What do you think?
Dive Bar at the End of the Road
Not yet published
Expected 6 Oct 26Final Destination meets The Cabin at the End of the World in this supernatural horror from New York Times bestselling author Kelley Armstrong, in which a series of car accidents traps a group of strangers at a dive bar.
A forested road at night, slick from the pounding rain and eerily illuminated by flashes of lightning. Just before midnight, a car swerves to avoid something—or someone—mysteriously standing in the road, only to slam into a fallen tree instead. In the pitch black, four more cars follow in a pileup no one can seem avoid.
Stumbling out of the wreckage, soaked from the rain and nursing various injuries, five strangers find themselves in a backwoods dive bar, waiting for daybreak and hoping for cell service. But as tensions rise and the storm rages on outside, the occupants of the dive bar start to notice that not everything is as it seems. Time is moving differently, and they quickly learn that going outside—whether to assist another accident victim or to hike for help—is a very bad idea.
There’s something in the woods, something that isn't natural. Could the figure in the road have been a warning? Or something more sinister? None of this is normal, and they'll need to work together to figure out what’s happening if they have any hope of surviving through the night.
A forested road at night, slick from the pounding rain and eerily illuminated by flashes of lightning. Just before midnight, a car swerves to avoid something—or someone—mysteriously standing in the road, only to slam into a fallen tree instead. In the pitch black, four more cars follow in a pileup no one can seem avoid.
Stumbling out of the wreckage, soaked from the rain and nursing various injuries, five strangers find themselves in a backwoods dive bar, waiting for daybreak and hoping for cell service. But as tensions rise and the storm rages on outside, the occupants of the dive bar start to notice that not everything is as it seems. Time is moving differently, and they quickly learn that going outside—whether to assist another accident victim or to hike for help—is a very bad idea.
There’s something in the woods, something that isn't natural. Could the figure in the road have been a warning? Or something more sinister? None of this is normal, and they'll need to work together to figure out what’s happening if they have any hope of surviving through the night.
288 pages, Hardcover
Expected publication October 6, 2026
About the author
Kelley Armstrong
297 books34.2k followersKelley Armstrong has been telling stories since before she could write. Her earliest written efforts were disastrous. If asked for a story about girls and dolls, hers would invariably feature undead girls and evil dolls, much to her teachers' dismay. All efforts to make her produce "normal" stories failed.
Today, she continues to spin tales of ghosts and demons and werewolves, while safely locked away in her basement writing dungeon. She's the author of the NYT-bestselling "Women of the Otherworld" paranormal suspense series and "Darkest Powers" young adult urban fantasy trilogy, as well as the Nadia Stafford crime series. Armstrong lives in southwestern Ontario with her husband, kids and far too many pets.
Today, she continues to spin tales of ghosts and demons and werewolves, while safely locked away in her basement writing dungeon. She's the author of the NYT-bestselling "Women of the Otherworld" paranormal suspense series and "Darkest Powers" young adult urban fantasy trilogy, as well as the Nadia Stafford crime series. Armstrong lives in southwestern Ontario with her husband, kids and far too many pets.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 843 reviews
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Dive Bar at the End of the Road by Kelley Armstrong
Narrated by Helen Laser, Sean Patrick Hopkins, Shane Ghostkeeper
I really enjoyed this horror story because it hit on so much of what makes our nightmares and real life our very own horror stories. It all starts for us when 35 year old Ellie gets detoured on a tree lined road, with her GPS not working, and heavy rain making the dark night almost impossible to see anything. She's in the middle of woods, lost, and then a woman appears right in front of her car and Ellie can't avoid hitting her. But wait, she hit a tree? And then 41 year old Henry hits Ellie's car. The two walk until they find a decrepit building that houses a nice bar with two people. More people will show up since the wrecked car train is just beginning.
The living nightmares are just beginning, too, although one guy gets to live his sooner than the others. But all the nightmare danger is terrible and I was aware of the monsters from social media, folklore, word of mouth, and such. Henry does find out something funny about his nightmare monsters, that sometimes if you don't know the real lore, things work differently than if you did. That part of the story is pretty fun and I was fond of Henry. Which makes the terror worse is that, at some point, the victims might have to decide just how vicious they want to be. Who is really a good person, who is really a bad person? Also, the bartender might not be as low key as he seems at first.
Lots of violence here, I'd be the first to go, I'm sure. For all the monsters in this story, the scariest to me are the human monsters. You can wake up from your nightmare but bad humans will always be around. Things are wild and crazy here, in a way that I could distance myself from, but I cared about some of the characters and had no idea how this nightmare would end. I have both the ebook and audiobook and followed along with the ebook while I listened to the audiobook. The narrators are so good and Shane Ghostkeeper is perfect for Henry. I've always liked the other two narrators so this was a really good audiobook narration.
Expected publication October 6, 2026
Thank you to Macmillan Audio, St. Martin's Press, SMP Early Readers, and NetGalley
Narrated by Helen Laser, Sean Patrick Hopkins, Shane Ghostkeeper
I really enjoyed this horror story because it hit on so much of what makes our nightmares and real life our very own horror stories. It all starts for us when 35 year old Ellie gets detoured on a tree lined road, with her GPS not working, and heavy rain making the dark night almost impossible to see anything. She's in the middle of woods, lost, and then a woman appears right in front of her car and Ellie can't avoid hitting her. But wait, she hit a tree? And then 41 year old Henry hits Ellie's car. The two walk until they find a decrepit building that houses a nice bar with two people. More people will show up since the wrecked car train is just beginning.
The living nightmares are just beginning, too, although one guy gets to live his sooner than the others. But all the nightmare danger is terrible and I was aware of the monsters from social media, folklore, word of mouth, and such. Henry does find out something funny about his nightmare monsters, that sometimes if you don't know the real lore, things work differently than if you did. That part of the story is pretty fun and I was fond of Henry. Which makes the terror worse is that, at some point, the victims might have to decide just how vicious they want to be. Who is really a good person, who is really a bad person? Also, the bartender might not be as low key as he seems at first.
Lots of violence here, I'd be the first to go, I'm sure. For all the monsters in this story, the scariest to me are the human monsters. You can wake up from your nightmare but bad humans will always be around. Things are wild and crazy here, in a way that I could distance myself from, but I cared about some of the characters and had no idea how this nightmare would end. I have both the ebook and audiobook and followed along with the ebook while I listened to the audiobook. The narrators are so good and Shane Ghostkeeper is perfect for Henry. I've always liked the other two narrators so this was a really good audiobook narration.
Expected publication October 6, 2026
Thank you to Macmillan Audio, St. Martin's Press, SMP Early Readers, and NetGalley
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
WOWZA! Kelley Armstrong hit it out of the ballpark with Dive Bar at the End of the Road!!!!! I found this book to be gripping, eerie, chilling, tension filled, and hard to put down! I usually do not like when book synopsis compares books to other books and/or movies, but this time they nailed it. Dive Bar at the End of the Road does give off some Final Destination Vibes.
I knew this book was going to be good from the very beginning. The set up was perfect. It's a dark and rainy night in the middle of nowhere. That gave me chills right there. A car swerves to miss hitting what appears to be a woman standing in the middle of the road. Soon thereafter, a car crashes into the back of that car. More crashes follow, and the survivors find themselves at a dive bar! Creepy. To ramp up the tension, there is no cell service, no way to call out, and don't get me started on the surrounding woods and what may be lurking there!
This book kept me on my toes, and I loved every second of it. The cast of characters was interesting and ranged from likeable ones to downright detestable ones. There were several I came to care about and was fully invested in their fate. Kelley Armstrong had my heart rate elevated, and my fingers crossed throughout the book.
I loved the pacing and suspense in this book. There was never a dull moment. The characters never really had a chance to slow down and catch their breath. As they desperately tried to get to the bottom of things, I was trying my best to figure out what was going to happen as well. Talk about being put through the ringer!!!!!
Kelley Armstrong is a go-to author for me, and she always delivers the thrills and chills while creating characters I care about. She is a master at creating atmosphere, great settings, well thought of mysteries, and fully fleshed out characters. If you have not read one of her books, what are you waiting for. I loved this book and also love her A Rip Through Time series and Haven's Rock series.
Dark, wonderfully written, well thought out, chilling, horrific, and hard to put down!
Highly Recommend!
Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
I knew this book was going to be good from the very beginning. The set up was perfect. It's a dark and rainy night in the middle of nowhere. That gave me chills right there. A car swerves to miss hitting what appears to be a woman standing in the middle of the road. Soon thereafter, a car crashes into the back of that car. More crashes follow, and the survivors find themselves at a dive bar! Creepy. To ramp up the tension, there is no cell service, no way to call out, and don't get me started on the surrounding woods and what may be lurking there!
This book kept me on my toes, and I loved every second of it. The cast of characters was interesting and ranged from likeable ones to downright detestable ones. There were several I came to care about and was fully invested in their fate. Kelley Armstrong had my heart rate elevated, and my fingers crossed throughout the book.
I loved the pacing and suspense in this book. There was never a dull moment. The characters never really had a chance to slow down and catch their breath. As they desperately tried to get to the bottom of things, I was trying my best to figure out what was going to happen as well. Talk about being put through the ringer!!!!!
Kelley Armstrong is a go-to author for me, and she always delivers the thrills and chills while creating characters I care about. She is a master at creating atmosphere, great settings, well thought of mysteries, and fully fleshed out characters. If you have not read one of her books, what are you waiting for. I loved this book and also love her A Rip Through Time series and Haven's Rock series.
Dark, wonderfully written, well thought out, chilling, horrific, and hard to put down!
Highly Recommend!
Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
July 27, 2026
A group of strangers converge in a dive bar to take cover from a nasty storm. However, once there, they begin to suspect events leading them to the bar are not as random as they thought, nor are things as they seem.
There were parts of this I really liked and other parts I didn’t (more a personal preference), but it all blended together to be a highly entertaining novel. The storm and dilapidated bar combined with the characters’ confusion gave this the perfect atmosphere.
My only quibble would be the beginning was a bit repetitious as we met all of the different characters. I feel like maybe it was just a bit heavy on the characters, specifically Edgar. However, once everyone is introduced, things definitely took off. And lastly, there was no epilogue. Not that it necessarily needed one; the ending was definitely complete. I just was a little surprised to turn the page and it was over.
This is my second novel by this author, and I definitely liked this one much more for sure.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my advanced copy in exchange for an honest review
There were parts of this I really liked and other parts I didn’t (more a personal preference), but it all blended together to be a highly entertaining novel. The storm and dilapidated bar combined with the characters’ confusion gave this the perfect atmosphere.
My only quibble would be the beginning was a bit repetitious as we met all of the different characters. I feel like maybe it was just a bit heavy on the characters, specifically Edgar. However, once everyone is introduced, things definitely took off. And lastly, there was no epilogue. Not that it necessarily needed one; the ending was definitely complete. I just was a little surprised to turn the page and it was over.
This is my second novel by this author, and I definitely liked this one much more for sure.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my advanced copy in exchange for an honest review
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
4.5 stars:
Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for an ARC of Dive Bar at the End of the Road by Kelley Armstrong. Expected publication date is October 6, 2026.
This book has serious Twilight Zone vibes mixed with a healthy dose of Creepypasta.
Picture this: an unfamiliar detour on a dark and stormy night leads to a five-car pileup on a deserted road. The only sign of civilization is a dive bar just down the way. The dilapidated bar gives off creepy vibes from the start, and as the stranded motorists gather inside, the group of strangers begins to realize that something is very, very wrong.
There is no way to communicate with the outside world. No internet. No cable. No working transportation to get them back to civilization. As the night grows darker, menacing sounds begin to drift from the surrounding woods. The strangers attempt to piece together what is happening, where exactly they are, and, most importantly, how they can get to safety.
Then the bartender begins to appear to be much more than just a bartender. He knows secrets about each of them, deeply personal and potentially damaging secrets he couldn't possibly know.
So how do they get away?
Armstrong creates a wonderfully claustrophobic and creepy atmosphere. She weaves in supernatural elements such as fetches, portents, pocket universes and folklore, while also dabbling in some interesting social commentary. Whose life is more valuable? Who deserves a break? When is being "good" good enough?
For spooky season, this is the perfect read. It’s creepy, engaging, atmospheric, and filled with the stuff of nightmares.
Want Creepypasta? Read this book!
Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for an ARC of Dive Bar at the End of the Road by Kelley Armstrong. Expected publication date is October 6, 2026.
This book has serious Twilight Zone vibes mixed with a healthy dose of Creepypasta.
Picture this: an unfamiliar detour on a dark and stormy night leads to a five-car pileup on a deserted road. The only sign of civilization is a dive bar just down the way. The dilapidated bar gives off creepy vibes from the start, and as the stranded motorists gather inside, the group of strangers begins to realize that something is very, very wrong.
There is no way to communicate with the outside world. No internet. No cable. No working transportation to get them back to civilization. As the night grows darker, menacing sounds begin to drift from the surrounding woods. The strangers attempt to piece together what is happening, where exactly they are, and, most importantly, how they can get to safety.
Then the bartender begins to appear to be much more than just a bartender. He knows secrets about each of them, deeply personal and potentially damaging secrets he couldn't possibly know.
So how do they get away?
Armstrong creates a wonderfully claustrophobic and creepy atmosphere. She weaves in supernatural elements such as fetches, portents, pocket universes and folklore, while also dabbling in some interesting social commentary. Whose life is more valuable? Who deserves a break? When is being "good" good enough?
For spooky season, this is the perfect read. It’s creepy, engaging, atmospheric, and filled with the stuff of nightmares.
Want Creepypasta? Read this book!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Kelley Armstrong is one of those writers that can't be put into a box. Her novels explore the paranormal, romance, and bring the suspense, but sometimes she lands squarely on horror. That's where you'll find the Dive Bar at the End of the Road if you decide to stop in for a drink.
Multiple car wrecks put the characters in walking distance of a backwoods dive bar. Weather conditions have deteriorated, no one's car is operational, cell service is down, there are no land lines, and the bartender rides ten miles a day to work on his bicycle. The only option is to wait out the storm until someone gets a signal or can go for help. But something isn't right. The way time is passing feels abnormal. They soon learn that venturing back outside is dangerous whether it is to help another accident victim or to go for help. There is something in the woods. Waiting.
Narrators Helen Laser, Sean Patrick Hopkins, and Shane Ghostkeeper made the eerie atmosphere pulse with life and the characters' fear and determination palpable. Armstrong gave a "why" to the occurrences that won major points with me because so often writers leave us hanging and her explanation made the story satisfying.
Nothing here was anything new, but sometimes a good scare doesn't have to be.
My rating would be 3.5 on this one, but I'm rounding up because this was a story that made me shudder and look forward to pressing play. A good pick for spooky season.
Thank you to St. Martin's Press and Macmillan Audio for providing an ARC and ALC via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Multiple car wrecks put the characters in walking distance of a backwoods dive bar. Weather conditions have deteriorated, no one's car is operational, cell service is down, there are no land lines, and the bartender rides ten miles a day to work on his bicycle. The only option is to wait out the storm until someone gets a signal or can go for help. But something isn't right. The way time is passing feels abnormal. They soon learn that venturing back outside is dangerous whether it is to help another accident victim or to go for help. There is something in the woods. Waiting.
Narrators Helen Laser, Sean Patrick Hopkins, and Shane Ghostkeeper made the eerie atmosphere pulse with life and the characters' fear and determination palpable. Armstrong gave a "why" to the occurrences that won major points with me because so often writers leave us hanging and her explanation made the story satisfying.
Nothing here was anything new, but sometimes a good scare doesn't have to be.
My rating would be 3.5 on this one, but I'm rounding up because this was a story that made me shudder and look forward to pressing play. A good pick for spooky season.
Thank you to St. Martin's Press and Macmillan Audio for providing an ARC and ALC via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
If you enjoy creepy and atmospheric supernatural horror, then look no further than Kelley Armstrong’s novel,
Dive Bar at the End of the Road.
A strong storm, a forested road at night, and a woman standing in the road, leads to a car swerving to avoid her and hitting a tree instead. This leads to a series of crashes as four more cars follow in a pileup. With various injuries, five strangers find themselves in a dive bar, waiting for daybreak, and hoping cell service returns quickly. Tensions rise inside as the storm rages outside. They quickly learn that going outside is a risky idea. Something unnatural in the woods. What is happening? Why is it happening? What are the rules? Who can trust who? Who, if anyone, will survive?
While the book is from multiple points of view, Ellie’s is the main perspective. Told in first person, readers learn about her life. Meanwhile, the other characters’ perspectives are in third person. Henry Armstrong is a divorced father of two, who is also a paramedic. He takes charge of assessing injuries and attempts to maintain a calmness among the group. Caleb and Noemi are a young couple who are loyal to each other. Raymond is a greedy, selfish businessman who prioritizes his own interests over the survival of the group. Edgar is an elderly man who faces his own nightmare. The bartender is friendly and offers free drinks to the group. There’s also a mysterious and silent bar patron who Ellie believes caused her accident.
The author uses the storm, the isolated woods, and the dive bar situation to create atmosphere that worked well. The book’s tension never lets up and it gets to the action quickly. The premise around fate and psychological manipulation and mind games created an intensity that made this novel hard to put down. While I was able to connect with Ellie, Henry, and Noemi, I found it harder to connect with the rest of the characters. My biggest quibbles are that certain aspects felt repetitive at times and the ending felt abrupt. However, the main mystery wraps up nicely.
Overall, this was an atmospheric book with great characterization and a fascinating premise.
St. Martin’s Press and Kelley Armstrong provided a complimentary digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own. Publication date is currently set for October 6, 2026.
--------------------------
My 4.19 rounded to 4 stars review is coming soon.
While the book is from multiple points of view, Ellie’s is the main perspective. Told in first person, readers learn about her life. Meanwhile, the other characters’ perspectives are in third person. Henry Armstrong is a divorced father of two, who is also a paramedic. He takes charge of assessing injuries and attempts to maintain a calmness among the group. Caleb and Noemi are a young couple who are loyal to each other. Raymond is a greedy, selfish businessman who prioritizes his own interests over the survival of the group. Edgar is an elderly man who faces his own nightmare. The bartender is friendly and offers free drinks to the group. There’s also a mysterious and silent bar patron who Ellie believes caused her accident.
The author uses the storm, the isolated woods, and the dive bar situation to create atmosphere that worked well. The book’s tension never lets up and it gets to the action quickly. The premise around fate and psychological manipulation and mind games created an intensity that made this novel hard to put down. While I was able to connect with Ellie, Henry, and Noemi, I found it harder to connect with the rest of the characters. My biggest quibbles are that certain aspects felt repetitive at times and the ending felt abrupt. However, the main mystery wraps up nicely.
Overall, this was an atmospheric book with great characterization and a fascinating premise.
St. Martin’s Press and Kelley Armstrong provided a complimentary digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own. Publication date is currently set for October 6, 2026.
--------------------------
My 4.19 rounded to 4 stars review is coming soon.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
4.5 stars
Ohhhhh myyyyyy, I loved this. It started off a little slow, but once the characters fell upon this dive bar I was soooo sucked in to the story. This book had some gruesome body horror moments that I will never forget. You get a lot of POV's in this one, I took notes to remember who was who. The concept in this book was so good though, it was so strange and bizarre and mind bendy. By the end, I was screaming. This is perfect for fans of Cabin at the End of the World.
Here's the vlog where I read this one and a few others: https://youtu.be/21KG6qZUzKQ
Ohhhhh myyyyyy, I loved this. It started off a little slow, but once the characters fell upon this dive bar I was soooo sucked in to the story. This book had some gruesome body horror moments that I will never forget. You get a lot of POV's in this one, I took notes to remember who was who. The concept in this book was so good though, it was so strange and bizarre and mind bendy. By the end, I was screaming. This is perfect for fans of Cabin at the End of the World.
Here's the vlog where I read this one and a few others: https://youtu.be/21KG6qZUzKQ
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Five strangers find themselves trapped in a bar with an eccentric yet surprisingly friendly bartender and an awkward, mostly silent woman who may have triggered the bizarre chain of events unfolding around them. It's a fantastic premise, and from the very first pages, I was hooked!
For several strange reasons, these people all become victims of car accidents. Their paths literally collide. It all begins with Ellie, a 35-year-old woman between jobs who is returning to her family home. While driving down a lonely road, she spots a gray-haired woman standing in her path and slams on the brakes to avoid hitting her. But when she looks again, the woman has vanished, replaced by a fallen tree blocking the road.
Moments later, Ellie is involved in a collision with Henry Armstrong, a 41-year-old divorced father of two college-aged daughters and a paramedic. During the aftermath of the accident, Henry accidentally injures Ellie while trying to help her. With no cell reception, no passing traffic, and nowhere else to turn, the pair make their way to the only nearby refuge: an isolated bar in the middle of nowhere.
Unfortunately, the bartender can't offer much assistance. There's no phone service, no landline, and his only means of transportation is a bicycle—not exactly helpful when someone may need medical attention. Things become even stranger when Ellie notices an awkward woman sitting quietly in the bar. The woman appears to have left a mysterious puddle beneath her chair and looks suspiciously like the same gray-haired figure Ellie almost hit on the road. Yet the bartender insists she's been there all night.
As the evening progresses, more crash victims arrive. There's snarky Caleb and his girlfriend Noemi, followed by Raymond, a businessman who is still furious after being dumped by his boyfriend. Then there's Edgar, an elderly man in pajamas who seemingly disappears after claiming he was chased by hounds through the woods.
The deeper the story goes, the stranger everything becomes. Each character begins experiencing different visions and horrors. Ellie sees armed gunmen. Henry sees zombies. Others encounter their own terrifying manifestations. The woods surrounding the bar seem to harbor something sinister, but what exactly is happening? Have these strangers stumbled into a supernatural trap? Why are they all here? And most importantly, is there any way to break the cycle and escape?
I absolutely loved the central concept. Strangers trapped together in an isolated location while confronting both supernatural horrors and personal demons is a winning formula. The atmosphere is wonderfully creepy, and the tension builds steadily throughout the novel.
My only issue was that there are perhaps too many backstories and character threads competing for attention. Just as I became invested in Ellie and Henry's journey, the narrative would introduce another mystery or another character's history. Malcolm, in particular, felt like he entered the story a bit later than expected. At times, the constant shifts made the plot feel slightly cluttered and occasionally confusing.
Thankfully, the final quarter pulls everything together. The explanations begin to fall into place, the emotional arcs pay off, and the ending delivers a satisfying conclusion that made the journey worthwhile.
Overall, I'm giving this one 3.5 stars, rounded up to 4 stars for its incredibly effective atmosphere and tension. It's a perfect one-sitting read for fans of supernatural and psychological thrillers alike. If you enjoy stories that force characters to confront their deepest fears while making your own pulse race, this is definitely worth picking up. Consider it an excellent test of both your nerves and your vocal cords—you may find yourself wanting to scream right alongside the characters!
Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for sharing this intense supernatural thriller's digital reviewer copy with me in exchange for my honest thoughts.
medium.com
instagram
facebook
For several strange reasons, these people all become victims of car accidents. Their paths literally collide. It all begins with Ellie, a 35-year-old woman between jobs who is returning to her family home. While driving down a lonely road, she spots a gray-haired woman standing in her path and slams on the brakes to avoid hitting her. But when she looks again, the woman has vanished, replaced by a fallen tree blocking the road.
Moments later, Ellie is involved in a collision with Henry Armstrong, a 41-year-old divorced father of two college-aged daughters and a paramedic. During the aftermath of the accident, Henry accidentally injures Ellie while trying to help her. With no cell reception, no passing traffic, and nowhere else to turn, the pair make their way to the only nearby refuge: an isolated bar in the middle of nowhere.
Unfortunately, the bartender can't offer much assistance. There's no phone service, no landline, and his only means of transportation is a bicycle—not exactly helpful when someone may need medical attention. Things become even stranger when Ellie notices an awkward woman sitting quietly in the bar. The woman appears to have left a mysterious puddle beneath her chair and looks suspiciously like the same gray-haired figure Ellie almost hit on the road. Yet the bartender insists she's been there all night.
As the evening progresses, more crash victims arrive. There's snarky Caleb and his girlfriend Noemi, followed by Raymond, a businessman who is still furious after being dumped by his boyfriend. Then there's Edgar, an elderly man in pajamas who seemingly disappears after claiming he was chased by hounds through the woods.
The deeper the story goes, the stranger everything becomes. Each character begins experiencing different visions and horrors. Ellie sees armed gunmen. Henry sees zombies. Others encounter their own terrifying manifestations. The woods surrounding the bar seem to harbor something sinister, but what exactly is happening? Have these strangers stumbled into a supernatural trap? Why are they all here? And most importantly, is there any way to break the cycle and escape?
I absolutely loved the central concept. Strangers trapped together in an isolated location while confronting both supernatural horrors and personal demons is a winning formula. The atmosphere is wonderfully creepy, and the tension builds steadily throughout the novel.
My only issue was that there are perhaps too many backstories and character threads competing for attention. Just as I became invested in Ellie and Henry's journey, the narrative would introduce another mystery or another character's history. Malcolm, in particular, felt like he entered the story a bit later than expected. At times, the constant shifts made the plot feel slightly cluttered and occasionally confusing.
Thankfully, the final quarter pulls everything together. The explanations begin to fall into place, the emotional arcs pay off, and the ending delivers a satisfying conclusion that made the journey worthwhile.
Overall, I'm giving this one 3.5 stars, rounded up to 4 stars for its incredibly effective atmosphere and tension. It's a perfect one-sitting read for fans of supernatural and psychological thrillers alike. If you enjoy stories that force characters to confront their deepest fears while making your own pulse race, this is definitely worth picking up. Consider it an excellent test of both your nerves and your vocal cords—you may find yourself wanting to scream right alongside the characters!
Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for sharing this intense supernatural thriller's digital reviewer copy with me in exchange for my honest thoughts.
medium.com
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
So, this was my first Kelley Armstrong read and I was super excited for it! I also enjoy a good horror novel from time to time- so count me in! Problem being- this was a fairly short read, and it unfortunately took me longer than it should have to read it.
This story starts off with Ellie crashing her car down a road in the middle of nowhere, in the pouring rain. It is midnight, and she is all alone, and she has lost cell phone service. What follows next is a series of car crashes into her car, a chain reaction of sorts, as no one can see the vehicles in the pitch dark, pouring rain- until it’s too late. The characters involved in the car crashes all eventually end up to the only place that is within walking distance, and that would be the dive bar in the middle of the forest.
Once inside the dive bar, we learn a bit of all the characters, and why they are there. Were these people meant to be there? How will they get out of this bar in the middle of nowhere? Will they ever be able to overcome their deepest fears?
I will say that the atmosphere was very creepy in this story, and some parts may be too gory for some people. However, I’ll admit I wasn’t at all scared, and believe it or not, I think this would make a better movie than a book.
Either way, if you’ve ever wondered why some of us get to live longer than others- then I recommend reading “Dive Bar at the End of the Road”. 😱
Many thanks to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, and the author for an early DRC of this book in which I had the pleasure of reading, for an honest review.
Publication date: October 6, 2026
Genre~ General Fiction (adult), Mystery & Thrillers, Horror
This story starts off with Ellie crashing her car down a road in the middle of nowhere, in the pouring rain. It is midnight, and she is all alone, and she has lost cell phone service. What follows next is a series of car crashes into her car, a chain reaction of sorts, as no one can see the vehicles in the pitch dark, pouring rain- until it’s too late. The characters involved in the car crashes all eventually end up to the only place that is within walking distance, and that would be the dive bar in the middle of the forest.
Once inside the dive bar, we learn a bit of all the characters, and why they are there. Were these people meant to be there? How will they get out of this bar in the middle of nowhere? Will they ever be able to overcome their deepest fears?
I will say that the atmosphere was very creepy in this story, and some parts may be too gory for some people. However, I’ll admit I wasn’t at all scared, and believe it or not, I think this would make a better movie than a book.
Either way, if you’ve ever wondered why some of us get to live longer than others- then I recommend reading “Dive Bar at the End of the Road”. 😱
Many thanks to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, and the author for an early DRC of this book in which I had the pleasure of reading, for an honest review.
Publication date: October 6, 2026
Genre~ General Fiction (adult), Mystery & Thrillers, Horror
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This was a creepy and atmospheric read! The whole setup of strangers getting stuck at a random dive bar during a storm had me hooked, and things just kept getting weirder from there.
I really liked the eerie setting and the whole “what the hell is actually happening?” feeling. The mystery kept me guessing, and I especially enjoyed getting to know the different characters and seeing how their fears started coming into play.
I did think the beginning was a little repetitive while everyone was being introduced, and I wanted a few more answers by the end. But once the story picked up, I flew through it. It was strange, unsettling, and definitely gave me that creepy, "trapped in the middle of nowhere" feeling.
A really fun supernatural horror read, and now I definitely need to check out more of Kelley Armstrong’s books!
Thank you Netgalley and the Publishers for the opportunity to review this ARC.
I really liked the eerie setting and the whole “what the hell is actually happening?” feeling. The mystery kept me guessing, and I especially enjoyed getting to know the different characters and seeing how their fears started coming into play.
I did think the beginning was a little repetitive while everyone was being introduced, and I wanted a few more answers by the end. But once the story picked up, I flew through it. It was strange, unsettling, and definitely gave me that creepy, "trapped in the middle of nowhere" feeling.
A really fun supernatural horror read, and now I definitely need to check out more of Kelley Armstrong’s books!
Thank you Netgalley and the Publishers for the opportunity to review this ARC.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
4 ⭐
There is a specific brand of terror found in a location you cannot escape, where a forest feels alive and time completely loses its meaning. Kelley Armstrong masterfully taps into this cosmic dread in Dive Bar at the End of the Road.
Following a chaotic multi-car pileup during a raging storm, five strangers find themselves stranded at a remote backwoods bar in the middle of nowhere. With no cell service or landlines, they are entirely severed from the outside world. Since the nearest town is miles away, escaping on foot becomes absolutely out of the question. There is simply no way out, and their worst nightmare is waiting in the woods. What I loved most about this setup was the sheer, suffocating claustrophobia of the setting. Armstrong does a fantastic job of building the psychological friction between the characters as they struggle to understand their bizarre surroundings and question their own reality.
The story had me utterly hooked until the midpoint, when the core mystery was revealed a bit too early in my opinion. At that point, it changed direction entirely. Once the cards were on the table, the plot shifted from a suspenseful mystery into a survival story, and the slow-burn tension I was so engrossed in began to deflate. I still enjoyed the last half, but losing that mystery, combined with some repetitive character backstories, kept me from staying fully immersed.
As my first introduction to Kelley Armstrong's work, this was still an incredibly fast, eerie, and reality-bending read that makes me want to check out her other books. I would definitely recommend it to fans of claustrophobic, psychological horror.
Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for providing me with an advanced reader copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
There is a specific brand of terror found in a location you cannot escape, where a forest feels alive and time completely loses its meaning. Kelley Armstrong masterfully taps into this cosmic dread in Dive Bar at the End of the Road.
Following a chaotic multi-car pileup during a raging storm, five strangers find themselves stranded at a remote backwoods bar in the middle of nowhere. With no cell service or landlines, they are entirely severed from the outside world. Since the nearest town is miles away, escaping on foot becomes absolutely out of the question. There is simply no way out, and their worst nightmare is waiting in the woods. What I loved most about this setup was the sheer, suffocating claustrophobia of the setting. Armstrong does a fantastic job of building the psychological friction between the characters as they struggle to understand their bizarre surroundings and question their own reality.
The story had me utterly hooked until the midpoint, when the core mystery was revealed a bit too early in my opinion. At that point, it changed direction entirely. Once the cards were on the table, the plot shifted from a suspenseful mystery into a survival story, and the slow-burn tension I was so engrossed in began to deflate. I still enjoyed the last half, but losing that mystery, combined with some repetitive character backstories, kept me from staying fully immersed.
As my first introduction to Kelley Armstrong's work, this was still an incredibly fast, eerie, and reality-bending read that makes me want to check out her other books. I would definitely recommend it to fans of claustrophobic, psychological horror.
Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for providing me with an advanced reader copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Postcards from Planet Outlier.
Nobody creates creepily written atmospheres like Kelley Armstrong. She definitely does just that in Dive Bar at the End of the Road. Armstrong is a solid favorite. She most certainly has the touch. But this one just didn't rise to the occasion as all her other books have. I stumbled far too often in my enjoyment here.
Ellie is not a newbie in life. She's thirty-five and still searching to find herself in the midst of starts and stops. Nothing ventured. Nothing gained. But Ellie never brings things to fruition. Ever. She's on her way to her family home through the vehemence of a rainstorm out of control. Even with the headlights, she can barely see the road. But what she suddenly sees is a woman standing in that road. Ellie swerves and hits a tree. She gets out. No evidence of that woman, but plenty of torrential downpour.
Within moments, there will be a chain reaction of cars slamming into the rear of each vehicle. Ellie will be one of five drivers who find themselves at a seedy bar down the road seeking help. Each will have a story. Each will guard a personal secret. And sitting at that bar.....the woman that Ellie avoided hitting. But she's in a stupor hunched over her drink uttering not a word. And then there's the friendly bartender who encourages them to wait out the storm. But is something out there more threatening than the storm itself?
Dive Bar at the End of the Road started out so well. Armstrong is so good at creepster settings. We readers know that something scurrying in the back woods is not a good sign. And hours and hours pass without an inkling of daylight. Ever.
But Armstrong falls into the river of repetition.....again and again. We sit at the same juncture as each character reveals a little backstory. Expected arguments break out with expected results. It's not enough movement until the very end. It was like Armstrong dipped her pen in the ink of Twilight Zone.
Dive Bar at the End of the Road is still a good read. It's Kelley Armstrong after all. But the horror simmered and simmered instead of boiling over. Even these characters suffered from over exposure. But do take this one out for a spin. It may rate far higher on your own personal Creep-O-Meter.
I received a copy of this book through NetGalley for an honest review. My thanks to St. Martin's Press and to Kelley Armstrong for the opportunity.
Nobody creates creepily written atmospheres like Kelley Armstrong. She definitely does just that in Dive Bar at the End of the Road. Armstrong is a solid favorite. She most certainly has the touch. But this one just didn't rise to the occasion as all her other books have. I stumbled far too often in my enjoyment here.
Ellie is not a newbie in life. She's thirty-five and still searching to find herself in the midst of starts and stops. Nothing ventured. Nothing gained. But Ellie never brings things to fruition. Ever. She's on her way to her family home through the vehemence of a rainstorm out of control. Even with the headlights, she can barely see the road. But what she suddenly sees is a woman standing in that road. Ellie swerves and hits a tree. She gets out. No evidence of that woman, but plenty of torrential downpour.
Within moments, there will be a chain reaction of cars slamming into the rear of each vehicle. Ellie will be one of five drivers who find themselves at a seedy bar down the road seeking help. Each will have a story. Each will guard a personal secret. And sitting at that bar.....the woman that Ellie avoided hitting. But she's in a stupor hunched over her drink uttering not a word. And then there's the friendly bartender who encourages them to wait out the storm. But is something out there more threatening than the storm itself?
Dive Bar at the End of the Road started out so well. Armstrong is so good at creepster settings. We readers know that something scurrying in the back woods is not a good sign. And hours and hours pass without an inkling of daylight. Ever.
But Armstrong falls into the river of repetition.....again and again. We sit at the same juncture as each character reveals a little backstory. Expected arguments break out with expected results. It's not enough movement until the very end. It was like Armstrong dipped her pen in the ink of Twilight Zone.
Dive Bar at the End of the Road is still a good read. It's Kelley Armstrong after all. But the horror simmered and simmered instead of boiling over. Even these characters suffered from over exposure. But do take this one out for a spin. It may rate far higher on your own personal Creep-O-Meter.
I received a copy of this book through NetGalley for an honest review. My thanks to St. Martin's Press and to Kelley Armstrong for the opportunity.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Trapping a group of strangers in the backwoods, Dive Bar at the End of the Road is a supernatural thriller. It all begins when Ellie, a 35-year-old woman between jobs, swerves to miss a strange figure and slams into a tree. The wreckage does not stop there; in the stormy darkness, four more cars eventually come to crash behind her. The five strangers find themselves in an isolated dive bar with a snarky yet surprisingly friendly bartender and a mostly silent woman. As tensions rise and panic mounts, it becomes clear that something is out in the woods, awaiting them.
Our second key figure that crashes into Ellie is Henry Armstrong, a 41-year-old divorced father. Our other victims are a young couple, Caleb and Noemi, followed by Raymond, a greedy businessman. Even an elderly man, Edgar, makes his way into the wreckage, facing his own untimely end. The novel shifts characters, giving us Ellie's first person and third-person of our other figures. The story unfolds in quick chapters, culminating the hours of that one fateful night.
The deeper in I got, the more paranormal things became. Each character faces their own worst fears, rooted in their real life experiences. The bartender and the mysterious woman in the dive bar only make things more confusing, and the woods outside offer no respite. It becomes clear they are stuck in some sort of time warp, trapped in their own chain of events. Is there any way to break the cycle and escape, or is their fate set in stone?
I did enjoy the central concept: strangers trapped in a paranormal and creepy woodsy setting. Going into it, I was not expecting such supernatural elements. It does become quite chaotic, with too many threads to truly understand. Since each character was supposed to have their own context, it felt a bit too fragmented for any to get a true resolution. The final leg does try to pull things together, though I finished without a sense of being satisfied.
Some of the scenes began to come across as a bit repetitive, keeping it stalled in the middle. I think certain characters did not serve much purpose, only adding to the sense of confusion. We do travel deep into the realm of the implausible, making this quite the fever dream. I did like Ellie's character chapters being in first person, balancing out the third person of the rest. Certain chapters kept me riveted more than others, and the cosmic sense of horror was a strong point. This serves as a fast and eerie read, pretty unique overall.
Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for sharing this ARC with me in exchange for my honest review!
Our second key figure that crashes into Ellie is Henry Armstrong, a 41-year-old divorced father. Our other victims are a young couple, Caleb and Noemi, followed by Raymond, a greedy businessman. Even an elderly man, Edgar, makes his way into the wreckage, facing his own untimely end. The novel shifts characters, giving us Ellie's first person and third-person of our other figures. The story unfolds in quick chapters, culminating the hours of that one fateful night.
The deeper in I got, the more paranormal things became. Each character faces their own worst fears, rooted in their real life experiences. The bartender and the mysterious woman in the dive bar only make things more confusing, and the woods outside offer no respite. It becomes clear they are stuck in some sort of time warp, trapped in their own chain of events. Is there any way to break the cycle and escape, or is their fate set in stone?
I did enjoy the central concept: strangers trapped in a paranormal and creepy woodsy setting. Going into it, I was not expecting such supernatural elements. It does become quite chaotic, with too many threads to truly understand. Since each character was supposed to have their own context, it felt a bit too fragmented for any to get a true resolution. The final leg does try to pull things together, though I finished without a sense of being satisfied.
Some of the scenes began to come across as a bit repetitive, keeping it stalled in the middle. I think certain characters did not serve much purpose, only adding to the sense of confusion. We do travel deep into the realm of the implausible, making this quite the fever dream. I did like Ellie's character chapters being in first person, balancing out the third person of the rest. Certain chapters kept me riveted more than others, and the cosmic sense of horror was a strong point. This serves as a fast and eerie read, pretty unique overall.
Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for sharing this ARC with me in exchange for my honest review!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
3.5-3.75
Perhaps not the best book to start reading late at night in the dark! 🫣
The story kicks off with a eerie sense of foreboding as multiple characters find themselves in the exact same unsettling situation: stranded in the middle of nowhere, caught in the rain under a blood-red sky. You quickly realize something is very, very wrong.
Things are trippy, surreal, and feel like a nightmare. Locked in a strange 'pocket universe', they face mysterious occurrences, unsettling psychological tricks, and recurring warnings of danger—all while every path seems destined to lead to a bar at the end of the road.
I was completely hooked by the first half! While the second half went a bit wild, the ending wrapped up strong. I really enjoyed the nods to folklore and urban legends. In hindsight, I think I might have enjoyed this one even more in physical print rather than audio, but it was still a creepy, atmospheric ride.
Perhaps not the best book to start reading late at night in the dark! 🫣
The story kicks off with a eerie sense of foreboding as multiple characters find themselves in the exact same unsettling situation: stranded in the middle of nowhere, caught in the rain under a blood-red sky. You quickly realize something is very, very wrong.
Things are trippy, surreal, and feel like a nightmare. Locked in a strange 'pocket universe', they face mysterious occurrences, unsettling psychological tricks, and recurring warnings of danger—all while every path seems destined to lead to a bar at the end of the road.
I was completely hooked by the first half! While the second half went a bit wild, the ending wrapped up strong. I really enjoyed the nods to folklore and urban legends. In hindsight, I think I might have enjoyed this one even more in physical print rather than audio, but it was still a creepy, atmospheric ride.
February 24, 2026
The Dive Bar at the End of the Road is a sci-fi and paranormal horror novel about a group of strangers who find themselves at a dive bar after several car accidents. A storm traps them inside, cutting off cell service and any hope of help. As the night goes on, they start to sense that something dangerous is lurking in the forest, and the people in the bar are hiding secrets. Will they figure out what’s really happening before time runs out?
Kelley Armstrong is one of my favorite authors. I’ve read all her books from the past two years and plan to start her Rip Through Time series soon. The Dive Bar at the End of the Road is my top pick so far. As someone just getting into the horror genre, I was surprised by how much I enjoyed this book. The atmosphere is truly creepy, and I felt my heart race as the group tried to survive whatever was in the forest. The conclusion left the interpretation open to many possibilities, and I still think about the ending days later. This book was an easy 5 stars for me.
The Dive Bar at the End of the Road is out October 6th.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the opportunity to review The Dive Bar at the End of the Road. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Kelley Armstrong is one of my favorite authors. I’ve read all her books from the past two years and plan to start her Rip Through Time series soon. The Dive Bar at the End of the Road is my top pick so far. As someone just getting into the horror genre, I was surprised by how much I enjoyed this book. The atmosphere is truly creepy, and I felt my heart race as the group tried to survive whatever was in the forest. The conclusion left the interpretation open to many possibilities, and I still think about the ending days later. This book was an easy 5 stars for me.
The Dive Bar at the End of the Road is out October 6th.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the opportunity to review The Dive Bar at the End of the Road. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I'm nor sure how Kelley Armstrong does it, but I love everything she writes.
I do.not.read.horror, but this is the second horror book I've read by this author, and I loved both of them. She somehow makes this very unrealistic concept seem totally plausable, and I was sitting at the edge of my seat waiting to see what would happen.
Plot summary: Ellie is 35, but she's still figuring out her life. On her way home one day after quitting yet another job, she's taken on a detour by her GPS and suddenly avoids hitting a person in the way but bumps into a tree, totalling her car. She can't find the woman, but she walks down the road and finds a functioning bar. Henry comes next, followed be Caleb and Noemi, and finally, Raymond.
The bar is next to a forest, and strange things seem to be happening there. When Edgar comes crashing in, too, Ellie and Henry go to help him, but while they're in the forest looking for a crowbar that they dropped, he disappears.
While Ellie is the lead, and her parts are told over in first person, the other characters have their own chapters and narratives, and it becomes clear that they each have a reason they were taken on this detour, and a story.
The bar becomes a sanctuary from the terrifying things that start to happen outside, but the barman isn't all he seems. As the patrons discover what's actually going on, they're given a choice, and only one person can win. But there may be a way out; can Ellie and Henry figure it out in time?
My thoughts: I loved Ellie and Henry and rooted for them to make it. The characters are well-fleshed out, and somehow, even though this is labeled as horror, it's full of self-discovery and profound human truths.
I appreciated how it ended, and I'm not a big fan of long-winded epilogues, but I would have loved just a teeny bit more about what happened next!
Highly recommended if you can stomach a bit of horror and supernatural.
Thank you to NetGalley, St, Martin's Press, and Kelley Armstrong for the opportunity to review an advanced copy.
I do.not.read.horror, but this is the second horror book I've read by this author, and I loved both of them. She somehow makes this very unrealistic concept seem totally plausable, and I was sitting at the edge of my seat waiting to see what would happen.
Plot summary: Ellie is 35, but she's still figuring out her life. On her way home one day after quitting yet another job, she's taken on a detour by her GPS and suddenly avoids hitting a person in the way but bumps into a tree, totalling her car. She can't find the woman, but she walks down the road and finds a functioning bar. Henry comes next, followed be Caleb and Noemi, and finally, Raymond.
The bar is next to a forest, and strange things seem to be happening there. When Edgar comes crashing in, too, Ellie and Henry go to help him, but while they're in the forest looking for a crowbar that they dropped, he disappears.
While Ellie is the lead, and her parts are told over in first person, the other characters have their own chapters and narratives, and it becomes clear that they each have a reason they were taken on this detour, and a story.
The bar becomes a sanctuary from the terrifying things that start to happen outside, but the barman isn't all he seems. As the patrons discover what's actually going on, they're given a choice, and only one person can win. But there may be a way out; can Ellie and Henry figure it out in time?
My thoughts: I loved Ellie and Henry and rooted for them to make it. The characters are well-fleshed out, and somehow, even though this is labeled as horror, it's full of self-discovery and profound human truths.
I appreciated how it ended, and I'm not a big fan of long-winded epilogues, but I would have loved just a teeny bit more about what happened next!
Highly recommended if you can stomach a bit of horror and supernatural.
Thank you to NetGalley, St, Martin's Press, and Kelley Armstrong for the opportunity to review an advanced copy.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I loved it!
The atmosphere was terrifying from the very start, the tension off the charts and the paranormal elements were just developed enough to keep the mystery interesting until the end.
The characters were really fleshed out, and they had great chemistry.
Thank you St. Martin's Press for this ARC!
The atmosphere was terrifying from the very start, the tension off the charts and the paranormal elements were just developed enough to keep the mystery interesting until the end.
The characters were really fleshed out, and they had great chemistry.
Thank you St. Martin's Press for this ARC!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thanks to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, and Macmillan Audio for the advanced copies of the book and audiobook.
This was very reminiscent of a couple of favorite stories - Dead of Winter by Darcy Coates and The Cabin in the Woods (the 2012 film) - so I really enjoyed myself while reading and listening to this. The first half is especially vibey with the woods and the storm and the bar. I'd love to see this on film, as it had some rather cinematic death scenes, even outright referencing several of its homages (including one for my favorite scary movie, John Carpenter's The Thing, a scene I loved lol).
I think Armstrong excels at pacing as this moved quite quickly from scene to scene without feeling like anything was missing. Though, and I say this rarely, this could've done with just a few more pages for each character to flesh them out a bit more. What really kind of annoyed me though was the kind of early reveal of just what is going on. I think it should've been kept a surprise a bit longer, like let the characters try to guess a bit longer just what is happening to them you know. But the twist is revealed around halfway through and then the second half turns into a real horror story... which I did enjoy, I just would've enjoyed it better with more tension surrounding what the bar is.
But overall this was a win in my opinion: a fun and gory horror story with a neat setting and quick pace.
I have no recommendation of the book over the audiobook, I enjoyed both equally tbh, though it was fun to hear Shane Ghostkeeper narrating again (I'm a fan since The Buffalo Hunter Hunter!).
A very solid four stars.
This was very reminiscent of a couple of favorite stories - Dead of Winter by Darcy Coates and The Cabin in the Woods (the 2012 film) - so I really enjoyed myself while reading and listening to this. The first half is especially vibey with the woods and the storm and the bar. I'd love to see this on film, as it had some rather cinematic death scenes, even outright referencing several of its homages (including one for my favorite scary movie, John Carpenter's The Thing, a scene I loved lol).
I think Armstrong excels at pacing as this moved quite quickly from scene to scene without feeling like anything was missing. Though, and I say this rarely, this could've done with just a few more pages for each character to flesh them out a bit more. What really kind of annoyed me though was the kind of early reveal of just what is going on. I think it should've been kept a surprise a bit longer, like let the characters try to guess a bit longer just what is happening to them you know. But the twist is revealed around halfway through and then the second half turns into a real horror story... which I did enjoy, I just would've enjoyed it better with more tension surrounding what the bar is.
But overall this was a win in my opinion: a fun and gory horror story with a neat setting and quick pace.
I have no recommendation of the book over the audiobook, I enjoyed both equally tbh, though it was fun to hear Shane Ghostkeeper narrating again (I'm a fan since The Buffalo Hunter Hunter!).
A very solid four stars.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
I cannot believe DIVE BAR AT THE END OF THE ROAD is my first read by Kelley Armstrong! I know she’s been a hugely popular horror author, but for some reason, she just never came to my attention until now. Thank you @stmartinspress for my gifted copy!
It’s being described as Final Destination meets The Cabin at the End of the World, and I can definitely see that—but honestly, this book reminded me SO much of my favorite TV show ever, FROM, on MGM+. (You have to watch it if you haven’t yet.)
This book is hard to describe without giving away spoilers, but just know that if I’m comparing it to FROM, this cosmic horror has A LOT of explaining to do. 👀
Five strangers meet at a bar—and they can’t leave. That’s all I’m saying at risk of getting into spoiler territory!
This was such a fun, fast read and nearly perfect for me. It did get a little confusing at times, and the pacing bounced around—slow, fast, slow, fast—so I can’t quite give it the full five stars. But I really enjoyed it from start to finish.
It’s less scary and more thriller-y, but still incredibly unique in its own rite. And if this is what I can expect from Kelley Armstrong, apparently I’ve been missing out on A LOT of good books. 😭📚STARS: 4, PUB: 10/06
It’s being described as Final Destination meets The Cabin at the End of the World, and I can definitely see that—but honestly, this book reminded me SO much of my favorite TV show ever, FROM, on MGM+. (You have to watch it if you haven’t yet.)
This book is hard to describe without giving away spoilers, but just know that if I’m comparing it to FROM, this cosmic horror has A LOT of explaining to do. 👀
Five strangers meet at a bar—and they can’t leave. That’s all I’m saying at risk of getting into spoiler territory!
This was such a fun, fast read and nearly perfect for me. It did get a little confusing at times, and the pacing bounced around—slow, fast, slow, fast—so I can’t quite give it the full five stars. But I really enjoyed it from start to finish.
It’s less scary and more thriller-y, but still incredibly unique in its own rite. And if this is what I can expect from Kelley Armstrong, apparently I’ve been missing out on A LOT of good books. 😭📚STARS: 4, PUB: 10/06
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
⭐️⭐️⭐️ What did I just read/listen to?😳 Was it reality or just a fever dream? The atmosphere was so eerie. Picture this: driving at night in the rain, which totally gives me the chills, mixed with those Groundhog Day vibes and a locked room mystery that kept me on edge. I feel like i just walked out of an X-Files episode and not in a good way. This book marks my 14th read by Armstrong, and honestly, I'm feeling a bit conflicted about it. My head is spinning! 😩 I could really use some Advil right now. With 5 different POVs, I'm so grateful I had both the print copy and the audiobook, especially with that multi-cast narration. Full review to come….
done-with
March 14, 2026I'm in the vast minority here but this one did not do it for me at all, despite my being a huge fan of Armstrong's writing and storytelling. I was as surprised by that as anyone, since I was really enjoying this one until about a third of the way in. It started to feel a little repetitive, like a very excellent short story or novella that just wouldn't end. Then at just about 40%, with the introduction of yet another new character in another car accident, an absolutely ridiculous thing happened that I don't want to mention because it would be a spoiler - and that's where the book lost me.
I'm not sure where Armstrong was going with this one, but it's not a place I'm interested in traveling to. It was a fabulous concept and the first two car accidents, finding the bar, and the weirdness in the woods would have made a fantastic story on their own. But then it kept going - and at that point there was a lot more than half the book left! It traveled into the realm of the implausible at that point - which I realize is a funny thing to say about this type of story, but it did. What was supposed to be a horrifying event actually made me laugh out loud because it felt absurd, and that's where I lost the menacing threatening atmospheric feel of the story - and also lost interest...
I'm not sure where Armstrong was going with this one, but it's not a place I'm interested in traveling to. It was a fabulous concept and the first two car accidents, finding the bar, and the weirdness in the woods would have made a fantastic story on their own. But then it kept going - and at that point there was a lot more than half the book left! It traveled into the realm of the implausible at that point - which I realize is a funny thing to say about this type of story, but it did. What was supposed to be a horrifying event actually made me laugh out loud because it felt absurd, and that's where I lost the menacing threatening atmospheric feel of the story - and also lost interest...
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Dive Bar at the End of the Road is incredible. My heart is still pumping like crazy. Immediate movie, please!
I am a die‑hard Kelley Armstrong fan. I’ve made no secret of this. I’ve consumed nearly her entire catalogue, across all genres, because I earnestly enjoy her style of writing, her characters and her plots. I am not a blind superfan, I truly respect her art. I want that to be very clear so that when I say this is one of my favourite novels of hers, you know I’m not playing.
This is Armstrong at her absolute best. This is Crank‑style momentum, adrenaline‑junkie speed horror. This is The Watchers by A.M. Shine meets Sandman S1E5 psychological warfare meets The Cabin at the End of the World. Please, more of this!!
This is ice‑cold dread sluicing through your veins - heart racing, eyes flying across the page, nearly tripping over the words. This is reading at break‑neck speed because you need to know what happens next, because the tension never gives you a moment to breathe.
Also, can we talk about the darkly hilarious title? It's a perfect amusing double entendre to set the exact tone for the chaos inside.
I haven’t had this much fun since The Watchers, and it is so deliciously weird and unnerving. Armstrong holds the tension on the head of a pin, and there is nowhere to go but stew in it. I was genuinely glued to my book until it was over, and it ended in the only way it could end. Aka perfectly.
This was a wild ride, folks. I read a lot of books, but this one deserves “seventy‑hundred” stars. I also need compensation in the form of time because I am absolutely not looking forward to my stack of homework I've put off.
Please go read this book. It is outstanding. Publishing date: October 6, 2026 - just in time for Halloween!
“Because this is how we live our lives from the moment we are old enough to understand that we will die someday. We live knowing we will die, and maybe we all hope for a loophole. Or, at least, we hope to wring as much time from this life as we can.”
Shoutout to St. Martin’s Press for trusting me to reliably fangirl over excellent home‑grown stock. You made my year with this one!
Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, and Kelley Armstrong for the ARC. These crazed but honest opinions are all my own.
I am a die‑hard Kelley Armstrong fan. I’ve made no secret of this. I’ve consumed nearly her entire catalogue, across all genres, because I earnestly enjoy her style of writing, her characters and her plots. I am not a blind superfan, I truly respect her art. I want that to be very clear so that when I say this is one of my favourite novels of hers, you know I’m not playing.
This is Armstrong at her absolute best. This is Crank‑style momentum, adrenaline‑junkie speed horror. This is The Watchers by A.M. Shine meets Sandman S1E5 psychological warfare meets The Cabin at the End of the World. Please, more of this!!
This is ice‑cold dread sluicing through your veins - heart racing, eyes flying across the page, nearly tripping over the words. This is reading at break‑neck speed because you need to know what happens next, because the tension never gives you a moment to breathe.
Also, can we talk about the darkly hilarious title? It's a perfect amusing double entendre to set the exact tone for the chaos inside.
I haven’t had this much fun since The Watchers, and it is so deliciously weird and unnerving. Armstrong holds the tension on the head of a pin, and there is nowhere to go but stew in it. I was genuinely glued to my book until it was over, and it ended in the only way it could end. Aka perfectly.
This was a wild ride, folks. I read a lot of books, but this one deserves “seventy‑hundred” stars. I also need compensation in the form of time because I am absolutely not looking forward to my stack of homework I've put off.
Please go read this book. It is outstanding. Publishing date: October 6, 2026 - just in time for Halloween!
“Because this is how we live our lives from the moment we are old enough to understand that we will die someday. We live knowing we will die, and maybe we all hope for a loophole. Or, at least, we hope to wring as much time from this life as we can.”
Shoutout to St. Martin’s Press for trusting me to reliably fangirl over excellent home‑grown stock. You made my year with this one!
Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, and Kelley Armstrong for the ARC. These crazed but honest opinions are all my own.
September 3, 2026
Whoaaa. This was fucking BAT SHIT. Theu were not kidding. This is the perfect mash up of The Cabin in the Woods and Final Destination. From the get go the atmosphere in this book had me ON EDGE. The dark stormy night combined with a janky dim dive bar in the middle of nowhere? Yeah, that’s a recipe for disaster 🤣 The suspense and pacing in this one was done so damn well and kept me entertained the ENTIRE time. The fight for survival from our group was intense and I seriously had no idea where the hell this story was going to go! I also really enjoyed the back stories we got for our characters as well, and became so attached to them (except for one 😒 iykyk). This was my first book by Kelley Armstrong and it CERYAINLY will not be my last 🥰
Thank you so much Macmillan audio and NetGalley or my alc of Dive Bar at the End of the Road!
Thank you so much Macmillan audio and NetGalley or my alc of Dive Bar at the End of the Road!
September 1, 2026
Solid 4.3
Thank you NetGalley, St. James Press and Kelley Armstrong for this ARC.
When they said this is a mixture of Final destination & the Cabin In the woods they hit the nail on the head. I usually watch these as movies as opposed to reading them. Well that will be changing this book was so good. The only thing i would add is we should throw in Buffy the Vampire Slayer in as well. This story made you think it wasn’t just a horror story or thriller. But one of the important of people and everyone in the end matters. The characters i felt connected to like i someone how knew them on a deeper level. Ellie the girl who was afraid she would be forgotten, Henry the gentle giant who was always mistaken by first impressions just on his size and color. Noemi & Caleb the young couple who were always questions why the other person was with them. But they would do anything for each other a real love an unconditional love. And let’s not forgot Raymond who it was so easy to dislike him just a real slime character always out for himself. The bartender who feed off of everyone’s insecurities, and fears. The lady at the bar who had enough of the job she was given. Everyone played a roll everyone had a story and everyone like i said before was important.
This book will be coming out October 6, 2026 make sure to add this to your TBR. Would make a great fall read!!!!
Thank you NetGalley, St. James Press and Kelley Armstrong for this ARC.
When they said this is a mixture of Final destination & the Cabin In the woods they hit the nail on the head. I usually watch these as movies as opposed to reading them. Well that will be changing this book was so good. The only thing i would add is we should throw in Buffy the Vampire Slayer in as well. This story made you think it wasn’t just a horror story or thriller. But one of the important of people and everyone in the end matters. The characters i felt connected to like i someone how knew them on a deeper level. Ellie the girl who was afraid she would be forgotten, Henry the gentle giant who was always mistaken by first impressions just on his size and color. Noemi & Caleb the young couple who were always questions why the other person was with them. But they would do anything for each other a real love an unconditional love. And let’s not forgot Raymond who it was so easy to dislike him just a real slime character always out for himself. The bartender who feed off of everyone’s insecurities, and fears. The lady at the bar who had enough of the job she was given. Everyone played a roll everyone had a story and everyone like i said before was important.
This book will be coming out October 6, 2026 make sure to add this to your TBR. Would make a great fall read!!!!
September 23, 2026
Review to come upon release. I received a review copy through NetGalley.
So. Flippin. Good.
So. Flippin. Good.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This book is completely different than what I usually read. It’s a blend of sci-fi and horror, but I found it to be really good. The characters are great, the writing is haunting and fierce, and the whole story is a mind trip. I’m not sure I would read more books by this author, but I am really glad I stepped out of my reading comfort zone and read this gem.
June 3, 2026
I can’t believe I’m saying this, but I actually think this would be a better movie than it was a book. I’m not saying it was bad, it was OK. I just think the psychological and horror elements probably would have hit better on a screen.
The description gave a decent amount away, so I knew where this book was headed. It felt like it was one of those “who is going to walk off into the sunset at the end” kind of movies/books.
There wasn’t a big lesson at the end or major character growth. Events happen and the end. Like I said, I think this would make a good movie with a great final scene.
Thank you Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for the opportunity to read this book. All opinions are my own.
The description gave a decent amount away, so I knew where this book was headed. It felt like it was one of those “who is going to walk off into the sunset at the end” kind of movies/books.
There wasn’t a big lesson at the end or major character growth. Events happen and the end. Like I said, I think this would make a good movie with a great final scene.
Thank you Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for the opportunity to read this book. All opinions are my own.
July 6, 2026
oooooh this is so eery and creepy. I absolutely loved the concept of this book! A never ending pile up of crashes where the cars seem to appear out of nowhere, a spooky forest with questionable creatures and a random bar in the middle of no where with a sketchy bar tender. i couldn’t put this down! it just kept getting more and more interesting. an easy 5⭐️
Want to Read
July 16, 2026thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for access to this ARC
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I was in the mood for a bit of horror and this book hit the mark perfectly. I have been a fan of Kelley Armstrong's writing for a long time and this book did not disappoint. I loved the fact that the story kept me guessing and I came to expect the unexpected.
Book source: Publisher
Book source: Publisher
Displaying 1 - 30 of 843 reviews