4 stars

This is a great psychological thriller that requires the reader's full attention, so word to those readers like me: if you are prone to casual audiobook listening, this is one on which to focus.

Katy is looking for her sister, Phoebe, who went out on a van life excursion across Western Australia last year and has not been heard from since. There are no leads, so Katy decides to play citizen/sister detective, and she is...not that good at it. It's obvious early on that she's going to struggle on this trip since she keeps missing periods of time, finding herself confused, etc. This all gets a little more complicated by the early introduction of Beth, who is an intriguing character on her own, but who also lends little clarity to whatever is going on with Katy and Phoebe.

This is a twisty psychological thriller that forces readers to think of the many recent scenarios in which women traveling alone or with romantic partners have found themselves in dangerous situations. There's a fantastic author's note about this that added a lot to my reading experience!

I really enjoyed this read and will be looking for more from this author.

3.75⭐️ this is going to be hit or miss depending on the person.

I am thankful to have gotten the audioARC for free from Netgalley and MacMillian Audio so I can leave my voluntary review.

I’m beginning to realize that “general adult fiction” just may not be for me. Obviously any adult geared writing can fall under that category but I mean when books are in the category and nothing else. Why? I get bored. Same with contemporary fiction.

This book is a little better as it has some twists along the way and the end makes it worth it and why I rounded up to 4 stars. I listened to the audio book and the narrator did a great job with the voices as well as the appropriate amount of inflection without getting too dramatic. I also personally loved listening to her Aussie accent.

If you are a person who has taken part in or interested in “Van life” you will probably love this book. Going along on the journey that the characters go on throughout Australia. While I was a bit bored at times I did get engaged when different places were vividly explained. This made me stop and start the book over several days but I did want to finish it and not just because it was an ARC.

The ending was great. I can’t say much as it’ll be a huge spoiler but I liked the explanation of the different pieces. While I did have a solid feeling of what was going on, it still was great to hear it unfold.

So this is a slow story to unfold but don’t let it get you down. Push through and you’ll be rewarded in the end. The book is released to the public on August 27th 2024.



My rating system since GoodReads doesn’t have partial stars and I rarely round up.

⭐️ Hated it
⭐️⭐️ Had a lot of trouble, prose issues, really not my cup of tea (potentially DNF’d or thought about it)
⭐️⭐️⭐️ Meh, it was an ok read but nothing special
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Really enjoyed it! Would recommend to others
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Outstanding! Will circle back and read again

In Red River Road, a young Australian woman decides to travel the Coral Coast of Australia in a solo van trip and goes missing. However, this story is not what it seems at first!

I was hooked from the beginning and really enjoyed this travel thriller. I recommend giving this audiobook a listen if you enjoy travel thrillers and enjoy big twists in a story. I truly did not see the twist in this one coming!

Thank you @macmillan.audio for allowing me to listen to this audiobook in exchange for my honest review.

(This same review was shared on the Barnes & Noble website)

Having been to Australia and doing a back packing and horse riding safari I could not wait to read this book! The descriptions of scenery did not disappoint. The story was a slow burn and I could not wait to find out how it all came together. I did guess what happened with one character, no spoilers from me! It does come together and it was good, just a little to long. The narrator did a fantastic job with the accents! I will look for other books by this author. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

Excellent, eery psychological thriller.

4.5 stars rounded up.


Katie is looking for her sister Phoebe, who was traveling along the Western Australian coast in a van by herself when she vanished. Retracing Phoebe‘s route from her social media posts, Katie soon encounters another solo female traveler, Beth (who gives her name as Lily), who is clearly running from something/someone. Eventually, the two women form a reluctant partnership in their search for answers.

The book‘s biggest achievement is its unsettling, creepy atmosphere, which was extremely well done and contributed to the constant tension of this psychological thriller. Furthermore, it broaches a Zeitgeist subject, female solo travelers and the many dangers they may find themselves in.

As a thriller, it was initially a rather slow burn, but the eeriness of the setting, albeit in the middle of a beautiful landscape, more than made up for that. And while the biggest twist became obvious to me early on, I still very much enjoyed this book. Katie and Beth were great characters, and the back and forth between their different POVs was expertly done. I did think the final explanation of what exactly happened to Phoebe was a bit over the top, though.

The author‘s note at the end of the book was extremely insightful and made me appreciate the subject matter even more. On top of that, the audio book also contains a talk between Anna Downes, author of „Red River Road“, and fellow author Sally Hepworth, which I enjoyed immensely.

I listened to the audio version of this book, and thought the narrator did an absolutely outstanding job throughout.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

„Red River Road“ is slated to be published on August 27, 2024.

I’m a sucker for an Australian audiobook, so was excited to read this new book. Katie roadtrips Western Australia searching for her missing sister Phoebe. She teams up with Beth who’s on the run from her abusive boyfriend Lucas

We get a bunch of different POVs, including Phoebe’s instagram. I was thinking it would have been really cool if Phoebe’s insta actually existed!

Beth was pretty kick ass - I listened to the audiobook and her fake US accent was outstanding! I loved that Beth was so invested in her lies and I routed for her throughout

Fifteen year old Wyatt, Lucas’s brother is the only one not roadtripping. He’s at home, sickly and neglected. I’m not sure we ever found out why he was always sick (someone can share if I’m mistaken). His older brother Lucas featured heavily but we never heard from him which was a shame. I’d have liked to understand his actions, as I’m not sure I did

Sister Katie was my least favorite of the characters - I found it hard to connect…. She wasn’t as energetic as the others and I felt almost claustrophobic - perhaps that highlights the solid writing

Because it’s a slow burn, I felt it was all gonna rely on the resolution. Although I loved the smaller twist, I didn’t appreciate the big reveal. There’s a few things I really don’t like in a book (a cliffhanger, for example) and this was one of them

I do however recommend this book and I’m actually going to suggest it to my bookclub as it highlighted some important topics; women and their right to travel alone, human trafficking, child neglect etc

Thanks to Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for access to this audiobook ARC in exchange for my honest review

This is one that I think readers will either really like, or really not like. This story started out a bit strong and suspenseful, but quickly there were too many characters, they weren't too developed, and at the end I was left feeling like, "What did I just listen to?"
Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for access to this audio book.

Red River Road by Anna Downes
Narrated by Maddy Withington

First I want to say that the narration of this story was very good. Almost everyone is speaking in a Aussie accent and the accents were done in such a way that this Texan could understand what everyone was saying. I need that if I'm going to enjoy an audiobook. Be sure to listen to the author's note at the end of the audiobook and then the bonus of getting to hear authors Anna Downes and Sally Hepworth talk about their work and lives.

Red River Road is confusing at first although you will eventually understand what is going on at the end. The confusion fits so well with the characters, especially the character of Katy. Although she often seems very much on top of her game, level headed and able to take care of herself, there are other times that Katy seems disoriented, drugged or drunk, not all there, it's very hard to tell what is going on. Is she hiding something, is she lying, just what is going on with Katy?

Then Beth appears in Katy's bed, bloody, barefoot, and ragged. Beth is running from something or someone and at first the two don't trust each other. But eventually, despite their inability to level with the other, both women know that they are better off together than apart. Katy is so generous to Beth, giving her a place to stay, food, and clothing. Beth, really does want to make sure Katy is okay since she seems to be...off, in some way.

Katy is looking for her sister who dropped off social media while in the middle of a solo vanlife trip. But something isn't right about Katy's trip or about Katy's story. Something isn't right about Beth's story either. Then there is a fifteen year old boy who gives us another POV. He seems like a really good kid and it takes a while to figure out how he fits into everything. I wasn't sure about the story at first but I couldn't help liking all three of the main characters despite their spaciness and shadiness. And by the end of the story I was very satisfied with what I learned and how the story moved forward.

Thank you to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for this ARC.

This was such an anticipated release for me. I wanted to like this book so much more than I did. I've read from this author before and really enjoyed her writing. This one though, it didn't live up to my expectations. It was.... boring? The multiple POVs weren't unique enough and I kept getting them confused. It didn't connect with the characters at all, so I wasn't at all invested in the mystery of what happened to her sister. The plot was slow going, not very exciting, and lacking in suspense. I ended up DNFing because it just never made me actually care about anyone or anything. My rating mostly only reflects the story itself. I liked the narrator, I thought they did well, but I think the story really would have benefitted from having multiple narrators for each of the POVs.

Great weaving story. The Outback is such a scary place in my mind so I was ready for some great adventures. Enjoy the read. This author has become a favorite.

This book was so delightfully bizarre.

The vanlife setting in Western Australia made for the perfect backdrop to this story, and certainly sparked some wanderlust for me.

I liked both protagonists--Katy, who was searching for her sister Phoebe, and Beth, who was on the run from an abusive ex. Although I wasn't sure who I could trust, I found both of their perspectives compelling. I really liked the narrator--she did a great job of keeping me guessing as to who the untrustworthy characters were.

The reveal was one I didn't see coming, and the conclusion was very satisfying. This has been my favorite Anna Downes book so far, and it is definitely one I will recommend.

This is my first novel by Downes, and I look forward to more.
The suspense, twists and premise drew me in right away.
One of the main characters, Phoebe Sweeney is experiencing a different way of life. She intends to be a solo traveler in a van around Australia. She starts and Instagram account so people can follow her journey. As some people do they can post some not so nice things even to the point of creepy.
When she goes off the grid and her family, including her sister Katy cannot reach her the police are called in. It ends up a cold case as there are no traces of Phoebe, her van or witnesses.
Her sister Katy, decides to retrace her sisters’ footsteps to see if she can find anything new.
Will they find out what happened to Phoebe? Get ready for an action packed one.

The narrator did a wonderful job with the characters.

I had the chance to read this book months ago and it has stuck with me. When I had the chance to request it to listen to, I went for it and it resonated the second time listening to it in new ways. A year after her sister Phoebe disappears on a camping trip, Katy is still holding onto hope of finding her. Meanwhile, Beth is fleeing from danger and the two women pairing up may just be what they both need. As women, we are constantly aware of the precautions we should take to stay safe and both Phoebe’s social media accounts and Katy and Beth’s narrative highlight this in an all too true and too relatable fashion. Told from multiple perspectives and in a wonderful format, Red River Road is a gripping read that absolutely captivates the reader! Anna Downes creates a suspenseful and powerfully written book that is rich with layers and so many questions that leave you furiously listening for more.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.
Wow. What did I just listen to???
I finished this in one day. At the start I wasn’t too sure about it but then it got really good. And then the surprises started.
Nothing is as it seems in this book. Multiple POV’s and timelines. Everything comes together at the end with a lot of surprises! Great narration.

Red River Road was the latest thriller listen for me. This was an engaging read that you should read!

This had my attention from beginning to end. My favorite audiobooks don’t just get left in the car. I end up listening every free moment and this is one of those.

Katy is searching for her missing sister, Phoebe, along a popular Australian #vanlife path. Along the way she crosses paths with Beth/Lily who is running from danger and a dishonest past (hence using fake names).

I really like multiple POVs. The narrator did an amazing job with the accents. I could see the ending being “too out there” for some, but I enjoyed the journey and story so much that I was just along for the ride. I didn’t try to figure things out as I read.

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for this audio ARC. This review will be shared on NetGalley, Goodreads, and Amazon.

Pub Date Aug 27 2024

Holy unreliable narrator Batman! 🤯 Makes you really rethink selling your house, getting an RV and traveling the country by yourself #vanlife style.

This book surprised me. I had loved the synopsis before starting it but then it felt a little slow to begin. As the story unfolded I was kept in suspense of guessing what happened to missing Phoebe but in the end did not guess that she was in fact Katy all along!

Wow! I loved this book! After her sister goes missing on a solo van trip across Australia, Katy sets out to find her. Using her sister’s social media accounts, Katy attempts to uncover the truth and the dark side of what can happen to women traveling alone

Katy Sweeney is searching for her missing sister, Phoebe, who disappeared during a solo vanlife trip in Western Australia. Despite the case going cold, Katy refuses to give up and uses Phoebe's social media accounts to retrace her steps. Along the way, she teams up with Beth, who is running from her own past, to uncover the truth about what happened to Phoebe. Anna Downes' novel explores the dark side of solo female travel, family bonds, and the deception of memory.

This audiobook was truly exceptional! From the captivating narrator to the insightful notes from the author about the creation of the book and the intriguing interview with Sally Hepworth, there were so many aspects that I thoroughly enjoyed.

Upon delving into this book, I was reminded of the story of Gabby Petito. Prior to that, I had no idea about the individuals traveling across the US, creating channels, and immersing themselves in a whole other social media culture. While I was aware of their existence, I had no idea of the magnitude of traveling influencers.

Having traveled throughout Europe before eventually settling in the US, I found myself able to relate to certain moments mentioned in the book. There were times when I didn't feel safe or comfortable, prompting me to move on... But this isn't about my traveling experience. LOL

The narrator skillfully distinguished between characters and their personalities through her voice, immediately drawing me in from the moment I began listening. I felt as though I was right there with the girls on their adventure.

This book is ideal for the end of summer, when individuals are contemplating their next steps in their journey. It encapsulates a sense of adventure, women empowerment, and delves into the topic of partner abuse. With plenty of twists and turns along the way, reaching the final destination is a thrilling journey. I thoroughly enjoyed this cleverly written book and highly recommend it as a must-listen.

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for digital ARC copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.