BEHIND THE RED DOOR started out very dark and intriguing. However, after the beginning, I just found myself not super interested in the storyline. It started getting a little repetitive. The speed picked up towards the end and I found myself not wanting to put the book down as pieces started falling together, but then I wasn't super surprised by the ending. I’ll definitely consider other books by Megan Collins, but this one was a little lackluster and lacking depth for me.

Behind the Red Door is a psychological thriller focusing on Fern Douglas, a woman with serious anxiety issues. In fact, when she sees a woman on the news and is certain she has seen her in person, not even her very loving husband believes her. Her father has asked her to help him pack up the family home as he plans to retire to Florida. A deeply narcissistic and selfish man, he actually expects her to do all the work while he dithers in his office.

The woman she saw on the news is named Astrid. She was kidnapped as a child from the area where Fern grew up. After a time, she was returned and her kidnapper was never found. After writing her memoir she was kidnapped again, setting off speculation that her original kidnapper may have been involved. She is missing and Fern is certain she saw her kidnapper in her childhood and could possibly, if she remembers enough, help find her in the present.

Early in the story, we learn Fern’s father loved to “experiment” on his daughter by frightening her and then asking her questions about her fear. Her mother went along with the experiments, leaving her behind as they drove away, not coming home at night, and other ways to test her fears. In a way, this book explores a child’s need to love their parents, no matter how little they deserve it.



Behind the Red Door was disappointing in several ways. The most critical, though, is that there is not much mystery. I think I was just past 10% of the way through the book when I felt certain I knew who the kidnapper was. The rest of the book was a long confirmation that I must be right. Fern was an annoying protagonist because of her fears and anxieties. In terms of character development, there is the suggestion that she has moved beyond her fears, but we don’t get to see it happen, leaving the consequences open-ended. I would like to see her show she really moved past her anxieties, though the “cure” is dismissive of the real illness. The story has real potential in terms of creating a plot, but I think it went awry in creating characters who were too one dimensional.

Behind the Red Door will be released on August 4th. I received an e-galley from the publisher through NetGalley

Behind the Red Door at Atria Books | Simon & Schuster
Megan Collins author site

SPOILER-FREE REVIEW: Behind the Red Door was written by Megan Collins, whose successful mystery/thriller novel The Winter Sister was published in 2019 (and featured in the Book of the Month club as their monthly thriller). Behind the Red Door is set to be released on August 4, 2020 by Atria Books. The novel is about “a woman who comes to believe that she has a connection to a decades-old kidnapping, and now that the victim has gone missing again, begins a frantic search to learn what happened in the past.”

PLOT RUNDOWN/BASICS: Fern Douglas is a happily married school social worker on summer break - the only time of year she’s not actually “allowed” to concern herself with the students she cares for during the academic term. She lives with near-constant anxiety, which she proactively manages with medication and visits to her therapist, and she’s attempting to enjoy a quiet and relaxing summer with her husband Eric.

Her weeks of (hopefully) mindless relaxation are interrupted by a phone call from her father, Ted, who asks her to return home to New Hampshire to help him pack up for a big move to Florida. Shortly before she leaves Cambridge to make the trip, she’s startled by a news story about a woman named Astrid Sullivan. Astrid had disappeared from her home in New Hampshire 20 years ago, only to be returned - bound and gagged - two weeks later...and now, she’s disappeared again.

Fern is overwhelmed by thoughts that she knows Astrid, that she’s seen her before...but where? Her return home is plagued by dreams that seem more like memories, and complicated further by her psychologist father Ted’s typically cold and clinical relationship to his daughter - whom he’s always viewed more as a scientific experiment than his own child. He even deserts her at the local hardware store, forcing her to accept a ride home (and thus reluctantly reconnect) with her biggest childhood bully - all in the name of his dedication to research.

But Fern brought home more than just boxes and packing supplies; she also bought a copy of Astrid’s recently released memoir, giving a new and detailed account of her captivity. As Fern delves into Astrid’s descriptions, her own memories are triggered...and she falls farther into a dark web of deception, mistrust, and doubt. What really happened to both Astrid and Fern twenty years ago, and who can she trust now, as the days pass relentlessly by with no signs of Astrid’s return? Is it Fern’s destiny to uncover the truth, or to disappear unseen into the darkness as well?

MY THOUGHTS: I devoured Collins’ first novel, The Winter Sister, when it was released in February 2019, so I was eagerly anticipating this new release. I enjoy nothing more than a twisty thriller that delves into someone’s past, and this book definitely delivers that - once I started, I didn’t want to put it down until I was finished. And, to be fair, that’s saying a lot, because there are very few books I’ve read this year - even 9/10 star books - which managed that feat.

According to her biography, Collins has taught creative writing at the Greater Hartford Academy of the Arts and Central Connecticut State University, and she’s won several literary prizes...which naturally lends itself to a more poetic/academic way of writing (which I enjoy). Her descriptions of anxiety, for example, are dead-on for anyone who’s suffered from it before: “In the daylight, things are different. They always are,” Fern says; then, “Even so, it’s like I’ve walked into a spiderweb I can’t wipe off, the silk of that dream sticking to my skin.”

If you enjoy an unreliable narrator, but a LIKEABLE one (I know - it DOES happen), you’ll feel right at home in Fern’s story. Her nightmare of a childhood makes it no surprise that she’s blocked out large portions of her memory, enclosing them (at least temporarily) in darkness for her own safety and sanity. “Our brains can do that,” Fern muses. “Especially when we’re kids. They can scrub out whole people, whole experiences, leaving only a tiny trace of the truth.”

And to her credit, Collins doesn’t turn Fern into an unmotivated alcoholic (a la The Girl on the Train, or The Woman in the Window), or give her any unhealthy coping mechanisms that make it hard to root for her. Instead, we want to hold a mirror up to Fern’s distorted view of family and her childhood, and gently let her know that what she’s been through is not acceptable, and - in fact - is completely to blame for her constant worry and fear.

Let’s also not forget, in the midst of this self-exploration and psychological deep-dive, that we’re in the middle of a mystery spanning twenty years. Where IS Astrid, and are Fern’s dreams and memories of her real? And if they are, is Fern in danger too? Collins unravels the mystery thread by thread, moment by moment, as Fern’s memories and instincts grow stronger - and as she, by default, becomes more comfortable standing up for herself.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book, and I would recommend it to anyone looking for a well-written psychological thriller. Behind the Red Door is as much about hard-earned redemption and self-awareness as it is about a mystery needing to be solved. And even if you guess the ending - and thus, by the nature of this story, the beginning - I think the plot’s arc of resilience and self-reconciliation still keep the story fresh and inspiring, and ward off any disappointment that would be felt with just a basic whodunit.

9/10 stars

3.5 First, a thank you to NetGalley for sharing the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Well, this was certainly a disturbing book. Atmospheric, creepily claustrophobic, and incredibly well written. You could almost call it horror, not a la Stephen King, but horror of the horrifying kind. Even thought is pretty easy to intuit who the villain is from the get go, it's also immediately apparent that while the protagonist has a lot of positives going in her adult life, she is also burdened by a damaged mind. As the story progressed it's apparent that her childhood was pretty crap and it was at times a little difficult to swallowing how consistently conceded to her obviously narcissistic and almost certainly psychotic father nor can her mother truly be called a mother. Then again, such is the cycle of abuse, so the main the characters remains empathetic. Thus, while the conclusion is unsurprising, there's enough room left for doubt and feeling vindicated never hurts. All all an engaging psychological thriller as well as a unique exploration of the effect of emotional abuse on psyche and familial bond. A recommended read.

I really wanted to love this book. The synopsis was promising and the red cover got my attention, however this ended up to be just an OK read for me. The plot was highly predictable and I found myself losing interest at times. However, the well-developed characters and the unique plot kept me interested enough to keep reading.

I recommend this book to all readers that enjoy family drama mysteries with a mix of psychological suspense.

Thank you NetGalley, Atria Books, and the author for providing me with an ARC copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

I loved this book!! Great story!! Second book I have read by this author hope she writes more books!! Received this book from netgally!!

When Fern's father asks her to return to her hometown to pack up his house and help him move, Fern jumps at the opportunity to spend some quality time with the man she's been aiming to please her entire life. Fern's father is a professor who is recently retired. All of Fern's life, Ted's priority has been his research and his work. Ted studies fear and often ran experiments on Fern while she was growing up - leaving her at the grocery store, disappearing for days at a time, or feigning injuries - and then interviewing her for her reactions and responses.

Now married to a pediatrician, Fern's husband Eric is appalled at Ted's parenting and is distressed that his already anxious wife will now be in her father's presence for an extended period of time.

Before Fern is set to return to New Hampshire, a woman she recognizes appears on the news. Astrid Sullivan was abducted twenty years ago by an unknown kidnapper. She was returned to her neighborhood a few weeks later, essentially unharmed. Her kidnapper was never found. Now, on the eve of the twentieth anniversary of Astrid's abduction, she has vanished again. With the release of her memoir, "Behind the Red Door," the public is worried that Astrid's original abductor has found and ensnared her again. When Fern sees Astrid on the news, a memory is triggered and Fern worries that her connection to Astrid is far from superficial.

Returning to her hometown, Fern begins to investigate the prior and current disappearance of Astrid Sullivan. As she uncovers more clues about the woman, memories begin to resurface. Was Fern connected to Astrid and her disappearance? Can Fern uncover the secrets from twenty years ago before it's too late for Astrid now?

Overall, this was an incredibly unique (and bizarre!) book. I really liked the format - told in first person by Fern but with excerpts from Astrid's memoir scattered throughout. Unfortunately, I found the book incredibly predictable and wished more had been done to keep the story a mystery.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for an advanced copy of this novel. I look forward to more books by Collins!

Behind the Red Door was an ominous and suspenseful psychological thriller. Megan Collins crafted a tense environment throughout the entire book.

I was able to figure out the “whodunnit” aspect of this book pretty quickly; however, that didn’t take away from the story. Behind the Red Door is unique. It was a disturbing premise I’ve never seen before and was well executed.

There were points where I wanted to yell at Fern, the main character, to remember what happened all those years ago and to pick up on the many clues. Even with that, I really enjoyed this read.

Special thanks to Netgalley and Atria Books for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

Oh my goodness! BEHIND THE RED DOOR is such an intense story! Once I started reading it was very hard to put down. I had no idea who dun it and I would not rest until I knew. The suspense and the mystery surrounding Astrid Sullivan kept me on the edge of my seat and left me almost afraid to turn the page, afraid of what was coming next. Nail biting moments are going to keep you flipping the pages late into the night! I have never read a story by Megan Collins before but I’m so glad I took a chance with BEHIND THE RED DOOR.

BEHIND THE RED DOOR is a crazy and wild roller coaster ride that turns your thinking upside down! Astrid was kidnapped twenty years ago and reappears after a few weeks. She just wrote a memoir about her experience and is all over the television, promoting her book. Until one day when she goes missing again. Fern sees her picture on TV and believes she has met her but she isn’t sure where or why. Can the story get any stranger than that? Oh yes it can, but you are going to have to read BEHIND THE RED DOOR to find out. No spoilers here!

BEHIND THE RED DOOR will shock readers with how the story plays out! I know I was! The twists and turns keep the reader fully engaged in the story. Especially as each new secret is revealed. The story does drag just a bit, but overall, I really enjoyed it. The plot of BEHIND THE RED DOOR is excellent but also crazy. I was instantly pulled in to the story and couldn’t wait to see how it ended. BEHIND THE RED DOOR is filled with mysteries that you will never see coming. Just when the reader thinks they have it all figured out, forget it! They are totally wrong! Haha don’t you love when an author does that to you?

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Atria Books through Netgalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

There is nothing better than a story that will keep you on your toes and turning the pages. Thrillers have always been some of my most favorite stories to read which is why I had no issues picking this one up at all.

It does have everything that makes a great thriller, intrigue, an unreliable narrator, mystery, crazy characters that you can't trust at all and of course that darkness that almost always lurks around every page.


And while I truly enjoyed the unique story line of this, I did see so many aspects coming after only 20% in which was a tad bit disappointing but not knowing everything, that kept me turning the pages and reading on, which was a good thing because there were still twists and turns I didn't see coming.

Overall a good read that I think most fans of the genre will truly enjoy.

It’s been a while since I finished a novel in less than 12 hours! BEHIND THE RED DOOR hooked me. From the beginning i was drawn in with a much too real topic for me.. anxiety. Something in my life that I’m all too familiar with.

We meet Fern, who experiences strong anxiety on a daily basis. We don’t really know why at the beginning, but as we follow her journey home to help her dad pack up for his big move, she finds more than she bargained for. 20 years ago, Astrid Sullivan then 14 years old, was abducted. Her disappearance made national news and everyone knew who she was. Nearly two weeks later, she was left close to home, leaving her to deal with the traumatic aftermath of her abduction. Now 20 years later, Astrid is a newly published author of her memoir, and recounts of what she remembers of that tragic time. More incredible yet, Astrid is missing for the second time.

The disappearance happened only an hour away from Fern’s home town, but she doesn’t remember when it happened, she has no memory of the news on Astrid’s disappearance. But one thing is certain. Fern feels so strongly like she knows Astrid, her face, is so familiar, but she can’t recall how she knows her.

Now, Fern is back in her home town, she hopes to spend time with her dad before his big move to Florida, and feels like helping him pack will give them time together. Being the only child, all she ever wanted to the attention she always deserved from her dad. He was always working, a psychologist very devoted to his research. Depending on Fern to be the subject of many of his experiments growing up, year after year. She didn’t feel like she was part of a family, more like a guinea pig of her fathers work.

During her visit however, she has a realization, and she won’t give up until she knows the truth.

Where is Astrid now? And why does she feel like Fern has met her before?

I don’t want to give too much away for fear of spoilers, but I loved the writing, and how it ALL connected. And THAT ENDING?! Spectacular way to loop us readers all the way back. I would have liked a little more closure at the end, but all (or most) of my questions got answered so I’m happy.. (except for one, come talk to me after you read it and we can compare notes)..

There’s a variety of characters, all essential, and important. But one thing is for sure, not everyone is being truthful, and the best part is guessing who.. I second guessed myself throughout the novel, one character aside from Fern, stayed true the entire way.. Eric. He’s perfect.

I highly highly, truly, really, recommend this title to ANYONE who loves a good mystery, with a SHOCKING twist. This one will stay with you for a while. Add it to your TBR, order it today, check it out at your local library! Anything you need to do to get your hands on this book!

Behind the Red Door is the latest story from Megan Collins, author of  The Winter Sister. This book will keep the reader guessing and at times on the edge of their seat. Ms Collins does an excellent job of weaving the past into today. I want to thank NetGalley and Atria Books for an early copy to review.

I'm torn on how to review this book. On the one hand, it had very good writing and a nice pace. I found myself rooting for the main character as she tried to figure out what was going on. But on the other hand I figured out pretty early on who did it, and it was pretty glaringly obvious for anyone who was paying attention. So this book only gets 3.5 stars, rounded down to 3. I didnt much like her first book either, so I don't think I'll be reading more by this author.

I was given a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

How do you know what is a memory that you actually experienced, a nightmare or something from social media?

This is a taut, nerve racking mystery that draws two women together under the worst of circumstances - who really was abducted?

Everyone is suspect, everyone has a piece of the puzzle. Characters draw you in to the story, even when you don't like them

I really wanted to like this book! I enjoyed the setup and the premise, but then it just didn’t work out for me in the execution. I’m the worst at figuring out who did it in a suspense novel, but I had this one figured out pretty early on. I liked the writing, but I was disappointed.

For some reason, this book creeped me out, but in a good way! You have to love a good action packed kidnapping!

I am of two minds reading this book. On the one hand, I read it straight through and I was fully interested the entire time. On the other hand, it was pretty obvious what had happened the entire book. Fern sees a newscast about a woman who has disappeared. The shocking thing is that she disappeared once before, 20 years before. What happened to her and who took her are never discovered. Fern is certain she knows the woman. She goes back to her childhood home trying to bring back her memories and figure out how she knew the woman. She has to face her parents, who were flat out negligent and abusive throughout her childhood. And she never seemed to realize it.

Even though, Fern's memories return in a pretty predictable way, I still loved learning about her childhood and that of Astrid. How and why their paths would have crossed, is really the story here.

Thanks to Netgalley, Megan Collins, and Atria Books for the ARC in exchange for meh honest opinion.

14-year old Astrid Sullivan was abducted from her hometown, kept captive for weeks and then was miraculously returned. 20-years later, Astrid has gone missing again. When 32 year old Fern Douglas sees Astrid's picture on the news, she swears she knows her, but she doesn't know how.
To be completely honest, after the first 3 chapters, I actually put this book down and read another one. Fern had so much anxiety, seemed like she was scared of everything and if she heard of a disease on the news, she was convinced she had it. That bothered me, I was bored and just couldn’t get into the story… BUT, the 4th chapter was the turning point and from then on I couldn’t put it down. Fern goes back home to New Hampshire, to help her father, Ted pack up his house and move to Florida. In the midst of the packing, she tries to discover what happened to Astrid. The media, police and Fern are convinced it is the same man her took her. You learn why Fern is essentially afraid of her own shadow.
Even though there are a few parts that seemed predictable, it didn’t take away from the story. This is a very good second book and I would recommend it.
Thank you Megan Collins, Atria Books and NetGalley for providing me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was the perfect book to wrap up my July reading. It was suspenseful, creepy, and oh so twisty! I was always actively trying to guess what would happen and for some reason that was particularly fun with this book. Fern is a likable character who has many issues to work through; these are explainable when you realize how messed up her relationship with her parents is. I really liked the format of the story which goes back and forth between chapters from Astrid’s memoir and Fern’s current quest to figure out what happened. The answers to all the questions are wrapped up into a satisfying package of crazy in the end.

From my blog: Always With a Book:

Last year I read Megan Collins's debut novel, The Winter Sister and really enjoyed it, so I was thrilled to be asked to be on her blog tour for her new book. And this latest one was just as dark and thrilling.

This book hooked me right from the start and I was completely captivated the entire time. The use of fear as a theme was really a unique one and I loved seeing how it was played out in so many different ways. It's not just the fear of the unknown, though that is certainly a big part of what is going on here as Fern is desperately trying to work out why she feels she has some connection to this missing woman who has now gone missing again twenty years later. But it is also the twisted "fear experiments" that her father would do in the name of his research.

I loved that while I had my suspicions as to who was behind things, there were just enough twists that I doubted myself a few times, but ultimately I was right. This in no way detracted from my enjoyment because I needed to know why - what could possibly be the motivations if I was correct?

This book is filled with broken characters and I loved that. Fern is obsessed with pleasing her narcissistic father, yet she's so traumatized by his neglect that she cannot see just how manipulating he really is. And her mother is no better, choosing to focus on her career rather than her daughter.

I loved the book-within-the-book format. I'm always a fan of this and thought it was used really well here. We get to read bits of Astrid's memoir as Fern is digging into it, hoping that it will spark memories. I looked forward to when we got those chapters. It provided so much insight.

This was a tense, dark book and once I started it, I could not put it down. Even though parts were predictable, there were still things I did not see coming. And to be witness to the twisted family dynamics that Fern was part of just devastates me. Megan Collins definitely gives us a thriller that keeps you on edge and I cannot wait to see what she writes next!