Customer Reviews

Freeform

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

A real rarity-- an intelligent gay thriller that one can't put down.

Once you overcome the deciphering of the Glaswegian expression, you find a gripping story with characters you can accept and understand. The plot twists and turns, and the ending is a real surprise, but logical if you read between the lines (the clues are there). No need for a sequel, though (publisher/writer be warned!!)

A great holiday or bedtime escape read.

Jack Dickson has crafted a fine example of the detective story in the noir genre, with a gay angle to it. The gay aspect of the book is important, but it does not overwhelm the story - it's a good detective knovel first, but with a twist (and several good randy scenes). It grabs you by the lapels of your leather jacket and pulls you relentlessly along to bring you to a conclusion that is both unexpected, and at the same time pointed to throughout the book.

The dialect can make it slow going at first (at least for not non Glasgow native) but if you take time to sound out the words at first, the dialog becomes easier and easier to read. (it also helps if you think of Groundskeeper Willie from the Simpsons when readin dialog). A book not easily found in the bookstores, this is certainly worth the read.

Dickson is particularly strong on place, and characterising strong (frequently aggressive) gay men who possess a core of uncertainty and self-doubt. He is also a weaver of intricate plots which cunningly combine the most gripping elements of the hardboiled thriller and the most stimulating of erotic fiction.

Am I the only gay reader bored with the hard boiled dick (and I use the term advisedly) genre? Detective Sargeant Jas Anderson is his fellow cop's prime suspect when lover Leigh is brutally offed. Makes sense. Jas is a brutal guy despite his--er--softer moments. This is realistic, gritty, hard-edged...Yeah, yeah, yeah. What else is new? You can probably figure the direction FREEFORM is going simply by the direction all the others like it go. One difference: this one is Scottish (men in kilts! NOT). The dialect irritated me till I got used to it. Though not my cup of warm ale, there are so few gay mysteries, especially Scottish ones, that I say give FREEFORM a whirl. Or a skirl. Or whatever Scots do.

This is the first book in a trilogy; "Banged Up" and "Some Kind of Love" follow. I read them over and over again. The phonetic spelling of the scottish pronounciation takes some getting used to but eventually becomes quite charming. You could describe Jas Anderson as a Gay James Bond (I would really like to see a movie made out of this series)but I don't think that would do Jas Anderson justice. He is not flashy, he's not voraciously promiscuous, but he is sexy, he has values, he's tough, but he has a heart of gold. If it sounds like I am in love with him, you're probably right. The storylines are good, even gripping and I highly recommend them. The only thing that bugs me about this book is the continuous reference to "Freeform" as if this is something that the reader is presumed to know. Well, I don't. If anyone does please let me know.

Jack Dickson's debut novel is well-crafted with characters that are extremely dangerous to know...addresses the most dangerous and degrading of all abuses - power!

I admit, I thought the story was compelling enough to finish the book in spite of the fact that I skipped most of Jas' dialogue. I didn't have the time nor energy to decipher the written dialect. It would have shown that the author gave his readers credit for intelligence just by telling us Jas was from Glasgow.

I liked the twist, his hunt for the truth. I found his "I'm tough and everybody needs to know it" demeanour a bit old after a while. I didn't realise a man showed his bravery by never taking a hot shower! LOL! But still, I enjoyed it and I'll pass it along to a friend.

...never come across a book with such a likeable gay hero as Detective Sergeant Jas Anderson.