Review: A Mixed Bag
Rating: 3 out of 5
Date: 05 10, 2014
At 140 pages, Truck Stop is a relatively easy read, even if it does spend a goodly amount of time spinning its wheels while a range of secondary characters are introduced. Sadly, beyond main protagonist Roger and potential love interest Kat, there is little depth to this second tier of characters, who more or less exist only to provide a range of suspects for whom might be the serial killer stalking the titular remote truck stop.Perhaps realising this would otherwise be a by the numbers serial killer novella, Penney imbues Roger with a supernatural ability that provides the story with its few creepy moments.Though not badly written, Truck Stop very much reads like a first time published work, with the expected publishing errors, variable pace and (worst of all) switches between perspective whenever Penney writes himself into a corner with the limited third person view. The reveal of the serial killer also unfortunately lacks any kind of surprise or impact.You might think a rating of three stars is generous given my review so far. And you'd be right. But I cannot tell a lie. Penney completely sold me on the ending. And that earns this read an extra star all on its own.3 Fool Me Onces, Shame on Me for Truck Stop.