Katy Sweeney is on the road. She is driving The Big Lap, all the way around Australia. She is following in the treads of her sister Phoebe, who had taken the trip on her vanlife journey. Phoebe had been documenting her trip on social media, with lots of bright photos and hashtags. And then she disappeared. Katy is hoping that as she travels to the same places, she can figure out what happened to Phoebe, because the police have no leads.

Beth was traveling around Australia and fell in with the wrong guy. He seemed so great at first, but then he took all her clothes and wallet and phone and got violent. Once she saw her opening, she jumped from his van and ran, despite not even having shoes on. But somehow she found a van by the side of the road. There was no one around that she could see, but the doors were unlocked. She jumped in without thinking and hid on the bed, under the blankets.

When the driver came back, she didn’t notice anything amiss at first, but then Katy saw that there was someone on the bed and freaked out. But Beth introduced herself (as Lily, an American college student). Beth wasn’t sure that Katy could be trusted, and Katy wasn’t sure either, but she could see that Beth was in bad shape, and she agreed to let her stay the night. When Beth hears Katy’s story about Phoebe, she wants to help her. As the young women get to know each other, they realize that teaming up may be the best way to find Phoebe, and to stay safe themselves.

But then strange clues start popping up. Notes are left on or near the van. Other travelers recognize Katy from previous campsites and talk about conversations they had with her that she doesn’t remember. Both women get the feeling they’re being watched, maybe even followed. And as they spend time looking over Phoebe’s social media posts and reading the comments and her direct messages, they find trolls who were posting things that were angry and threatening. Both women feel a sense of impending danger and start to question everyone they come across.

But as they get deeper into Phoebe’s journey, closer to the reason she disappeared, the more confused Beth gets from what’s happening. She knows the answer is there, but she can’t put the pieces together the right way. But when it gets to the point of life or death, will Beth be able to find the answers in time, or will it be too late for Phoebe, Katy, and Beth herself?

Red River Road is the latest thriller from Anna Downes, and it is quite the journey. The author takes a while to start showing her cards, but when those cards hit the table late in the book, the story takes a series of unexpected turns that brings about a satisfying and surprising end. These characters go on such a ride, and we’re just hanging on the whole way. This is an enjoyable story that looks at the vanlife lifestyle and how a single woman traveling alone is treated differently in person and online.

I listened to the audio book for this one, and it’s narrated beautifully by Maddy Withington. She brings the fun and adventure of Phoebe’s journey, the danger that Beth was running from, and the curiosity of Katy’s search for answers all to life through her dramatic choices. And her Australian accent brings an authenticity to the reading that really grounded me in Australia for the whole story. And if that’s not enough for you, the audio also has a conversation between Anna Downes and author Sally Hepworth that was both entertaining and laugh-out-loud funny. The audio book is worth it just for that, in my opinion. But listen to the story too. Red River Road is a trip like no other.

Egalleys for Red River Road were provided by Minotaur Books, and an early copy of the audio book was provided by Macmillan Audio, both through NetGalley, with many thanks.

I liked it - especially the travelogue aspect of the story-but, I didn’t love it. I found that it jumped around and didn’t flow smoothly. The idea of visiting beautiful western Australia sounds wonderful but doing the solo ‘van life’ thing would be way out of my comfort zone!
The narration by Maddy Withington Is well paced and clear. Her Aussie accent is pleasant and easy to listen to.
Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the opportunity to very much enjoy the audiobook version of this ARC.

Katy's sister, Phoebe, disappeared on a solo trip around the coast of Australia. She has very little to go on, but she uses her sister's social media account as a roadmap of sorts. Along the way, Katy meets Beth, who's got secrets of her own. Nonetheless, Beth sets out to help Katy find her free-spirited sister. Along the way, they'll run into heaps of trouble, but will they ever be able to find Phoebe?

This is a very twisty thriller that kept me guessing all the way to the end. I liked both Katy and Beth, but sometimes I didn't know if I was supposed to be rooting for both of them, one of them, or neither of them.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for this ALC. I really enjoyed Maddy Withington's narration. She totally brought the story to life.

I felt this book was quite crazy in that I really never knew what was going on, and I was struggling to figure out which character (s) to believe. Narrator did a good job.

Ok. Where to even BEGIN with this one??

First off. Why??
I understand the draw of the internet. I understand the need for likes…
BUT. Phoebe….What. Were. You. Thinking??? ???????

So…Phoebe is a young woman…off on a solo trip around Australia…in a van. By. Herself! And, advertising every single stop. So…stalkers anyone???

We follow her road trips…and then. NOTHING!!!

Next up. Katy is now in search of Phoebe. Her sister has been missing for a year. Katy is on a mission. If the cops have given up…well, no worries. Katy is going to find her!

We follow along as Katy tries to duplicate her trips (as noted on line) in hopes of finding clues…or Phoebe herself!

Then we meet Beth. She’s in a miserable relationship with Lucas. (I’d like to get a hold of Lucas myself… 😡). She’s tried to get away from him, but it never works…

His younger brother Wyatt also makes some appearances. Mostly missing his Mom who has been MIA for some time now…
And his Dad. Weird, strange family dynamics there…

Getting back to Katy…it seems the more she investigates, the more questions she has…
And then she meets Beth. And Beth is willing to help her look for Phoebe…

Wrapping it up here, as I don’t want to give anything away!

I WILL say, that in my wildest dreams, I would NEVER have come up with that ending. Also…hard to believe anything that ANYONE says in the book…as they all seem to be professional liars!

Nail biting, breath holding, hair pin turns…kind of a book.
And as mentioned in other reviews…the ending ??!!?? Just CRAZY!!

Thanks to #NetGalley and #MacmillanAudio for an ARC of the audiobook which releases today! 8/27/24! Thankful I was able to get it just under the deadline!!

#RedRiverRoad by #AnnaDownes and narrated nicely by #MaddyWithington.

4 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ for me!

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"If a man has lost a leg or an eye he knows he has lost a leg or an eye. But if he has lost his self, himself, he cannot know it because he is no longer there to know it."

"Most monsters don't do logic."

Red River Road by fear inducing psychological thriller author Anna Downes will leave you with shivers down your back as she brings to the forefront "gender violence" against women, mental awareness and the sad fact that travelling alone, especially for women, is often a deadly decision.

We have 3 POVs starting with grief stricken Katy looking for her sister Phoebe, who was documenting, through social media, her camper van journey along coastal Western Australia. After 3 weeks she stopped posting and hasn't been seen in 6 months.

Next is Beth who's just escaped abusive Lucas with nothing but the clothes on her back. She stumbles upon Katy who gives her a ride if she'll help with finding Phoebe.

Last is 15 year old Wyatt. His mom's missing, he's brother's gone to find her but left him with their drunk father's cruelty escalating; especially when he finds the hidden cameras.

How they connect is wildly twisty. I was confused at first but patience led to a jaw dropping conclusion. The subtleness from the beginning that something is off with the established premises is masterful.The writer's ability to express Katy's paranoia, Beth's anxiousness and Wyatt's fears was sublime. It's enhanced with voice actress Madeleine Withington superb ability to convey everyone's POV with realistic emotions.

An interview with this talented author and accomplished psychological thriller author Sally Hepworth at the end of the audiobook is just a gifted bonus. Red River Road is a trippy ride.

I received a free copy of this audiobook from Macmillan Audio via #NetGalley for a fair & honest review. All opinions are my own.

This one was kind of a doozy for me. I really enjoyed the first 80% and it was setup to be a spectacular slow burn foray into a mental thriller. However, the ending was such a letdown. I think I am still in a state of fugue from it (IYKYK). The audio production was superb and raised my estimation overall.

Katy is on the road in Australian backcountry looking for her missing sister Phoebe. She also seems to be an erratic mess. She jumps to conclusions, drinks to the point of blacking out, and forgets whole conversations. Despite this she unknowingly rescues and rehabilitates Beth a.k.a. Lily. Both women team up looking for Katy’s sister. Beth may have her own agenda but she finds herself drawn to Katy and her plight. Neither one of them will realize how close their own backgrounds are tied until it is much too late. The camp/van life social media experience may not be safe for most, but especially women traveling alone.

While this had an interesting premise and some great twists, the audiobook was frustratingly confusing as the single voice actor was unable to provide a contrast between the different character's POVs. This story mainly follows Katy, who is out on the road retracing her sister's travel itinerary in the hopes of finding her a year after she went missing. She soon crosses paths with Beth, another traveler who agrees to help her in her search even though it's clear she has secrets of her own.

This was my first book by Anna Downes, and I enjoyed the Australian setting moving along the coastal highway and various campsites. In the end, I wish that I had read this one since it likely would have been easier to follow. It's a shame that there weren't different voice actors to voice each distinct character. I was often confused if I was listening to Katy or Beth's point of view and this made some of the twists feel even more convoluted. Not to mention that there is a whole other male character's point of view that is performed in the same voice as the others.

I really enjoyed this suspenseful and fast-paced audio book about solo female van travelers. The story centers on Katy, who is looking for her missing sister Phoebe, and Phoebe, who went missing on a similar journey five weeks before. I haven't read a lot of (or any, for that matter!) suspense books about #vanlife, especially the lifestyle as experienced by solo female travelers. The book also touches on other interesting and timely subjects like domestic violence, stalking via social media, and amnesia. I always looked forward to listening more to this well-narrated book and the ending was a surprise and well-executed. I'm definitely interested in reading more from Anna Downes. Great audio performance, as well, which added to the suspense.

Told via three different perspectives, as well as expertly-placed mixed media elements, Red River Road is a gripping and suspenseful Psychological Thriller that successfully kept me on my toes throughout. I had the pleasure of Buddy Reading this one with a friend, and we were guessing and throwing out theories the entire time. I loved how Downes put this one together.

We learn about Phoebe, an up-and-coming Travel Influencer, whose solo vanlife trip along the coastal road of Western Australia was followed by people all over the world. That is until the day she goes quiet. Phoebe has disappeared without a trace. We hear about these types of things all the time, but it was still shocking and sad for those who followed, knew Phoebe, or even loved her IRL.

Katy is on a solo van trip of her own. Following Phoebe's social media posts, Katy is desperate to find her. It's during this journey that her path jarringly crosses with Beth's, a woman on the run, full of desperation of her own. As the two get to know one another, Beth realizes who Katy is; Phoebe's sister. Katy realizes that Beth's knowledge may be the key she needs to reach her goals. The two agree to work together and travel together, getting Beth farther away from her past, and Katy closer to finally finding Phoebe. At least that's what they hope.

We also follow Wyatt, a boy who lives with his brother and father in the same remote area through which our two women are traveling. How is Wyatt connected to this story? You'll have to read it, because there's no way I'm telling.

Full of Anna Downes's signature twists and turns, Red River Road reads like a Road Trip Gone Wrong movie come to the page. It's my fave from this author to date. Once I started, it was nearly impossible to stop. I had to know what was happening. I had so many theories over the course of this, I even began to suspect myself...

Downes keeps her chapters short, and the inclusion of the mixed media made this story even more intriguing. It was like watching a giant puzzle come together. Each consecutive chapter added one more piece to the bigger picture. I was reading this so fast. I had to get to the bottom of what was going on.

I loved meeting both Beth and Katy. They were so interesting, and while I was captivated by both of their stories, I didn't trust either of them. I kept expecting betrayals and backstabs. I just did not know who to trust. The conclusion was wild and IMO, readership will be divided on how this ends. For me, I really enjoyed it, although there were some details I got a little confused on towards the end.

I'm pretty sure it is just me though. As in, I missed something as I was rushing through, because I am left with a couple of lingering questions, or things that I think I understand, but am just not 100% sure on. With this being said, this is one of those rare Thriller/Suspense stories that I would actually read again.

I know Thrillers tend to be best appreciated the first time round; like, once you know, you know. In this case though, I actually would like to reread this knowing the ultimate outcome from the start. It's a detailed story, with great character work and a lot of different layers. I think I would appreciate the skill it required for Downes to pull this off even more upon reread.

I had a fabulous time with this. The setting was exciting and the twists were off the charts. I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys a fast-paced Travel Thriller. Also, I highly recommend the audiobook format!

Thank you to the publisher, Minotaur Books and Macmillan Audio, for providing me copies to read and review. I can't wait to see what Anna Downes comes up with next!!!

This was too much of a slow burn for me. It took a while for action to happen, and I never fully connected with any of the characters. There were too many POV’s in this story. I couldn’t keep track of whose chapter it was. It was tough to understand what was happening in the story line. The writing style felt choppy but I did like the creepy vibes. With all that said, I loved the Australian setting!

Wow this book was not what I expected. What a wild ride. A unique and confusing story that makes you feel like you are going a bit crazy, while being completely fascinating and compelling. After just a short while into the book, I didn't want to stop reading because I had to know what was going on (in both the past and what was going to happen). The storytelling was SO well done! I loved the vivid characters and this made me want to visit these gorgeous places. It was an interesting look into travel especially as a female traveler and also made me a bit mad that it's harder to exist in this world safely as a female presenting person just trying to experience travel. The last half was heart-pounding and made this a truly 5 star book.

Note: I listened to the audiobook and it was lovely and so well done!

4⭐
Genre ~ travel thriller
Setting ~ Australia
Publication date ~ August 27, 2024
Publisher ~ Macmillan Audio
Est Page Count ~ 377 (unnumbered, character titled)
Audio length ~ 12 hours 8 minutes
Narrator ~ Maddy Withington
POV ~ single 1st, multiple 3rd
Featuring ~ missing traveler, on page physical physical abuse, flashbacks

Phoebe is our solo traveler that has gone missing.
Katy is searching for Phoebe.
Beth/Lily has escaped an abusive relationship and is along for the ride to help find Phoebe.
Wyatt is a 15 year old boy whose mother is missing.

With a bit of a confusing start it took me a hot minute to get things straight. After that it was smooth sailing with a steady pace as we searched for answers about Phoebe. We get chapters with her blog posts to help lead us on the trail. And then we slowly learn how Wyatt fits into the story.

Overall, it does a good job of giving off a dangerous and an atmospheric vibe. I don’t know about you, but I'm a big scaredy pants and not a solo traveler type at all. It certainly makes me want to visit Australia one day though. While I wasn’t expecting the main twist, it didn’t fully wow me because I've read it a couple times lately. All in all I'd recommend it.

Narration notes:
Is she Australian or American? It’s hard to tell because she did both well.

There’s an author’s note stating how this book came about and an interview with author Sally Hepworth at the end.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan for the free audiobook in exchange for my honest review. Maddy Withington does a fantastic job narrating this one and I highly recommend the audiobook.

Phoebe is an Instagram influencer who lives the #vanlife. But she has been missing for the past year. She set off on a highway trip all the way around Australia but went missing. Her sister, Katy, is retracing Phoebe's van adventure by visiting every site on her sister's instagram journey. When she suddenly meets Beth, a woman in trouble, they team up to hunt for Phoebe on a chaotic, twisty trip.

How do people head off in a van all by their lonesome and survive? How is this possibly safe? Who can you trust in any camping situation? Can you really trust your #roadfriends? I found myself very caught up in the story, the twists and turns. This is a glimpse into another way of life so completely carefree and foreign to my own. Its a very interest and thrilling read that should not be missed! Highly recommend!!!

This book was so creepy. I honestly do not really know what was going on half the time. There were multiple perspectives and multiple stories and none of them seemed trustworthy. They all had secrets that they were hiding and there were many dots that did not connect in their stories. I thought it was well done at the end when most things were tied up, however, since I felt lost during much of the book it often made it difficult to pick it up and read/listen. I thought the descriptions of the location in Australia was incredibly well done - I could easily picture the location and wanted to jump right into the book. If you are looking for a creepy read that is a little bit all over the place - definitely give this a try!
Thank you netgalley for my advanced reader copy.

This book was a slow burn, which I definitely struggled with, especially with audiobooks. Traditionally, I like the book that hooks me from the beginning and the one I never want to stop listening to. This audiobook had a trippy and creepy element and left me feeling confused at many points, which I think was the point of the story. The narrator seemed to do a good job, but admittedly through no fault of the narrator, I struggle more to understand narrators not from the country I’m from. Thank you for the opportunity to listen and review!

As soon as I saw that Red River Road took on the theme of #VanLife and then threw in a possible multiple murder mystery, I knew this book was for me!

What appealed to you the most in this story?

This is an engaging thriller full of suspense that kept me guessing since everyone had their well-guarded secrets. Plus, with a nonstop sense of foreboding along with a background creep factor, I found myself holding my breath a lot of the time. Especially since it’s that kind of thriller that has you asking questions and trusting no one. As you move back and forth between the timelines, the story becomes darker and even more twisted as the sense of foreboding builds. I also found myself fully emersed in the atmosphere Downes created and the breathtaking beauty of Australia as we toured several popular natural settings during each of the stops they make on their search to discover what really happened to Pheobe.

What to expect:

Multiple POV
Tension
Suspense
Mystery
You never know who is watching
#VanLife
Australian Atmosphere
Twists
Mental Health Rep
Abuse

How was the narration?

Maddy Withington always does a phenomenal job creating distinctive voices for each character while creating tension to keep the listener engaged.

How was the pace?

Slow burn and engaging

Do you recommend this book?

If you enjoy thrillers and/or a good mystery with multiple plot lines that seamlessly come together, grab this book!

Thank you, Minotaur Books and MacMillan Audio for this gifted copy in exchange for my honest review.

I approached this audiobook without any prior knowledge, and it turned out to be a remarkable experience. The story was refreshingly original and immediately drew me in with its intricate plot and compelling characters.

As I listened, I was often left pondering the reasons behind various twists and turns. My buddy reader Marie and I had many engaging discussions, trying to guess what would happen next, which added a layer of enjoyment to the experience.

The emotional depth of the narrative was striking, exploring themes that were both intense and moving. Overall, the audiobook offered a powerful and unforgettable journey, blending suspense and emotional resonance in a way that left a lasting impression.

This book. Man it started so well, with so much potential.
Girl is an influencer into solo travel, and goes missing. Her sister goes on same adventure a year later to try and retrace her steps.
She meets a desperate stranger on her travels who wants to help her find the lost sister.
I mean, it all sounds so great. And it is. Until the end.
The actual ending was good, but there were many plot holes left and the text book explanation of what happened went on for what felt like forever.
This is one I would love to discuss if anyone has read it and wants to. I feel like I missed something, but I don’t think I did. Anyway, 3 stars because it was really a great idea, just really long winded in some spots and then lack of explanation in others.
Thank you netgalley and Macmillan audio!

I did this as an audiobook, Now, as good as the audio narrator was, I still think it would’ve been better (for me personally) to read the physical book than listen to it because it’s a bit all over the place, hard to keep up. However…the author convo with Sally Hepworth at the end of the book was interesting so I listened to that too.

I read the physical book for The Safe Place and loved it. I think maybe her writing is better for my brain personally to take in by reading instead of listening.

There are just a lot of characters and jumping all over the place.

I liked what she was doing, driving home the message that women should be able to move through and travel the world without fear of being a target.

She did a nice job of setting the stage for the book and pulling from real life cases.

Overall this one was a miss for me but I didn’t hate it. I just couldn’t tell you much about who was who and who did what.