Behind the Red Door
Books | Fiction / Thrillers / Psychological
3.7
(54)
Megan Collins
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 at her childhood home to help her father pack for a move, 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. With the help of her psychologist father, Fern digs deeper, hoping to find evidence that her connection to Astrid can help the police locate her. But when Fern discovers more about her own past than she ever bargained for, the disturbing truth will change both of their lives forever. Featuring Megan Collins’s signature “dark, tense, and completely absorbing” (Booklist) prose and plenty of shocking twists and turns, Behind the Red Door is an arresting thriller that will haunt you long after you turn the last page.
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Author
Megan Collins
Pages
320
Publisher
Simon and Schuster
Published Date
2020-08-04
ISBN
1982130393 9781982130398
Community ReviewsSee all
"Good psychological thriller."
Jeanine
"It normally takes me a week or 2 to finish a book but this one took me over a month only because it just didn't grab my attention until the very end. I had such high hopes for this since the winter sister is one of my favorites by this author. The main character from beginning to end is completely delusional and so frustrating at times. So I'm giving this one 3 stars I was so disappointed. "
Sami Ure
"I read this book last summer and I still use it as a comparison to other thriller novels. The ending was so unexpected but made so much sense. "
Emily Steinberg
"Loved this book. I could not put it down! "
Jennifer Barnett-Kimmel
"It’s been a while since I finished a novel in less than 12 hours! BEHIND THE RED DOOR hooked me. From the beginning i was drawn in with a much too real topic for me.. anxiety. Something in my life that I’m all too familiar with.<br/><br/>We meet Fern, who experiences strong anxiety on a daily basis. We don’t really know why at the beginning, but as we follow her journey home to help her dad pack up for his big move, she finds more than she bargained for. 20 years ago, Astrid Sullivan then 14 years old, was abducted. Her disappearance made national news and everyone knew who she was. Nearly two weeks later, she was left close to home, leaving her to deal with the traumatic aftermath of her abduction. Now 20 years later, Astrid is a newly published author of her memoir, and recounts of what she remembers of that tragic time. More incredible yet, Astrid is missing for the second time. <br/><br/>The disappearance happened only an hour away from Fern’s home town, but she doesn’t remember when it happened, she has no memory of the news on Astrid’s disappearance. But one thing is certain. Fern feels so strongly like she knows Astrid, her face, is so familiar, but she can’t recall how she knows her. <br/><br/>Now, Fern is back in her home town, she hopes to spend time with her dad before his big move to Florida, and feels like helping him pack will give them time together. Being the only child, all she ever wanted to the attention she always deserved from her dad. He was always working, a psychologist very devoted to his research. Depending on Fern to be the subject of many of his experiments growing up, year after year. She didn’t feel like she was part of a family, more like a guinea pig of her fathers work. <br/><br/>During her visit however, she has a realization, and she won’t give up until she knows the truth. <br/><br/>Where is Astrid now? And why does she feel like Fern has met her before? <br/><br/>I don’t want to give too much away for fear of spoilers, but I loved the writing, and how it ALL connected. And THAT ENDING?! Spectacular way to loop us readers all the way back. I would have liked a little more closure at the end, but all (or most) of my questions got answered so I’m happy.. (except for one, come talk to me after you read it and we can compare notes)..<br/><br/>There’s a variety of characters, all essential, and important. But one thing is for sure, not everyone is being truthful, and the best part is guessing who.. I second guessed myself throughout the novel, one character aside from Fern, stayed true the entire way.. Eric. He’s perfect.<br/><br/>I highly highly, truly, really, recommend this title to ANYONE who loves a good mystery, with a SHOCKING twist. This one will stay with you for a while. Add it to your TBR, order it today, check it out at your local library! Anything you need to do to get your hands on this book!"
Ellie
