Release date: October 10 2023
Publisher: Orbit Books
Pages: 320
Find it: Goodreads Waterstones
Source: I received an E-ARC via Netgalley
Rating: 3/5 stars

Synopsis

Seven strangers. One mission. Infinite horror.

A man awakes on a boat at sea with no memory of who or where he is. He’s not alone – there are six others, each with a unique set of skills. None of them can remember their names. All of them possess a gun.

When a message appears on the onboard computer – Proceeding to Point A – the group agrees to work together to survive whatever is coming.

But as the boat moves through the mist-shrouded waters, divisions begin to form. Who is directing them and to what purpose? Why can’t they remember anything?

And what are the screams they can hear beyond the mist?

Review

Anthony Ryan is an author I have had on my TBR for the longest time, so when I heard about this standalone thriller I decided to pick this one up immediately. The story follows a man who wakes up on a boat in the middle of the ocean with no memory of who he is. There are six others there with him all with no memories. When the group receives a mysterious message and is sent on a mission together, they have to use all their unique skills in order to find a way to survive.

Red River Seven is an incredibly fast paced, action packed read. It’s exactly the kind of book I could see being made into a blockbuster movie. It’s a quick read and one that will have the reader on the edge of their seat. Ryan does a brilliant job of creating tension and atmosphere. The story is full to the brim of mystery and there are a few twists the reader absolutely won’t see coming. The story comes to a satisfying conclusion and I really liked the mixture of thriller and horror elements.

There are seven characters aboard the boat and I do wish the story had been a little longer just so we got the opportunity to get to know them a little better and see their personalities develop. I did find sometimes I was unsure which character was which and this pulled me out of the story a little. Ryan did a terrific job of creating the diseased which really leaped off the page. Overall this was an enjoyable read and it has definitely made me keen to pick up more books from Anthony Ryan in the future. If you’re looking for a fast paced read with an intriguing premise, Red River Seven should definitely be your next read.