Customer Reviews

In The Dark

5 star:		(27)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I recently discovered Brian Freeman and have eagerly read everything he's written! I was looking forward to reading IN THE DARK for quite some time and Brian certainly did not disappoint! This is his best work yet. I found it VERY hard to put down. IN THE DARK was full of twists and turns and kept me reading long into the night! I recommend this book to anyone looking for a great page turner from a wonderful new author.

Also look for "The Agency" by Aly O'Brien, Brian Freeman co-authors this book!

Brian Freeman's Jonothan Stride novels are quickly becoming my favorite on going series. His deftness at writing engaging characters, broaching adult subjects without going overboard, and mixing wonderfully interesting plots with great twists and turns is really hard to beat.

Stride loved his late wife Cindy fiercely. Thirty years ago events happened in their lives that would change them both forever, especially Stride. As it happens, on the first night Stride and Cindy decide to take their relationship to the next level, something dreadful happens; the brutal murder of Cindy's older sister Laura. These are not only events that would decide Stride's career path, but would also come back to haunt him in his present life.

Turn the page to today and someone from Cindy and Laura's past comes back to town in the form of Laura's best high school friend, Tish. Tish is writing a book. 'Who really killed Laura Starr'. Tish's arrival in town after nearly three decades will make Stride question everything he thought about that fateful night when his would-be sister in law was murdered out in the cold woods as well as how well he thought he knew his late wife.

As if that weren't enough, a series of peeping tom incidents have occurred in their jurisdiction and none other than Maggie Bei lands the case.

This is a fantastic look into some of Strides earlier years and some of the events that shaped him into the character that he's become over these four novels. As with any Stride novel, just when you think you have the mystery solved and the culprit picked out, Freeman pulls the rug out from under you. The thing that makes it so satisfying though is that Freeman never makes it cheap or out of the blue. It always makes sense and is completely plausible.

I can't recommend In the Dark or Brian Freeman's body of work as a whole enough. Just Grade A fantastic writing. With another novel right around the corner, color me excited!

Brian Freeman has been climbing the ranks as one of my favorite authors over the past few years. His first three books really impressed me so I was eagerly anticipating IN THE DARK and had heard it was going to be the most emotional book of the Stride/Dial series. Often I find myself a bit disappointed after reading a long-awaited book because it just doesn't live up to the hype.

IN THE DARK was NOT one of these books.

Every Brian Freeman book has a "killer" prologue and this one screams chapter one as soon as you finish it. The book effectively builds multiple sub-plots at a good pace and mixes in razor-sharp psychological suspense, mystery, action, and twists. IN THE DARK challenged me to solve the multi-layered mystery then engaged an appreciation of how well all the pieces came together by the end of the book. It usually takes me about two weeks to read a novel but this gem was virtually pageless at 5.5 days.

Brian Freeman has developed an endearing base of characters through vivid, descriptive scenes of first rate quality. If I had to choose a single new release to read from any author right now...it would be one from Brian Freeman. His collective series of IMMORAL, STRIPPED, STALKED, and now IN THE DARK elevates him to my #1 favorite author to read...hands down.

I can't wait for the next one.....

I have liked the previous books well enough, but this one just went on too long and kept adding too much. He could have taken out entire parts of the plot line and the book would have been fine. At some point the author needs to stop adding layers and just finish up the book. At the end I just kept wondering to myself, "What else could happen?" And then it did.

I little editing and restraint next time would make for a better read.

Within a relatively short time, Brian Freeman has amassed an enviable list of nominations and awards in the mystery and thriller fields. He takes some chances in his latest novel, departing from the tried-and-true elements of his previous works even as he returns to the familiar scenery of Duluth, Minnesota, and Detective Jonathan Stride.

IN THE DARK focuses on events that took place primarily in Stride's distant past, but that threaten to jar the relative complacency of the present. The catalyst arrives in the form of Tish Verdure, a journalist who comes to Duluth to research a book that deals with an event that in some ways shaped Stride's life and career. Some 30 years ago, Stride was at the beginning of the summer before his senior year of high school, a time when he fell in love with Cindy Starr, the woman he would later marry and tragically lose to cancer. What we also learn is that it was the summer when Cindy's sister, Laura, would be brutally murdered by an unknown killer. Tish claims to have been Laura's best friend, though Stride can barely remember her from high school and has no recollection of the two of them ever being close.

Tish believes she knows the identity of Laura's murderer, placing the blame squarely at the feet of Peter Stanhope, a local attorney whose family has represented wealth and power in the Duluth area for decades. The accusation creates a complication for Stride from a number of perspectives. His relationship with Stanhope has never been warm and fuzzy; Stanhope is a major political supporter of the local District Attorney; and Serena Dial, Stride's significant other, is weighing an offer of the extremely lucrative position as Stanhope's private investigator. The fact that Stride's predecessor as chief may have covered up Stanhope's potential involvement in Laura's killing doesn't help matters, either.

Stride's plate is already full. A peeping Tom is terrorizing local high school girls, and when an episode results in a horrifying incident, Stride's investigation indicates there may well be ties between the voyeur and the murder that took place decades before.

IN THE DARK begins more slowly than does its predecessors, with its initial pacing just a bit off as the narrative goes back and forth in time, filling in some portions of Stride's past that have influenced and informed his present. About a third of the way through, however, Freeman lobs a king-size bomb into the book that is as surprising as it is shocking, and from there he never looks back. The majority of the novel reminded me of some dark, unlikely collaboration between Raymond Chandler and Erskine Caldwell, as Freeman, practically to the very end, takes the plot into unanticipated places. The result will keep readers jumping, waiting for what surprise --- or disaster --- will come next.

IN THE DARK may not contain any loose ends to encourage readers to pick up Freeman's next volume, but that's not necessary. The strong plot and characterization, as well as past works in the Stride mythos, will keep readers anticipating --- and returning to --- future works for some time to come.

--- Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub

Like "Immoral" Brian Freeman's book, "In the Dark," is spellbinding! He has quickly become my favorite author. I have purchase a stack of his books and can hardly wait to read the next one.

"In the Dark" takes place in Duluth, Minnesota. On July 4, 1977, Police Lieutenant Jonathan Stride, then a high school student and his girl friend Cindy Starr made love in a park. The same night Cindy's 18-year old sister, Laura, was bludgeoned to death with a baseball bat. The case has grown cold, with the understanding that a powerful black drifter, Dada, was the most likely suspect.

Fast forwarding 30 years, Stride's wife Cindy died from cancer five years ago and Lieutenant Stride discovers from writer Tish Verdue that his late wife kept secrets from him. Trish claiming to be Laura's best friend is in town to expose those involved in the unsolved murder case through a book she is writing.

In the mean time a parallel story is developed about disturbed peeping Tom, Finn Mathisen. Terrorizing local teenage girls, Finn is suspected of causing Clark Biggs's brain damaged teenager of drowning while fleeing from him.

Freeman weaves the story and keeps the reader guessing whodunit and why, but keeps us "In the Dark" until the very end. Was it Dada, the drifter? Peter Stanhope the rich kid womanizer who owned the murder weapon? Was it demented peeper, Finn Mathisen? Was it author Tish Verdue?

This is truly an exciting murder mystery thriller that I could not put down. I can hardly wait to read Freeman's "Stripped" and "Stalked" to fill in what I missed between "Immoral" and "In the Dark."

Brian Freeman's latest Jonathan Stride novel is most appropriately titled. Not only is the reader "kept in the dark" for most of the book as to the identity of the murderer of some thirty years previous, all of the characters in the book are as well, save one.

Cleverly crafted and intricately plotted, Freeman remains a strong and enjoyable writer that we can look forward to seeing more of. I took off one star because of the way the story tended to drag through the middle of the book, but that is only a minor quibble. It is well worth your time.

Three decades ago in Duluth, then high school students Jonathan Stride and Cindy Starr fell in love. On the Fourth of July holiday, they made love for the first time. However, that joyous occasion is marked by grief and heartache instead of a fond memory of the beginning of their strong relationship; that same night someone brutally murdered Cindy's older sister Laura. The case was never solved with the cops concluding a drifter killed Laura.

In the present, the case remains unresolved, but Laura's best friend Tish Verdure has come home to write a true crime exposé book about the homicide. Tish knows the inner secrets of those who were close to the victim including Cindy, the late wife of police lieutenant Jonathan; who died five years ago from cancer so cannot defend herself from accusations to her stunned husband who was kept IN THE DARK about some of her secrets. Adding to his mental upheaval is Tish has the dirt on his current girlfriend former Las Vegas cop private investigator Serena Dial. Though reeling with revelations, Stride only decides to investigate the cold case murder of his sister-in-law when a witness to the Laura murder attempts suicide.

This excellent police procedural is made brisk and refreshing by the intriguing concept that no matter how much you think you know your loved ones; there remain segments in which you remain IN THE DARK. Thus besides a delightful investigation, the underlying philosophical tone enhances the characterizations especially Jonathan who cannot do his normal strong stride through whatever garbage he must investigate. Brian Freeman will leave his audience pondering what they do not know about their spouse.

Harriet Klausner

I've recently read four of Freeman's books most of which were great page turners that kept me guessing. This one didn't quite keep up with the others.

I normally avoid books written in a series, as their authors commonly run out of interesting situations for their repeating characters and, in general, the stories become predicable. That is not the case with Brian Freeman. Each of his Jonathan Stride/Serena Dial books is just a bit better than the one preceding it--a testament to Freeman's growth as a writer.

In his latest, "In the Dark," Freeman even added a welcome bit of social commentary: rigid Christianity vs. tolerance of gays. By addressing the issue through the eyes of a likeable character, he was able to make a powerful point without being preachy.

Having grown up in Duluth, Minnesota, I also get a kick out of the various locations within the city Freeman uses in his novels. As I compare where he sends his characters with my mental map of my old stomping grounds, I realize that Freeman (who doesn't live in Duluth) has done his research and probably knows my old hometown better than I do.

I read different books for different reasons. When I'm in the mood for pure escapism, I tag along with Stride and Dial.

Marty Essen
Author of "Cool Creatures, Hot Planet: Exploring the Seven Continents"