Aardvark Book Club Fan Club (Not Official) discussion

Anna Downes's extraordinary next thriller Red River Road follows a woman desperate to discover what happened to her sister on a solo road trip through the Australian outback.

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 DNA evidence, 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.

Anna Downes takes us on a twist-filled journey into the dark side of solo female travel, in this gripping novel that explores what drives us to keep searching for those we have lost, the family bonds that can make or break us, and the deception of memory.

20 chapters / 30%

Katy (view spoiler)[wow, what on earth is she doing? I feel like she's making the same mistakes her sister did. She's traveling without a clear goal - or at least no a goal she is telling someone, every day. Or checking in, morning and night. All the things she should do to keep safe and have someone keep track. also, traveling alone? she is trying to go missing? Ugh! (hide spoiler)]

Beth/Lily (view spoiler)[ okay so we know more about her. something happened in the past - did someone die? and now we know she was robbing/stealing from people at campsites. Could Luke have taken it farther (the brother)? Someone is hurting and abducting people, who could it be? And what happened to Phoebe? (hide spoiler)]

Phoebe (view spoiler)[ are you noticing how the wanderer comment is always there - he's always commenting
could that have been Wyatt's brother? the barrette is weird but could it have come from Lily and not Luke? (hide spoiler)]

Wyatt (view spoiler)[ was it just me? I keep thinking he's going to find that his brother or his dad was kidnapping and keeping the women in the garage. I mean, what is making all those loud noises? It's wild, that he's maybe hearing things
and what's with his souvenirs? what are those from?
he's definitely an odd kid but I hope somehow that he's a protector and not a predator (hide spoiler)]

oooh this one is SO good so far!

40 chapters / 53%


Katy(view spoiler)[ Okay, I think Beth's assessment of Katy is dead on. What is going on? she seems so out of it, can't remember days or people and seems to be sleeping all the time. Isn't she being hypervigilant? Her sister went missing! She should be memorizing every face she sees! How did she not notice the comments and the weird way they were talking to her? And why didn't she already try to hack into the accounts?

Plus she seems to have a stockpile of money - which I think is interesting.

and what was with that detective's reaction? That seemed waaaay over the top to treat someone who's looking for her missing sister.
what don't we know?
and why is she avoiding mom? (hide spoiler)]

Lily/Beth (view spoiler)[wow, Lucas sounds like he was a nightmare. Controlling, abusive - keeping her papers and all the money. he wouldn't even give her a phone.

But I agree. I'm a bit worried she's going to betray Katy to save herself - but I hope not (hide spoiler)]

Wyatt (view spoiler)[ okay, wait. Did something happen to Lucas and this isn't actually Lucas but Wyatt living as Lucas?

or is Wyatt also watching them, watching his brother? there is definitely something more going on here!
and the dad seemed like he's holding someone in the garage. I hope he isn't stealing women, hurting women. Or that it isn't their mom. . . (hide spoiler)]

it's a race to the end!! This is so good!

Wyatt (view spoiler)[ OMG I was completely wrong! I thought these POV were the past but nothing actually said that.
Lucas really is doing all this. But the garage and money - were the noises just them putting away the stolen stuff? what is really going on? This is still all so wild! (hide spoiler)]

Katy (view spoiler)[ okay, that journalist's comments are really worrying. Did Phoebe actually commit suicide? Is that why the detective is so cruel, telling her to leave him alone?
Is she really driving around in her sister's van? OR is she Phoebe? Did something happen? Does she not really have a sister?
SO many questions!! lol (hide spoiler)]

Beth (view spoiler)[ I'm so glad she got honest and finally told Katy the truth but I really wish she would have googled Phoebe

I also think that she should have left the money behind. I know it was tempting, but if she tries to get away with all that money - the whole family and operation are going to be hunting her for it! (hide spoiler)]

and I'm done!

Wow! (view spoiler)[ so many things I missed or guessed incorrectly
wild that she didn't remember it all. I didn't necessarily need that last chapter where Beth tried to explain it but I did love that they were all meeting up!

Wyatt's dad was so scary. I'm so glad the neighbor wasn't involved in the stealing. So glad she was able to help and save Wyatt. Lucas was equally scary.

But I think my favorite part was how Beth didn't forgive Jesse - because you KNOW that guy was telling himself what a "good guy" he was but she nailed it! He took opportunities he shouldn't have, he didn't listen to no. He was creepy and scared them both so much. (hide spoiler)]