Synopsis:

This is the story of Perry Barnes, a multi-talented man who made one bad teenage mistake in the weeks leading up to his high school graduation in 1942. On a lark he “borrowed” some jewelry that wasn’t technically his. The local judge took it personally and gave Perry the choice of an assignment to a newly formed Army special operations unit at the start of World War II or go to jail for 15 years. As a result he winds up being trained by the United States government in the skills and arts of sabotage, killing, self-preservation, espionage and ultimately how to be a first class jewel thief.

Along the way he finds himself in the movie business in the Hollywood of the 1950’s, then uses his immense physical skills in pursuit of excellence as a journeyman golfer on the PGA tour of that era with the likes of Ben Hogan, Jimmy Demaret and Arnold Palmer. Before the adventure is over Perry has stolen the world famous Mecklenburg Diamond from a known jewel thief, worth a fortune, with the intention of returning it to the authorities for love, of all things.

All the while he is befriended by the most bewildering array of characters, some real, some not, who add marvelous vignettes of clever humor, situational intrigue, and steamy romance as he earnestly pursues the one goal he covets most: finding true love, martial companionship and family.

Favorite Lines:

“In short, he was both a Man’s Man and a Ladies Man in the old sense of those terms.”

“She was clearly befuddled and exasperated, which caused her face to display the most marvelous oxymoronic look of sensual wholesomeness. I think I was smitten.”

My Opinion:

I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for my honest opinion.

W. Kenneth Tyler, Jr.’s Hunting the Red Fox is a story that doesn’t just entertain—it invites you to sit down at the table, pour a bourbon, and listen in as secrets are slowly, almost reluctantly, unveiled. What begins as a casual meeting between Roger Mace, an amateur writer and golf enthusiast, and the magnetic Perry Barnes, an aging Southern gentleman with a silky drawl, unfolds into a sweeping tale of love, regret, mischief, and the kind of life you almost can’t believe anyone actually lived.

Tyler has a gift for pacing. Just as you think you’ve settled into a charming yarn about golf in the 1950s, the ground shifts—suddenly you’re in the middle of jewel heists, military intrigue, and confessions that leave you wondering how much of Perry’s story is truth and how much is performance. And that’s the real hook: Perry himself. He’s equal parts con man and philosopher, hustler and gentleman, a character who charms both the reader and his would-be chronicler, Roger.

The book also strikes an interesting balance between humor and weight. One minute you’re laughing at Roger’s painfully awkward attempts at interviewing, and the next you’re drawn into Perry’s memories of loss, survival, and the choices that haunt him even at eighty-two. By the time the so-called “Red Fox” begins to reveal himself, you realize this isn’t just a story about golf or crime or even redemption—it’s about how an ordinary man’s life can intersect with history in the most unexpected ways.

It’s a long, winding tale, but Tyler knows how to keep you listening. Like Roger himself, you come away unsure whether Perry Barnes is telling you the whole truth, but convinced that you’ve been given a gift in hearing his story at all.

Summary:

Overall, Hunting the Red Fox blends memoir-style storytelling with novelistic suspense, leaving readers to weigh for themselves whether Perry Barnes was simply a man with colorful tales or a true “Red Fox” whose life was stranger than fiction. Readers who enjoy historical fiction thrillers full of suspense, espionage, and memoir-style narratives may enjoy this book. Happy reading!

Check out Hunting the Red Fox here!