Jack Aitken could have never imagined that the seemingly innocuous idea of penning a book would instead open the door to a nightmare of biblical proportions. Adrift in life and wondering what had happened to all the dreams he once held, Jack found vigor and purpose in his plan to write, throwing himself into research regarding Native American legends, reported odd occurrences, and anything else he could find regarding route 666 in rural Virginia. He soon found that legends often have a basis in truth and that route 666 was indeed on the path to Hell. With the literal balance of good and evil at stake, Jack has to rely on the aid of an old friend, a strength he never knew existed, and faith in a God he had long felt removed from to save life as he knew it.

Route 666: Highway to Hell by J.D. Toepher is an incredible thriller with twists and turns that continue up to the last page. Combining various elements and themes that cover a broad spectrum, Toepher risks overloading his book with too much information and plot lines. However, at no point does the book venture into that territory; each new character and story melds perfectly into the action already in play. Meticulous research was done in the process of writing this book (mirroring Jack’s own journey, but hopefully with better results!) as Toepher places everyone in context, down to the religious rituals and history. 

Hopelessness, redemption, the ideas of good and evil, and doing the wrong things for the right reasons are the themes that keep the narrative rolling in this book. Jack is written as a complex character and supplied with enough backstory to truly be a complete and well-rounded character, easy to feel sorry for as he travels his unfortunate path. However, as each layer unravels and every new twist is revealed, it soon becomes obvious that there’s no way to predict what will happen next. 

Route 666: Highway to Hell is a suspenseful horror that gives readers bits of historical information, occult and supernatural, all combined into a thrilling read. It is extremely well written, and the ending will leave readers shocked. In addition, the background and history in the book are interesting enough to encourage you to look further into those aspects of it. I hope to see more from Toepher in the future because this was a fantastic thriller!

Pages: 382 | ASIN : B09FS54PV6