Dirty Red: A Novel

I read this book in one sitting which is something I haven't done in a while. This will have you saying "damnnnn Red is dirty!" a few times. Overall rating is a 4.5 for me because the ending seemed a tad bit rushed and some parts were unrealistic. Like the sale of the condo without the buyer even looking at the place and a blood clot being on the couch when Red had on pants. The book ended with a few questions unanswered but I guess that's what part two is for!

I actually read this book for the first time about a couple of years ago, and I was HOOKED! I absolutely enjoyed this story! Right now, I'm re-reading this book bevause I discovered the sequel "Still Dirty," so I just wanna read them back-to-back. This review isn't on the story as much as it is a QUESTION. Am I the only one who detects that Ms. Stringer has made some mistakes in the TIME SETTING of her story, or is it just me? On the blurb on the back of the book, it says that Red is 18. Ok, fine. As the story starts and moves forward, I notice some of the music that's being listened to: Mariah Carey's "We Belong Together" which is from 2005, and Usher's "That's What It's Made For" which is from 2004. Ok, fine. I figured, since this book was published in 2006, the story is taking place in or around 2006. You know, a "literal present day book." Now here's the problem. In the book, Red is 15-years-old in 1995. That means she was born in 1980. So for Red to be 18, that means it's only 1998, which makes this story inaccurate as far as the music from this time period. However, a sentence in the story (page 79, second paragraph), Red has a flashback on when she first meets Bacon. She met him when she had JUST turned 16, so that would make the year 1996, right? WRONG. The story says she met Bacon at the age of 16 ALMOST A DECADE AGO. With THAT being said, that means the story's time period IS about 2006, BUT that would make Red 25/26, NOT 18. So...this is where I'm pretty much lost in this story. I didn't notice it the first time 'round, but NOW...I see this as a GROSS ERROR on either the author's part, or whoever printed the cover of this book's part. Someone made a GRAVE ERROR here.

I've read the sample so many times lol I keep telling myself that imma read the book because it seems good but never get to it because of the Noire, series, but as soon,as im done , imma read this. . . but from reading the sample Red seems to only be out for herself . . I cant wait to read :)