Title: Behind the Red Door
Author: Megan Collins
Series: Stand Alone
Genre: Thriller/Mystery
Published By: Atria (August 4, 2020)
Source: ARC provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review
Book Description:
The author of the “suspenseful, atmospheric, and completely riveting” (Megan Miranda, New York Times bestselling author) debut The Winter Sister returns with a darkly thrilling novel about a woman who comes to believe that she has a connection to a decades old kidnapping and now that the victim has gone missing again, begins a frantic search to learn what happened in the past.
When Fern Douglas sees the news about Astrid Sullivan, a thirty-four-year-old missing woman from Maine, she is positive that she knows her. Fern’s husband is sure it’s because of Astrid’s famous kidnapping—and equally famous return—twenty years ago, but Fern has no memory of that, even though it happened an hour outside her New Hampshire hometown. And when Astrid appears in Fern’s recurring nightmare, one in which a girl reaches out to her, pleading, Fern fears that it’s not a dream at all, but a memory.
Back home in New Hampshire, Fern purchases a copy of Astrid’s recently published memoir—which may have provoked her original kidnapper to abduct her again—and as she reads through its chapters and visits the people and places within it, she discovers more evidence that she has an unsettling connection to the missing woman. As Fern’s search becomes increasingly desperate, she hopes to remember her past so she can save Astrid in the present…before it’s too late.
About the Author:
Megan Collins is the author of BEHIND THE RED DOOR and THE WINTER SISTER. She has taught creative writing at the Greater Hartford Academy of the Arts and Central Connecticut State University, and she is the managing editor of 3Elements Review. A Pushcart Prize and Best of the Net nominee, her work has appeared in many print and online journals, including Off the Coast, Spillway, Tinderbox Poetry Journal, and Rattle. She lives in Connecticut.
There is nothing better than a story that will keep you on your toes and turning the pages. Thrillers have always been some of my most favorite stories to read which is why I had no issues picking this one up at all.
It does have everything that makes a great thriller, intrigue, an unreliable narrator, mystery, crazy characters that you can't trust at all and of course that darkness that almost always lurks around every page.
And while I truly enjoyed the unique story line of this, I did see so many aspects coming after only 20% in which was a tad bit disappointing but not knowing everything, that kept me turning the pages and reading on, which was a good thing because there were still twists and turns I didn't see coming.
Overall a good read that I think most fans of the genre will truly enjoy.
I too enjoy a good thriller and I do love the sound of this one.
ReplyDeleteThey can be so much fun when they are done right!
DeleteBummer you were able to figure out the major aspects of the mystery. It sounds very thrilling though! I'm glad you're enjoying these books!
ReplyDeleteYeah it was kind of a bummer but it was still good despite that. Probably a side effect of reading so many thrillers LOL!
DeleteBummer you could guess how some things were going, but I'm glad it was still an overall enjoyable read.
ReplyDelete-Lauren
www.shootingstarsmag.net
Me too, thanks Lauren!
DeleteOh those unreliable narrators yes they usually make the thriller more interesting although I usually want to smack them :) thanks for sharing your great review
ReplyDeleteYeah so true LOL!
DeleteI always think that I see those endings coming just because I read so many thrillers. I still have fun with them though!
ReplyDeleteI think that is my problem as well Ethan! I do it with TV series as well. It drives my husband nuts LOL!
DeleteIt's hard when you see things coming. Great review!
ReplyDeleteThanks!
ReplyDeleteIt's a bit too bad you saw things coming
ReplyDeleteYeah it was a bit disappointing but thankfully it was still good.
DeleteI love a good thriller! Especially ones with great twists. :)
ReplyDeleteI really do as well!
DeleteI loved The Winter Sister so I've been wondering if this would be just as good. Sounds like a great plot! I'll put a request in at my library. Fab review! :)
ReplyDeleteI will have to look that one up as well!
Deletei don't mind knowing where a good story is going, but it is more fun when i don't. sounds like a good one
ReplyDeletesherry @ fundinmental
I totally agree!
DeleteGreat review.
ReplyDeleteThat does sound like a good book.
ReplyDeleteDefinitely different!
DeleteI'm not one for thrillers at all but I really like the sound of this one! I'd probably expire from anxiety before I got to the end though, lol.
ReplyDeleteThey can get your heart pounding for sure!
DeleteI've started reading more thrillers this year! I don't know if it's the current climate, or if my tastes have changed, but I have been searching them out. Bummer it was a tad predictable though!
ReplyDeleteLindsi @ Do You Dog-ear? 💬
Weirdly I think it might be because even though I've always loved them, I've been reading more of them as well.
DeleteThis sounds like a deep story~ Thanks for share your review
ReplyDeletexx
Thanks for stopping by!
DeleteWhat a bummer, sometimes I can still enjoy a thriller if I figure it out..but 20% yikes.
ReplyDeleteYeah. ;)
DeleteBummer it was mostly predictable! The cover is definitely eerie.
ReplyDeleteLindsi @ Do You Dog-ear? 💬
It did have it's moments though that still surprised!
DeleteI hate when a thriller is predictable, especially if it's earlier on. That stinks. BUT I'm glad some of it you couldn't guess. I've been in the mood for some thrillers, so I'll have to add this one to the TBR to give it a try!
ReplyDeleteIt does take away some of the fun for sure.
DeleteI hit enter before I meant too LOL! It is so good to see you Jazmen! I hope you are doing well!
DeleteI really loved The Winter Sister, but a lot of my GR and fellow bloggers weren't as impressed. I was mixed about taking this on and in the end because I already had a lot of review books I passed on it. Nice to hear you enjoyed it despite figuring things out early on. :)
ReplyDeleteHopefully you can make time for it later and that you like it. ;)
DeleteI'm glad it ended up being a good story.
ReplyDelete