Customer Reviews

In the Red

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

 

 

WOW! Did I LOVE this book. It was really hard to put down once I got started. Interesting characters, great writing - I'll never take firefighters for granted again. The ending was perfect. I really enjoyed the tie-in to the investment world and big-time brokerage houses.

You can believe that I am recommending this book to all my friends from coast to coast via the internet. Hhmmmmm, think I'll drop a couple of copies off at the local volunteer fire department in case they have not yet discovered it.

A note in passing - I recently learned that the author has an autistic son and ALL proceeds from his books go to a foundation for Autistic Children

Victims inhabiting this tale aren't just killed, they are literally burned to a crisp. Taking the serial killer to new heights, Ashbaugh has written an absorbing book about an investment firm going up in flames as a fire bug targets the wives of top execs. Chief Fire Marshal Jake Ferguson, who carries his own pack of matches from his past, has the detail of tracking the bitter barbeque-r across the state of NY in an effort to stop the cooking. In order to understand his prey (and the readers to understand the story), Ferguson learns the ins and outs of the stock market as he teaches us why and how a fire can burn out of control. After the middle of the book, the suspect is no longer a secret and even his reasoning is divulged before the traditional climax and exposure, but the book still held my interest due to the fact the author has made the characters appealing and interesting. The book ends abruptly, however, even with all situations resolved and left me with a rather empty feeling. I will never read about a fire again, I must say, without thinking of facts I did learn from reading this interesting but overly long mystery.

I thoroughly enjoyed this novel. Suspense...Action...Adventure...Arson...Murder... Ashbaugh fully develops his characters in an extremely riveting piece of fiction. The author captures the reader from start to finish with intelligent observations and exciting action. This is a great summer read--very hard to put down. I'll never look a fire fighter the same again! I could not reccommend this book more highly. I anxiously await Ashbaugh's next novel.

I was looking forward to more of the same fast paced action of "Downtick". "In The Red" was slower paced, a lot more predictable and less believable than "Downtick". I really liked the main charaters Jake and his buddy Don. I hope they reappear in other books. My comment to the author, "Do not rush the next book, craft it like I know you can."

I started on this book this past Sunday afternoon and wrapped it up shortly before midnight the same day. I couldn't put it down. Usually when it comes to fiction, I prefer stories that have to do with the sea or artsy thrillers like The Da Vinci Code. But I am glad that I deviated a bit from my preference this time around.

The beef that I have with a lot of authors today is that, in their books, they throw in two "items" as if that provides some sort of dimension to the main character or the book. These are:

1. The hero has to deal with a demon or demons.
2. There is usually a beautiful damsel who "somehow" tags along with our hero so that our hero can rescue her and/or put up with her.

Well, our hero in this book does deal with demons. But when he does, it does not appear put on or forced and that is important. The demons have a real relevance to what is happening in the story at present.

There is also a beautiful woman involved but she does not make an appearance until about 3/5ths of the way into the book. Initially her presence appears close to being superficial but as we near the climax her involvement does have an impact on how it all ends. Still, there were other things happening in the book that were so riveting that I probably would not have noticed any superficiality.

This is a thick book but without any fat. It is clear from the description of the crime scenes and the various scenes approaching Wall Street that Regan, a firefighter himself, has done quite a bit of research. The book has been paced beautifully and has a lot of atmosphere. It briefly rekindled memories of some of the James Hadley Chase novels I read as a kid.

Excellent, excellent, excellent. This book and story line was a page turner from the third chapter on. This novel would make an excellent movie. I highly recommend this book.

This is the first time I've read a book from this author. He is incredibly detailed, with an in-depth understanding of the issues he is writing. Anyone who does not understand firefighting or deal with the stockmarket will by the time they finish this book. Not only that, but Reagan Ashbaugh tells a suberb and believable story which will keep the reader on their toes the entire time. I could not put this book down!

I am also from the state of Maine, which is where the author lives and I think that this is a really great read from cover to cover. I loved the characters, and hope that the author will continue with them in his next book. This is an absolute must for all of those who have not read this book.

This is one hot thriller! I loved all the twists and turns, the insider look at a powerful Wall Street investment firm, the authentic feel of the firefighters and how they do their job. Terrifying, fun, and factual. This is the kind of book you really don't want to end because you really enjoy the characters and the story. I'm hooked. When's Ashbaugh's next one?

Morson Grayhead is one of the top Wall Street brokerage firms. The egotistical CEO Severin Rybeck believes that every decision he makes is the right one and expects his executives to automatically agree with him. That lofty opinion of himself is shaken when someone rapes, burns, tortures, and kills the spouses of two of his officers. Chief Fire Marshall John Ferguson pleads with Rybeck to tell his staff the truth and furnish them with protection.

Rybeck rejects the notion that the deaths are linked to his company. Besides, he figures that any public revelation would have negative impact on Morson Grayhead. However, a third death occurs and three firefighters lose their lives to the accompanying inferno. An emergency board meeting results in the emperor being ousted. Unable to cope with the humiliation, Severin kills himself. The suicide note provides Jake with his first substantial clue as to who is behind the spousal murders.

Regan C. Ashbaugh knows from an insider's perspective the workings of Wall Street, but at times overwhelm his audience with the vernacular. In spite of the overuse of jargon, IN THE RED remains a fascinating novel that provides the reader glimpses at the workings of the financial center and firefighting. The believable characters for the most part are likable, especially the hero, who deserves repeat performances in future tales.

Harriet Klausner