It’s just before Christmas and college student Darby has just received the worst news anyone can receive. Her mother has been diagnosed with cancer and the prognosis is not good. Despite a winter storm beating down on the state of Colorado, Darby jumps into her car and begins to make the drive home. But when the road becomes too treacherous, Darby is forced to stop and spend the night at a tiny rest stop with four strangers. Darby intends to pass the night as uneventfully as possible, but when she steps outside to try and get cell reception, she discovers a child in a cage in the back of one of the strangers’ car. What happens next is a highly intensive, nail biting evening where there just might be no survivors left to tell the tale.

Last year I read Taylor Adams’ latest thriller, The Last Word. That ended up on my top ten best books of 2024 so I was excited to pick up the book that jumpstarted Mr. Adams’ career. Like his latest book, No Exit is a quick reader that I read almost in one entire sitting. Once Darby discovers the child, there is little time to breath let alone feel any other emotion besides fear for Darby and the kidnapped girl. As the reader attempts to find out what is happening, Mr. Adams hits you with curveball after curveball.

Like The Last Word, Mr. Adams crafts a masterful story that doesn’t relent as well as characters you’ll come to admire and despise (depending on which one you are talking about). He also proves that he can take simple scenarios, like being stranded at a remote rest stop, and make it a harrowing experience that convinced me that maybe I shouldn’t stop at a rest stop next time I’m on a road trip.

Best to stop at a busy gas station where there is at least a dozen people there at all times.

However, No Exit does suffer from the one thing The Last Word also struggled with which is, Mr. Adams does not know how to end the story. That is why I did not give this book a full five stars but a four and a half. There were several times where the story could have come to an end and it would have been perfect, but Mr. Adams continued the story. That is the one thing I would hope would be fixed in the next Taylor Adams book.

Despite this, No Exit is a thrilling read that is perfect for the cold, snowy winter months. It’s terrifying, heart pounding, and at times gruesome (and if you know, you know). If you enjoyed The Last Word you will most likely like this one as well.

4.5 out of 5 stars