Red River Road

Solo traveler Katy Sweeney is journeying in a campervan along the Coral Coast of Western Australia, following in the footsteps of her intrepid sister, Phoebe, who disappeared a year ago. Phoebe was a free spirit who loved traveling solo in her small van, meeting people, and exploring new places. However, three weeks into her trip, she vanished.

Phoebe wrote a popular Instagram blog about her travels, so Katy is able to follow her route, visiting the places Phoebe stopped at and asking people there about her. Female empowerment and the right of women to travel alone without fear of violence are central themes of the novel. Along the way, Katy acquires a passenger—Beth, a young woman who is clearly running from a dangerous situation but is cautious about opening up to Katy.

This Aussie outback thriller brings to life the joys of travel on the open road—being free to go where you will, enjoying the spectacular scenery, and stopping whenever you find that perfect campsite. The beautiful and rugged landscape of the West Australian mid-north coast is vividly described, along with the atmosphere of freedom and friendship that Phoebe experiences. It may even make you want to plan a trip to the Coral Coast (although, after finishing the book, you might think twice about going alone).

A dark, sinister undertone creeps into the novel as the thrill of solo travel and discovery collides with darker forces and an innate fear of being alone in the unknown. As Katy travels further north, disturbing notes and unsettling comments begin to appear in Phoebe’s travel blog, gradually raising the tension. Along the way, we also hear from Wyatt, a fifteen-year-old boy who lives on the Coral Coast. His mother also disappeared without a trace.

Traveling vicariously through Phoebe’s and Katy’s eyes made this a very engrossing novel, especially as it becomes increasingly creepy and disturbing. It becomes clear that both Beth and Katy are holding back secrets and do not fully trust one another. Not all the narrators are reliable, but all the characters are written with depth and have authentic voices. The jaw-dropping twist towards the end of the book was very cleverly done and one I didn’t see coming. Highly recommended for those who enjoy a slow-burning mystery with tension and creepiness that gradually rise to a terrific ending.

With thanks to St. Martin’s Press for a copy to read.