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11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Woohoo! Psychic sleuth Jeff Resnick is back for a new mystery!, June 19, 2008
For all Jeff Resnick lovers and those yet to discover this unique sleuth, L.L. Bartlett's second suspense mystery, DEAD IN RED brings back a loved set of characters to a new mystery territory, closer to home yet one that takes them to the darker sides of society and the dark secrets of individuals nearby. The psychic sleuth gives a nice twist to the unfolding mystery, but this Jeff Resnick mystery also has an extra dimension as L.L. Bartlett peers deeper into the relationship and tensions between Jeff and his brother. In her debut mystery, MURDER ON THE MIND, L.L. Bartlett introduced Jeff Resnick. Divorced and having just lost his job as an insurance investigator, Jeff is mugged. The attack leaves him brain damaged and psychic. His brother Richard, a doctor, and Richard's girlfriend Brenda care for him. Frustrated at his sudden incapacity and reliance on Richard, Jeff investigates the brutal death of a banker. In DEAD IN RED, Jeff Resnick turns his eyes from a high society positioned victim to a murder closer to home. Tom Links, the owner of his favorite bar and hang out, The Whole Nine Yards, asks Jeff to look into the murder of bartender Walt Kaplan. Jeff sees a vision of a high heeled red sequined shoe, a shoe that leads him to investigate a friend from his brother's past, theater groups, foot fetishes and even the haunts of the Buffalo's drag queens, but not even a psychic vision can prepare him for the scenes that will unfold before him. As the clues and a new vision lead him closer to answers, Jeff must race to save an unknown person. Although fear and guilt haunt him, Jeff knows he can only save this person by solving the crime. Humorous, fast-paced and full of surprises and emotion. Jeff Resnick is a great flawed sleuth. Although psychic, his vision does not make things simple or easy, not one bit! Psychic answers are no substitute or short cut to investigation. His visions give him an inside to the crimes that the police do not have but they can also lead him into dangerous paths that risk not only his life but the lives of those around him. Jeff's relationship to his brother Richard chafes. As a half-brother, Richard had all the benefits that Jeff never had. Forced to rely on his brother as an adult, he recalls the past and yet the present circumstances forge a bond between the two. L.L. Bartlett gives the reader new insights into Richard, adding humor and spunk to his character. L.L. Bartlett's portrayal of family adds a richness to her Jeff Resnick mysteries. Dead in Red raises the level as Jeff and Richard must work together once more, adding a new glimpse of family in the midst of the dark mystery Jeff uncovers through his psychic vision. DEAD IN RED takes the reader to the darker side of town and the darker regions of the mind. In DEAD IN RED, L.L. Bartlett give mystery and suspense readers a unique eclectic mix of hard-edged characters and scenarios mixed with intimate, tender family moments. There is no guaranteed easy resolution or happily-ever-after summation but wow, what a wonderful ending! Now --- when is the next Jeff Resnick mystery out? I'm hooked!
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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
For Me, the Most Anticipated Book of the Year! Worth the Wait!, June 19, 2008
For me, Dead In Red by L.L. Bartlett has been the most anticipated book of the year. Yes, even more so than Sue Grafton's latest - which is saying a whole lot since Sue is my favorite contemporary mystery author. Honestly, I have been anxiously awaiting Dead in Red ever since reviewing the ARC of Murder on the Mind, the first Jeff Resnick mystery, a couple of years ago. I'm pleased to say that I wasn't disappointed. Thank you, Ms. Bartlett, for allowing us to once again share in the lives and exploits of your dynamic duo, Jeffrey Resnick and his half-brother, Richard Alpert, M.D. Ms. Bartlett provides snippets of the past, bringing the reader up to speed on her main characters without wasting time or bogging down the new storyline with unimportant details. If you missed reading Murder on the Mind, you won't feel like you don't have a clue what's going on, however, it was such an excellent read, I'd suggest picking up a copy and enjoying it first. In this installment of Jeffrey Resnick, et al., Jeff is hankering to get back to work, in more ways than one. He accepts a part-time position as a bartender at a local sports bar, The Whole Nine Yards, but he also promises to look into the murder of Walt Kaplan, who just happens to have held said bartender position before being brutally murdered. Jeff's investigation uncovers the victim's well-hidden secrets that were overlooked by the police, but he also discovers some troubling ties between the dead man and a friend of Richard's. Jeff is torn between digging deeper for the truth and his desire not to do anything further to hurt Richard, especially since he still feels guilty for nearly getting Richard killed just months previously. As with the first book in the series, Dead in Red is a real page turner. There are plenty of plot twists and turns to keep the reader on edge, and plenty of subplots that help better define the characters and make the reader feel emotionally vested in what's going on in their lives. Jeff is having a difficult time adjusting to his psychic abilities, especially since he is still having a hard time accepting them. The fact that his intuition can strike at any place and time is more than a little unnerving. I enjoyed especially the character of Sophie Levin, an elderly woman who lives in a bakery on Main Street who has befriended Jeff, understands his gift of sight, and helps him decipher the meaning behind many of his visions. The fact that the reader, and even Jeff himself, is unsure whether or not Sophie really exists or is a figment of Jeff's imagination, is a very interesting tidbit. I said it before, and I'll say it again. Someone in Hollywood needs to pick this up as a new drama series. Paranormal entities are very hot right now, and I dare say that L.L. Bartlett wrote the manuscript for Murder on the Mind long before any of the storylines we're watching now were written. Besides, her characters are far more interesting and their exploits far more exciting. I would LOVE to be able to watch Jeffrey, Richard, Brenda, Maggie, Sam, and Sophie on a weekly basis. I have no trouble at all picturing Michael T. Weiss (as he was in The Pretender) every time I think about Jeffrey Resnick. But, if that isn't in the cards (I sure wish I had Jeff's psychic ability!), I hope that L.L. Bartlett won't make us wait so long before sharing further adventures of the fascinating Mr. Jeffrey Resnick. I can hardly wait (especially after the book's cliffhanger ending!!!). Carol Ann Hopkins, 3/9/2008
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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Fast-paced read with plenty of twists and turns., July 8, 2008
L.L. Bartlett's Dead in Red starts fast, picks up speed, and finishes with a bang. Jeff Resnick is flawed, human, complex and tenacious enough to earn this reader's loyalty. The book explores unusual terrain (for most of us!) without pandering or getting prurient, while the sibling dynamics between Resnick and his half brother offer other another layer of interest. There's a touch of the paranormal here with Resnick's unusual talent, but not so much to move the book into the fantasy realm. Bartlett manages to straddle the line between realism and supernatural handily. Resnick is more conscious of his short-comings than confident about his abilities, and that makes for a very interesting protagonist indeed. A fast-paced read with plenty of twists and turns.
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