos
-- will have you jonesing for book three
-- finalist for Best Novella: 2025 Haunted Minds Book Cllub Award
-- eligible for Best Novella: 2025 Splatterpunk Awards

[Mike Prewitt · Rating 4 out of 5]

A worthy sequel

This was a pretty well-done sequel. There was definitely more of a story, and it makes sense for a third one soon.

[renee w · Rating 5 out of 5]

As in typical Butler fashion, I enjoyed book 2, even more than book one.