The New York Times Book Review - Terrence Rafferty
The kick of this ridiculously entertaining book is the haze of delirium it creates in the reader's brain, which is buffeted throughout by wild plot twists, abrupt shifts of mood and verbal style, sudden narrative somersaults, all flashing by at vertigo-inducing speed…Jaff's woozy supernatural saga is effectively scary and great fun to read: It's screwball horror.
From the Publisher
The kick of this ridiculously entertaining book is the haze of delirium it creates in the reader’s brain…. Jaff’s woozy supernatural saga is effectively scary and great fun to read.” — New York Times Book Review
“Mesmerizing, magical and wickedly sexy—Love is Red will keep you on the edge of your seat until the very last page.” — New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Karina Halle
“Intelligent, poetic, captivating and chilling…. The mystery at the core of Love is Red is so gripping you will find yourself carrying the book around with you until you’re done.… You will want to re-read it as soon as you’re finished.” — Elizabeth Haynes, New York Times bestselling author of Into The Darkest Corner and Under A Silent Moon
“Love is Red is a tornado of a novel. Jaff twists through so many suspenseful places. I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough, but I wanted to linger, too. This is seriously scary stuff, offered up in high style and with wild narrative invention.” — Laura Kasischke, nationally bestselling author of Mind of Winter and The Raising
“A serial killer is on the loose this summer in New York, and Katherine Emerson doesn’t know she was destined to be placed in the killer’s path. Emerson is also dating two men…. Talk about complications.” — CNN.com, “Best Summer Beach Reads”
“I read it in one sitting. I cannot remember the last time I was so completely enthralled with a book…. It’s good. Real good.” — Smart Bitches, Trashy Books
“One dynamic novel. This thriller is brilliantly well written…. The plot takes readers deeper into a beautifully dark world that is just beginning. I highly recommend this stunning read…. I was hooked instantly.” — San Francisco Book Review
“The writing in this debut thriller is evocative and, simply put, gorgeous. Jaff does an amazing job at conveying all five senses at every moment…. The lush language and intricately fleshed-out characters make this a series—and author — to watch.” — RT Book Reviews
“One of the most unique and amazing books I have ever had the pleasure of reading.… Simultaneously beautiful and terrifying.” — Fresh Fiction
“One of the summer’s most compelling reads.” — DuJour
“The excitement (and there’s plenty of it) comes from the serial killer’s creepy, second-person accounts of his moves and from watching the cat-and-mouse game with Katherine.… Frightening.” — Booklist
“Set against the backdrop of a New York City on high alert for a serial killer murdering young, single women, Sophie Jaff’s gothic romance novel…will have you on the edge of your seat.” — PopSugar.com
“An impressive debut….[Jaff] hooks the reader with her captivating writing style.” — Diabolique Magazine
“It’s been awhile since a book made me scared, like REALLY scared…. An enthralling and chilling start to a new trilogy which will have readers at the edge of their seat! [A] stellar debut.” — Short & Sweet Reviews
“This is a very creepy book…[that] makes for a shudder worthy read, with the supernatural aspects only heightening the building sense of dread. Keep an eye on Sophie Jaff, and read this one with the lights on.” — MyBookishWays.com
“Jaff builds a tale of fear and romance…. Her interplay between the protagonists keeps you guessing…. The narrative of the killer as he chooses his prey and continues until he releases them in death is both sick and dramatic.” — BlogCritics.com
“Hard to put down…. We can look forward to two more of this exciting new work. This is an unusual read by a talented new writer.” — BookLoons
“Unbelievable for a debut novel.… Jaff writes brilliantly, with a touch of dark poetic language that is edgy, raw and compelling. I was caught from the very first.” — Book Reader’s Heaven
“If you would like to try an occult-tinged thriller with a contemporary urban setting, Love Is Red would be the perfect read. This debut novel by Sophie Jaff is a haunting tale of love, revenge, fear and faith seasoned with just a touch of gothic terror.” — Night Owl Reviews
“Honestly, this is one of my absolute favorite reads of the year…. Of course that means that I’m waiting, along with everyone else who’s so far enjoyed the book, with baited breath to see what will happen next.” — BookBitch.com
DuJour
One of the summer’s most compelling reads.
Elizabeth Haynes
Intelligent, poetic, captivating and chilling…. The mystery at the core of Love is Red is so gripping you will find yourself carrying the book around with you until you’re done.… You will want to re-read it as soon as you’re finished.
San Francisco Book Review
One dynamic novel. This thriller is brilliantly well written…. The plot takes readers deeper into a beautifully dark world that is just beginning. I highly recommend this stunning read…. I was hooked instantly.
Laura Kasischke
Love is Red is a tornado of a novel. Jaff twists through so many suspenseful places. I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough, but I wanted to linger, too. This is seriously scary stuff, offered up in high style and with wild narrative invention.
New York Times Book Review
The kick of this ridiculously entertaining book is the haze of delirium it creates in the reader’s brain…. Jaff’s woozy supernatural saga is effectively scary and great fun to read.
New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Karina Halle
Mesmerizing, magical and wickedly sexy—Love is Red will keep you on the edge of your seat until the very last page.
RT Book Reviews
The writing in this debut thriller is evocative and, simply put, gorgeous. Jaff does an amazing job at conveying all five senses at every moment…. The lush language and intricately fleshed-out characters make this a series—and author — to watch.
“Best Summer Beach Reads” CNN.com
A serial killer is on the loose this summer in New York, and Katherine Emerson doesn’t know she was destined to be placed in the killer’s path. Emerson is also dating two men…. Talk about complications.
Smart Bitches
I read it in one sitting. I cannot remember the last time I was so completely enthralled with a book…. It’s good. Real good.
Fresh Fiction
One of the most unique and amazing books I have ever had the pleasure of reading.… Simultaneously beautiful and terrifying.
BookBitch.com
Honestly, this is one of my absolute favorite reads of the year…. Of course that means that I’m waiting, along with everyone else who’s so far enjoyed the book, with baited breath to see what will happen next.
MyBookishWays.com
This is a very creepy book…[that] makes for a shudder worthy read, with the supernatural aspects only heightening the building sense of dread. Keep an eye on Sophie Jaff, and read this one with the lights on.
PopSugar.com
Set against the backdrop of a New York City on high alert for a serial killer murdering young, single women, Sophie Jaff’s gothic romance novel…will have you on the edge of your seat.
Short & Sweet Reviews
It’s been awhile since a book made me scared, like REALLY scared…. An enthralling and chilling start to a new trilogy which will have readers at the edge of their seat! [A] stellar debut.
BlogCritics.com
Jaff builds a tale of fear and romance…. Her interplay between the protagonists keeps you guessing…. The narrative of the killer as he chooses his prey and continues until he releases them in death is both sick and dramatic.
BookLoons
Hard to put down…. We can look forward to two more of this exciting new work. This is an unusual read by a talented new writer.
Diabolique Magazine
An impressive debut….[Jaff] hooks the reader with her captivating writing style.
Booklist
The excitement (and there’s plenty of it) comes from the serial killer’s creepy, second-person accounts of his moves and from watching the cat-and-mouse game with Katherine.… Frightening.
Night Owl Reviews
If you would like to try an occult-tinged thriller with a contemporary urban setting, Love Is Red would be the perfect read. This debut novel by Sophie Jaff is a haunting tale of love, revenge, fear and faith seasoned with just a touch of gothic terror.
Book Reader’s Heaven
Unbelievable for a debut novel.… Jaff writes brilliantly, with a touch of dark poetic language that is edgy, raw and compelling. I was caught from the very first.
Booklist
The excitement (and there’s plenty of it) comes from the serial killer’s creepy, second-person accounts of his moves and from watching the cat-and-mouse game with Katherine.… Frightening.
Book Reader’s Heaven
Unbelievable for a debut novel.… Jaff writes brilliantly, with a touch of dark poetic language that is edgy, raw and compelling. I was caught from the very first.
“Best Summer Beach Reads” CNN.com
A serial killer is on the loose this summer in New York, and Katherine Emerson doesn’t know she was destined to be placed in the killer’s path. Emerson is also dating two men…. Talk about complications.
Book Reader's Heaven
Unbelievable for a debut novel.… Jaff writes brilliantly, with a touch of dark poetic language that is edgy, raw and compelling. I was caught from the very first.
RT Book Reviews (online)
The writing in this debut thriller is evocative and, simply put, gorgeous. Jaff does an amazing job at conveying all five senses at every moment…. The lush language and intricately fleshed-out characters make this a series—and author — to watch.
Kirkus Reviews
2015-03-05
A serial killer and the woman he covets play an elaborate game of cat and mouse in this over-the-top thriller. Jaff's disappointing debut follows the exploits of freelance art critic Katherine Emerson. It's summer in New York, and a serial killer à la Son of Sam is terrorizing the city. Known as the Sickle Man for the intricate wound patterns he leaves in his victims—all female, all found bound in their apartments—the killer has everyone on edge. Katherine narrates her story in the first person, and in alternating chapters overflowing with meaningless metaphors—"addiction is metallic," "pure relief is the color of a ripe peach"—the killer tells his own story in second person, an overused technique that's notoriously difficult to pull off (Jaff does not succeed). Though Sickle Man is focused entirely on Katherine, her attention is split between two new men in her life, who happen to be best friends: sweet lawyer David and bad boy tech CEO Sael. Even an inattentive reader will make the connection between the pair and the killer on the loose. Also woven throughout are excerpts from a medieval manuscript that Katherine and David saw on their first date and that supposedly correlates to the story; in reality, it's merely distracting. Jaff brings nothing new to the table, trotting out well-worn clichés and plugging in cookie-cutter characters. Katherine—and the police investigating the Sickle Man murders—could have saved time and solved the case much faster by consulting any number of stronger examples in the serial-killer subgenre.
