Blood Red Deceit by Steve Rush

This complex and fascinating book covers justice and vengeance. There was the hope of redemption. The reader can judge if it was ever achieved. Like I started with, this story is complex. It starts as a mystery, but the mystery of who done it is answered about halfway through. The book then morphs into a high-paced suspense thriller. However, there are mystery elements that don’t get answered or resolved until close to the end.

About two-thirds of the story is told from the first-person point of view of Dr. Ridge Warner, a highly acclaimed forensic scientist who has also been trained within a covert agency that seems to be a cross between the FBI and CIA. He has fighting skills. I may have missed it, but never really understood what this agency was. The rest of the story is in third-person point of view from a few other characters. This is a technique I’ve seen more and more. I’m not a fan of the technique. I believe it takes away some of the mystery. However, that’s just a personal bent and it did not get in the way of enjoying the story.

The case that involves Ridge starts with a bang. Literally. An explosion. Seems like a straight-forward murder, though oddly staged, but is anything but. This story involves several government agencies, local cops, and an Olympic gold medalist turned highly trained super-agent. As mentioned, it’s complicated and layered, so the reader needs to pay attention to the twists and turns. Fortunately, I’m a slow reader so was able to keep most of it straight.

It’s well-written, though there are a few typos. Mainly tense changes, but also some wrong words. Again, nothing that takes away from the reading. Probably more noticeable because I’m a writer. The author layers in some interesting forensics during Ridge’s investigations which I found fascinating. And given the author’s background, I have no doubt of their accuracy and realism.

It’s a clean read. No graphic sex. No profanity. There is violence, but it’s not gratuitous and is necessary for the story. One of the opening scenes is graphic, but the violence gets less graphic from there.

I had several reading sessions where I read more than I intended. In other words, I didn’t want to put it down. I look forward to the next in the series. I kept my streak up for the year. Another very good read. I’ll rank this one number seven so far this year.

1. The Record Keeper by Charles Martin
2. The Samaritan’s Patient by Chevron Ross
3. Days Coming by Pat Simmons
4. The Runaway Jury by John Grisham
5. The Maid by Nita Prose
6. Where is My Sister by Jane Daly
7. Blood Red Deceit by Steve Rush
8. The Dark Wind by Tony Hillerman
9. Black Cherry Blues by James Lee Burke
10. A Vanishing Act by Edwina Kiernan
11. Cali’s Hope by John Matthew Walker
12. Field Training by Patrick O’Donnell
13. Deadly Pursuit by Elle Gray

Commission earned