Red: A Horror Novella

Another paperback I’ve had for a while that I wanted to ensure got read for my October TBR. The spooky reads are in full swing.

After losing his job right in the opening pages, one that he was so recently promised a promotion at, there’s no surprise that this is a of revenge story. But not only has he been terminated, he’s recently found out that his wife was sleeping around behind his back, having a full on affair with the very man that just fired him. As if that added layer wouldn’t push him over, he also found texts on his wife’s phone that his in-laws were in full support of their daughter and her plan to leave him right before Christmas. It’s no surprise here that he saw red. Much like my recent read of Neal Cassidy’s Schroeder, the reader is not surprised at all by this misled attempt at what he feels is retribution.

This is an incredibly vivid, descriptive, and propulsive read. Red is what’s promised, and it’s certainly delivered. Although I can’t get behind the motive, the revenge is well constructed, it’s well played out, and I absolutely loved just how vampiric this is. While not necessarily a typical vampire story, the details peppered throughout are there, and I drank up every one. The play on the character’s trauma story, which his wife and boss both downplayed as a grab for attention (yet another reason for him seeking revenge), which later mirrors his moves throughout was a really nice touch. And that layer of supernatural, that otherness, was also something I enjoyed.

I didn’t know when going into this read that it took place over Christmas, but I loved the mentions of songs in the background and parties, and shoppers in the streets. Of course the mention of different wines, as well as blood, were delivering on red, but I pictured the reds of Christmas and Santa placed throughout the setting which may or may have not been intentional!