“What really knocks me out is
a book that, when you're all done reading it, you wish the author that wrote it
was a terrific friend of yours and you could call him up on the phone whenever
you felt like it. That doesn't happen much, though.”
― J.D. Salinger, The Catcher in the Rye
― J.D. Salinger, The Catcher in the Rye
But it happened with The Red Files.
Lee Winter has breathed new life into the lesfic genre with her
smashing debut novel. It is so perfectly written that I find it hard to fathom the
world does not already have a bookshelf full of her titles.
For
years the majority of lesbian fiction has been inundated with dreadfully substandard
story lines containing one-dimensional characters and fallacious clichés. In comparison to mainstream fiction, the
overall quality of this genre has been
second-rate at best. However, The Red
Files has restored my hope and renewed my interest for lesbian literature.
This
author wastes no time in grabbing your attention, and with
a solid, humorous beginning, we are immediately thrown into the hangover and
humiliation of protagonist Lauren King. She is a reporter on the Hollywood
junket with dreams and ambitions bigger than the tears Barbara Walters can
create.
Lauren is clawing her way up through the ranks at
L.A.’s Daily Sentinel until she can
write the stories she believes in. Her only competition besides the male hierarchy
of the newspaper, is colleague and arch rival Catherine Ayers who has the
nickname, The Caustic Queen. Her cutthroat words and air of sophistication make
up the foundation of the seemingly impenetrable walls she has built around her unapproachable
persona. Once a Washington, D.C. political insider in charge of her own bureau,
she is now forced to work on the same frivolous reporting as King due to a
professional fall from grace. As a bonus, we are treated to a mysterious
subplot involving Ayers’ past that when revealed, is as rich as the threads of
her Armani suit.
Both are paying their dues, covering an A-lister
business launch, when their investigative skill- sets place them on a 250 page
journey of connivance, conspiracy, and corruption. It is an intriguing plot
that challenges how we view the overabundance and intrusiveness allowed by
technology and the susceptibility in which we live.
Our main characters are tenacious in their pursuit
of the truth, dodging everything from secret agents to squealing tires. Trust between
the ladies becomes paramount when thrust into a labyrinth of diabolical deceit
involving prostitutes and pink champagne.
The commitment King and Ayers put into solving this
mystery is undoubtedly a true reflection of the intimate diligence Winter has
poured onto the page. Her real-life journalistic skills shine and validate any
and all accolades her personal career has afforded.
In addition, the author continuously proves
throughout the novel that her ability to write innovative and complex dialogue
is beyond compare. The polished snark of Ayers is as piercing as her glare and
the down-home dialect of King works as the perfect conduit to their
electrifying conversational showdowns. It makes me wish Winter wrote the words
I spoke every day. I would sound so much cooler in real life tbh.
The varying scenic locations and supporting
characters are just as engaging from start to finish. Winter’s use of colorful imagery and creative
descriptors captivate every page. Her writing overall is intelligent with a
fast-paced tone and immersion into the story is immediate and without
hindrance.
This novel tells two very impressive stories: The
story of Lauren and Catherine’s adventure and the story of Lee Winter’s
remarkable talent.
I do not flippantly hand out 5-star reviews. The lesfic world is small
and I believe that friends allow their adoration for one another to supersede
their love for the written word. I tried very hard to
find something, really anything, negative about this book so it would not look
as if I were being biased or unfair. But I simply could not. My only complaint
would be that the story had to end. However, Winter has gifted us with a free
bonus chapter entitled Flashbang that
is available here: http://ylva-publishing.co.uk/product/flashbang-by-lee-winter/
So see, even
that attempt at a criticism is futile.
Ylva Publishing has discovered a true wordsmith
wonder in Lee Winter, and if I were them I would handcuff her to a typewriter.
The Red
Files is an imaginative, cloak and dagger thriller filled with suspense, perplexity,
and tension. Furthermore, there is a compelling cast of characters whose
unbelievable dialogue contains sagacity and wit unparalleled to most. The skill with which Lee Winter has masterfully
woven this tale has left me with a
newfound appreciation for those who choose to put the story first.
There’s an anonymous saying that
states: “A
good book makes you want to live in the story. A great book gives you no
choice.”
Well, be prepared to have no choice.
Purchase The
Red Files by Lee Winter here:
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