I very much enjoyed the story as a whole, especially the fact that it’s packed full of twists and turns that truly kept me guessing all the way to the end. Every time I thought I had it figured out, another clue would surface and I would realize how completely wrong I was. Major props to Dowens for creating such a suspenseful and unpredictable storyline. I’m definitely going to be recommending it to all the mystery and suspense reads’ fans.

Thank you NetGalley and Minotaur Books for the ARC of Anna Downs’s’ newest thriller!
Red River Road takes us on a road trip around Western Australia, from the POV of Katy, who is in search of her missing sister, and Beth, who is escaping a life she’s hoping to leave behind.
The last quarter in particular was exciting and twisty, and while I initially found the “big twist” to be a bit of a cop out, the author did a great job explaining and connecting all of the puzzle pieces. In the end, Red River Road was a puzzling mystery with a well thought out plot line, and I would definitely recommend it to anyone looking for a good travel-themed thriller!

Katy goes to look for her sister, Phoebe, who has vanished on a remote highway in the Australian outback. The police have given up on finding her, but Katy will not stop until she finds out what happened to her sister.

Anna Downes you star! I loved this book so much, and I am never going to forget that ending.. just wow!

This is a different kind of story than Anna’s previous books. A slow burning mystery that will just get into your head. Set on the coast of Western Australia, the beautifully written setting is a big part I& the story. I could see it in my mind so vividly as I was reading, and it made me want to travel there…without all the other scary stuff of course!

This is the story of Katy, who is sick of waiting for the police investigation into her missing sister Phoebe to find anything. She decides to get herself a van and follow her sister trip up the coast. She uses Phoebes Instagram page as a guide, determined to find out what happened a year ago. Where is her sister and why can’t the police find her? Along the way she picks up another two man, who is travelling alone and is hiding things of her own.

With danger at every turn, I was completely engrossed in this trip. Both women are hiding things from each other, and there is more than meets the eye. The people they encounter along the way, the struggles for women travelling on their own, it was all so realistic and I felt like ai was going on this journey with them.

And that ending 😱just wow. So very clever, and the more I think about it the more hints and clues I see that I missed. I spoilers, but it is amazing and you do not want to miss it.

Thanks so much to St Martin’s Press, Minotaur for my advanced copy on NetGalley to read. Published August 27th.

Highly Recommended.

Anna Downes's latest novel, "Red River Road," is a captivating and suspenseful thriller that will keep readers on the edge of their seats. The story follows Katy Sweeney, a determined woman who embarks on a dangerous journey to uncover the truth behind her sister Phoebe's mysterious disappearance in the Australian outback.

Downes's writing is masterful, as she weaves together a complex narrative that explores the bond between sisters, the perils of solo travel, and the deceptive nature of memory. The vivid descriptions of the remote and beautiful coastal highway in Western Australia transport readers to the heart of the story, immersing them in the unforgiving landscape that serves as the backdrop for Phoebe's disappearance.

As Katy retraces her sister's steps using Phoebe's social media accounts, she uncovers a trail of clues that lead her to question the circumstances surrounding the disappearance. The introduction of Beth, a mysterious woman with a dark past, adds an extra layer of intrigue to the plot, as the two women form an uneasy alliance in their quest for the truth.

Downes expertly builds tension throughout the novel, keeping readers guessing until the very end. The twists and turns in the plot are both surprising and satisfying, and the characters are well-developed and relatable, making it easy for readers to become invested in their stories.

"Red River Road" is a powerful and emotional thriller that explores the lengths we will go to for the ones we love and the dangers that lurk in the shadows of even the most beautiful places. Anna Downes has crafted a compelling and unforgettable story that will resonate with readers long after they turn the final page.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I enjoyed this twisty psychological thriller, particularly the setting in the wilderness of western Australia. A seemingly typical missing person story took an unexpected direction and I ultimately found it engaging and satisfying. As always with these stories, there are a lot of convenient coincidences but I'm used to suspending my disbelief in this genre.

Anna Downes's novel is filled with twists that you won't see coming!

Welcome to the Australian Outback! Katy Sweeney is following her sister Phoebe's trail. Phoebe left last year on a solo trip but disappeared without a trace 3 weeks into a year round planned loop of Australia. While following her posts on instagram, Katy finds Beth, a woman on the run with her own secrets.

As the week passes, more strangers show up and becomes clear that there is more to Phoebe's story, and there is definitely danger.
Join Katy as she tries to discover the truth! Downes presents plenty of mysteries and keeps the story moving. The Australian backdrop is a character of its own and very enchanting- ready for a trip any one?
#stmartinspress #redriverroad #annadownes

This was a really great story! I loved the shifting perspectives and the characters were incredibly written. I didn’t see the ending coming which I love. The story was engaging and descriptive, but not wordy. Most of the Aussie words were clear and I understood what they meant, instead of sounding like a foreign language. Well done! Can’t wait to see more from this author!

Wow what a book!

This book was fast paced from the very beginning. It was from the viewpoint of Wyatt, Beth, and Katy. The way it all connected in the end was genius. This book had to have taken YEARS to complete. It had so many different sub plots and everything was webbed together.

I was not expecting the big twist and I LOVED it. It was very fresh and new.

I loved this book and thought it was so well written.

I enjoyed the twists and the creep factors.

10/10 recommend

Interesting book. Lots of twists and turns. Never heard of the disease she has that caused her amnesia. I have never read this author before.

Thank you so much to Netgalley, Anna Downes, and Minotaur Books for this e-ARC!!

OMG this one is a must read!! Most chapters have a major creep factor, and cliffhangers that make you not want, but need, to keep reading.

Imagine being a solo female traveler in Western Australia, living in your van as you go. Dark nights, scary sounds, strangers, creepy notes, all make for an excellent, slow burn thriller.

I felt like I was right there in that van w Katy, and I wanted to get the hell out bc the descriptions of what she was experiencing were so scary to me.

5 full stars for this one, give it a go!! It's so good!

This felt like more than your typical thriller. It was intricate and twisty but also had heart. I assumed everyone would intersect somehow but I never could have guessed how. There were so many successful red herrings that even when I thought I had it figured out, I second guessed myself. This is packed with action and emotion. Our two main ladies Beth and Katy are troubled souls that you can’t help but cheer for.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for providing this book, with my honest review below.

Red River Road has a very unique premise and was at different turns heartbreaking and harrowing. Katy is searching for her sister Phoebe who disappeared during a road trip. What she finds are strangers along the way with things to hide and a discovery that is twisted in every way.

I enjoyed the structure of this novel with Instagram breaks from Phoebe and different character perspectives. Where I got a bit lost was the ending which was perhaps too twisty for its own good. That said, this really did pack a punch. I recommend bringing all your focus and trying to see this through without alternating other books in between, because while it can be heavy the beauty is the emotional twists this brings, and if you can get through a lot going on, it’s worth it.

A page-turning thriller set in beautiful Western Australia. The mystery was engaging and kept me guessing until the reveal. However, there were quite a few red herrings (and dare I say plot-holes) that took away from my overall enjoyment of the story.

Red River Road is told from multiple POV of a woman traveling around looking for someone missing.
POV from the people she meets, one she even finds alone the way and tries to take care of and the ones she runs from.
Anna Downes has written these complex personalities with depth and clarity that makes a fascinating storyline to me.
If you enjoy surprising endings this has it.
#RedRiverRoad
#AnnaDownes
#BoldwookBooks

How dangerous is it for women to travel alone in Australia?

Particularly in a VAN?

If you’ve seen “Wolf Lake” you’d probably be cautious and I’m not sure “Red River Road” would console you.

There’s a lot packed into this book & the twists & turners will have you reevaluate everything you’ve read.

The ending arrives with chapters to answer all your questions.

Life on the road is the different spin on this book. Are you safe and what if you are a traveler and an influencer? Two strangers come together to search for a missing
sister as they follow her itineraryI loved traveling vicariously through Australia to see all the sights and to cobble together all the clues !

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publishing company for allowing me to read this ARC! Thank y’all!

First and foremost, this book literally had me in a mess. You think you know the answers and then all of a sudden it’s like you get driven off a cliff.

Katy is looking for her sister Pheobe after she disappeared while traveling solo along Western Australia. When she meets Beth, a drifter with a shady past it is up to them to solve the mystery.

Wyatt is struggling with the truth after he finds out his mother longed for solo travel over raising her kids. But even a kid can hold a dark secret.

You think you have these characters figured out, you think you know the whole story but you come to find out that everybody has something they don’t want to say

This is an absolute fantastic mystery that keeps you on the edge of your seat from the beginning. There are lots of twists and turns but everything comes together at the end. What a great read.

As a single woman who sometimes travels alone, Red River Road caught my attention. Full of twists, great scenery and interesting characters. Well done.