After reading it a few years ago, Maeve Fly by CJ Leede stuck with me, and still does to this day. It wasn’t just because of the story. No, the book stuck with me because of its subject matter and contents, which made it perhaps the most disturbing thing I’ve ever read. That’s saying a lot, as a longtime horror fan. Then again, I’m not someone who goes for gore or the most violent, disturbing, or whatever books, movies, games, etc. A horror story does not need gore or violent kills to interest me. As such, it could be tame in comparison to what else is out there. That’s actually very likely.
When CJ Leede released her second novel — American Rapture — I borrowed it from the library as soon as it came out, and also really enjoyed it. I’d already purchased Maeve Fly on sale (twice, I think), but hadn’t revisited it. I received a review copy of American Rapture, as well.
Despite not being as graphic or disturbing as its predecessor, American Rapture was another winner from this young and seemingly new/from out of nowhere author. At that point, I decided I would read anything she released. Well, maybe I decided that after the first book, if I’m being honest.
Enter Headlights by CJ Leede — the third, and latest, release from this blonde haired, American author. I requested a review copy, but didn’t hear anything, so I asked my library to order it. I believe I was the second person to borrow it and, around that time, a review copy did arrive unannounced, which was appreciated. It took me longer than expected, due to unexpected health issues, planning a major celebration and going out of town on my first holiday in decades, but I’ve just finished the book. Apologies for the delay! However, that means I can now share my thoughts on this third release from one of my recently discovered favourite authors.
Headlights begins as a young boy named Calvin is temporarily residing in a long-term occupancy motel room. He’s there with his mother, and it’s clear that they love each other, as well as that they’ve been moving around. It becomes pretty clear that they’re hiding from someone dangerous, and that becomes fact when Calvin’s father — whom he’s named after — comes into the room and murders his mother in the bathroom, and in a very violent way. This scars the boy for life, as you’d imagine.
During this opening segment, which is set in the past, we also learn other things about Calvin. This includes the fact that he and his mom love classic country music (which I’m familiar with because the friends I spend most nights with love it, have it on often, and we just listened to it on our 24 hour drive across the country because I couldn’t pick the music). They especially love John Denver, his movie starring Chad Lowe, and similar artists. The two dress up in cowboy gear, including shirts with snaps, boots and hats, and dance together. This music, and the genre itself, both play a big role in this horror story. Don’t skip it if you hate country music though, as it’s not an issue, and there’s a reason why.
There’s something else about Calvin, and it’s something that people will either like or dislike about Headlights by CJ Leede. That is, the fact that Calvin has the ability to see shadows, and can kind of intuit things, and speak to the dead, although his abilities aren’t detailed or fleshed out as well as I would have liked. Since this book is an homage to Stephen King (my favourite author), and because he and one of his most famous works play a notable role herein, Calvin’s ability is referred to as shining. In fact, his mom carries an old, beat up and well read copy of The Shining with her everywhere she goes.
The story then jumps decades into the future, to the present, at which point Calvin (now named Daniel Stansfield, due to changing his name after being adopted by a wealthy family, and in another nod to The Shining) is moving out of his apartment. Having already moved away from Colorado, his ex-wife and the FBI unit there, he’s been living in a different state. However, he’s not feeling a purpose, and has decided to go back for a third tour within the Army, after having gone to Afghanistan in the past. That’s where he’s felt the most purpose in his life. He still struggles mightily with what happened to his mom, too, and cannot look in a mirror or listen to the classic country music that he used to love.
Before he can pack up his last belongings, resign and head to the airport, Daniel is contacted by a former colleague and friend named Jack. A head agent, Jack has news of the return of strange killings in Colorado. Murders that had stopped for some time, despite them never being solved. Jack wants Daniel to return to Colorado, but Daniel isn’t too interested. Unfortunately for him, he is drawn back there and into the investigation. It seems to be calling to him.
You see, these murders are rather unique, and downright disturbing. They belie reasoning, understanding and sense. That’s why they’re referred to as the Drifter Murders, and why they’re front page news, so to speak. There’s even a message board pertaining to them.
What are the Drifters? Well, they’re regular people like you and I. However, they’ve somehow committed heinous murders and acts without being cognizant of that fact, or so it seems. Each murder has been, and is being, committed by a different person and there’s no rhyme or reason. Since there is no evidence to connect anybody else to them, each individual is charged and put in jail. Some have killed themselves while in custody, too; having been unable to live with what they have apparently done.
The Drifter killings go like this: A seemingly random person is discovered walking along the side of the road, or something like that, and it’s clear that they’ve walked a long way. They’re lacking clothes, but are wearing something over themselves like a blanket. However, it isn’t anything close to a blanket — it’s human skin, which has been taken off the victim, who will be found in a drainage tunnel. The victims, themselves, have not only been killed, but they’ve been skinned and eaten. The murders seem to have been committed at random, by normal people who are in a trance, and whom have a strand of hair tied around their tongues. It’s utterly baffling, and it had stopped.
Daniel, Jack, his ex-wife and her new beau — all of whom work for the FBI in Colorado — become engrossed within the return of these killings, and attempting to solve them. All the while, Daniel must face his past and become uncomfortable in order to make any headway. Such is the story found within Headlights by CJ Leede, which is a horror story that pays homage to veterans, nature, Stephen King and the state of Colorado.
Within this story is a secondary narrative about wolves, who were hunted almost to extinction, allowing coyotes to become the dominant predators in the area. Wolves are being reintroduced, and there’s a lot of controversy around it.
Headlights hooked me from the start, with its mystery, its unique killings and the questions surrounding it. As a fan of Stephen King who has seen the movie, but has yet to read through The Shining (I own multiple copies and did start it once, but got sidetracked. I keep meaning to restart it), I was also intrigued by the fact that it was made part of this book in such a major way. Furthermore, I liked the character of Daniel Stansfield, and the depth he had. He’s a very troubled, damaged, conflicted and hurting character who isn’t a bad person though he has his hidden bruises and inherent flaws. Who could blame him though?
That said, I put this book down for a bit and then took a lot longer to read the second half than I did the first. Maybe it’s partially due to personal reasons, being that I’ve been dealing with a lot, but I also simply didn’t find the second half to be as good or as engrossing. I liked the mystery of the Drifter killings more than I liked the resolution, and wish that there was more to it all. I can’t say that this book ended how I’d hoped, or that I truly liked the explanation. I did enjoy the book, overall, though.
The last third, or so, also tends to get very repetitive and wordy. It feels like things happen over too many pages, and like things are drawn out a bit too much. Still, this is a good book, and one that is worth the read.
I’ve never had a problem with CJ Leede’s writing, and do think she’s a pretty good writer. That said, something stuck with me after I saw someone’s post about this book. That is, the very short sentences that are prevalent throughout it. I really started to notice that afterwards, and do agree that her prose isn’t the best. However, I also don’t find it to be an issue or that big of a deal. I had no problem reading this book, or the previous two. That is, outside of how drawn out certain things were herein, and a bit of tedium.
I find it hard to rank things. Whether it’s movies, books, games or albums, it’s almost always tough for me. It’s especially difficult when the subject matter and stories are so different, as is the case with each of this author’s three novels, all of which are rather unique stories. That said, I’ve given it some thought, and I think this would place third on my ranking of her novels. That doesn’t mean that it’s bad. It started off really well. However, I don’t feel like this one stuck the landing as well as it could have, and had more issues with it than the others, both of which I really liked.
Headlights by CJ Leede is a strange mix of homage, horror, originality and borrowed ideas. It’s a good book, but some things hold it back from being great.
This review is based on a copy of the book that we were provided with.