This is the exact kind of book I would enjoy. However, for some reason, I did not. This felt slow and I just didn't care.

Thank you netgalley for the advanced preview audio book. I just love getting advance copies! This one lives up to the hype!

This book takes place in Australia on a road trip in a camper van. It follows two women - Katie, who is looking for her sister (Phoebe) who went missing on this same road trip trail, and Beth, who has gotten herself into some trouble and is trying to figure out her next move in life. Katie takes Beth in and together they try to retrace Phoebe’s steps in a hope to find her or at least what happened to her.

I love that this book was written in multiple POVs. For a long time the reader has no clue why the third POV is a young boy named Wyatt.

The author really led me around to where she wanted me to go in this mystery. Sure, I had theories. I always do. But I never saw the ending coming. The book was well done, had great character development, and a good mystery to solve. And it was set in Australia which is a place I’ve never been so that was a lot of fun!

If you’re looking for an adventure and some mystery, with female friendship mixed in, pick this one up!

This story just wasn’t for me. It wasn’t bad, but it was hard for me to get into it. In fact I did initially DNF this and restarted it. I really wanted to find out how it ended so I stuck it out.

I really loved the concept and storyline of this book. I was so excited to give this one a listen but it was hard to relate to the characters.

The writing and scenes ready description were really well done and if Australia didn’t have human sized spiders I would be on my way there

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for an audio copy in exchange for an honest review.

3.5 Stars

Adventure and female solo vanlife traveler, Phoebe, disappeared over a year ago. She had been posting videos to her social media of her stops as she circled Australia but one day in early June they just stopped and she and her van were never seen again. Her sister, Katy, has been desperately searching for her, so as a last ditch effort she decides to recreate Phoebe's journey piece by piece looking for clues or someone who may have seen her. As her travels begins she runs into a stranded woman, Beth, who has been ditched by her abusive boyfriend. The two form an uneasy partnership as they set out on the road in hopes of finding answers. However there would be twists that neither woman ever saw coming.

This is a twisty multi POV mystery that left me questioning every character and at times wondering what was going on. I liked the beginning of this story because we are introduced to Phoebe through her previous social media posts and the remaining characters in present time. The social media posts was a nice addition to the portrait. The story is a very slow burn and does drag in the middle, with more description than real action. Since there are a lot of characters and names and screen names the story gets a bit muddled and causes some confusion. There is a big plot twist near the end that clarifies some of the early confusion and explains character choices. I think there was too much jammed into the ending. That being said overall it was a pretty good mystery and I did enjoy Downes style and would like to read more of her work. Her notes at the end of the story were very interesting and helped with a lot of context.

I had the audio version read by Maddy Withington who I thought did an excellent job. She was enjoyable to listen to. She does a very good job of handling at least 3 POV characters but I think the audio book really could have used at least one other narrator.

This was my first book by Anna Downes and it was a solid thriller! I will definitely be adding her to my list of authors to read again.

I'll admit that the book was a bit slow in the beginning and I wasn't sure where it was going, but that mimicked the road trip setting of rural Australia featured in this story. It focuses on a female main character who is determined to retrace the steps her missing sister, a free spirit who disappeared while living #vanlife. I recommend this one for anyone who enjoys multiple POV thrillers with strong female protagonists and psychological plot twists. Lastly, I appreciated the author narrating her note at the end, explaining what inspired her to write this novel.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the audiobook in exchange for honest review!

It’s clear from the very first moments that Anna Downes’ RED RIVER ROAD has all of the ingredients for a page-turner: a secluded, unknowable landscape, a missing woman, and secrets abound. Told through alternating perspectives, the plot is centered on a woman’s desperate search for sister who disappeared during her solo exploration of Western Australia. When Katie finds Beth, bewildered and confuses, along the way, the search for her sister becomes more complicated. It becomes clear along the way that everyone we meet has something they’re searching for - and something they’re keeping buried. That includes teenaged Wyatt, one of the narrators, who seems inconsequential but has an important role to play.

It was a bit slow for me at first but once the threads of the plot began to unravel, I was very much in. Some parts didn’t quite resolve in a way that made sense for me but that’s okay.

Content warnings for intimate partner violence.

If you’re tempted by wanderlust and the call of #vanlife, this will be a perfect read for you. If you like your suspense with a hint of feminism, this is also for you.

I deeply appreciated the author’s note at the conclusion of the book and it’s worth the read/listen. The audiobook is well narrated with excellent pacing.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC/ALC. All opinions are entirely my own.

Another twisty, exciting psychological thriller from my new favorite Anna Downes. This was outstanding on audio and the narrator is amazing. An Australian woman who is searching for her missing sister meets another young woman who is hiding deep, dark secrets. It was very easy to get engrossed in this plot. I loved the descriptions of Australian van life. The characters were multilayered and unreliable. The surprise ending was intense and completely unexpected. For fans of Jane Harper and Liane Moriarty.

Man, what a rollercoaster ride! I really enjoyed this book! I read it as a mix between audio and kindle, which worked great for me. I didn't see the end coming at all, and that is the true mark of an excellent thriller! 5 stars!

Red River Road by Anna Downes
Narrated by Maddy Withington
Published: Macmillan Audio
Genre: General Fiction (Adult), Mystery & Thrillers, Women's Fiction
Published: August 27, 2024

Red River Road is a standalone novel by Anna Downes. This was such a unique story, and it felt so real. This book has such an intensity woven into it; you can still feel it even after you’ve reached the end.

The narration by Maddy Withington was incredible! She does an incredible job giving each character a voice and bringing the story to life!

I can’t wait to see what Anna Downes creates next! I really enjoyed this book!!!

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Red River Road

I’ve fallen behind in my reviews and I’m happy to have time to now catch up. I listen to Red River Road over the summer. The focus on a missing woman combined with the van life she led and the beautiful setting made for an intriguing read. I appreciate how the story brought together two different women and explored the circumstances that led them to each other. At times I did find the story lagged a bit. However, just when I would find myself drifting the tale would take a turn, and I would be right back into it.

The last quarter of the book is truly a wild ride and I found myself looking for any opportunity to listen to it. If you’re looking for a book with some darker elements and a few twists then I highly recommend trying this one. Thank you, NetGalley and MacMillian audio for both my DRC and my ALC.

I listened to the audiobook and loved the narrator! The storyline caught my interest from the very beginning and I loved the author’s writing style. I loved all the twists and turns throughout, highly recommend this one!

I know no author likes hearing this; however, I almost DNF'd this book. I started it with lack of sleep and there are a lot of different POVs and it felt hectic. So, know that going into the book if you are not a fan of multiple POVs (I actually love them).

With that being said, I am so happy I continued. There are several things going on in this story and you will figure some out, but I sure didn't see the main plot twist coming at all.

There is an internet question that has been floating around, "would you rather be trapped in the woods with a bear or a man?" This book will clear that up for you.

This book was such an adventure. I received the audiobook from Netgalley and Macmillan Publishers in return for an honest review. I high recommend the audiobook for the experience and a fantastic coversation with Anna Downes and author Sally Hepworth (I recommend reading her books as well).

Oh my goodness, this book has to be one of my favorites of this year!

To be honest, at the beginning of the book I wasn't quite sure if this was going to be a book that I could get into. Australian thrillers seem to be a mixed bag for me. I am not quite sure what it is, but there you have it.

This book however, nailed it for me. It had everything I look for. Interesting plot✔, great narrator✔, and new concept I haven't seen in a book✔. And the ending, at least for me, did not disappoint and I had a lot of "fun" trying to figure out what was going on and how everything was going to be reconciled in this situation.

I think many people are going to be pleasantly surprised by this book and this author this year. Do yourself a favor and listen to this one. I think it's worth it.

If you are ready to question everything you think you know about these characters, this is the book for you!! Katy is determined to retrace her younger sister, Phoebe’s, van journey to locate her missing sibling. The authorities have run out of leads but Katy has to know how and why her sister disappeared. Along the way, she meets Beth, who is on the run from her own dangerous past. Told in alternating voice, Katy follows along with Phoebe’s blog to hopefully solve the mystery of her disappearance. What she uncovers will spin your mind. Thanks to NetGalley, Macmillan Audio and Minotaur Books for the ARC. This is my honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.
I chose this book because I was expecting it to be similar to Liane Moriarty, Sally Hepworth or other Australian thriller writers and while this book was enjoyable it wasn't my favorite book of 2024. I did find the narrator to be likeable enough though. I may give this book another chance sometime at a later date down the road.
Many thanks again to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to review this book.

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“Red River Road“ by Anna Downes is a gripping mystery that takes readers on a thrilling journey through the Australian coast. The story follows Katy Sweeney, who is desperately searching for any information on her missing sister and travel influencer, Phoebe. As Katy retraces Phoebe’s steps, she meets Beth, a stranger with secrets of her own. With Beth is on the run and Katy getting dangerously close to the truth about what happened to her sister, mysterious trouble pops up around every turn. Someone is trying to warn them of danger, but which one of them is truly in danger?

Secrets plague both girls, but these secrets may be they key to unlocking the whole mystery. This story is an excellently crafted mystery that will appeal to fans of the genre. Its blend of personal drama, suspense, and unexpected twists makes for an engaging read that's hard to put down. Thank you Macmillan Audio for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

This review was originally posted on Books of My Heart


Review copy was received from . This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

2.5 hearts

I started Red River Road on audio and just felt confused. There are three main characters: Katy, Beth and Wyatt. Wyatt is a child and seems a bit unconnected to the story for most of the book. Katy and Beth seem like unreliable narrators of the story which is not one of my favorite things. It also could have been mood, as uncertainty is not my reading preference right now.

So I tried again later, switching to the ebook version. This switch is the opposite of one that was effective earlier this month with a different paused read. So format can be tricky and works for me differently in different genres.

Katy is searching for her sister, Phoebe who has gone missing. Beth escaped her own bad situation and wound up in Katy's van. Together, they follow Phoebe's route and try to find people who saw her and talked to her. The method is not very effective. Eventually they get into Phoebe's accounts and emails at Beth's suggestion to figure out more of her interactions.

Meanwhile, we are getting flashback chapters to Wyatt and Beth's history. Beth and Katy haven't trusted each other completely so they solve the mystery from different aspects, which all comes together in the end. Domestic abuse and misogyny plays into the history strongly, so be advised.

Red River Road was not a fun or pleasant read. The women were not very careful and had only each other for support, for reasons. I could admire their strength and perseverance, even understand their unwillingness to get help. I struggled to read this one, on edge but tired of the unhelpful details until the last bit which happened very quickly.

Narration:
I'm sure that through no fault of the narrator, the style of the story did not work for me on audio. I felt like I was in a haze of confusion which I was able to handle by reading the ebook.

The viral #vanlife is a nightmare for two women traveling the coast of Western Australia. One is following the path of her missing traveler sister, while the other is on the run from an abusive boyfriend. But they're each harboring deep secrets as they work to help each other.

This book -- I listened to the audiobook -- sucked me in so deep. The characters, the plot, the setting were absolutely fascinating. This is a well written and unique psychological thriller. It explores the double standards of female solo travel and, stopping sort of giving spoilers, examines stigmas and misconceptions that still exist around mental health and neurological conditions.

I really enjoyed the narration. The author discussion between Downes and Sally Hepworth at the end of the audiobook is not to be missed.

This book really drew me in from the beginning, a young woman traces her solo travelling sister who has gone missing in her van in Australia. Unfortunately about a quarter of the way through it became a little too meandering for my liking. I stopped caring about the fates of the characters and that is never a good sign for me. The writing was really good however