Customer Reviews

A Flash of Red (Niagara Large Print)

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(7)

 

 

I've read all of Clancy, Cussler, Dale Brown, most of W.E.B. Griffin, Ludlum, and Stephen Hunter, and others, and I find this book refreshing with action. It is refreshing because of Clay Harvey's good sense of humor that fits naturally with the characters in this story, his development of characters who have close friendships, and his development of a realistic relationship that the main character, Tyler Vance, has with his five year old son. It is also refreshing because of Harvey's ability to describe fighting scenes, as well as his knowledge of guns (which reminds me of Stephen Hunter). Harvey knows how to tell a story and to keep the plot moving, while still spending interesting time in character development - even with the bad guys. And his descriptions of the interaction between Tyler Vance and the local police puts you right there, with some interesting - and humorous - twists.

This book is refreshing because it is not just macho action. It is not just plot driven, although the plot is good and believable. It is also character driven - some of whom you may find yourself wanting to meet. Tyler Vance has some characteristics similar to Clancy's Jack Ryan, in that Vance doesn't have a "dark side" that is so popular in many modern action heroes. Vance is just a good guy - with a real personality - period.
I enjoyed this enough to purchase and read the sequel, "A Whisper of Black", and then the delightful prequel to both, "Dwelling In The Gray".

This 1st book of tyler vance and friends was a fun and fast read. The pace was fast for the most part and the dialouge was witty. I just recently came back from a school for my job where this book took place and it was kind of like kismet that I accidently found this new author and series while browsing in the local bookstore. Now I pride myself in knowing a good action/adventure book when I read one since I've read tons of the stuff in all genres for over 30 years. My final analysis of this guy's 1st book was a fun read and a good blend of humor and decent action sequences, but not one of the best I've read. Now don't get me wrong - its a fun and easy read and I would reccomend it, if you like a slower version of a redneck-type Die Hard. I thought it good enough and the characters banter enjoyable enough that I will read the other two books in the series. I currently just started his newest book titled DWELLING IN THE GRAY, and will be reviewing that one as soon as I finish it. Thats all folks!

Too bad the author could not live up to his plot outline. I read with interest the review written by a 'reader from Florida' that proposes readers that do not like this book are gay, anti-gun liberals. I am none of those things, in fact, I cannot wait until deer season each year in this part of the country, and I have read nearly anything 'good' that falls into this genre; i.e. any Tom Clancy novel, any Stephen Hunter novel (the 'Bob the Nailer' series in particular), but I can find nothing in this authors vision that would prompt me to pick up another of his books. The action is simplistic, the reparte is juvenile, the set-ups are transparent, and the justification for the use of violence seem to be an NRA-sanctioned advertisement. I can only hope that the writer will not find a big audience for this type of book.

..but, in all honesty, I couldn't get past the writer's style. I was very excited when I read the jacket at the supermarket where I purchased this book, and it started off fine, but soon degenerated into what is the literary equivelant of a movie I saw afew years ago called 'Red Dawn', where the bad guys (in this case Communist Cubans), invade the USA and are successful because of recently enacted gun laws that prevented the citizenry from mounting an effective militia. I know the stories are dissimiliar, but the underlying theme of championing the unrestricted use of firearms to solve your problems is a bit disturbing. I am an avid hunter, but only for game animals. To advocate the use of firearms to go around the constitution and the laws that are based on it simply because they don't fit your limited requirements is insane. I also thought that the tortilla method used to find the 'bad guys' was a bit much... (For the reviewer that felt anyone who disliked this b! ! ook was (1) a Liberal, (2) a sexual deviant, (3) anti-gun, or (4) a wimp, your attitude towards anyone who doesn't think like you is indicative of the type of person that would enjoy this writer's style. I feel sorry for the next person that doesn't see the world as you do.)

I read a few of the reviews here before getting the book. I didn't know which ones to believe. Now I know; the writing is bad, the plot is bad, the hero is bad, the hero's friends are bad, and the dog next door is bad! Anyone who read this trash and gave it a good review should be required to pick up a good book sometime and write a comparitive essay on the two books. (Did I mention that this is a bad book)?

After reading this book (and throwing it in the trash), I read the reviews that are posted here and was amazed that there were a couple of readers that actually enjoyed it, and intend to read more! The author's attempt to invoke a level of emotions tied to the 'southern' ideal; God, country and family at any cost, is a great example of someone who has possibly attended a beginner-level writing class, but ignored the basics. Perhaps his target audience is the same people who would recognize his name from the gun manuals he has published. I will not read another of his books..

Need to pass some time without too much heavy lifting- this is for you. Good action, not a lot of plausibility. A hero who seems able to do and know everything, while still being a sensitive family man,is the center of this first in a series.

Being a native of Greensboro, I was attracted to this book from the first. Harvey had the locale down pat. He really captures the flavor of the Gate City. Moreover, unlike a lot of crime novels, this one gets the guns right. It may seem like a small thing but nothing is more irritating than an author who tries to be cool with his gun lingo and doesn't know diddly squat about it. Now it is on to reading his other books!

"A Flash of Red" gives non-stop action and is impossible to put down. It never stops, and it is always mixing you up and confusing you (in a good way). I would recommend this book to anyone who likes action.

Tough customer is Tyler Vance. A "softie" when it comes to his family and close friends. Good for gun lovers, children lovers, and just lovers. Excellent book.