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Red Run
There was a time when Ethan Trent's days consisted of little more than thrill rides and petty theft.
Fatherhood changed all that.
Now he struggles to raise his teenage son and daughter on his own, doing everything he can to protect them from the criminal world they were born in. Yet a late night visit bearing news of his daughter's murder shatters Ethan's illusions of safety. When evidence suggests his son is the killer, a father's grief gives way to desperation.
Determined to hold on to what remains of his family, Ethan turns to the very person he swore never to see again--his troubled ex-wife. With her help, he must prove his son innocent or lose everyone he loves.
Fatherhood changed all that.
Now he struggles to raise his teenage son and daughter on his own, doing everything he can to protect them from the criminal world they were born in. Yet a late night visit bearing news of his daughter's murder shatters Ethan's illusions of safety. When evidence suggests his son is the killer, a father's grief gives way to desperation.
Determined to hold on to what remains of his family, Ethan turns to the very person he swore never to see again--his troubled ex-wife. With her help, he must prove his son innocent or lose everyone he loves.
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First published November 20, 2010
39 people are currently reading
348 people want to read
About the author
Rob Cornell
28 books111 followersWhether it’s a covert-ops team of vampire assassins or a greedy dragon who lives under Detroit’s MGM Grand Casino, most of Rob Cornell’s stories feature some element of the dark and fantastic. He has written over a dozen published novels, including two dark fantasy sagas—The Lockman Chronicles and the Unturned series. A native of the Detroit area, he spent a handful of years living in both Los Angeles and Chicago before returning to the Midwest, and currently lives with his family in Southeast Michigan.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews
January 4, 2013
the 1 stars is for the first chapter. The only good thing about this book! I found myself skimming through the pages and getting agitated with the story. DON'T WASTE YOUR MONEY.
I had such high hopes for this book! i was excited to read it...The first chapter was good, it pulled you in immediately, but It was boring by the second chapter. I kept hoping for it to pick up, provide some kind of information, get thick into the plot, or even let you get to know a character. half way through the book there was STILL NOTHING. A Half of a book of bantering with the ex-wife and psycho brother in law. The son is supposed to be a suspect but yet he wasn't an active character. He said only a handful of things. The actions of these characters were far fetched, unrealistic, and ridiculous. Nothing was revealed, there were no suspects to get to know in order to play the "who dunnit" guessing game. The characters were unlikable, what you knew of them anyway, and scarce. I almost put the book down, but I decided to plug along since I had wanted to read it so badly when I bought it. At 51% was when I finally learned the first relevant piece of info. At 55% was finally a description of what Raine looked like. Out of 43 chapters, only 5 of them would have been sufficient to tell the same story.
I had such high hopes for this book! i was excited to read it...The first chapter was good, it pulled you in immediately, but It was boring by the second chapter. I kept hoping for it to pick up, provide some kind of information, get thick into the plot, or even let you get to know a character. half way through the book there was STILL NOTHING. A Half of a book of bantering with the ex-wife and psycho brother in law. The son is supposed to be a suspect but yet he wasn't an active character. He said only a handful of things. The actions of these characters were far fetched, unrealistic, and ridiculous. Nothing was revealed, there were no suspects to get to know in order to play the "who dunnit" guessing game. The characters were unlikable, what you knew of them anyway, and scarce. I almost put the book down, but I decided to plug along since I had wanted to read it so badly when I bought it. At 51% was when I finally learned the first relevant piece of info. At 55% was finally a description of what Raine looked like. Out of 43 chapters, only 5 of them would have been sufficient to tell the same story.
February 8, 2013
I gave up 67% of the way through after realizing that not only were the characters awkward and their actions forced, but also that I really didn't care in the slightest.
It's marketed as a crime book but really is just lots of back and forth between the ex-wife, the brother-in-law and Ethan. It may be realistic for the characters' history, but it was way too circular and two-dimensional to keep me reading. I'm not even sure why I read as much as I did.
It's marketed as a crime book but really is just lots of back and forth between the ex-wife, the brother-in-law and Ethan. It may be realistic for the characters' history, but it was way too circular and two-dimensional to keep me reading. I'm not even sure why I read as much as I did.
April 13, 2013
It wasn’t until about three quarters of the way through the book that I realized where it was giving me trouble. But more on that later.
First let me say that I enjoy Cornell’s writing style and am a big fan of the Lockman books. Secondly, his portrayal of the seedy side of life comes across realistically and uncomfortably with the characters he has created and the environment in which they live. Thirdly, as a parent, nothing could be worse than what our protagonist, Ethan, goes through in trying to deal with the pain of loss of his daughter, the horror of protecting his son, and the determination to find out who actually killed the girl. I used the word “uncomfortable,” and this is truly an uncomfortable read.
One reason is that none of these characters are very likeable. (Well, maybe Sadie a bit.) And that’s where the big obstacle starts for me. Much of the book is written contrasting the way that Ethan lives and behaves “now,” with the unsavory aspects to the way he lived “then.” Unfortunately, since the book begins with the killing of his daughter, we don’t really get to see how he lives “now.” We don’t see him interact with his daughter and son in an everyday interaction. Everything hangs on the death and the series of events that subsequently lead Ethan to behave in the manner of his previous life. So when we try to identify with him, despite the fact that he is a new man living the normal life of a high school teacher, we only see him reacting as the “old” Ethan. For me, not having the character rooted more in the present prevents me from identifying with him, for appreciating his dilemma, or even liking him.
There are other aspects to the story that don’t hold up as well. Without giving away too much, since Sadie, the new girlfriend, is instrumental in helping Ethan and Graham evade the police, why doesn’t she warrant a police tail? You would think they’d be watching her like a hawk. And the reason for Graham’s refusal to discuss his actions on the night of the murder, when all is revealed, just didn’t ring true.
Nevertheless, the Lazarro character is one of the seediest, nastiest, wonderfully horrible villains that you will find these days and if anyone elicits any sympathy at the completion of the tale, it’s ex-wife Rain whose fight between addiction and the need to nurture as a mother is emotionally tense.
If you like the Lockman books as I do, you’ll be disappointed if you are expecting more of the same. But if you want to experience a fine writer tackling a different, and difficult topic, give it a try.
First let me say that I enjoy Cornell’s writing style and am a big fan of the Lockman books. Secondly, his portrayal of the seedy side of life comes across realistically and uncomfortably with the characters he has created and the environment in which they live. Thirdly, as a parent, nothing could be worse than what our protagonist, Ethan, goes through in trying to deal with the pain of loss of his daughter, the horror of protecting his son, and the determination to find out who actually killed the girl. I used the word “uncomfortable,” and this is truly an uncomfortable read.
One reason is that none of these characters are very likeable. (Well, maybe Sadie a bit.) And that’s where the big obstacle starts for me. Much of the book is written contrasting the way that Ethan lives and behaves “now,” with the unsavory aspects to the way he lived “then.” Unfortunately, since the book begins with the killing of his daughter, we don’t really get to see how he lives “now.” We don’t see him interact with his daughter and son in an everyday interaction. Everything hangs on the death and the series of events that subsequently lead Ethan to behave in the manner of his previous life. So when we try to identify with him, despite the fact that he is a new man living the normal life of a high school teacher, we only see him reacting as the “old” Ethan. For me, not having the character rooted more in the present prevents me from identifying with him, for appreciating his dilemma, or even liking him.
There are other aspects to the story that don’t hold up as well. Without giving away too much, since Sadie, the new girlfriend, is instrumental in helping Ethan and Graham evade the police, why doesn’t she warrant a police tail? You would think they’d be watching her like a hawk. And the reason for Graham’s refusal to discuss his actions on the night of the murder, when all is revealed, just didn’t ring true.
Nevertheless, the Lazarro character is one of the seediest, nastiest, wonderfully horrible villains that you will find these days and if anyone elicits any sympathy at the completion of the tale, it’s ex-wife Rain whose fight between addiction and the need to nurture as a mother is emotionally tense.
If you like the Lockman books as I do, you’ll be disappointed if you are expecting more of the same. But if you want to experience a fine writer tackling a different, and difficult topic, give it a try.
August 19, 2011
Good story well written. I was interested in this book because of the family dynamic in the blurb, but I really got into the storyline of Ethan trying to rise above his juvenile delinquent past that he'd tried to leave behind.
Caveat: a LOT of swearing. My husband read a page or two of the book (toward the end, over my shoulder) and was disappointed in me for continuing to read. A few more typos than I like to see, but not terribly distracting.
I called the killer early on (thought it was the perfect person to do the crime), but there were enough surprises and twists to keep me reading.
I received a free review copy, but that didn't guarantee a review and doesn't influence my opinion.
Caveat: a LOT of swearing. My husband read a page or two of the book (toward the end, over my shoulder) and was disappointed in me for continuing to read. A few more typos than I like to see, but not terribly distracting.
I called the killer early on (thought it was the perfect person to do the crime), but there were enough surprises and twists to keep me reading.
I received a free review copy, but that didn't guarantee a review and doesn't influence my opinion.
April 27, 2013
I had to force myself to finish this book. Hated all of the characters.... Totally unlikeable. I was hoping they would all go to jail!
August 5, 2011
Red Run is a non stop emotional rollercoaster and thriller. The book opens with Ethan's daughter Ali having been murdered, and from then on we are given the heartbreaking perspective of what it is like for a father to lose a daughter in such a horrendous way. To make matters worse, the police begin to think that Ethan's son Graham is responsible for his sister's death. Ethan will do anything to protect his son and find his little girl's real killer, including inviting his terrible past back into his life with devastating consequences.
Rob Cornell gives the reader not only a great thriller but an emotionally tearing view of what a parent goes through in this situation. Ethan is a highly sympathetic character, and though you may not always agree with his decisions, you never doubt that he only wants to save his son. We are also introduced to the children's mother, Rain, and she is a conflicting character. You really feel that she has been an awful mother, but you can see the potential for redemption in her. Rain's brother Lazaro is just plain chilling at times, really scary.
This book is a great read for mystery fans who are getting a little tired of the police procedural, or for those who prefer this type of read.
This review was written after receiving a complimentary copy of Red Run as part of a First Reads/Reviewer program. In no way was this review influenced by those circumstances.
Rob Cornell gives the reader not only a great thriller but an emotionally tearing view of what a parent goes through in this situation. Ethan is a highly sympathetic character, and though you may not always agree with his decisions, you never doubt that he only wants to save his son. We are also introduced to the children's mother, Rain, and she is a conflicting character. You really feel that she has been an awful mother, but you can see the potential for redemption in her. Rain's brother Lazaro is just plain chilling at times, really scary.
This book is a great read for mystery fans who are getting a little tired of the police procedural, or for those who prefer this type of read.
This review was written after receiving a complimentary copy of Red Run as part of a First Reads/Reviewer program. In no way was this review influenced by those circumstances.
January 8, 2013
A story that exists mainly in the seedy underbelly of society, and deals with struggling to escape your past. The main character, Ethan, is awoken one night to find that his troublesome 15 year old daughter Ali has been found dead in a nearby river. Not long after, his son Graham is revealed to be the primary suspect, but before the police can lock him up and head toward a trial, Ethan takes off with his son, running from the law. With the aid of his current girlfriend Sadie, Ethan runs away from the comfortable, middle-class life he has created and back to the unseemly, illegal life of crime he grew up in. He enlists the help of his junkie ex-wife Rain, the mother of both of Ethan's children, and her unhinged, dangerous brother Lazaro, to keep Graham off the grid while he searches for answers that are closer than he realizes.
July 9, 2013
This wasn't quite what I expected. OK, I knew a daughter had been found murdered but if I'd thought my son had anything to do with it I wouldn't be running from the police with him, I'd probably be turning him in !! The father in this story just runs taking his son along. In a lot of respects it seemed to stretch my belief a bit.
It was quite well written with a few mistakes, though. There were spaces in words that needn't be for some reason-like in god damned or light weight. Then quite was used where it should have been quiet and bizarrely bakes as opposed to brakes. Also forth instead of fourth.......quite basic errors that should have been spotted.
The Red Run of the title was only mentioned or referred to twice. As I say, not really what I expected reading the brief synopsis of the story. It turned into a story more about the father, really.
It was quite well written with a few mistakes, though. There were spaces in words that needn't be for some reason-like in god damned or light weight. Then quite was used where it should have been quiet and bizarrely bakes as opposed to brakes. Also forth instead of fourth.......quite basic errors that should have been spotted.
The Red Run of the title was only mentioned or referred to twice. As I say, not really what I expected reading the brief synopsis of the story. It turned into a story more about the father, really.
May 31, 2014
A very good read but for me personally I did not like any of the characters. The main character of the book Ethan was frustrating and very difficult for me to have any sympathy or empathy for during the first half of the book. Graham, Ethan's son, is a typical and frustrating scared 17 year old and eventually I did come around to understanding his motivations along with Ethan and so by mid way through the story I grew to empathize and understand the characters and their motivations. Three way quarters through the book it became a cannot put down-page turner and then I began to understand the first half of the book and why things went the way they did. If you have stick-to-it-iveness to get to the heart and meet of a very real and deep story then you, dear reader, are definitely in for a teeth gritting and up and down ride.
April 10, 2014
I discovered Rob Cornell's work through Twitter first then, in time, bought a couple of his books. I think I started with the wrong one, however. Red Run certainly shows he can write - there is a real zip to his writing. And yet I found it really hard to engage with this book, and it's largely down to not finding characters that were likeable. The lead characters inhabit a world of violence and failure, abuse of substances or one another filling their past. In all of that, it's difficult to latch on to anyone as they try to unravel the mystery of the death of young Alison. There is an interesting twist later in the novel, and I'm sure I'll read more of Cornell's work - I just wish this hadn't been my first to try.
September 23, 2011
Good read! Red Run is a grim and dark thriller with real life, or should I say low life, characters. The dialogs are credible street language that might offend some readers.
Marketed as something for James Patterson fans, I would say the characters nor the story teller show any of Patterson's wit or intelligence. But I liked it: 3 stars.
Makes me curious for Rob Cornell's next book, however. I know he has written some vampire novels, which I'll skip. But I will keep an eye on his next thriller.
I got the book from smashwords.com for 2.99 as Amazon charges me nearly double being a European Kindle user.
Marketed as something for James Patterson fans, I would say the characters nor the story teller show any of Patterson's wit or intelligence. But I liked it: 3 stars.
Makes me curious for Rob Cornell's next book, however. I know he has written some vampire novels, which I'll skip. But I will keep an eye on his next thriller.
I got the book from smashwords.com for 2.99 as Amazon charges me nearly double being a European Kindle user.
April 22, 2013
I have enjoyed Rob Cornell's Lockman series, so I decided to explore some of his other works. Red Run was a different style than the Lockman books, more of a murder mystery set in Detroit where Ethan's (the main character) daughter Alison is found murdered, evidence points to his son Graham, and what Ethan is willing to do to save his son. I liked the overall direction of the story and it did not turn out as I had expected, making it an enjoyable read. There were some holes in it and questions unanswered, but not enough to keep me fromCornell's other works.
December 18, 2013
A very well written book. I was not sure who killed Ethan's daughter until the final page of the book. The language was 'descriptive', but it fit the book and the characters. The mechanics of good writing were fine. For readers who like a mixed genre, this is a perfect book. It was not wordy, did not stray off the plot (a minor miracle) and was entertaining in a macabre way.
Thank you, Mr. Cornell, for a good read.
Thank you, Mr. Cornell, for a good read.
July 27, 2013
3.5 stars. Rob Cornell is extremely talented, able to get into the minds and dysfunction of his characters and their relationships. Red Run is a mystery, but more than that, it's a profile of addiction and abusive relationships, the difficulty of breaking free, and the way patterns in relationships can pull you back in.
August 13, 2013
Even though I didn't really like the characters In this book, I couldn't put it down. I think this was because the characters were complex and well developed and the book was psychologically and emotionally believable. I figured out who the killer was halfway through, which was disappointing. I will read another book by this author but not right away. I have to shake this one off a little first.
December 12, 2013
I had a difficult time finishing this book, as it is much darker than is my taste. It is violent, at times macabre, and projects (to me) helplessness from every chapter.
First sentence
In some ways, Ethan Trent had waited years for the knock at his door.
Cornell, Rob (2013-03-12). Red Run (Kindle Locations 8-9). Paradox Publications. Kindle Edition.
First sentence
In some ways, Ethan Trent had waited years for the knock at his door.
Cornell, Rob (2013-03-12). Red Run (Kindle Locations 8-9). Paradox Publications. Kindle Edition.
July 26, 2016
Captivating
Thanks to a free download I picked up this eBook. Unexpectedly finding a well paced mystery thriller that kept me guessing up until the end how the smoothly set conflict would resolve.
I enjoyed thus very much and will likely pay for the pleasure of another intriguing read.
My review doesn't do the story justice, but I hate to be a spoiler of a good read.
Thanks to a free download I picked up this eBook. Unexpectedly finding a well paced mystery thriller that kept me guessing up until the end how the smoothly set conflict would resolve.
I enjoyed thus very much and will likely pay for the pleasure of another intriguing read.
My review doesn't do the story justice, but I hate to be a spoiler of a good read.
February 13, 2013
Pretty good for fans of Patterson, but not quite as masterful. It was weird to me that no one seemed to mourn the death that was the inciting incident, just jumped into solve it. This is fiction, after all. I did figure out the killer early on, go me.
March 17, 2013
The reviews made this book appear to be just my type. Unfortunately the comparisons were very wrong. The first 3/4 of the book draws out a less than interesting family. The main action comes in the very last part and can't save the book.
February 8, 2016
This book was OK. Story of Ethan and the death of his daughter. Then, dealing with proving the innocence of his son, who is implicated in her murder. Then, he deals with the shady characters of his past. Some of the things that happened were not believable.
June 5, 2012
Great mystery! I really liked how the author keeps you interested, but some parts I felt dragged on forever.
January 2, 2013
Easy and quick murder mystery. I read through it really quickly. I would read another from Rob Cornell.
December 28, 2012
Awful story but good writing. Didn't like all the colorful language.
January 7, 2013
The book ended up to be nothing like I thought it would. The author had the characters do some really dumb things but kept my interest, always wanted to see what was going to happen next
January 5, 2013
Good read. I often wanted to smack Ethan for being so danged stubborn but over all it was a good story
January 8, 2013
First book I've read by Rob Cornell but not my last. I really enjoyed this book and it kept my interest all the way through.
January 21, 2013
I skimmed a lot of this book. I just didn't care for the story line.
January 24, 2013
I was sucked in from the first page straight through the end. Very dramatic, page turner kind of book.
January 24, 2013
I really enjoyed this book.
April 16, 2013
I enjoyed reading this book. I was intrigued by the story and trying to figure out "whodunit".
Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews