Review copy was received from NetGalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Red River Down by Anna Downes Narrator: Maddy Withington
Published by MacMillan Audio, Minotaur Books on August 27, 2024
Genres: Mystery, Thriller
Pages: 352
Length: 12 hours, 8 minutes
Format: Audiobook, eARC
Source: NetGalley
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Katy Sweeney is looking for her sister. A year earlier, just three weeks into a solo vanlife trip, her free-spirited younger sister, Phoebe, vanished without a trace on the remote, achingly beautiful coastal highway in Western Australia. With no witnesses, no leads, and no DNAevidence, the case has gone cold. But Katy refuses to give up on her.
Using Phoebe’s social media accounts as a map, Katy retraces her sister’s steps, searching for any clues the police may have missed. Was Phoebe being followed? Who had she met along the way, and how dangerous were they?
And then Katy’s path collides with that of Beth, who is on the run from her own dark past. Katy realizes that Beth might be her best—and only—chance of finding the truth, and the two women form an uneasy alliance to find out what really happened to Phoebe in this wild, beautiful, and perilous place.
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.
Listen to a clip: HERE
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I read all types of books but my favorites are urban fantasy and romantic suspense.I like some romance and some action / adventure / mystery in everything.I like sex in my books but please, only between TWO people.Intimate conversation is equally important to the sex in a book.It lets me see the characters.The other thing I enjoy is humor.
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Reading this book contributed to these challenges:
- 24-COYER
Sorry this didn’t work for you. I’ve been wondering if I’d enjoy it, I like the premise, but now I’m not sure. Thanks for reviewing, Anne!
You might enjoy it. The style didn’t work for me.
I admire your patience! I very occasionally switch formats if one isn’t working for me – but it has to be a book that I think I’d enjoy (normally because I don’t like the narrator all that much…). And enduring two unsympathetic protagonists shows huge persistence. Glad you at least had a reasonably satisfying ending – you’ve earnt it:)).
Thank you Sarah. It was a good ending. I just don’t like unreliable narrators and the style didn’t work for me either. Someone else could really enjoy it.
I couldn’t put my finger on it but I held back on grabbing this one. Sorry it didn’t work.
The style and unreliable narrator didn’t work for me. Someone else might enjoy it. Changing format let me get through it but it didn’t help with the enjoyment.
I have to be in the right mood for a book like this because unreliable narrators aren’t always my favorite. Was the ending at least satisfying?
yes, I would say the ending was satisfying. It was a bizarre story which felt mostly tragic.
I’m not a fan of the unreliable narrator either, plus a confusing plot doesn’t sound fun either. Sorry to hear this didn’t work out, but it happens. We can’t love every book we read. Hope your next read is a winner!
Thank you Rachel. I have lots of great reads so it’s only fair that some don’t work for me.
I’m glad it at the very least had a good ending.
yes, thank you. I guess I’m not sorry I stuck with it but it wasn’t the best choice for me.
Ugh, so sorry this one didn’t work better for you. The confusing plot would have done me in as well.
It happens sometimes. I think the style added to the unreliable narrator aspects. If the three people’s stories were solid and smart, it wouldn’t have mattered so much if I didn’t get the connections until much later.
I”m not sure this one is for me. I have had a few books that have worked better in print than audio and vice versa. Too bad this wasn’t really a winner in either format.
yes unfortunately the style didn’t work for me. It might work for others.
There are small amount of times that audio just doesn’t work.
yes. Usually audio works better for me than print. It keeps me in the story instead of trying to figure out how to pronounce things. Occasionally a book is so complex or chaotic though that I have to resort to print to work through it slowly.