Red

Rating:
Summary: Kudos for Ketchum!
Review: I'm an avid book reader. With many books under my belt--I must admit this was one of the most excellent written books out there!
The words just seem to flow. You just get started into it and before long, you notice you're on page 100. It's written in a way that make you feel all the emotions Av Ludlow experiences, as if you were in his shoes. Anyone who has had a beloved pet taken away from them and violently killed by a ruthless, sadistic person, will surely be able to empathize with Av's situation--and feel like standing up and cheering for him!

This is the first book I've read by Jack Ketchum. I plan to read more of his works because I was so impressed. Don't hesitate to pick up this book and read it if you get the chance. You won't be sorry! :-)

Rating:
Summary: Not what I expected
Review: I've been hearing the name Jack Ketchum for a while now and finally decided to read one of his books. There are so many 5 star reviews here for Red I have to wonder if I read the same book. I was incredibly disappointed. The writing itself is nothing more than competent. The characters are cardboard cutouts standing in for real people and the plots are wholly unoriginal. The story seems to be there mainly for Ketchum to set up violent scenes just for the sake of having violent scenes.

Rating:
Summary: Among The Best!
Review: If you read a lot, you know what it's like to read a novel that you really hate to put down. This is one. This novel has two seperate stories, Red and Passenger. Both are great. In Red, Jack Ketchum shows his own knowledge of a person's feelings for their pet. Again, in Passenger, he shows his knowledge of good and bad. I don't think I read one paragraph that was a bore. Both stories stand high in my standard. I read a short story by this author once, and I knew then he was one of the best.

Rating:
Summary: Best Jack Ketchum book by far-full of beautiful emotion
Review: In my opinion, this is Jack Ketchum's best book. It is full of expressions of humanity and what one will do to avenge the death of a loved one. I identified strongly with Avery and was proud of his moral character and strength and overall sense of DECENCY. This is the first Jack Ketchum book I've read that isn't strictly about horror. This book is about justice being served and basic right and wrong. If you have ever truly loved a pet, I think you will like this book. I read it in one day. I cried at the end. It's beautiful - very differently written than the author's other books because it is full of devotion and the underlying motivation stems from love and honor. JK should write more books like this - it shows his intelligence and his spiritual depth. If you are just looking for horror and gore, try JK's other books, but if you want to be emotionally moved, check this one out.

Rating:
Summary: SOLID STORY
Review: In this book, Jack Ketchum does some of his absolute best character development to date. You get a real feel for the old man and the relationship with his dog. Ketchum builds the small town atmosphere with a comfort reminscent of Stephen King. You almost feel like you've lived in this town and know some of these people. This laid back normality is offset by the tension created by the old man's single-minded drive for justice. This obsession creates more tension by being directed at a family of arrogant and cruel people who feel they are above the law. This is a very enjoyable read from start to finish. The novella "The Passenger" is included here and is worth the price all by itself. A roller-coaster ride of suspense, aggression, violence, and degradation in the finest Ketchum tradition.

Rating:
Summary: Enjoyable With Some Reservations
Review: It may not be the most original story and I don't know why the book was labeled as a "horror" novel, but Red is very entertaining nonetheless. A little predictable at times, however, I couldn't seem to put it down. It's more of a drama with some aspects of a thriller that is well written and contains some powerful images. It's such a simple story that I think might make a better movie than a book -- one of the rare times. I look forward to seeing more of Ketchum's work from the Leisure horror line... let's just hope that "horror" is what it is. The other novella in the novel is called The Passenger and it's not nearly as good (2 and 1/2 stars). The Passenger goes off on many strange tangents that never seem believable and contains too many coincidences. That said, it's still worth buying for the story of Red.

Rating:
Summary: Enjoyable With Some Reservations
Review: It may not be the most original story and I don't know why the book was labeled as a "horror" novel, but Red is very entertaining nonetheless. A little predictable at times, however, I couldn't seem to put it down. It's more of a drama with some aspects of a thriller that is well written and contains some powerful images. It's such a simple story that I think might make a better movie than a book -- one of the rare times. I look forward to seeing more of Ketchum's work from the Leisure horror line... let's just hope that "horror" is what it is. The other novella in the novel is called The Passenger and it's not nearly as good (2 and 1/2 stars). The Passenger goes off on many strange tangents that never seem believable and contains too many coincidences. That said, it's still worth buying for the story of Red.

Rating:
Summary: Enjoyable With Some Reservations
Review: It may not be the most original story and I don't know why the book was labeled as a "horror" novel, but Red is very entertaining nonetheless. A little predictable at times, however, I couldn't seem to put it down. It's more of a drama with some aspects of a thriller that is well written and contains some powerful images. It's such a simple story that I think might make a better movie than a book -- one of the rare times. I look forward to seeing more of Ketchum's work from the Leisure horror line... let's just hope that "horror" is what it is. The other novella in the novel is called The Passenger and it's not nearly as good (2 and 1/2 stars). The Passenger goes off on many strange tangents that never seem believable and contains too many coincidences. That said, it's still worth buying for the story of Red.

Rating:
Summary: reality horror
Review: J.K writes stories that scare the pants off you because they are stories that can happen.I also got a kick out of the novella at the end, "the passenger" excellent stuff!

Rating:
Summary: The Greatest Kind of Horror
Review: Jack Ketchum has become one of the most important and most original voice in horror fiction. His books aren't about monsters with claws and fangs, or ghosts or aliens. No, his books touch upon the most terrifying kind of horror; realistic violence and the darkness that often lives deep within us.

Red is no exception. When Ludlow goes fishing with his old mutt Red, the last thing he imagined was that this would soon become the most horrible day of his life. While he is fishing, Ludlow encounters three teenage boys. Their only intent is to cause havoc on everyone and everything that comes in their way. The boys murder Ludlow's dog when they find out that Ludlow does not have any money to give them.

Ludlow goes to the boys's families in their hopes that their parents will punish the boys, but they won't do anything about it. He tries going to the law, but they tell him that there's nothing they can do about it either since there were no witnesses. All Ludlow wants is an apology, to see that these boys are sorry about what they've done. Unfortunately for him, his quest turns into a complete nightmare, one that will end with blood, violence and a death.

This quiet horror novel is one of the most powerful read I've had the pleasure of setting my eyes upon in a very long time. This novel digs deep into the old man's soul as we, too, join him in his quest. Ludlow doesn't really want revenge, though he will be thrown right into this bloody mess that will get completely out of hands.

This is one of Ketchum's best effort and I am more than happy to finally see it in print in America. This book also includes a short novella, The Passenger, which is a little more graphic and fast-paced than Red, but that is nonetheless very entertaining. This is Ketchum at his very best. Don't let this one pass you by!