Customer Reviews

With Red Hands

5 star:		(15)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

In his best-selling debut, "Through Violet Eyes," Stephen Woodworth introduced readers to the world of the Violets, the few people born to each generation who possess violet eyes and an ability to communicate with the dead. In "With Red Hands," the second in the Violet series, Woodworth proves that his unique world is one that becomes even more exciting as he delves into its vast potential.

The gifted and beautiful Violet Natalie Lindstrom returns as the central character of this novel. Nearly six years after breaking with the government agency that exploited her abilities for so long, Natalie struggles to support herself and her five-year-old daughter, Callie, who is also a Violet. Though estranged from the rest of her family and harassed daily by government-surveillance goons, Natalie perseveres-until her involvement in a murder trial threatens to take away everything she's worked so hard to keep.

Suspense and mystery fans will delight in the near-perfect plot, which features Natalie getting involved as a secret consultant in the murder trial of Scott Hyland, a seventeen-year-old boy accused of killing his parents. Along the way, Natalie discovers that the testimony of the victims is not all it should be. This discovery leads her to the heart of her worst childhood nightmare-and could result in the destruction of the family she never knew she loved so much.

As with the first book, this one is written in an easy-to-read, highly visual style that has the reader racing breathlessly through the story, almost like watching a film. The book takes on added depth, though, as the action affects various family relationships-Natalie's, accused murderer Scott Hyland's, and even those of the man who she hoped was only a bad dream.

Woodworth is a first-rate writer who knows what readers want: page-turning suspense, likable characters, situations that are fantastic and yet startlingly close to our own realities. His books have that "can't put it down" quality characteristic of the best fiction meisters. I can't wait to see what Woodworth has in store for us the third time around!

I read this book in one day! I really enjoyed Through Violet Eyes, but Stephen Woodworth is only getting better. Loved this book! Vincent Thresher is scary as hell. Looking forward to the next one!

I hadn't read the first of these books but this one was a great
thriller. I was glued to the pages and couldn't put it down. I guess now I will have the read the first one "Through Violet Eyes" and then wait until 2006 for the next Natalie Lundstrom
character to return.

After reading this first book "Through violet eyes" I just HAD to read the second one. This was an amazing story! Stephen Woodworth has a wonderful imagination and I'm glad that he shares it with the world through his writing.

Stephen Woodworth, With Red Hands (Dell, 2005)

The back cover of this book, and Woodworth's website, both prominently mention that he took first place in the Writers of the Future contest. (Isn't that sort of like a poet admitting he'd won the National Library of Poetry competition?) Well, in any case, worry not; despite the endorsement, you'll not find a hint of Scientology in Woodworth's fast-paced, fun thrillers.

Set in an alternate America where a subgroup of humanity known as "violets" can speak with the dead, With Red Hands (the second novel set in the violet world) continues the story of Natalie Lindstrom. It picks up six years after the end of Through Violet Eyes. Natalie now has a five-year-old daughter and a number of watchers from the Corps, which she left at the end of the first book. They not only want her back, they want to recruit her daughter as well. Natalie's having none of it. But her old friend Inez, an assistant district attorney, shows up with a case which she wants Natalie's help with on the sly; she believes the Corps' violet somehow faked testimony in an earlier trial, and will do so again this time. Despite the danger to herself and her child, Natalie finds herself compelled to help.

Woodworth's books are good, solid, quick reads that will keep you interested. They're not going to win any prestigious literary awards, but for brain candy, they're quite nicely done. The twists and turns of the plot are usually not visible until a few pages before they actually happen, the characters have above-average depth for books of this sort, and it's always wonderful to see an author bring fantasy/sci-fi/magic realism/whatever you'd like to call it out into the mainstream and have it be relatively successful.

If you're a fan of the mystery/thriller and haven't yet tried Woodworth, he's certainly worth a look. *** ½

With Red Hands continues the story of the Violets, people with violet colored pupils who can channel dead souls, and one violet in particular, Natalie.
The book, the second in what promises to be a very unique series, was impossible for me to put down. I could not go to bed before finishing it. It includes courtroom drama, a demented serial killer, personal torments that we can only begin to imagine, corruption, heroes and villians both living and dead. It also has a governmental organization with some sinister overtones that trains and controls the violets.
Bravo...I look forward to the next...

This is the second installment of Natalie Lindstrom, a violet. Violets have violet eyes and have the ability to communicate with the dead. This is a cool way to catch killers until a corrupt violet finds a way to call up a false witness spirit. Will the real killer go free? Natalie also must face a crisis in her own life. To make matters worse, her daughter is also a violet and "The Corps" wants to recruit and train her to become an investigator, like her mother was. They are just waiting for a chance to nab Callie if Natalie lets her guard down.

Stephen Woodworth has devised an original premise with this series of novels. He has created characters who are believable. The events which take place in his books are not always happy. The hero doesn't always win and the ending isn't fairy tale-ish. I believe this adds to the appeal of his books. Woodworth's books are so easy to read. This is a great book and I highly recommend the whole series, which is up to book 3.

Although With Red Hands was harder to read than Through Violet Eyes, it was wonderfully written as the next chapeter in Natalie Lindstrom's life, and you as a reader are able to fall in love her daughter and want to protect her from the "school", cry with the lose of her mother and wonder if Natalie will suffer the same fate, and then experience her same fear as she discovers just who and what "Thresher" is! This is a wonderful book and I hope you'll give it a chance!

I picked up "through violet eyes", the first book to this series, and was immediately hooked, the plot and characters were so real and gripping...when i learned that "with red hands" was to follow, i went out immediately and purchased it...woodworth follows through with the storyline and has the same characters that you relate to through the first book, plus some new and interesting characters...this book keeps you holding your breath til the end, it's hard to put down because it's fast paced and really holds your attention...i cannot wait for the next book which is due soon...woodworth has some real genuine talent and i highly recommend this book to all who love suspense!

I picked up this book immediately after finishing "Through Violet Eyes", the first book in the series by Stephen Woodworth, and enjoyed this one even more than the first. The story picks up where the first left off with Natalie, a "Violet" who can communicate with the dead. Natalie is enjoying her newfound freedom in retirement from the NAACC as well as being a new mother, when an old friend approaches her and persuades her to help in a murder trial. The circumstances are suspicious and Natalie is compelled to dig deeper for the answers, answers that ultimately shed light on her own past and worst nightmares. This was an excellent book. I highly recommend it and cannot wait for the next book in he series!