Ein Fluss so rot und schwarz

by Anthony Ryan, Sara Riffel (Translator)

Wer sich erinnert, muss sterben

Sechs Menschen erwachen auf einem Schiff. Ohne jede Erinnerung. Der siebte ist tot. Was ist passiert? Warum nimmt das Schiff Kurs auf ein postapokalyptisches London? Und von welchem Grauen künden die Schreie im dichten Nebel? Eine Mission auf Leben und Tod beginnt, der sich niemand entziehen kann.
Als Huxley zu sich kommt, weiß er nichts mehr. Nicht mal seinen Namen. »Huxley« ist ihm auf den Unterarm tätowiert. Offenbar befindet er sich an Bord eines fremdgesteuerten Militärschiffs auf der Themse. Und er ist nicht allein. Da gibt es noch fünf weitere Überlebende. Den sechsten findet er tot auf, Selbstmord. Sie alle sind nicht zufällig Zusammen sind sie Polizist, Soldat, Ärztin, Physikerin, Historiker und Polarforscherin. Über ein Satellitentelefon erhalten sie von einer mysteriösen Stimme Anweisungen. Immer weiter steuern sie in ein zerstörtes und ausgestorbenes London hinein. Doch schließlich stellen sich ihnen nicht mehr nur Schiffswracks und Brückenruinen in den Weg. Immer lauter werden die Schreie in der Ferne. Im dichter werdenden Nebel lauert ein Grauen außerhalb ihrer Vorstellungskraft. Mit jeder Seemeile wird deutlicher, dass ihre Reise ins Unbekannte ein schreckliches Geheimnis birgt.

Genres: Horror, Thriller, Science Fiction, Fiction, Mystery, Dystopia, Fantasy

268 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 10, 2023

About the author

Anthony Ryan was born in Scotland in 1970 but spent much of his adult life living and working in London. After a long career in the British Civil Service he took up writing full time after the success of his first novel Blood Song, Book One of the Raven’s Shadow trilogy. He has a degree in history, and his interests include art, science and the unending quest for the perfect pint of real ale.

For news and general wittering about stuff he likes, check out Anthony's blog at: http://anthonystuff.wordpress.com

Reviews

[LIsa Noell "Rocking the chutzpah!" · Rating 5 out of 5]

My thanks to Orbit books, A.J. Ryan and Netgalley.
Well. I just freaking loved this oddly strange and messed up tale!
I kept waiting for a clue. Just one lousy damn clue!
Crikey! By the time I found it I was all in.
Anthony Ryan can leave off fantasy anytime and if he keeps writing like this, then I'm going to be spending a lot of time reading all his books.
Yeah, I liked this one a hell of a lot!

[Laura Díaz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, de mis mejores lecturas del año. No entiendo por qué no tiene más repercusión. Es una historia de terror postapocalíptica con ingredientes muy buenos.
Misterio en cada capítulo, que poco a poco se va resolviendo mientras nos enfrentamos a muchos sustos junto a los protagonistas.
Muchas veces me pedís que os recomiende un libro de terror que de verdadero miedo. Bien, este puede darlo, aunque mas que miedo son sustos. Muchos sustos.
Un estilo silent hill, tensión constante y acción.
Uf. Es que me ha encantado!!! Muchísimo!!
El final me ha enfadado un poquitito pero es lo justo.

[Nick Borrelli · Rating 5 out of 5]

A.J. Ryan (pseudonym for highly acclaimed fantasy author Anthony Ryan) has written some of my very favorite books over the years. Admittedly at first I had no idea this book was written by the same person until I saw Anthony posting about it on social media one day. I was immediately intrigued to see how he would make the transition from heroic epic fantasy to a story that seemed to be of the dystopian thriller variety. Well it didn't take long for me to find out as I was immediately sucked into this book from the very opening pages.

The story begins shrouded in mystery as the scene is set depicting seven people adrift on a boat just coming out of unconsciousness. Confusion and uncertainty abound as none of the passengers on the boat have any recollection of their identity, their previous lives, or their professions. and if things couldn't get worse, they quickly discover a dead body on board with an apparent gunshot wound to the head. Needless to say, "what the hell is going on" is the question on everyone's lips at this point.

A ringing phone breaks the silence and a robotic voice on the other end gives an emphatic directive as to how they should proceed. The voice vows to call back periodically with new instructions. As the seven proceed through a dense fog toward a destination that the onboard computer shows as the southeast coast of England, the distorted screams of humans (or possibly something less than human) begin to get louder with each passing minute. That's where this book goes from an intriguing mystery of the unexplained to a flat out terror-induced dystopian thriller the likes of which I haven't read in a long time.

RED RIVER SEVEN had me so damn riveted throughout as Ryan does a fantastic job of keeping the mystery as thick as the all consuming fog that menacingly surrounds the main characters throughout much of their journey toward discovery. There are little hints given throughout as every time the sat-phone rings and the "person" on the other end emotionlessly gives out new directives, certain aspects of what is happening start to come into sharper focus. And all the while the screams of those who are largely obscured by the fog and just out of sight give off an air of imminent terror that we just know is eventually going to be that mind-blowing answer to all of the questions posed in the early stages of this book.

I think this book came at the right time for me because up to now I have been reading a ton of epic fantasy. So this was a really refreshing departure from that and a wonderful palate cleanser so to speak. But I also believe that I would have loved this book no matter what because every element of it is brilliantly written and I couldn't help but keep reading to get to the bottom of the central mystery. Not only that, but upon finishing it my thoughts immediately went to what an amazing tv or film adaptation it would make.
I'll just wrap things up by highly recommending this book for anyone who loves a good techno/bio thriller with a dash of sci-fi and horror thrown in the mix. 28 Days Later meets The Passage in this addictive story that has everything you could ever want in an entertaining and intense thrill ride. Do yourself a favor and get those preorders in for the October 10th release of RED RIVER SEVEN. It appears undeniable that author Anthony Ryan can excel in whatever genre he chooses.

[Rebecca Mann · Rating 3 out of 5]

Probably a 3.5⭐️ I liked it, but not as much as I wanted to. I enjoy the apocalyptic genre and I liked the London setting, reminded me a bit of 28 Days Later. Feel like this would make a good film.

[Melki · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was always a suicide mission. Why would you ever think otherwise?

A group of strangers awaken on a boat. Though they each seem to possess useful skills, none of them can remember their names or their pasts. As details are slowly revealed to them, they must try to hold it together (and stay alive), long enough to figure out what has happened, and what purpose they serve on this mysterious "mission."

This is a suspenseful, intriguing tale that reminded me both of The Mist and Annihilation. It's entertaining and nerve-wracking. I sure hope the film rights have already been purchased.


Book Seven in the Ross Library Winter Reading Challenge: A Modern Horror by a New Author

[Faith · Rating 3 out of 5]

Seven people wake up on a boat. Their memories have been selectively erased. They don’t know anything about their personal lives, but they have retained their special skills - science, history, military, detection, etc. Eventually, a disembodied voice on a phone starts to instruct them to carry out various missions, but the voice never provides more information than they need at that moment.

I liked the initial premise of the book, but I was disappointed when it devolved into a tired trope. The descriptions of the adversaries were kind of neat though. The protagonists not only had no names, they also had no real personalities beyond their job descriptions. I did like the end of the book. I have never seen this particular problem addressed in the way it was on the final pages. I also liked that this book was very short.

I received a free copy of this book from the publisher.

[Sadie Hartmann · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 rounded up for Goodreads

Title/Author: Red River Seven by A. J. Ryan

Page Count: 304

Publisher: Orbit

Format: Audiobook (I also have a physical arc)

Other Books I Enjoyed by This Author: Best selling fantasy author, Anthony Ryan wrote this

Affiliate Link: https://bookshop.org/a/7576/978031651...

Release Date: October 2023

General Genre: Horror, Science-Fiction, Apocalyptic, Thriller, Suspense

Sub-Genre/Themes: Viral threat, memory erasure, amnesia, unknown mission, crew dynamics, unknown enemy, military vibes, London, scientists, sacrifice, medical experiments, biological warfare, eco-horror

Writing Style: Jeff VanderMeer/Tom Clancy(ish) short chapters, fast pace, quick movements and dialog, good setting and descriptions, ok on character development, very precise, calculated plotting

What You Need to Know: "Seven strangers. One mission. Infinite horror. Internationally bestselling fantasy author Anthony Ryan - writing as A. J. Ryan - delivers a nerve-shredding thriller in which seven strangers must undertake a terrifying journey into the unknown."

My Reading Experience: I listened to the audiobook on several long walks and it kept me entertained and walking! I would walk longer just to see what would happen. For me, this book has a lot of vibes. Right away it gave me Tom Clancy(ish) memories. I read a lot of his realistic, military/techno thrillers when I was in my teens and twenties.
It also reminded me of the Thing movie (1982) with the whole crew dynamics and going through a life-threatening crisis facing an unknown threat.
The nature of the science-fiction, viral outbreak, and eco-thriller with body horror elements is very Jeff VanderMeer(ish). I also love the show Severance on Apple TV+ and there are echoes of that storyline with memory erasure, scientific experiments gone wrong, and people with amnesia.
Basically, these strangers wake up on a ship with no memories except very specific skill sets. They must work together to accomplish a mission they have been sent on with very little information that comes by way of a phone call every so often. The deeper they get into this mission, the more they realize the extent of the horrors all around them, including each other.

Final Recommendation: For fans of high-energy, fast paced, eco-thriller, apocalyptic/body horror, viral outbreaks, "trust no one" and strangers coming together to complete a secret mission/survival

Comps: Jeff VanderMeer books, Tim Lebbon books, Tom Clancy, Severance, The Last of Us, The Thing

[Claudia · Rating 2 out of 5]

Too fast and furious for me. It reads like a mix between Ludlum's Bourne and zombies apocalypse in a sort of Covid era (I hate how many stories this Covid thing inspired), with a lot of action, dialogues, and improbable behavioral traits. It seems written to be adapted for the main screen, which would not surprise me.

Even so, it was an enjoyable reading, but I prefer by far his classic fantasy, in which he excels.

>>> ARC received thanks to Little, Brown Book Group UK, Orbit via NetGalley <<<

[Cassie · Rating 3 out of 5]

"I'm starting to think if any of us could be redeemed we wouldn't have been chosen."

Red River Seven has such an intriguing concept: Seven strangers wake up on a boat in mist-shrouded waters, with no memory of who they are and why they are there. They each have a gun, a scar on their shaved scalps, and the name of a different author tattooed on their inner wrist. Who are they, and why have they been chosen? What have they been chosen for? And who is behind the robotic voice on the satellite phone, directing them to coordinates for some unknown mission?

Red River Seven is one of those lean, mean, plot-driven novels that drops you right into the middle of the action, leaving you feeling as disoriented as the characters. A.J. Ryan's writing is propulsive and descriptive as he weaves this puzzle of a story, which combines elements of science fiction, thriller, and dystopian fiction. It's clever and unique, more than a little violent, and filled with disturbing imagery that will stick with me.

However, because the characters don't know who they are, it's hard for the reader to get to know them in any real or meaningful way. There is no emotional connection to the characters because they are essentially nothing more than stand-ins for a specific skill set that is required to complete their mission. Because of that, and because of the action-forward writing, I almost wonder if Red River Seven would work better as a movie or a video game. (There is definitely one element that reminded me of a popular video game, but I won't be specific to avoid spoilers. It was very cool though.) There are also some pacing issues and several aspects of the plot that don't make much sense if you think about them too hard.

I would recommend Red River Seven if you're looking for a fast-paced, sci-fi adjacent read or a different take on a hero's quest sort of story. Thanks to Orbit and NetGalley for the complimentary reading opportunity.

[Queralt✨ · Rating 1 out of 5]

Red River Seven follows a bunch of amnesiac people who wake up on a boat that is moving somewhere. They don't know where. That’s the plot.

Oh, gosh. I’m so sorry but I hated this. The writing was flat and the characters were just irrational, unlikable, and uninteresting. I hate the amnesia stuff in books. The peeps here slowly realize they have tattoos with writers' names and, by talking, they quickly uncover they’re specialists in different things. This is awful because every character will info dump their stuff (aka, the historian info dumps history; the doctor-forensic woman whatever info dumps medical stuff; the military dude keeps talking about guns; etc.).

There’s also this satellite phone where a robotic voice gives them orders and the voice only wants to talk to one of them (why? I don’t know. Because he’s the protagonist. And I think he’s supposed to be funny and sarcastic but he comes off like a narcissistic idiot to me) (sorry).

So, yeah. I just didn’t enjoy it at all. I skimmed after 150 pages because I was getting so tired of how dramatic and irrational everything was. The climax points were just uninteresting, there were a lot of arguments that were solved through peer pressure alone and felt like a waste of pages, etc.

I’m not familiar with the author but I don’t think I will be reading anything by them again. I hope this is a ‘me’ thing and everyone else has a blast with it. I didn’t.

ARC received for free in exchange for an unbiased review.

[Javir11 · Rating 3 out of 5]

6/10

Conozco al autor de sus muchas novelas de fantasía, he leído un par y me gustó y por ese motivo al ver un libro suyo publicado en castellano, la mayoría no lo están, decidí darle una oportunidad.

El problema de esta novela es que es un batiburrillo de cosas que no terminan de encajar, no es una mala lectura ni mucho menos, pero al final todos los diferentes estilos, thriller, sci-fi, fantasía, acción, no destaca ninguno ni para bien ni para mal.

El punto de partida, diferentes personas dentro de un espacio reducido con la memoria borrada, no es un mal arranque, pero conforme pasan las páginas ya todo se va enmarañando y la lectura no fluye como debería. Los personajes tampoco es que sean nada del otro mundo ni destaque en demasía.

Resumiendo, ¿es esta una mala lectura? Pues seguramente no, pero también te digo que es un quiero y no puedo, su autor se ha metido en un jardín del que no ha podido salir y el resultado nos deja insatisfechos en todos los aspectos. Por fortuna al ser cortito no se llega a hacer pesado y quizás por ese motivo se ha llevado 3 estrellas y no 2.

[frau.gedankenreich · Rating 3 out of 5]

~ 2,5*

Ich schätze die Bemühungen des Autors, eine dystopische Geschichte mal auf eine ganz andere Art zu erzählen.
Die Ausgangslage fand ich von Anfang an sehr interessant und auch die Atmosphäre bot ein paar Gänsehautmomente. Die Spannung bleibt durch die Erzählweise allerdings leider weitestgehend auf der Strecke, obwohl es im weiteren Handlungsverlauf sehr action-lastig zugeht und Horrorelemente eingebaut wurden. Inhaltlich hatte die Geschichte aber nicht viel Neues zu bieten...
Ein Buch im Stil eines "Kopf aus, Spaß an" - Actionkrachers, der nicht lange im Gedächtnis bleibt. Hatte mir mehr erhofft!

[Mogsy · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 of 5 stars at The BiblioSanctum https://bibliosanctum.com/2023/11/03/...

Anthony Ryan does horror dystopian sci-fi? This I had to see! Writing under the pseudonym A. J. Ryan, the epic fantasy author behind books like the Raven’s Shadow and Covenant of Steel trilogies now brings us this haunting but briskly paced tale about a group of strangers who wake up on a boat with no memory of who are and no clue how they got there.

Red River Seven literally begins with a bang. A man jolts awake at the sound of the gunshot, disoriented and confused, becoming even more perturbed when he realizes the one who pulled the trigger now lies in a puddle of blood, dead by his own hand. There’s nothing on the deceased to establish his identity, save for a word tattooed on his wrist: “Conrad.” This makes the man look down at his own wrist, sees the word, “Huxley.”

Soon, it is revealed that there are five others with him on what appears to be a boat, one that is on some kind of autopilot and cannot be manually controlled. None of them can remember their names either, but all are rocking their own tattoo of a famous writer on their wrist. The others are Rhys, Plath, Pynchon, Golding, and Dickinson. As they contemplate their next steps, they come to the realization that despite their lack of personal memories, they possess the ability to recollect obscure facts. In this way, they are able to determine that each of them holds expertise in a highly specific field, apparently gathered together for a specific purpose. But what might that be? And why?

As you can imagine, I was completely hooked from the start. What sets it apart is Ryan’s remarkable talent for world-building, as anyone who has read his fantasy novels can attest. The setting of Red River Seven might not be as fleshed out, given the limited view we have through the perspectives of characters who are suffering from amnesia, but I felt the weight of the atmosphere all the same. The sensation was both immersive and claustrophobic; you could practically feel the waves of tension, dread, and mistrust emanating from the characters as they grappled with their predicament.

Of course, the premise is not exactly original, but mystery readers will feel quite at home with the way this plot unfolds. The narrative seamlessly weaves in elements of horror, evoking a sense of impending doom as this boatful of strangers chug their way towards an unknowable destination through a thick red fog. I could practically hear the chilling horror soundtrack playing in the background as events take increasingly bizarre turns—like a trilling phone breaking the silence, a robotic voice on the other end of the line issuing strange and sometimes violent instructions, or the spine-tingling, almost inhuman cries that reach them through the impenetrable mists. All that’s to say, despite the familiar themes, there are indeed some innovative takes.

When the answers finally do come, however, they might disappoint the experienced dystopian fiction reader. And the relatively short length and snappy pace of the book can also be a double-edged sword. On the one hand, it was a quick read which kept me turning the pages for much of the novel, but on the other, it leaves some aspects of the ending feeling underexplored. As entertaining as it is, I also doubt it will resonate or as long or as powerfully as the author’s epic fantasy work.

Nevertheless, Red River Seven remains a thrilling read that strikes a good balance between speed and suspense, and Anthony Ryan aka A. J. Ryan has proven himself capable and flexible with many genres. While I don’t think the story itself will leave a lasting impression on me long term, reading it in the moment was undoubtedly a rollercoaster of an experience.

[Samantha · Rating 3 out of 5]

Happy Publication day!!

Red River Seven is such an interesting read! I’m giving it 3.5 stars rounded down.

Huxley awakens on a boat to the sound of a gunshot. Before he can even investigate the sound, he realizes he doesn’t know- doesn’t know who he is, where he is, or what he is.

Come to find out- there are 6 other people on this boat in the same condition. But, why? The boat’s mechanisms are in lock down and they have no choice but to go wherever it’s taking them. Each person has a certain set of skills to enable them to complete a mission, but the mission objective is a mystery. Encompassed in a red-tinged fog, Huxley and his crew are guided by a voice through a phone to complete certain tasks leading to their objective.

I can’t say much more without giving anything away. Which is a pity, because this book turned into a lot more than I thought it would.

The author did a great job revealing clues and plot twists with restraint, but also just enough to keep the read engaging. However, I had trouble imagining certain aspects. I’m not sure if that was a fault of mine or if the imagery in his prose needed work. There were a lot of weapons and military components that I’m not familiar with.

Overall, I enjoyed this quick sci-fi thriller. I don’t know if I would eagerly recommend it to others, but I appreciate that this was different.

A great thank you goes out to A.J. Ryan, Orbit Books, and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Ana Belén Carnero Villar · Rating 4 out of 5]

4/5 ⭐

Una historia de ciencia ficción post apocalíptica con tintes de terror y un final que no llegué a vislumbrar pero que no siendo lo que yo quería era lo que debía ocurrir por el transcurso de la narrativa.

La novela atrapa desde el principio cuando un hombre sin recuerdos se despierta en un barco y a su lado descubre un hombre que acaba de suicidarse. Sin recuerdos y sin saber qué hace allí se encuentra con otras seis personas, que como él, no recuerdan nada de sus vidas y todos ellos presentan las mismas cicatrices en la cabeza y en el cuerpo por haber sido intervenidos quirúrgicamente no hace mucho tiempo.

Según va pasando el tiempo van descubriendo que tienen diferentes habilidades innatas que les llevan a deducir que están allí para algo aunque no sepan para qué...y así el autor nos adentra con los personajes en una atmósfera cada vez más oscura y tenebrosa y como si de una película de acción se tratase nos conduce hasta un final en el que te quedas pensando si eso pudiera llegar a ser posible o no.

Una novela corta y muy interesante pero mal clasificada en el género del thriller que no te dejará indiferente.

[Krystle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Holy. Fucking. Shit.

Okay now that’s out of the way, let me try that again but with coherence.

RED RIVER SEVEN by A. J. Ryan is a nail-biting edge of your seat triumph of the thriller/scifi/horror genre blend in the vein of other pathogen-mutation-apocalypse horror stories like 28 Days Later and World War Z. Except the zombies aren’t zombies, but rather nightmarish (iykyk) mutations that I can’t describe without spoiling the delicious tension of the reveals.

At a tight 63k words (according to Kobo) or 277 pages in the paperback, RED RIVER SEVEN tosses you and the amnesiac cast into a boat steaming toward [redacted for spoilers] and never once lets up. It sacrifices details in the name of its own urgency. I can’t tell you much about the characters, but then neither can they, so fair play. What I can tell you, though, is that the rapid dawning horror of what they’re facing grabs on to you and doesn’t once let you go.

The book’s strength, rather, lies in the building of that tension. The facelessness of the characters becomes a feature rather than a bug. They could be anyone, and though they seem to have been selected for their mission based on skills they don’t really remember, the anonymity of them lets the reader empathize with them more rather than less. They could be anyone, but they were tasked with [redacted for spoilers] making it so easy for the reader imagine themselves on this boat. They could be anyone, they could be me.

Ryan intersperses this sparse style with occasional moments of stunningly breath-taking description. Sometimes gross (thanks pathogen), sometimes beautiful, sometimes harrowing, the narrative slows down at all the right moments to let the horror, the hope, and the stakes really sink in. The flowers that are central to the final climatic showdown are just ::chefs kiss::

The ending follows this theme. Abrupt but perfectly so, uncertain but satisfying, surprisingly emotional given how little we know about the character’s lives before. Pitch perfect in my humble opinion—knowing anything with any more certainty than what we got would have spoiled the delicate balance that Ryan so deftly achieved. It doesn’t make sense for the reader to be told any more since [redacted for spoilers] and I admire the narrative decision to leave the ending so open. Does it mean we’ll see a follow up in this universe? I don’t know. We could, I suppose, pick up the story with someone else who knows more, who carries the conflict into the next stage. But we don’t need to. It exists on its own as a perfect little microcosm of the genre. What happens isn’t important so much as that it happens. RED RIVER SEVEN posits a question that leaves echos in you long after you’re finished reading:

Who are we, when we don’t remember who we are?

And what power do our nightmares have?

The answers, much like the characters’ memories, are never fully realized. But the questions are memorable and moving nonetheless.

[Fati¹⁷ · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was.. interesting?

It felt like watching someone play a video game. A mutation has spread throughout humanity and that in turn started an epidemic. Seven strangers find themselves on a boat floating in the middle of nowhere, every individual carrying a gun. No one knows what is going on, who they are or what they are supposed to do.
The writing style had so many scientific words in it that it felt really hard to concentrate, which is why my brain just couldnt get into the story. Means I know what happened, I just forgot the details.
At least the ending was good.

Excerpt:
"Having no idea who you are isn't just confusing, it hurts. Without memory what are we? No one. Nothing. We don't come from anywhere. We don't belong anywhere. It's like being dead except for some reason you keep breathing." - p. 130

[Troy M. · Rating 4 out of 5]

"It's all about hubris in the end, you see," Plath went on. "The arrogant conceit that has possessed humanity since an ape first struck sparks from flint. The delusion that we can transcend the natural laws that bind us. Always we are driven to understand the world, not for the pleasure of enlightenment, but for control. For power.

Seven people...random boat in the middle of nowhere...guns, suicide, suspicion? This book had plenty of the elements that I love in a suspenseful thriller, and quite a bit of crossover into a post-apocalyptic, disease-based scenario, which is another favorite literary path of mine. That being said, the shift from the book from suspense to a military thriller was a bit abrupt, and left me missing the mystery aspect of the novel.

Our protagonists(or antagonists???) all awake aboard a boat near a London river, with no memory of their prior lives, shaved heads, and mysterious scars on their heads and torsos. While they don't remember their names, they do have some semblance of history regarding their past professions and proficencies - we have a history whiz, a former police officer, a military commander, a scientist, a doctor with a background in exactly the area of microbiology relevant to the issue at hand, etc. -Kinda like the Oregon Trail out on a random boat in the middle of a world-ending pandemic lol.

The initial premise, waking up on a boat with no recollection? Fascinating. Great premise for a thriller, maybe a bit easy, but I loved it. The characters shared names from famous authors and literary figures in the past, tattooed on their bodies in lieu of a memory of a past or an actual name. I think the book started to lose me, just a little bit, as it delved from suspense into a paramilitary group traversing the Thames, and shooting zombie-like creatures as they appeared...Love zombies, love guerilla warfare, love broody police officers and military commanders, etc., just didn't love how abruptly the book seemed to shift, from questioning everything, to following commands from an ethereal lieutenant and going all Tom Clancy.

The zombie-ism of the populace was interesting, and the associated irrational violence has been the framework for many a great horror film. I enjoyed the bones of the book, and the way the sickness creeps in via dreams and memories - interesting. It seemed like the tone changed about a third of the way through things, and got away from what attracted me to the book and its premise in the first place. That being said, enjoyable suspense, a few great whodunnit moments, etc. 3.5 out of 5, rounded up to 4 because I like the occasional military spy thriller

[Jamedi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review originally on JamReads

Red River Seven is a standalone horror thriller novel written by A.J. Ryan (also known as Anthony Ryan in his fantasy writing), published by Orbit Books. It's an absorbing book, a read that I practically did in one sit, as I always had the itch of "let's see what will happen in the next chapter"; a plot driven thriller packed with tons of action and which slowly unravels a dark world in front of the reader.

A story that begins with seven people in a boat, surrounded by mist, coming back to consciousness with plenty of confusion, as nobody of them seem to remember who they are or why they have been reunited on this boat. This initial shock is maximized when a corpse is found, apparently a suicide with a gunshot; soon, the silence is broken by a phone's ring, with a robotic voice that gives some instructions our strangers need to follow if they want the boat to move.
As the boat advances and starts approaching to what the computer marks as the southeast coast of England, screams of humans begin to sound louder; Ryan starts shifting from pure action thriller to a more horror focused story, introducing different elements to the story and playing in sharp ways with the fear of the unknown.

Discovering what is hidden behind the mist, or why these strangers have been selected as part of this journey are questions that will be slowly answered, creating multiple new mysteries in the process; Ryan manages to capture in clever ways that uncertainty and how it affects the mind.

It's impossible to separate this book from the excellent atmosphere that is slowly woven into the story, whose horror gets progressively developed, introducing those epidemiologic elements that play a key role in it. Despite the characters are not exactly the most brilliant aspect, they still create memorable scenes (especially that ending makes totally deserved the Apocalypse Now comparison I read).

Red River Seven is a compelling read, a story that in the last moments also remembered me of the Resident Evil books by S.D. Perry, especially in aspects like the tension lived by the characters. An excellent novel, which I enjoyed like a child, and which I would totally see being adapted to other mediums.

[The Captain · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ahoy there mateys! The was a pleasant, okay read.  If I had realized that the author is Anthony Ryan, the fantasy author, I likely wouldn't have picked this up as I generally do not like his writing style.  I supposed he used a slightly different name because this was a sci-fi book.  This was also a standalone.

I was interested in this book because all seven characters wake up with amnesia and are on some kind of mission on boat in the middle of a river.  But to what purpose?  I am a sucker for secret missions and boats.  I enjoyed the set-up and enjoyed the prospective of the main character, "Conrad."

It was once the mystery starts to be explained that I was less excited.  The sci-fi aspects of this book are frankly unoriginal and don't completely make sense when the mission is finally explained.  However, it was not unenjoyable.  I though the atmosphere on the river was fun and it was a quick read.  Readers who don't read a lot of sci-fi would likely enjoy it more.  For me it was a fun popcorn book but ultimately rather forgettable.  Arrr!

[OutlawPoet · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a fast paced and largely entertaining read.

I felt like we got to know only one of the characters and even that was surface level. I did get it - the characters don't remember much about who they are - but even their core personalities were kind of muted and I never really cared about any of them.

I did like the overall plot and some of the surprises the author had for us, but I felt the book ended with a whimper rather than a bang.

I would read the author again - I just needed a little more from this one.

[Paul Nelson · Rating 2 out of 5]

Just could not get into this, almost count as a DNF but I did listen to all of it just not with my full attention.

The narrator bored me, same tone for all the characters dialogue and everything else. The story itself was too film scripty and a low budget dodgy zombie action flick at that.

The setup just doesn't provoke investment in the characters, nether did the dialogue to be fair and you're then relying on the action or world building. Which is never a good option as both didn't inspire.
All told just wasn't for me.

[jay! · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25 ⭐️

i literally don’t even know what to say about this book or how to convey my thoughts about it, because i genuinely don’t think i’ve ever read anything quite like it??

it’s part post-apocalyptic horror, part survival fiction, and the themes are a complex study of humanity, identity, memory, and how to care enough to try to save a world you can’t remember your place in.

anthony ryan’s other books have been hit or miss for me in the past, and i think that’s largely because of his no-frills, concise and straightforward writing style. in my opinion, red river seven is the sort of book ryan should be writing MANY more of. his style didn’t feel incongruous within this story the way it has in some of his other books.

if you like the last of us, resident evil, lost, or 28 days later you’d probably enjoy red river seven!

[Trinity · Rating 4 out of 5]

So, here's the thing. I liked this book but I'm not entirely sure I understood what was happening. I liked the plot and the pacing. The intrigue kept me going. I needed to know what it was that had brought these people together. I liked the MC. But when it came to the ending, I didn't really comprehend what had actually taken place. Without spoilers, the best I can say is that it is a world that has devolved into chaos... was that the point? Maybe. It wasn't exactly confusing as it was just generally abstract. I don't mind that type of ending but it isn't exactly a favorite either.
Still, it's well worth the read. I'd recommend it especially if the story being the mystery is something you enjoy.

[AndiReads · Rating 4 out of 5]

When the man awakens on the boat he does not know who he is or where he is going. He quickly finds others, all with amnesia, all with a tattoo of an author's name. The 7 survivors also discover a body...

What happens is the beginning of a perfect horror story - the 7 must begin to trust and rely on each other to survive - but can they? The tension is high and the idea of this story as a netflix movie is higher! #REdRiverSeven #orbitbooks #ajryan

[Justine · Rating 3 out of 5]

A quick read, but in the wake of stories like The Girl with All the Gifts and The Last of Us, it doesn't stand out as a fresh take, and the writing is pretty standard. I enjoyed it, but it really was like reading the cut scenes from a video game.

[Carole (Carole's Random Life) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Initial Thoughts
I picked this book up over the weekend just to take a look at it. I was in the middle of another book so I didn't plan to read this one but my eyes caught on that first page and I just didn't want to put it down. The group of characters don't remember anything about their past and have no idea what is going on but they all have a special skill. I had a great time trying to figure out what was going on with these characters and they moved through a dangerous world. I am only sorry that it took me so long to give this book a try.

Review copy provided by the publisher. Full review to be posted soon.

[Silvana · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not what I expected. I usually enjoy the author's fantasy novels and was interested in reading another genre from him. Unfortunately this felt derivative. The plot was not exciting, the characters dull. Lucky it is not a long novel.

[Janelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Seven people wake up on a boat heading towards the Thames estuary. They have no personal memories and the only instructions for their journey are given by a computer voice on a phone. I was definitely curious about what was going on and it builds to a decent conclusion.

[Adam · Rating 4 out of 5]

My first Anthony Ryan book, and a good one. To reveal too much of the plot would be a spoiler, so I recommend going into this one completely blind for the full revelatory experience.

RR7 is a taut mystery and fast-paced thriller that I devoured in just a few sessions. What sets this book apart from others of its kind is how the characters are developed and portrayed. Careful descriptions and reactions to each of the protagonists' personalities added a lot of layers to the story using just a few words. This kept the story from being a straightforward mystery-thriller, as my mind was constantly racing with possibilities of what might happen and why.

Seriously, don't read the back cover, go into it as blind as you can. You'll reap the biggest payoffs if you don't know what you're in for from the start.

Anthony Ryan is an author I've been tracking for years, though haven't read any of his popular fantasy stories yet. After Red River Seven, that's going to change.