"I went to war poor. Nine years later I came back rich. Along the way, I became known as a Red Chaser. Now, I was going to meet the greatest Red...
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reviews
Oct 29, 2011
SinCityReader
rated it: 
I loved this book, I don't know too much about baseball but I was able to follow along without being confused. The plot was interesting and I was able to follow along with the great descriptions of an era and area of the country that I do not know too much about.
The writing reminded me of reading a Spencer book, with Hiromi being Hawk.
I really hope there is a sequel to Red Chaser....
Thanks Jon for the good read.
The writing reminded me of reading a Spencer book, with Hiromi being Hawk.
I really hope there is a sequel to Red Chaser....
Thanks Jon for the good read.
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Feb 24, 2010
Marvin
rated it: 
In 1951, Jake McHenry is invited to a bar by an old childhood friend. Jake works as a Private Investigator doing divorce cases, mainly just to cover up his riches he improperly gained when working as a CIA operative uncovering Soviet Russian spy networks. His old friend introduces him to chief Commie hater Senator Joe McCarthy who has a job for him...
And this is just the first few pages of Jon Spoelstra's fast-paced hybrid of a P.I./espionage novel. It is a fun read accented by some More...
And this is just the first few pages of Jon Spoelstra's fast-paced hybrid of a P.I./espionage novel. It is a fun read accented by some More...
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Apr 04, 2011
Angela
rated it:
Red Chaser is a fairly fast-paced thriller set in the 1950's. Jake McHenry is a WW2 "veteran" who comes home with a fortune gained in ways he is not necessarily proud of. Jake becomes a private detective as a diversion from beer and Brooklyn Dodgers baseball games. He reluctantly becomes involved with Joe McCarthy and his commie chasers through an old school friend.
This is a great mystery thriller with a little history,politics, and baseball thrown in. Jake is an easy to More...
This is a great mystery thriller with a little history,politics, and baseball thrown in. Jake is an easy to More...
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Oct 21, 2010
Donna
rated it: 
Actually, I would give this 3.5 stars if I could. The author sent an Amazon gift certificate at my request (which I thank him for), but I had been close to buying the book anyway. It sounded right up my alley, since I enjoy a good PI/Espionage/Mystery -you get the idea- book. I did like this book and it held my interest through out.
Unfortunately, as noted by others, some proof-reading would be good. There were enough grammatical and wrong tense mistakes that I found it slightly distr More...
Unfortunately, as noted by others, some proof-reading would be good. There were enough grammatical and wrong tense mistakes that I found it slightly distr More...
Oct 06, 2010
Kipwilliams
rated it: 
The author very kindly presented me with a $5 Amazon gift certificate to purchase Red Chaser for the Kindle. This is a period piece dedicated to the post-war 1950s, a rough Raymond Chandleresque private investigator, a political conspiracy involving Senator Joe McCarthy, and sex scenes. What's not to like?
Well, quite a bit, unfortunately. The most striking problem I had with the book was the writing style, itself. The author is fond of nicknames. These can be endearing when adding d More...
Well, quite a bit, unfortunately. The most striking problem I had with the book was the writing style, itself. The author is fond of nicknames. These can be endearing when adding d More...
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Jul 18, 2010
Eric_W
rated it:
It's the Korean War. Business is booming. Baseball is the national sport. If they could bottle the smell of hot dogs on a summer day at the park, someone would become a millionaire. Reds - Russian Reds, not ichink ones -have infiltrated the entire government. They are everywhere and Joe McCarthy has decided to root them out (and if he gains some personal power in the meantime, well those are just the spoils of war.)
Jake, a former OSS agent who tracked down Nazi networks after the w More...
Jake, a former OSS agent who tracked down Nazi networks after the w More...
Mar 21, 2010
Alan
rated it:
This was a fun read.
To begin with, this was the first digital book I've read. I downloaded Amazon's app for reading Kindle books on my pc, then downloaded the book itself from Amazon. Both processes were fast and easy. I've always been a traditional ink and paper reader, almost anti-digital, it was a stretch allow myself to even enter this realm. Not that the procedure was daunting, because it wasn't; rather reading a book without holding the paper in my hands seemed a bit unor More...
To begin with, this was the first digital book I've read. I downloaded Amazon's app for reading Kindle books on my pc, then downloaded the book itself from Amazon. Both processes were fast and easy. I've always been a traditional ink and paper reader, almost anti-digital, it was a stretch allow myself to even enter this realm. Not that the procedure was daunting, because it wasn't; rather reading a book without holding the paper in my hands seemed a bit unor More...
Jul 01, 2010
Al
rated it:
It’s 1951. The country is recovering from World War II while the Cold War is heating up. Joe McCarthy is seeing commies everywhere. The Dodgers are still in Brooklyn and smack dab in the middle of the pennant race.
Our hero, Jake McHenry, returned from the war a rich man. But those riches need to remain a secret, so Jake sets up shop as a private detective. He can play at that in his spare time. No one will know he doesn’t have to work, the tax man will be happy and he’ll have More...
Our hero, Jake McHenry, returned from the war a rich man. But those riches need to remain a secret, so Jake sets up shop as a private detective. He can play at that in his spare time. No one will know he doesn’t have to work, the tax man will be happy and he’ll have More...
Jun 27, 2010
Zach
rated it:
I read a review copy, purchased for me by the author.
I almost quit reading at around the 10% mark, but couldn't bear to write a bad review of a book I hadn't even bothered to finish -- especially not after the author had contacted me directly and bought me a copy. And indeed, 6000 weary kindle-locations later, my opinion of the book did improve, but not enough to take it from one star ("didn't like it") to two ("it was ok").
This reads more like a roug More...
I almost quit reading at around the 10% mark, but couldn't bear to write a bad review of a book I hadn't even bothered to finish -- especially not after the author had contacted me directly and bought me a copy. And indeed, 6000 weary kindle-locations later, my opinion of the book did improve, but not enough to take it from one star ("didn't like it") to two ("it was ok").
This reads more like a roug More...
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May 17, 2010
Lor
rated it:
Red Chaser is a fun novel. It reads like one of those "hard-boiled" detective genre books of the 1950's with a bit of espionage thrown in. I found the book fast paced and exciting.
The book takes place in Joseph McCarthy era 1951. The main character is a part-time detective hired to get a list from the mysterious Ice Queen. Our narrator and main character is Jake McHenry and he struggles with conflicting morality. He has become a wealthy man by stealing Nazi plunder ye More...
The book takes place in Joseph McCarthy era 1951. The main character is a part-time detective hired to get a list from the mysterious Ice Queen. Our narrator and main character is Jake McHenry and he struggles with conflicting morality. He has become a wealthy man by stealing Nazi plunder ye More...
Mar 18, 2010
Cheryl
rated it:
Okay - I'm getting the bad out of the way up front because the "bad" is just my own personal bias against baseball (sorry guys), of which the private dick (ha -- I'm being noir-ish) is a rabid fan, and I'm being restrained when I use the term "rabid." So, I debated between 3 and 4 stars on this one and then because I'm just so totally not into baseball (I think it's like watching grass grow) it ended up with 3 - but don't let that stop you from giving this a shot. And if yo
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Mar 30, 2010
Gary F
rated it:
Having finished Red Chaser by Jon Spoelstra, I found myself totally engaged in the time and era Jon was creating. Key to the success of any book is the ability of the author to perfectly capture the time and place in which the story is taking place. Spoelstra does this perfectly. You really are transported to 1950s Brooklyn when the Dodgers were the center of the universe. The central story, which involves many colorful characters, a great deal based on real people, is both interesting and gripp
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Mar 07, 2010
Chris
rated it:
Red Chaser by Jon Spoelstra is a 1950's thriller that is available exclusively on the Kindle. So you won't see this novel sitting on the shelf of your local bookstore, but that doesn't mean it doesn't deserve to be there! I typically won't pick up a book based in the 50's because I draw no connection with the time period, but I found the novel's environment warm and inviting.
For those looking for a book that gets straight to the point, Mr. Spoelstra delivers the first few chapters in More...
For those looking for a book that gets straight to the point, Mr. Spoelstra delivers the first few chapters in More...
Mar 01, 2010
Marcia
rated it:
Even though I'm just about the opposite of a sports fan, a sports-hater I guess, I was actually able to enjoy most of the baseball in this book. It even made me briefly wish I was a person who could love baseball the way so many other people do. There's something elegant and calm about baseball even when people are going nuts over it, like the main character in this book.
This is a good story. While I was reading I wanted to keep reading. The ending surprised me, which was weird. Tha More...
This is a good story. While I was reading I wanted to keep reading. The ending surprised me, which was weird. Tha More...
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May 29, 2010
Lino
rated it:
A well thought out first fiction from Jon Spoelstra works pretty well from start to finish. I enjoy the way he draws out his characters. You get a good sense of the people without being bored. A good quick read without need to reread parts to understand what was just said. The plot was well thought out and had me right to the end. I can usual figure some things out but the ending was plausible and well done. He ties everything up very well.
Saying that, the only negative would be a tighten More...
Saying that, the only negative would be a tighten More...
Jul 19, 2010
Lynx
rated it:
Red Chaser, a 1950’s noir follows Jake McHenry, chaser turned PI through blackmail, commies, sex, murder and espionage - all while keeping track of the Dodgers progress as they try to make their way to The World Series.
I felt this book had an interesting story line which suffered due to bad dialogue. There were times when sexy and noir felt more like goofy and uncomfortable. For instance the meeting with the Ice Queen. The word play was downright laughable. Unfortunately I don’t thin More...
I felt this book had an interesting story line which suffered due to bad dialogue. There were times when sexy and noir felt more like goofy and uncomfortable. For instance the meeting with the Ice Queen. The word play was downright laughable. Unfortunately I don’t thin More...
Mar 21, 2010
Heather
rated it: 
I read a promotional copy.
The plot was fine, the main character was interesting, but the book needed an editor--or a more forceful editor, if it already had one. This is probably one of the dangers of the e-book era--much easier to self-publish.
The author tries way too hard to put in local color (both geographical and chronological). There is far too much detail than there is plot, which would have been fine for something that is more of a period novel than a thriller, More...
The plot was fine, the main character was interesting, but the book needed an editor--or a more forceful editor, if it already had one. This is probably one of the dangers of the e-book era--much easier to self-publish.
The author tries way too hard to put in local color (both geographical and chronological). There is far too much detail than there is plot, which would have been fine for something that is more of a period novel than a thriller, More...
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Mar 08, 2010
stormhawk
rated it:
Red Chaser is a novel about a private detective. But it's really a novel about spies. But it's really a novel about sex and blackmail. But it's really a novel about baseball.
I don't know Brooklyn, particularly in the Fifties. I met some pieces and parts of it. The narrator is the kind of guy you might want to have in your corner when you're in a jam, but is not necessarily the guy you want to hang out with on a regular basis, just being friendly. That's okay, he'd probably feel the More...
I don't know Brooklyn, particularly in the Fifties. I met some pieces and parts of it. The narrator is the kind of guy you might want to have in your corner when you're in a jam, but is not necessarily the guy you want to hang out with on a regular basis, just being friendly. That's okay, he'd probably feel the More...
Apr 17, 2010
Heather
rated it:
I will start by saying I'm not the best at putting my thoughts on a book to paper, but....
A Kindle exclusive, or maybe eBooks in general, Red Chaser by Jon Spoelstra is a novel set in the 1950's. It is about a Private Detective, spies, sex, blackmail and baseball and not necessarily in that order. This is the first book of it's kind that I have ever read and I have to say that while, I admit, I do not have a real connection to history or baseball, I thoroughly enjoyed this bo More...
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Feb 15, 2010
Robert
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This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
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Mar 18, 2010
Greg
rated it:
The core of this novel is solid: a good historical mystery. There was an excellent sense of time and place. Throughout the novel, the author occasionally inserted photos and that brought me deeper into the story.
At first I thought the baseball connection would hamper my enjoyment, not being a big sports fan, but it is nicely integrated and becomes part of the story without overwhelming it.
However, the text could have been gone over a little more carefully for editing More...
At first I thought the baseball connection would hamper my enjoyment, not being a big sports fan, but it is nicely integrated and becomes part of the story without overwhelming it.
However, the text could have been gone over a little more carefully for editing More...
Jun 28, 2010
Sally
rated it:
The setting is 1951 Brooklyn, NY. Picture Mike Hammer just back from WWII and deciding to make his living as a P.I. Now throw in a fanatical love of the Brooklyn Dodgers and you've got the setting for this remarkably good first novel.
This one is full of suspense, drama, murder and other nefarious business. Joe McCarthy plays a substantial role. I thought it was great fun and a darn good read!
My only criticism is not of the author, but of the editing errors that, unfort More...
This one is full of suspense, drama, murder and other nefarious business. Joe McCarthy plays a substantial role. I thought it was great fun and a darn good read!
My only criticism is not of the author, but of the editing errors that, unfort More...
Feb 23, 2010
Andrea
rated it:
I'm about half-way through the book -- the story is entertaining and Jake is a good guy - Not being a big baseball fan and totally ignorant about its history, I am not reading the many sections about the pennant race with a lot of attention.
I have to say that the editing on the Kindle version is atrocious! I hope that the actual book doesn't have these problems with grammar, spelling and ommitted words - it's really annoying, because I can't mark the book with corrections (whic More...
I have to say that the editing on the Kindle version is atrocious! I hope that the actual book doesn't have these problems with grammar, spelling and ommitted words - it's really annoying, because I can't mark the book with corrections (whic More...
Mar 25, 2010
Marcy
rated it:
When Jake McHenry returns from post WWII Europe with a fortune gained in not so nice ways, he sets himself up as a private investigator. Through an old friend, he becomes involved in a case for Commie hater Joe McCarthy and soon he's investigating spies, murders and treason. All this is set against a backdrop of 1950's Brooklyn when Dodger baseball ruled the borough. Red Chaser is a good story with a wonderful sense of time and place and an interesting main character, but the book could use m
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Jun 11, 2010
Duffy
rated it:
I read this book at the prompting of the author, who contacted me through Goodreads. I'm glad that I did. I liked the 1950s atmosphere, and I enjoyed several of the main characters. The plot is well constructed. There is a movie adaptation of one of the Raymond Chandler book where the story unfolds during Joe DiMaggios hitting streak. This book does the same sort of thing with the 1951 Dodger/Giant pennant race that ended with "The Shot Heard Round the World" (Bobby Thompson's wa
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May 09, 2010
Nicole
rated it:
It seems like I've been reading this book forever, but that's definitely attributable to my own extremely hectic schedule this semester rather than the book itself; in other circumstances - especially airplane circumstances - it would be a really quick read. It's a detective novel set in early 1950s Brooklyn, and it combines the McCarthy Red Scare with the OSS, the early Cold War, and the Korean War - plus the Brooklyn Dodgers' quest for the World Series title.
I found the baseball e More...
I found the baseball e More...
Jul 28, 2010
Poppy
rated it:
The story moves quickly and thus far has been enjoyable. However, the book must not have been edited, which is distracting. With some good editing, this could be a much better book. Some interesting history interwoven into the story, but hard to say if it is believable given the somewhat sloppy writing style.
I would give it 2.5 stars - I did enjoy it, but it really could use a lot of work to get in better shape. I would consider reading the author's next book, but it wouldn't b More...
I would give it 2.5 stars - I did enjoy it, but it really could use a lot of work to get in better shape. I would consider reading the author's next book, but it wouldn't b More...
May 01, 2010
jim
rated it:
Red Chaser is subject to the same issues of other self-published novels: mis-spellings, repetitive word use and an over-abundance of exposition that, while historically interesting, does little to promote the story. Where this book gets an extra star is in characterization. The characters are interesting, likeable and quirky. The "voice" of the protagonist wanders astray from time to time but some careful re-writing would provide the character a deeper dimension.
I would r More...
I would r More...
Feb 28, 2010
Amber
rated it:
Ok I just have to say the book is nicely written. I gave it three stars for that. I enjoyed the mystery part of the book - I am personally however not a huge fan of war era type books, so it's not a 4 or 5 star personally for me for that reason.
I sent the book information to my father in law who I feel will love this book. If you like books on mystery, war, nazi, commies...some politics, and a little sex scandal this is the book for YOU! And I would recommend it to read.
I sent the book information to my father in law who I feel will love this book. If you like books on mystery, war, nazi, commies...some politics, and a little sex scandal this is the book for YOU! And I would recommend it to read.
Mar 21, 2011
Moon
rated it:
So far, I am amazed at how well this author has written this book being that it is his first. If you like the P.I./Murder Mystery genre then this is one you shouldn't miss. I can't stop reading this but need to work, lol but I highly recommend this one.
March 21, 2011: I am finally finished reading this book and first want to appologize to Jon for taking almost a year to read this. I also thank Jon for introducing me to Kindles wisper reader for the PC. I just bought myself a Kindle an More...
March 21, 2011: I am finally finished reading this book and first want to appologize to Jon for taking almost a year to read this. I also thank Jon for introducing me to Kindles wisper reader for the PC. I just bought myself a Kindle an More...
