Red Fox Review: It'll skinwalk it's way under your skin

“Ladies first,” Rudy said opening up the flap of the tent even wider and pointing inside. I really did not want to be the first to go in the hot dark tent, let alone to have Dex and Rudy staring at my butt as I went in. 

On all fours, no less.

I turned to look at Dex behind me. 

He was already grinning.

-Perry Palomino from Red Fox: An Expirement in Terror Novel

Before you read this post, and if you haven't already started reading The Experiment in Terror Novels by Karina Halle, you need to first go here and learn about Darkhouse.  Darkhouse is the first installment where you are introduced to Perry and Dex, and the twisted webs these two camera-happy ghost hunters weave themselves into.

After reading Darkhouse, you could say I was slightly anxious to know more about these two.  The storyline had been set and I was wishing there was a movie-based-on-novel that I could watch after reading.  When Karina sent me an advance copy of book Two, Red Fox - the girl who hadn't read a book since high school was about to read her second book in 2 weeks!!  AND I was excited about it!!  Perry, Dex and I  were tight by this point, so I knew I would have to dedicate some serious reading time on my flight from Vancouver to Toronto.  I put in my ear plugs to drown out the sounds of screaming babies and regular plane noises that make me paranoid - and began to read...

Right from the beginning, I found myself relating to Perry again.  Her sarcastic attitude, accompanied by her witty humor reminded me of the type of people I am generally friends with.  Her attitude towards Dex, fueled by the hatred of his current girlfriend, was right up my alley - in fact, it's fair to say that it'd be up about 98% of any other females alley too.  At least I can always rely on the dream sequences in the novel to bring me back to reality, whenever my mind starts to drift off and wonder when these two will hook up.  I know it's coming.. I can feeeeel it!! KISS ALREADY!!

As the story develops, we meet some new characters who truly illustrate my favourite parts about both of the novels so far - the dialogue.  Karina has a way of writing dialogue that makes it feel like she recorded an actual conversation and then, like a stenographer, replays and writes it out word for word.  It makes you feel like you are a fly on the wall, or in this case - a crow in Alburquerque.  From the blind-lady Sarah's bitch-tastic secrecy to Maximus's preciously ginger-faced insight, your mind will be curious to know what their role is within the storyline.

From the first book, I had formed an opinion of Dex Foray that wasn't the best.  I found him arrogant and a little psychotic and frankly, I thought Perry could do better (even if they aren't dating...but I'm calling it now).  As you make your way deeper into Red Fox, you're introduced to a softer side of the usually silent man.  His vulnerability and new found emotions, made me want Perry to give him a rose at the next Bachelorette rose ceremony so that he sticks around for a bit.  The relationship between them heads in all different directions, and believe me when I say that you'll want to keep up.  At one point I wanted to deboard the plane, get chased by a bear and go sit in a tree.  Read the book. You'll want to do that too.

If I could change one thing about my experience with this novel, was that my flight landed at the worst possible time. I had reached the climax of the story and then had a two-day break in between.  When I resumed on the flight back to Vancouver, I had to go back and try to regain the suspense that had been built up to those last 59 pages.  The next time I read it, I will do it in one sitting.  I think that's how it's meant to be done.

Red Fox offers many twists and turns, and in all honesty I was having a hard time guessing how it would end.  From characters who are not what they seem, to some who are more then you thought - Red Fox builds on the first novel and invites you along for many more haunting adventures.  Perry and Dex have a lot of time to get themselves into more situations, as Dead Sky Morning (book three) is not released until October.
I may have to go to the virtue store and buy myself some patience because I need to know more. Now. MOREEEEE.

To Find the Author, Karina Halle on Twitter - @Wanderlust1ng
To Find your own copy of Red Fox on Amazon 

I will leave you with this thought, "WHO IS THE MOTHER?" - now go read the books and come back and agree with me :)