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The Earth Bleeds Red
Scott Miller has everything he’s ever hoped for. He has a successful marriage to Jessie, a stunningly beautiful, creative woman. His seventeen-year-old daughter, Ashley, is both gorgeous and intelligent, and has just been accepted to the University of Notre Dame, where Scott received his PhD. He has a comforting home in the woods, and a fulfilling career as a college professor at Oregon State University in Corvallis. He’s blissful, and at peace, until it all comes shattering down.
Ashley is kidnapped. The scene of the abduction is horrific and bloody, and the police are convinced she couldn’t have survived. They accuse her boyfriend, Brandon, of Ashley’s murder. He declares his innocence, and claims that a masked man who entered his house and overwhelmed them both took Ashley. No one believes Brandon.
Then the bodies of three other missing girls are discovered, all bearing the mark of a known serial killer the FBI has been hunting for years. Evidence mounts. As Special Agent James Duncan tracks the Hail Mary Killer, Scott and Jessie try to move on with their lives. But they can’t shake the feeling that Ashley may still be alive, and that the time for saving their only daughter is quickly running out.
In the best tradition of literature and suspense, Jackson Paul Baer has weaved a heartfelt tale of one family’s struggle to survive after a despicable evil wrenches them apart.
Ashley is kidnapped. The scene of the abduction is horrific and bloody, and the police are convinced she couldn’t have survived. They accuse her boyfriend, Brandon, of Ashley’s murder. He declares his innocence, and claims that a masked man who entered his house and overwhelmed them both took Ashley. No one believes Brandon.
Then the bodies of three other missing girls are discovered, all bearing the mark of a known serial killer the FBI has been hunting for years. Evidence mounts. As Special Agent James Duncan tracks the Hail Mary Killer, Scott and Jessie try to move on with their lives. But they can’t shake the feeling that Ashley may still be alive, and that the time for saving their only daughter is quickly running out.
In the best tradition of literature and suspense, Jackson Paul Baer has weaved a heartfelt tale of one family’s struggle to survive after a despicable evil wrenches them apart.
306 pages, Paperback
First published October 29, 2013
28 people are currently reading
2550 people want to read
About the author
Jackson Paul Baer
6 books145 followersI'm a professional thrifter, the father of four children, and an avid runner. I was born and raised in Georgia, and spent time in Oklahoma, California, Connecticut, and then Oregon, as an adult. I'm a graduate of Oregon State University and now reside in North Georgia, raising my family, near family.
My first book, The Earth Bleeds Red, was released in 2013. My second book, The Lights Will Never Fade, came out in Jan '18. I'm currently signed with Evolved Pub for my new contemporary fiction/suspense series, An American Family. Book one was released in Oct '18, and book two is coming on Nov 5th. Clouds Fall Like Fire, a stand-alone novel, is set to be released in March '19. All books are available as an ebook, paperback, and audiobook.
I'm a bit of a free spirit who enjoys working from home, traveling around, looking for treasures to share, and creating worlds that otherwise would not exist. Thrifting and writing are my two passions, and I'm fortunate to be able to do both.
www.JacksonBaer.com
www.twitter.com/JacksonPaulBaer
www.facebook.com/JacksonPaulBaer
www.goodreads.com/JacksonPaulBaer
My first book, The Earth Bleeds Red, was released in 2013. My second book, The Lights Will Never Fade, came out in Jan '18. I'm currently signed with Evolved Pub for my new contemporary fiction/suspense series, An American Family. Book one was released in Oct '18, and book two is coming on Nov 5th. Clouds Fall Like Fire, a stand-alone novel, is set to be released in March '19. All books are available as an ebook, paperback, and audiobook.
I'm a bit of a free spirit who enjoys working from home, traveling around, looking for treasures to share, and creating worlds that otherwise would not exist. Thrifting and writing are my two passions, and I'm fortunate to be able to do both.
www.JacksonBaer.com
www.twitter.com/JacksonPaulBaer
www.facebook.com/JacksonPaulBaer
www.goodreads.com/JacksonPaulBaer
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 87 reviews
May 5, 2018
I borrowed the book on Kindle Unlimited and read it from May 1 to May 2, 2018
This book was brought to my attention by the author from his review request. As soon as I saw the book cover, I thought it was maybe a fantasy read and I was hesitant to accept the request since I was looking for different genres from romance and fantasy at that time. But when I read the blurb and realised it was a thriller, I was hooked on the plot with the words "missing girls". There are few words which make me decide if I want to read a book or not. And any missing persons mentioned in the summary is enough to get me interested because I love mysteries!
The starting of the book is slow. I was expecting Ashley's kidnapping to be the starting point of the book. But I was mistaken. The first quarter of the book is spent on laying out the premise of the story. The family dynamics between Ashley and her parents are established right at the beginning. They get along very well unlike most other families. Ashley seems to treat her parents like her friends and her life is an open book for them. Ashley doesn't show the typical teenage behaviour which I found a bit odd. No one was that perfect or agreeable according to me.
When Ashley goes missing, Scottie and Jessie are shattered. They can't understand what was happening since their daughter didn't have any secrets. And from this part onwards, the pace of the story changed from sluggish to a turn the pages in a hurry quickness. I was so invested in the personal lives of Ashley and her family that I was glued to the book at all times and finished the book in a few hours.
The author has this way of getting me entangled in the emotions of the characters, be it Ashley or her parents. I seriously felt so bad for Jessie and Scottie during the hard times they face with Ashley's disappearance. They don't get any closure since her body isn't found and they go through the motions of life instead of living. The writing evoked strong feelings in me and had me breathing through the same scenes as the characters.
The Christian faith is highlighted all through the book especially with the parents' suffering and how they find themselves in prayer. I understood Scottie's struggle with his faith. Any person would find it difficult in his place. This brought freshness to the book.
There are few other points which felt unique to the book. The book is in the father's POV and so I was pleasantly surprised since I was expecting it to be the usual thriller type with the focus on the solving of the crime and getting the killer. But the story diverted from the norm and focused on the parents' lives through the kidnapping. Another point was how the killer's identity was introduced without any fanfare and didn't have me guessing it. What I did wonder while reading was how he got Ashley in his snare and what he did with her, which was explained towards the end.
This shows that there are always secrets in people's lives inspite of knowing them really well. And Ashley's naivety is what caused all the trouble. Speaking of the killer,though I empathise with his past, he absolutely deserves my anger with his actions. And no I am not going to talk more about him or the situation because I don't want to out the story. There are a few surprising turns at the end for you. So read the story to know more!
Speaking of the end, I was slightly dazed with the way the author's mind worked with the fate of the characters. It was unexpected but kept well with the genre of the read. And there were few parts where I felt the author had glossed over the details which didn't go with the story for me.
Overall, I enjoyed the story and I hope if you want to read a thriller with a different POV, this book's for you.
My one line review : A gripping thriller from the victim's parents' POV with surprising twists at the end.
My rating : 4/5
My reread factor : 3/5
Flo
This book was brought to my attention by the author from his review request. As soon as I saw the book cover, I thought it was maybe a fantasy read and I was hesitant to accept the request since I was looking for different genres from romance and fantasy at that time. But when I read the blurb and realised it was a thriller, I was hooked on the plot with the words "missing girls". There are few words which make me decide if I want to read a book or not. And any missing persons mentioned in the summary is enough to get me interested because I love mysteries!
The starting of the book is slow. I was expecting Ashley's kidnapping to be the starting point of the book. But I was mistaken. The first quarter of the book is spent on laying out the premise of the story. The family dynamics between Ashley and her parents are established right at the beginning. They get along very well unlike most other families. Ashley seems to treat her parents like her friends and her life is an open book for them. Ashley doesn't show the typical teenage behaviour which I found a bit odd. No one was that perfect or agreeable according to me.
When Ashley goes missing, Scottie and Jessie are shattered. They can't understand what was happening since their daughter didn't have any secrets. And from this part onwards, the pace of the story changed from sluggish to a turn the pages in a hurry quickness. I was so invested in the personal lives of Ashley and her family that I was glued to the book at all times and finished the book in a few hours.
The author has this way of getting me entangled in the emotions of the characters, be it Ashley or her parents. I seriously felt so bad for Jessie and Scottie during the hard times they face with Ashley's disappearance. They don't get any closure since her body isn't found and they go through the motions of life instead of living. The writing evoked strong feelings in me and had me breathing through the same scenes as the characters.
The Christian faith is highlighted all through the book especially with the parents' suffering and how they find themselves in prayer. I understood Scottie's struggle with his faith. Any person would find it difficult in his place. This brought freshness to the book.
There are few other points which felt unique to the book. The book is in the father's POV and so I was pleasantly surprised since I was expecting it to be the usual thriller type with the focus on the solving of the crime and getting the killer. But the story diverted from the norm and focused on the parents' lives through the kidnapping. Another point was how the killer's identity was introduced without any fanfare and didn't have me guessing it. What I did wonder while reading was how he got Ashley in his snare and what he did with her, which was explained towards the end.
This shows that there are always secrets in people's lives inspite of knowing them really well. And Ashley's naivety is what caused all the trouble. Speaking of the killer,though I empathise with his past, he absolutely deserves my anger with his actions. And no I am not going to talk more about him or the situation because I don't want to out the story. There are a few surprising turns at the end for you. So read the story to know more!
Speaking of the end, I was slightly dazed with the way the author's mind worked with the fate of the characters. It was unexpected but kept well with the genre of the read. And there were few parts where I felt the author had glossed over the details which didn't go with the story for me.
Overall, I enjoyed the story and I hope if you want to read a thriller with a different POV, this book's for you.
My one line review : A gripping thriller from the victim's parents' POV with surprising twists at the end.
My rating : 4/5
My reread factor : 3/5
Flo
March 11, 2024
This is about a serial killer, yet it is not the typically serial killer fare. Most serial killer fiction treats the reader to a “juicy”killing quite early on. This does not, instead it adds to the suspense by keeping the reader guessing whether there is such a killer at all. And this works to the early and middle plot ‘s advantage as it first allows first the writer to focus on the victims plight and consequently, with empathy already imprinted in the reader’s mind, magnifies the terror of the killer’s crimes. Clearly, this is not typical crime fiction. There are some elements of redemption and religion but again not the way it is typical handled in fiction. Some readers seem to be dissatisfied with the writer’s characters. But as already stated, the author just doesn’t apply the plot nor the characters to the usual formula. If one is a bit more open-minded, then the characters can appear rather well developed, for it should not be the technique but the result that matters. You guessed it, I deem this an altogether very untypical novel and rather difficult to put into any genre. As far as I know, most publisher won’t go for writing that is hard to categorize, so I’m grateful that The Earth Bleeds Red did find its way on the bookshelves. Yes, I believe it is very worthy and that is partly also because of the before-mentioned “shortcomings”. Now, I’m not going to give you anything about the contents in detail and leave you with the essence of this quick review - give it a try, you just might really like it.
February 21, 2014
Received this book from Goodreads giveaway.
The book's summary sounded good - Scott's daughter is kidnapped, and there's a possible serial killer involved. However, I found the prose to be choppy and disruptive. There is no sense of flow from one sentence to the next, one paragraph to the next. The author goes into depth with each character's description, but it feels like he wanted to present a set image of the character and not do anything with it. For example, the chapter "Junior" goes into detail with Tommy's family - yes, it's to give this guy a background, but a lot of it seemed unnecessary. "Ron Stutzman was born in 1941 in Vallejo, CA" - why do we need to know this? "Danny Carter, his friend from school, graduated near the top of their class, while Ron was actually in the bottom half when it came to academics" - again, importance?
Most importantly, the book does a lot of "telling" and not "showing". Every character, every movement he/she makes, it's told. There's no character development. There's only "we arrived [here]", "we did [this and that]", etc. There's no hook, no emotional draw to the words. "I was much more optimistic now, knowing that my brain was okay, as well as all of my other organs, to go along with no major internal bleeding" - well, that's great, but it sounds too factual, too "I'm fine". Why not convert that to dialogue?
The plot is very promising, but it takes a while to get underway. The first quarter of the book, we spend getting to know the main family, how perfect and sugar-coated it is. In a way, it's a nice exposition - a "perfect" family who's world suddenly gets tipped over when this horrific/harrowing incident. However, for the reason mentioned above, I unfortunately skimmed it just to reach the main action.
Also, as another reviewer states, the plot is fairly predictable. The boyfriend is arrested, deemed guilty, but then is innocent due to new evidence. There's a lot of blood, but no body - obviously, Ashley is still alive.
The book's summary sounded good - Scott's daughter is kidnapped, and there's a possible serial killer involved. However, I found the prose to be choppy and disruptive. There is no sense of flow from one sentence to the next, one paragraph to the next. The author goes into depth with each character's description, but it feels like he wanted to present a set image of the character and not do anything with it. For example, the chapter "Junior" goes into detail with Tommy's family - yes, it's to give this guy a background, but a lot of it seemed unnecessary. "Ron Stutzman was born in 1941 in Vallejo, CA" - why do we need to know this? "Danny Carter, his friend from school, graduated near the top of their class, while Ron was actually in the bottom half when it came to academics" - again, importance?
Most importantly, the book does a lot of "telling" and not "showing". Every character, every movement he/she makes, it's told. There's no character development. There's only "we arrived [here]", "we did [this and that]", etc. There's no hook, no emotional draw to the words. "I was much more optimistic now, knowing that my brain was okay, as well as all of my other organs, to go along with no major internal bleeding" - well, that's great, but it sounds too factual, too "I'm fine". Why not convert that to dialogue?
The plot is very promising, but it takes a while to get underway. The first quarter of the book, we spend getting to know the main family, how perfect and sugar-coated it is. In a way, it's a nice exposition - a "perfect" family who's world suddenly gets tipped over when this horrific/harrowing incident. However, for the reason mentioned above, I unfortunately skimmed it just to reach the main action.
Also, as another reviewer states, the plot is fairly predictable. The boyfriend is arrested, deemed guilty, but then is innocent due to new evidence. There's a lot of blood, but no body - obviously, Ashley is still alive.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 24, 2018
REVIEW: The Earth Bleeds Red
What can I say about this book. When I started to read it I was not sure it was the type of book I would be interested in, but then it sucked my in and I wanted to know Who had kidnapped Ashley
The story is about a family of three, Scott, Jessie and their 17 year old daughter Ashely. They are your average church going family, that have an ideal relationship where their daughter still likes to do things with her parents.
Then tragedy strikes and Ashely is kidnapped and held hostage for months, the wrong person is accused of Ashley’s murder to begin with until a car is found that Ashely was in and other evidence.
I don’t want to say much about the book its self as I don’t want to spoil the story for you. But what I will say is this
The author has a way of getting the reader to feel and experience the pain and loss of faith Scott and Jessie experience throughout the book, you learn to understand Scott’s hatred for the wrong person.
Then there is father Henry who gives Scott back his faith through sharing his own story of tragedy and how he found a way to forgive those that took so much from him. Father Henry gives his full support to this family till his dying breath
What I also enjoyed about the book was the way the author was able to get into the mind of the serial killer’s mind that took Ashely, while at the same time giving Ashely’s strength to survive
This story is not just about a serial killer suspense novel but also carries the message of finding hope when all is lost, not giving up and the need to survive even when you have nothing left to give but to keep going, there is a reason for what happens even if you don’t understand it.
Even on the last page there is still a what do we do now
What can I say about this book. When I started to read it I was not sure it was the type of book I would be interested in, but then it sucked my in and I wanted to know Who had kidnapped Ashley
The story is about a family of three, Scott, Jessie and their 17 year old daughter Ashely. They are your average church going family, that have an ideal relationship where their daughter still likes to do things with her parents.
Then tragedy strikes and Ashely is kidnapped and held hostage for months, the wrong person is accused of Ashley’s murder to begin with until a car is found that Ashely was in and other evidence.
I don’t want to say much about the book its self as I don’t want to spoil the story for you. But what I will say is this
The author has a way of getting the reader to feel and experience the pain and loss of faith Scott and Jessie experience throughout the book, you learn to understand Scott’s hatred for the wrong person.
Then there is father Henry who gives Scott back his faith through sharing his own story of tragedy and how he found a way to forgive those that took so much from him. Father Henry gives his full support to this family till his dying breath
What I also enjoyed about the book was the way the author was able to get into the mind of the serial killer’s mind that took Ashely, while at the same time giving Ashely’s strength to survive
This story is not just about a serial killer suspense novel but also carries the message of finding hope when all is lost, not giving up and the need to survive even when you have nothing left to give but to keep going, there is a reason for what happens even if you don’t understand it.
Even on the last page there is still a what do we do now
June 17, 2018
This book had my emotions all over the board! The first 20% is learning about Scott, Jessie and Ashley and the relationship they have as a family. It is a bit slower and I was surprised that it took that long for the action to start. Then Ashley disappears and the rest of the book kept me wondering if she was alive and if she would be found, and how Scott & Jessie were going to survive this event. The book will take you on a roller coaster ride...just as you think all is going to be ok, there is another drop that will have your heart racing and wondering what could possibly happen next.
The author does a good job of introducing all of the characters at just the right time. There is more the FBI discovers about who kidnapped Ashley and I had one of those "ah ha" moments when I thought back to another part of the story. The killer is revealed fairly early on and without any build up to the reveal. The author explores this character's life and what might have caused him to act the way he does.
I appreciated the faith and beliefs of the Miller family. There are times that this faith is what helped them through the tough times. Other times they felt like they were being punished by God for whatever reason.
If you want a book that will pull at all of your emotions and keep you guessing what is going to happen next, then check this book out.
The author does a good job of introducing all of the characters at just the right time. There is more the FBI discovers about who kidnapped Ashley and I had one of those "ah ha" moments when I thought back to another part of the story. The killer is revealed fairly early on and without any build up to the reveal. The author explores this character's life and what might have caused him to act the way he does.
I appreciated the faith and beliefs of the Miller family. There are times that this faith is what helped them through the tough times. Other times they felt like they were being punished by God for whatever reason.
If you want a book that will pull at all of your emotions and keep you guessing what is going to happen next, then check this book out.
December 9, 2013
I feel I should preface this review by admitting that I was unsure of what a "literary fiction suspense" novel should resemble. I didn't know what to expect, and I might not be the best reader for these types of novels.
The book started out slow for me, following the lives of an almost-too-perfect family, but I was expecting a fast-paced suspense novel. And I was expecting the action to start within the first couple of chapters. This is not how literary suspense fiction novels are written though. They're more introspective. People wonder about their faith, love, lives, failures, successes, etc.
When the action started, it did race along at a nice pace. The characters and setting were nicely arranged, and the imagery used to describe the locations was done well. I had no trouble picturing what Baer described. I rooted for the characters, and I wanted them to have happy endings.
I look forward to reading more of his works.
The book started out slow for me, following the lives of an almost-too-perfect family, but I was expecting a fast-paced suspense novel. And I was expecting the action to start within the first couple of chapters. This is not how literary suspense fiction novels are written though. They're more introspective. People wonder about their faith, love, lives, failures, successes, etc.
When the action started, it did race along at a nice pace. The characters and setting were nicely arranged, and the imagery used to describe the locations was done well. I had no trouble picturing what Baer described. I rooted for the characters, and I wanted them to have happy endings.
I look forward to reading more of his works.
April 16, 2018
From reading the blurb, I expected a psychological thriller following the exploits of a serial killer. While true in part, the major themes of this story focus on the missing girl's parents and how they deal with the abduction and possible murder of their only child. Faith, relationships and surviving such a catastrophic event are all explored in great detail. Although absorbing, it does detract from the pursuit of the serial killer and finding the missing girl.
Predominately, the father Scott tells the story. The early chapters set the scene, recalling family events with his wife and daughter. Slow-paced these chapters seem overly detailed. When the abduction happens, it is shocking amidst the everyday family events, but a shorter first section would give the same result. I did re-read the blurb halfway through this early section, to check I was reading a serial killer novel. The crime procedural part of this story is appropriately paced and informative, the law enforcement characters are realistic.
Mainly though, this is a story of family and faith, in the face of every parents' nightmare of losing a child. Beautifully portrayed in this story are the sense of loss, the guilt and the fear of not knowing. You feel the Scott and Jessie's pain and wonder if you would react similarly in the given circumstances. Through the father's relationship with the family priest, they explore faith in detail, again this is sensitively written and adds depth to the story.
The latter part of the story reveals the serial killer's life and thoughts and those of his victim. From a third person point of view, this is written as a narrative making it hard for the reader to engage with them. Showing rather than narrating what the characters are feeling would have made them easier to empathise. The plot has many twists, not all of which are realistic, however, they do keep you guessing for the most part and have a definite graphic horror factor.
This story is a dichotomy. The central theme of a family's emotional journey in the face of a tragic loss against a fast-paced, graphic illustration of abduction and murder. It does work for the most part and keeps you turning the pages. This a good mystery crime story with well-written suspenseful scenes and a believable serial killer.
I received a copy of this book from the author in return for an honest review.
Predominately, the father Scott tells the story. The early chapters set the scene, recalling family events with his wife and daughter. Slow-paced these chapters seem overly detailed. When the abduction happens, it is shocking amidst the everyday family events, but a shorter first section would give the same result. I did re-read the blurb halfway through this early section, to check I was reading a serial killer novel. The crime procedural part of this story is appropriately paced and informative, the law enforcement characters are realistic.
Mainly though, this is a story of family and faith, in the face of every parents' nightmare of losing a child. Beautifully portrayed in this story are the sense of loss, the guilt and the fear of not knowing. You feel the Scott and Jessie's pain and wonder if you would react similarly in the given circumstances. Through the father's relationship with the family priest, they explore faith in detail, again this is sensitively written and adds depth to the story.
The latter part of the story reveals the serial killer's life and thoughts and those of his victim. From a third person point of view, this is written as a narrative making it hard for the reader to engage with them. Showing rather than narrating what the characters are feeling would have made them easier to empathise. The plot has many twists, not all of which are realistic, however, they do keep you guessing for the most part and have a definite graphic horror factor.
This story is a dichotomy. The central theme of a family's emotional journey in the face of a tragic loss against a fast-paced, graphic illustration of abduction and murder. It does work for the most part and keeps you turning the pages. This a good mystery crime story with well-written suspenseful scenes and a believable serial killer.
I received a copy of this book from the author in return for an honest review.
March 20, 2018
This is a good thriller with family emotions and light faith elements.
Scott Miller loves his wife and his 17-year-old daughter, Ashley. They live in a nice home in the woods of Oregon and Scott has a good job as a college professor. Ashley has been accepted into the University of Notre Dame. She is a lovely young woman who attends church and lives a good live. Live is good for the family until one night when Ashley doesn’t come home.
Ashley disappears from her boyfriend Brandon’s house, leaving a pool of blood behind. Scott and the police don’t buy Brandon’s story of a masked attacker who knew Ashley by name and knocked him out. They are convinced that Brandon is guilty.
No ransom call comes and time goes by with no trace of where Ashley has disappeared. Scott and his wife have tried to accept that she won’t be returning but they don’t want to give up hope.
Months later bodies of young women have surfaced and the FBI is intently investigating a serial killer. They find clues that make them tie Ashley’s disappearance to the Hail Mary Killer. Tension mounts along with personal conflict for Scott and his wife.
This story had an interesting mix of styles. It starts with a cozy family picture that shifts into the suspense of mystery and trauma of the missing daughter. The strong, emotional family elements continue to weave in and out during the tension of the mystery. I liked the light faith comments that were lightly shared. I would recommend this to readers who enjoy a thriller with twists and emotional drama.
Audio Notes: This is one time that I don’t think the story was helped by the narration. I found Dan Carroll’s narration to be flat. The only effort to provide voice characterization consisted of awkward accents. There was little emotion or suspense shared which would have been appropriate. This was little more than a flat reading. Sadly I found this distracting and almost abandoned the audio to pick up the Kindle version. I only continued with the audio for the convenience of listening with my MP3. I suggest listening carefully to the sample before deciding to pick up the audio version.
I received this audio title from the author for an honest review.
Scott Miller loves his wife and his 17-year-old daughter, Ashley. They live in a nice home in the woods of Oregon and Scott has a good job as a college professor. Ashley has been accepted into the University of Notre Dame. She is a lovely young woman who attends church and lives a good live. Live is good for the family until one night when Ashley doesn’t come home.
Ashley disappears from her boyfriend Brandon’s house, leaving a pool of blood behind. Scott and the police don’t buy Brandon’s story of a masked attacker who knew Ashley by name and knocked him out. They are convinced that Brandon is guilty.
No ransom call comes and time goes by with no trace of where Ashley has disappeared. Scott and his wife have tried to accept that she won’t be returning but they don’t want to give up hope.
Months later bodies of young women have surfaced and the FBI is intently investigating a serial killer. They find clues that make them tie Ashley’s disappearance to the Hail Mary Killer. Tension mounts along with personal conflict for Scott and his wife.
This story had an interesting mix of styles. It starts with a cozy family picture that shifts into the suspense of mystery and trauma of the missing daughter. The strong, emotional family elements continue to weave in and out during the tension of the mystery. I liked the light faith comments that were lightly shared. I would recommend this to readers who enjoy a thriller with twists and emotional drama.
Audio Notes: This is one time that I don’t think the story was helped by the narration. I found Dan Carroll’s narration to be flat. The only effort to provide voice characterization consisted of awkward accents. There was little emotion or suspense shared which would have been appropriate. This was little more than a flat reading. Sadly I found this distracting and almost abandoned the audio to pick up the Kindle version. I only continued with the audio for the convenience of listening with my MP3. I suggest listening carefully to the sample before deciding to pick up the audio version.
I received this audio title from the author for an honest review.
June 2, 2018
The Earth Bleeds Red is a story of tragedy for the Miller family. Scott and Jessie are deeply in love, living a perfect life, until their daughter Ashley is abducted. Left behind is a bloody crime scene at her boyfriend Brandon's house, who becomes the prime suspect. As he waits in jail, evidence comes forward that may link Ashley's disappearance to the Hail Mary Killer, a serial killer responsible for the death of three other girls in the area.
This novel had a slow start for me, as the first half is focused on characterization and describing the life of the Miller family. There are a lot of details here. It really does pick up about half way through-there are twists and reveals about the kidnapping. I felt a strong connection to Ashley when we eventually hear from her point of view, and this really drew me into the story. Christianity has a strong presence in this book, as the characters both struggle with and rely on their faith in the midst of tragedy. And there is a lot of tragedy! I would have expected more emotional distress from the main characters with everything going on in such a short period of time.
This is more of a family drama or literary fiction than a classic thriller, but the details surrounding the serial killer are very unique and suspenseful. The twists in the end (specifically the last couple of pages!) have that shock value that I am always looking for! There's more I could say but to avoid spoilers, let's discuss after you've read this one!
I received a free copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
This novel had a slow start for me, as the first half is focused on characterization and describing the life of the Miller family. There are a lot of details here. It really does pick up about half way through-there are twists and reveals about the kidnapping. I felt a strong connection to Ashley when we eventually hear from her point of view, and this really drew me into the story. Christianity has a strong presence in this book, as the characters both struggle with and rely on their faith in the midst of tragedy. And there is a lot of tragedy! I would have expected more emotional distress from the main characters with everything going on in such a short period of time.
This is more of a family drama or literary fiction than a classic thriller, but the details surrounding the serial killer are very unique and suspenseful. The twists in the end (specifically the last couple of pages!) have that shock value that I am always looking for! There's more I could say but to avoid spoilers, let's discuss after you've read this one!
I received a free copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
April 11, 2018
I read the blurb and it sounded like and interesting plot: a daughter that goes missing and a father that won’t stop searching for her. I needed to know more.
The descriptions in this book are incredible. They so detailed that you can’t help but feel as if you’re transported into this world or feel what the characters are feeling. This felt like a true thriller with all the twist and turns the story took with bits of family drama intertwined, which I enjoyed. The story does seems to have a slow start and kind of lulled for me for about the first third of the book after which the plot picks up and the story takes off running. Overall it was a good audio and I enjoyed a change from my usual dose of romance.
Narration for this book was low going. Dan Carroll’s narration of this book fell flat for me. He seems to narrated a bit to slow for my taste and it made the story seem to drag on. I fixed that by setting the narration speed at 1.25x. Still, there was really no depth to the narration. It seemed flat throughout even when there should have been plenty of emotions especially during suspenseful scenes. Overall I think this is a story that should be read and experienced that way.
The descriptions in this book are incredible. They so detailed that you can’t help but feel as if you’re transported into this world or feel what the characters are feeling. This felt like a true thriller with all the twist and turns the story took with bits of family drama intertwined, which I enjoyed. The story does seems to have a slow start and kind of lulled for me for about the first third of the book after which the plot picks up and the story takes off running. Overall it was a good audio and I enjoyed a change from my usual dose of romance.
Narration for this book was low going. Dan Carroll’s narration of this book fell flat for me. He seems to narrated a bit to slow for my taste and it made the story seem to drag on. I fixed that by setting the narration speed at 1.25x. Still, there was really no depth to the narration. It seemed flat throughout even when there should have been plenty of emotions especially during suspenseful scenes. Overall I think this is a story that should be read and experienced that way.
March 18, 2018
I am still trying to wrap my head around this book. I just seriously could not and don’t want to have to imagine being put in Scott’s or Jessie’s position as a parent - worst nightmare ever. You want to put your child in bubble wrap and never let them out of it but in reality that can’t happen. The Earth Bleeds Red was gutting, suspenseful and full of emotions. I cried tears of pain and tears of joy.
Jackson Paul Baer takes you on a journey that has ups and downs and is so emotionally packed I didn’t know if my heart could take it. My heart ached for all that was involved. The story was compelling and drew me in from page one. I couldn’t put it down. I needed answers to all my questions and needed them now. You prayed for the best but at the same time feared the worse. There are twists and turns that i didn’t see happening and had my heart in my throat. I say grab a box of tissues and dive in. A definite 5 Star read.
Jackson Paul Baer takes you on a journey that has ups and downs and is so emotionally packed I didn’t know if my heart could take it. My heart ached for all that was involved. The story was compelling and drew me in from page one. I couldn’t put it down. I needed answers to all my questions and needed them now. You prayed for the best but at the same time feared the worse. There are twists and turns that i didn’t see happening and had my heart in my throat. I say grab a box of tissues and dive in. A definite 5 Star read.
November 3, 2018
Baer really has a way with words that makes you want to listen to the story in one sitting. From my daughter hearing chapter one of this book she made me swear not to listen to it without her so that says a lot right there for the storytelling. We are both avid readers and enjoyed this story very much. Baer is a new to me author but his work is out of this world. Just when you think they're going to find a happy ending he throws another twist in to send you reeling till the next one. This book had us on the edges of our seat from chapter one and the banter between the family sounds real and just like my family at times. The killer in the story is a really well written sicko that Baer must have really done some great research to make this character so multi faceted and conniving. This is probably one of the best written evil characters since Cassandra Clare's Sebastian Verlac. All in all I would totally re read the book over and over the story is that good. I could easily see this being made into a movie one day.
January 26, 2018
Mr. Baer’s writing is lyrical and sharp, all at the same time. I found myself drawn along on the journey with his characters, invested in their rollercoaster ride of grief and elation. I thought the descriptions of the despair a parent would feel were beautifully written. I did find a couple of plot points that to me were unnecessary to the story, but overall, it is a wonderful book and I thoroughly enjoyed it!
January 16, 2019
The Earth Bleeds Red by Jackson Baer is a wondeful story to read. I loved reading this story and so will you if you love read a suspence story like I do. I highly recommend this story to everyone who loves reading suspence stories.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
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August 27, 2018I wanted to like this book. I really did, but it felt like it just dragged too much for me. It's like it had too much detail and not enough of the stuff that makes my brain say "gimme more!". Around p. 50 I think is when I started speedreading waiting for that moment where it all picked up. It kind of did but not. At p. 92 I said I couldn't do it anymore.
November 1, 2017
Gripping
This book held me captive from the first page. The main characters very real and likeable. The kind of people that I would love to call friends. Lots of twists and turns to the story held my attention throughout.
This book held me captive from the first page. The main characters very real and likeable. The kind of people that I would love to call friends. Lots of twists and turns to the story held my attention throughout.
March 14, 2018
The Earth Bleeds Red is a haunting tale of a parent’s worst nightmare. It is intended to be a mystery or thriller; however, I think it crosses several genres including, Christian fiction, family drama, police procedural, and general fiction.
The premise of The Earth Bleeds Red is unique, and the plot points are excellent. Author Jackson Paul Baer spends nearly half of the book setting up his story by telling his readers about his main characters and their daily life. While the depiction of daily life very much spells out that Scott, Jesse and Ashley Miller are the perfect, loving family, the details bogged down the pace of the story.
The story is laid out well, and it easily flows between Scott Miller’s first-person POV to the third-person telling of the serial killer’s back story. While Scott is telling the story of his family—both before and after his daughter’s disappearance—the dialogue seemed affected at times. Since I listened to rather than reading this story, this could be a result of the narration as much as the prose.
Several plot points were beyond difficult to believe, especially surrounding Ashley’s disappearance and her resulting condition (I won’t spoil the story with details, except to note the medical improbability of Ashley’s physical and emotional state at the end of the book). The final trip home for the family also involves some suspension of disbelief in regards to hospital rules regarding just-released patients driving themselves home, but that is a much smaller point of contention for me than that of Ashley’s condition.
As a thriller, The Earth Bleeds Red fell flat for me. As a family drama or Christian fiction, the author reached me emotionally. The Miller family goes through the trials of Job but maintains their faith! Their parish priest is above and beyond supportive. There were moments in the book that brought tears to my eyes. My heart broke for Scott and Jesse at several scenes—the first one being the book title tie in. There are strong messages about faith, “stranger danger” and distracted driving.
I didn’t care for the narration of the audiobook; I'd recommend reading the book over listening to it.
I received a complimentary copy of the audiobook in exchange for my honest review. For more reading recommendations, visit Book Junkie Reviews at https://abookjunkiereviews.wordpress.com.
The premise of The Earth Bleeds Red is unique, and the plot points are excellent. Author Jackson Paul Baer spends nearly half of the book setting up his story by telling his readers about his main characters and their daily life. While the depiction of daily life very much spells out that Scott, Jesse and Ashley Miller are the perfect, loving family, the details bogged down the pace of the story.
The story is laid out well, and it easily flows between Scott Miller’s first-person POV to the third-person telling of the serial killer’s back story. While Scott is telling the story of his family—both before and after his daughter’s disappearance—the dialogue seemed affected at times. Since I listened to rather than reading this story, this could be a result of the narration as much as the prose.
Several plot points were beyond difficult to believe, especially surrounding Ashley’s disappearance and her resulting condition (I won’t spoil the story with details, except to note the medical improbability of Ashley’s physical and emotional state at the end of the book). The final trip home for the family also involves some suspension of disbelief in regards to hospital rules regarding just-released patients driving themselves home, but that is a much smaller point of contention for me than that of Ashley’s condition.
As a thriller, The Earth Bleeds Red fell flat for me. As a family drama or Christian fiction, the author reached me emotionally. The Miller family goes through the trials of Job but maintains their faith! Their parish priest is above and beyond supportive. There were moments in the book that brought tears to my eyes. My heart broke for Scott and Jesse at several scenes—the first one being the book title tie in. There are strong messages about faith, “stranger danger” and distracted driving.
I didn’t care for the narration of the audiobook; I'd recommend reading the book over listening to it.
I received a complimentary copy of the audiobook in exchange for my honest review. For more reading recommendations, visit Book Junkie Reviews at https://abookjunkiereviews.wordpress.com.
October 7, 2013
The Earth Bleeds Red is Jackson Paul Baer’s latest book, the first with Pandamoon Publishing. It’s solid story I highly recommend. Having waited for a while to read this one when I received an opportunity to review an advance copy I jumped at it. It did not disappoint.
The novel is set in the usually rainy and chilly northwest. There are a lot of references to places in that part of the country that should satisfy anyone who lives there or has some knowledge of Oregon and Washington State. It is the story of a great family that must overcome a number of challenges that test the strength of their individual character as well as their family bonds. Sorry no spoilers in this review, though. It is a mystery with a lot of suspense and several surprises that you need to and experience first hand. I’ll bet you won’t put it down.
It is well paced and told with a good mixture of imagery in description and believable dialogue that seamlessly advance the story. And what a story it is! It could have been pulled from the news and as it is set in present time, let’s hope it is not prophetic. No one should suffer as these characters do. At the beginning we are introduced to a loving family while the story marinates for a bit. We learn to care a lot about these people and they rapidly become our friends. Then, later on, we are pulled into their lives and the conflicts as a good mystery should do.
There are more emotional peaks and dips than a rollercoaster and like being a well-designed amusement park ride, this book reserves the best for the finale. All the elements of a well-crafted novel are brought together and tightly woven into the fabric of the story.
This book is not a commentary on the human condition, but it certainly visits some of the problems in the modern world as the plot develops. Suspense builds around the key event and how it affects many lives, causes many to draw premature and conclusions about others. Reading it is comparable to sharing a real life experience. Afterwards, we are left changed and with a better understanding of what is to be alive and part of a loving but also very realistic family.
Elgon Williams
The novel is set in the usually rainy and chilly northwest. There are a lot of references to places in that part of the country that should satisfy anyone who lives there or has some knowledge of Oregon and Washington State. It is the story of a great family that must overcome a number of challenges that test the strength of their individual character as well as their family bonds. Sorry no spoilers in this review, though. It is a mystery with a lot of suspense and several surprises that you need to and experience first hand. I’ll bet you won’t put it down.
It is well paced and told with a good mixture of imagery in description and believable dialogue that seamlessly advance the story. And what a story it is! It could have been pulled from the news and as it is set in present time, let’s hope it is not prophetic. No one should suffer as these characters do. At the beginning we are introduced to a loving family while the story marinates for a bit. We learn to care a lot about these people and they rapidly become our friends. Then, later on, we are pulled into their lives and the conflicts as a good mystery should do.
There are more emotional peaks and dips than a rollercoaster and like being a well-designed amusement park ride, this book reserves the best for the finale. All the elements of a well-crafted novel are brought together and tightly woven into the fabric of the story.
This book is not a commentary on the human condition, but it certainly visits some of the problems in the modern world as the plot develops. Suspense builds around the key event and how it affects many lives, causes many to draw premature and conclusions about others. Reading it is comparable to sharing a real life experience. Afterwards, we are left changed and with a better understanding of what is to be alive and part of a loving but also very realistic family.
Elgon Williams
November 4, 2013
“The Earth Bleeds Red” is the story of a father who loses his only daughter. This book is less about the mystery of her disappearance (though that’s there too), and more about the psychological trauma inflicted after such an event. Woven together with issues of faith, the complexity of marriage, and loyalty to yourself, your loved ones, and the law, this debut novel will appeal to Jodi Picoult and Dean Koontz fans.
The family is almost gratingly perfect—but that only serves as a catalyst when the tragedy hits, dropping so far from so high, so to speak. For me, the beginning moved slow (you’re almost at a third of the book before the girl is even abducted), but that’s more personal preference. For those reading the book who enjoy sinking deep into the relationships that make the book’s story arc so captivating, this kind of opening is perfect.
Baer’s prose is plain, but very readable. He really shines when he gets into the abstract, and his descriptions almost take on a poetic sheen. Definitely read this book and be prepared to read it in one sitting.
The family is almost gratingly perfect—but that only serves as a catalyst when the tragedy hits, dropping so far from so high, so to speak. For me, the beginning moved slow (you’re almost at a third of the book before the girl is even abducted), but that’s more personal preference. For those reading the book who enjoy sinking deep into the relationships that make the book’s story arc so captivating, this kind of opening is perfect.
Baer’s prose is plain, but very readable. He really shines when he gets into the abstract, and his descriptions almost take on a poetic sheen. Definitely read this book and be prepared to read it in one sitting.
April 14, 2018
A loving family thrust into an awful situation when their daughter, Ashley is kidnapped. It's a slow burn as we learn about the family and how close they are. Then their world caves in and we go through the emotional distraught with them. You get taken in by the characters as you delve into the story as it unfolds piece by piece. I started guessing who has kidnapped or killed Ashley, and each time I was wrong. This is an enjoyable suspenseful read which deals with so much, especially with the father, Scott, as he tries to keep his head in such traumatic circumstances. The story is well worth a read. I feel that Jackson will become a strong author that we will hear from more and more in the future.
September 24, 2013
This book was very well written. Lots of unexpected twists and turns. You will find yourself connecting with the characters, and rooting for the good guys, hoping for justice, and praying for answers...I would recommend this read with 5 stars. :)
September 24, 2013
Jackson Paul Baer is the name to remember...This book 'The Earth Bleeds Red' is a great read! I couldn't put this book down! I highly recommend reading 'The Earth Bleeds Red'
October 9, 2018
3.5 Stars
The Earth Bleeds Red is a standalone novel by Jackson Paul Baer. It is the first book I have read by this author and it won’t be my last. I have his book The Lights will Never Fade to read but that is for another day. Back to Scott, Jessie, and Ashley’s story.
Scott and Jessie were high school sweethearts who married after graduation. Soon after, they were blessed with a child named Ashley. She is the light of their lives and at seventeen she is everything they had hoped for. She is smart, strong, witty, and beautiful inside and out. Their lives were going as planned until one night when Jessie gets a phone call that changes it all...
Ashley has been kidnapped. With lots of blood everyone fears the worst. They have one suspect in custody. Her boyfriend, Brandon. All the while there is a serial killer on the loose who can also be a suspect in her disappearance. Brandon swears he is innocent and would never hurt the girl he loves but that’s not what the evidence says. Was he framed by a mask man like he says or did his jealousy get the best of him?
Ok...I do love a good thriller and crime book. This one had potential to be more in my opinion. It fell flat for me but it had its moments. I felt for Scott and Jessie but I also wanted to slap them. I know everyone goes through the motions differently but I didn’t find theirs to be realistic. Now for the writing, I highly respect anyone who writes. I know I can’t write a book, I sometimes don’t even think I could write a review. With that being said, I thought the writing was good but there were many details that didn’t need to be out there. They felt like fillers. If they pertained to the character development or clues to finding Ashley then I would not say anything.
Overall...it’s a good book that I thought could have been more. More chase. More thriller. More emotional. I wanted to cry. I wanted to go after the clues. I did however enjoyed their family banter and love.
Quotes:
“Can you be ready in thirty minutes?”
“Dad, I’m not you. I don’t have to fix my hair and do my nails.” “Very funny. You know I have sensitive fingers.”
“You watch too many crime shows, sweetie.”
“You watch them with me. Tell me that doesn’t sound like something they would do.”
“Wait, since when have I been losing my hair? Is it in the front or the back?”
The Earth Bleeds Red is a standalone novel by Jackson Paul Baer. It is the first book I have read by this author and it won’t be my last. I have his book The Lights will Never Fade to read but that is for another day. Back to Scott, Jessie, and Ashley’s story.
Scott and Jessie were high school sweethearts who married after graduation. Soon after, they were blessed with a child named Ashley. She is the light of their lives and at seventeen she is everything they had hoped for. She is smart, strong, witty, and beautiful inside and out. Their lives were going as planned until one night when Jessie gets a phone call that changes it all...
Ashley has been kidnapped. With lots of blood everyone fears the worst. They have one suspect in custody. Her boyfriend, Brandon. All the while there is a serial killer on the loose who can also be a suspect in her disappearance. Brandon swears he is innocent and would never hurt the girl he loves but that’s not what the evidence says. Was he framed by a mask man like he says or did his jealousy get the best of him?
Ok...I do love a good thriller and crime book. This one had potential to be more in my opinion. It fell flat for me but it had its moments. I felt for Scott and Jessie but I also wanted to slap them. I know everyone goes through the motions differently but I didn’t find theirs to be realistic. Now for the writing, I highly respect anyone who writes. I know I can’t write a book, I sometimes don’t even think I could write a review. With that being said, I thought the writing was good but there were many details that didn’t need to be out there. They felt like fillers. If they pertained to the character development or clues to finding Ashley then I would not say anything.
Overall...it’s a good book that I thought could have been more. More chase. More thriller. More emotional. I wanted to cry. I wanted to go after the clues. I did however enjoyed their family banter and love.
Quotes:
“Can you be ready in thirty minutes?”
“Dad, I’m not you. I don’t have to fix my hair and do my nails.” “Very funny. You know I have sensitive fingers.”
“You watch too many crime shows, sweetie.”
“You watch them with me. Tell me that doesn’t sound like something they would do.”
“Wait, since when have I been losing my hair? Is it in the front or the back?”
March 4, 2018
This type of genre isn’t one I’d normally read but I was intrigued by the blurb and every now and then I like to read something that’s different.
Now I’ll admit that the first 30% of the book was slow going. Nothing really happened and if I’m being totally honest, the book didn’t need it. I think the author was trying to build a background but he could have done that in less time and still given us the correct details.
However, after that the story really picked up pace. There was action and tension and I found myself pulled into the story. Yes, still at times it was slow going but once we’d learned the daughter had been taken, it seemed to speed up quite nicely.
I was intrigued with the way the killer/kidnapper was portrayed. The author wasn’t afraid to go into detail to describe the personality or the details of the murders. He gave the killer an almost schizophrenic personality in which he felt that the way he treated his victims was normal behaviour. However, I’m not an expert but I’ve worked with people with bipolar disorder and the killer seems to have these traits too, going so far as feeling ‘remorse’ for the things that he does, especially with Ashley. (Victim)
I couldn’t take to the parents at all, they didn’t come across to me as believable parents of a child that had been kidnapped/murdered. I kept waiting to feel this connection or at the very least a relatable trait to them but it never came, however, I can understand that people deal with grief in different ways so maybe that was why.
I didn’t get the heart palpitations or the intensity hat I was hoping to get from this story but I did actually enjoy it once it got going. It has a strong plot line and a very real ‘will they, won’t they’ vibe to it. I would recommend it.
As a side note, I recommended this book to a friend who commented that it looked ‘scary.’ I have to agree in the sense that had I not read the blurb first I’d have thought it was a horror/paranormal and not thriller. The title and cover do give off that horror vibe in my opinion so for readers who go by cover alone, this could be confusing.
Now I’ll admit that the first 30% of the book was slow going. Nothing really happened and if I’m being totally honest, the book didn’t need it. I think the author was trying to build a background but he could have done that in less time and still given us the correct details.
However, after that the story really picked up pace. There was action and tension and I found myself pulled into the story. Yes, still at times it was slow going but once we’d learned the daughter had been taken, it seemed to speed up quite nicely.
I was intrigued with the way the killer/kidnapper was portrayed. The author wasn’t afraid to go into detail to describe the personality or the details of the murders. He gave the killer an almost schizophrenic personality in which he felt that the way he treated his victims was normal behaviour. However, I’m not an expert but I’ve worked with people with bipolar disorder and the killer seems to have these traits too, going so far as feeling ‘remorse’ for the things that he does, especially with Ashley. (Victim)
I couldn’t take to the parents at all, they didn’t come across to me as believable parents of a child that had been kidnapped/murdered. I kept waiting to feel this connection or at the very least a relatable trait to them but it never came, however, I can understand that people deal with grief in different ways so maybe that was why.
I didn’t get the heart palpitations or the intensity hat I was hoping to get from this story but I did actually enjoy it once it got going. It has a strong plot line and a very real ‘will they, won’t they’ vibe to it. I would recommend it.
As a side note, I recommended this book to a friend who commented that it looked ‘scary.’ I have to agree in the sense that had I not read the blurb first I’d have thought it was a horror/paranormal and not thriller. The title and cover do give off that horror vibe in my opinion so for readers who go by cover alone, this could be confusing.
April 8, 2018
The Earth Bleeds Red is a crime drama - imagine a Criminal Minds or Law & Order case, but with one unique difference. The story isn't narrated by those investigating; instead, it is told from the victims family's perspective, narrated by the victim's father.
As much as this story is about the mystery and motive surrounding Ashley's disappearance, it is just as much about her family surviving, coping, and living their normal lives waiting to hear that the case has moved forward instead of going without resolution. Cold. Forgotten. Unsolved.
I liked this book, but much like the main character's wife, Jessie, I can solve the mystery 5 minutes into the show, all I need is one hint of a clue and I have it pieced together, and spoil it for the rest if I forget to keep my thoughts to myself.
I popped my husband's Kindle cherry with this book, and I am biting my tongue to keep from divulging the details.
It was a little slow at first, but with every sentence, it gained speed, like a snowball rolling down a mountain, and I soon found myself unable to put it down.
I loved it, so, why the 3 Screams? - The first 23% of the book was slow and boring and mostly fluff, aside from a few things. It was also hard to decipher between the two narrators, were there even two? The dad (narrator 1 - the story is told by him) knew what his daughter was dreaming about, but didn't know it at the time. .. and then there is the narrator who describes things the dad couldn't possibly know ...
It was a little rough at first, but it smoothed out into a great story with more of a discernable difference between narrator and first-person main character.
I know that my review doesn't do it much justice, but the fact that this is the book that popped my husband's Kindle cherry should say a lot. He's listened to me rant and rave for 8 years about books and The Earth Bleeds Red was the one that caught his attention.
As much as this story is about the mystery and motive surrounding Ashley's disappearance, it is just as much about her family surviving, coping, and living their normal lives waiting to hear that the case has moved forward instead of going without resolution. Cold. Forgotten. Unsolved.
I liked this book, but much like the main character's wife, Jessie, I can solve the mystery 5 minutes into the show, all I need is one hint of a clue and I have it pieced together, and spoil it for the rest if I forget to keep my thoughts to myself.
I popped my husband's Kindle cherry with this book, and I am biting my tongue to keep from divulging the details.
It was a little slow at first, but with every sentence, it gained speed, like a snowball rolling down a mountain, and I soon found myself unable to put it down.
I loved it, so, why the 3 Screams? - The first 23% of the book was slow and boring and mostly fluff, aside from a few things. It was also hard to decipher between the two narrators, were there even two? The dad (narrator 1 - the story is told by him) knew what his daughter was dreaming about, but didn't know it at the time. .. and then there is the narrator who describes things the dad couldn't possibly know ...
It was a little rough at first, but it smoothed out into a great story with more of a discernable difference between narrator and first-person main character.
I know that my review doesn't do it much justice, but the fact that this is the book that popped my husband's Kindle cherry should say a lot. He's listened to me rant and rave for 8 years about books and The Earth Bleeds Red was the one that caught his attention.
February 26, 2018
I received this book in exchange for an honest review. This book started slow in the beginning and was beginning to think it was going to be an easy read about a perfect family with strong religious beliefs. Boy this book makes me think of Job and the challenges he faced. I loved this book, they were very strong with their faith, even when most would of cracked or lost their mind. In my mind, this is the perfect family, they are all well put together, you can read the devotion to each other and even when faced with certain challenges they never turned their backs on one another.
Book Blurb:
Scott Miller has everything he’s ever hoped for. He has a successful marriage to Jessie, a stunningly beautiful, creative woman. His seventeen-year-old daughter, Ashley, is both gorgeous and intelligent, and has just been accepted to the University of Notre Dame, where Scott received his PhD. He has a comforting home in the woods, and a fulfilling career as a college professor at Oregon State University in Corvallis. He’s blissful, and at peace, until it all comes shattering down.
Ashley is kidnapped. The scene of the abduction is horrific and bloody, and the police are convinced she couldn’t have survived. They accuse her boyfriend, Brandon, of Ashley’s murder. He declares his innocence, and claims that a masked man who entered his house and overwhelmed them both took Ashley. No one believes Brandon.
Then the bodies of three other missing girls are discovered, all bearing the mark of a known serial killer the FBI has been hunting for years. Evidence mounts. As Special Agent James Duncan tracks the Hail Mary Killer, Scott and Jessie try to move on with their lives. But they can’t shake the feeling that Ashley may still be alive, and that the time for saving their only daughter is quickly running out.
In the best tradition of literature and suspense, Jackson Paul Baer has weaved a heartfelt tale of one family’s struggle to survive after a despicable evil wrenches them apart.
Book Blurb:
Scott Miller has everything he’s ever hoped for. He has a successful marriage to Jessie, a stunningly beautiful, creative woman. His seventeen-year-old daughter, Ashley, is both gorgeous and intelligent, and has just been accepted to the University of Notre Dame, where Scott received his PhD. He has a comforting home in the woods, and a fulfilling career as a college professor at Oregon State University in Corvallis. He’s blissful, and at peace, until it all comes shattering down.
Ashley is kidnapped. The scene of the abduction is horrific and bloody, and the police are convinced she couldn’t have survived. They accuse her boyfriend, Brandon, of Ashley’s murder. He declares his innocence, and claims that a masked man who entered his house and overwhelmed them both took Ashley. No one believes Brandon.
Then the bodies of three other missing girls are discovered, all bearing the mark of a known serial killer the FBI has been hunting for years. Evidence mounts. As Special Agent James Duncan tracks the Hail Mary Killer, Scott and Jessie try to move on with their lives. But they can’t shake the feeling that Ashley may still be alive, and that the time for saving their only daughter is quickly running out.
In the best tradition of literature and suspense, Jackson Paul Baer has weaved a heartfelt tale of one family’s struggle to survive after a despicable evil wrenches them apart.
April 16, 2018
I finished this book, not knowing how I felt about it so I wanted to take a couple days before writing up my review. To me, it's a 3.5-4 stars. I had a hard time getting into the book, so it took me awhile to finish it up. Once I hit the 20-ish% mark, the book went at a much quicker pace and there was a lot of action going on. I actually really enjoyed all the crazy that happened, it was a good story, a good storyline and kept me interested once things started going.
Then we get to the end, and I felt like...ahhh!!! My feelings were up and down in this book. The beginning was down for me, the second part made up for it and then the ending kind of killed it a little for me. I think it was just overkill. There was so much bad that happened over and over and over, the last little bit just kind of had me like... oh come on! Then when Ashley spills the news to her parents at the end, I mean, okay believable and shitty, I can deal with that, but it was the part that happened on the car ride home that killed it for me. I think, if that last part hadn't happened it would've been a 4.5-5 star for me. Really, it was a good thriller/action storyline. The backstory of the killer and how he turns into the crazy person he is, the author does a good job showing you the characters, though sometimes I think I could have done without the filler. All in all, I did enjoy the book for the most part, but kind of mad at the ending lol. Nice change of pace for me though.
#B2BKristina
Then we get to the end, and I felt like...ahhh!!! My feelings were up and down in this book. The beginning was down for me, the second part made up for it and then the ending kind of killed it a little for me. I think it was just overkill. There was so much bad that happened over and over and over, the last little bit just kind of had me like... oh come on! Then when Ashley spills the news to her parents at the end, I mean, okay believable and shitty, I can deal with that, but it was the part that happened on the car ride home that killed it for me. I think, if that last part hadn't happened it would've been a 4.5-5 star for me. Really, it was a good thriller/action storyline. The backstory of the killer and how he turns into the crazy person he is, the author does a good job showing you the characters, though sometimes I think I could have done without the filler. All in all, I did enjoy the book for the most part, but kind of mad at the ending lol. Nice change of pace for me though.
#B2BKristina
August 19, 2018
Amount of sex 0 / 5
How explicit is the sex scenes 0 / 5
Story 5 / 5
Overall: 4.5 / 5
The Earth Bleeds Red is a gripping thriller as the reader is taken through multiple characters' lives and how they relate to the disappearance of Ashley Miller. Ultimately, the book is about family, loss, and terror. Scott Miller is the center of the story. He loves his family and his life. It is pretty darn idyllic. Then his world shatters as his daughter is missing and possibly dead.
The reader is taken on a journey as Scott and his wife spend their hours hovered between the terror of what could have happened and the results of those few hours Ashley was at her boyfriend's house. Much of what they experience is the uncertainty of what has happened and how to live with it.
Jackson Paul Baer does an amazing job bringing the story to life and the emotional content of what this family goes through. His book had me on the edge of my seat, waiting and hoping. My only complaint is the beginning takes too long to get to the action. Baer is very intent on having the reader understand how the upcoming events will devastate the Miller family through the meticulous painting of a picture of their life. I understand why he makes the choice as a writer, but it slowed the story down for me (which is the only reason I gave it a 4.5 and not a 5).
I should note this is not a romance book. It is an atypical BCDBR Book. My rating is just on the book itself and not in the lense of a BCDBR book.
The story is well done and captivating. An excellent read!
How explicit is the sex scenes 0 / 5
Story 5 / 5
Overall: 4.5 / 5
The Earth Bleeds Red is a gripping thriller as the reader is taken through multiple characters' lives and how they relate to the disappearance of Ashley Miller. Ultimately, the book is about family, loss, and terror. Scott Miller is the center of the story. He loves his family and his life. It is pretty darn idyllic. Then his world shatters as his daughter is missing and possibly dead.
The reader is taken on a journey as Scott and his wife spend their hours hovered between the terror of what could have happened and the results of those few hours Ashley was at her boyfriend's house. Much of what they experience is the uncertainty of what has happened and how to live with it.
Jackson Paul Baer does an amazing job bringing the story to life and the emotional content of what this family goes through. His book had me on the edge of my seat, waiting and hoping. My only complaint is the beginning takes too long to get to the action. Baer is very intent on having the reader understand how the upcoming events will devastate the Miller family through the meticulous painting of a picture of their life. I understand why he makes the choice as a writer, but it slowed the story down for me (which is the only reason I gave it a 4.5 and not a 5).
I should note this is not a romance book. It is an atypical BCDBR Book. My rating is just on the book itself and not in the lense of a BCDBR book.
The story is well done and captivating. An excellent read!
March 11, 2018
Reviewing on behalf of Amo's Book Corner.
Wow, wow, wow! Absolutely buzzing after reading The Earth Bleeds Red. Such a brilliant book with so many unexpected turns of events and the ending was completely not what I expected at all!
Jessie and her husband Scott live with their 17 year old daughter Ashley- their only child, their miracle. One night she disappears and the police fear that she had been murdered. Her boyfriend Brandon is arrested on suspicion of her murder, but protests his innocence throughout. He is due in court to be charged with murder in the first degree and is facing the death penalty. It really looks like all the evidence points to him, but has he been accused of a crime he didn't commit and if it wasn't him then who was it?
If that isn't enough 3 bodies of other missing girls are found, which really turns the case into turmoil. Can the case be solved before it's too late or is it already too late for Ashley?
This book is amazing! It gripped me and took me on a thriller of a ride and although I've finished reading it, I'm still reeling from the rollercoaster of a ride that my emotions went through. I loved it so much! It totally deserves more than the maximum of five stars that I'm able to give it. If you like thrillers and suspense, then this is definitely a book that I would recommend.
Wow, wow, wow! Absolutely buzzing after reading The Earth Bleeds Red. Such a brilliant book with so many unexpected turns of events and the ending was completely not what I expected at all!
Jessie and her husband Scott live with their 17 year old daughter Ashley- their only child, their miracle. One night she disappears and the police fear that she had been murdered. Her boyfriend Brandon is arrested on suspicion of her murder, but protests his innocence throughout. He is due in court to be charged with murder in the first degree and is facing the death penalty. It really looks like all the evidence points to him, but has he been accused of a crime he didn't commit and if it wasn't him then who was it?
If that isn't enough 3 bodies of other missing girls are found, which really turns the case into turmoil. Can the case be solved before it's too late or is it already too late for Ashley?
This book is amazing! It gripped me and took me on a thriller of a ride and although I've finished reading it, I'm still reeling from the rollercoaster of a ride that my emotions went through. I loved it so much! It totally deserves more than the maximum of five stars that I'm able to give it. If you like thrillers and suspense, then this is definitely a book that I would recommend.
March 19, 2018
Scott Miller has a perfect life...the college professor has a job that he loves, and his wife and only daughter, Ashley, a hs senior, are the lights of his life...everything is just perfect. Until a call late one night shatters that perfect life. Ashley's bf, Brandon, claims that a masked man entered his home and kidnapped Ashley. Law enforcement does not buy Brandon's story and he is arrested...they believe that he has murdered Ashley and they are pressuring him to give the location of her body. Brandon maintains his innocence and his story. When other female bodies are discovered, the FBI begins to wonder if they have a serial killer on their hands...is Ashley yet another victim? After months of searching for Ashley with no results, she is declared legally dead and a funeral service is arranged. Will this give Scott and wife closure? The parish priest is pivotal in helping Scott reconcile with all that is happening in his life. Will they ever find Ashley's body and really be able to put her to rest?
This was an engaging story with lots of twists and turns...my only criticism is that some descriptions were just overkill...did not really add to the story to learn that the front door was red oak with swirl patterns. Otherwise, great story.
I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This was an engaging story with lots of twists and turns...my only criticism is that some descriptions were just overkill...did not really add to the story to learn that the front door was red oak with swirl patterns. Otherwise, great story.
I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
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