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atlantic_reader_wannabe's review against another edition
4.0
This book was great from start to finish! A mystery with great writing and great plot, this book offers an afternoon of entertainment!
mountie9's review against another edition
4.0
The Good Stuff
* Canadian author & not at all depressing (Yes I know I have an ``issue``)
* Dialogue is hilarious at times
* Lots of plot twists and turns that keep you guessing on whodunit -- I swore it was one person and it ended up being someone else
* Interesting secondary characters
* Claire reminds me of Beckett from the TV show Castle
* Love how Claire and Virgil's back-stories are given in bits and pieces here and there - gives it a realistic feel
* Suzanne was a fun character - enjoyed her frank way of speaking
* Enjoyed some of the thinly veiled pot shots at dumb American cops
* Perfect read for a cold winters night
The Not So Good Stuff
* a little slow at times, but mostly because it is giving you a lot of background on Virgil for further books
* Title sucks & cover is sort of lame (sorry have to be honest)
Favorite Quotes/Passages
"She considered not calling Joe Brady for a while. Presumably he and the dogs were still on the trail, stumbling around in the thick woods east of the Hudson. Maybe Joe would bump his head on a tree limb and smarten up a little. In the ends, she did call him, out of respect for Patterson and thew SWAT guys. The dogs too."
"The Mounties will get him," Joe said. "He`s one of theirs."
"Yeah" Claire said. "They probably have some special insight on how a Canadian thinks."
"I`m heading up into Canada," he told her. "To talk to the Mounties."
He made the announcement as if he were Meriwether Lewis and Canada was the great unknown expanse west of the Mississippi. "
Who Should /Shouldn't Read
* Mystery fans will enjoy
* Perfect for fans of Lehane and Deaver
4 Dewey`s
I received this from Simon and Schuster in Exchange for an Honest Review
* Canadian author & not at all depressing (Yes I know I have an ``issue``)
* Dialogue is hilarious at times
* Lots of plot twists and turns that keep you guessing on whodunit -- I swore it was one person and it ended up being someone else
* Interesting secondary characters
* Claire reminds me of Beckett from the TV show Castle
* Love how Claire and Virgil's back-stories are given in bits and pieces here and there - gives it a realistic feel
* Suzanne was a fun character - enjoyed her frank way of speaking
* Enjoyed some of the thinly veiled pot shots at dumb American cops
* Perfect read for a cold winters night
The Not So Good Stuff
* a little slow at times, but mostly because it is giving you a lot of background on Virgil for further books
* Title sucks & cover is sort of lame (sorry have to be honest)
Favorite Quotes/Passages
"She considered not calling Joe Brady for a while. Presumably he and the dogs were still on the trail, stumbling around in the thick woods east of the Hudson. Maybe Joe would bump his head on a tree limb and smarten up a little. In the ends, she did call him, out of respect for Patterson and thew SWAT guys. The dogs too."
"The Mounties will get him," Joe said. "He`s one of theirs."
"Yeah" Claire said. "They probably have some special insight on how a Canadian thinks."
"I`m heading up into Canada," he told her. "To talk to the Mounties."
He made the announcement as if he were Meriwether Lewis and Canada was the great unknown expanse west of the Mississippi. "
Who Should /Shouldn't Read
* Mystery fans will enjoy
* Perfect for fans of Lehane and Deaver
4 Dewey`s
I received this from Simon and Schuster in Exchange for an Honest Review
claudetteb's review against another edition
4.0
Great read! Virgil Cain is a good hero, and actually all the characters are interesting. I couldn't put this book down. The story is a strong one, full of twists and turns that keep you interested, but it's definitely character driven, which in my view makes for the most interesting of suspense novels!
lostinagoodread's review against another edition
3.0
This review can be found on Cozy Up With A Good Read
I found this to be an interesting crime/mystery book by a Canadian (something I have not read before to be honest). I really enjoyed the characters that we get to meet throughout the story, especially Virgil Cain himself. He is a sarcastic guy and brings a touch of humour to the book. I enjoyed the idea of Virgil trying to find the killer when everyone already believes for him to be the killer, it always makes for an interesting story.
The problem I found with this book, though, was that there was more focus on Virgil escaping police custody and him just trying to keep everyone off his track. The focus of the story is everyone trying to find him rather than anyone trying to find reason that he may not be the killer. It took too long to get around to anyone looking for clues for a different killer (including Virgil himself).
Another issue I had was that the main cop leading the investigation (Joe Brady) jumps the gun for a cop right at the beginning in arresting Virgil. I just thought there would be a little more search into another suspect but that doesn't come until closer to the very end of the book.
With that being said I enjoyed a lot of things about this book. The mystery of it was written well and Brad Smith does a good job of having you guessing throughout the entire story. I did enjoy the secondary character of Mary, who is a moral character and yet she is so adorable. At the beginning I found there were a lot of characters and different stories to follow, but I did understand they would all come together eventually (which they do at the end). And when they do come together it was actually a nice surprise.
I found this to be an interesting crime/mystery book by a Canadian (something I have not read before to be honest). I really enjoyed the characters that we get to meet throughout the story, especially Virgil Cain himself. He is a sarcastic guy and brings a touch of humour to the book. I enjoyed the idea of Virgil trying to find the killer when everyone already believes for him to be the killer, it always makes for an interesting story.
The problem I found with this book, though, was that there was more focus on Virgil escaping police custody and him just trying to keep everyone off his track. The focus of the story is everyone trying to find him rather than anyone trying to find reason that he may not be the killer. It took too long to get around to anyone looking for clues for a different killer (including Virgil himself).
Another issue I had was that the main cop leading the investigation (Joe Brady) jumps the gun for a cop right at the beginning in arresting Virgil. I just thought there would be a little more search into another suspect but that doesn't come until closer to the very end of the book.
With that being said I enjoyed a lot of things about this book. The mystery of it was written well and Brad Smith does a good job of having you guessing throughout the entire story. I did enjoy the secondary character of Mary, who is a moral character and yet she is so adorable. At the beginning I found there were a lot of characters and different stories to follow, but I did understand they would all come together eventually (which they do at the end). And when they do come together it was actually a nice surprise.
fictionophile's review against another edition
4.0
Brad Smith’s latest thriller “Red means run” set in rural upstate New York, exhibits good, sound story-telling and introduces a new and compelling protagonist. The title is from a lyric from “Powderfinger”, an old Neil Young song. The subtitle, ‘a Virgil Cain mystery’ ensured that every time I picked up the novel I found myself humming the classic Joan Baez tune “The night they drove old Dixie down”. Like the Virgil Cain(e) of the song this Virgil was not afraid of hard work and seemed to live by the words “take what you need and leave the rest”. The adjectives I would best use to describe him are admirable and honorable.
The beginning of the novel (which is needed to set up the story) was for me a bit disappointing–mostly I think because the character introduced in the beginning, Mickey Dupree was an unlikeable chap. An unscrupulous criminal attorney and avid golfer, he does not engender sympathy or regret when he is killed off at the end of the first chapter.
The second chapter introduces us to Virgil Cain and from there on I was hooked, turning the pages as one might gobble down a great Christmas dinner.
An over-zealous (and not very bright) cop arrests Virgil for murdering Dupree. The strong, silent type, Virgil takes his arrest very stoically while I as the reader was outraged on his behalf. His character comes across as being honest and compassionate and the reader just knows that it is impossible for him to have murdered anyone. When Virgil realizes that the police seem satisfied that they have their man, he knows that he must find out who did murder Dupree so as to exonerate himself. Of course in order to do that he must escape custody…
Virgil’s friend Mary, a septuagenarian veterinarian was a highly moral character that I hope returns in subsequent novels. Mary, like Virgil, has her head screwed on straight and knows the meaning of loyalty and friendship. She, along with the female homicide detective Claire Marchand are the only two allies that Virgil has. Gorgeous and very clever, Claire was the perfect foil for a man as highly principled as Virgil. Filled with suspense, horses, a ‘salt of the earth’, honorable protagonist and just a touch of romance ensures that “Red means run” will appeal to anyone who has ever enjoyed a Dick Francis novel. Be prepared to find yourself reading well into the wee hours… I eagerly await the second book in the series, “Crow’s Landing“.
This review was originally published in 2012 on my blog: Fictionophile
The beginning of the novel (which is needed to set up the story) was for me a bit disappointing–mostly I think because the character introduced in the beginning, Mickey Dupree was an unlikeable chap. An unscrupulous criminal attorney and avid golfer, he does not engender sympathy or regret when he is killed off at the end of the first chapter.
The second chapter introduces us to Virgil Cain and from there on I was hooked, turning the pages as one might gobble down a great Christmas dinner.
An over-zealous (and not very bright) cop arrests Virgil for murdering Dupree. The strong, silent type, Virgil takes his arrest very stoically while I as the reader was outraged on his behalf. His character comes across as being honest and compassionate and the reader just knows that it is impossible for him to have murdered anyone. When Virgil realizes that the police seem satisfied that they have their man, he knows that he must find out who did murder Dupree so as to exonerate himself. Of course in order to do that he must escape custody…
Virgil’s friend Mary, a septuagenarian veterinarian was a highly moral character that I hope returns in subsequent novels. Mary, like Virgil, has her head screwed on straight and knows the meaning of loyalty and friendship. She, along with the female homicide detective Claire Marchand are the only two allies that Virgil has. Gorgeous and very clever, Claire was the perfect foil for a man as highly principled as Virgil. Filled with suspense, horses, a ‘salt of the earth’, honorable protagonist and just a touch of romance ensures that “Red means run” will appeal to anyone who has ever enjoyed a Dick Francis novel. Be prepared to find yourself reading well into the wee hours… I eagerly await the second book in the series, “Crow’s Landing“.
This review was originally published in 2012 on my blog: Fictionophile
baumsaway's review against another edition
1.0
I'll be honest: I don't understand the rave reviews for this one. The ending was so anticlimactic that I'm not sure I can, in good conscience, call it an "ending" at all. The pacing was rushed; the characters archetypical; the story all too predictable.
Obviously you know Cain isn't the murderer. The author is way too heavy-handed in trying to prop up Joe Brady as an alternative theory in readers' minds. And he's also too forceful in trying to get the reader to loathe Suzanne. That really only leaves you with two options in your head (due to the complete lack of characters and their development): Claire and Jane.
You know it isn't going to be Claire, since she's set up so blatantly (noticing a pattern here?) as Cain's only ally and eventual love interest. Oh, and not to mention the fact that she has no motive.
That leaves only Jane.
And that's without the hilariously out-of-place-unless-it-serves-as-a-clear-motive side plot of Jane prepping a run for Congress.
Woof. Brad Smith should be glad I've read [a:James Patterson|3780|James Patterson|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1468347205p2/3780.jpg], so I know what a true one-star book looks like—[b:The Jester|13157|The Jester|James Patterson|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1347270829s/13157.jpg|2513115], anyone?—as that's about the only reason for the second star here.
You know it isn't going to be Claire, since she's set up so blatantly (noticing a pattern here?) as Cain's only ally and eventual love interest. Oh, and not to mention the fact that she has no motive.
That leaves only Jane.
And that's without the hilariously out-of-place-unless-it-serves-as-a-clear-motive side plot of Jane prepping a run for Congress.
Woof. Brad Smith should be glad I've read [a:James Patterson|3780|James Patterson|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1468347205p2/3780.jpg], so I know what a true one-star book looks like—[b:The Jester|13157|The Jester|James Patterson|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1347270829s/13157.jpg|2513115], anyone?—as that's about the only reason for the second star here.
krazyizkool's review against another edition
4.0
I received my copy today as a First Reads winner...
In compliance with FTC guidelines, I am disclosing that I received this book for free through Goodreads First Reads.
I do have several books in line for reading first, but I look forward to reading and reviewing this book.
So I finally read this book, and I have to admit I don't really know what I expected. I saw the trailer and I read the synopsis on the back cover...but I was only a little interested. Boy, should I have had higher expectations. It was an easy read, but a good read! I even found found myself exclaiming out loud at a few parts and having to explain to my husband that I couldn't figure out what was going to happen next - it was like there was a twist of information or something every couple of chapters. I always had to keep reading! I would definitely read more books by Brad Smith, and I'm already lending it out to others who enjoy the murder-mysteries in life.
In compliance with FTC guidelines, I am disclosing that I received this book for free through Goodreads First Reads.
I do have several books in line for reading first, but I look forward to reading and reviewing this book.
So I finally read this book, and I have to admit I don't really know what I expected. I saw the trailer and I read the synopsis on the back cover...but I was only a little interested. Boy, should I have had higher expectations. It was an easy read, but a good read! I even found found myself exclaiming out loud at a few parts and having to explain to my husband that I couldn't figure out what was going to happen next - it was like there was a twist of information or something every couple of chapters. I always had to keep reading! I would definitely read more books by Brad Smith, and I'm already lending it out to others who enjoy the murder-mysteries in life.
the_original_shelf_monkey's review
4.0
I think it's still too early to proclaim Brad Smith as Canada's answer to Elmore Leonard; after all, Smith has written only six books, and Leonard has umpteen-million novels and stories behind him. But based on Red Means Run, combined with his past output, it's clear that Smith knows his way around the genre, and has a hell of a lot of fun navigating the terrain.
Read the rest of the review here.
Read the rest of the review here.
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