Book: Headlights by Cj Leede
Reviewed by Weird | weird.reads.books
Rating: 5/5
This book gave such a brilliant crossover vibe between Hannibal and The Shining . It starts out as a police procedural but quickly reveals a layer of dark otherworldliness. Special Agent Daniel Stansfield is a man trying to bury his trauma and grief, but a case he thought was cold revives when another twisted incident occurs.
The unsettling elements present themselves early and never let up. The way these murders are carried out reminded me of True Detective or The Silence of the Lambs . People awaken from a haze sewn into the skin of a stranger—someone they have no recollection of ever meeting—with the hair of a second person wrapped around their tongues.
Leede absolutely nailed the atmosphere. Set in Colorado, the story evokes a profound sense of isolation and helplessness. Add in the ice, the snow, and plenty of subtle nods to The Shining , and it’s no wonder I felt completely spooked the longer I listened.
The narration by Andrew Eiden is fantastic. He embodies the perfect amount of a disgruntled, haunted FBI agent trying to run away from his past. Eiden creates distinct voices for each character, capturing the ideal tone and cadence for every scene.
The tension built so beautifully that I did not want to turn the audiobook off. I found myself thinking about it during every break, wondering where the story would take me and if my predictions were correct. I would have easily finished this in a single day if responsibilities hadn't gotten in the way! I’ve already recommended Headlights to several people, and I fully expect this to be one of my top reads of 2026.
Thank you to Macmillan Audio, Tor Nightfire, and NetGalley for the ALC. All opinions are my own.