Intrigued? Well read on to discover the synopsis and an excerpt from Anna Downes’ Break Me Down, which releases on August 19th 2025.

After years of seclusion, the once-celebrated child star Georgia Lane moves to Los Angeles, determined to make a comeback. But as bills pile up and auditions don’t, she realizes that beneath the glitzy facade of LA lies an unforgiving city.

But things start looking up when Georgia meets Henry, an aspiring actor who sweeps her off her feet and offers to help with her career. He connects her with his agent and brings her to audit a class at The Studio, an elite acting group of which he’s a member. There, The Studio’s head teacher, Marianna (narrated by Orange Is the New Black star Yael Stone), takes a special interest in Georgia. As Georgia steps into the intense, ego-driven world of The Studio, she finds herself invigorated by its unconventional methods, which promise to unlock her full potential—while demanding much more in return.

The more she commits to its ways, the more The Studio reveals itself as a battleground of ambition, jealousy, and psychological warfare. As the line blurs between the pursuit of art and the survival of the self, everything Georgia holds dear starts slipping away. Break Me Down is a testament to the power of art to heal, destroy, and ultimately transform.

The audiobook includes a bonus conversation between Anna and some of the main cast members of Break Me Down, discussing the story and their experiences as actors.

The post Listen To An Excerpt From ‘Break Me Down’ by Anna Downes appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

Hi, Anna! Can you tell our readers a bit about yourself?

Sure! I’m a British-born author of psychological suspense living on the east coast of Australia just north of Sydney. I have a degree in Drama at the University of Manchester and studied acting at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London before moving ‘down under’ to live with my now husband. I loved my new life but desperately missed storytelling, and writing seemed more achievable than trying to re-enter the acting game, so I started shortly after my second child was born. What essentially began as an attempt to reconnect with myself after motherhood eventually became my debut novel, which was published across multiple territories in 2020. I now have three books under my belt and am currently working on a fourth.

When did you first discover your love for writing and stories?

I can’t remember a time when I wasn’t obsessed with reading and storytelling of all different kinds. As a child my mum (a languages teacher) would often take me to see ballet and plays, and my dad (a drama teacher and soon-to-be theatre director) would tell me stories every night before bed. As soon as I could write I penned long and rambling adventures about alternative universes and magic flying buses, all of which I tried to read aloud to my classmates only to find that the school day wasn’t long enough. I developed a passion for Greek myths and legends, which turned into a love for horror and fantasy, which settled into a voracious appetite for any and all stories that made my pulse pound and my breath quicken. I have never not loved drama and fiction in all its forms.

Quick lightning round! Tell us:

• The first book you ever remember reading: The Wizard of Oz (Ladybird’s Well-Loved Tales)
• The one that made you want to become an author: Big Little Lies, Liane Moriarty
• The one that you can’t stop thinking about: Yellowface by RF Kuang

Your latest novel, Red River Road, is out now! If you could only describe it in five words, what would they be?

Solo Female Traveller Seeks Safety

What can readers expect?

High stakes action, perpetual motion and an unlikely partnership. An unexpected twist and a satisfying ending. Campervans, lonely roads, red dirt, natural wonders and handdrawn maps. A cast of complex characters, each carrying a secret. Smart discourse around women’s freedoms and safety, psychology, the power of stories. I personally think of it as Wolf Creek meets Nomadland by way of Promising Young Woman, set along the Coral Coast of Western Australia.

Where did the inspiration for Red River Road come from?

During the on-and-off lockdowns of 2021 I was obsessed with travel, and road trips in particular. Falling headfirst into the #vanlife trend, I fantastised daily about converting a campervan and setting off on a long-distance drive around the country. However, for many reasons it wasn’t an option for me so I decided to write about it instead. As a thriller author I wanted to craft something scary and fun, so naturally my initial ideas included serial killers, ghosts and hitch-hiking final girls, but my research took me into more sobering territory. Increasingly fascinated by the realities of life on the road and the true lived experiences of travellers, particularly women on their own, I began instead to tell a story about safety and our differing perceptions thereof. When women say they’re off to explore the world on their own, why do we worry for them? What do we think is going to happen, and how does that compare with what actually does? Where and with whom are women truly safe? Those questions, combined with a highly unusual news story that I happened to read one day (no, I’m not going to reveal which one!), formed the basis for what became Red River Road.

Were there any moments or characters you really enjoyed writing or exploring?

Writing this book was mostly joyful. It went through some heavy structural edits, but I knew throughout the whole process that the idea would work one way or another so I rarely doubted myself the way I often have in the past; I just had this deep faith that it could be done, even at times when it wasn’t working. I also really enjoyed the research, which was tricky at first given that Western Australia’s borders were closed until early 2022, but the landscape, subculture and aesthetic were a delight to explore and it was such a pleasure to meet with and interview solo female travellers over Zoom. And once the borders opened I got to do the trip myself – not solo, I might add, but I have since taken a camper from Perth to Margaret River all by myself and I can confirm that both experiences were spectacular. As for characters, I would say that Katy’s chapters were the most challenging to write (for reasons that will become clear once you’ve finished the book), Beth’s came most naturally, and Wyatt’s really stretched my imagination. I’m very proud of how they’ve all turned out.

What’s next for you?

I’ve recently written an audiobook that’s due for publication in 2025, and I’m now working on the first draft of a fourth novel, another psychological thriller, this time about an estranged mother and daughter on a reconciliation trip to a remote hotel. The first draft is the always the hardest part for me so I won’t say anymore in case it goes horribly wrong and I have to change the whole concept!

Lastly, what books have you enjoyed so far this year and are there any that you can’t wait to get your hands on?

Oh my goodness, there are so many but if I had to pick favourites I’d probably say David Nicholl’s You Are Here, All Fours by Miranda July, The Ministry of Time by Kaliane Bradley, Lioness by Emily Perkins, and Green Dot by Madeleine Gray. I also adored Darling Girls by Sally Hepworth, who is an auto-buy author for me. There are hundreds of great books I’m dying to read before the end of the year, perhaps foremost of which are Horror Movie by Paul Tremblay, Liz Moore’s God of the Woods, Entitlement by Rumaan Alam and The Eyes Are The Best Part by Monica Kim. If I could get my hands on any ARC right now it would be Liane Moriarty’s Here One Moment.

Will you be picking up Red River Road? Tell us in the comments below!

The post Q&A: Anna Downes, Author of ‘Red River Road’ appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

Meet Alex, a single mum of two who is intent on starting over somewhere new. When Alex discovers Pine Ridge, an eco-village set on the picturesque Central Coast just north of Sydney, it seems like the perfect fit. The people are (mostly) welcoming, the ethos of the community is refreshing, and the timing is crucial. Everything seems perfect—until it isn’t.

It starts with a bone, a doll, and blood. As gruesome parcels begin arriving on Alex’s doorstep, and the rumour’s of a witch and an unsolved disappearance resurface, it just might be that Alex has run into something even more dangerous than she left behind.

The main selling point for this novel is its ability to keep the reader in a constant state of suspense, which the author achieves through an expert use of tone. Simply put, The Shadow House oozes eeriness. With a combination of masterfully crafted suspenseful moments, red herrings, and a dose of local urban legend, the author promises a thrilling ride from start to finish. This, along with the use of a dual narrative, creates a foreboding atmosphere. As the story begins to unfold and we see alternate chapters from Alex and Renee, the delicate dance between these two characters and their all too similar paths helps to maintain the drawn-out suspense.

The role of the flawed narrator is another tool utilised by the author. Much like Emily in Downes’ debut, The Safe Place, Alex in The Shadow House is continually humanised through her flaws. Portrayed as a woman intent on making her own path, alongside being a single parent wanting to connect with her children, Alex is set to tackle multiple hurdles from the start. Add to this the disturbing parcels being delivered to her doorstep, and the circumstances that led her to the idyllic setting of Pine Ridge in the first place, and we’ve got all the ingredients for a character wanting to do better but also running from her past.

At times, Alex’s reactions to certain situations are infuriating, and yet, still very believable—she reacts like any desperate person could or would in her circumstances. This is something that the author pulls off incredibly well, as the reader is left wanting to shake the main character while also silently rooting for her.

It is also fascinating to witness Renee’s story unfold alongside Alex’s. At its heart, The Shadow House is about what a mother will do to protect their child. In Renee’s chapters, we see a family slowly coming apart as their central axis—their son—begins to withdraw. It’s this showing of vulnerability that feels most authentic as we witness Renee begin down a road seemingly without end. Her struggle to reconnect with an increasingly distant teenager is all too familiar. Similarly, as tantalisingly creepy events begin to unfurl in Alex’s chapters, and her own son Ollie becomes more withdrawn, the limits of Alex’s mettle as a parent are tested. At this stage, the comparison between our two main characters cannot be ignored, as chapters begin to switch between the two faster and faster.

“Some things, she realised as the brightness consumed her, would never end. But perhaps others – cautiously, tentatively, would begin.”  – The Shadow House, p. 355.

The idea of the ‘perfect’ place is an interesting one to explore, especially in relation to the setting of a thriller novel. When first glimpsed through Alex’s eyes, the eco-village seems to be the answer to the typical 9-5 burn out—who wouldn’t want to be a part of something bigger and more sustainable? But soon Downes begins to reveal the cracks beneath the perfect setting, and every resident transforms into a potential suspect.

Unravelling Pine Ridge and its residents is as satisfying as it is destructive—we know that we will find out things better left buried, but still, we feel the urge to pick up the shovel and start digging.

Overall, The Shadow House successfully executes an extremely eerie and intriguing plot while maintaining the reader’s expectations. The exploration of Alex and Renee as both mothers and individuals richly adds to the story, and the straight-forward, honest prose keeps the narrative grounded. Recommended for readers who are looking to branch out into the thriller genre!

The Shadow House is available from Amazon, Book Depository, and other good book retailers, like your local bookstore.

Will you be picking up The Shadow House? Tell us in the comments below!

Synopsis | Goodreads

Extraordinarily tense and deliciously mysterious, Anna Downes’s The Shadow House follows one woman’s desperate journey to protect her children at any cost, in a remote place where not everything is as it seems.

A HOUSE WITH DEADLY SECRETS.

A MOTHER WHO’LL RISK EVERYTHING TO BRING THEM TO LIGHT.

Alex, a single mother-of-two, is determined to make a fresh start for her and her children. In an effort to escape her troubled past, she seeks refuge in a rural community. Pine Ridge is idyllic; the surrounding forests are beautiful and the locals welcoming. Mostly.

But Alex finds that she may have disturbed barely hidden secrets in her new home. As a chain of bizarre events is set off, events eerily familiar to those who have lived there for years, Alex realizes that she and her family might be in greater danger than ever before. And that the only way to protect them all is to confront the shadows lurking in Pine Ridge.

The post Review: The Shadow House by Anna Downes appeared first on The Nerd Daily.