401 to Kingston

by Michael Cook

When broken mirrors and shattered psyches collide at a place called Rockwood, what’s reflected to a killer and his pursuers will mesh time and distance, fact and fiction, sanity and madness, and the irreconcilable paradoxes of the human mind.

After a string of murders along the Provincial Route 401, between Montreal and Kingston, spanning five decades, a retired serial killer kills again, but why?

As Montrealer, Candace Weatherby, a former Philly Police consultant, struggles to cope with the memory of her kidnapping at the hands of a wannabe Russian Oligarch, she and her retired Philly Cop boyfriend, Bones Sullivan, are cryptically drawn into the decades-old, unsolved murder investigation.

After Bones and Candace are brought in to assist authorities in Montreal and Kingston, Candace, tired of living in the shadow of a North Philly legend, wants to break free, but will Bones' dead, former partner, Frank Collazo, allow her to go it alone?

The shocking next segment in the FalconClaw Detective series will shatter your perception of what is real and what is not. While this book is a part of The FalconClaw Detective Series, it can be read as a standalone novel.

Editorial Review by FalconClaw Media, LLC

401 to Kingston is an ambitious and haunting psychological thriller that marks a compelling expansion of Michael Cook’s FalconClaw Detective Series, yet functions brilliantly as a standalone novel.

Spanning more than five decades and stretching across the infamous Provincial Route 401 from Montreal to Kingston, this story weaves a complex tapestry of mystery, memory, trauma, and truth.

At its core, this story follows a decades-old chain of unsolved murders that mysteriously resume when a retired serial killer seemingly strikes again. This chilling resurgence pulls Montrealer Candace Weatherby, a former Philadelphia Police consultant wrestling with her own traumatic past, and her retired detective partner, Bones Sullivan, into an investigation that tests their intellectually, emotionally, and psychologically.

What elevates this story above many other conventional thrillers is Cook’s skillful blending of tight procedural plotting with deep psychological and emotional insight. The narrative constantly blurs the boundaries between reality and illusion, forcing readers to question what is truly happening versus what exists only in fractured minds. The ominous setting of the Rockwood Asylum and the long, historic stretch of Route 401 become almost characters themselves; haunting, unpredictable, and filled with echoes and whispers of the past.

Candace is a particularly compelling flawed, resilient, and driven not just by a need for justice, but by a desperate desire to redefine herself beyond the shadows of trauma and the legacy of those around her. Her dynamic with Bones adds emotional depth, rooted in affection but tinged with tension as she struggles to assert her independence. Independence comes at a price, though. The price for Candace is loneliness.

Readers will appreciate the layered storytelling and unexpected twists. What seems like a straightforward cold case becomes a mirror of shattered psyches, hidden motives, and buried secrets, culminating in an ending that many find both shocking and satisfying.

In addition, Cook’s unique tribute to the Canadian band The Tragically Hip is sprinkled thoughtfully throughout the book and foregrounded in a special piece by guitarist Rob Baker. Baker adds a cultural richness that enhances the emotional landscape without distracting from the central narrative.

603 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 5, 2025

Reviews

[Karen L Schuyler · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another Riveting & Edge of Your Seat Psychological Thriller & So Much More!

In this 7th installment the author delivers not only a psychological thriller, but also a tale of love, loss, trauma & so much more! It was the BEST of the seven with an ending no-one could see coming! So to all -whether fans of the series or first time readers, get ready for a reading experience you will not only be talking about, but also be feeling long after you have finished!

[Bob Nielsen · Rating 5 out of 5]

The 401 to Kingston delivers a gripping blend of psychological suspense, detective fiction, and metaphysical mystery that stays with you long after the final page. Set along the haunting stretch of Provincial Route 401 between Montreal and Kingston, the novel probes the fractured edges of the human psyche — where memory blurs, reality distorts, and truth hides behind shattered perceptions.

The central mystery reignites when a retired serial killer suddenly strikes again, reopening a decades-old chain of murders and forcing law enforcement back onto a trail gone cold. Into this chaos step Candace Weatherby — haunted by the trauma of her past — and her retired Philly-cop partner, Bones Sullivan. Their complicated dynamic adds emotional depth to a plot bristling with danger, tension, and uncertainty.

Candace’s quest to step out of Bones’ shadow — under the psychologically corrosive influence of Bones’ deceased partner, Frank Collazo — introduces a profound tension that intensifies as the investigation proceeds. As the enigmatic locale known as Rockwood looms, the narrative smartly blurs the lines between fact and fiction, sanity and madness, past and present.

Once again, author Michael Cook delivers a well-paced, compelling addition to the FalconClaw series. He balances character depth, atmospheric dread, and an intricate, unpredictable plot — creating a psychological thriller that’s as emotionally resonant as it is unsettling.

Although part of the FalconClaw Detective Series, The 401 to Kingston stands firmly on its own. New readers can dive in without prior knowledge, while longtime fans will appreciate how Cook expands the world while increasing the stakes.

Dark, intelligent, and deeply affecting — The 401 to Kingston is a thrilling exploration of trauma, memory, and the ghostly echoes of the past. It’s a book that will keep you questioning what’s real long after you finish.

[Maribeth Pickens · Rating 5 out of 5]

Having known Michael Cook and watched his storytelling evolve over the years, 401 to Kingston feels like his most emotionally layered and ambitious work yet. What strikes me most is how deeply he pours himself into every character—Bones, Candace, and even the ghosts of Kingston’s cold cases carry pieces of his empathy, curiosity, and heart. Michael has always been fascinated by the intersection of real history and human pain, and this novel captures that beautifully, blending true events with fiction in a way that feels respectful, haunting, and unforgettable. His love for Kingston, The Tragically Hip, and the people who inspired him radiates through the pages, giving the story an authenticity that only someone who did the work — traveled the 401, met the locals, walked the crime scenes — could achieve. But beyond the mystery and suspense, this book reflects Michael himself: compassionate, meticulous, a little gritty, and always searching for meaning in the darkest corners. 401 to Kingston is not just a thriller — it’s a testament to the heart behind the writer, and I’m proud to say it’s one of his finest pieces yet.

[Michael Cook · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you for considering 401 to Kingston for your next read. As the author, the only reason I am reviewing my own book is because it's the only way I can speak directly to you, the reading community.

This book took me from Atlanta to Kingston and Montreal multiple times in an effort to research the material and to ensure the story comes across as authentic and true to its roots... Canadian roots. I spent many hours with the Kingston P.D., the detectives in the Major Crimes Unit, and their Chief of Police. Additionally, I traveled up and down the Provincial Route 401, and stopped at all of my crime scenes, and also made a trip to Watertown, N.Y., you'll read why.

Again, thank you in advance for giving this book a try. If you like a good psychological thriller, detective crime dramas, historical fiction, and a little paranormal activity, you'll like this story.

While this book is 7 of 7 in the FalconClaw Detective Series, it's great as a stand alone.

Lastly, if you're a fan of Canada's band, The Tragically Hip, you'll be thrilled to know that Hip guitarist, Rob Baker wrote the forward.

Warm regards, Michael Cook

[Hayden Escobar · Rating 5 out of 5]

The 401 to Kingston is a gripping, mind-bending thriller that blurs the lines between sanity and madness, past and present, truth and illusion. The story pulls you into a decades-old murder mystery with sharp characters, psychological depth, and a haunting sense of place along Canada’s Highway 401. Candace Weatherby is especially compelling—flawed, resilient, and fighting to define herself beyond the shadows of trauma and legend.

Even as a stand-alone, the novel delivers suspense, emotion, and unexpected twists, while longtime fans will appreciate the deeper layers woven into the FalconClaw Detective series. The tribute to The Tragically Hip adds a unique and heartfelt dimension, especially the love letter to Kingston that permeates the book. Thought-provoking, atmospheric, and unforgettable—this is crime fiction at its best.

[Bonnie Ross · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was fortunate to come upon Michael Cook's FalconClaw series here on Goodreads. I've now enjoyed every book he has written, and this is no exception. Returning characters Detective Bones Sullivan and historian Candace Weatherby have been recruited from their usual Philadelphia setting to assist in Canada's hunt for a serial killer who has plagued the area around Kingston for decades. They each have very different life experiences to bring to the hunt, and must adapt to the milieu in the small Kingston police department and also the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. Even though it is part of the FalconClaw series, it also works as a stand alone novel. This is a very satisfying read.

[Sandi Fravel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read 401 to Kingston for a riveting, psychological and emotional thriller that you will be thinking about long after you put it down. Michael Cook always gives the reader a truly memorable, reading experience but this one totally has you second guessing yourself and his ending is sheer genius.
Sandi F

[Kristin Cook · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a suspenseful and emotional journey this book took me on, and it didn't end how I thought it might. Completely shocked but very satisfied. Nicely done!