Review: THE CURSED ROAD, Laura McCluskey

• 
  This edition, a paperback by QBD books
• ISBN 9781460765593 
  
• Published 24 / 02 / 2026
• Book 2 of 2: George Lennox and Richie Stewart 
• 352 pages 

Synopsis (publisher) 

The hauntingly atmospheric and gripping new novel from the author of The Wolf Tree

In a mountainous region of the Scottish Highlands, a young woman's body has been found on a remote stretch of road. Though the manner of her death suggests a terrible accident, a name carved into her arm hints at something more sinister. And when a personal connection to the name is revealed, DIs Georgina Lennox and Richard Stewart are sent to investigate. As George and Richie question locals, they discover that the road has a bloody history. 

Fearing that more women will be harmed, they track the killer through a rugged wilderness where ancient feuds, generational curses and the unforgiving elements fight for supremacy. But there are more secrets to the road than just its history - and the people living along it will do whatever it takes to stop those secrets from coming out.

My Take

Recently I came across a review which described a book as a "chiller" and that strikes me as an apt adjective for this one too.

George and Richie have not been in touch much recently, both in fact trying in their own ways get over the impact of their recent case together. George regards Richie as her mentor but is not sure that she can work with him again. After their last case she became drug dependent and, although she is now clean, she is sure he will be disapproving. 

Their boss is keen to get them working together again, she can't afford to have her two best detectives sidelined. 

There is a lot of pressure on them to solve this case quickly but it is difficult to identify the victim and something is not quite right with the information locals are giving. This book hooks you, and you have to keep reading! 

My rating: 4.6

I've also read

4.8, THE WOLF TREE  

Review: THE WOLF TREE, Laura McCluskey

• 
  This edition read as an e-book on Kindle (Amazon)
  
• ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0CXK1WL9Y
• Publisher ‏ : ‎ HarperCollins (February 28, 2025)
• Print length ‏ : ‎ 336 pages  

Synopsis (Amazon)

A gripping and atmospheric debut crime thriller set on an isolated Scottish island ... where outsiders are not welcome.

'There's always someone whispering about something.'

On a small island off the coast of Scotland, an isolated community is grieving. Eighteen-year-old Alan Ferguson was found at the foot of the lighthouse - an apparent suicide.

DIs Georgina Lennox and Richard Stewart are sent to investigate. A raging storm keeps them trapped on the island for five days. And the locals don't take kindly to mainlanders.

As George and Richie question the island's inhabitants, they discover a village filled with superstition and shrouded in secrets.

But someone wants those secrets to stay buried. At any cost.

My Take

DIs Georgina Lennox and Richard Stewart have 4 years of working together, but recently George was severely hurt at the hands of a druggie. After months of recuperation the question is whether George is ready to resume work. 

It looks as if this case will be a fairly soft one, probably over in a day or two, but they have 5 days on the remote island to carry out their investigation. The victim has already been buried and not everyone is willing to talk to the police. There are layers of secrecy and years of tradition. There are some residents who obviously resent the presence of mainlanders.

And towards the end, a resolution you will not see coming.

This is an excellent novel for a debut title, an Australian author no less. Well worth reading. An author to watch.

My rating: 4.8

About the author:

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