Nightmare of a Trip

By: Maureen Kilmer

Narrated by: Khristine Hvam

This is one family getaway they’ll never forget . . .

Leigh Somerset wants to spend some quality time with her kids before they grow up, and her husband has always fancied himself sort of a Clark Griswold figure. So the Somersets will be spending their family vacation on the road, driving from suburban Milwaukee to Orlando, Florida. Already off to a rocky start, they stumble upon an abandoned, half-burned down farmhouse in Indiana, and the Somersets inadvertently unleash an eerie history that will follow them the rest of their trip.

From creepy indoor waterparks to paranormally plagued Cracker Barrels, it’s one thing after another in the pursuit of the great American summer road trip. Will the Somersets be able to shake these bad vibes and get on with the family bonding? Or will the road less traveled quite literally become the highway to hell?

Critic reviews

One of Best Life’s Most Anticipated Fall Books

"This whole book is one big ball of nostalgia for those of us who grew up in the Midwest, whose vacations and holidays were spent on the road—navigating all the road work, wrong turns, family squabbles, numerous gas station stops, and unending queries of ‘are we there yet?’” —Check It Out, KWIT (NPR)

"[A] hilarious supernatural spin on National Lampoon’s Vacation. . . Amid the paranormal chills and thrills, Kilmer captures the quintessential road trip experience, from cranky kids and sketchy roadside motels to car troubles and germ-infested indoor water parks." —BookBub

"[A] wild and spooky ride full of family and heart, genuine characters and family willing to be there no matter how difficult the trip becomes. The ending is beautiful and comes full circle." —The Nameless Zine

"The perfect spooky read for October!" —Best Life

"Buckle up for this wild and spooky ride, you won’t want to miss it!" —Kenosha.com

"Kilmer’s account of the exasperating parental headaches Leigh and her husband endure trying to rein in their rambunctious kids is sure to elicit smiles." —Publishers Weekly

nothing much happens

I really enjoyed suburban hell and waited for this novel to come out all summer. I was pretty disappointed. not much happens. it was hard to finish this one.