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Red Stick One
When senior wildlife officer, Tom Jay Harding, is murdered in the field, the half-Indian boy he raised, now grown and also a wildlife officer, takes of his badge to embark on a cross-country search for the killer.
272 pages, Paperback
First published May 15, 2014
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364 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
June 24, 2014
This was a fantastic read. The author writes deftly from many perspectives (child, soldier, widow) and has a tightly woven plot. The story moved at a compelling pace and I really cared about many of the characters. There was humor, romance, danger, over coming trauma, wrenching emotions and above all vengeance! I really enjoyed this book. Kirkeby is a great writer and I will look for more of his writing.
May 14, 2015
I received a copy of this book from the author for an honest review.
This story was not what I expected at all. I thought I was diving into just a mystery but it was more than a mystery, it also had quite a bit of drama and romance. I enjoyed Vigil's history of his life in the south, the very detailed writing about nature, hunting, and animals. Mr. Kirkeby was very descriptive in every part of the story. There were parts of the story that had so many details it made the story slow at times. I was surprised that there was so much information in this book. I learned a lot and it was a nice change to the stories I've been reading lately. I think about 30% of the book itself pertained to the mystery; the rest of the book was about Virgil, his relationship with Tom Jay and his romance. Virgil was a great character because he was very definitive, honest, genuine and loyal. My. Kirkeby did a great job at developing Virgil into a man.
The reason I did not give this 5 stars was because there were parts of Virgil's dialogue that wasn't consistent with his language. Virgil speaks with a very thick southern accent throughout the entire story but every now and then there were parts where he would speak words without the accent. I would always wonder if I was still reading Virgil's speech or if it was someone else's. Virgil's dialect is very distinct; as a reader I grew to know his pronounciation well in his speech. The inconsistencies of the southern dialect to "normal" full words were jarring at times. I also thought that some parts of the story needed more action/events to occur. It was nice that the story was descriptive but there needed to be more action to keep a reader yearning to read further.
Overall I would recommend this book to anyone that wants a little mystery and romance.
**If you're a reader who isn't familiar with southern accents and you pick up this story, it will be a little difficult at first to understand the southern dialect. Give it a few chapters and see if it will start making sense. I lived in South Carolina for 3 years and now I'm in Georgia so I've become accustomed to strong southern accents. I think if I didn't live in the south; this story would have been really hard for me to read and understand. I've been immersed into southern culture and experiencing it every day here in the south and I think it is tremendous that Mr. Kirkeby can write such strong southern dialect so well.
I would like to thank Mr. Kirkeby for sharing his work with me, it was a pleasure.
This story was not what I expected at all. I thought I was diving into just a mystery but it was more than a mystery, it also had quite a bit of drama and romance. I enjoyed Vigil's history of his life in the south, the very detailed writing about nature, hunting, and animals. Mr. Kirkeby was very descriptive in every part of the story. There were parts of the story that had so many details it made the story slow at times. I was surprised that there was so much information in this book. I learned a lot and it was a nice change to the stories I've been reading lately. I think about 30% of the book itself pertained to the mystery; the rest of the book was about Virgil, his relationship with Tom Jay and his romance. Virgil was a great character because he was very definitive, honest, genuine and loyal. My. Kirkeby did a great job at developing Virgil into a man.
The reason I did not give this 5 stars was because there were parts of Virgil's dialogue that wasn't consistent with his language. Virgil speaks with a very thick southern accent throughout the entire story but every now and then there were parts where he would speak words without the accent. I would always wonder if I was still reading Virgil's speech or if it was someone else's. Virgil's dialect is very distinct; as a reader I grew to know his pronounciation well in his speech. The inconsistencies of the southern dialect to "normal" full words were jarring at times. I also thought that some parts of the story needed more action/events to occur. It was nice that the story was descriptive but there needed to be more action to keep a reader yearning to read further.
Overall I would recommend this book to anyone that wants a little mystery and romance.
**If you're a reader who isn't familiar with southern accents and you pick up this story, it will be a little difficult at first to understand the southern dialect. Give it a few chapters and see if it will start making sense. I lived in South Carolina for 3 years and now I'm in Georgia so I've become accustomed to strong southern accents. I think if I didn't live in the south; this story would have been really hard for me to read and understand. I've been immersed into southern culture and experiencing it every day here in the south and I think it is tremendous that Mr. Kirkeby can write such strong southern dialect so well.
I would like to thank Mr. Kirkeby for sharing his work with me, it was a pleasure.
April 29, 2015
Red Stick One sucks you in quietly. You don’t realize until you’re already halfway through that you haven’t looked up in a few hours. Virgil met Tom Jay Harding when he was a child. Orphaned and raised only by his grandmother until Tom became his mentor in life. Virgil is half Native American on his father’s side. Even as a preteen he is very observant and has amazing tracking skills. These skills came in handy when he was asked to help find a missing eight year old girl who was kidnapped. Virgil was relentless and refused to give up until she was found. It is with that same determination that he goes after the person who killed Tom. Along his way he meets Michelle who is a widow that helps him for a few days. She gives him a place to stay and some food in exchange for help around her cattle farm. Over the course of those few days they become very close before he has to leave to go after Tom Jay’s killer. Lutin is the man responsible for killing Tom Jay. He is one sorry excuse for a human being but he is seriously mistaken if he thinks Virgil will just forget about him. Virgil has a choice to make. He can kill Lutin and avenge his friend or bring him in alive and have a chance with Michelle. I liked Virgil as a character. He was quiet and steadfast. He wasn't Rambo going off all crazy. He was deliberate, smart and a good guy. I received this book for free through Goodreads First Reads.
August 9, 2015
Virgil could have grown up like his Creek Indian father, an ill-tempered drunk. But that didn’t happen. The flashback to Virgil as a nine-year-old was what pulled me into this story. He had a run in with Tom Jay Harding, a Fish & Game wildlife officer. Tom Jay could have done his job – no more – and walked away, but that didn’t happen either. Virgil’s father was out of the picture; his mother was dead; and he was being raised by his grandmother who was doing her best to teach Virgil right from wrong. Tom Jay came alongside Virgil and mentored him. Later Tom Jay became his guardian. Virgil grew up to follow in Tom Jay’s footsteps. Only, he turned in his badge the day he knew he’d go outside the law and wherever the trail took him to track down Tom Jay’s killer.
The southern dialect depicted of north Florida was strong and took a bit of getting used to. I thought the beginning of the book, prologue included, was a bit confusing to follow. The overall book became more enjoyable once the reader came to realize the story’s purpose and Virgil’s desire to seek justice for Tom Jay. It’s a bit gritty. It’s highly action-packed. It’s also got some romance. The writing was dotted with detail about nature and animals which was quite beautiful. Virgil’s character was well-depicted and he was very likable. Rating: 3 out of 5.
The southern dialect depicted of north Florida was strong and took a bit of getting used to. I thought the beginning of the book, prologue included, was a bit confusing to follow. The overall book became more enjoyable once the reader came to realize the story’s purpose and Virgil’s desire to seek justice for Tom Jay. It’s a bit gritty. It’s highly action-packed. It’s also got some romance. The writing was dotted with detail about nature and animals which was quite beautiful. Virgil’s character was well-depicted and he was very likable. Rating: 3 out of 5.
June 10, 2014
WOW!!! I totally recommend reading "Red Stick One" by Kenneth Kirkeby.This was a book that touched my heart.
Virgil Cleary was a 10 year old half bred, small for his age with no friends, who love being outdoors with all the southern Florida wildlife. He is being raised by his grandmother after his mom and dad were killed in a car wreck when he was a baby.
Tom Jay Harding was a Florida Fish and Game Officer who's wife had died many years before, and he had found peace in his solitary life and career. While making his rounds one day he hears a gun shot and investigates because hunting season is over. What he finds is the small Indian boy who gives him a run for his money. Virgil had wounded a doe and after he catches the boy together they go looking for her. A bond is formed between Virgil and Tom Jay that will last a lifetime.
When Virgil returns from Vietnam he follows in the footsteps of the man who was so like a father to him, he goes to work for the Fish and Game. Then Tom Jay is killed and there is no doubt that Virgil must make it right. He starts tracking the killer across many states.
Beautifully written, a book I will keep, remember and read again. I was so glad to receive my copy from the author and Goodreads.
Virgil Cleary was a 10 year old half bred, small for his age with no friends, who love being outdoors with all the southern Florida wildlife. He is being raised by his grandmother after his mom and dad were killed in a car wreck when he was a baby.
Tom Jay Harding was a Florida Fish and Game Officer who's wife had died many years before, and he had found peace in his solitary life and career. While making his rounds one day he hears a gun shot and investigates because hunting season is over. What he finds is the small Indian boy who gives him a run for his money. Virgil had wounded a doe and after he catches the boy together they go looking for her. A bond is formed between Virgil and Tom Jay that will last a lifetime.
When Virgil returns from Vietnam he follows in the footsteps of the man who was so like a father to him, he goes to work for the Fish and Game. Then Tom Jay is killed and there is no doubt that Virgil must make it right. He starts tracking the killer across many states.
Beautifully written, a book I will keep, remember and read again. I was so glad to receive my copy from the author and Goodreads.
December 26, 2016
couldn't put it down. I usually read two or more books at a time. I just couldn't with this book because it drew me into it.
May 24, 2019
"Red Stick One", is a gift to the reader in so many ways. It's a riveting outdoor adventure that will bring you into the woods with the well developed protagonist every step of the way. The characters are interesting and real. This story cleverly and subtly demonstrates the positive power of love and doing the right thing in the guise of a revenge story. Thanks to Mr. Kirkeby for putting this original, memorable and most worthwhile book in print. I look forward to reading his third novel.
November 12, 2014
Red Stick One opens with a Marine troop ascending upon a mountain plateau in Vietnam, alert for attackers, when they come upon an apparently-wounded VC who has an intriguing dog tag and a secret. Fast forward to four years later, where Boyd Perry and Reed are working on a fish and game sting operation on one of their own. Virgil Cleary is operating in a different world than Vietnam, here - and he's no stranger to violence, using it to break commercial poaching rings in swampy settings much like Vietnam.
As the story progresses, certain themes keep recurring: stalking, running, confrontations, hiding. Virgil follows a path of continuous violence in his job as wildlife officer with Florida Fish and Game and 'danger' is his middle name as he becomes immersed in worlds that continually mirror his Vietnam experiences: "He crawled from the trees on that morning, bareheaded, within three hundred meters of the point he sought four days earlier on the map he no longer had. He was feeling for each barefoot track of the Montagnard that had walked between the rocks of the slope a week before. If he saw the enormous valley that now lay below him he did not recognize it. He only knew he had to hurry. There wasn’t much time."
As he makes the decision to work on his own and against the people he works with, Virgil moves between a lone wolf lifestyle and his connection to one Michelle and embarks on an interstate journey after a fugitive impossible to track, with his Vietnam experiences providing him with keys to both survival and impossible achievements.
Now, all this is understated: the focus is upon his tracking of an elusive poacher and the major Vietnam connection largely lies in the first chapter, with a few ongoing references to his ex-Marine background scattered within stories of encounters along the way.
But given this information, readers can readily see the ongoing connections between scenarios: Virgil's struggles to survive and gain a foothold against his clever prey's operations, and the wilderness he moves through so familiarly: "When they had crossed the bridge Virgil turned to look a final time at the gorge. On the far side, the two mountain goats stood perched on the ledges where he had first seen them. They shined white in the spring sunlight, the tiny black of their horns and eyes still following him."
Between the crisp descriptions of wilderness encounters and the dialogue throughout which captures a sense of gritty encounters in rural regions of the South, Red Stick One provides a realistic and engrossing story replete with violence, survivalist tactics, and cat-and-mouse games between a tracker and his objective.
Virgil moves deftly through his world giving aliases and keeping his identity and objectives secret, but even alone in the outdoors he has one outside connection that is different in Michelle: "He lay back on the mound of coal and shifted himself until it was smooth against him with no pressure to his ribs. The sun was on his face and he closed his eyes, feeling it, and reached his jacket sleeve behind his head for a pillow. He kept his other hand in the jacket’s pocket and rode that way, dozing, until he became very warm with the sun high. Finally, he took the jacket off and lay on it, on his good side, looking at the singular mountains that became larger and more numerous as the train crept northwest. He felt his shirt pocket for his tobacco can but it was gone. Michelle must have thrown it out when she washed his clothes. With his closed eyes he smiled."
In the end it's this connection that fires his move from a world of poachers and law enforcement to one that includes love.
Expect gritty action, a healthy dose of violent encounters, and powerful scenarios in Red Stick One. It's all about morals, motivations and determination - and how one man makes a mission of his life after surviving under impossible odds in Vietnam. Any who enjoy vivid sagas of survival, achievement and redemption will find Virgil's story a powerful saga of encounters with land and people on the tough road to resolution.
As the story progresses, certain themes keep recurring: stalking, running, confrontations, hiding. Virgil follows a path of continuous violence in his job as wildlife officer with Florida Fish and Game and 'danger' is his middle name as he becomes immersed in worlds that continually mirror his Vietnam experiences: "He crawled from the trees on that morning, bareheaded, within three hundred meters of the point he sought four days earlier on the map he no longer had. He was feeling for each barefoot track of the Montagnard that had walked between the rocks of the slope a week before. If he saw the enormous valley that now lay below him he did not recognize it. He only knew he had to hurry. There wasn’t much time."
As he makes the decision to work on his own and against the people he works with, Virgil moves between a lone wolf lifestyle and his connection to one Michelle and embarks on an interstate journey after a fugitive impossible to track, with his Vietnam experiences providing him with keys to both survival and impossible achievements.
Now, all this is understated: the focus is upon his tracking of an elusive poacher and the major Vietnam connection largely lies in the first chapter, with a few ongoing references to his ex-Marine background scattered within stories of encounters along the way.
But given this information, readers can readily see the ongoing connections between scenarios: Virgil's struggles to survive and gain a foothold against his clever prey's operations, and the wilderness he moves through so familiarly: "When they had crossed the bridge Virgil turned to look a final time at the gorge. On the far side, the two mountain goats stood perched on the ledges where he had first seen them. They shined white in the spring sunlight, the tiny black of their horns and eyes still following him."
Between the crisp descriptions of wilderness encounters and the dialogue throughout which captures a sense of gritty encounters in rural regions of the South, Red Stick One provides a realistic and engrossing story replete with violence, survivalist tactics, and cat-and-mouse games between a tracker and his objective.
Virgil moves deftly through his world giving aliases and keeping his identity and objectives secret, but even alone in the outdoors he has one outside connection that is different in Michelle: "He lay back on the mound of coal and shifted himself until it was smooth against him with no pressure to his ribs. The sun was on his face and he closed his eyes, feeling it, and reached his jacket sleeve behind his head for a pillow. He kept his other hand in the jacket’s pocket and rode that way, dozing, until he became very warm with the sun high. Finally, he took the jacket off and lay on it, on his good side, looking at the singular mountains that became larger and more numerous as the train crept northwest. He felt his shirt pocket for his tobacco can but it was gone. Michelle must have thrown it out when she washed his clothes. With his closed eyes he smiled."
In the end it's this connection that fires his move from a world of poachers and law enforcement to one that includes love.
Expect gritty action, a healthy dose of violent encounters, and powerful scenarios in Red Stick One. It's all about morals, motivations and determination - and how one man makes a mission of his life after surviving under impossible odds in Vietnam. Any who enjoy vivid sagas of survival, achievement and redemption will find Virgil's story a powerful saga of encounters with land and people on the tough road to resolution.
March 7, 2015
Given To Me For An Honest Review
Red Stick One by Kenneth Kirkeby is a must read, it is so good. Once you open to the first page, it will grab you, hold you down on the edge of your seat and then you'll just watch those pages turn and turn and turn some more until the last page. You need to make sure that you have your seatbelt on, hold on and get ready for the fun journey of any read you've ever had. The words just flow off the pages. The writing is excellent and as you read, you begin to feel as though you have been drawn in and become a part of the story. There is great character development, the storyline with its details and the landscape details make you feel like you are really there. This story has great realism and nothing at all feels fake. A game warden is killed and the man that he adopted as a young boy, Virgil, decides to find the killer and bring him to justice. He chases him from one side of the country to the other. Will the killer get caught? Will Virgil end up satisfied with the outcome? I gave this book 5 stars but it really deserves many, many more. This book would look good on your bookshelf or any library's bookshelf. I highly recommend this book to everyone. If you enjoy reading books that have suspense, intrigue, romance, danger and deception, then this book is for you. I look for more from Kenneth Kirkeby.
Red Stick One by Kenneth Kirkeby is a must read, it is so good. Once you open to the first page, it will grab you, hold you down on the edge of your seat and then you'll just watch those pages turn and turn and turn some more until the last page. You need to make sure that you have your seatbelt on, hold on and get ready for the fun journey of any read you've ever had. The words just flow off the pages. The writing is excellent and as you read, you begin to feel as though you have been drawn in and become a part of the story. There is great character development, the storyline with its details and the landscape details make you feel like you are really there. This story has great realism and nothing at all feels fake. A game warden is killed and the man that he adopted as a young boy, Virgil, decides to find the killer and bring him to justice. He chases him from one side of the country to the other. Will the killer get caught? Will Virgil end up satisfied with the outcome? I gave this book 5 stars but it really deserves many, many more. This book would look good on your bookshelf or any library's bookshelf. I highly recommend this book to everyone. If you enjoy reading books that have suspense, intrigue, romance, danger and deception, then this book is for you. I look for more from Kenneth Kirkeby.
April 13, 2015
Morality is not the doctrine of how we may make ourselves happy, but how we may make ourselves worthy of happiness. - Immanuel Kant
Virgil Cleary grew up with his grandmother before being befriended by Florida Fish and Game wildlife officer Tom Jay Harding. Tom Jay became his friend, his mentor and eventually became his guardian.
Virgil is a world-class tracker and he's always been a loner, happier in the wilds than he could ever be around people. Except Tom Jay. He ended up going to Vietnam (oh yes, most of this story takes place in 1974) and when he returned, he followed in Tom Jay's footsteps and became a wildlife officer. And now Tom Jay has been killed by a poacher and Virgil sets out to avenge the only "father" he ever had.
I loved this book. I loved the characters. I loved the dialogue (even though it was a bit over the top at times with the accents). The storyline was tightly plotted and I loved the ending.
The scenes where Virgil was tracking were some of my favorites, with colorful descriptions of the countryside, whether it be in Florida, Wyoming, Montana, or Idaho.
Lots of adventure, thrills, a good moral tale without being preachy, some romance - all thrown together in one of the best stories I've read in a long time. This is one I'll be keeping for my personal library.
NOTE: I received this book in exchange for my honest review.
Virgil Cleary grew up with his grandmother before being befriended by Florida Fish and Game wildlife officer Tom Jay Harding. Tom Jay became his friend, his mentor and eventually became his guardian.
Virgil is a world-class tracker and he's always been a loner, happier in the wilds than he could ever be around people. Except Tom Jay. He ended up going to Vietnam (oh yes, most of this story takes place in 1974) and when he returned, he followed in Tom Jay's footsteps and became a wildlife officer. And now Tom Jay has been killed by a poacher and Virgil sets out to avenge the only "father" he ever had.
I loved this book. I loved the characters. I loved the dialogue (even though it was a bit over the top at times with the accents). The storyline was tightly plotted and I loved the ending.
The scenes where Virgil was tracking were some of my favorites, with colorful descriptions of the countryside, whether it be in Florida, Wyoming, Montana, or Idaho.
Lots of adventure, thrills, a good moral tale without being preachy, some romance - all thrown together in one of the best stories I've read in a long time. This is one I'll be keeping for my personal library.
NOTE: I received this book in exchange for my honest review.
February 28, 2016
When senior Florida wildlife officer, Tom Jay Harding, is murdered in the field, the half-Indian boy he raised, now grown and also a wildlife officer named Virgil Cleary, takes off his badge to embark on a cross-country search for the killer.
This book is filled with lots of descriptions of nature. It takes you through the swamps of Florida and into the western part of the US. The characters ring true to life. The main character, Virgil, is an army vet from Vietnam. There are flashbacks to Virgil’s childhood and when he was in Vietnam. As Virgil tries to find the killer of the man who was like a father to him, he meets many different people. As he travels you read about different experiences and places. Virgil finally catches up to the killer, but then is caught himself. He needs to use all of his training from Tom Harding and the army to free himself and still keep the killer arrested. There is a little romance, but it works well into the story.
My one problem with the book was that it took me ‘way’ too long to get into it. I found myself reading a chapter or two and then moving onto another book. I did finish it and it was a real written mystery.
I received the book for free through Goodreads Giveaways.
This book is filled with lots of descriptions of nature. It takes you through the swamps of Florida and into the western part of the US. The characters ring true to life. The main character, Virgil, is an army vet from Vietnam. There are flashbacks to Virgil’s childhood and when he was in Vietnam. As Virgil tries to find the killer of the man who was like a father to him, he meets many different people. As he travels you read about different experiences and places. Virgil finally catches up to the killer, but then is caught himself. He needs to use all of his training from Tom Harding and the army to free himself and still keep the killer arrested. There is a little romance, but it works well into the story.
My one problem with the book was that it took me ‘way’ too long to get into it. I found myself reading a chapter or two and then moving onto another book. I did finish it and it was a real written mystery.
I received the book for free through Goodreads Giveaways.
April 15, 2015
Red Stick One is a fun novel, which jumps back and forth between the present and the past. The characters and dialogue are great. As a person who's only visited the south in limited fashion, the book provides a very interesting look at some of the daily lives of people living in the alligator and snake infested swamps. Even the language itself is quite interesting. With their deep southern enunciation of every word, the reader has the feeling that they are there with the characters.
The story begins in Florida when Virgil's adopted father Tom Jay is found dead. Virgil, part Indian and a phenomenal tracker, leaves his job to hunt the man who killed the only father figure he'd ever known. The novel then goes back and forth between Virgil hunting his father's killer and flipping to the past where we as the readers get to see how Virgil and Tom Jay first met and how their relationship as father and son progressed.
This book contains great character development, mixed with action and interesting facts about the wild outdoors I found quite interesting.
Although sometimes for a Midwesterner as myself, the strong southern accents are a little hard to read, this book was a gripping, well-written story. If and when Kenneth Kirkeby writes another novel, I'll be sure to read it!
The story begins in Florida when Virgil's adopted father Tom Jay is found dead. Virgil, part Indian and a phenomenal tracker, leaves his job to hunt the man who killed the only father figure he'd ever known. The novel then goes back and forth between Virgil hunting his father's killer and flipping to the past where we as the readers get to see how Virgil and Tom Jay first met and how their relationship as father and son progressed.
This book contains great character development, mixed with action and interesting facts about the wild outdoors I found quite interesting.
Although sometimes for a Midwesterner as myself, the strong southern accents are a little hard to read, this book was a gripping, well-written story. If and when Kenneth Kirkeby writes another novel, I'll be sure to read it!
April 20, 2015
I received a copy to facilitate my review. The opinions expressed here are my own.
This is one of those stories that you can’t put down. We have the main character Virgil who sets out to find the person who murdered Tom Jay Harding. The story starts in Florida. When Virgil kills a deer out of season, he finds himself doing community service to pay off the fine. His mentor is Tom Harding. Tom becomes the father he never had. He grows up and joins the marines and fights in Vietnam. When he returns he becomes a warden like Tom. When Tom is killed by a poacher then Virgil will go to all ends of the earth to catch his killer and bring him to justice.
The author did a wonderful job with description of the places across the country. I live in Florida and can tell you that he was definitely spot on with his descriptions. You travelled along with Virgil and felt just like you were there. One thing I liked was there was a small romance. I don’t like reading major romances I a book, never have. This author is a master of painting scenes with his words. I am glad I was asked to review this book. I thoroughly enjoyed it.
This is one of those stories that you can’t put down. We have the main character Virgil who sets out to find the person who murdered Tom Jay Harding. The story starts in Florida. When Virgil kills a deer out of season, he finds himself doing community service to pay off the fine. His mentor is Tom Harding. Tom becomes the father he never had. He grows up and joins the marines and fights in Vietnam. When he returns he becomes a warden like Tom. When Tom is killed by a poacher then Virgil will go to all ends of the earth to catch his killer and bring him to justice.
The author did a wonderful job with description of the places across the country. I live in Florida and can tell you that he was definitely spot on with his descriptions. You travelled along with Virgil and felt just like you were there. One thing I liked was there was a small romance. I don’t like reading major romances I a book, never have. This author is a master of painting scenes with his words. I am glad I was asked to review this book. I thoroughly enjoyed it.
March 11, 2015
I received this book for a fair review.
Overview: When Tom Jay Harding is killed it sends a ripple through the Florida Wildlife Office as well as the county sheriff’s office. But the biggest splash comes when Tom Jay’s protégé/pseudo-son figure, Virgil, is no where to be found. That doesn’t hold out long before Virgil himself contacts a co-worker with news of the killer’s identity. The only question is: will vengeance or justice prevail when Virgil catches up with Luten?
Likes: Virgil is an interesting guy to follow. It’s a good thing that Mr. Kirkeby was able to have a smooth transition from one part to another. Virgil work any job, took any ride, and dealt with a range of characters just to catch up with Luten.
Dislikes: Regional accents were written out here, at least the ones from Florida, anyway. This slowed down the read, though after a while, it wasn’t too hard to decipher. The intimate scenes were a little much for my tastes.
Conclusion: This is a good story, one that’s worth the read. I hope you enjoy it.
Overview: When Tom Jay Harding is killed it sends a ripple through the Florida Wildlife Office as well as the county sheriff’s office. But the biggest splash comes when Tom Jay’s protégé/pseudo-son figure, Virgil, is no where to be found. That doesn’t hold out long before Virgil himself contacts a co-worker with news of the killer’s identity. The only question is: will vengeance or justice prevail when Virgil catches up with Luten?
Likes: Virgil is an interesting guy to follow. It’s a good thing that Mr. Kirkeby was able to have a smooth transition from one part to another. Virgil work any job, took any ride, and dealt with a range of characters just to catch up with Luten.
Dislikes: Regional accents were written out here, at least the ones from Florida, anyway. This slowed down the read, though after a while, it wasn’t too hard to decipher. The intimate scenes were a little much for my tastes.
Conclusion: This is a good story, one that’s worth the read. I hope you enjoy it.
October 29, 2015
"Red Stick One" by Kenneth Kirkeby is my favorite detective-pursuit novel.
# The author uses 3rd-person narrative and has a flare for pacing and description. The historical details that define the main character are revealed at the right times. The author summons vivid details of the Florida everglades, the rainforests of Vietnam or the foothills of Wyoming and Idaho. He pits human ingenuity and know-how against the merciless challenges of nature. Couch potatoes will get an adventure beyond their wildest dreams.
# Virgil, the main character, is a gifted tracker. He's after the murderer of his surrogate father. He must discard the trappings of civilization to do what he feels is right. He keens his senses to the land around him. He lives and breathes the interplay of whatever ecosystem he stalks.
# As a bonus, readers will learn the most efficient way to gut a deer. As well, the author adds the prospect of an unlikely romance.
# The author uses 3rd-person narrative and has a flare for pacing and description. The historical details that define the main character are revealed at the right times. The author summons vivid details of the Florida everglades, the rainforests of Vietnam or the foothills of Wyoming and Idaho. He pits human ingenuity and know-how against the merciless challenges of nature. Couch potatoes will get an adventure beyond their wildest dreams.
# Virgil, the main character, is a gifted tracker. He's after the murderer of his surrogate father. He must discard the trappings of civilization to do what he feels is right. He keens his senses to the land around him. He lives and breathes the interplay of whatever ecosystem he stalks.
# As a bonus, readers will learn the most efficient way to gut a deer. As well, the author adds the prospect of an unlikely romance.
January 8, 2017
Unexpected
I did like this book, but there were a few slow moving parts and some other sub plot lines did not work for me. However, the writing was well done and I did like the characters. I thought the premise for the story worked and it was interesting. I will definitely read more from this author, and I look forward to any of his work. He is a great storyteller. I definitely liked Virgil. His character was troubled and gritty. Good story.
I did like this book, but there were a few slow moving parts and some other sub plot lines did not work for me. However, the writing was well done and I did like the characters. I thought the premise for the story worked and it was interesting. I will definitely read more from this author, and I look forward to any of his work. He is a great storyteller. I definitely liked Virgil. His character was troubled and gritty. Good story.
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