Dead Red and Razor

by Tim Lebbon

Haunted by the voice of her dead lover, assassin “Dead” Red Virgilio is out for vengeance against former colleague, “Razor” Bill McClintock. And she's driving into the heart of the Nevada desert to get it.

Genres: Horror

81 pages, Paperback

First published September 30, 2025

About the author

I love writing, reading, triathlon, real ale, chocolate, good movies, occasional bad movies, and cake.

I was born in London in 1969, lived in Devon until I was eight, and the next twenty years were spent in Newport. My wife Tracey and I then did a Good Thing and moved back to the country, and we now live in the little village of Goytre in Monmouthshire with our kids Ellie and Daniel. And our dog, Blu, who is the size of a donkey.

I love the countryside ... I do a lot of running and cycling, and live in the best part of the world for that.

I've had loads of books published in the UK, USA, and around the world, including novels, novellas, and collections. I write horror, fantasy, and now thrillers, and I've been writing as a living for over 8 years. I've won quite a few awards for my original fiction, and I've also written tie-in projects for Star Wars, Alien, Hellboy, The Cabin in the Woods, and 30 Days of Night.

A movie's just been made of my short story Pay the Ghost, starring Nicolas Cage and Sarah Wayne Callies. There are other projects in development, too.

I'd love to hear from you!

Reviews

[Chris]

This was an adrenaline charged thrill ride of a revenge thriller. It grabs you on the first sentence and doesn't let go until the last word. LeBron does a phenomenal job of giving you depth of character and and a satisfying plot in a short amount of pages. If you like noir revenge thrillers with a horror bent, give this a go!


I received a complimentary copy from Bad Hand Books. All opinions are my own.

[Annotations&Air]

Fast-paced revenge thriller starring multiple assassins. The FMC has a very strong voice and was an intriguing character to follow from her first appearance. She is driven, determined and gritty. The gore level was pretty high for me but might be tame for regular horror readers. Definitely recommend for 18+, best for 25+ for full appreciation.

Thank you to the author and Bad Hand Books for the copy for review.

[Jess]

*ebook


“It hadn’t surprised her when Nick Strand’s decapitated head had started talking in her dead lover’s voice.”

Thanks to Bad Hand Books for my #gifted copy of this one in exchange for my honest thoughts.

Dead Red is wild, she’s cruising around with the head of a guy she killed and it’s talking to her with her husband’s voice. It’s literally rolling around of the floor of her car.

There were a bunch of fight/kill scenes but the scene with the pit and the diamondback was especially unnerving. Yikes! 🐍

This was an action packed gore fest novella. So if that’s what you’re in the mood for check it out. I love a book like this as a pallet cleanser after reading a romance novel 😂😂😂

[Horror Haus Books]

This was such a fast paced, chaotic little novella. Once it starts moving it really doesn’t slow down.

At its core this is a revenge fueled thriller packed with action, violence, and plenty of gore. It knows exactly what kind of story it wants to be and fully commits to the ride. The energy throughout is relentless, which made it super easy to tear through in one sitting.

Dead Red herself was easily the standout. She’s completely unhinged and brings so much personality to the story whenever she’s on the page.

My only real complaint is that some of the side characters felt a little underdeveloped compared to her. I wanted a bit more depth from the rest of the cast to balance out all the action and chaos.

But if you’re looking for a quick, bloody, revenge heavy read with a wild main character, this one is definitely it.

[Pan | Book Reviews and Recommendations]

'Dead Red and Razor' is a lean, adrenaline‑charged crime novella that proves Tim Lebbon can deliver just as much punch in a small package as he does in his larger works.

From the moment assassin “Dead” Red Virgilio hits the road toward the Nevada desert, the story snaps into a relentless pace, driven by vengeance, grief and the ghostly voice of her lost lover.

Lebbon populates the desert with a cast of unforgettable, razor‑edged characters;The Welshman, The Nun, Max Maximillian, Song for Lemmy, Amanda Boom, each with motives as sharp as their names.
Their collision course creates a tense, cinematic atmosphere where every chapter feels like a fuse burning toward an explosion.

Fast, stylish and packed with pure punk rock attitude, 'Dead Red and Razor' is a gritty thrill ride that crime‑fiction fans will tear through in one sitting.

The fantastic illustrations by HagCult add an extra layer of menace and mood, making this a standout entry in the killer‑crime‑thriller genre.

A fierce, fun, and ferociously paced read.

[unstable.books]

Dead Read and Razor is a lean, sun-scorched novella that moves like a bullet across the desert. It is fast, hot, and impossible to outrun. We follow Red Virgilio, an assassin with a past she won't bury and a score she refuses to forget. My kinda gal! Her target is former colleague "Razor" Bill McClintock. What unfolds is a blazing tale of revenge where the desert becomes both battleground and crucible, stripping every character down to instinct and intent. Lebbon wastes no time with this story. The prose is sharp and cinematic, each scene cut with the precision of the killers it follows. Red is a compelling force. She is driven and lethal, but haunted in ways that add depth beneath her grit. As other dangerous players converge on the same stretch of wasteland, the tension ratchets higher and turns the landscape into a claustrophobic arena of murky loyalties and sudden violence. What makes this novella hit so hard is its balance of style and substance. The action is brutal and efficient, but never feels hollow. Lebbon injects just enough emotional undercurrent to make this bloodshed matter. Dead Red and Razor is a blistering and savagely satisfying reprisal. Thank you Bad Hand for sending me a copy for review. This book is available now so go snag a copy directly from Bad Hand Books!

[Alan]

“Dead” Red Virgilio is a killer for hire to take out bad people. And she's offered a contract to take out "Razor” Bill McClintock, another assassin who killed the man she loved. But she's not the only contract killer gunning for McClintock, and he's ready and waiting.
This novella was like something out of the John Wick universe, with contract killers coming out of the woodwork. It took a little bit for things to make sense, but once the action really got going it was full throttle to the end.

[Dana]

Non-stop action and some killer death scenes. This was a fun, short, bloody romp.

[Happy Goat]

What a wild ride! An assassin with a vengeance has a personal mission to fulfil. The carnage is fun and the pacing is perfect.

[Matt M]

A bloody horror-crime hybrid that revs up and never slows down over its short page count. If you enjoy Tarantino films, you’ll enjoy Dead Red and Razor.

[Ross Jeffery]

Loved this little rip-roaring road trip come smoking aces narrative - quick, bloody and a hell of a ride. I’m hoping there might be more of these in the future because I loved the main protagonist, for such a short book a lot was packed in (not info bumped but natural) - I want more!

[Kim Layman]

Dead Red Virgilio is on a mission of vengeance against Razor Bill McClintock. He killed the live her life, and now she wants him dead. And as luck would had it, she’s been hired to kill him. It won’t be easy, but she will do it. And boy, it is going to be bloody.

Fun, fast paced, and killing aplenty…this novella gives off strong Kill Bill vibes. It starts off with Red starting on her mission, and it doesn’t let up. She focused, has a plan, and heads straight for Razor Bill.

While on her journey, Lebbon gives us flashbacks to when Red was happy with Matty, and showing why she’s so determined to exact her revenge. Razor took everything from her, and she’s not holding back.

The climax of this story is an epic gun battle in the desert. Bullets fly, blood is shed, and betrayal is exposed. It’s a wild ride, and action paced, over-the-top death match. Chef’s kiss.

I really enjoyed this story of a strong woman taking the law into her own hands. Horror fans, get to this one, stat. 4.5 stars.

A big thank you to Bad Hand Books for my copy. My opinion is my own.

[Jonathan Pongratz]

Holy moly, what an adrenaline-fueled thrill ride!

Red is a hired gun, and she's great at it too. After a successful hit she gets a call that shocks her to the core. The hired gun that killed the only man she ever loved has a hit on them. Red takes the proposition, unknowing that she may not be the only one with a score to settle.

I loved how action packed this story was! From beginning to end this was a constant battle and I was glued to my seat every second. This has very Kill Bill-esque vibes, so if that's what you're looking for this is perfect for you.

Red was an enigmatic main character. She's very guarded and doesn't like to let people in, so travelling in her head space was very interesting and pulled at my heartstrings at the darker bits. Although the other characters don't get too much limelight, their personalities really jumped off the page and they felt real.

Zero complaints with this story. If you love action and thrills that don't let up, you have to give this a go!

[Jordan]

3.5 stars

Dead Red and Razor is fast, it's furious, and it's a gritty ride through the desert of revenge!

Dead Red Virgilio is on the hunt. A contract has been put out for her former colleague, Razor Bill McClintock, and she's determined to be the one to end him. After all, she's got a score to settle.

I really enjoyed the drama and pacing of this story. It had a good blend of present and past that helped me get into Red's character. Sometimes that can be hard in such a quick read, but Lebbon did a great job developing her!

There were a few inconsistencies in names of different characters across the story that stuck out to me but overall this was a fun read to end my month on!

[ScarlettAnomalyReads]

I'm not a new Tim fan but this book slipped passed me, but Bad Hand was offering a earc and I couldn't resist.

That cover!

This was a quick bullet train of a book that had me stressed, much like the MC Red, who is an assassin which, stressful enough but they happen to be haunted forever by the voice of their ex, what hell that is..

A contract out on Razor Bill, a old "friend" or more apt maybe coworker I guess, but like in this line of business what do you call people you kinda work with 😅.

But she wants to be the one to take him out, beta to settle and blood to be had, this story was chaos from the second you opened the book..

Definitely recommend.

[Kevin L]

3.25 (5 ⭐️for Hag Cult’s illustrations).

I think this book was actually a little too short and consequently pretty thin characters try to carry this story but come up shorter than the potential.

That being said, I did enjoy this, but wished I was able to get into some of the other characters’ heads.

I think this could be a swell Tarantino-esque flick where we’d get insights, flashbacks, and split screens.

[Blaiz Ferrel]

Dead Red & Razor is an 81-page, no brakes bloodbath and I had so much fun.

"Dead" Red Virgilio — an assassin haunted by the voice of her dead lover — is driving into the Nevada desert for revenge against Razor Bill McClintock.
It is nonstop chaos from there. Bullets, blood, and a cast of dangerous characters all converging on the same deadly destination.

It’s fast. It’s gritty. It’s over the top in the best way.
No filler, just pure revenge-fueled carnage. If you want a quick, action packed, bloody little rampage of a read — this one delivers. 🩸

[Brian Price]

A quick whirlwind of a novella that feels like Smokin’ Aces meets Sin City. A haunted assassin for hire is finally given the mark of her dreams: the assassin who killed her lover a few years prior. The only problem? She’s not the only one on the hunt. There are some fun kills, and it’s a quick read. Thanks to Bad Hand Books for the copy!

[Kris]

No nonsense fast bloody fun. This is what you get if John Wick f@&cked the Suicide Squad. A fantastic limited series waiting to get made. Great characters to explore and flesh out. Definitely take the hour and a half and read this.

[Jen Self]

This quick read packs a punch! It follows an assassin on a revenge road trip, and the action is top notch. If you have a little bit of time and want a fun read, give this one a shot!

[Kayleigh Dobbs]

If you like Kill Bill, you'll love this. If you don't like Kill Bill, you'll probably still love it.

[Kelly]

This was a fun little novella (80 pages) about a contracted killer seeking revenge for the murder of the man she loved. Problem is, the killer may not be who she thinks it is.

[Stranger Steph]

That was one bloody wild ride!
Pick this one up if you are looking for some action packed gore with a bleak desert setting.

[Julia]

I love nothing more than a bada** FMC!! And she’s an assassin? YEP
Dead Red was also out for revenge against the man who wronged her. LOVE
This was very fast paced with some great gore elements.
I can’t say anything more because its so short!

[Gracchus]

I finished "Dead Red and Razor" by Tim Lebbon, a cool contract killer novella. The novella isn't actually supernatural, because Dead Red is hearing the voice of her murdered lover and her victims, but that can be imagination. I enjoyed the novella.

[Richard Quist]

Dead Red and Razor by Tim Lebbon is a fast moving tale of violence and the quest for revenge. It's a quick and fun ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ read for fans of fiction that focuses on the killer's point of view.

Dead Red Virgilio has just completed a contract, proof of which is rolling around in the foot well of the passenger seat of her car, when she is asked to take on another, urgent job. When she hears that the target is the man who killed the one person she ever loved, she immediately agrees and heads to the abandoned construction site in the middle of the desert where he has secluded himself.

We soon learn that the assignment isn't as clear cut as it appears, and have to question just who is the target on this job.

With Dead Red and Razor, Tim Lebbon delivers a fast-paced, violent, at times funny and sad tale with enough twists and surprises to keep you guessing until the end.

Thanks to Bad Hand Books for the eBook review copy!