There is a great support character in Road of Bones who endlessly drives along this remote highway hoping to put to rest lost souls who died on the road. The precise location of the novel gives another layer of authenticity to proceedings, as the ‘Road of Bones’ is a nickname given to the 1200-mile Kolyma Highway (or R504), which has a certain level of infamy due to the fact that when it was constructed in the 1930s by prison/gulag inmates, those who perished remains were left where they died and eventually buried in the road. Right from the start of Road of Bones, the reader becomes aware that no matter what else is out there (and there is plenty to be very afraid of), the weather is the number one killer, especially for foolish tourists or thrill seekers. The surroundings are so cold, if a car breaks down in the middle of nowhere then the driver will probably die of exposure before they are rescued. If the monsters don’t get you then the astonishing cold weather most certainly will, as the average temperature is sixty degrees below zero. The frozen tundra of northern Siberia is a brutal but perfect setting for a horror novel. If you have never read Golden, these recent releases are outstanding places to start, with Road of Bones being an intense 240-page roller-coaster of a yarn, which features even less respite that the freezing landscape it is set in.

Although I have read a relatively small selection of these, I was a fan of his 'Ben Walker' trilogy, in particular Ararat (2017) and Red Hands (2020), and also thoroughly enjoyed his next published novel, All Hallows (2023), which is released in the New Year. Since appearing on the scene in the mid-nineties, Christopher Golden has been incredibly prolific with a wide range of fiction which effortlessly crosses the genres.

Road of bones by christopher golden