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Redhead
A must-read for all redheads and their admirers as well as fans of thrillers, mythology and the supernatural.
Redheads have always attracted attention: desired, envied, pitied, ridiculed, even persecuted. Now the sacrifices begin…
In 1921, in the ruined city of Carthage near Tunis, a red-haired French archaeologist hears the cries of long-dead children as he stumbles upon a legendary sacrificial site. Shortly afterwards, he is viciously attacked by a hawk.
Back in present-day London, flame-haired journalist Rebecca Burns investigates strange and macabre events which seem to be directed against redheads worldwide. Together with young astrophysicist Dr Jim Cavendish and Professor Larry Burton, an authority on ancient civilisations, she is drawn into an age-old feud…a feud that threatens the very existence of redheads everywhere.
Redheads have always attracted attention: desired, envied, pitied, ridiculed, even persecuted. Now the sacrifices begin…
In 1921, in the ruined city of Carthage near Tunis, a red-haired French archaeologist hears the cries of long-dead children as he stumbles upon a legendary sacrificial site. Shortly afterwards, he is viciously attacked by a hawk.
Back in present-day London, flame-haired journalist Rebecca Burns investigates strange and macabre events which seem to be directed against redheads worldwide. Together with young astrophysicist Dr Jim Cavendish and Professor Larry Burton, an authority on ancient civilisations, she is drawn into an age-old feud…a feud that threatens the very existence of redheads everywhere.
360 pages, Paperback
First published December 20, 2011
2 people are currently reading
5333 people want to read
About the author
Ian Cook
4 books65 followersIan Cook was born in Devon in the UK, grew up in Hertfordshire and took a degree in agriculture at the University of Reading. During his subsequent worldwide travels, he became intrigued by the apparent universal mythology associated with red hair and acquired more knowledge about the subject than is strictly necessary for everyday social purposes. This resulted in his first novel, 'Redhead'. He lives in London with his wife, Maggie Burr, an ex-Fleet Street journalist.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 59 reviews
January 20, 2013
(I received this book for free as part of Goodreads First-reads giveaway).
So... the past few weeks, I went slightly crazy on the entering giveaways thing. Redhead was one that I glanced over and was a little unsure about, originally having the impression that it would be something akin to the film Legally Blonde. In the end, I entered the giveaway, figuring that the blurb looked interesting and I liked the image on the front cover.
Often, with a book, it's the first page or so that makes or breaks it for me. I've read a lot of mediocre books on my Kindle (or started, anyway) and a few particularly bad ones. The good ones are always over too quickly and although I enjoy re-reading books, there's something about reading a good book for the first time; the gradual build-up of tension... the not-knowing if the characters are going to survive. Inevitably, towards the end of a good book, I start reading faster, neglecting other things because I want to know if the characters are going to survive or not.
Redhead was one of those books. I found the characters engaging and interesting and it was clear that a lot of research had gone into writing this book, without creating an info-dump. I found it easier to suspend my disbelief and got really into this book. The explanation for everything actually made sense and worked really well.
I probably should have been expecting the violence. Since I have a vivid imagination, there was one scene that succeeded in making me feel sick (think Hitchcock's The Birds). I actually had to pause reading for a few minutes to get those images out of my mind. But even so, it was all very well-written and, ultimately, I'd say it's probably become one of my favourite books.
I will say that there were a couple of POV switches that confused me temporarily, since they were next-paragraph ones rather than next-scene or next-chapter. It wasn't enough to detract me from the story, but I did notice them.
I'd be interested to read a sequel to this book. Although the story is self-contained, I think I'd like to see the aftermath of everything that happened.
SPOILERS. After all, people basically turned against neighbours and family. I'm a particular fan of angst and an even bigger one of characters dealing with guilt in stories. And I know that if I woke up from something like that, there'd be a whole lot of aftermath to deal with. END SPOILERS.
So, to sum up... the book was incredible and I enjoyed reading it a lot. I'm glad I won it on the giveaways, because I might not have bought it from a shop or Amazon and then I would have missed out.
So... the past few weeks, I went slightly crazy on the entering giveaways thing. Redhead was one that I glanced over and was a little unsure about, originally having the impression that it would be something akin to the film Legally Blonde. In the end, I entered the giveaway, figuring that the blurb looked interesting and I liked the image on the front cover.
Often, with a book, it's the first page or so that makes or breaks it for me. I've read a lot of mediocre books on my Kindle (or started, anyway) and a few particularly bad ones. The good ones are always over too quickly and although I enjoy re-reading books, there's something about reading a good book for the first time; the gradual build-up of tension... the not-knowing if the characters are going to survive. Inevitably, towards the end of a good book, I start reading faster, neglecting other things because I want to know if the characters are going to survive or not.
Redhead was one of those books. I found the characters engaging and interesting and it was clear that a lot of research had gone into writing this book, without creating an info-dump. I found it easier to suspend my disbelief and got really into this book. The explanation for everything actually made sense and worked really well.
I probably should have been expecting the violence. Since I have a vivid imagination, there was one scene that succeeded in making me feel sick (think Hitchcock's The Birds). I actually had to pause reading for a few minutes to get those images out of my mind. But even so, it was all very well-written and, ultimately, I'd say it's probably become one of my favourite books.
I will say that there were a couple of POV switches that confused me temporarily, since they were next-paragraph ones rather than next-scene or next-chapter. It wasn't enough to detract me from the story, but I did notice them.
I'd be interested to read a sequel to this book. Although the story is self-contained, I think I'd like to see the aftermath of everything that happened.
SPOILERS. After all, people basically turned against neighbours and family. I'm a particular fan of angst and an even bigger one of characters dealing with guilt in stories. And I know that if I woke up from something like that, there'd be a whole lot of aftermath to deal with. END SPOILERS.
So, to sum up... the book was incredible and I enjoyed reading it a lot. I'm glad I won it on the giveaways, because I might not have bought it from a shop or Amazon and then I would have missed out.
July 18, 2012
I received this book for free through the Goodreads First Reads program.
Oh wow, where do I start? I loved, loved, loved this book! When I first read about it, I was a bit skeptical as it's not normally something I would read, but it's about redheads and my son is a redhead. Plus, I have a lot of family members with red hair, so I thought I'd give it a go.
I am so happy that I decided to read it. It is fast paced and has a very interesting story line. In fact, I would say it's one of the most original story lines I have ever read. There is a lot of mythology in the book about redheads which I also found very interesting.
I loved Rebecca's character and hated Neferatu which shows how good the characters are written. I did find the characters of Jim and Syreeta a bit annoying though.
However, this is definitely a book that deserves 5 out of 5 stars. If there were to be a sequel, I'd definitely buy it and read it as soon as.
A really fantastic read =D
Oh wow, where do I start? I loved, loved, loved this book! When I first read about it, I was a bit skeptical as it's not normally something I would read, but it's about redheads and my son is a redhead. Plus, I have a lot of family members with red hair, so I thought I'd give it a go.
I am so happy that I decided to read it. It is fast paced and has a very interesting story line. In fact, I would say it's one of the most original story lines I have ever read. There is a lot of mythology in the book about redheads which I also found very interesting.
I loved Rebecca's character and hated Neferatu which shows how good the characters are written. I did find the characters of Jim and Syreeta a bit annoying though.
However, this is definitely a book that deserves 5 out of 5 stars. If there were to be a sequel, I'd definitely buy it and read it as soon as.
A really fantastic read =D
July 20, 2012
Blazing red...
This fictional novel was something that stood out a mile with not only its somewhat cliché title and striking cover, but also with the most inspired and creative storyline that captured my imagination. Just as redheads attract attention for being distinctively unique so too does this book, being a character-driven tale that is highly memorable. All the characters that the story focuses on have red hair, which is ironic as it leads to something much deeper regarding those individuals who are this particular coloring and how they are deeply connected. Journalist Rebecca is a fiery, sprightly and determined individual whom I was able to relate to and empathize with easily, as you are taken along her journey of discovery and into the unknown. Traveling across the world from the stifling heat in Africa to wet, damp Scotland along with the character one is drawn into past history and an old feud which is much more serious than initially meets the eye. This gripping tale is both captivating and interesting, with a most original and inventive storyline that I found most intriguing. Being fast-paced and full of action and drama from page one, I was swept along the most exciting rollercoaster of a ride into a dense plot that was thrilling. A lot of the settings within the story were real places and the use of this made it even more believable, hence I could clearly picture in my mind the surroundings and the atmosphere of each different environment.
I fell in love with each individual character and their stories, thus I felt a more intimate and personal connection to this unfolding story being more than just a fictitious read but rather something much more authentic. The ending was absolutely perfect which left a beautiful and colorful picture in your mind, making it a memorable end to a remarkable voyage. I have high praise for Ian Cook who has created something highly distinctive that cannot be compared to another work of fiction, which has the most absorbing storyline that is very readable. I loved how his characters connected; making a timeline that was a labyrinth of individuals who were entwined within a vast web built from the past. It’s a mixture of the foreign mafia with your family tree at the centre, and one which really highlights genetics but also those whom we love and our relationships with others. This is a novel that you will become lost within and which I highly recommend as a great summer read for this year, being ultimately new and a stand alone piece of work to treasure. I loved the authors enthralling plot and how easy it was for me and quickly to become lost within this saga, of much depth and interest that reminded me of an ongoing ‘Forsyth Saga’ but on an entirely deeper and spine chilling scale with the added danger. This modern read stands proudly on the top of the shelf, as just a great book by an accomplished and outstanding author. A first-reads giveaway from ‘Goodreads’ that I have been extremely privileged to have read.
This fictional novel was something that stood out a mile with not only its somewhat cliché title and striking cover, but also with the most inspired and creative storyline that captured my imagination. Just as redheads attract attention for being distinctively unique so too does this book, being a character-driven tale that is highly memorable. All the characters that the story focuses on have red hair, which is ironic as it leads to something much deeper regarding those individuals who are this particular coloring and how they are deeply connected. Journalist Rebecca is a fiery, sprightly and determined individual whom I was able to relate to and empathize with easily, as you are taken along her journey of discovery and into the unknown. Traveling across the world from the stifling heat in Africa to wet, damp Scotland along with the character one is drawn into past history and an old feud which is much more serious than initially meets the eye. This gripping tale is both captivating and interesting, with a most original and inventive storyline that I found most intriguing. Being fast-paced and full of action and drama from page one, I was swept along the most exciting rollercoaster of a ride into a dense plot that was thrilling. A lot of the settings within the story were real places and the use of this made it even more believable, hence I could clearly picture in my mind the surroundings and the atmosphere of each different environment.
I fell in love with each individual character and their stories, thus I felt a more intimate and personal connection to this unfolding story being more than just a fictitious read but rather something much more authentic. The ending was absolutely perfect which left a beautiful and colorful picture in your mind, making it a memorable end to a remarkable voyage. I have high praise for Ian Cook who has created something highly distinctive that cannot be compared to another work of fiction, which has the most absorbing storyline that is very readable. I loved how his characters connected; making a timeline that was a labyrinth of individuals who were entwined within a vast web built from the past. It’s a mixture of the foreign mafia with your family tree at the centre, and one which really highlights genetics but also those whom we love and our relationships with others. This is a novel that you will become lost within and which I highly recommend as a great summer read for this year, being ultimately new and a stand alone piece of work to treasure. I loved the authors enthralling plot and how easy it was for me and quickly to become lost within this saga, of much depth and interest that reminded me of an ongoing ‘Forsyth Saga’ but on an entirely deeper and spine chilling scale with the added danger. This modern read stands proudly on the top of the shelf, as just a great book by an accomplished and outstanding author. A first-reads giveaway from ‘Goodreads’ that I have been extremely privileged to have read.
August 2, 2012
I won this signed book through bookreads, at first when I decided to enter the giveaway I was attracted more by the cover than by the book review (I do pick my books by their covers, if the cover is not appealing to me then I won't read it, even when everyone believes is a great book).
This is a good book, is not going to be a great classic, but is an easy read, nicely written and the details of the scenery are nicely describe.
At the beginning I was really excited about the characters and the plot. At some points they are some details that seems a bit random however they are written in such way that you need to keep reading the book to find out what they meant and how this details affect the principal characters.
I must confess that by the middle I wasn't having a good time reading about Rebecca, and her relationship with Jim. But this is due to my animadversion to the damsel in distress role, than to the book itself, actually I can acknowledge how great it is, and how Rebecca needed to be like that, and how this romance plot between her and Jim was needed to make the twist of the story more interesting and appealing to the reader.
It's a good read, easy, page turner and well written :).
I like it, and I'm happy to be able to say that my copy is signed by Ian Cook :D.
This is a good book, is not going to be a great classic, but is an easy read, nicely written and the details of the scenery are nicely describe.
At the beginning I was really excited about the characters and the plot. At some points they are some details that seems a bit random however they are written in such way that you need to keep reading the book to find out what they meant and how this details affect the principal characters.
I must confess that by the middle I wasn't having a good time reading about Rebecca, and her relationship with Jim. But this is due to my animadversion to the damsel in distress role, than to the book itself, actually I can acknowledge how great it is, and how Rebecca needed to be like that, and how this romance plot between her and Jim was needed to make the twist of the story more interesting and appealing to the reader.
It's a good read, easy, page turner and well written :).
I like it, and I'm happy to be able to say that my copy is signed by Ian Cook :D.
Want to read
June 11, 2012sounds good can't wait to read
March 2, 2013
I found this to be a well written and interesting book. The plot was amazing and I loved the way the story played out.
December 4, 2018
Mediocre at best, painful at worst. I was a little surprised how unedited the book felt, until I checked the publishing company and it was actually a self-published book. Well, kudos for getting published in a nice format!
Annoyingly this wasn’t really what I was looking for in a book. I expected a crime novel, and ended up with a bit of a strange crime/thriller/supernatural mishmash that was eventually just didn’t scratch any of those itches. There was certainly a heavy hand of plot, but the characters were lacking because of the constant changing locations, plot ideas and heavy hand of historical info dump. If I was supposed to sympathise with anyone, I’m not sure who it was supposed to be; they were all rather caricatured, with particularly vile characteristics that appeared every so often and made them quite unsympathetic. The dialogue was particularly clunky and downright ridiculous at points- as were elements of the plot, particularly at the mind-boggling ending.
Guess at least I read it quickly...
Annoyingly this wasn’t really what I was looking for in a book. I expected a crime novel, and ended up with a bit of a strange crime/thriller/supernatural mishmash that was eventually just didn’t scratch any of those itches. There was certainly a heavy hand of plot, but the characters were lacking because of the constant changing locations, plot ideas and heavy hand of historical info dump. If I was supposed to sympathise with anyone, I’m not sure who it was supposed to be; they were all rather caricatured, with particularly vile characteristics that appeared every so often and made them quite unsympathetic. The dialogue was particularly clunky and downright ridiculous at points- as were elements of the plot, particularly at the mind-boggling ending.
Guess at least I read it quickly...
September 22, 2024
What a wonderfully written book! I loved how the author set an exciting pace and atmosphere making you feel like you were right there with the characters. An exciting read of an old feud between Egyptian gods.
A must read if you are intrigued by folk lore, archeology and mystic forces! And if you’re a red head you may find this book especially enlightening. Ten out of ten for me!
A must read if you are intrigued by folk lore, archeology and mystic forces! And if you’re a red head you may find this book especially enlightening. Ten out of ten for me!
August 11, 2017
I'm a redhead who loves thrillers and the supernatural... this book sounds really interesting to me! So I hope to win and have the opportunity to read it :D
September 10, 2014
Review to come when I've had a bit more time to collate my thoughts and feelings and right a review that actually sums up the awesomeness that was Redhead.
.....................................................................................................
I received this as a Goodreads First-Read.
Ok well I've given it some time to settle and I still think wow. Yes at some points this book did seem to have not a lot happening but I think that's because it had so many facts and so much data to give the reader so that the ending would have the full punch that it delivered. I can't remember what I originally expected but I think I expected a slightly gruesome murder mystery, but I was pleasantly surprised when I found out that it included fantasy aspects of Egyptian Mythology as well.
I must praise Ian Cook at this point for his amazingly beautiful and fluent writing style as without it I don't think I would have made it through the long descriptive chapters, but I found myself flying through the pages once I got into the story. Thanks to Ian Cook I have extended my list of places I want to someday visit (thanks to his descriptions and historical facts of Orkney, Easter Island, and Egypt)!
“Redheads have always attracted attention – desired, envied, pitied, ridiculed, even persecuted. Now the sacrifices begin.” The book focuses on now although it does sprinkle in small snippets of the past. Redheads become the target of hate crimes after the occurrence of a shift in our magnetic field. Apparently 30,000 years ago the North and South pole switched for a short period before reverting to their original positions, and its about to happen again, causing many catastrophic problems from environmental to cognitive disturbances in humans. I found it really interesting how Ian Cook had linked this with the idea of Egyptian Sun Worshippers and other cult extremes to create a very intriguing story.
Redhead was full of well developed characters. Rebecca Burns (the lead with red hair) was really easy to connect with her. She was joined by a sort of love interest in the young and loveable Jim who was effected by the magnetic changes in the atmosphere (although I think his mood swings could have been exaggerated a bit more to really highlight the idea that the changing of the poles was causing effects in humans, and Larry was a good addition. And I really didn’t get how anyone could like Nefurato at all as even at the beginning he seemed really creepy.
I just loved the whole book really. And, while not wanting to sound like a sadist, the gruesome bits were deliciously gory! One just to creep you out 'When she opened her eyes again, she began to vomit uncontrollably. The priest was holding up the heart of Senor Nata. It was still pumping blood.'
Brilliant. Thanks so much Ian Cook and Goodreads for giving me the opportunity to read this book!
.....................................................................................................
I received this as a Goodreads First-Read.
Ok well I've given it some time to settle and I still think wow. Yes at some points this book did seem to have not a lot happening but I think that's because it had so many facts and so much data to give the reader so that the ending would have the full punch that it delivered. I can't remember what I originally expected but I think I expected a slightly gruesome murder mystery, but I was pleasantly surprised when I found out that it included fantasy aspects of Egyptian Mythology as well.
I must praise Ian Cook at this point for his amazingly beautiful and fluent writing style as without it I don't think I would have made it through the long descriptive chapters, but I found myself flying through the pages once I got into the story. Thanks to Ian Cook I have extended my list of places I want to someday visit (thanks to his descriptions and historical facts of Orkney, Easter Island, and Egypt)!
“Redheads have always attracted attention – desired, envied, pitied, ridiculed, even persecuted. Now the sacrifices begin.” The book focuses on now although it does sprinkle in small snippets of the past. Redheads become the target of hate crimes after the occurrence of a shift in our magnetic field. Apparently 30,000 years ago the North and South pole switched for a short period before reverting to their original positions, and its about to happen again, causing many catastrophic problems from environmental to cognitive disturbances in humans. I found it really interesting how Ian Cook had linked this with the idea of Egyptian Sun Worshippers and other cult extremes to create a very intriguing story.
Redhead was full of well developed characters. Rebecca Burns (the lead with red hair) was really easy to connect with her. She was joined by a sort of love interest in the young and loveable Jim who was effected by the magnetic changes in the atmosphere (although I think his mood swings could have been exaggerated a bit more to really highlight the idea that the changing of the poles was causing effects in humans, and Larry was a good addition. And I really didn’t get how anyone could like Nefurato at all as even at the beginning he seemed really creepy.
I just loved the whole book really. And, while not wanting to sound like a sadist, the gruesome bits were deliciously gory! One just to creep you out 'When she opened her eyes again, she began to vomit uncontrollably. The priest was holding up the heart of Senor Nata. It was still pumping blood.'
Brilliant. Thanks so much Ian Cook and Goodreads for giving me the opportunity to read this book!
August 8, 2012
I received this book for free through Goodreads First Reads some time ago. I took it on holiday with me and, during that time, my house flooded. Luckily, the book was with me, and I had actually finished it, but as my life was set off kilter more than a little I have only just found time to review it, based on notes I took at the time.
The first thing to say about this book is that the cover is truly stunning. We all know the whole ‘don’t judge a book’ adage and, although I am into the visual arts, book covers rarely cause me to pause as we all know the real magic is inside. However, I would definitely say that it’s worth buying the physical copy of this novel over the kindle just to appreciate the cover and add to the reading experience.
Okay, now I’ll get to the important bits.
To start with, I really was not sure what to think of this book. The idea of basing something around the colour of someone’s hair, especially when combined with the idea of “sacrifices”, as mentioned in the description, seemed like it could easily end up overly dramatic at best, farcical at worse. I hold my hands up; I was wrong. This is one of the better books I have read, and probably one of my top books of 2012 (which is when I actually read it).
I think one of the best aspects of the novel , for me, was the way in which different traditions and mythologies were merged and combined to support and contrast one another. This also links to the way in which so many different settings were developed in different countries and times. Somehow Ian Cook managed to develop a detailed mythical aspect to our world - including real mythologies, cultures, and histories – tells a darn good story, and doesn’t confuse the reader along the way!
The characters were fantastic. All too often authors draw upon stock character traits when they have given this much thought and research to plot and setting. This wasn’t the case in this novel. Each character was developed and had an individual personality and, more often than not, a detailed history that was revealed. It made it very easy to relate to, and root for, the protagonists which, naturally, added a lot to the story itself.
The writing style itself was something quite special. Although I tend to read books quite quickly naturally, it’s rare that I get almost obsessed with continuing to read a book yet dread the end because it simply cannot be allowed to end!
I would definitely recommend this book, and have done. On a more selfish level, I cannot wait to read more by Ian Cook!
The first thing to say about this book is that the cover is truly stunning. We all know the whole ‘don’t judge a book’ adage and, although I am into the visual arts, book covers rarely cause me to pause as we all know the real magic is inside. However, I would definitely say that it’s worth buying the physical copy of this novel over the kindle just to appreciate the cover and add to the reading experience.
Okay, now I’ll get to the important bits.
To start with, I really was not sure what to think of this book. The idea of basing something around the colour of someone’s hair, especially when combined with the idea of “sacrifices”, as mentioned in the description, seemed like it could easily end up overly dramatic at best, farcical at worse. I hold my hands up; I was wrong. This is one of the better books I have read, and probably one of my top books of 2012 (which is when I actually read it).
I think one of the best aspects of the novel , for me, was the way in which different traditions and mythologies were merged and combined to support and contrast one another. This also links to the way in which so many different settings were developed in different countries and times. Somehow Ian Cook managed to develop a detailed mythical aspect to our world - including real mythologies, cultures, and histories – tells a darn good story, and doesn’t confuse the reader along the way!
The characters were fantastic. All too often authors draw upon stock character traits when they have given this much thought and research to plot and setting. This wasn’t the case in this novel. Each character was developed and had an individual personality and, more often than not, a detailed history that was revealed. It made it very easy to relate to, and root for, the protagonists which, naturally, added a lot to the story itself.
The writing style itself was something quite special. Although I tend to read books quite quickly naturally, it’s rare that I get almost obsessed with continuing to read a book yet dread the end because it simply cannot be allowed to end!
I would definitely recommend this book, and have done. On a more selfish level, I cannot wait to read more by Ian Cook!
November 20, 2012
Wow. I don't know where to start. I was over the moon when I won a signed copy of Redhead. It felt so personal with the enclosed postcard.
The cover of the book is so eye catching and inviting. Very mythical and just hinting at things to come.
The first chapter takes you back in time and I got straight in to the story from the first page. It actually gave me goosebumps and I felt part of the story.
I couldn't wait to move on and see how things developed.
The short chapters were ideal for me as I don't get an awful lot of time for reading these days with running after a lively toddler.
Normally I would have finished it in a few days but the short chapters allowed me to pick it up and get straight back in to the adventure without having to re-read the same page over and over.
Rebecca and Larry were very likeable characters and I would love to have learned more about the deaths of Rebecca's parents and Larry's wife and daughter.
I kept thinking this might have been connected in some way.
I disliked Jim for most of the book as he struggled with his feelings for Rebecca. Larry seemed a lot more sensitive to what she was going through.
I enjoyed reading about all the different locations and was able to picture everything. Even the history and mythology was well researched and left you wanting to learn more.
As I was reading on I kept thinking that this would make a great movie. Hopefully one day we'll be able to watch it on our screens.
The book had many gruesome parts. Some of what happened was slightly predictable in my opinion, like the bloodline and Neferatu's actions. Nonetheless unputdownable!
I hate finishing books when they become part of you.
I would love to read more about what happens next. How does everybody deal with what happens.
Great read. Not just for redheads. I hope this isn't Ian's last book.
The cover of the book is so eye catching and inviting. Very mythical and just hinting at things to come.
The first chapter takes you back in time and I got straight in to the story from the first page. It actually gave me goosebumps and I felt part of the story.
I couldn't wait to move on and see how things developed.
The short chapters were ideal for me as I don't get an awful lot of time for reading these days with running after a lively toddler.
Normally I would have finished it in a few days but the short chapters allowed me to pick it up and get straight back in to the adventure without having to re-read the same page over and over.
Rebecca and Larry were very likeable characters and I would love to have learned more about the deaths of Rebecca's parents and Larry's wife and daughter.
I kept thinking this might have been connected in some way.
I disliked Jim for most of the book as he struggled with his feelings for Rebecca. Larry seemed a lot more sensitive to what she was going through.
I enjoyed reading about all the different locations and was able to picture everything. Even the history and mythology was well researched and left you wanting to learn more.
As I was reading on I kept thinking that this would make a great movie. Hopefully one day we'll be able to watch it on our screens.
The book had many gruesome parts. Some of what happened was slightly predictable in my opinion, like the bloodline and Neferatu's actions. Nonetheless unputdownable!
I hate finishing books when they become part of you.
I would love to read more about what happens next. How does everybody deal with what happens.
Great read. Not just for redheads. I hope this isn't Ian's last book.
September 15, 2013
Ian Cook's Redhead was an interesting concept, with a storyline I overall enjoyed. Being an archaeology graduate, I was particularly interested in the history and sites that are presented in the novel. Most of the topics dealt with weren't what I majored in, so I'm not sure how accurate the history/interpretation was throughout, but I certainly liked reading it.
Many of the settings of the novel are places I've long wanted to visit, so it was almost like reading a travelogue, or something along that line. Much of the story takes place in Scotland, however, which I have visited, and I feel Cook could have done a lot more with respect to building the setting and atmosphere just by utilizing the natural environment, which is very atmospheric in and of itself - but I didn't experience any of that through the reading of this book. The majority of the Scottish setting was in Orkney, though, which I haven't yet had the pleasure of visiting, but I hardly doubt those islands are less picturesque than the mainland.
With respect to the edition that I read, I did read this on my Kindle. The readability of the book, I think, suffered to some extent, in that quite often the paragraph structure was off. Improper use of quotation marks was frequent, as well as improper structure in relation to conversation. Multiple people speaking within the same paragraph happened a lot. For example:
"Blah blah blah," said Rebecca. "Blah blah blah."
The second set of quotation marks was often not spoken by Rebecca. I therefore had to reread many passages, since it was often unclear who was actually speaking. That was frustrating. Hopefully this was just a result of a quick (yet somewhat careless) adaptation from book to digital form, and perhaps future versions, and book copies, will be better.
Many of the settings of the novel are places I've long wanted to visit, so it was almost like reading a travelogue, or something along that line. Much of the story takes place in Scotland, however, which I have visited, and I feel Cook could have done a lot more with respect to building the setting and atmosphere just by utilizing the natural environment, which is very atmospheric in and of itself - but I didn't experience any of that through the reading of this book. The majority of the Scottish setting was in Orkney, though, which I haven't yet had the pleasure of visiting, but I hardly doubt those islands are less picturesque than the mainland.
With respect to the edition that I read, I did read this on my Kindle. The readability of the book, I think, suffered to some extent, in that quite often the paragraph structure was off. Improper use of quotation marks was frequent, as well as improper structure in relation to conversation. Multiple people speaking within the same paragraph happened a lot. For example:
"Blah blah blah," said Rebecca. "Blah blah blah."
The second set of quotation marks was often not spoken by Rebecca. I therefore had to reread many passages, since it was often unclear who was actually speaking. That was frustrating. Hopefully this was just a result of a quick (yet somewhat careless) adaptation from book to digital form, and perhaps future versions, and book copies, will be better.
September 5, 2012
I was very lucky to receive this signed copy from the author on "First Reads"...
This book was awesome! I don't think I have come across this kind of plot line. Mr Cook has woven a completely unique/original tale in Redhead.
It gives extraordinary detail about the myths across the globe surrounding redheads; with a wonderful slice of horror and adventure on the side. The mythological characters are brought to life within the pages.
The story is fast paced with short chapters that really work and keep it moving. The style is descriptive but not overly, so you don't feel that your wading through miles of description, yet the author still manages to place you in the scene and moment. This works very well with some of the chilling scenes/action.
The characters are well developed; including the sly Dr Neferatu who you distrust in a matter of seconds of him appearing (rightfully so - he's evil...)
Rebecca is fiery, determined and brave. I really liked her. Jim's character worked as the blossoming romance and the sceptical scientist but, my favourite character had to be Jim's friend Prof. Larry Burton. He was written as a warm, clever and open minded character.
There are so many wonderful elements to the book; I would say there was some predictability within the story, but this is handled very well by the author and conclusions were satisfying.
I am so glad to have won this copy, as I don't know if I would have come across it otherwise. The whole package was a great read; very interesting and a unique plot.
Would recommend to fans of mythology and adventure.
This book was awesome! I don't think I have come across this kind of plot line. Mr Cook has woven a completely unique/original tale in Redhead.
It gives extraordinary detail about the myths across the globe surrounding redheads; with a wonderful slice of horror and adventure on the side. The mythological characters are brought to life within the pages.
The story is fast paced with short chapters that really work and keep it moving. The style is descriptive but not overly, so you don't feel that your wading through miles of description, yet the author still manages to place you in the scene and moment. This works very well with some of the chilling scenes/action.
The characters are well developed; including the sly Dr Neferatu who you distrust in a matter of seconds of him appearing (rightfully so - he's evil...)
Rebecca is fiery, determined and brave. I really liked her. Jim's character worked as the blossoming romance and the sceptical scientist but, my favourite character had to be Jim's friend Prof. Larry Burton. He was written as a warm, clever and open minded character.
There are so many wonderful elements to the book; I would say there was some predictability within the story, but this is handled very well by the author and conclusions were satisfying.
I am so glad to have won this copy, as I don't know if I would have come across it otherwise. The whole package was a great read; very interesting and a unique plot.
Would recommend to fans of mythology and adventure.
January 24, 2013
i recieved this book via a goodreads giveway a couple of months ago but have only recently had chance to finish it.
I am not a "redhead" myself but it was the title that first drew me to enter the giveway as i was couragous as to its contents.
I have to say it is not at all what i expected it to be (in a good way). i enjoyed it more then i thought i would have whilst it provided me with a new and different type of read than i've read before.
The characters were realistic and rarely self-centered, like many books seem to be lately. Of course there were main characters that the plot and story evolved around but i mean they weren't self-centered as in they didn't always think of themselves as being the most important.
The plot was imaginative and the writing was good, especially towards the ending of the book.
one of the only disadvantages i have about the book would that the beginning did seem abit slow compared to the pace of the rest of the book but apart from that there weren't really any other disadvantages.
the author should be proud of his work and take great satisfation that his book has been an instant hit (with me anyway).
(more review to come at a later date, don't have enough time now sorry)
want my opinion on anything feel free to ask :) xx
I am not a "redhead" myself but it was the title that first drew me to enter the giveway as i was couragous as to its contents.
I have to say it is not at all what i expected it to be (in a good way). i enjoyed it more then i thought i would have whilst it provided me with a new and different type of read than i've read before.
The characters were realistic and rarely self-centered, like many books seem to be lately. Of course there were main characters that the plot and story evolved around but i mean they weren't self-centered as in they didn't always think of themselves as being the most important.
The plot was imaginative and the writing was good, especially towards the ending of the book.
one of the only disadvantages i have about the book would that the beginning did seem abit slow compared to the pace of the rest of the book but apart from that there weren't really any other disadvantages.
the author should be proud of his work and take great satisfation that his book has been an instant hit (with me anyway).
(more review to come at a later date, don't have enough time now sorry)
want my opinion on anything feel free to ask :) xx
August 28, 2012
Having recieved this as a giveaway copy the first thing that struck me was the personalised postcard that came with it, a great bookmark if I do say but also the fact that the author himself had taken the effort to make each book more personal was lovely.
I drifted in and out of this story in all honesty due to work and the like but did find it a really nice easy read that I could leave for a bit and still pick up where I left off without trouble.
The book got stuck straight into the story which was great for me as I hate dawdling about with pointless info that doesn't even come into the plot however I did feel some areas could have used a bit more expansion but that's not to say that the book wasn't very well thought out and linked. It seemed more realistic than some science fiction books which in my opinion is what makes them interesting, the possibility that something someone is writing about could actually happen,not all of it but enough
There were a couple of things left unexplained although I feel that was the authors intention to give the reader that extra bit of mystery and the chance to fill in the blanks for yourself.
All in all I did really enjoy the book and can safely give it 4 stars, will be looking out for any books by this author in the future.
I drifted in and out of this story in all honesty due to work and the like but did find it a really nice easy read that I could leave for a bit and still pick up where I left off without trouble.
The book got stuck straight into the story which was great for me as I hate dawdling about with pointless info that doesn't even come into the plot however I did feel some areas could have used a bit more expansion but that's not to say that the book wasn't very well thought out and linked. It seemed more realistic than some science fiction books which in my opinion is what makes them interesting, the possibility that something someone is writing about could actually happen,not all of it but enough
There were a couple of things left unexplained although I feel that was the authors intention to give the reader that extra bit of mystery and the chance to fill in the blanks for yourself.
All in all I did really enjoy the book and can safely give it 4 stars, will be looking out for any books by this author in the future.
August 27, 2012
I received this as part of the Goodreads Giveaway, the cover itself made me really want to read it (even if we shouldn't judge a book by its cover) and the blurb even more so.
This is a really easy book to get into, the fast paced nature of it means you can read over a hundred pages and not even notice. I really liked the pacing and style of writing and felt it really suited the nature of the plot. I think this is definitely the books strongest point, this and the historical detail and influence. It definitely shows that the book was well researched.
The settings and descriptions were also a joy to read giving just enough that it is easy to envision the events and surroundings but enough that the story does not lose its pace or effect.
My only criticism would be that personally I found the protagonist to be slightly lacking especially compared to the plot, however other characters around her popped out of the book even if they did not have a large part to play- minor characters were distinguishable and recognisable which as a reader I really enjoyed and appreciated.
Overall this was a really enjoyable novel in a genre that I am not usually into, I would recommend to those who enjoy fast paced and well written novels with sci-fi/historical elements.
This is a really easy book to get into, the fast paced nature of it means you can read over a hundred pages and not even notice. I really liked the pacing and style of writing and felt it really suited the nature of the plot. I think this is definitely the books strongest point, this and the historical detail and influence. It definitely shows that the book was well researched.
The settings and descriptions were also a joy to read giving just enough that it is easy to envision the events and surroundings but enough that the story does not lose its pace or effect.
My only criticism would be that personally I found the protagonist to be slightly lacking especially compared to the plot, however other characters around her popped out of the book even if they did not have a large part to play- minor characters were distinguishable and recognisable which as a reader I really enjoyed and appreciated.
Overall this was a really enjoyable novel in a genre that I am not usually into, I would recommend to those who enjoy fast paced and well written novels with sci-fi/historical elements.
October 8, 2012
I received a signed copy of this book through Goodreads first reads. At first I wasn't going to bother the title 'Redhead' put me off but I read the details and realised this would be a book that if done right I could really enjoy.
And enjoy it I did. I would give the book a 4.5 if the system allowed. It is unusual for me to read a book so quickly but as I got into it instantly and was eager to find out what happened so picked it up every chance I had over a couple of days.
The first chapter, set in 1921, builds excitement right away and pulled me in. The rest of the book, back to the present day, sees some well designed characters and although they are all over the world very quickly the characters and their relationships develop nicely. This makes the story better as I felt like I got to know the characters well rather than the empty shell that happens quite often. The descriptions are great too and the scenes certainly came to life in my mind pulling me further into the book.
I would definitely recommend this book to anyone, even if they don't like sci-fi/horror genre I am sure they would still enjoy it.
And enjoy it I did. I would give the book a 4.5 if the system allowed. It is unusual for me to read a book so quickly but as I got into it instantly and was eager to find out what happened so picked it up every chance I had over a couple of days.
The first chapter, set in 1921, builds excitement right away and pulled me in. The rest of the book, back to the present day, sees some well designed characters and although they are all over the world very quickly the characters and their relationships develop nicely. This makes the story better as I felt like I got to know the characters well rather than the empty shell that happens quite often. The descriptions are great too and the scenes certainly came to life in my mind pulling me further into the book.
I would definitely recommend this book to anyone, even if they don't like sci-fi/horror genre I am sure they would still enjoy it.
January 26, 2013
SciFi is not really a genre that I read much, and although I have a willing suspension of disbelief, I found several plot elements to be implausible---but, more importantly, I found the character development shallow. I didn't really care about the characters. Rebecca, for all her supposed journalistic drive and supposed "heritage," was largely passive. The love interest was weak-souled, weak-hearted, weak-minded. The presence of the female friend/journalism colleague was convenient at best and seemed unnecessary at times. The character I found admirable didn't show up until near the end. In many respects, the narrative was well-constructed, and I think the book would have been a lot stronger if there was greater character development such that I cared about them---and if the "heroine" did something other than be bewildered and took some effective action that would make her admirable in some way.
March 26, 2013
First off, I read this in Kindle format. I mainly got this book just because of the title. I'm a redhead and this book sparked my interest. I have to say, it was well worth buying this book.
Rebecca is the main character and is redheaded. She reminds me of myself. Hardheaded, stubborn, independent and doesn't care what other people think are the characteristics we share.
I loved the plot. The author did a great job on the research needed to make the plot and myths of redheads come together.
I don't want to have spoilers in my review. (Which is very hard,)
I have many different feelings about all the characters in the story. You're gonna love, fear, hate and cheer for the characters in this book.The author developed the characters completely.
The only problem I had with this story was the ending. I was not satisfied.
I highly recommend this book for any redhead, thrillers, and mystery lovers.
Rebecca is the main character and is redheaded. She reminds me of myself. Hardheaded, stubborn, independent and doesn't care what other people think are the characteristics we share.
I loved the plot. The author did a great job on the research needed to make the plot and myths of redheads come together.
I don't want to have spoilers in my review. (Which is very hard,)
I have many different feelings about all the characters in the story. You're gonna love, fear, hate and cheer for the characters in this book.The author developed the characters completely.
The only problem I had with this story was the ending. I was not satisfied.
I highly recommend this book for any redhead, thrillers, and mystery lovers.
October 31, 2012
I was attracted to this title as a redhead myself. The writing was not only intelligent but imaginative - albeit occasionally pushing overboard the boundaries of stretching the imagination. Having said that it is clear the book is well-researched in terms of the mythology and legends related to redheads and threw up a lot of information that I was previously unaware of. Rebecca, the heroine, is a fiesty and fiery individual who has multiple facets and the male lead Jim makes a good counterpart, although I have to say I preferred Larry... At no time was I in a position to be able to work out what was going to happen next, the story being totally unpredictable. For me, the story had rather too much gore for my taste but nonetheless it worked within the context of the story. Shades of the holocaust maybe? An enjoyable read for blondes, brunettes and redheads...
July 28, 2012
I received a copy of this book through First Reads and I am so thrilled that I did as I loved it. I read it commuting to work and the 40 minute journies flew by. I nearly missed my stop a couple of times!
It does everything a thriller is supposed to do (and yes it does contain all the usual cliches) but it works brilliantly. Its pace is particular is wonderful with short chapters so that you always feel the story is moving. The writing style is fantastic and in particular its descriptive elements make you feel you are truly witnessing this unfolding story which the less you know about before you start reading the better.
All you need to know at the outset is if you love thrillers then this is the one for you and I highly recommend you read it.
It does everything a thriller is supposed to do (and yes it does contain all the usual cliches) but it works brilliantly. Its pace is particular is wonderful with short chapters so that you always feel the story is moving. The writing style is fantastic and in particular its descriptive elements make you feel you are truly witnessing this unfolding story which the less you know about before you start reading the better.
All you need to know at the outset is if you love thrillers then this is the one for you and I highly recommend you read it.
October 24, 2012
I received a free copy of this book through Goodreads First Reads.
Despite containing quite a substantial amnount of information about the legends associated with red hair, Redhead manages to be interesting and very readable. The short chapters make it an excellent choice for reading anytime you have a spare few minutes, and I didn't find it too disruptive of the overall flow.
One slight niggle I had was that, at times, the characters seemed frustratingly slow to pick up on what was happening. Also the romance subplot grew somewhat tiresome towards the latter part of the book, yet not enough to be a major annoyance.
Although I found it began to drag a little in the latter section, it did pick up again very quickly to build towards a fantastic ending. Overall, a great book!
Despite containing quite a substantial amnount of information about the legends associated with red hair, Redhead manages to be interesting and very readable. The short chapters make it an excellent choice for reading anytime you have a spare few minutes, and I didn't find it too disruptive of the overall flow.
One slight niggle I had was that, at times, the characters seemed frustratingly slow to pick up on what was happening. Also the romance subplot grew somewhat tiresome towards the latter part of the book, yet not enough to be a major annoyance.
Although I found it began to drag a little in the latter section, it did pick up again very quickly to build towards a fantastic ending. Overall, a great book!
December 12, 2012
This book wasn't what I was expecting. I am not sure why; I read the description and it was just as it was described – only way better.
In a world where books seem as if they are always about vampires and witches, this book delivered something completely out of that normal. But it was still able to enter into an “other world” that was totally unexpected. It was really refreshing.
It had a great story line with great characters to support it. Also, really important to my reading, it didn’t weigh me down with back story – it was just enough for me to understand the motivations but not enough to make me want to skip pages.
I have already recommended it to two of my friends.
In a world where books seem as if they are always about vampires and witches, this book delivered something completely out of that normal. But it was still able to enter into an “other world” that was totally unexpected. It was really refreshing.
It had a great story line with great characters to support it. Also, really important to my reading, it didn’t weigh me down with back story – it was just enough for me to understand the motivations but not enough to make me want to skip pages.
I have already recommended it to two of my friends.
January 7, 2013
This book started off kind of strange, in that I wasn't sure if the author was trying to be funny or serious about the plight of the red heads. Once I got that settled, the story started getting more enjoyable. The book starts off with Rebecca reflecting about her parents deaths and how she needs to get away and get over them. Then the story of a life time appears. Red heads start getting murdered and disappearing all over the world. As the story unfolds and Rebecca travels from location to location, the world starts getting wackier and wackier. I do like the twist of science in the whole story, not that it's really science fiction per say. Over all the story is very well written and a good roller coaster ride. I enjoyed it a lot.
August 28, 2012
I was sent this book from Goodreads. Originally it was one that I thought my daughter would enjoy reading, however my husband got hold of it first. I finished it in about 1 week. Found the first couple of chapters a bit confusing as there was a lot of information but the storyline soon moved along quite quickly. Loved the lead character Rebecca and wonder if we will be seeing more of her in the future. For those who like bloodthirsty murders-yep there is plenty of that. Also lots of interest in mythical creatures, gods etc. Also loved the descriptions of landscapes in Scotland. Glad I read it-and would definately recomend it to others!
August 17, 2012
I received this as a Goodreads first read.
I must admit, it did actually take me a couple of attempts to get started with this book, but once I got past the first couple of chapters I was hooked! The connections with the ancient Egyptian sun worshippers and integration into the other cults was extremely well linked as was the insinuation of redheads being connected to the moon worshippers and the forces of evil.
A very well written and gripping book. To be recommended to fans of historical fiction and those with an interest in Egyptian, Greek and Roman mythology.
A well deserved 5 stars.
I must admit, it did actually take me a couple of attempts to get started with this book, but once I got past the first couple of chapters I was hooked! The connections with the ancient Egyptian sun worshippers and integration into the other cults was extremely well linked as was the insinuation of redheads being connected to the moon worshippers and the forces of evil.
A very well written and gripping book. To be recommended to fans of historical fiction and those with an interest in Egyptian, Greek and Roman mythology.
A well deserved 5 stars.
April 25, 2016
Overall, this was okay. I liked the concept - historical figures travelling through the dimensions to defeat the red-heads they so hate - and I think the overall science behind it was probably true. But, it just wasn't done very well. Rebecca's relationship with her only friend - Syreeta - felt forced, so I felt like she was more of a loner than anything. The timelines didn't really add up, with some much international plane travel happening in short time frames. The prose was too full of adverbs that took me too out of what was happening. The characters were all fairly flat, and it was hard to be invested in any of them. So, overall, an okay 2 stars.
July 30, 2013
I received this book as a giveaway from Goodreads and it was a lucky find. The story is fast paced and exciting and I finished reading the novel in a short time as it kept me thoroughly entertained.
Ian Cook's writing still is to the point and matter of fact , which took me some time to get used to initially. I think the story would have benefited even more if the prose would have been a little bit more easy flowing and had used slightly longer sentences .
But that being said , Redhead is a great read and I will recommend it to my friends.I look forward to reading more from this author in the future.
Ian Cook's writing still is to the point and matter of fact , which took me some time to get used to initially. I think the story would have benefited even more if the prose would have been a little bit more easy flowing and had used slightly longer sentences .
But that being said , Redhead is a great read and I will recommend it to my friends.I look forward to reading more from this author in the future.
February 1, 2015
I honestly do not have a clue on how to review this book. But what I can say about it is that this book has been like pretty much all my experiences with redheads, that I've met in person. Start out friendly enough, calm, and easy going. And then it gets weird and yet I'm still fascinated. So best thing I can say about this book is that, if you've ever seen the Syfy channel and some of the over the top like movies on there. Where environmental changes occur that lead to people or animals in nature acting crazy. Then this is for sure THAT type of story. And truly you think you know where it will end, but couldn't be more wrong and yet so right too.
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