Been a while since i’ve posted. Still reading, just find the time to pen a review has been difficult.
I reviewed a prior book by Chevy Stevens a few years ago (Still Missing) and just raved about
it. Not gonna happen today.
The Hitchhikers revolves primarily around Alice and Tom. A later 30-something couple doing a
road trip east across Canada eventually reaching Montreal for the 1976 Olympics. They are
hoping this adventure will repair some glaring holes in their relationship that blew up with the
loss of a child during childbirth. They’ve purchased a pickup/camper to camp their way across
Canada.
On a gravel road leading to a campsite, they pass a young couple walking in. As the
campground was some distance, they offered the couple a lift. The girl introduces themselves
as Ocean and Blue (latter day hippies it seems). The two aren’t all that conversational but they
open up enough for Tom and Alice to offer a meal and to let them roll out their bags at their
campsite.
Doesn’t take long for the author to reveal tidbits about Ocean and Blue’s backstory. Basically
broke and living off the generosity of others. And that Ocean is pregnant. Next day, Tom offers
to drive them to the next town. At one of the stops, Alice glances at a newspaper and is
stunned to see that their passengers are wanted for the brutal stabbing murders of
Ocean’mother and stepfather. She tears out the article and stuffs it in her pocket to show Tom
when they’d be alone.
Once she shows Tom what she’s found, Blue discovers that their secret is out. The two men
struggle and Blue manages to subdue Tom, secure both in the camper and all four head out.
Where? Who knows. Tom and Alice know that wherever they are being taken will end up as a
1-way trip.
And about now, I lost interest. The story made me flashback to a TV movie of the early 70s
called Badlands. A lost soul presented as a James Dean-wannabe who picks up a shy teenage
farm girl and they go on a killing rampage in the Dakota Badlands. The film introduced most
viewers to future A-listers Martin Sheen and Sissy Spacek. If that kind of story interests you,
watch Badlands. I found the unfolding of the Ocean/Blue story to be tedious. Didn’t develop any
real connection or interest in either couple. While some might consider the ending to be an
unexpected twist (and it was), it just seemed to take an inordinate amount of time to get to it.
Don’t get me wrong, based to Still Missing (and reviews of some of her other books), the author
is talented and has won her share of awards. This one didn’t do it for me.
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