What do you think?
Rate this book
Blood Red City
Video footage of an apparent murder on a London train thrusts crusading journalist Lydia into a terrifying web of money, politics and power, in sophisticated, shockingly believable contemporary thriller **LONGLISTED for the CWA Steel Dagger** 'Brutal, brilliant and razor sharp. Blood Red City is pure adrenaline rush from the first page to the last' Chris Whitaker 'Pacy and subtle' The Sun 'A searing, white-hot journey through the dark underbelly of modern London ... Blood Red City confirms Rod Reynolds status as one of the greatest crime talents of his generation' Tim Baker ________________ A witness but no victim. A crime but no crime scene... When crusading journalist Lydia Wright is sent a video of an apparent murder on a London train, she thinks she's found the story to revive her career. But she can't find a victim, much less the killers, and the only witness has disappeared. Wary she's fallen for fake news, she begins to doubt her instincts – until a sinister call suggests that she's not the only one interested in the crime. Michael Stringer deals in information – and doesn't care which side of the law he finds himself on. But the murder on the train has left him exposed, and now he'll stop at nothing to discover what Lydia knows. When their paths collide, Lydia finds the story leads through a nightmare world, where money, power and politics intersect ... and information is the only thing more dangerous than a bullet. A nerve-shattering and brutally realistic thriller, Blood Red City bursts with energy and grit from the opening page, twisting and feinting to a superb, unexpected ending that will leave you breathless.For fans of Mick Herron, Tim Baker, Tony Kent, James Patterson, Adam Hamdy and Tom Rob Smith. ________________ 'Hold on to your breath as this bang up-to-date riveting thriller dives head first into a murky sinister world and doesn't come up for air ... The tension rises with each chapter and while an electrifying ride, there is a sharp thoughtful edge that penetrates the pages' LoveReading 'Reynolds is a great scene setter and he is as good at action as he is at the development of character' Literary Review 'Reynolds arrived with the casual acumen of an old hand at the crime narrative' Financial Times 'Subtle, original, compelling' Sunday Express 'An outstanding page-turner that ratchets up the tension as it builds via a labyrinthine plot towards a satisfying and well-crafted climax ... relevant and at times alarming, Blood Red City slaloms its way through the world of social media, geopolitics and hi-tech innovation with compelling conviction' G.J. Minett 'You are in for a treat with this whip-smart contemporary thriller. Strikingly realistic with an exciting, serpentine plot, I couldn't put it down!' Hair Past a Freckle 'This book blew me away, with action on every page.
395 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 11, 2020
68 people are currently reading
179 people want to read
About the author
Rod Reynolds
11 books53 followersRod Reynolds was born in London and, after a successful career in advertising, working as a media buyer, he decided to get serious about writing. He recently completed City University's two-year Crime Writing Masters course and THE DARK INSIDE is his first novel. He lives in London with his wife and daughter.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 54 reviews
July 22, 2020
A decent thriller, but patchy. Review to follow.
July 22, 2020
This is the first book I have read by this author. I was a little worried going in because my history with British writer is more miss than hit. I just find the writing style awkward at times and weird word usage at times. I will say this author has some talent. The first part was good the crime seemed interesting but then things went off track. i thought the two main good characters were boring and not interesting. The story got bogged down. I thought the interaction between the two main characters did not click for me in this book.I did something I hardly ever do I skimmed the second half of this book. I do that about 3-4 percent of the time. I just wanted to get done with this one. I have been in a slump one good book 2 mediocre books then a good book. In the end I say do not give this one a spin.
November 12, 2020
This compelling crime thriller shows the reader a seedier side to the magnificent city of London. A London sweltering in a summer heat-wave.“Blood Red City” was a fast-paced crime story in which all characters were interesting and had some redeeming qualities. I love that sort of balance.
Very much a modern thriller, set in 2018, the plot features scary, though plausible situations. The writing style held my interest throughout and I found myself rooting for Lydia and her investigation. Stringer’s associates and mission were rather convoluted and I found parts of this sub-plot difficult to follow.
A gritty urban noir crime story which reminded me greatly of the television series “Ray Donovan” another ‘fixer’ who shows both his good and his bad sides to great effect. The novel featured subjects of money-laundering, extortion, paranoia, bribery, murder and more.
Highly recommended to those who prefer fast-paced, gritty crime thrillers with interesting characters and situations.
Very much a modern thriller, set in 2018, the plot features scary, though plausible situations. The writing style held my interest throughout and I found myself rooting for Lydia and her investigation. Stringer’s associates and mission were rather convoluted and I found parts of this sub-plot difficult to follow.
A gritty urban noir crime story which reminded me greatly of the television series “Ray Donovan” another ‘fixer’ who shows both his good and his bad sides to great effect. The novel featured subjects of money-laundering, extortion, paranoia, bribery, murder and more.
Highly recommended to those who prefer fast-paced, gritty crime thrillers with interesting characters and situations.
June 21, 2020
Blood curdling thriller set in LONDON
Rod is the successful British author of the Charlie Yates Detective Series set in 1940s America (The Dark Inside, Black Night Falling, and Cold Desert Sky). They are great ‘all American’ thrillers.
I was therefore intrigued to review Blood Red City, where 1940s America is exchanged for present day London – Rod’s home city. And it works really well… The background is different, but the strength of both the plot and the writing remain. Rod is a formidable talent…
Lydia Wright, a crusading journalist, is sent a video of what appears to be a murder on a north London tube train. She investigates, but comes up with nothing – no body, no reported crime, no witnesses. There is a wall of silence. But her investigations arouse interest in some pretty dubious quarters. Those involved in big property deals, dodgy politicians, not to mention those orchestrating strange goings on in the financial markets, and some quite scary Ukrainians. Lydia needs help, and teams up with someone who is also trying to find out what occurred on the tube train. But how reliable is the ‘someone’ and does he know – from the inside – more about what is going on than he is letting on? Violence erupts.
Little by little – with several twists and complications along the way – all is revealed. Rod is a master of complicated and well researched plot creation.
This is also a great book in TripFiction terms. It is very firmly placed in London and Rod shows a great knowledge of the city’s geography – from the far reaches of the Northern Line through to the new glass and concrete offices in the shadow of The Shard, and out to the West past Hampton Court. Those familiar with the city, will quite definitely feel at home.
Blood Red City is recommended.
Rod is the successful British author of the Charlie Yates Detective Series set in 1940s America (The Dark Inside, Black Night Falling, and Cold Desert Sky). They are great ‘all American’ thrillers.
I was therefore intrigued to review Blood Red City, where 1940s America is exchanged for present day London – Rod’s home city. And it works really well… The background is different, but the strength of both the plot and the writing remain. Rod is a formidable talent…
Lydia Wright, a crusading journalist, is sent a video of what appears to be a murder on a north London tube train. She investigates, but comes up with nothing – no body, no reported crime, no witnesses. There is a wall of silence. But her investigations arouse interest in some pretty dubious quarters. Those involved in big property deals, dodgy politicians, not to mention those orchestrating strange goings on in the financial markets, and some quite scary Ukrainians. Lydia needs help, and teams up with someone who is also trying to find out what occurred on the tube train. But how reliable is the ‘someone’ and does he know – from the inside – more about what is going on than he is letting on? Violence erupts.
Little by little – with several twists and complications along the way – all is revealed. Rod is a master of complicated and well researched plot creation.
This is also a great book in TripFiction terms. It is very firmly placed in London and Rod shows a great knowledge of the city’s geography – from the far reaches of the Northern Line through to the new glass and concrete offices in the shadow of The Shard, and out to the West past Hampton Court. Those familiar with the city, will quite definitely feel at home.
Blood Red City is recommended.
June 30, 2020
Having enjoyed Rod Reynold’s previous series set in the United States, Blood Red City marks a change of direction for this author. Now firmly ensconced in the greedy and grimy streets of London, this book has shades of both State Of Play and McMafia, enlivened by Reynold’s unique and compelling writing style…
In writing a thriller with a storyline such as this, there is always a danger that a writer will drift too far down the Hollywood road, relying on coincidence and unbelievable twists to push the action on and provide that high octane pace that comes with the territory. What Reynolds gives us is a skilfully crafted and perfectly balanced thriller that feels incredibly rooted in reality without the bells and whistles that others rely on. From the opening scenes of an apparent murder on the London Underground, the drawing in of a tenacious and determined journalist, and the shadowy figure of a man for hire, what unfolds before us is a tale of duplicity, greed and corruption that sucks you in and spits you out at the end, drained, yet satisfied.
For my money, and having a read a few thrillers this year which circle the same kind of plot as this, I think this is the best of the recent bunch. The plotting is so finely controlled with just the right amount of change of gear in terms of pace, and reveal, that although it doesn’t stint on the page count, I found myself reading big, meaty sections of it in one sitting. Giving nothing away I’m sure most of us are extremely aware of the correlation behind the scenes of crime and politics, so what perturbed me the most was how believable this all felt, with the incredible influence of money and power at the root of the story, and at the very heart of the corruption that plays out before us. Reynolds immerses us in a world where money talks, the media whitewashes, and a seemingly impenetrable cabal of powerful figures pull the strings.
I loved the front and centre role that London occupies in this book where, whether you are familiar or unfamiliar with it, Reynolds neatly captures the most resonant features of the metropolis. The rush of stale air before a tube train arrives, the streets, the noise, the pace, the grinding poverty, the glittering, grasping riches, and the very essence of the city. By paying such attention to the location itself, and like his previous books, the author transfers us into his very visual and almost tactile rendition of the city, and as his characters live, work and are pursued through its streets in extreme danger, the city is the constant and completely perfect backdrop for the web of corruption and danger he places his characters within.
So into the pulsating heart of the living, breathing city and its shadowy, scheming powerbrokers, Reynolds gives us two main characters, diametrically opposed to each other, in almost every way possible, but with a growing sense that together they are stronger. Lydia Wright, dedicated journalist with a strong moral code, fiercely loyal to those she holds dear, but unafraid to go off in pursuit of a story with wrongs to be righted. Her character is underpinned by a tendency to trust the wrong people, particularly one scurrilous individual whose card I had marked from early on, and a slightly too gung-ho attitude in the face of some considerable danger. I liked her very much, flaws and all, and I also admired the way that Reynolds didn’t manipulate her character to make her act unfeasibly out of character, keeping a sense of ordinariness about her, but not shying away from her sense of determination and loyalty, when the pressure is on. Which brings us to Michael Stringer, a man for hire, whose true intentions and character are more of a closed book for a fair amount of the book, perhaps because of his bad start in life, and by his current shady employment. Who is he and who is he working for, and as the more secretive aspects of Stringer’s character are gradually revealed, can Lydia really trust him?…
So, Blood Red City more than proves itself as a thriller with edgy tension, a powerful and well constructed plot, and a stark insight into a world of violence, greed and corruption within the echelons of power.
Intrigued? You will be.
Gripped? Definitely.
On the edge of your seat? Oh yes…
In writing a thriller with a storyline such as this, there is always a danger that a writer will drift too far down the Hollywood road, relying on coincidence and unbelievable twists to push the action on and provide that high octane pace that comes with the territory. What Reynolds gives us is a skilfully crafted and perfectly balanced thriller that feels incredibly rooted in reality without the bells and whistles that others rely on. From the opening scenes of an apparent murder on the London Underground, the drawing in of a tenacious and determined journalist, and the shadowy figure of a man for hire, what unfolds before us is a tale of duplicity, greed and corruption that sucks you in and spits you out at the end, drained, yet satisfied.
For my money, and having a read a few thrillers this year which circle the same kind of plot as this, I think this is the best of the recent bunch. The plotting is so finely controlled with just the right amount of change of gear in terms of pace, and reveal, that although it doesn’t stint on the page count, I found myself reading big, meaty sections of it in one sitting. Giving nothing away I’m sure most of us are extremely aware of the correlation behind the scenes of crime and politics, so what perturbed me the most was how believable this all felt, with the incredible influence of money and power at the root of the story, and at the very heart of the corruption that plays out before us. Reynolds immerses us in a world where money talks, the media whitewashes, and a seemingly impenetrable cabal of powerful figures pull the strings.
I loved the front and centre role that London occupies in this book where, whether you are familiar or unfamiliar with it, Reynolds neatly captures the most resonant features of the metropolis. The rush of stale air before a tube train arrives, the streets, the noise, the pace, the grinding poverty, the glittering, grasping riches, and the very essence of the city. By paying such attention to the location itself, and like his previous books, the author transfers us into his very visual and almost tactile rendition of the city, and as his characters live, work and are pursued through its streets in extreme danger, the city is the constant and completely perfect backdrop for the web of corruption and danger he places his characters within.
So into the pulsating heart of the living, breathing city and its shadowy, scheming powerbrokers, Reynolds gives us two main characters, diametrically opposed to each other, in almost every way possible, but with a growing sense that together they are stronger. Lydia Wright, dedicated journalist with a strong moral code, fiercely loyal to those she holds dear, but unafraid to go off in pursuit of a story with wrongs to be righted. Her character is underpinned by a tendency to trust the wrong people, particularly one scurrilous individual whose card I had marked from early on, and a slightly too gung-ho attitude in the face of some considerable danger. I liked her very much, flaws and all, and I also admired the way that Reynolds didn’t manipulate her character to make her act unfeasibly out of character, keeping a sense of ordinariness about her, but not shying away from her sense of determination and loyalty, when the pressure is on. Which brings us to Michael Stringer, a man for hire, whose true intentions and character are more of a closed book for a fair amount of the book, perhaps because of his bad start in life, and by his current shady employment. Who is he and who is he working for, and as the more secretive aspects of Stringer’s character are gradually revealed, can Lydia really trust him?…
So, Blood Red City more than proves itself as a thriller with edgy tension, a powerful and well constructed plot, and a stark insight into a world of violence, greed and corruption within the echelons of power.
Intrigued? You will be.
Gripped? Definitely.
On the edge of your seat? Oh yes…
June 14, 2020
Two people dealing in information, one was the journalist Lydia and the other a fixer Stringer. My first introduction to author Rod Reynolds, I was zapped into the story with the speed of light and nary a moment did the book let go. The dynamics of the main characters and their sheer determination were a sight to watch.
Lydia was sent a video by a colleague of a crime happening, but she could find no evidence of it anywhere. Then the witness disappeared and clues petered out. On the other hand, the fixer was trying to solve the problem from the opposite spectrum, and his dealings led to Lydia. The two started working together…well, kind of.
The story was swift paced, the subplots convoluted. The personal lives of the characters added a humane touch in the background when the realities of power play occurred. The scenes ran together like a gritty movie with some tender moments. Stringer caught my eye in the entire book. There was something tough yet vulnerable about him.
Shocks were felt in the entire book, the writing brought out the atmosphere that there was something more at play. Power took root as the pages turned, greed and crime were well shown. The author kept the story just hidden until the end where everything was finally revealed.
The chemistry between the main characters along with the twisted plot made this a compelling read.
Lydia was sent a video by a colleague of a crime happening, but she could find no evidence of it anywhere. Then the witness disappeared and clues petered out. On the other hand, the fixer was trying to solve the problem from the opposite spectrum, and his dealings led to Lydia. The two started working together…well, kind of.
The story was swift paced, the subplots convoluted. The personal lives of the characters added a humane touch in the background when the realities of power play occurred. The scenes ran together like a gritty movie with some tender moments. Stringer caught my eye in the entire book. There was something tough yet vulnerable about him.
Shocks were felt in the entire book, the writing brought out the atmosphere that there was something more at play. Power took root as the pages turned, greed and crime were well shown. The author kept the story just hidden until the end where everything was finally revealed.
The chemistry between the main characters along with the twisted plot made this a compelling read.
July 12, 2020
l Visit the locations in Blood Red City
Now this is a visit to London you’ll never forget. Those glistening buildings in the heart of the financial district and the gritty double dealing that goes on behind closed doors….
Rod has an eye for intricate and gory detail that draws a blood red picture of London indeed. I don’t think I;I’m going to look up at the Shard etc in the same way again. Money-laundering and offshore account, dirty money flying right past the eyes of the authorities. This is big business and there are many willing to kill for it.
Wright and Stringer are the duo we meet in this book and I hope this is the first of many. Wright is the journalist who is sent a video of what appears to be a murder on the tube. She looks into this but there’s nothing much to go on. There’s no report of any crime, any victim or any witnesses…what on earth is going on? Her investigations however catch the interest of someone in the shadows…
Stringer was an interesting character. Has one foot on each side of the legal divide. He’s a fixer; basically if you have money, he will do whatever it takes to get the spotlight taken from you. Stringer uses the web and social media to frightening effect and Rod must have had some fun researching this!
So, the murder on the train – both Wright and Stringer need to know who and why for very different reasons. Their stories were compelling and the threads or should I say, noose,as it was pulled tighter and tighter….boy was that quite the Reynolds ride! That Kick-ass, no nonsense American grit he’s crafted so well is well and truly on London soil now.
This was a very unique visit to the inner dealings and underbelly of the city of London. Might not want to booktrail the locations for real – well yes the locations but not the characters. Best stay with them in fiction. You have your thriller and gangster thirst sated with this one. The setting of financial double dealings and all that goes with it is knife-edge drama.
If you live in London, you’re going to love this unique spin on your city and visitors will no doubt flock to try and get the same highs from the Shard as they did from reading this. BookTrail it now!
June 21, 2020
Lydia Wright is a journalist working for the Examiner. After a few missteps while working on an investigative article, she’s been sidelined to the graveyard showbiz desk. When Lydia receives a video of what is definitely an assault and probably even a murder on a London train, she thinks she may just have found the story that will revive her career. There are just a few snags. There is no crime scene to be found, no missing person, no sign of a victim or a witness and even less of any potential killers.
Michael Stringer deals in information. He’s what is called a fixer, with little regard of which side of the law he finds himself on. He too is interested in finding out what, if anything, happened on that London train. But there are higher powers at work here. Lydia and Michael will find themselves caught up in a world of power, money and politics.
Danger lurks around pretty much every corner of the streets of London in Blood Red City. There was a bit of a game of cat and mouse going on that left me wondering for ages who the cat and who the mouse was. There are a few different players, who all have their hands in various different pots that I, average Jane, know absolutely nothing about. But money is the key here. Have a lot of it and then make more of it because more is never enough, or something like that. These powerful players are ruthless and far-reaching and have no qualms about leaving dead bodies behind if it’s in their own interests. But will Michael and Lydia be two of those bodies? Can Michael even be trusted? Honestly, I had no idea and had a heck of a time trying to figure things out. It is apparent there’s more to Michael than meets the eye and he’s most definitely a multi-layered and complex character that I’d like to learn more about.
Blood Red City is a well-paced and realistic urban crime thriller. At times, it’s super tense because just like Lydia and Michael, you just never know what’s coming next. Or from which direction. I was just left with this feeling in the pit of my stomach that whatever it was couldn’t possibly be good.
Quite frankly, Blood Red City would make an absolutely brilliant movie or tv series. The setting of the city of London works like an absolute charm, creating multiple atmospheric vibes depending on which neighbourhood the characters find themselves in. However, more than anything, it’s the plot that pulled me in. It is immensely clever, constantly making you think and keeping you on your toes but it wasn’t really until the very end, when the pieces of the puzzle started to come together that I realised just how smartly Rod Reynolds plotted this story. Many of my questions were answered, but some were not and it left me to wonder if there might possibly be a sequel on the horizon. The door has definitely been left open for that to happen.
Seeing as I was completely unfamiliar with Rod Reynolds’ previous books, I had no idea what to expect from Blood Red City but I was pleasantly surprised. Admittedly, some of the financial explanations went a tad over my head but that is in no way the author’s fault. The only thing I know about money is how to spend it 😉. I digress. If you’re a fan of action-packed crime thrillers, then this one is definitely for you and I thoroughly enjoyed being introduced to Rod Reynold’s work.
Michael Stringer deals in information. He’s what is called a fixer, with little regard of which side of the law he finds himself on. He too is interested in finding out what, if anything, happened on that London train. But there are higher powers at work here. Lydia and Michael will find themselves caught up in a world of power, money and politics.
Danger lurks around pretty much every corner of the streets of London in Blood Red City. There was a bit of a game of cat and mouse going on that left me wondering for ages who the cat and who the mouse was. There are a few different players, who all have their hands in various different pots that I, average Jane, know absolutely nothing about. But money is the key here. Have a lot of it and then make more of it because more is never enough, or something like that. These powerful players are ruthless and far-reaching and have no qualms about leaving dead bodies behind if it’s in their own interests. But will Michael and Lydia be two of those bodies? Can Michael even be trusted? Honestly, I had no idea and had a heck of a time trying to figure things out. It is apparent there’s more to Michael than meets the eye and he’s most definitely a multi-layered and complex character that I’d like to learn more about.
Blood Red City is a well-paced and realistic urban crime thriller. At times, it’s super tense because just like Lydia and Michael, you just never know what’s coming next. Or from which direction. I was just left with this feeling in the pit of my stomach that whatever it was couldn’t possibly be good.
Quite frankly, Blood Red City would make an absolutely brilliant movie or tv series. The setting of the city of London works like an absolute charm, creating multiple atmospheric vibes depending on which neighbourhood the characters find themselves in. However, more than anything, it’s the plot that pulled me in. It is immensely clever, constantly making you think and keeping you on your toes but it wasn’t really until the very end, when the pieces of the puzzle started to come together that I realised just how smartly Rod Reynolds plotted this story. Many of my questions were answered, but some were not and it left me to wonder if there might possibly be a sequel on the horizon. The door has definitely been left open for that to happen.
Seeing as I was completely unfamiliar with Rod Reynolds’ previous books, I had no idea what to expect from Blood Red City but I was pleasantly surprised. Admittedly, some of the financial explanations went a tad over my head but that is in no way the author’s fault. The only thing I know about money is how to spend it 😉. I digress. If you’re a fan of action-packed crime thrillers, then this one is definitely for you and I thoroughly enjoyed being introduced to Rod Reynold’s work.
June 22, 2020
Blood Red City is a very readable crime thriller set in the quite frankly terrifying sounding underworld of money laundering, white collar financial scams and paid ‘fixers.’ Look at that cover too, what a beaut!
Lydia is a credible character – ethical but bitter and frustrated – and Michael is surprisingly similar in his own way. Both are believable and sympathetic people, each with their own moral compass and particular skill set.
Full disclosure: I was drawn to this book because the headlines reminded me of Agatha Christie‘s 4.50 from Paddington. Spoilers: that’s where any similarity to Miss Marple ends! 😉 Blood Red City is modern, gritty and complex. I’ll be honest that I don’t think I fully understood all of the technical financial goings on but that did not detract from the energy and urgency of the plot.
I really enjoyed Rod Reynolds‘s race through the shady underside of London, beneath the high-rolling, coke-snorting, huge-mansion-owning players and behind the paper-thin veneer of respectability. I liked Lydia and Stringer and would definitely read further books about these same leading characters.
Lydia is a credible character – ethical but bitter and frustrated – and Michael is surprisingly similar in his own way. Both are believable and sympathetic people, each with their own moral compass and particular skill set.
Full disclosure: I was drawn to this book because the headlines reminded me of Agatha Christie‘s 4.50 from Paddington. Spoilers: that’s where any similarity to Miss Marple ends! 😉 Blood Red City is modern, gritty and complex. I’ll be honest that I don’t think I fully understood all of the technical financial goings on but that did not detract from the energy and urgency of the plot.
I really enjoyed Rod Reynolds‘s race through the shady underside of London, beneath the high-rolling, coke-snorting, huge-mansion-owning players and behind the paper-thin veneer of respectability. I liked Lydia and Stringer and would definitely read further books about these same leading characters.
June 26, 2020
This is an edgy, urban thriller with an action-driven, pacy plot.
Lydia tired of being sidelined investigates a video detailing a crime. She realises if genuine it has the potential, to mainstream her career. There's relentless suspense. A sense of menace pervades every page.
Michael Stringer is an enigma. An information mercenary, he wants to know what Lydia knows. The London setting adds authenticity to the story. The story uses sensual imagery well making the events and locations easy to imagine.
The author creates an ethos of mistrust. It's difficult to establish the truth, and who to believe. The ending answers all these questions with the possibility of a future investigation.
I received a copy of this book from Orenda Books in return for an honest review.
Lydia tired of being sidelined investigates a video detailing a crime. She realises if genuine it has the potential, to mainstream her career. There's relentless suspense. A sense of menace pervades every page.
Michael Stringer is an enigma. An information mercenary, he wants to know what Lydia knows. The London setting adds authenticity to the story. The story uses sensual imagery well making the events and locations easy to imagine.
The author creates an ethos of mistrust. It's difficult to establish the truth, and who to believe. The ending answers all these questions with the possibility of a future investigation.
I received a copy of this book from Orenda Books in return for an honest review.
June 27, 2020
The moment I read the description for Blood Red City, it became one of my most highly anticipated books of the year. It looked as if it was going to be everything I love in a thriller but would it live up to my expectations? Of course it did - and I loved it so much I've actually read it twice!
Lydia Wright is at a leaving drinks get-together for a colleague when she is anonymously sent a video file. She is an ambitious investigative reporter - or at least she should be. While digging deep into story involving property backhanders and dodgy offshore investments, she was told to drop it. She continued working it under the radar until desperation forced her into a stupid shortcut which resulted in her just about hanging on to a job on the night-shift writing click bait copy for the paper's website. She watches the video on the way to work and she is horrified to watch a man apparently being murdered on the Tube. At first she isn't sure she wants to be involved but her friend and former mentor, Tammy persuades her to help. However, she is soon perplexed to discover that there are no reports of an attack on the Tube and seemingly no evidence anywhere.
Somebody else is desperate to find out what happened to the unfortunate victim, however and when Michael Stringer overhears Lydia asking an Underground worker about the assault and then spots the man he is looking for on her video, he needs to find out what she knows. He is a fixer and is quickly shown to be prepared to resort to dirty tricks to persuade his targets to follow his orders.
Lydia is drawn into a murky world of financial and political corruption while Stringer finds himself in an unfamiliar position where rather than just working for a high-paying client, he needs to do all he can to protect himself. The interplay between the two is fascinating; she has no idea if she can trust him and there are a number of occasions where his actions do little to allay her concerns.
As the novel progresses, however, it becomes evident that they are both more than they first appear. Lydia may be out of her depth and when it becomes brutally obvious that she is in danger, she is clearly terrified. Despite her fears, she can't stop herself from investigating and I loved that there is also a part of her that relishes the intrigue. The sheer boredom of churning out mindless celebrity drivel weighs heavily on her and so the adrenaline rush she is feels when it looks as if she might be on the brink of breaking a huge story is entirely understandable.
Meanwhile, although there can be little doubt as to Stringer's ruthlessness, there are moments which reveal a different side to his character too. The pair of them are utterly compelling to follow throughout and they are complemented by the clever, tense storyline which twists and turns at a breathless pace. London is brought vibrantly to life and the whole novel has a vivid, cinematic feel to it - I could easily imagine Blood Red City as a glossy, addictive film or television series.
The murder itself is only really a small part of the story because this is really a complex urban thriller that absolutely nails the corrupt global underbelly of financial and political institutions. Though there is some violence here, the suspense really comes from the more insidious danger that results from challenging those whose unrelenting drive for money and power means all manner of chicanery is being implemented behind closed doors.
The superb ending suggests there could be more to come but is also the most perfect conclusion so either way I finished it with a huge smile on my face. My copy looks decidedly worse for wear after I read it in the bath, the bed, the kitchen... Blood Red City is an outstanding book; you are in for a treat with this whip-smart contemporary thriller. Strikingly realistic with an exciting, serpentine plot, I couldn't put it down!
Lydia Wright is at a leaving drinks get-together for a colleague when she is anonymously sent a video file. She is an ambitious investigative reporter - or at least she should be. While digging deep into story involving property backhanders and dodgy offshore investments, she was told to drop it. She continued working it under the radar until desperation forced her into a stupid shortcut which resulted in her just about hanging on to a job on the night-shift writing click bait copy for the paper's website. She watches the video on the way to work and she is horrified to watch a man apparently being murdered on the Tube. At first she isn't sure she wants to be involved but her friend and former mentor, Tammy persuades her to help. However, she is soon perplexed to discover that there are no reports of an attack on the Tube and seemingly no evidence anywhere.
Somebody else is desperate to find out what happened to the unfortunate victim, however and when Michael Stringer overhears Lydia asking an Underground worker about the assault and then spots the man he is looking for on her video, he needs to find out what she knows. He is a fixer and is quickly shown to be prepared to resort to dirty tricks to persuade his targets to follow his orders.
Lydia is drawn into a murky world of financial and political corruption while Stringer finds himself in an unfamiliar position where rather than just working for a high-paying client, he needs to do all he can to protect himself. The interplay between the two is fascinating; she has no idea if she can trust him and there are a number of occasions where his actions do little to allay her concerns.
As the novel progresses, however, it becomes evident that they are both more than they first appear. Lydia may be out of her depth and when it becomes brutally obvious that she is in danger, she is clearly terrified. Despite her fears, she can't stop herself from investigating and I loved that there is also a part of her that relishes the intrigue. The sheer boredom of churning out mindless celebrity drivel weighs heavily on her and so the adrenaline rush she is feels when it looks as if she might be on the brink of breaking a huge story is entirely understandable.
Meanwhile, although there can be little doubt as to Stringer's ruthlessness, there are moments which reveal a different side to his character too. The pair of them are utterly compelling to follow throughout and they are complemented by the clever, tense storyline which twists and turns at a breathless pace. London is brought vibrantly to life and the whole novel has a vivid, cinematic feel to it - I could easily imagine Blood Red City as a glossy, addictive film or television series.
The murder itself is only really a small part of the story because this is really a complex urban thriller that absolutely nails the corrupt global underbelly of financial and political institutions. Though there is some violence here, the suspense really comes from the more insidious danger that results from challenging those whose unrelenting drive for money and power means all manner of chicanery is being implemented behind closed doors.
The superb ending suggests there could be more to come but is also the most perfect conclusion so either way I finished it with a huge smile on my face. My copy looks decidedly worse for wear after I read it in the bath, the bed, the kitchen... Blood Red City is an outstanding book; you are in for a treat with this whip-smart contemporary thriller. Strikingly realistic with an exciting, serpentine plot, I couldn't put it down!
June 30, 2020
Wow, I absolutely loved this book, I do admit I wasn’t sure if I would be able to get into it at the time I picked it up, as my focus wasn’t the best. But I started it late on a Friday evening reading until early hours and finished it on the Saturday. It had me gripped from start to finish, I liked the main characters, which for me personally is always a big bonus.
The two main protagonists, Lydia and Michael. Lydia had been doing some great investigative journalist work until she was told to pull the story, her mentor and friend Tammy was dismissed, and Lydia was put on the online news desk covering showbiz, a topic she has no interest in whatsoever, and the job means she has to work nights, just so the American audience can wake up to fresh gossip. After all where would everyone be without celebrity gossip?
Michael Stringer, deals with information, he is known as a fixer, gleaning personal and professional information for rich clients, for them to back the person into a corner with the collected information, making it possible for them to control power.
Just as Lydia is starting work one evening she receives a video of a man being attacked on a train, possibly murdered. Who is the man? Where is the woman who filmed the video? Lydia is a very determined woman, and will stop at nothing to find out what happened. How can you investigate something when you have no body? and you can’t find the one witness? Despite it putting her in danger and others being killed. Michael is watching Lydia, is she in danger from him? Or is he protecting her?
here are a number of twists within the story, which keep you totally hooked throughout, always something new happening, with each turn of the page. Totally riveting, I like Michael, I couldn’t work out if he was good or bad for some time, it was interesting getting to know bits about him as the story went on, he comes across as a real tough guy, but is there a softer centre in there? both characters are developed brilliantly, totally believable and three dimensional. I didn’t want the story to end. The plot revolves around greed, power, white collar crime, the people you look at and think they are respectable, but are they really as clean as you think? With some mafia style murder thrown in as well. This is the first book I have read by Rod Reynolds but it most definitely wont be the last. This is a massive 5⭐️ read, a brilliantly engaging, riveting read.
The two main protagonists, Lydia and Michael. Lydia had been doing some great investigative journalist work until she was told to pull the story, her mentor and friend Tammy was dismissed, and Lydia was put on the online news desk covering showbiz, a topic she has no interest in whatsoever, and the job means she has to work nights, just so the American audience can wake up to fresh gossip. After all where would everyone be without celebrity gossip?
Michael Stringer, deals with information, he is known as a fixer, gleaning personal and professional information for rich clients, for them to back the person into a corner with the collected information, making it possible for them to control power.
Just as Lydia is starting work one evening she receives a video of a man being attacked on a train, possibly murdered. Who is the man? Where is the woman who filmed the video? Lydia is a very determined woman, and will stop at nothing to find out what happened. How can you investigate something when you have no body? and you can’t find the one witness? Despite it putting her in danger and others being killed. Michael is watching Lydia, is she in danger from him? Or is he protecting her?
here are a number of twists within the story, which keep you totally hooked throughout, always something new happening, with each turn of the page. Totally riveting, I like Michael, I couldn’t work out if he was good or bad for some time, it was interesting getting to know bits about him as the story went on, he comes across as a real tough guy, but is there a softer centre in there? both characters are developed brilliantly, totally believable and three dimensional. I didn’t want the story to end. The plot revolves around greed, power, white collar crime, the people you look at and think they are respectable, but are they really as clean as you think? With some mafia style murder thrown in as well. This is the first book I have read by Rod Reynolds but it most definitely wont be the last. This is a massive 5⭐️ read, a brilliantly engaging, riveting read.
July 9, 2020
I've said several times that Orenda Books is one of my favorite thriller publishers and once again, they have failed to disappoint with Blood Red City. The story takes place in the midst of a summer heatwave making it a near-perfect summer read.
Blood Red City featured Lydia, a crusading journalist always searching for the truth and Stringer, a "fixer" of all things dark and seedy. Lydia is sent a video of a murder but she is unable to find evidence the crime occurred at all. She's on a mission to determine if it was "fake news." On the other hand, Stringer is looking at the situation from the opposite side of the law and he is having difficulty doing his job as well. The two team up to figure out what is going on - well, as good as two people from different sides of the law can.
I really enjoyed Lydia and quite liked the dynamic between her and Stringer. I do tend to love a seedier noir tale from time to time and this book fit the bill. It's quite evident that the author is writing about a town he knows and loves and London does tens to strike me as a character of its own.
If you liked action-packed books that keep you on the edge of your seat, then check this one out. I will definitely be reading more from Reynolds in the future.
Blood Red City featured Lydia, a crusading journalist always searching for the truth and Stringer, a "fixer" of all things dark and seedy. Lydia is sent a video of a murder but she is unable to find evidence the crime occurred at all. She's on a mission to determine if it was "fake news." On the other hand, Stringer is looking at the situation from the opposite side of the law and he is having difficulty doing his job as well. The two team up to figure out what is going on - well, as good as two people from different sides of the law can.
I really enjoyed Lydia and quite liked the dynamic between her and Stringer. I do tend to love a seedier noir tale from time to time and this book fit the bill. It's quite evident that the author is writing about a town he knows and loves and London does tens to strike me as a character of its own.
If you liked action-packed books that keep you on the edge of your seat, then check this one out. I will definitely be reading more from Reynolds in the future.
February 27, 2020
Rod Reynolds has stepped away from his outstanding Charlie Yates series and written a standalone . . . or so I imagined. Now I'm not so sure. If Lydia Wright and Michael Stringer are not the focus of future novels, I'll be very much surprised. This is an outstanding page-turner which ratchets up the tension as it builds via a labyrinthine plot towards a satisfying and well-crafted climax.
It's very much of its age, a relevant and at times alarming thriller which slaloms its way through the world of social media, geopolitics and hi-tech innovation with compelling conviction. It bears testimony not just to the author's familiarity with the streets of London but also to a flair for artistic expression and a level of craftmanship that really ought to earn him a wider audience. It is, in short, a tv series begging to be made.
Cannot recommend this highly enough to anyone who appreciates a pacy, realistic thriller which wrongfoots the reader time and again. Loved it.
It's very much of its age, a relevant and at times alarming thriller which slaloms its way through the world of social media, geopolitics and hi-tech innovation with compelling conviction. It bears testimony not just to the author's familiarity with the streets of London but also to a flair for artistic expression and a level of craftmanship that really ought to earn him a wider audience. It is, in short, a tv series begging to be made.
Cannot recommend this highly enough to anyone who appreciates a pacy, realistic thriller which wrongfoots the reader time and again. Loved it.
July 6, 2020
Blood Red City is the latest novel from Rod Reynolds, the critically acclaimed author of Cold Desert Sky (2018). Published with Orenda Books, Blood Red City is described as ‘a nerve-shattering and brutally realistic thriller….bursts with energy and grit from the opening page, twisting and feinting to a superb, unexpected ending that will leave you breathless.’
Lydia Wright works the night shift for a newspaper, uploading celebrity gossip online. This is not where she had planned to be working at this stage of her career. As a journalist, Lydia wanted to be working on ‘real’ news but a previous incident resulted in Lydia pulling the wrong strings and she got relegated to celebrity gossip. A rap on the knuckles for Lydia, a demotion of sorts but one she knows, if she patiently bides her time, that she will move on from.
When Lydia gets sent a video of what appears to be a very violent attack on the tube, she feels her hair prickle. What she is seeing is a potential murder but who is it and why was she sent this video? Lydia is wary but her initial instinct is excitement. This could be her big break, her chance to revive her obviously flagging career. As Lydia starts digging, it some becomes clear that there is something much darker, more sinister involved than she could have imagined.
Michael Stringer is a fixer, a man privately hired to help solve problems. He gathers useful information for folk at a price. Michael isn’t particularly fussy about his clients origins. Money is all Michael wants. Michael is on a specific case when the existence of this video is brought to his attention. This video changes everything for Michael and he needs to quickly discover the truth. He needs to know the exact detail of what Lydia has but is Lydia willing to trade information with him?
As Lydia attempts to unravel the truth about this shocking video, all paths are closed off to her. No one seems to be aware of it. There is no other evidence of an attack taking place on a train. But Lydia knows what she has seen. Lydia knows there is a story here and when she crosses paths with Michael Stringer she begins to realise how far the tentacles of power are reaching.
Lydia Wright and Michael Stringer are an interesting pairing. Michael’s past is intriguing and we are provided with just a glimpse into his background. We also get an insight into Lydia’s motivations as a journalist, someone who will follow a story right through to the end.
Blood Red City is a thriller set right in the heart of London. Money, politics, greed, corruption and power all play pivotal roles in this thrilling and engrossing tale. Wealth can create some very nasty, single-minded people and Rod Reynolds depicts the nefarious and unscrupulous nature of their behaviour with great authenticity. Blood Red City features London as one of it’s central characters, giving the reader a real sense of the darker, seedier side of the city. Urban noir gives personality to the streets, the places, the locations where the story unravels, allowing the reader to completely immerse themselves in the action.
Blood Red City is a very sophisticated tale of shady financial dealings with very unethical and criminal behaviour. It is a read that requires complete focus as the full complexity behind the truth is revealed. It is a fast-paced, gritty, tense story that keeps the reader on edge throughout, a book that completely captivated my attention.
I sense a sequel may be around the corner *crosses fingers*
Lydia Wright works the night shift for a newspaper, uploading celebrity gossip online. This is not where she had planned to be working at this stage of her career. As a journalist, Lydia wanted to be working on ‘real’ news but a previous incident resulted in Lydia pulling the wrong strings and she got relegated to celebrity gossip. A rap on the knuckles for Lydia, a demotion of sorts but one she knows, if she patiently bides her time, that she will move on from.
When Lydia gets sent a video of what appears to be a very violent attack on the tube, she feels her hair prickle. What she is seeing is a potential murder but who is it and why was she sent this video? Lydia is wary but her initial instinct is excitement. This could be her big break, her chance to revive her obviously flagging career. As Lydia starts digging, it some becomes clear that there is something much darker, more sinister involved than she could have imagined.
Michael Stringer is a fixer, a man privately hired to help solve problems. He gathers useful information for folk at a price. Michael isn’t particularly fussy about his clients origins. Money is all Michael wants. Michael is on a specific case when the existence of this video is brought to his attention. This video changes everything for Michael and he needs to quickly discover the truth. He needs to know the exact detail of what Lydia has but is Lydia willing to trade information with him?
As Lydia attempts to unravel the truth about this shocking video, all paths are closed off to her. No one seems to be aware of it. There is no other evidence of an attack taking place on a train. But Lydia knows what she has seen. Lydia knows there is a story here and when she crosses paths with Michael Stringer she begins to realise how far the tentacles of power are reaching.
Lydia Wright and Michael Stringer are an interesting pairing. Michael’s past is intriguing and we are provided with just a glimpse into his background. We also get an insight into Lydia’s motivations as a journalist, someone who will follow a story right through to the end.
Blood Red City is a thriller set right in the heart of London. Money, politics, greed, corruption and power all play pivotal roles in this thrilling and engrossing tale. Wealth can create some very nasty, single-minded people and Rod Reynolds depicts the nefarious and unscrupulous nature of their behaviour with great authenticity. Blood Red City features London as one of it’s central characters, giving the reader a real sense of the darker, seedier side of the city. Urban noir gives personality to the streets, the places, the locations where the story unravels, allowing the reader to completely immerse themselves in the action.
Blood Red City is a very sophisticated tale of shady financial dealings with very unethical and criminal behaviour. It is a read that requires complete focus as the full complexity behind the truth is revealed. It is a fast-paced, gritty, tense story that keeps the reader on edge throughout, a book that completely captivated my attention.
I sense a sequel may be around the corner *crosses fingers*
June 6, 2020
I wasn't quite sure what to expect when I picked this book up. I do admit that I purchase anything published by Orenda without much consideration before or after, and rarely read the blurb. I knew my fellow bloggers were waxing lyrically about though, and as the author's first London set thriller, it was probably the perfect place to read my first Rod Reynolds title. What I found was a slick, fast paced thriller that was full of intrigue, well crafted characters and a plot which kept me hooked from the unexpected and shocking opening to the very satisfying ending.
When journalist Lydia Wright is sent a video file from an anonymous source, she has no idea the trouble simply viewing it is going to cause her. And for once, we aren't talking the obvious infected with a virus, identity theft kind of trouble. That would be a walk in the park by comparison. Trying to find the source of the video, and the potential victim, puts Lydia in the sights of Michael Stringer, a guy who has his own reasons for needing the find the man in the video. And whilst Michael is not the most trustworthy of bedfellows, he is her best chance of survival against people who would happily kill to protect their secrets and keep the video hidden.
I'll admit, the opening was quite shocking - not necessarily graphic in terms of the violence, but still one that makes you sit up and take note, leaving you with a lot of questions that the Lydia strives to answer over the course of the novel, with an investigation full of twists and turns, permeated by moments of real tension. There is an underlying sense of threat from start to finish, but it is sometimes hard to know where that threat is coming from. Michael is hardly whiter than white, and it is sometimes hard to know if he is working for or against Lydia, his actions both taking me by surprise and also kind of not.
Lydia is a great protagonist. As a journalist she has an instinct for a story and a dogged determination to see it through to the bitter end, even though this has cost per professionally in the past. Relegated to the night shift managing mindless celebrity gossip, the story gives her a chance to flex her investigative muscles and boy does she do so. Yes, she does make some questionable calls in terms of where she lets her curiosity lead her and there were times when I found myself frustrated by her actions. But ultiamtely she was driven by a desire to find the truth and to find the woman who filmed the video, no matter the danger it puts her in. She isn't superwoman, and we often she her vulnerable side, but she has an inner steel that is easy to like.
Michael Stringer is a bit of an enigma. I really did like him as a character, even though his actions, and his chosen career, should lead to an ultimate suspicion over everything he does. It is hard at times to understand what drives him, but it is clear that beneath it all is a good heart, someone who cares about the people around him. When it comes to work it is simply a job - a contract - but when it is personal - family or friendship - I don;t think you could want anyone better in your corner. What is clear is that the chemistry between hom and Lydia is spot on. She doesn't fully trust him - understandable - but there is a spark between them that is kind of irresistible to read.
As the pair weave their way through a very twisted world, the author starts to slowly allow the full picture to emerge, whilst still keeping the tension high and the nerves fully on edge, and keeping readers guessing right to the end. You never quite know who is on the side of right or wrong, or even if there is even a hint of right in this tale to begin with. There is certainly no end of shady characters to pint the finger of suspicion at as the pair tunnel deeper and deeper to get to the real root of this deadly conspiracy. And whilst the final chapter may be quite sedate by comparison to what precedes it, it also leaves a hint of promise and leaving me with a smile on my face.
An intelligent, tense and action filled read that proved to be very satisfying. If you like a big-city based thriller then this is definitely recommended.
When journalist Lydia Wright is sent a video file from an anonymous source, she has no idea the trouble simply viewing it is going to cause her. And for once, we aren't talking the obvious infected with a virus, identity theft kind of trouble. That would be a walk in the park by comparison. Trying to find the source of the video, and the potential victim, puts Lydia in the sights of Michael Stringer, a guy who has his own reasons for needing the find the man in the video. And whilst Michael is not the most trustworthy of bedfellows, he is her best chance of survival against people who would happily kill to protect their secrets and keep the video hidden.
I'll admit, the opening was quite shocking - not necessarily graphic in terms of the violence, but still one that makes you sit up and take note, leaving you with a lot of questions that the Lydia strives to answer over the course of the novel, with an investigation full of twists and turns, permeated by moments of real tension. There is an underlying sense of threat from start to finish, but it is sometimes hard to know where that threat is coming from. Michael is hardly whiter than white, and it is sometimes hard to know if he is working for or against Lydia, his actions both taking me by surprise and also kind of not.
Lydia is a great protagonist. As a journalist she has an instinct for a story and a dogged determination to see it through to the bitter end, even though this has cost per professionally in the past. Relegated to the night shift managing mindless celebrity gossip, the story gives her a chance to flex her investigative muscles and boy does she do so. Yes, she does make some questionable calls in terms of where she lets her curiosity lead her and there were times when I found myself frustrated by her actions. But ultiamtely she was driven by a desire to find the truth and to find the woman who filmed the video, no matter the danger it puts her in. She isn't superwoman, and we often she her vulnerable side, but she has an inner steel that is easy to like.
Michael Stringer is a bit of an enigma. I really did like him as a character, even though his actions, and his chosen career, should lead to an ultimate suspicion over everything he does. It is hard at times to understand what drives him, but it is clear that beneath it all is a good heart, someone who cares about the people around him. When it comes to work it is simply a job - a contract - but when it is personal - family or friendship - I don;t think you could want anyone better in your corner. What is clear is that the chemistry between hom and Lydia is spot on. She doesn't fully trust him - understandable - but there is a spark between them that is kind of irresistible to read.
As the pair weave their way through a very twisted world, the author starts to slowly allow the full picture to emerge, whilst still keeping the tension high and the nerves fully on edge, and keeping readers guessing right to the end. You never quite know who is on the side of right or wrong, or even if there is even a hint of right in this tale to begin with. There is certainly no end of shady characters to pint the finger of suspicion at as the pair tunnel deeper and deeper to get to the real root of this deadly conspiracy. And whilst the final chapter may be quite sedate by comparison to what precedes it, it also leaves a hint of promise and leaving me with a smile on my face.
An intelligent, tense and action filled read that proved to be very satisfying. If you like a big-city based thriller then this is definitely recommended.
January 4, 2022
I recently rediscovered Rod Reynolds, having read a couple of his Charlie Yates novels several years ago and I recently just finished the brilliant Black Reed Bay.
Blood Red City is set in London where investigative journalist Lydia Wright is sent a video of an apparent murder taking place on an underground train. Lydia, who is currently languishing on the night shift churning out ‘celebrity’ stories, thinks this is just the story she needs to revive her flagging career and sets out to investigate the circumstances of the apparent crime. Lydia gets nowhere fast as the witness who took the video has disappeared and the Police have no knowledge of the crime but she soon realises that she is not the only person interested in the video. Michael Stringer is a ‘fixer’ and he becomes aware of the video as he recognises that the ‘victim’ as the person who he is currently targeting on behalf of one of his clients. Eventually Lydia and Stringer reluctantly join forces in an uneasy partnership in order to find the truth. Their investigation lead them down a dangerous path that includes suspicious trading, money laundering and corruption at the highest level of the establishment and which puts their and their families lives in imminent dander.
Another excellent crime novel from Rod Reynolds which keeps you enthralled right to the very last page. This is a different setting and subject matter from his previous novels and highlights just how versatile an author Reynolds is. I loved the chemistry between Lydia and Stringer as they both hold knowledge that the other requires but they both try to get what they want without giving away too much to the other party. There is a measure of trust between the pair but also there are grave doubts about each others motives, especially on Lydia’s part, as she doesn’t know if she is being played by Stringer or not. The plot is quite convoluted but Reynolds does try to spell things out as simply as possible and there are quite a lot of minor characters who I sometimes found difficult to keep track but that didn’t detract too much from what is a totally engrossing thriller.
Blood Red City is set in London where investigative journalist Lydia Wright is sent a video of an apparent murder taking place on an underground train. Lydia, who is currently languishing on the night shift churning out ‘celebrity’ stories, thinks this is just the story she needs to revive her flagging career and sets out to investigate the circumstances of the apparent crime. Lydia gets nowhere fast as the witness who took the video has disappeared and the Police have no knowledge of the crime but she soon realises that she is not the only person interested in the video. Michael Stringer is a ‘fixer’ and he becomes aware of the video as he recognises that the ‘victim’ as the person who he is currently targeting on behalf of one of his clients. Eventually Lydia and Stringer reluctantly join forces in an uneasy partnership in order to find the truth. Their investigation lead them down a dangerous path that includes suspicious trading, money laundering and corruption at the highest level of the establishment and which puts their and their families lives in imminent dander.
Another excellent crime novel from Rod Reynolds which keeps you enthralled right to the very last page. This is a different setting and subject matter from his previous novels and highlights just how versatile an author Reynolds is. I loved the chemistry between Lydia and Stringer as they both hold knowledge that the other requires but they both try to get what they want without giving away too much to the other party. There is a measure of trust between the pair but also there are grave doubts about each others motives, especially on Lydia’s part, as she doesn’t know if she is being played by Stringer or not. The plot is quite convoluted but Reynolds does try to spell things out as simply as possible and there are quite a lot of minor characters who I sometimes found difficult to keep track but that didn’t detract too much from what is a totally engrossing thriller.
June 29, 2020
*edit to add review*
When journalist Lydia Wright views a video of a graphic assault of a man on the tube little did she know that her investigative skills of finding out who took the video and who the victim is would put her in the sights of 'fixer' Michael Stringer. He has his own reasons for finding the man in the video, and from the get go you have this impending feeling of threat with each page that you turn.
Set in London, Blood Red City is a gritty page turner, two people with the same goal but for very different reasons, I loved following them both as the story unfolds. I loved the premise of their being a witness but yet no victim to be found, no chatter on the news networks or from the police. You cant help but get engrossed in this story and I loved how everything came together in the end, I think and hope that it leaves the possibility for more stories for Lydia in the future.
When journalist Lydia Wright views a video of a graphic assault of a man on the tube little did she know that her investigative skills of finding out who took the video and who the victim is would put her in the sights of 'fixer' Michael Stringer. He has his own reasons for finding the man in the video, and from the get go you have this impending feeling of threat with each page that you turn.
Set in London, Blood Red City is a gritty page turner, two people with the same goal but for very different reasons, I loved following them both as the story unfolds. I loved the premise of their being a witness but yet no victim to be found, no chatter on the news networks or from the police. You cant help but get engrossed in this story and I loved how everything came together in the end, I think and hope that it leaves the possibility for more stories for Lydia in the future.
July 6, 2020
Excellent read. Fast-paced, exciting with two brave protagonists who come together to find everyone is guilty and almost no-one can be trusted. But can they trust each other?
At times you will really have to concentrate to know what is going on. I had to re-read some pages to work out who is who and what is what. This is not my usual genre but I was certainly hooked from start to finish.
Lydia Wright works for a newspaper. While investigating some dodgy business dealings and having almost outed the perpetrator, she was stopped in her tracks. Now she is relegated to the night shift where she has to trawl social media and celebrity gossip pages to write about stuff she has no interest in. Then she is sent the video of the murder on the train and she is on the trail of the killer and back in the role of investigative journalist before you can say boo to a goose. And knowing Lydia, she will not let go until she uncovers the truth, which turns out to be far more intricate and contrived than she can possibly imagine.
I liked Lydia as a protagonist (she swears too much for my liking) but nowhere near as much as I liked Michael Stringer. At first he seems like a hired thug who deals in information, but you soon realise he has a conscience, especially where his sister and niece are concerned. And for some reason, he is drawn to Lydia and wants to protect her. Personally, I think he fancies her like mad, but that is never even hinted at.
Apart from having all his limbs intact and wearing much smarter clothes, I was reminded a little of Cormoran Strike in the Robert Galbraith novels. Enigmatic, complicated personal life, split from his wife, caring for his sister, often living out of a suitcase and always in trouble or annoying someone dangerous. But that’s where the similarity ends. And Stringer is skinny (like a string bean?) and with a less glamorous background.
When this comes to TV (and I’m sure it will) I can once again cast David Tennant in the lead role, but I’ll need to think carefully about Lydia. Anyone who has read my reviews know I love to cast the heroes and villains of the books I review for film or TV!
Many thanks to @annecater for letting me be part of #RandomThingsTours
At times you will really have to concentrate to know what is going on. I had to re-read some pages to work out who is who and what is what. This is not my usual genre but I was certainly hooked from start to finish.
Lydia Wright works for a newspaper. While investigating some dodgy business dealings and having almost outed the perpetrator, she was stopped in her tracks. Now she is relegated to the night shift where she has to trawl social media and celebrity gossip pages to write about stuff she has no interest in. Then she is sent the video of the murder on the train and she is on the trail of the killer and back in the role of investigative journalist before you can say boo to a goose. And knowing Lydia, she will not let go until she uncovers the truth, which turns out to be far more intricate and contrived than she can possibly imagine.
I liked Lydia as a protagonist (she swears too much for my liking) but nowhere near as much as I liked Michael Stringer. At first he seems like a hired thug who deals in information, but you soon realise he has a conscience, especially where his sister and niece are concerned. And for some reason, he is drawn to Lydia and wants to protect her. Personally, I think he fancies her like mad, but that is never even hinted at.
Apart from having all his limbs intact and wearing much smarter clothes, I was reminded a little of Cormoran Strike in the Robert Galbraith novels. Enigmatic, complicated personal life, split from his wife, caring for his sister, often living out of a suitcase and always in trouble or annoying someone dangerous. But that’s where the similarity ends. And Stringer is skinny (like a string bean?) and with a less glamorous background.
When this comes to TV (and I’m sure it will) I can once again cast David Tennant in the lead role, but I’ll need to think carefully about Lydia. Anyone who has read my reviews know I love to cast the heroes and villains of the books I review for film or TV!
Many thanks to @annecater for letting me be part of #RandomThingsTours
January 8, 2022
Fitfully engaging thriller but one that captures the zeitgeist of a corrupt London.
January 11, 2023
Review to follow
April 23, 2020
Blood Red City is Rod Reynolds’ debut novel with Orenda Books but he is by no means a debut author. He was, however, new to me, which entailed that I didn’t really know what to expect. (Well, something good, obviously, it is Orenda, after all.) What I ended up getting was an elaborate, intricate thriller that (to me at least) felt a little like a spy thriller, despite the total absence of spies, go figure.
The female protagonist in Blood Red City is Lydia, who used to be an investigative journalist, until she was plucked from the news desk to cover showbiz for the online newspaper. Which she hates as it doesn’t challenge her at all and to add insult to injury, she has to work nights (cos heaven forbid the American audience wake up without the latest celebrity gossip at their fingertips).
The male protagonist is Michael Stringer, who is a fixer, a dealer in information, which means he gathers professional and personal confidential information on a person, and uses that intel to drive said person into a corner, so that they will do what Springer tells them to do, or rather what Springer’s clients want them to do.
At first glance, Lydia and Springer are rather unlikely bedfellows, her being a well-respected journalist and him essentially a white collar criminal. However, their lots are thrown together when Lydia receives a video of a man being violated, perhaps even killed, on a train. Who is this man, and why hasn’t the police been notified? Lydia is like a dog with a bone, she can’t let it go, but the deeper she digs, the more danger she is in, because the men she’s unwittingly challenging will stop at nothing to get what they want…
Lydia and Springer are well-rounded, beautifully fleshed out characters. Rod Reynolds has made room for their personal life, time to allow us to get to know our main characters. It feels like Springer makes a giant character arc, but it’s really just the author showing us only bits and pieces and we don’t get a full picture until the end. I have to say, Springer is definitely my favourite character – it doesn’t hurt that I kept picturing him as Jason Statham, but come on, a tough guy in a suit with a bigger heart than he lets on? If that doesn’t scream Jason Statham I don’t know what does.
The premise is equally brilliant: a witness but no victim? Like WTH?! I couldn’t help but jump down that rabbit hole with Lydia, join her frantic search for the truth and the bigger picture, all the while trying to contact the witness. Rod Reynolds takes his readers to the darkest parts of London and shows us that those who look squeaky clean may very well be very dirty underneath that spotless veneer.
The finale answered all the questions I still had, while unexpectedly leaving the door cracked open for a sequel. I don’t know if that’s the plan, but I for one would be happy to go back to blood red London with Lydia and Springer.
Blood Red City is an urban crime thriller, from violent crime over white-collar crime to mafia-like practices, and even in these strange times it easily kept my attention from start to finish. Recommended to lovers of (white-collar) crime fiction!
The female protagonist in Blood Red City is Lydia, who used to be an investigative journalist, until she was plucked from the news desk to cover showbiz for the online newspaper. Which she hates as it doesn’t challenge her at all and to add insult to injury, she has to work nights (cos heaven forbid the American audience wake up without the latest celebrity gossip at their fingertips).
The male protagonist is Michael Stringer, who is a fixer, a dealer in information, which means he gathers professional and personal confidential information on a person, and uses that intel to drive said person into a corner, so that they will do what Springer tells them to do, or rather what Springer’s clients want them to do.
At first glance, Lydia and Springer are rather unlikely bedfellows, her being a well-respected journalist and him essentially a white collar criminal. However, their lots are thrown together when Lydia receives a video of a man being violated, perhaps even killed, on a train. Who is this man, and why hasn’t the police been notified? Lydia is like a dog with a bone, she can’t let it go, but the deeper she digs, the more danger she is in, because the men she’s unwittingly challenging will stop at nothing to get what they want…
Lydia and Springer are well-rounded, beautifully fleshed out characters. Rod Reynolds has made room for their personal life, time to allow us to get to know our main characters. It feels like Springer makes a giant character arc, but it’s really just the author showing us only bits and pieces and we don’t get a full picture until the end. I have to say, Springer is definitely my favourite character – it doesn’t hurt that I kept picturing him as Jason Statham, but come on, a tough guy in a suit with a bigger heart than he lets on? If that doesn’t scream Jason Statham I don’t know what does.
The premise is equally brilliant: a witness but no victim? Like WTH?! I couldn’t help but jump down that rabbit hole with Lydia, join her frantic search for the truth and the bigger picture, all the while trying to contact the witness. Rod Reynolds takes his readers to the darkest parts of London and shows us that those who look squeaky clean may very well be very dirty underneath that spotless veneer.
The finale answered all the questions I still had, while unexpectedly leaving the door cracked open for a sequel. I don’t know if that’s the plan, but I for one would be happy to go back to blood red London with Lydia and Springer.
Blood Red City is an urban crime thriller, from violent crime over white-collar crime to mafia-like practices, and even in these strange times it easily kept my attention from start to finish. Recommended to lovers of (white-collar) crime fiction!
January 2, 2021
Blood Red City is the first book I have read by Rod Reynolds and I will have to admit that if it were not for the fact that it is published by one of my favourite publishers, I would have quite possibly not picked it up to read as it is not the usual style of book I would delve into with relish, but by the end I was hooked.
When Lydia Wright is sent an anonymous video clip of what looks like someone being murdered on a train, she hopes that this will finally get her back into some proper investigative journalism and away from the late-night celebrity puff pieces she has been stuck with. The problem she has is that she initially doesn’t know who sent it to her and there also appears to be no evidence of a body or who may have committed the crime. As she digs further, she comes to the attention of Michael Stringer, someone who hires out his services to anyone willing to pay, doing what ever it takes to ensure the job gets done.
You can’t help but admire Lydia, she is determined to get to the truth, even when it gets her in some tricky situations. As much as it starts out with her wanting to get her career back on track, I think eventually it is more about finding the victim and discovering what happened to him and why. Her biggest problem is not knowing who she can trust, especially when there are people out to stop her,
Michael is more difficult to get to grips with as there is definitely two sides to him. On the one hand there is the man who will do what it takes to complete the job he is paid for and is not averse to using underhand tactics and blackmail to achieve his aim, then there is the devoted family man who will do anything for his loved ones. Its this that really makes him seem more human, especially when he switches from seeing Lydia as a means to an end to get the job done, to someone he will go out on a limb to protect.
The action has a fast enough pace to keep the reader engaged and the plot never falters. With characters that certainly draw your attention you have to wonder if Lydia and Michael will either butt heads or join forces again in the future. I for one are hoping that they do as there is definitely something between them that makes you want to read more.
When Lydia Wright is sent an anonymous video clip of what looks like someone being murdered on a train, she hopes that this will finally get her back into some proper investigative journalism and away from the late-night celebrity puff pieces she has been stuck with. The problem she has is that she initially doesn’t know who sent it to her and there also appears to be no evidence of a body or who may have committed the crime. As she digs further, she comes to the attention of Michael Stringer, someone who hires out his services to anyone willing to pay, doing what ever it takes to ensure the job gets done.
You can’t help but admire Lydia, she is determined to get to the truth, even when it gets her in some tricky situations. As much as it starts out with her wanting to get her career back on track, I think eventually it is more about finding the victim and discovering what happened to him and why. Her biggest problem is not knowing who she can trust, especially when there are people out to stop her,
Michael is more difficult to get to grips with as there is definitely two sides to him. On the one hand there is the man who will do what it takes to complete the job he is paid for and is not averse to using underhand tactics and blackmail to achieve his aim, then there is the devoted family man who will do anything for his loved ones. Its this that really makes him seem more human, especially when he switches from seeing Lydia as a means to an end to get the job done, to someone he will go out on a limb to protect.
The action has a fast enough pace to keep the reader engaged and the plot never falters. With characters that certainly draw your attention you have to wonder if Lydia and Michael will either butt heads or join forces again in the future. I for one are hoping that they do as there is definitely something between them that makes you want to read more.
April 1, 2023
Enjoyable read, if a little confusing in places. The story is written from the viewpoint of Lydia Wright, a journalist and Michael Stringer, a private investigator. They are essentially investigating the same thing, but from different angles. Wright is sent a video seeming to show a man being murdered on the tube. Stringer is investigating the same man for his employer, a shadowy Oligarch, who wants to exert influence over him, not knowing he is dead.
The parallel investigations can be slightly confusing, as they follow the same trail of breadcrumbs, but from different directions, and does dip into the world of international finance, money laundering and mirror trading, which took some thinking about. But overall it is well written and a good read.
The parallel investigations can be slightly confusing, as they follow the same trail of breadcrumbs, but from different directions, and does dip into the world of international finance, money laundering and mirror trading, which took some thinking about. But overall it is well written and a good read.
May 22, 2022
Page turner.
Loved it. Intriguing and kept me guessing. Can't wait for the next one. I would love to read a sequel.
Loved it. Intriguing and kept me guessing. Can't wait for the next one. I would love to read a sequel.
January 14, 2024
I borrowed this from the library because I had enjoyed Black Reed Bay but this didn't feel as "together" at the end. I'd say it was great up to around 75% and then it started to wobble off course.
June 25, 2020
Journalist Lydia Wright is sent a video, apparently showing a murder on a London train, and she thinks she may have just the scoop she needs to revive her flagging career. But when she starts to investigate the story, it seems that there is no report of a crime having taken place.
At first, Lydia thinks she may have been pranked, but when an old colleague gets in touch with further details, she knows that she is on to something.
As Lydia goes about trying to find the witness who made the video she crosses paths with fixer Michael Stringer, who has his own reasons for wanting to find out what has happened to the victim.
Stringer deals in information, but the mystery murder has left him exposed and in danger from one of his heavyweight clients. He needs to find out what Lydia knows and fast if he is to stay ahead of the game.
As the clues lead Lydia into a nightmare world of corruption, gangsters and dodgy dealings, she finds herself in way over her head and in need of help - and Stringer finds that he may have been set up to take the fall for someone else.
They are both in mortal danger with little chance of walking away from the mess they find themselves in. How will they survive in this landscape where information has more power than a bullet?
*****************************************************
Blood Red City takes us right into the heart of the gritty dealings of the under-the-counter side of London's financial world. A world where huge sums of ill-gotten gains are funneled through complicated systems of shell-corporations, trades and investment deals under the nose of the authorities, in order for it to be secretly laundered into legitimate business funds.
Wright is no stranger to investigating the murky dealings of the high and mighty of London's political and property scenes, but when her big story was nixed by the management of her paper, and she was sidelined to reporting celebrity gossip, she was sure that her chance to be taken seriously as an investigative journalist was over. So when what looks like another big story has fallen into her lap, she is very keen to see it through to the bitter end. Little does she know what she is getting herself in to.
Stringer, on the other hand, is more than used to working both sides of the law in pursuit of his clients' needs. He deals in information and is a fixer for some very wealthy and powerful people. His modus operandi is polished and frighteningly believable in an age were social media is king, and almost everyone is reliant on the world wide web.
As the thrilling story begins to unfold from two different sides, that of Wright and Stringer, it is soon clear that they are working towards the same goal - to find out why a man was killed on a London train - and you find yourself yearning for them to work together to find a way to survive the fall out from the great big perilous can of worms they have opened. Both of them have skills that could complement each other - Wright is driven and desperate to uncover the machinations of the unworthy and, despite spending so much time in the underbelly of London's less seemly side, Stringer is still capable of making the right call when necessary.
I absolutely loved this tale of greed and gangsters, fixers and fraud, news and negotiations, money and menace! This is an intelligent thriller, which has such a realistic edge to it, that it will leave you wondering how much of this dodgy dealing actually goes on in the real world - rather a lot, I fear. There are baddies galore, even though many of them operate secretly under the veneer of respectability, and Wright and Stringer both make excellent characters to get behind.
This has all the elements you could ever want in a pacy, slick caper based in the financial heart of London, with the delicious hard-edge of an undercover spy story to boot - Bonds (investment) with a touch of Bonds (James), if you will. Rod Reynolds skillfully handles all the deliciously twisty threads as they beautifully come together into a very satisfying ending. I absolutely loved it and was rather sad to reach the end - in fact, I would dearly love to see the pairing of Wright and Stringer again Mr Reynolds, should you ever be so inclined!
At first, Lydia thinks she may have been pranked, but when an old colleague gets in touch with further details, she knows that she is on to something.
As Lydia goes about trying to find the witness who made the video she crosses paths with fixer Michael Stringer, who has his own reasons for wanting to find out what has happened to the victim.
Stringer deals in information, but the mystery murder has left him exposed and in danger from one of his heavyweight clients. He needs to find out what Lydia knows and fast if he is to stay ahead of the game.
As the clues lead Lydia into a nightmare world of corruption, gangsters and dodgy dealings, she finds herself in way over her head and in need of help - and Stringer finds that he may have been set up to take the fall for someone else.
They are both in mortal danger with little chance of walking away from the mess they find themselves in. How will they survive in this landscape where information has more power than a bullet?
*****************************************************
Blood Red City takes us right into the heart of the gritty dealings of the under-the-counter side of London's financial world. A world where huge sums of ill-gotten gains are funneled through complicated systems of shell-corporations, trades and investment deals under the nose of the authorities, in order for it to be secretly laundered into legitimate business funds.
Wright is no stranger to investigating the murky dealings of the high and mighty of London's political and property scenes, but when her big story was nixed by the management of her paper, and she was sidelined to reporting celebrity gossip, she was sure that her chance to be taken seriously as an investigative journalist was over. So when what looks like another big story has fallen into her lap, she is very keen to see it through to the bitter end. Little does she know what she is getting herself in to.
Stringer, on the other hand, is more than used to working both sides of the law in pursuit of his clients' needs. He deals in information and is a fixer for some very wealthy and powerful people. His modus operandi is polished and frighteningly believable in an age were social media is king, and almost everyone is reliant on the world wide web.
As the thrilling story begins to unfold from two different sides, that of Wright and Stringer, it is soon clear that they are working towards the same goal - to find out why a man was killed on a London train - and you find yourself yearning for them to work together to find a way to survive the fall out from the great big perilous can of worms they have opened. Both of them have skills that could complement each other - Wright is driven and desperate to uncover the machinations of the unworthy and, despite spending so much time in the underbelly of London's less seemly side, Stringer is still capable of making the right call when necessary.
I absolutely loved this tale of greed and gangsters, fixers and fraud, news and negotiations, money and menace! This is an intelligent thriller, which has such a realistic edge to it, that it will leave you wondering how much of this dodgy dealing actually goes on in the real world - rather a lot, I fear. There are baddies galore, even though many of them operate secretly under the veneer of respectability, and Wright and Stringer both make excellent characters to get behind.
This has all the elements you could ever want in a pacy, slick caper based in the financial heart of London, with the delicious hard-edge of an undercover spy story to boot - Bonds (investment) with a touch of Bonds (James), if you will. Rod Reynolds skillfully handles all the deliciously twisty threads as they beautifully come together into a very satisfying ending. I absolutely loved it and was rather sad to reach the end - in fact, I would dearly love to see the pairing of Wright and Stringer again Mr Reynolds, should you ever be so inclined!
June 15, 2020
In his fourth novel, Rod Reynolds has perfectly captured the invigorating mix of aspiration and survival that makes up London’s atmosphere. He plunges the reader deep into the experience of metropolitan life, during a recent past that seems, while I write in Covid lockdown, like a half-remembered dream. To paraphrase its powerful opening chapter, Blood Red City lays London bare, highlighting the ever-growing contrast between glittering skyscrapers and hulking tower blocks. Of course, human nature being what it is, each of these environments harbours a similar level of greed and cruelty. Some characters migrate between the competing territories. Others inhabit a shady underworld between them, carving out an existence by means legal, illegal, or both. It is within this no-man’s-land that Lydia Wright and Michael Stringer operate.
When crusading journalist Lydia Wright is sent a video of an apparent murder on a London train, she thinks she's found the story to revive her career. But she can't find a victim, much less the killers, and the only witness has disappeared. Wary she's fallen for fake news, she begins to doubt her instincts - until a sinister call suggests that she's not the only one interested in the crime.
Lydia was flying high until she chose the wrong colleague to back in a power wrangle. Demoted to cover celebrity gossip, she works the graveyard shift for ‘one of the country’s leading media organisations’.Young and ambitious, she is frustrated by a sideways career move that maintains her comfortable lifestyle but derails her journalistic ambitions. When the story opens, Lydia is teetering on the verge of professional despair, and the chance to investigate a murder is the straw she grasps.
Michael Stringer deals in information - and he doesn't care what side of the law he finds himself on. But the murder on the train has left him exposed, and now he'll stop at nothing to discover what Lydia knows.
I found Michael fascinating. A callous loner, manipulating his victims with heartless efficiency, at the beginning he comes across as totally repellent. Subsequently, Reynolds unpicks Michael’s back story, rounding out his personality and illuminating his past. Nevertheless, even as the reader begins to comprehend Michael’s life choices, it becomes clear that he is not a character for whom one should feel much sympathy, or trust completely. Like the rogue financial underworld he inhabits, when push comes to shove, Michael Stringer will always follow the money.
When their paths collide, Lydia finds the story leads through a nightmare world, where money, power and politics intersect ... and information is the only thing more dangerous than a bullet.…
The intricate plot of Blood Red City is expertly planned and satisfyingly developed. As the story unfolds, the personal lives of Lydia and Michael are explored with imagination and insight. Significant events occur in a variety of locations, each of them perceptively described, illustrating the huge differences in wealth and opportunity between different London communities. All of this happens at breakneck pace and, to a great extent, digitally. Although the book contains some scenes of terrifying physical violence, and others that will touch the reader’s heart, the main action is driven by interaction on mobile technology and social media platforms. Rod Reynolds has a background in advertising and media, and this is strongly reflected in his writing.
What did I like about this book? As someone who lives and works in London, I enjoyed the convincing and vividly described locations.
What would I change? For me, figuring out exactly what Lydia and Michael were getting up to on Facebook slowed the pace down a bit.
When crusading journalist Lydia Wright is sent a video of an apparent murder on a London train, she thinks she's found the story to revive her career. But she can't find a victim, much less the killers, and the only witness has disappeared. Wary she's fallen for fake news, she begins to doubt her instincts - until a sinister call suggests that she's not the only one interested in the crime.
Lydia was flying high until she chose the wrong colleague to back in a power wrangle. Demoted to cover celebrity gossip, she works the graveyard shift for ‘one of the country’s leading media organisations’.Young and ambitious, she is frustrated by a sideways career move that maintains her comfortable lifestyle but derails her journalistic ambitions. When the story opens, Lydia is teetering on the verge of professional despair, and the chance to investigate a murder is the straw she grasps.
Michael Stringer deals in information - and he doesn't care what side of the law he finds himself on. But the murder on the train has left him exposed, and now he'll stop at nothing to discover what Lydia knows.
I found Michael fascinating. A callous loner, manipulating his victims with heartless efficiency, at the beginning he comes across as totally repellent. Subsequently, Reynolds unpicks Michael’s back story, rounding out his personality and illuminating his past. Nevertheless, even as the reader begins to comprehend Michael’s life choices, it becomes clear that he is not a character for whom one should feel much sympathy, or trust completely. Like the rogue financial underworld he inhabits, when push comes to shove, Michael Stringer will always follow the money.
When their paths collide, Lydia finds the story leads through a nightmare world, where money, power and politics intersect ... and information is the only thing more dangerous than a bullet.…
The intricate plot of Blood Red City is expertly planned and satisfyingly developed. As the story unfolds, the personal lives of Lydia and Michael are explored with imagination and insight. Significant events occur in a variety of locations, each of them perceptively described, illustrating the huge differences in wealth and opportunity between different London communities. All of this happens at breakneck pace and, to a great extent, digitally. Although the book contains some scenes of terrifying physical violence, and others that will touch the reader’s heart, the main action is driven by interaction on mobile technology and social media platforms. Rod Reynolds has a background in advertising and media, and this is strongly reflected in his writing.
What did I like about this book? As someone who lives and works in London, I enjoyed the convincing and vividly described locations.
What would I change? For me, figuring out exactly what Lydia and Michael were getting up to on Facebook slowed the pace down a bit.
July 14, 2020
Video footage of an apparent murder on a London train has found its way to the inbox of Lydia Wright, a hardworking journalist who immediately starts investigating. After questioning the police and transit authority it appears no one knows anything about this murder and there is no body. How could someone simply be murdered in public without anyone, but one witness, the videographer, knowing about it? Lydia finds herself digging deeper and deeper into the mysterious video, which simultaneously draws her closer and closer to Michael Stringer, a fixer, who just might have the answers she’s after. As their paths collide they must decide if they trust each other and how far they are willing to go in the name of justice.
BLOOD RED CITY is a heart-pounding trip into the underworld of London, filled with secrets, deception, and murder. Rod Reynolds takes us on our journey by allowing the reader to tag along with two characters who on the surface seem to have nothing in common, but find their world’s colliding.
Lydia Wright is a journalist who won’t let anyone stand in her way and Michael Stringer is a fixer with a soft side for what is right. I love the way Reynolds carefully crafted these characters and let the reader get to know each of them individually before they ever met. Wright and Stringer both have so much more to offer than what people see on the surface. By Reynolds showing that to the reader right off the bat, we’re able to form solid relationships with each character and really yearn for them to collaborate to find justice for our mystery victim.
I love when crime fiction focuses on more than just the crime or murder. Reynolds has created an entire world of shady activity and henchmen within BLOOD RED CITY, which truly makes this work stand out in a crowded genre. The book quickly becomes more than what your reaction would be if an anonymous source sent you a video of a murder. It transforms into something intricately layered, which forms a much larger puzzle for the reader to solve.
Reynolds uses two proven writing styles within this book that truly help to build an overall sense of suspense and urgency. Short chapters are easily one of the best ways to drive a story to a frantic pace. They keep the action coming at the reader at a clipped pace, which is exactly what Reynolds conveys here. In addition to setting up pacing with chapter length, Reynolds alternates the perspective of the story between Lydia and Stringer. Reynolds doesn’t stick to only doing this with the shift from chapter to chapter, but mixes it up with perspective shifts within the same chapter (don’t worry they’re easily identifiable with page breaks). I felt like I was watching a movie during these longer chapters with multiple shifts. It was almost like the camera was panning over to another character to see their reaction.
If you’re looking for something thrilling to add to your TBR that will completely transport you into a fictional world you’ll be fascinated by, then BLOOD RED CITY is the book for you!
A huge thank you to Orenda for my gifted copy!
BLOOD RED CITY is a heart-pounding trip into the underworld of London, filled with secrets, deception, and murder. Rod Reynolds takes us on our journey by allowing the reader to tag along with two characters who on the surface seem to have nothing in common, but find their world’s colliding.
Lydia Wright is a journalist who won’t let anyone stand in her way and Michael Stringer is a fixer with a soft side for what is right. I love the way Reynolds carefully crafted these characters and let the reader get to know each of them individually before they ever met. Wright and Stringer both have so much more to offer than what people see on the surface. By Reynolds showing that to the reader right off the bat, we’re able to form solid relationships with each character and really yearn for them to collaborate to find justice for our mystery victim.
I love when crime fiction focuses on more than just the crime or murder. Reynolds has created an entire world of shady activity and henchmen within BLOOD RED CITY, which truly makes this work stand out in a crowded genre. The book quickly becomes more than what your reaction would be if an anonymous source sent you a video of a murder. It transforms into something intricately layered, which forms a much larger puzzle for the reader to solve.
Reynolds uses two proven writing styles within this book that truly help to build an overall sense of suspense and urgency. Short chapters are easily one of the best ways to drive a story to a frantic pace. They keep the action coming at the reader at a clipped pace, which is exactly what Reynolds conveys here. In addition to setting up pacing with chapter length, Reynolds alternates the perspective of the story between Lydia and Stringer. Reynolds doesn’t stick to only doing this with the shift from chapter to chapter, but mixes it up with perspective shifts within the same chapter (don’t worry they’re easily identifiable with page breaks). I felt like I was watching a movie during these longer chapters with multiple shifts. It was almost like the camera was panning over to another character to see their reaction.
If you’re looking for something thrilling to add to your TBR that will completely transport you into a fictional world you’ll be fascinated by, then BLOOD RED CITY is the book for you!
A huge thank you to Orenda for my gifted copy!
July 20, 2020
It’s always exciting to find a new author, it sets my nerves a tingling with anticipation. So opening Blood Red City felt like it was set to energize my reading and I’m delighted to say it did.
Blood Red City by Rod Reynolds delivers on many reading fronts, the plotline is taunt, while the characters feel gritty and fascinating.
It starts from the premise of the murder of an unknown man on a London tube and a reporter who is caught up in the mystery behind his killing. From this the writer weaves a tale of deception, betrayal, international money laundering and political manipulation giving the reader a thumping great read. It is imbued with a sense of intelligence and a clinical eye for a storyline both taunt enough to be thrilling, but also full of enough twists within the narrative, to leave the reader flicking through the pages at a rate of knots.
I loved the way the writer managed to leave me feeling I couldn’t trust whoever journalist Lydia Wright came into contact with, including the enigmatic Michael Stringer. As the story weaves its way through her increasingly dangerous investigation, we are drip fed moments of clarity, where we think we have solved the mystery, but it’s like making your way through a maze, where your fooled into thinking you have solved the puzzle, but actually your just being led up a blind alley. The writer at one point had me blaming practically everyone for the murder and yet at the end, I was wrong on every single count. He also manages to weave the topical theme of Russian interference into Britain’s affairs, by giving it a all to scary link to current theories behind the actions of this communist state, that will have you wondering if any of aspects of our lives are clear cut as we once thought.
I loved Lydia, intelligent, determined and yet fallible. But it was the superb Stringer that captured both my imagination and instinct told me he was more than the sum of his criminal activities ! He has a pervading sense of mystery about him. Hard to read, because you are never sure of his motivations around the death of the man, was he involved or is he fighting to save his own life? He seems polished and yet he is far from it, Michael Stringer is an enigma and finding out all his secrets was compelling and exciting. I do hope this is not the last we hear of him, either with the sassy Lyndia or on his own, because he was addictive and his flaws made me want to delve deeper into his past and spend time in his future.
I will be recommending Blood Red City to anyone who will listen
Blood Red City by Rod Reynolds delivers on many reading fronts, the plotline is taunt, while the characters feel gritty and fascinating.
It starts from the premise of the murder of an unknown man on a London tube and a reporter who is caught up in the mystery behind his killing. From this the writer weaves a tale of deception, betrayal, international money laundering and political manipulation giving the reader a thumping great read. It is imbued with a sense of intelligence and a clinical eye for a storyline both taunt enough to be thrilling, but also full of enough twists within the narrative, to leave the reader flicking through the pages at a rate of knots.
I loved the way the writer managed to leave me feeling I couldn’t trust whoever journalist Lydia Wright came into contact with, including the enigmatic Michael Stringer. As the story weaves its way through her increasingly dangerous investigation, we are drip fed moments of clarity, where we think we have solved the mystery, but it’s like making your way through a maze, where your fooled into thinking you have solved the puzzle, but actually your just being led up a blind alley. The writer at one point had me blaming practically everyone for the murder and yet at the end, I was wrong on every single count. He also manages to weave the topical theme of Russian interference into Britain’s affairs, by giving it a all to scary link to current theories behind the actions of this communist state, that will have you wondering if any of aspects of our lives are clear cut as we once thought.
I loved Lydia, intelligent, determined and yet fallible. But it was the superb Stringer that captured both my imagination and instinct told me he was more than the sum of his criminal activities ! He has a pervading sense of mystery about him. Hard to read, because you are never sure of his motivations around the death of the man, was he involved or is he fighting to save his own life? He seems polished and yet he is far from it, Michael Stringer is an enigma and finding out all his secrets was compelling and exciting. I do hope this is not the last we hear of him, either with the sassy Lyndia or on his own, because he was addictive and his flaws made me want to delve deeper into his past and spend time in his future.
I will be recommending Blood Red City to anyone who will listen
Displaying 1 - 30 of 54 reviews