The Hitchhiker

The Red Series

by Tanisha Stewart, Carrie Bledsoe (illustrator)

They call it stranger danger for a reason... The Hitchhiker is a pulse pounding psychological thriller by the bestselling author of Everybody Ain't Your Friend and The Quiet Ones series.

When Vanessa Thompson agrees to fly across the country to meet her online crush, she never imagines she's walking straight into a killer's trap. Kidnapped and tortured by a sadistic predator, Vanessa endures unspeakable horrors as the clock ticks down on her survival. With only seven days before her captor's deadly countdown ends, every breath could be her last.

As investigators search for a woman who seems to have vanished without a trace, Vanessa faces a desperate battle against time itself. Trapped in a nightmare where hope fades with each passing hour, she must find the strength to outsmart a monster – or become another missing person who never makes it home.

A pulse-pounding drama full of twists and turns. This series is fast-paced, straight to the point, and packs a powerful punch that will keep you on the edge of your seat.

The Red Series is composed of self-contained stories – they can be read in any order.

Genres: Mystery Thriller, Thriller

174 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 31, 2025

Reviews

[April · Rating 5 out of 5]

Buckle up for this one! It was a wild ride but I loved every second of it. The creeping dread and suspense literally had me at the edge of seat, as the fear of the unknown settles through you with each page turn. The pacing was great, with alternating POVs and the perfect amount of back story that shows the readers why the antagonist in this story behaves the way that he does. Simply put, an amazing psychological thriller that I would absolutely recommend on release day 5/31/25. This isn’t a “add it to my TBR for later” kinda book. You’ll want to take a ride with the hitchhiker expeditiously!

[Octavia Grant · Rating 5 out of 5]

HOLY SHHHH

Tanisha NEVERRRR disappoints. I was so stunned that I didn’t know to react. This book deserves more than 5 stars!!!!

[Reading_Utopia! · Rating 5 out of 5]

Suspenseful & Heart Pounding!

In her author’s note, Tanisha Stewart mentioned at the end of The Hitchhiker: A Psychological Thriller (The Red Series) that she was concerned because horror isn't her specialty. I'm truly impressed because stories like this are the reason I love reading. Only a remarkable book can create that magical feeling that transports you to another world. The Hitchhiker introduces us to Vanessa Thompson, who is all set to meet her online crush after two years of anticipation. But I’m not spilling any more tea; you’ve got to dive in and discover it for yourself. The Hitchhiker has skyrocketed to my favorite installment in The Red Series and it’s officially my top horror selection for this spooky season! The pacing had me on the edge of my seat, and I can’t express how much I loved this book! A solid 1000 stars!

[RAWFIZZLE · Rating 4 out of 5]

WTF?! 🤯

This was a wild and lowkey terrifying ride! Fast paced and sickening…I ate up every single page! I read this while listening to the audiobook and the narration really added to the reading experience. I’m creeped out and my heart hurts!!

[Sherri B · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well that was interesting!

[Samyra Alexander · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well done!

This story wasted no time jumping into the action. One of the characters went through hell and back, and a few characters should have never been born. The characters were well written, the story was believable, even the diabolical parts. This thriller gave me a nightmare, so I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys fast paced thrillers with diabolical twists.

[Lupita_333 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Trigger warnings
-on page child abuse
-on page torture of a kidnapped woman

This is the first book I’ve read by this author. I loved this story! Absolutely terrifying. Many shocking plot twist but some of them were predictable. The ties between the characters were mind blowing!

Some malicious characters that are petrifying to read about but there’s also a relentless woman and an investigator that refuses to give up finding the woman’s sister.

I didn’t like the relationship formed at the end especially given the reason that they had met.

[Renada Boddie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not everything is as it seems

I can always count on Tanisha Stewart to pull me through several emotions at the exact same time.
Vanessa learns a very hard lesson that not everything you see online is as it seems. The twists in this story completely blindsided me in the best way. Just when I thought I had things figured out, another plot twist. Now I have to continue The Red Series!!!!!

[Sha Sha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sheesh this was a THRILLER!!! Dark, suspenseful, crazy, wild ride.
Audiobook/eBook 📚🎧
Narrator 4/5
Quality of Audiobook 4/5- the sound effects/background sounds were entertaining as well

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow! Some parts were hard to get through, she was very descriptive in what that weirdo was into. Really enjoy that plot twist at the end, wasn’t expecting it. Overall this was a good read.

[Kswag · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m not gonna lie to you in the beginning I was intrigued but also a bit skeptical on just absolutely absurd it was for Vanessa to be so careless. But then I thought her carelessness is going to bring forth a level sinister that I know Tanisha to do.

And did she deliver.

Yes readers Vanessa spent 2 years falling in love with the man of her dreams and they decide to meet face to face for the first time. BUT all they have ever done is talk on the phone.

No FaceTime.. she has the photos from his dating site and the many late nights on the phone driving this Cupid love.

And so he says hop on the plane stay at this hotel and let’s have a blissful weekend together.

I know we should never victim blame/shame cause what Vanessa endured was hell but damn Vanessa … just damn. Can we shake her a little bit ??? No?

I could not put this down. Although you already know it’s a disastrous situation you have no earthly idea just how bad it got.

[Mr. Mccane · Rating 4 out of 5]

I just finished a great popcorn thriller. We follow a woman (Vanessa) who falls for the worst catfish in history. She had been talking with a guy online for a while and flew across the country to meet him in person. Of course, instead of him being Prince Charming, he’s a sadistic predator.

She ends up being kidnapped and tortured. As investigators desperately search for her, they realize that her time is running out. This is a race against time to either become the predator’s next victim, or the one that got away.

I saw that both the audiobook and Kindle were free, so I immersed read it. The narrator (J.R. Mason) did an amazing job. When the suspense started picking up, the short sentences from the writer, the emotional tone from the narrator, and the added background sound effects made this action-packed thriller a truly nail-biting experience. This book is fast-paced, and it’s only 174 pages. It’s also twisty, and I truly loved the reveal at the end. This book was well done, and I had a great time with it. I felt like I was watching a movie. The FMC was annoying because she kept making questionable decisions, but that seems to be how thrillers are nowadays. I will purchase the physical copy soon as a trophy.

This book is part of “The Red Series”. It offers eight books, and readers can choose any reading order. If you enjoy the style of Freida McFadden, don’t sleep on Tanisha Stewart. This one is a page-turner. Next time, just listen to your damn sister and sit down somewhere! Check the trigger warnings. 4.25/5.0

[alissa a ᖭིᖫྀ · Rating 5 out of 5]

if you’re not reading this, then what are you doing?? this book is different then the author’s other books in the ‘Red Series’ it’s more horror. this isn’t the type of book that should stay in your TBR, it needs to be read immediately. this book had me scared to be in the dark by myself, i wish the female character Vanessa would’ve listened to her sister—red flags was shown before she even flew out there. the way they planned the whole thing..was very scary, stuff like this happens in real life..more than we know. females meeting people they meet online, even if it’s a female or a guy—then sometimes never returning home. i can’t lie, Adais story was pretty heartbreaking..no kid should go through that, childhoods should be memorable not something that’s…sad. though, that didn’t give him a right to cause all this drama and heartbreak for other families. Vanessa’s sister was not playing with those detectives..she was going to found out where her sister was, i love how detective Coleman Fareed was added into the story—my jaw was dropped when i got towards the end. Adais wife Delilah?..was crazy too, allowing a man to do that? let alone you’re husband?!? was unbelievable. lastly, this whole book was really good..the characters felt extremely real, i loveeee the ending..it was veryyy cute—she deserves that..to feel safe and love, but trust me when i say..if you read this book read it with the audiobook 😀 get scared like how i did

[Brittany · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was absolutely amazing!!! Tanisha Stewart definitely did her big one again with this book from her Red Series! This book is filled with drama, suspense, and of course thrills! I also decided to do an immersive experience with reading the physical book along with the audiobook performed by the great J.R. Mason and it was an absolutely fantastic experience! The audiobook only added even more depth and adventure to this book and made it come alive! For the story to start off innocently with Vanessa going to visit her online love interest Brandon for the first time to the dramatic ending was mind blowing! I seriously could see and feel every part of this book and could easily see it being an episode of a crime thriller series or a movie! Just amazing work and I know I will be thinking of this book long after today! I highly recommend this one!

[Deedeesaidso · Rating 5 out of 5]

We've been dating/talking to each other for two years but we've never video chatted. IT'S DEFINITELY SCREAMING CATFISH, RUNNNNN GIRL. Vanessa is going to meet her boyfriend Brandon, he's flying her out and putting her up in a hotel. BUT she's never seen his face (on video chat that is, only pictures). Her sister Patrice is totally against it, and wants Brandon to come see her, but Vanessa trusts her man her man her man. What could go wrong? Apparently everything. DROP what you're doing and go check out this book you won't regret it. TANISHA come to the front because the horror of what Vanessa went through was unimaginable, I'm still reeling about it.

Thanks for this arc copy, thoroughly enjoyed it, couldn't put it down.

[Tiffany · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am a little late posting this review, I am sorry.

But let me tell you, as I was reading this book I thought back to when online dating first came out. Times have really really changed cause ain't no way I would do it now. But Ms. Vanessa still had faith in the online dating scene. So much so that she went to a whole nother state to meet a man that she had only seen a picture of. Needless to say she got so much more then she would have imagine that would be in store for her. I think she will never never do something like that again. Shout out to her sister because she was going to find her sister come hell or high water. You should really check out The Hitchhiker it was so good.

[Genevieve McCane · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was my first read by Tanisha Stewart, and I really enjoyed this quick read. The story honestly reminded me of Octavia Grant’s books, messy, intense, and straight to the point.

We follow Vanessa, who is about to fly out to meet Brandon, a man she met on an online dating app after two years of talking. The story wastes no time grabbing the reader’s attention. I listened to the audiobook, and J.R. Mason’s narration was top tier and added so much to the experience.

This is a fast paced, short thriller that felt believable while still being completely unhinged. There were so many twists, some I caught pretty quickly, but the ending completely surprised me. I did not see it coming, and it was done so well.

This was an entertaining, and intense read, 4⭐️

[Toni Larue · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you love shows like Criminal Minds...

I just finished “The Hitchhiker” by Tanisha Stewart, and omg—the “Red Series” just keeps getting better and better! This book had me on the edge of my seat from start to finish.  


It reminded me so much of “Criminal Minds.” The author has an incredible way of building suspense and keeping you hooked until the very last page.  


If you’re a fan of psychological thrillers or crime dramas, this book is an absolute must-read. I can’t wait to see what’s next in the series!  

[Tina Transformation · Rating 5 out of 5]

From the very beginning, I was drawn into Vanessa’s world. The characters felt real, the emotions authentic—and the plot twists? Absolute jaw-droppers. Just when I thought I had it figured out, Stewart flipped the script in the best possible way.

Her pacing is flawless: short chapters that fly by, each one leaving me desperate to know what happens next. Some moments genuinely made me pause—like, this?—and others that sent shivers racing down my spine. A few nights later, I still catch myself replaying scenes in my head. That’s powerful writing.

[Marcie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This my kind of book right here! The audiobook was everything! I had to stop in my tracks when I heard the foot steps running on the stairs and the screams in the background! I am here for it! An audiobook that gives you atmosphere plus a good plot- yes! There was some predictablity of how the story would unfold for Vanessa when I started reading, however, it did not the way I was expecting! Ms. Stewart said- “you may know who it is- but watch what I do with him!” Definitely starting this series from the first book. Get the audiobook!

[Elonda · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Excellent!! I absolutely love Tanisha Stewart’s writing style and creativity! I loved every bit of the story, the complexity of the characters, the characters drove me crazy (in a good way) and the vivid imagery displayed of each scene was magnificent! A true page-turner, it will keep you on your toes. I can appreciate the shorter chapters, it moves the story along and builds so much anticipation for the next chapter and the next. The entire Red Series is excellently written!

[reading.withree · Rating 5 out of 5]

Vanessa Thompson takes a chance on love when she travels across the country to meet someone she connected with online. But what begins as a hopeful encounter quickly turns into a fight for survival. As danger closes in, Vanessa must rely on her instincts while investigators race to uncover the truth.
•••••
Chileeeeeeee nothing could have prepared me for that book. A fast paced thriller that truly had me on edge from the beginning all the way until the end.

[Wind · Rating 5 out of 5]

They call it stranger danger for a reason! This was a wild ride! Vanessa decided to meet a guy she’s been talking to for two years from a dating app and all hell breaks loose! I totally recommend this book🎧

[BeautifullyFlawedKAH · Rating 5 out of 5]

I listened to this on Audible, JR Mason was fabulous reading this. Tanisha had me by the throat. I don’t know why I’m not use to it by now. SMH! Another great read. Make sure you listen to this or read it. You will not be disappointed

[myreadingescapism · Rating 4 out of 5]

Audiobook FTW

[Jasmine Chatmon · Rating 3 out of 5]

A nice short palate cleanser. This was a wild ride, but also, Vanessa please girl 🙄 all of that could’ve been avoided! But you help solve the case so there’s that 🥴.

[Patrice Murphy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it

I loved every part to the end ...i felt v was gone find real love but never at some else's hands

[Alicia Krage · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this while browsing the plus catalog on audible and decided to give it a shot. I'm glad I did! This was so good. The creepy music and sound effects made it better.

[Ashley Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

Strong story, strong plot, amazing friendship between sisters just overall a story short thriller. This is the cautionary tale everybody tells you about when you go on a dating site. As somebody that got married off of one I think this was hilariously accurate to what my mom thought it was gonna be like for me. 😝 this author could write anything and I would probably read it! The narrator on the audiobook was made for this kind of stuff. She brings the story to life so well. Any format you do with this book and you’re going to really enjoy it.

[Jacknthebooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this story from beginning to end. There were so many plot twists that I didn't see coming. Patrice was such a good sister. She was determined that her sister wasn't gonna be another forgotten black woman. She fought tooth and nail for the police to look for her. I can't wait to read more books from the red series.