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Mutant Files #2
Redzone
The national bestselling author of the Legion of the Damned novels returns to his dark mutant world, where Police Detective Cassandra Lee is on the trail of a brutal murderer…
The year is 2065, almost thirty years since a bioterrorist attack decimated the population. The world has been divided, and new nations have formed. Those mutated from exposure inhabit the red zones, while “norms” live in the green zones.
In the nation of Pacifica, Los Angeles detective Cassandra Lee is in charge of investigating a disturbing case, tracking a cop killer dubbed the Bonebreaker. But strange new murders have occurred, falling outside the normal pattern and leaving Lee and her team wondering if the serial killer has become unpredictable—or if he’s no longer acting alone…
To make matters worse, Lee’s attention is diverted after she receives a letter from her long-lost mother. Now she must venture into the red zone, a lawless land where might makes right—and where the biggest danger may be her own family.
The year is 2065, almost thirty years since a bioterrorist attack decimated the population. The world has been divided, and new nations have formed. Those mutated from exposure inhabit the red zones, while “norms” live in the green zones.
In the nation of Pacifica, Los Angeles detective Cassandra Lee is in charge of investigating a disturbing case, tracking a cop killer dubbed the Bonebreaker. But strange new murders have occurred, falling outside the normal pattern and leaving Lee and her team wondering if the serial killer has become unpredictable—or if he’s no longer acting alone…
To make matters worse, Lee’s attention is diverted after she receives a letter from her long-lost mother. Now she must venture into the red zone, a lawless land where might makes right—and where the biggest danger may be her own family.
304 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published July 28, 2015
12 people are currently reading
201 people want to read
About the author
William C. Dietz
124 books453 followersNew York Times bestselling author William C. Dietz has published more than fifty novels, some of which have been translated into German, Russian, and Japanese. He grew up in the Seattle area, served as a medic with the Navy and Marine Corps, graduated from the University of Washington, and has been employed as a surgical technician, college instructor, and television news writer, director and producer. Before becoming a full-time writer Dietz was director of public relations and marketing for an international telephone company. He and his wife live near Gig Harbor, Washington.
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
January 31, 2016
Much MUCH better than the first book. An urban sci-fi police procedural featuring a tough-as-nails female cop. Story was a bit scattered and felt like two or three distinct parts cobbled together, and I was disappointed we didn't get to see her mutant partner Deputy Ras Omo from Deadeye make a return, but this one had me on the edge of my seat for most of it. I'm actually really excited to dive into the next book now.
August 17, 2015
It felt like this book was split into 3 parts. Cassie going after the Bonebreaker, Cassie learning more about her family and back to Cassie going after the Bonebreaker. In the midst of all of it was Cassie getting put on leave for shooting people in public, with investigation after investigation, all of which Cassie passed. Through her actions Cassie seems to impress her colleagues at the police department and help her gain friends, which she sorely needs.
The bit with Cassie's family bored me. The only good thing about it was that Cassie was able to put some ghosts to rest.
The last bit had me laughing, mostly because the Bonebreaker kept doing unexpected things in a jealous rage. I have a feeling that will come back to bite Cassie on the ass at some point, but that is a matter for a different day, or should I say a different book.
The bit with Cassie's family bored me. The only good thing about it was that Cassie was able to put some ghosts to rest.
The last bit had me laughing, mostly because the Bonebreaker kept doing unexpected things in a jealous rage. I have a feeling that will come back to bite Cassie on the ass at some point, but that is a matter for a different day, or should I say a different book.
November 27, 2021
Redzone by William C. Dietz is the second book in the Mutant Files trilogy.
Red Zone continues the adventures of Detective Cassandra Lee, a tough female detective on the trail of a serial cop killer, known as the Bonebreaker, while trying to survive in a post-apocalyptic world in which terrorists released a deadly virus that killed or mutated most of America's and the world's populations. As she finds more clues, the Bonebreaker's behavior is becoming erratic and more concerning. On top of that, she receives a letter from her long-lost mother, who is dying, which convinces her to risk mutation or worse by venturing into the dreaded Redzone to look for her.
The action and intrigue in "Redzone" are non-stop and the cast of characters is unforgettable!
I enjoyed the first book, "Dead Eye", but I found "Red Zone" to be even more of a page-turner.
I read this one in just one day!
Red Zone continues the adventures of Detective Cassandra Lee, a tough female detective on the trail of a serial cop killer, known as the Bonebreaker, while trying to survive in a post-apocalyptic world in which terrorists released a deadly virus that killed or mutated most of America's and the world's populations. As she finds more clues, the Bonebreaker's behavior is becoming erratic and more concerning. On top of that, she receives a letter from her long-lost mother, who is dying, which convinces her to risk mutation or worse by venturing into the dreaded Redzone to look for her.
The action and intrigue in "Redzone" are non-stop and the cast of characters is unforgettable!
I enjoyed the first book, "Dead Eye", but I found "Red Zone" to be even more of a page-turner.
I read this one in just one day!
July 28, 2015
originally posted at: http://thebookplank.blogspot.nl/2015/...
Just a few months ago I listened to the first book in William C. Dietz' The Mutant Files: Deadeye. I have read some of his other books of the Andromeda series, a Military Science Fiction series that I am thoroughly enjoying. The Mutant Files is something completely different. Granted it is still Science Fiction but with a police twist. About thirty years ago a terrorist released a deadly contagion, Bacillus nosilla, that when you contracted it, you would either die or be left a mutant. And not all mutations have proven to be "subtle". The mutants have been locked in the red zone, in order to contain B. nosilla. Yes it is still active! You can imagine that this is quite the different story compared to a Deep Space Opera story with mechs.
The story of Redzone picks up directly after the events of Deadeye. Cassandrea Lee is back at the force but not all in happy spirits as in the ending of Deadeye her chief got murdered by the Bonebreaker, the criminal she is on the hunt for, as the Bonebreaker also murdered her father. As Cassandra is attending the funeral of her chief, she lets the better being taken of her when a reporter asks her a confronting questions. Cassandra in turn punches the reporter in the face and well Cassandra gets taken into custody. Quite a interesting first few pages of the book! Soon afterwards Cassandra's only way of getting out of a lawsuit is to have an interview with said reporter. After this interview a bigger PR stunt is made to lure the Bonebreaker out of its den. The newly in charge chief makes a public statement saying that Cassandra is put full time on the case of the Bonebreaker. But of course this a well thought through plan. As Cassandra is the lure, she has the necessary shadows watching over her, so when the Bonebreaker strikes she has the backup. Just as the investigation gets rolling, Cassandra receives a letter from her mother, who she hasn't seen for a very long time. Cassandra's mother went to the redzone but never returned. The letter contains some unpleasant news and here Cassandra finds herself at a crossroads, as the Bonebreaker is also making new appearances. In the end she decides to take the venture into the redzone, which isn't without it's own danger. Without the proper protection Cassandra could well get infected and there is no police to take care of her... In the redzone Cassandra makes some shocking discoveries and in the end is forced to abandon it. Now after this Cassandra isn't out of work yet as the Bonebreaker has stuck again, is it really the Bonebreaker or is it a copy cat? Cassandra is once again in for a dangerous adventure. But will she finally be able to close in on her fathers murderer?
In the first book, Deadeye, William C. Dietz laid down a very clear groundwork of the world itself and in this sequel, more and more if build on it. Even though it is not really necessary to have read the first book as the beginning offers a nice recap of the events that changed the world and what happened in the first book. As I mentioned above, Cassandra takes a short detour to the redzone in search of her mother and this was a nice move to do, the sequel is a tricky part and with this William C. Dietz managed to add something refreshing to Redzone. Because in this part you learn much more about how dangerous this area is and William C. Dietz just lifts the veil a bit of what is possible, from gangs that control complete town to freakish mutants and animals that have been struck by B. nosilla. The scene where Cassandra was fighting of the mutant dogs was pretty cool executed. William C. Dietz even turned the perspective towards that of the dogs, these highly intelligent (due to B. nosilla) creatures really have a mind of their own and made this particular scene even more cooler. It really got me to the edge of my seat!
As for Cassandra herself. Her life up until now hasn't been easy and isn't being made easier. she is a dedicated police officer who will do anything to make the truth surface and catch bad guy, even though if that means working with the enemy. Cassandra is a kick ass women who doesn't back down when there is challenge or a wall to conquer. She knows what she is worth and what she is capable of, she doesn't approach a situation with a reckless attitude but always tries to weigh out the pros and cons. It is with this kind of attitude that her character has that makes her protagonist so much fun to read about. Now this doesn't mean that she is a robot, no there is still the occasional moment where she acts on the spot, making her much more human. Next to her character, there are some other police officers and other mutants that make for a nice secondary cast, but the story is really told as to how Cassandra perceives it and thus they don't receive that much air time. What I did like about Redzone was that the Bonebreaker got some very nice attention and this gave a much more thrilling dynamic to the overall story. A nice action-reaction kind off way.
With Redzone, William C. Dietz continues the action packed story that he put down in Deadeye. He build very nicely on the foundation that he put down in the first book but with enough twists and turn to keep you to the edge of your seat. One thing that I have noticed in the writing style of William C. Dietz is that at certain points in the story he ramps up the pacing to create tense action scenes (as with the dog scene) and than slowing it down and letting you as a reader catch your breath once more before ramping it up again. A great way to keep you glued to the pages. The last third of the book offered something really interesting in terms of cooperation and catching the bad guy. How the third book Graveyard will turn out can be anybodies game. All I know is that it will be pretty darn cool.
Just a few months ago I listened to the first book in William C. Dietz' The Mutant Files: Deadeye. I have read some of his other books of the Andromeda series, a Military Science Fiction series that I am thoroughly enjoying. The Mutant Files is something completely different. Granted it is still Science Fiction but with a police twist. About thirty years ago a terrorist released a deadly contagion, Bacillus nosilla, that when you contracted it, you would either die or be left a mutant. And not all mutations have proven to be "subtle". The mutants have been locked in the red zone, in order to contain B. nosilla. Yes it is still active! You can imagine that this is quite the different story compared to a Deep Space Opera story with mechs.
The story of Redzone picks up directly after the events of Deadeye. Cassandrea Lee is back at the force but not all in happy spirits as in the ending of Deadeye her chief got murdered by the Bonebreaker, the criminal she is on the hunt for, as the Bonebreaker also murdered her father. As Cassandra is attending the funeral of her chief, she lets the better being taken of her when a reporter asks her a confronting questions. Cassandra in turn punches the reporter in the face and well Cassandra gets taken into custody. Quite a interesting first few pages of the book! Soon afterwards Cassandra's only way of getting out of a lawsuit is to have an interview with said reporter. After this interview a bigger PR stunt is made to lure the Bonebreaker out of its den. The newly in charge chief makes a public statement saying that Cassandra is put full time on the case of the Bonebreaker. But of course this a well thought through plan. As Cassandra is the lure, she has the necessary shadows watching over her, so when the Bonebreaker strikes she has the backup. Just as the investigation gets rolling, Cassandra receives a letter from her mother, who she hasn't seen for a very long time. Cassandra's mother went to the redzone but never returned. The letter contains some unpleasant news and here Cassandra finds herself at a crossroads, as the Bonebreaker is also making new appearances. In the end she decides to take the venture into the redzone, which isn't without it's own danger. Without the proper protection Cassandra could well get infected and there is no police to take care of her... In the redzone Cassandra makes some shocking discoveries and in the end is forced to abandon it. Now after this Cassandra isn't out of work yet as the Bonebreaker has stuck again, is it really the Bonebreaker or is it a copy cat? Cassandra is once again in for a dangerous adventure. But will she finally be able to close in on her fathers murderer?
In the first book, Deadeye, William C. Dietz laid down a very clear groundwork of the world itself and in this sequel, more and more if build on it. Even though it is not really necessary to have read the first book as the beginning offers a nice recap of the events that changed the world and what happened in the first book. As I mentioned above, Cassandra takes a short detour to the redzone in search of her mother and this was a nice move to do, the sequel is a tricky part and with this William C. Dietz managed to add something refreshing to Redzone. Because in this part you learn much more about how dangerous this area is and William C. Dietz just lifts the veil a bit of what is possible, from gangs that control complete town to freakish mutants and animals that have been struck by B. nosilla. The scene where Cassandra was fighting of the mutant dogs was pretty cool executed. William C. Dietz even turned the perspective towards that of the dogs, these highly intelligent (due to B. nosilla) creatures really have a mind of their own and made this particular scene even more cooler. It really got me to the edge of my seat!
As for Cassandra herself. Her life up until now hasn't been easy and isn't being made easier. she is a dedicated police officer who will do anything to make the truth surface and catch bad guy, even though if that means working with the enemy. Cassandra is a kick ass women who doesn't back down when there is challenge or a wall to conquer. She knows what she is worth and what she is capable of, she doesn't approach a situation with a reckless attitude but always tries to weigh out the pros and cons. It is with this kind of attitude that her character has that makes her protagonist so much fun to read about. Now this doesn't mean that she is a robot, no there is still the occasional moment where she acts on the spot, making her much more human. Next to her character, there are some other police officers and other mutants that make for a nice secondary cast, but the story is really told as to how Cassandra perceives it and thus they don't receive that much air time. What I did like about Redzone was that the Bonebreaker got some very nice attention and this gave a much more thrilling dynamic to the overall story. A nice action-reaction kind off way.
With Redzone, William C. Dietz continues the action packed story that he put down in Deadeye. He build very nicely on the foundation that he put down in the first book but with enough twists and turn to keep you to the edge of your seat. One thing that I have noticed in the writing style of William C. Dietz is that at certain points in the story he ramps up the pacing to create tense action scenes (as with the dog scene) and than slowing it down and letting you as a reader catch your breath once more before ramping it up again. A great way to keep you glued to the pages. The last third of the book offered something really interesting in terms of cooperation and catching the bad guy. How the third book Graveyard will turn out can be anybodies game. All I know is that it will be pretty darn cool.
August 25, 2015
All Things Urban Fantasy
REDZONE came off as really confused as to what genre it wanted to be. For the longest time it felt like I was reading a police procedural and a one that was at times confusing and slow. There were some hints about mutants and a disease being passed around in world and these mutants are put in redzones for everyone's protection. When Cassandra does eventually go to a redzone it felt like a massive detour from the Bonebreaker serial killer plot of the police procedural section. The two parts didn't connect and both plots were pretty interesting in themselves. The redzone plot was a family drama involving inheritance, betrayal, and great family revelations. The police procedural part was a interesting thriller involving a cat and mouse game between Cassandra and the Bonebreaker which is a continuation from the previous book. There was no science fiction involved in the Bonebreaker case. No random mutants wandering about protesting at their unfair treatment or the Bonebreaker trying to threaten the general public with contamination of this virus. Only when we actually go to a redzone do we see some future tech and mutants.
Anytime a mutant showed up I got excited and immediately disappointed as their mutation is described, they say a few words maybe and the scene goes on. I had so many questions about the mutants and their lives. What are their lives like in the redzones? Do they get subpar medical care? It's mentioned that there is a hierarchy with mutants who don't have visible mutations being thought of as more normal. The mutants are treated as background characters or they don't even really seem mutated until their facial features are described. There could have been an interesting commentary or allusion to how the disabled and people with chronic diseases are treated in society. But no, the mutations seem to be just quirks people have that are only brought up in passing and when the plot thinks it's important.
With an airborne virus such as the flu you can catch it from someone coughing on you as well as from touching a surface someone with a flu or cold has touched. So, someone sneezes on a counter, you touch the counter and rub your eye, you could possibly catch flu. This mutation in REDZONE is so contagious that any spray of fluid (your breath has small water droplets in it even if you don't cough) immediately causes the mutation. My question is do the mutants have to wear gloves then? These mutants shouldn't even be touching non-mutants since sweat and tears can transfer a virus very easily. See the Ebola virus. I know this is fiction and a fictitious virus but I am confused by such a powerful virus being only transmitted through breath.
The conclusion to REDZONE was really dissatisfying as the part in the redzone just sort of ended once Cassandra left and we were straight back to the Bonebreaker plot which was a bit jarring as there was no mention of this plot thread for quite a good section of the story. REDZONE had some nice ideas that I would have loved to have read more about but it was just all over the place genre-wise and plot-wise for me to really enjoy it.
REDZONE came off as really confused as to what genre it wanted to be. For the longest time it felt like I was reading a police procedural and a one that was at times confusing and slow. There were some hints about mutants and a disease being passed around in world and these mutants are put in redzones for everyone's protection. When Cassandra does eventually go to a redzone it felt like a massive detour from the Bonebreaker serial killer plot of the police procedural section. The two parts didn't connect and both plots were pretty interesting in themselves. The redzone plot was a family drama involving inheritance, betrayal, and great family revelations. The police procedural part was a interesting thriller involving a cat and mouse game between Cassandra and the Bonebreaker which is a continuation from the previous book. There was no science fiction involved in the Bonebreaker case. No random mutants wandering about protesting at their unfair treatment or the Bonebreaker trying to threaten the general public with contamination of this virus. Only when we actually go to a redzone do we see some future tech and mutants.
Anytime a mutant showed up I got excited and immediately disappointed as their mutation is described, they say a few words maybe and the scene goes on. I had so many questions about the mutants and their lives. What are their lives like in the redzones? Do they get subpar medical care? It's mentioned that there is a hierarchy with mutants who don't have visible mutations being thought of as more normal. The mutants are treated as background characters or they don't even really seem mutated until their facial features are described. There could have been an interesting commentary or allusion to how the disabled and people with chronic diseases are treated in society. But no, the mutations seem to be just quirks people have that are only brought up in passing and when the plot thinks it's important.
With an airborne virus such as the flu you can catch it from someone coughing on you as well as from touching a surface someone with a flu or cold has touched. So, someone sneezes on a counter, you touch the counter and rub your eye, you could possibly catch flu. This mutation in REDZONE is so contagious that any spray of fluid (your breath has small water droplets in it even if you don't cough) immediately causes the mutation. My question is do the mutants have to wear gloves then? These mutants shouldn't even be touching non-mutants since sweat and tears can transfer a virus very easily. See the Ebola virus. I know this is fiction and a fictitious virus but I am confused by such a powerful virus being only transmitted through breath.
The conclusion to REDZONE was really dissatisfying as the part in the redzone just sort of ended once Cassandra left and we were straight back to the Bonebreaker plot which was a bit jarring as there was no mention of this plot thread for quite a good section of the story. REDZONE had some nice ideas that I would have loved to have read more about but it was just all over the place genre-wise and plot-wise for me to really enjoy it.
July 31, 2017
Near future police detective serial killer crime fiction. This one I read for the Endeavour Award. Not a bad book, a pretty good read actually. I would have liked a lot more science-fictional elements but they were there. I did notice occasional overuse of exclamation points (!) which I found surprising, especially since I did notice them. Our main character is a little bit overdone. Her side adventure into the Mutant Lands, not especially necessary. And the whole serial killer thing - sure it was the main idea of the book - but I wish it was a different story altogether. I expect the Mutant Lands have lots of stories.
December 9, 2016
3 out of 5 stars.
I'm going to start with the complaints. First, I felt the family drama wasn't necessary or even should have been part of the story. The brother - an unlikable character - didn't even mesh at all or the reunion with the mother. I don't believe that Cassandra would have cried either. Not when receiving the letter or when they met. It didn't seem real.
Second, the romance didn't feel real to me either. Why would they have fallen for each other? Because of their professional time together? That didn't make sense.
Third, the serial killer has turned strange - and not scary strange - which we're supposed to dread. Didn't happen.
So anyway, I'm taking a break from this series.
I'm going to start with the complaints. First, I felt the family drama wasn't necessary or even should have been part of the story. The brother - an unlikable character - didn't even mesh at all or the reunion with the mother. I don't believe that Cassandra would have cried either. Not when receiving the letter or when they met. It didn't seem real.
Second, the romance didn't feel real to me either. Why would they have fallen for each other? Because of their professional time together? That didn't make sense.
Third, the serial killer has turned strange - and not scary strange - which we're supposed to dread. Didn't happen.
So anyway, I'm taking a break from this series.
March 23, 2021
Red Zones are are filled with diseased people who lack most social services including law enforcement since the state governments refuse to tax their inhabitants. Written in 2015, it feels faintly prescient.
It's still a futuristic hard-boiled detective novel with enough bullets and explosions to make Micheal Bay happy, interesting characters and strange plot twists. A fun read if your up for dystopian futures.
It's still a futuristic hard-boiled detective novel with enough bullets and explosions to make Micheal Bay happy, interesting characters and strange plot twists. A fun read if your up for dystopian futures.
April 30, 2018
Diets will take you in a thrill ride…
As the second installment of the series continues, at breakneck speed, you’ll be caught up in the mayhem. As a stand-alone storyline everything is complete. Building of the first book, we see even more revealed about the evil Bonebreaker and his diabolical plans.
As the second installment of the series continues, at breakneck speed, you’ll be caught up in the mayhem. As a stand-alone storyline everything is complete. Building of the first book, we see even more revealed about the evil Bonebreaker and his diabolical plans.
October 24, 2023
Finally finished. Still has a lot of issues and is mediocre but the MC might actually be growing up.
24/10/23 - It's weird. I recall having a lot more fondness for these books than i apparently did while reading them.
24/10/23 - It's weird. I recall having a lot more fondness for these books than i apparently did while reading them.
May 18, 2017
Next please
Now would be good. A good quality crime drama of the future. Think Law and Order or Major Crimes with mutants. Read it. Gritty, humane, chilling.
Now would be good. A good quality crime drama of the future. Think Law and Order or Major Crimes with mutants. Read it. Gritty, humane, chilling.
August 27, 2019
Full of info dumps, point of view shifts, and pointless death. Unrealistic on many levels. His worst book so far. The main character totally forgets her motivation several times
March 24, 2023
DNFed halfway through. Too much mutant family blah.
August 18, 2015
(I received this book for free as part of Goodreads First Reads giveaways).
(This review may contain spoilers).
This is the first book in this series that I've read, but there was enough detail to allow me to follow the story without any problems.
I felt that this book was a good mix of genres. There were some science fiction elements, but a lot of action and very tense scenes.
I liked Cassandra's character. I found her very easy to relate to and empathise with. I recognised a lot of things about myself in her... particularly in not wanting to get up in the morning; though I'm rarely late when I've made commitments, whether work or personal.
I was very interested in the details about the disease that caused the mutations. It was good to read about how society was divided between mutants and 'normals', to the point where mutants are kept completely separated to people who don't suffer the effects of the disease.
I thought it was good to see that police work still seemed to operate the same as it does in the present. Cassandra took me by surprise when she punched out the reporter... but it as good to see her suffering the consequences of her actions, even though I did think she was let off easily.
There was a lot of action in this book and I did care about what happened to Cassandra. While I thought the romance was glossed over more than it should have been and there was too much summarising of the interactions between Cassandra and Kane, the romance didn't seem to take over the book and have Cassandra care more about that than the other things that should have been important to her.
It was good to see what it was like for Cassandra after she entered the Red Zone. Even if I wasn't sure how the disease was carried, I was still concerned about her safety... more so after what I saw her half brother and his half brothers were like. While James was intriguing and seemed to have some depth to him, I didn't like him as a character. I would have liked to see more of Cassandra's interactions with them... but I was on edge the entire time she was there.
There were some nice elements of foreshadowing and I felt the pace of the book really picked up later on. I found this book to be really entertaining and well-written... and I'd be interested in reading the other books in this series in the future.
(This review may contain spoilers).
This is the first book in this series that I've read, but there was enough detail to allow me to follow the story without any problems.
I felt that this book was a good mix of genres. There were some science fiction elements, but a lot of action and very tense scenes.
I liked Cassandra's character. I found her very easy to relate to and empathise with. I recognised a lot of things about myself in her... particularly in not wanting to get up in the morning; though I'm rarely late when I've made commitments, whether work or personal.
I was very interested in the details about the disease that caused the mutations. It was good to read about how society was divided between mutants and 'normals', to the point where mutants are kept completely separated to people who don't suffer the effects of the disease.
I thought it was good to see that police work still seemed to operate the same as it does in the present. Cassandra took me by surprise when she punched out the reporter... but it as good to see her suffering the consequences of her actions, even though I did think she was let off easily.
There was a lot of action in this book and I did care about what happened to Cassandra. While I thought the romance was glossed over more than it should have been and there was too much summarising of the interactions between Cassandra and Kane, the romance didn't seem to take over the book and have Cassandra care more about that than the other things that should have been important to her.
It was good to see what it was like for Cassandra after she entered the Red Zone. Even if I wasn't sure how the disease was carried, I was still concerned about her safety... more so after what I saw her half brother and his half brothers were like. While James was intriguing and seemed to have some depth to him, I didn't like him as a character. I would have liked to see more of Cassandra's interactions with them... but I was on edge the entire time she was there.
There were some nice elements of foreshadowing and I felt the pace of the book really picked up later on. I found this book to be really entertaining and well-written... and I'd be interested in reading the other books in this series in the future.
July 23, 2016
I received a copy of this book from ACE via NetGalley in return for an honest review.
In a post apocalyptic world where society is broken down into green and red zones and the divide between being normal and mutant is extreme; Los Angeles detective Cassandra Lee risks herself every day in the line of duty. This time she is finally getting her wish – a chance to go after the cop killing serial killer named the Bonebreaker. Like most things, the investigation goes screwy when murders attributed to the Bonebreaker don’t follow the usual M.O. Even worse, Cassandra must also choose to re-enter the red zone when a letter from her mother appears. As she well knows, in the red zone, there are worst things that can happen than getting out alive.
In the first book of the series titled “Deadeye” the Mutant Files world was set up incredibly well. Almost thirty years ago a bioterrorist attack decimated the world population. Most got sick and died, but those that got sick and survived didn’t return to normal – they mutated. Society’s solution to this problem was to create zones; green for normals, and red for those who are different. In “Deadeye” we first follow detective Cassandra Lee in her adventures in both green and red zones with mutant Deputy Ras Omo. The Bonebreaker is introduced as a cop killer with an almost legendary reputation. He just so happened to have killed detective Lee’s father cementing her willingness to take on the Bonebreaker in “Redzone”.
Overall I found that William Dietz created a very unique read by pulling ideas from both dystopian worlds and serial detective thrillers. Thriller readers experience constant action from a detective who is both intelligent and extremely capable with a gun while sci-fi readers get a healthy dose of the weird and strange. While I wouldn’t recommend this series for readers who liked Dietz’s “Legion of the Damned” series I would suggest anyone who loved the movie “Totall Recall” and/or books by Philip K. Dick to pick this one up. It’s a winner.
In a post apocalyptic world where society is broken down into green and red zones and the divide between being normal and mutant is extreme; Los Angeles detective Cassandra Lee risks herself every day in the line of duty. This time she is finally getting her wish – a chance to go after the cop killing serial killer named the Bonebreaker. Like most things, the investigation goes screwy when murders attributed to the Bonebreaker don’t follow the usual M.O. Even worse, Cassandra must also choose to re-enter the red zone when a letter from her mother appears. As she well knows, in the red zone, there are worst things that can happen than getting out alive.
In the first book of the series titled “Deadeye” the Mutant Files world was set up incredibly well. Almost thirty years ago a bioterrorist attack decimated the world population. Most got sick and died, but those that got sick and survived didn’t return to normal – they mutated. Society’s solution to this problem was to create zones; green for normals, and red for those who are different. In “Deadeye” we first follow detective Cassandra Lee in her adventures in both green and red zones with mutant Deputy Ras Omo. The Bonebreaker is introduced as a cop killer with an almost legendary reputation. He just so happened to have killed detective Lee’s father cementing her willingness to take on the Bonebreaker in “Redzone”.
Overall I found that William Dietz created a very unique read by pulling ideas from both dystopian worlds and serial detective thrillers. Thriller readers experience constant action from a detective who is both intelligent and extremely capable with a gun while sci-fi readers get a healthy dose of the weird and strange. While I wouldn’t recommend this series for readers who liked Dietz’s “Legion of the Damned” series I would suggest anyone who loved the movie “Totall Recall” and/or books by Philip K. Dick to pick this one up. It’s a winner.
July 7, 2015
Redzone by William C. Dietz- This book is a Police Procedural with Science Fiction trappings, and is second in a series of three books( the third book comes out early next year). Forty years into our future a mutant virus has been released and America is now segmented into "Mutant" and "Normal" zones. Meanwhile a serial killer named "Bonebreaker" is terrorizing the LAPD, killing nine officers in so many years. Detective Cassandra Lee is hot on his trail because one of the dead police was her father. She is sidetracked by a letter from her long disappeared Mother, thought to be dead, but alive and living in the mutant Redzone. Lee decides to go searching for her mother in the Redzone and also suspects the Bonebreaker will follow. The world-building is okay, but I found it jarring to jump from one genre to the next and back and forth as the two settings do not seem to mesh. As I began to somewhat enjoy the police procedural part, I was suddenly plunged into the Science Fiction part. Also the POV of the narrative would shift between different characters sometimes from paragraph to paragraph which was also annoying. I've read William C. Dietz's Legion books and found them to be entertaining but here, I wanted the Science Fiction part to go away so I could read the Police Procedural.
August 30, 2015
This is the first book in this series that I have read and it was a pretty good introduction. Cassandra Lee is a kick ass police detective with a temper and on the trail of the Bonebreaker, the serial cop killer responsible for her father's death. I found Cassandra a likeable character but since this is a police procedural/sci-fi novel I would like to have seen more of her police work. She is constantly under review or suspended.
I would also like to see more or even some progress made on the Bonebreaker investigation instead of the introduction and subsequent killing off of characters.
I did enjoy the book and it was a quick read. I will read the rest of series.
I would also like to see more or even some progress made on the Bonebreaker investigation instead of the introduction and subsequent killing off of characters.
I did enjoy the book and it was a quick read. I will read the rest of series.
January 7, 2017
So this was a fairly good book with some good action and suspense. I was a little disappointed at how the things were resolved with the female merc - I was hoping for more, perhaps into the third book. The merc ending felt truncated like the author got tired of the storyline and just ended it. I was also hoping for more with Cassie's mother's family - maybe in the third book there will be some more of the Heevy family. A few typos in the text - ones that spell check won't catch because the word is spelled correctly.
December 13, 2015
This series just gets better. I was excited for Lee to meet her mother again after having been separated from her for so long. That she has to go into the Republic of Texas to do it. Lee grows a lot during this book, learning how to not just work with others but to defer to their authority as well. Makes me anxious for the next in the series, due out next month, I think. I really hope that the author brings Detective Omo back in the future though - I really liked him in the first book.
Want to read
July 18, 2015*Recvd from Publisher* Expected publication: July 28th 2015 by Ace
August 6, 2015
An enjoyable, fast paced read ! Nothing exceptional but entertaining none the less ! One more book to go in this series to bring the story to a conclusion !
October 11, 2015
darn good book
February 2, 2016
Check out my full review at That's What I'm Talking About blog: http://twimom227.com/2016/01/review-r...
November 13, 2015
So much fun. This is somewhere between gritty detective novel and awesome sci fi shoot 'em up! There's even a fun story, great characters, and a unique world to go along with it. Pulp awesome.
June 22, 2025
great second book. characters frank lee and wife alala daughter cassandra lee , alala 2nd husband hirem keevy son james, hirems ex wife monica and son bruce.
August 24, 2015
cool book sort of another detective story Casandra Lee LAPD of the future a good cop
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