The Route 9 Killer by Kelli A. Wilkins ~ #Horror ~ @KWilkinsauthor ~ Celebrate Women in Horror Month

 

Celebrate Women in Horror Month with The Route 9 Stalker

A NEW Release from Kelli A. Wilkins

www.KelliWilkins.com

 

Hi everyone!

February is “Women in Horror” month, and to celebrate, I’m sharing a look at my new release, The Route 9 Stalker. It’s technically a mystery/thriller, but it has a strong horror element built into the plot. And how could a story about a serial killer not be scary?

The Route 9 Stalker is a follow-up (of sorts) to The Route 9 Killer and follows Detective Jim Rourke on a disturbing new case. Although the books share two main characters, each stands alone as an individual read, and you can read them in any order.

Here is the book summary:                                                               

The Route 9 Stalker

(A Mystery/Thriller)

It started with a body in the woods — and turned into a hunt for a deranged stalker.

Late one evening, Megan Graystone enters a police station and reports that she witnessed a man dumping a woman’s body in the woods.

But with no concrete proof and no sign of foul play, Detective Jim Rourke dismisses her story — until a woman’s mutilated body is found close by. As Rourke investigates the victim’s past, he learns that she was being stalked by a mysterious stranger — and so were several other murdered women.

Rourke discovers that the elusive stalker is playing a twisted game; changing identities and vanishing after each murder. With no other option, Rourke enlists Megan Graystone’s help to trap the stalker — although it means putting her in grave danger.

Can Rourke stop the stalker before he kills and disappears again?

Order your copy here:

Amazon

Other Platforms

Want more? Meet Detective Jim Rourke for the first time in The Route 9 Killer. Read the book summary and reviews here: https://www.kelliwilkins.com/the-route-9-killer

***

When I wrote The Route 9 Killer, I didn’t know I would eventually write another book featuring Detective Rourke. But one day I was looking through my folder of ideas for stories I might write “someday” and came across a simple premise: A woman sees a man dumping a body in the woods, and the killer comes after her. I thought about it for a while and began to toy with ways to expand the idea.

I started wondering: What if this wasn’t this guy’s first kill? Who are the women he has killed? Why is he killing them? How does he find his victims? I started piecing the story together in my head and thought of ways I could bring Detective Rourke onto the case.

Three years after the events that took place in The Route 9 Killer, Detective Jim Rourke has finally put the unwanted publicity from that case behind him, and he never wants to hear about serial killers again.

However, fate has delivered him a woman’s mutilated body—the same body Megan claimed to have seen in the woods. When Rourke’s fellow Detective Ed Dolenz uncovers similar cold cases, Rourke finds himself hunting another serial killer. He learns that a man is stalking and viciously murdering women he meets on dating sites. Rourke and Dolenz are able to link the killings to a mysterious man who switches identities and vanishes after each murder.

Is the man Megan saw in the woods connected to the murders? Rourke thinks he might be, and he needs Megan’s help catching him. But Dolenz theorizes that there might be more than one killer…

When I plotted the book, I decided Megan would be a focal point of the story, and she plays a central role in helping Rourke catch the killer. Right from the start, readers see that Megan isn’t a big fan of the police, and she’s cautious when dealing with strangers. Although she knows she’s potentially the target of a serial killer, she isn’t frightened off. Why? Because she’s a lifelong horror movie fan and she follows “the rules” of staying alive and defending herself against predators.

I intentionally played up the theme of “protecting yourself” in the book. As a single woman living alone, Megan fits the profile of the killer’s victims, but she’s smart and has a no-nonsense attitude when it comes to her personal safety and boundaries. Some of that comes from mocking horror movie heroines who make bad choices, but a lot of it comes from her relationship with her best friend, Lori.

Throughout the book, whenever something disturbing or strange happens, Megan talks to her friend Lori. This gives readers a break from Rourke’s investigation, and readers can see what seemingly innocent interactions Megan has with people turn out to be vital to the case.

Lori acts as a sounding board for Megan’s concerns (or lack thereof) and Lori cautions her to be careful since “Rourke is using her as bait for a serial killer.” Megan keeps reassuring everyone that she’ll be okay and she can handle things. But can she?

Everyone isn’t who (or what) they seem in this story, and without giving away any plot details or spoilers, I can say that Rourke, Megan, and the killer come together in the end, and the story packs a great twist ending.

I loved writing this book, and I incorporated a bit of myself into the plot. As a lifelong horror movie fan (and someone who loves Halloween), I decided to have the entire story take place the week before Halloween. It added an element of surprise to the ending and helped build suspense. (And yes, my best friend is named Lori. She thought the book was great, by the way!)

I hope you will add both Route 9 books to your 2026 reading list. Readers have asked me if I’m going to give Detective Rourke one more case to solve and complete a trilogy. I’ve been considering it… What do you think?

If you love horror and are celebrating all things scary this month, visit the Horror, Mystery & More page on my site: https://www.kelliwilkins.com/horror to read about all of my spooky stories!

Until next time…

Happy Reading!

Kelli A. Wilkins

 

Meet the Author:

Kelli A. Wilkins is an award-winning author who has published more than 100 short stories, 24 romance novels, and 9 mystery/thriller/horror ebooks. Her romances span many genres and settings, and she likes to scare readers with her horror, mystery, and thriller fiction.

Her latest book, The Route 9 Stalker, was published in January 2026. This mystery/thriller is set in Central NJ and follows Detective Jim Rourke on a disturbing new case. Meet him for the first time in The Route 9 Killer.

Kelli’s 24th romance, For Love’s Sake, an epic historical/fantasy romantic adventure, was published in 2025.​

In 2024, she released Surreal Escapes, a collection of 7 speculative/spooky stories. Anything can—and does—happen in this anthology.

Follow Kelli on her Facebook author page: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorKelliWilkins and visit her website/blog www.KelliWilkins.com for a full title list, social media links, and more.

This post contains affiliate links.

If you make a purchase using my links, I will receive a small commission from the sale at no cost to you.

Thank you for supporting Sapphyria’s Books.

Celebrate Women in Horror Month with The Route 9 Killer by Kelli A. Wilkins

Celebrate Women in Horror Month with The Route 9 Killer

By Kelli A. Wilkins

www.KelliWilkins.com

 

Hi everyone!

February is “Women in Horror” month, and horror is one of my favorite genres. I love scaring (or at least unnerving) readers with my horror fiction. But sometimes horror stories don’t feature “traditional monsters” like vampires or werewolves… sometimes human beings are capable of terrifying us more than any ghost ever could.

The Route 9 Killer is one of those stories. It’s a bit dark… but then again, how could a story about a serial killer not be?

Years ago, I had an idea for a serial killer/mystery/thriller story that was sparked by something simple: I was driving somewhere and saw a woman’s shoe lying in the road.

Immediately, my writer brain started asking questions: Whose shoe was it? What happened to the woman? Where was the other shoe? Why was this shoe in the road? Strange? Yes. But writers think that way. Anything that catches our attention can spark a flurry of questions and develop into a story idea.

I started wondering about the shoe and then an idea hit me. It was a simple “What if…” premise: What if a woman was abducted and the only evidence left behind was her shoe in the road? I bounced this idea off of a few people, and they scoffed. “Who cares about a shoe? Why would anything think someone was abducted based on a shoe?” But, when I explained my story idea, they were intrigued.

I wrote an outline for the story and filed it in my “someday I’ll write this” folder and moved on to other projects. (At the time, I was writing romances and not focusing on horror/mysteries.) Then “someday” arrived and I wrote the story.

As the title implies, the book is a mystery/thriller involving a serial killer. The hero, Detective Jim Rourke, thinks he’s discovered a serial killer operating in Central New Jersey. The only problem is, nobody believes him. The women are abducted from different towns in the same county and their bodies are dumped in different towns in another county. This makes it hard for the police to connect the crimes or even see a pattern. To them, the killings are random.

Detective Rourke is also investigating the disappearance of a woman named Allison Kendrick. When the book opens, her boyfriend is at the police station, reporting her missing. Are the two cases related? Rourke thinks they might be.

The book then switches to the point-of-view of a young woman who wakes up in a strange place, handcuffed to a bed. When I wrote her character, I knew didn’t want to make her a helpless victim. Yes, she’s hurting, scared, and in a really, really bad situation, but she’s smart and a fighter—and determined to escape. She knows she’s responsible for her own fate. Nobody is coming to rescue her.

No thriller would be complete without a peek into the life (and mind) of the antagonist. Our not-so-nice killer has a few scenes of his own where we get inside his mind, see what makes him lose control, and gives a hint at why he does what he does.

Without giving away any plot details or spoilers, I can say that our three main characters come together in the end, and the story packs a great twist ending. (If you’ve read the book and loved it, please post a positive review online (no spoilers, please!).

But then… there’s the Epilogue, where we get a little more info on Rourke’s case—and another shocker.

Although the story has a very serious/dark subject matter, I stayed away from overt sexual violence toward our heroine. I didn’t want to write anything too dark, too graphic, and nothing along the lines of “torture porn” or an unsettling episode of Criminal Minds. I concentrated on Rourke and his investigation. The other characters are there to pull the reader into the story through their points-of-view and increase the drama and tension. I think it worked. (Readers and reviewers seem to agree, too!)

And just in time for Women in Horror Month, I released a new mystery/thriller featuring Detective Jim Rourke, The Route 9 Stalker. (I’ll be blogging more about that book soon, but you can read about it here: https://www.kelliwilkins.com/horror/the-route-9-stalker.)

Here’s the book summary and order links for:

The Route 9 Killer

(A Mystery/Thriller)

It started with a search for a missing woman — and turned into a hunt for a serial killer.

Early one morning, a distraught young man enters a police station and reports that his girlfriend disappeared on a deserted stretch of road the night before.

With no witnesses and no leads, it falls to Detective Jim Rourke to find out the truth — and Rourke’s investigation leads him to believe that Allison Kendrick might have fallen into the clutches of a serial killer.

Several other missing women have turned up dead — tortured and dumped along secluded sections of Route 9. Rourke is alone on a manhunt, and time is running out.

Can Rourke catch the killer and rescue the next victim before it’s too late?

Order your copy here:

Amazon: https://amzn.to/3NYzRDj

All other platforms: https://books2read.com/u/m2qd16

Read reviews here: https://www.kelliwilkins.com/the-route-9-killer

Want more? Join Detective Jim Rourke on a disturbing new case, The Route 9 Stalker: https://www.kelliwilkins.com/horror/the-route-9-stalker

If you love horror and are celebrating all things scary this month, visit the Horror, Mystery & More page on my site: https://www.kelliwilkins.com/horror to read about all of my spooky stories!

Until next time…

Happy Reading!

Kelli A. Wilkins

 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Kelli A. Wilkins is an award-winning author who has published more than 100 short stories, 24 romance novels, and 9 mystery/thriller/horror ebooks. Her romances span many genres and settings, and she likes to scare readers with her horror, mystery, and thriller fiction.

Her latest book, The Route 9 Stalker, was published in January 2026. This mystery/thriller is set in Central NJ and follows Detective Jim Rourke on a disturbing new case. Meet him for the first time in The Route 9 Killer.

Kelli's 24th romance, For Love’s Sake, an epic historical/fantasy romantic adventure, was published in 2025.​

In 2024, she released Surreal Escapes, a collection of 7 speculative/spooky stories. Anything can—and does—happen in this anthology.

Follow Kelli on her Facebook author page: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorKelliWilkins and visit her website/blog www.KelliWilkins.com for a full title list, social media links, and more.

 

This post contains affiliate links.

If you make a purchase using my links, I will receive a small commission from the sale at no cost to you.

Thank you for supporting Sapphyria’s Books.

Celebrating Women in Horror Month (Part 2) by Kelli A. Wilkins ~ #Horror @KWilkinsauthor

Celebrating Women in Horror Month (Part 2)

By Kelli A. Wilkins

www.KelliWilkins.com

Hi everyone,

Valentine’s Day is officially over, and if you’ve had your fill of love and romance for a while, why not curl up with a horror story?

As you may know, February is “Women in Horror” month. To celebrate, I’m blogging about my “disturbing” novella, Nightmare in the North and my 2023 horror/thriller The Route 9 Killer.

Nightmare in the North is a cautionary tale about traveling alone in the winter and trusting strangers.

NIGHTMARE IN THE NORTH

About the Book:

Stranded during a violent blizzard, Mark hikes to the only house nearby. George, a well-mannered University professor, welcomes Mark and gives him shelter from the storm.

By morning, Mark suspects that everything isn’t what it seems. George’s adult daughter, Kate, who also lives in the house, shares a disturbing and unsettling tale. When questioned, George insists that Kate has a psychological issue and can’t be trusted to tell the truth.

Mark quickly finds himself caught in a game of cat and mouse. Who should he believe? Is Kate’s desperate plea for help sincere? Should he be suspicious of George? Or are both of them plotting something together?

Isolated from everyone, Mark is forced to wait out the storm—and find a way to escape—if he hopes to make it out alive.

***

So… how did this novella come about? Believe it or not, I wrote a version of this story for my eighth grade English class. The assignment was to write a short story – and boy, did I! The original version was much shorter and less detailed, but the basic premise was there. I’m not sure what my English teacher thought when she read it, but I got an A.

I grew up in upstate New York where winters can be brutal and last a long time. It can be an isolated place, and sometimes you could be snowed in for days. I decided to use that as the backdrop to the story, throw in some strange characters, and add a little mystery. After I submitted the story for my English class, I pretty much forgot about it.

A few years ago, I drove to Vermont in a snowstorm. I was in the car for 12 hours, and naturally, my mind started to wander… I wanted to write a new horror story, but I wasn’t sure what I wanted to write. As I was driving, I thought back to the original story and decided to rewrite it – to tell the story the way it needed to be told.

I changed the opening, moved the setting to Vermont, and filled in all the details and backstory to set the tone. The ending of the new version is slightly different from the original, but it’s not off by much. I added an epilogue (of sorts) to the end, and spent about twenty minutes getting the last line just right. After reading Nightmare in the North, my husband said it was well written and it drew you in, but it was “twisted” and “disturbing” – I consider that high praise!

Order Nightmare in the North here:

Amazon: https://amzn.to/3EeDFeV

All other platforms: https://www.books2read.com/u/m2vqOk

Read reviews here: https://www.kelliwilkins.com/nightmare-in-the-north

The Route 9 Killer was released in 2023, and it’s been a long time coming. Years ago I had an idea for a serial killer/thriller story that was sparked by something simple: I was driving somewhere and saw a woman’s shoe lying in the road.

I started wondering about the shoe and then an idea hit me. It was a simple “What if…” premise: What if a woman was abducted and the only evidence left behind was her shoe in the road? I bounced this idea off of a few people, and they scoffed. “Who cares about a shoe? Why would anything think someone was abducted based on a shoe?” But, when I explained my story idea, they were intrigued.

As the title implies, the book is a mystery/thriller involving a serial killer. The hero, Detective Jim Rourke, thinks he’s discovered a serial killer operating in Central New Jersey. The only problem is, nobody believes him. The women are abducted from different towns in the same county, and their bodies are dumped in different towns in another county. This makes it hard for the police to connect the crimes or even see a pattern. To them, the killings are random.

See if you can solve the mystery of…

The Route 9 Killer

About the Book:

Detective Jim Rourke suspects a serial killer is hunting women in Central New Jersey. The victims are held captive, brutalized, then murdered and dumped along deserted stretches of Route 9.

There’s no physical evidence, no witnesses, and the killer is smart enough to leave no clues.

Rourke is alone on a manhunt, and time is running out. Eight victims have already fallen prey to this madman.

Can Rourke catch the killer and rescue the next victim before it’s too late?

Order your copy here:

Amazon: https://amzn.to/3CwsTQQ

All other platforms: https://books2read.com/u/m2qd16

Read reviews here: https://www.kelliwilkins.com/the-route-9-killer

If you’ve read the book and loved it, please post a positive review online (no spoilers, please!). I’m contemplating writing another book featuring Detective Rourke. It’s only in the planning stage, but stay tuned for updates.

I hope you enjoyed a look at my horror stories. If you love to be scared (or at least slightly creeped out) be sure to visit the “Horror, Mystery & More” section of my site https://www.kelliwilkins.com/horror to read about my other spooky stories.

Happy Reading!

Kelli A. Wilkins

Meet the Author:

Kelli A. Wilkins is an award-winning author who has published more than 100 short stories, 20+ romance novels, and 8 mystery/horror ebooks. Her romances span many genres and settings, and she likes to scare readers with her horror and mystery stories.

Her latest release, For Love’s Sake, an epic historical/fantasy romantic adventure, was published in January 2025.

In August 2024, she released Surreal Escapes, a collection of 7 speculative/spooky stories. Anything can—and does—happen in this anthology.

Kelli released her fourth gay romance, A Thousand Summer Secrets, in April 2024. This tender contemporary romance takes place over a summer weekend, where two friends reconnect while seeking love and acceptance.

She published The Route 9 Killer, a mystery/thriller set in Central NJ, in May 2023.

Follow Kelli on her Facebook author page: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorKelliWilkins and visit her website/blog www.KelliWilkins.com for a full title list and social media links.

This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase using my links, I will receive a small commission from the sale at no cost to you.

Thank you for supporting Sapphyria’s Books.

Celebrating Women in Horror Month (Part 1) by Kelli A. Wilkins ~ #Horror @KWilkinsauthor

Celebrating Women in Horror Month (Part 1)

By Kelli A. Wilkins

www.KelliWilkins.com

Hi everyone!

People usually associate February with Valentine’s Day and romance… but did you know February is “Women in Horror” month? To celebrate, I’m blogging about my latest horror release Surreal Escapes, and two ghost stories, Dead ‘Til Dawn and Kropsy’s Curse.

Here’s the summary and links to Surreal Escapes…

Surreal Escapes - 7 Speculative Stories



About the Book:

Are you ready to take a journey into the unexpected?

In these 7 speculative stories, ordinary people start off having an average, normal day… until they encounter the world of the surreal. They quickly realize they’re in another realm where anything can—and does—happen.

Some of these unusual tales include:

“Holiday Havoc” – The night shift in a retail store hosts the ultimate Halloween vs. Christmas showdown

“Little Boy Lost” – After several strange incidents, Beverly suspects her son’s imaginary friend isn’t so imaginary

“The Man in Apt. 3-A” – What do you do when you discover your neighbor is a vampire?

“Whispers from the Past” – Not all ghosts are scary… or strangers

This collection of short fiction will unnerve you, spark your imagination, and make you wonder what else is possible in the world of the surreal.

Order Surreal Escapes here:

Amazon: https://amzn.to/4hlqWG8

Other Platforms: https://books2read.com/u/b5ge7O

Putting together this collection of unusual short stories was a special summer project of mine, and I hope readers enjoy this trip into the surreal. The stories don’t fall into one set category, and range from a bit spooky, to humorous, to… just about anything I can imagine. At the end of each story, I explain how I came up with the idea, discuss the characters, and/or give some insight into the plot or setting.

If you’re brave enough, spend a night in the land of the dead with Dead ‘Til Dawn…

 
Dead ‘Til Dawn



About the Book:

Disturbing the dead doesn’t prove you’re brave – it proves you’re stupid.

After touring Gettysburg battlefield, Jessica, Tim, and Steve decide to sneak out to the Devil’s Den for some late-night fun. Jessica’s friend Kathy objects, and warns them about trespassing where they’re not wanted.

Undaunted by ghost stories and fueled by his own arrogance, Tim races toward the Devil’s Den. When the group drives through mysterious battlefield fog, they find themselves surrounded by Civil War soldiers looking for a little fun of their own.

Kathy leaves the others to fend for themselves and flees to Little Round Top. Although she’s rescued by a kindhearted Union solider named Charlie, she refuses to believe what she’s experiencing is real. As the nighttime battle rages on, Charlie introduces Kathy to other weary soldiers, and she quickly realizes she’s trapped in the land of the dead until dawn.

Order Dead ‘Til Dawn here:

Amazon: https://amzn.to/3CjwGRv

All other platforms: https://books2read.com/u/4X9aLb

Read reviews here: https://www.kelliwilkins.com/dead-til-dawn

So how did this story come about? Well, I love writing psychological/creepy/spooky horror stories. And I also love traveling to historic places—especially if they’re haunted.

This novella was inspired by actual events that happened to me in Gettysburg, PA. I had a very unusual experience with battlefield fog and I wanted to use it in a story. I wrote a true story account of the incident, and it appeared in the Out of Time anthology. (You can order Out of Time here: https://www.timberghostpress.com/out-of-time1.html)

Although I don’t consider myself a “paranormal investigator” I love exploring haunted places and taking ghost tours. Historic houses and “anything old and creepy” appeal to my imagination. Is it any surprise that I love Halloween?

And because Halloween is my favorite holiday, I wrote this Halloween-themed horror story…

Kropsy’s Curse



About the Book:

Late one Halloween night, two young boys venture into a secluded graveyard in the hopes of conjuring up a spirit. Although Kyle is skeptical and would rather be home eating candy and watching horror movies, he reluctantly goes along with Jerry’s plan.

He doesn’t believe Ouija boards work—until this one starts spelling out a message…

Kropsy’s Curse is only $1! Get spooked here:

Amazon: https://amzn.to/3PTQJJn

All other platforms: https://books2read.com/u/47kMYj

Read reviews here: https://www.kelliwilkins.com/kropsy-s-curse

This piece of flash fiction came to me when I was mulling over horror ideas. I actually came up with the (strange) ending first, then built the rest of the story around it. I can’t give away any more without spoiling the story, so you’ll have to read it for yourself.

I hope you enjoyed this look at some of my horror fiction. Stay tuned for Part 2 of my “Women in Horror” blog. Until then, you can visit the “Horror, Mystery & More” section of my site https://www.kelliwilkins.com/horror to read about my other spooky stories.

Happy Reading!

Kelli A. Wilkins

Meet the Author:

Kelli A. Wilkins is an award-winning author who has published more than 100 short stories, 20+ romance novels, and 8 mystery/horror ebooks. Her romances span many genres and settings, and she likes to scare readers with her horror and mystery stories.

Her latest release, For Love’s Sake, an epic historical/fantasy romantic adventure, was published in January 2025.

In August 2024, she released Surreal Escapes, a collection of 7 speculative/spooky stories. Anything can—and does—happen in this anthology.

Kelli released her fourth gay romance, A Thousand Summer Secrets, in April 2024. This tender contemporary romance takes place over a summer weekend, where two friends reconnect while seeking love and acceptance.

She published The Route 9 Killer, a mystery/thriller set in Central NJ, in May 2023.

Follow Kelli on her Facebook author page: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorKelliWilkins and visit her website/blog www.KelliWilkins.com for a full title list and social media links.

This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase using my links, I will receive a small commission from the sale at no cost to you.

Thank you for supporting Sapphyria’s Books.