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.

When her sister Phoebe vanishes without a trace during a solo road trip around Australia, Katy Sweeney sets out to follow the same route determined to find out what happened to her sister. As Katy makes her way through the route, she runs into another van lifer, Beth, and they decide to travel together.... but neither girl is what they seem.

I ended up really liking this one, but I felt like it dragged a little bit in the middle. I kept wishing the author would take advantage of the stunning setting and really painted a picture. This road trip that Katy & Beth are on is once in a lifetime for most of the world and I didn't really feel like I could picture it the way I picture Ragnar Jonasson's Iceland. That being said, the characters were good, plot was good, and the twist was excellent! Would definitely read more from this author!

Katy Sweeney is looking for her sister, Phoebe, who disappeared a year ago, three weeks into a solo trip in a van traveling around the Western Australia coast. Along the way, she meets Beth, and they team up. Beth. with secrets of her own, thinks helping Katy is the best way to hide. But as the twists mount and lies begin to be exposed, both women find they are in danger.

This is an interesting story about the dark side of female solo travel. I listened to the audiobook, which kept me interested throughout. It was very enjoyable.

This is a twisted thriller set in the Australian outback and van life. Katy is looking for her sister, Phoebe, who went missing a year ago as she began a van life adventure of her own. Katy meets up with Beth, another van life traveler who is on the run from her own past. This thriller is told from multiple POV, which is my favorite format for a thriller. The narrator for the audiobook has a great accent and did a wonderful job.

Thank you Macmillan audio and netgalley for the ALC.

Oh my gosh I loved this! How I loved this! I love the clear research that went into it. I love the characters. I love the mystery and the ending! I especially loved the notes from the author at the end and the part with the author and her friend (asl oa famous author) talking about writing. I even cried a little in a few parts because it was so relatable. I used to write in the pickup line at my kids' school.
The narration was perfection as well!

This book didn't thrill me. I do think our hardcore mystery patrons will be interested so the book will circulate. Maybe it just wasn't the book for me.

Red River Road by Anna Downes is one of the wildest rides I've ever been on, and my heart is still racing from the completely unexpected ending. Katy's sister Phoebe went missing when she traveled through Australia alone (#vanlife) and Katy is determined to retrace her steps to find out what really happened. Along the way she meets an array of questionable characters and picks up "Lily", who has just escaped from a dangerous situation. The two form an unlikely friendship but they both have secrets that can jeopardize their lives....

The narrator of this intense thriller was incredible. She brought each character to life and built up the tension in a way that made me listen to this book every possible second that I could.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC of Anna Downes' newest masterpiece!

I received an audiobook arc of this book from NetGalley and Macmillan Audio.

I gave this book 4 stars.

Katy decides to go search for her missing sister Phoebe, is the Australian Outback. Phoebe is an influencer living the “van life” when Katy decided to look for her, and she hasn’t been heard from in 3 weeks.

While in Australia, Katy meets a few people, one of them being Beth who is running from something. Katy decides to let her tag along, but soon realizes there are many secrets that could be dangerous to her, and could have been the reason for Phoebe’s disappearance.

Welp this book definitely made my jaw drop. I was in no way expecting it to head in the direction it did, but it definitely made me like the book a lot more! The audiobook made it a little more confusing, but overall I enjoyed the narration and felt like it was done well.

This is a great book for people who like mysteries as well as outdoors type books.

3.75 ⭐️

Red River Road is a twisty and propulsive suspense-filled thriller. It kept me on the edge of my seat, guessing and second guessing all the way through. I enjoyed it but also started to get a bit frustrated as it started to feel a bit more improbable, but it was still quite entertaining.

Maddy Withington did an excellent and layered job narrating the audiobook.

Thank you Anna Downes, St Martin’s Press, Macmillan Audio, and NetGalley for providing this ARC for review consideration. All opinions expressed are my own.

What a twisty and wild ride in this mystery thriller about a woman searching to find out what happened to her younger sister who went missing when on a solo van trip through Australia.

Great descriptive storytelling as Katy Sweeney uses her sister, Phoebe’s, old instagram posts to trace her route along the Western Australian coast. Following her social media photos and details into campsites and scenic sites, Katy finds the trail has gone cold. No one knows anything. Katy discovers more questions than answers as she soon realizes that the situation of a woman traveling alone can be very dangerous. What happened to Phoebe and where was she when it did?

Suddenly, the tracking becomes even more convoluted when Katy meets and befriends the stranded Beth. But things are even more strange as they travel together. Someone is following them.

I think it best to go into this without reading too much about it ahead of time. It’s a fabulous narrative with multiple points of view that, initially, is quite confusing. When all is revealed, you will likely shake your head and exclaim at how well the author tied everything together in a shocking climax.

I was able to listen to the audiobook while following along in the e-book ARC, both provided by the publisher. The narrator did a fabulous job with the different character voices and the Australian accents. The quality of expression and tone by Maddy Withington added immensely to my enjoyment of the story. An excellent production that has the added benefit of hearing the author’s note at the end and a conversation between Anna Downes and Sally Hepworth. Highly recommended.

One year ago, a solo female traveler named Phoebe Green disappeared along with her caravan while traveling through Western Australia. Now, her sister Katie is retracing her route in hopes of shedding new light on the disappearance and ultimately finding her sister alive. Meanwhile, a young woman named Beth finds herself beaten and alone one night and in need of rescue. When she and Katie find each other, it seems like an ideal situation for both of them. Katie will give Beth shelter, and Beth will be another pair of eyes in Katie's search for her missing sister. But both women have secrets, and both might be in more danger than they know.

During the first half of this book, I really wasn't sure how I felt about it. There were parts that were slightly creepier than I normally prefer, and I was worried that I was going to have to leave it unfinished to be able to sleep at night. I'm so glad I decided not too. The second half of the book picks up the pace considerably, and though there is still some weird stuff happening, the need to figure out what's going on with our characters overshadowed that and made me want to continue no matter what. I did not predict the ending at all which is always a great thing in a thriller. The mystery element here was solid, and combined with the sometimes dangerous, current situations our characters found themselves in, this was a fast-paced, well orchestrated read. The fact that we get several points of view including flashbacks from one character and social media posts from another only enhances the storytelling. I would highly recommend to mystery and thriller fans.