The Red Lotus

The Red Lotus A Novel

From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Midwives and The Flight Attendant comes a twisting story of love and deceit: an American man vanishes on a rural road in Vietnam and his girlfriend, an emergency room doctor trained to ask questions, follows a path that leads her home to the very hospital where they met. The first time Alexis saw Austin, it was a Saturday night. Not in a bar, but in the emergency room where Alexis sutured a bullet wound in his arm. Six months later, on the brink of falling in love, they travel to Vietnam on a bike tour so that Austin can show her his passion for cycling and he can pay his respects to the place where his father and uncle fought in the war. But as Alexis sips white wine and waits at the hotel for him to return from his solo ride, two men emerge from the tall grass and Austin vanishes into thin air. The only clue he leaves behind is a bright yellow energy gel dropped on the road. As Alexis grapples with this bewildering loss, navigating the FBI, Austin's prickly family, and her colleagues at the hospital, Alexis uncovers a series of strange lies that force her to wonder: Where did Austin go? Why did he really bring her to Vietnam? And how much danger has he left her in? Set amidst the adrenaline-fueled world of the emergency room, The Red Lotus is a global thriller about those who dedicate their lives to saving people, and those who peddle death to the highest bidder.
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Reviews

Photo of Sarahi Flores
Sarahi Flores@thrillerromance
4 stars
May 19, 2022

I first want to say thank you Netgalley & Doublebay for an e-arc copy of the Red Lotus in exchange for a review.
 A girlfriend left with so many unanswered questions after the disappearance of her boyfriend, Austin. She is relentless with finding out the truth despite others telling her to leave it alone. I admire her detective instincts because it's more than just uncovering what exactly happened to Austin, but as why? and for what?
 Little by little the story unravels with different POV of the characters. It feels like a countdown to when she meets her fate. The story was well thought out and quite frankly, ingenious. A good thriller that should be consider as a mini series? I mean I would watch it. I believe the author did a lot of research for this book and I give him props for it. I give this book 4 out of 5 stars.

Photo of Jan Talkington
Jan Talkington@jantalking
4 stars
Sep 25, 2021

An interesting read especially now. It's interesting that this was written before the onset of Covid-19. So many passages were true to form as far as "real life." Chris Bohjalian is one of my favorite authors. If this book had been written by anyone else, I don't think I would have read it. However he is able to draw me in, tell an interesting story and make me think. Another winner from a great writer.

Photo of Melissa Railey
Melissa Railey@melrailey
5 stars
Jan 18, 2024
Photo of Kathy Rodger
Kathy Rodger @bookatnz
4 stars
Apr 20, 2022
Photo of Karen Shimek
Karen Shimek@karenreads
3 stars
Jan 7, 2022
Photo of Brittany
Brittany@breenym
2 stars
Aug 4, 2021