Red Fox by Karina Halle
(Experiment in Terror, #2)
Genre: Horror
Format: ebook
Read: 9/20/2012 — 9/23/2012
In Six Words: Red Fox simultaneously creeps and delights.
Links
Karina Halle — Website | Facebook | Twitter
Amazon — Paperback | Kindle
Add it to Goodreads
Book Order
1. Darkhouse
2. Red Fox
3. Dead Sky Morning
4. Lying Season
5. On Demon Wings
6. Into the Hollow
Why I Started Reading This Series
Kelly is pretty much the entire reason I started reading this series. She told me to download Darkhouse when it was a Kindle freebie earlier this year, and when Red Fox was a freebie this May (5/11/2012, specifically), she made me download it, too. I lack a review for Darkhouse, but I can tell you that I enjoyed Red Fox more than Darkhouse, and I hope that the trend continues with the rest of the series. The Experiment in Terror series is well loved by many people, and I am beginning to understand why.
Synopsis
With Book Two of the Experiment in Terror Series, Perry Palomino and Dex Foray trade in the stormy Oregon coast for the unforgiving deserts of New Mexico.
In the forgotten town of Red Fox, a Navajo couple is tortured by things unseen and by motives unknown. Wild animals slink through their house in the dark, a barrage of stones pound their roof nightly, and mutilated sheep carcasses are turning up on their property. Armed with a camera and just enough to go on, Perry and Dex travel to the desolate locale, hoping to film the supernatural occurrences and add credibility to their flailing webcast. Only their show has a lot more working against them than just growing pains. Tested by dubious ranch hands, a ghost from Dex’s past, and shapeshifting deception, the amateur ghost hunters must learn to trust each other in order to fight the most ancient of myths…or die trying.
-from Goodreads
Thoughts on Book 2
It’s rare for me to get scared while reading. I don’t know if I just don’t scare easily while reading, or if the authors I’m reading never quite push me over the edge. Either way, Red Fox was scary. There’s something about this story that makes you want to run away screaming in fear because shit gets real, people/things keep trying to kill Perry and Dex, and no one knows why. In a way, this book replicates a lot of the feelings that I love about a good mystery thriller, except with the supernatural.
Though sometimes there are certain aspects that are way, way too easy to guess or make connections, (Really, Perry? The hairbrush? I saw that one coming a mile away even if you didn’t), there was certainly enough left unanswered to keep me reading to find out what happened, and, you know, to make sure that Perry and Dex don’t die. Despite their flaws, I like both of them. I struggle with Dex a bit, but I’m a person who thrives on lack of ambiguity, and Dex happens to be one very confusing person. Just when you think you’ve finally figured him out, he does a 180. And this drives me crazy. But I definitely liked Red Fox Dex better than Darkhouse Dex.
In fact, this second installment in the Experiment in Terror series is even better than the first. That’s the mark of a good series, in my opinion, and I am looking forward to continuing (also, thank you, Kelly, for telling me to download The Benson; you were right: I wanted it once I finished Red Fox). If you need a good, scary book for this Halloween–or for any time, really–I’d recommend this series. After all, if it can scare me, it’ll probably scare you, too.
Other Reviews
Amy @ bookgoonie October 24, 2012 at 5:30 am
Yea! For a good spooky time read. I’m putting Halle on my watch for list. Dang it! Missing the freebie download.
Amanda @ On a Book Bender October 24, 2012 at 10:40 am
Darkhouse (the first book) is currently free for Kindle right now. Just go here: http://www.amazon.com/Darkhouse-Experiment-Terror-1-ebook/dp/B0050Q6HQK
Sherre October 24, 2012 at 7:53 am
I loved this series and can’t wait for the next book, Into the Hollow, to be released. It just gets better and better. Trust me
Amanda @ On a Book Bender October 24, 2012 at 10:41 am
Awesome! When all the EIT books went on sale for 99 cents, I downloaded all of the ones that were out, so I’m looking forward to reading the rest of the series. :)
Kristilyn (Reading in Winter) October 24, 2012 at 8:37 am
I’m happy you liked this one! I don’t think it was my favourite one in the series, but it’s still way up there. I don’t think I got scared with this one, but I did get scared with the next one. These are perfect for Halloween!
As far as your confusion with Dex goes, yes. He’s such a weirdo sometimes, but I grew to love him. Or, at least, we’re getting there.
Keep reading!!
Amanda @ On a Book Bender October 24, 2012 at 10:44 am
I will keep reading! I *do* have the entire series on my Kindle, you know. :)
Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal October 24, 2012 at 9:33 am
I am spreading my love for this series around like a working girl on Saturday night! Boom!
I’m very, very glad that you enjoyed this book more than book 1. The books continue to get better and better as the series progresses, in my opinion. Karina Halle is a master at creating the slow-burn relationships that make you want to alternately scream in frustration and cheer in delight. MOAR, I say. MOAR!
Amanda @ On a Book Bender October 24, 2012 at 10:48 am
I would expect nothing less from you. NOTHING. And, I think you did tell me to stick with the series because it got better as it went. I TRUST YOU.
Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal October 24, 2012 at 10:54 am
That’s too much pressure. How about you… I don’t know, take my recommendations under advisement. This trust thing scares me. I might tell you to read a tentacle sex book … oh, wait. I already did that!
Amanda @ On a Book Bender October 24, 2012 at 11:03 am
Ha. I trust you to give me Tumblr rewards. Oh. And the tentacle thing reminds me about the list of GLA potentials you emailed me last night. Must look at those NOW.
Bookish Brunette October 24, 2012 at 9:55 am
Gah!!! I’ve had this series on my TBR for-freaking-EVER! I love when a book REALLY scares me! Sometimes I don’t realize HOW freaked out I am until I have nightmares that night! Lol
Amanda @ On a Book Bender October 24, 2012 at 10:58 am
This would definitely be nightmare-inducing. In a good way, though. If that’s possible. ;)
Jenny October 24, 2012 at 10:23 am
I’m thinking this is not the series for me Amanda as I do get scared easily while reading. Ridiculously easy. I feel like my husband might come home to find me curled in a fetal ball if I try to read this book. No good. I like dark books, just not scary ones!
Amanda @ On a Book Bender October 24, 2012 at 11:00 am
Ha. In that case, this might not be a series for you, Jenny. Or, I could send one of my Top Off Tuesday/No Pants Tuesday men to sit with you while reading. Perhaps that would be an acceptable solution to the issue of reading scary books?
Andrea @ The Bookish Babe October 24, 2012 at 10:52 am
I’m a big fan of this series. Dex is infuriating and confusing and I loved him most in Red Fox, until On Demon Wings. I can’t wait to see what you think of the rest.!
Amanda @ On a Book Bender October 24, 2012 at 11:01 am
When I found out there’s a book with Dex’s perspective (The Dex-Files), I got ridiculously excited. I need to get my butt in gear so that I can get caught up with the series and read that one. DEX!
Mary @ BookSwarm October 24, 2012 at 6:03 pm
I have such a hard time with horror (though I live UF. Go figure) because some of those eerie elements scare the crap out of me! I just don’t know if this is one I can read…or if I should read it with the lights on and puppies close for protection.
Amanda @ On a Book Bender October 24, 2012 at 6:58 pm
Same! Though books never scare me as much as TV shows do. (No, really, I get sucked in by ghost story shows, and then jump at EVERY SINGLE NOISE. It’s terrible. And yet I can’t stop.)
Felicia October 26, 2012 at 8:13 am
OK I just picked up the first one as a freebie. I am really getting into creepy reads and I didn’t used to like Horror at all. I blame Zombies (they really get a bad rap from me as I blame them for A LOT)
Amanda @ On a Book Bender October 26, 2012 at 9:48 am
Ha. Well, I hope you like this! No zombies, but definitely creepy. :)
Sarah (saz101) October 28, 2012 at 6:35 pm
ooookdagklag. Me no love character ambiguity, either… well… wait. I don’t mind getting to know a character slowly, but I hate it when they make the most RANDOM choices, and zoom off doing something strange and out of established character patterns?
Uh…
ANYWAY. Scared while reading? SAME. It just doesn’t happen for me. Well, it does. But not often. It’s a RARE book. And… I mean… AMANDA. I IS INTREEEEEE-GED.
I wouldn’t have picked up the first book based on that description, but… mmm….
*runs of to Amazon*
Amanda @ On a Book Bender October 28, 2012 at 10:21 pm
Well, in this case, there really ISN’T an establish character pattern. Or rather, the established character pattern is that there isn’t one. So… there’s that? :)
Sarah (saz101) October 28, 2012 at 10:37 pm
Heh. OK… ummm… mmmmm… OK, this character sounds straaaaaaaange O__o
Amanda @ On a Book Bender October 28, 2012 at 10:37 pm
That’s pretty accurate.