I went into this book a little fearful because of the reality of the dangers of women traveling alone. At first I thought it was about a woman's search for her missing sister, but then another woman gets thrown in to the mix and she is bold- hiding in the back of a strangers van? Phew. I think this was an absolute thriller, I was constantly thinking I knew what was going to happen next, and I totally didn't. I think this would translate well into a TV series, because it was that good, great imagery, unique plot line and the crazy part is that it is so realistic!

The ending of this book is sooo good! The entire time I was wondering what is going on?! I had so many guesses but also no clue. Katey is looking for her missing sister Phoebe, who was a vanlifer and traveling the coast. Nobody knows what happened to her. While katey is out of her van. A woman, Beth, sneaks in to stay there. Katey lets her stay. But what is Beth also running from?

It was a slow start to this read but once the story started going I was so drawn in. Why were the cops not wanting to talk to Katey? Why was she not looking into more details and just going on nothing? The story of what happened to phoebe is really wild. This book is original and one I haven’t read before. Once you find out what’s happening your jaw drops.

Thank you @netgalley and @stmartinspress for a copy.

Ok, I spent about 90% of this book having no idea what I was reading. I had no idea which narrator to believe. Am I reading a serial killer story? A twisty solo female traveling mystery? A social media blog that lured a creeper? A supernatural nighttime snatcher?

I don't want to give away what the book actually ended up being - it's revealed at the very end - because that's the true fun in the story. Just a heads up - you have to be okay with the frustration of being in the dark for a lot of the book. Stick with it!

Bottom line: Unique thriller that will (maybe) make you grab an AirStream and backpack the Australian outback.

"Red River Road" by Anna Downes totally captivated me! I'm a sucker for a thrilling story about serial killers and mysterious disappearances, especially when it's set in a vast and beautiful wilderness like Australia. The author kept me on the edge of my seat the whole time, and I couldn't predict where the story was heading. This book is definitely going to be one of my top reads this year!

Thanks to Minotaur Books/Macmillan Audio for allowing access to the ebook and audiobook ARC copies via NetGalley and EW. I love the flexibility of switching between them - it adds to the excitement!

Anna Downes is a new author for me, but after this amazing read, I'll definitely be keeping an eye out for her future work. If you're into nail-biting thrillers with jaw-dropping endings, you have to give this one a try!

#RedRiverRoad #AnnaDownes #NetGalley #Edelweiss #MacAudio2024 #StMartinsPress #MacmillanAudio #MinotaurBooks

I don’t recommend starting Anna Downes’ Red River Road late at night just before bed. The opening epigraph from Lewis Carroll warns readers: “’Take care of yourself!’ screamed the White Queen, seizing Alice’s hair with both hands. ‘Something’s going to happen!’ And then (as Alice described it afterward) all sorts of things happened in a moment.”

Preceding Chapter One is a social media post by Pheebsinwonderland, introducing herself to new followers as “a travel addict and vanlifer” setting out on the Big Lap of Australia. Adding that the first thing people say to her as a solo traveler is “BE CAREFUl,” and she mentions gathering safety tips online, each of which she will follow every day. For those unfamiliar with the Big Lap, it’s a full circle around the Australian coast, typically following Highway 1, the longest highway in the world, slightly more than 9,000 miles.

Chapter One opens with Katy falling asleep at the wheel of her van and wondering what Phoebe would have to say about her carelessness. Having consumed most of a bottle of wine, Katy vaguely recalls suddenly leaving a campground because a man had made her feel uncomfortable. As she tries to convince herself, he was just a friendly fellow camper, she turns on the radio and hears talk of the search for a missing vanlifer named Vivi Green. Suddenly, feeling she is being followed, Katy takes a sideroad. She pulls over to sleep, waking up to a noise outside. Against her better judgment, she gets out to look around. Seeing a woman dressed in yellow, she calls out, “Pheebs? Is that you?” The woman vanishes in the darkness. With memories of Phoebe, Katy walks back to her van and returns to the main highway. She hears an echo of her own breathing, looks into the review mirror, and sees the covers in the back of her camper van breathing.

Chapter Two, narrated by Beth, opens with the realization that sneaking into a strangers van was one of the stupidest decisions of her life, a split-second decision when she heard the other van approaching behind the empty, parked one. From here on, the majority of chapters alternate between Katy and Beth, two strangers who end up traveling together. A few other chapters are from the point of view of Wyatt, an adolescent in Ningaloo, who lives with his father and older brother Lucas since being abandoned by their mother.

Katy tells Beth that she is trying to find her missing sister Phoebe, using Phoebe’s social media posts to recreate her route. Slowly, Katy’s and Beth’s stories begin to merge with Wyatt’s as each keeps secrets from the others. New characters also enter the picture, including Wyatt’s father and brother Lucas and several fellow campers.

Anna Downie will captivate readers with her creepy, ever-changing new thriller likely to make late-night readers spend a restless night or two.

Thanks to NetGalley and Minotaur/St. Martin’s Press for an advance reader egalley.

A good thriller that definitely keeps you guessing the whole time. I love an unreliable narrator, but this felt like everyone was potentially unreliable, making it very hard to figure out where it was going. The end dragged on a bit, but overall an enjoyable read.

3.5 This one started out strong for me and then went a tad off the rails. Katy is searching for her sister Phoebe, a van-lifer that went missing a year ago. She is using her social media posts as a map to find clues and people she may have met. Her path crosses with Beth and she joins Katy on the search, but Beth is keeping secrets. And this is where everything gets a tad wonky. It was entertaining enough to keep me going.

Thrillers are my favorite genre to read so now I find myself not being as easily enraptured by them... UNLESS it;s a good one and this books was one of them!

From the very first page, I was immersed with the story. I really vibed with the author's writing style. This was well written and had likable characters. The mystery was slow burn but boy when it comes to a boil IT REALLY BOILS!! That ending?? That was jaw dropping... it'll go down as one of the most memorable ones I've ever read and let me tell you something, that's some a high praise. I don't typically reread but this one I will have to just to get the hints and clues that I missed on my first reading.

So good and am so thankful to Affirm Press and NetGalley for giving me an ARC to read! Now I'm off to the bookstore to buy a physical copy!

In RED RIVER ROAD, Anna Downes takes readers on a tense and unsettling journey through the vast, desolate landscapes of Australia, where danger lurks around every corner.

The story follows Katy, a Sydney schoolteacher on a desperate quest to find her missing sister, Phoebe, who vanished while traveling solo around Australia. With only a few cryptic social media posts as clues, Katy sets off in her van to retrace Phoebe's steps. Along the way, she encounters Beth, a mysterious woman with a dark past. As the two women form a tenuous bond, their shared journey becomes increasingly fraught with tension and danger.

Downes expertly weaves suspense into every chapter, building an atmosphere of creeping dread, while the expansive and often unforgiving Australian outback serves as the perfect backdrop for this psychological thriller, amplifying the isolation and vulnerability felt by the characters. The novel's minimal cast adds to this sense of claustrophobia, with the women often encountering only suspicious and potentially dangerous men along the way. Yet the real intrigue comes from the relationship between Katy and Beth, as the layers of their respective pasts are peeled away, revealing hidden motivations and secrets that threaten to unravel them both.

What sets RED RIVER ROAD apart is Downes’s ability to delve into the psychological complexities of her characters while maintaining a fast-paced, thrilling narrative. Both Katy and Beth are damaged in their own ways, and their stories of loss, guilt, and survival resonate deeply as they navigate not only the physical dangers of their journey but the emotional scars that haunt them. Downes balances these intense personal struggles with edge-of-your-seat suspense, creating a novel that is both character-driven and action-packed.

With its atmospheric setting, layered deceptions, and high-stakes tension, RED RIVER ROAD is a riveting read that will keep readers hooked from start to finish.

EXCERPT: 'Hi everyone! I'm Phoebe and I'm a travel addict and van-lifer. I'm about to take me, myself and I off on the adventure of a lifetime - the big lap of Australia. Only two more sleeps to go. And before you ask, no I'm not scared. The first thing people say when I tell them I'm travelling alone is "Be careful". Don't even get me started on my parents' response. But the world is full of magic, and solo travel offers way more rewards than risks. It's just that the bad stories get told way more often than the good. . . .'

A year earlier, just three weeks into her solo vanlife trip, free-spirited Phoebe disappeared without a trace on Western Australia’s remote beautiful Coral Coast. Katy Sweeney is now determined to find her sister and figure out what made her disappear. Using Phoebe’s social media accounts as a map and clues. Katy starts to retrace her steps, searching for the clues that the police have missed. The police said with no witnesses, no leads, and no DNA evidence, the case is cold. Katy’s path collides with Beth, a young woman on the run from her own dark past. Katy soon realizes that Beth may be her best and only chance of finding her sister. Soon the two women form an uneasy alliance but just how how do their fate connect them? With danger at every turn will she find the answers she desperately seeks? Or will she disappear like her sister.
It became apparent that both women were hiding things and there is more that meets the eye. This book showed the struggles for women who travel on their own, it was very realistic and I felt like I was in the van with them.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the copy. Red River Road follows Katy as she is traveling throughout Western Australia looking for her missing sister. Along the way she meets Beth, a stranger who is desperate for help. They both have their own secrets. Wyatt is a fourteen year old boy who has unexpected ties to both Katy and Beth. I enjoyed the different character perspectives. There were a few points in the story where I was confused. I debated putting down the book, but I ultimately decided to finish it. I found myself more interested around the 30% mark. I thought I knew where the book was heading, but I was wrong. Overall I enjoyed the book and would recommend it!

I love Anna Downes and I'm always quick to pick up her books. Red River Road had a unique premise with Katy on a mission to find her missing sister Phoebe who disappeared a year prior while trying to make it as a van life travel influencer. The novel bounced around a bit with posts from Phoebe, the present day story with Katy and a grifter Beth, Beth's past, and a mystery narrator. There were subplots, mixed timelines, and overall just a lot going on.

Between all the subplots, various narrators, and fake names, it was easy for me to get lost. There were times I wasn't quite sure who was who or how they fit in though everything did come together without any loose ends. The plot was definitely unique and fairly exciting, but I wanted more of the van travel life and less of the jumping around to other stories.

I listened to this novel on audio and enjoyed the narrator. It kept me interested and the accents were really well executed.

Overall, I enjoyed this book but I don't think it'll be super memorable for me. I'm still eager to pick up more by Downes and excited to see what she comes up with next!

Thank you to St. Martin's Press/Minotaur and MacMillan Audio for the copy.

I’ve enjoyed AD’s previous books ever since her debut novel and I did enjoy this one too! I will say it was a slow burn, but once it picked up and the twists came in, After reading the authors note at the end, it added to my like of the book. To hear where and how this story came about helped me to understand the travel aspect of the story. The end of the story picked up for me and pulled everything together and made more sense of the slow burn of the story. That happened about the last 25%

Thanks to NetGalley for the free advance copy of Red River Road by Anna Downes in exchange for an honest review. Note: I received this pre-publication but it is out now so you can - and should - run to get it!

Red River Road is a propulsive psychological thriller that reveals itself in layer upon exciting and surprising layer from beginning to end. The story takes place in Western Australia and follows a few main characters: Katy, who is tracing the camper van journey of her missing sister, Phoebe; Phoebe, whose Instagram stories and the inevitable comments provide clues to Katy; Beth, who is running away from her abusive boyfriend; and Wyatt, a sickly young teen who loves horror movies and his older cool brother in equal measures.

As the story lines converge, more questions than answers emerge as the reader tries to figure out what’s going on and what happened to Phoebe.

I raced through this one in a few days and switched back and forth between the ereader copy and the audio book; both were excellent (I’m a sucker for an Australian accent). I’ll be heading to the author’s back catalog shortly; she is a superb writer and the pacing on this one was just tremendous. Five enthusiastic stars.

Red River Road follows a woman desperate to discover what happened to her sister on a solo road trip through the Australian outback. With twists, you won’t see coming and realistic portrayals of characters, this book is utterly addictive and deliciously dark.

Highly recommended for anyone that loves a twisty thriller with somewhat unreliable narrators. It also has fantastic detail and descriptions about the Australian setting. Truly one of the best and most unexpected novels I’ve read recently.

I liked this. I definitely realized pretty early on that this wasn't really my cup of tea thematically and what not, but I still thought that it was well done. The characters were compelling, the setting and mystery were both interesting. Definitely a solid story!

Anna Downes’ psychological thriller explores the world of solo female travel and its inherent dangers as well as the exhilaration felt by the exploration of the Australian Outback. This was a slow burn but heated up with a twisty highly satisfying ending.

Read this if you like:
-van life solo travel
-multiple POVs
-unreliable and unlikeable narrators
-tension filled, and at times dangerous Australian outback setting
-travel influencer instagram posts along with responses from followers that add dimension to story reveal
-rich character development
-family bonds and memories
-satisfying, twisty ending

My rating 4 out of 5

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press Minotaur Books that will be published August 27 2024.

🛣️Australia setting
🛣️multiple POV
🛣️solo female traveler
🛣️influencer - instagram posts throughout
🛣️thriller

This was an entertaining thriller! The twist was crazy - I never would’ve guessed it. I thought it dragged a little at times, but overall it was good!

This book somehow made me want to and not want to go on a solo road trip. I loved the author’s note at the end that gave a little more context. I remember following the Gabby Petito case when it was happening - it was gut wrenching. I’m glad I wasn’t the only one strongly affected by it and that it inspired the author to change this story a bit.

I loved this! I think Anna Downes wrote this as a PSA for women who want to travel alone. Phoebe decides to do a "van life" trip solo through Australia and experience the beautiful coast, she is met with well-wishers, skepticism, and caution. With her optimism and sunny disposition, she sets off. Until she disappears. A year goes by and the case is cold when Katy, her sister, decides to do her own sleuthing and sets off on a van life trip of her own looking for clues and answers. Yes, you guessed it, alone.

The journey is eerie and suspenseful with hair raising chills. The atmosphere alone is worth the read. Along the way characters are added with superb effect. I kept asking myself if I would do the same in her situation. Yes, of course. Alone? Hell no! This book had me wanting to pick it up when I wasn't reading because it's so addicting and relatable in the "what would I do" way.

Pick this up for a good edge of your seat thriller! Thanks to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for an advance copy.

This book was very interesting. Phoebe decided to take to the van life and travel the Australian outback. She would blog about where she was at and what she was going to do next until she just disappeared. Her sister, Katy decides to take the same route as her sister to see if she can find her and find out what happened. Katy meets Beth, a mysterious stranger who up in her camper one evening. She has a checkered past with an abusive boyfriend. She convinces Katy to let her help in finding Phoebe. And so is the twisty story of these two women. You go on a journey of how how van/camper life would be for women traveling alone. The story gets dark and scary at time and the ending threw me for a loop! It was a great read.
Thanks to #netgalley, #minotaurbooks and @anna_downes_writer for an ARC of this great read.