Title/Author:
“Red
Snow” by Michael Slade
Tags:
Fiction,
Winter Olympics, skiing, snowboarding, murder mystery
Published:
2010
Length:
262
pages
Rating:
4 of 5
stars (outstanding)
Review:
A quaint
British Columbia village, Whistler, that is hosting the Olympic trials before
the Winter Olympics in Vancouver is the setting for Michael Slade’s thriller “Red
Snow.” It is part of his Special X series on the
Canadian Royal Mounted Police and while it does have characters that are in
Slade’s other books of the series, this reads fine as a stand-alone and the
reader does not have to read the other books in order to gain an understanding
of the story or characters.
A narcissistic,
psychotic killer known as Mesphisto has a diabolical plot that would ultimately
wipe out 90% of the world’s population.
He chooses this setting and time for two reasons. One is that because
security around the Vancouver Games would be focused on the Games themselves,
he would be better able to launch his plan.
The second is more personal, because the chief of the Special X division
of the RCMP, Robert DeClerque, along with a few other people can indentify Mesphisto
and they must be eliminated before the plan can be done.
There is
not a lot of description about the sport of skiing or snowboarding, although a
couple of the murders do take place on the slopes. The book opens with the murder of a
snowboarder while on the course, and another one takes place in a chair lift. I felt this book would still be appropriate
for inclusion on this site as it is a sporting event in which the story is set
and some of the action takes place there.
There won’t be any descriptions of the sport. However, many of the chapters do begin with
a historical or geographical reference that is important in helping to set the
mood or context of the events to take place in that chapter.
All of
the usual aspects of a murder mystery or thriller are in this story: revenge,
murder (this story does have a high body count), sex, character development,
personal reflection on “what if” or “what will happen if” and a wide variety of
both villains and protagonists. I
thought it was an entertaining read, although at times I felt that there were
too many characters, historical references and murders to tie everything together
that I got confused. But by the end of
the story, it all came together which is what a good story should do.
Did I skim?
No
Were the characters realistic?
I didn’t
think so. Whether it was the mastermind
behind the murders and mass genocide plot, his minions who were doing the work,
the Canadian Mounties or the young girls, they all had an unrealistic sense
about them. This isn't to say that they
were portrayed or developed poorly. I
just didn't get the sense that these characters are someone I would meet in regular life, especially the three snow bunnies in the lodge.
Pace of the story:
Very
good. The historical references to start
most chapters slowed it down slightly, but they were very important to the
overall story.
Do I recommend?
Yes. While there wasn't a lot about the winter
sports in the story, the setting and plot were developed because of a sporting
event. Therefore sports fans may enjoy
this book as well as fans of mysteries or thrillers.
Ebook
(Kindle)
Buying Links:
I think I should read this book since I was born as raised in BC and would love the setting references. I also enjoy Olympic winter sports, and I am nothing without a little murder and mystery thrown in somewhere. Another to go on my TBR shelf.
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