Before we get started, let me say that The Redline Series was originally a five part serial. I reviewed the first three parts here. I’m a little confused about the details, but the final two parts were postponed due to unknown-to-me circumstances. I was happy to see that the rest of the story was completed and that all installments are now combined in one book.  On to my review:

On the run from circumstances we have yet to discover, Aubrey has naively fallen into her worst nightmare. What she thought was good luck and coincidence turned out to be a calculated trap set by suave, smooth talking, strip club owner, Devlin. His offer to help Aubrey find a job and get back on her feet are merely a way to pull her into his sick game of drugs, prostitution, and who knows what else. She hasn’t been at the club long. It’s her first night to appear on stage, however, Aubrey has come to the horrifying realization that once you owe Devlin, you will always owe Devlin, and the debt only grows higher each day.

After a less than acceptable performance, Aubrey is serving drinks when a tough looking, albeit handsome, man orders her services in a private room. He’s rough around the edges, and even displays a sadistic streak, however, he’s much kinder than she expected, and seems genuinely interested and concerned about her. When he learns enough of her story to satisfy his curiosity things get interesting. Turns out his name is Colt and he is none other than Devlin’s brother. Not only does Colt despise Devlin, he wants to crush him. The feeling is mutual, but Devlin never shows his hand, preferring to maintain an air of calm, calculating evil. All the better to freak you out, my dear. So when Colt announces he’s taking Aubrey out of Devlin’s clutches in exchange for a chunk of change, and six months of her life, Aubrey is stunned. Should she take him up on his offer? How bad could it be, right?

Ms. Callahan takes us on a journey through some very twisted neighborhoods, so to speak, as this tale unfolds. Colt has his own demons lurking in the background just waiting to trip him up. He may have kicked his heroin habit but his brother would like nothing more than to see him back on the horse, heading toward a cliff. Now that he has Aubrey he has someone to unleash his sadistic needs on, hopefully holding the addiction at bay.

Aubrey comes to the realization she may have traded one bad situation for another as she settles into this strange arrangement with Cole. The only glimmer of compassion she sees in this heartless man is his love for his St. Bernard. The only glimpse of respect for anything, the expensive cars he boosts. When Colt drags Aubrey in as an accomplice in his dangerous game of thievery, she begins to speak up, fight back, demand to know more. She has a feeling there is more to Colt than he lets on, and she’s determined to find it and use it to her advantage. Because for the first time in ages, she feels hope. I began to like Aubrey more as she lost her poor me innocence and started standing up for herself. Even as she succumbs to Colt’s sadistic sexual demands, she isn’t the victim anymore. It’s a means to an end.

Colt needs Aubrey to hate him because he sees nothing good in himself. He doesn’t care what happens to him; he’s resigned himself to an early demise, whether by drugs or Devlin’s hand. But he can’t let his defenses down or Devlin will crush this innocent girl. Colt feels a responsibility toward Aubrey. Her resemblance to a woman from his past is uncanny as well as unsettling. And in his own dysfunctional way, Colt has feelings for Aubrey that are growing stronger daily. Colt is the kind of guy you hate one minute and love the next. He’s lived in a dark and evil world where weakness equals death. He has many moments of weakness that made me hate him. But his willingness to do everything in his power to save Aubrey was redeeming.

As the story continues, we are dragged further into the darkness and evil. There are jaw-dropping moments I never saw coming. This is a story where coming out alive is the best you can hope for. At times, it’s not an easy read. There is violence of  The Sopranos variety. There are no hearts and flowers, no last minute knights in shining armor. The first three installments had me riveted. I couldn’t put it down. Unfortunately, the final two installments dragged for me. Would I recommend The Redline Series? Absolutely. As long as you’re a fan of extremely dark stories that never let you come up for air, and characters you love one minute and hate the next.

Reviews for Skye Callahan

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