Customer Reviews

Immoral

5 star:		(80)
4 star:		(21)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(11)
1 star:		(11)

 

 

I just bought this book today, and I couldn't put it down until I finished it. Where a normal mystery book would end, Freeman is only partially into his twisting narrative. I found myself suspecting everyone - but I was totally surprised when the mystery was solved at the end. The main investigator, Jon Stride, is compelling and complex - he's not a perfect man and he's not a perfect cop, but the flaws are realistically human. He's in charge of finding out what happened to Rachel Deese - an unsympathetic victim, but Freeman draws you in to her story. Over the course of the book, we see Rachel's insidious character's impact on her mother, stepfather, friends, and more. All of these characters as well as the judge, DA, defense attorney, and cops are complicated, flawed, and best of all, interesting. At the same time this mystery is unfolding, Freeman draws us into to rooting for Stride - and hoping for the best in his relationships with the women in his life. You cringe when he makes bad decisions, and by the end, you're pulling for him to find happiness. I'm looking forward to the next in this series!

I cannot belive the 1 and 2 star reviews I'm seeing for this book. I won't dwell in that, except to say, to each his (or her) own. Now, if you like fast-paced suspense, characters that you feel you know, a great twist, and a story that's neatly wrapped up at the end, then buy this book now. The story stuck with me long after I finished the book, and I found myself exploring what could have been had certain things happened or not have happened. What more could you want? Yes, the ending will surprise you, but Mr. Freeman gives you all the clues; they're in there...you just have to put it together. Worth it? You bet. I cannot wait until the next Brian Freeman book arrives.

First time novelist Brian Freeman gives us a stylish thriller set in Duluth, Minnesota. Freeman has mastered plotting intricacies, and gives us a police procedural with a lot of twists and turns. His characterizations are a little weak and dialogue is a little stilted, but the book's concept is flawless and unique. I think that, given the fact that it is his first, he can be commended on the two cops who see action throughout the story, Stride and Maggie Bei. The women in Stride's life are less "fine tuned", as is the girl who disappears in the story Rachel Deese. It is Rachel who is the "Immoral" character of the tale, but we really never get to get inside Rachel's head....and perhaps that is where the tale breaks down a little.

I'm always more enthralled when a book is set in an area where I've lived, and this book, set primarily in Duluth, Minnesota, is no exception. In fact, had I not just finished Michael Connelly's new masterpiece, "The Lincoln Lawyer", I might have enjoyed "Immoral" more than I did; but the tale paled in comparison. Freeman is an interesting author who has written primarily for business before this novel. An inclusion of a new short story by the same author was a welcome addition.

Definitely worth a read!

Two teenage girls have disappeared off the streets of Duluth, Minnesota. Lieutenant Jonathan Stride is assigned to solve the case. As with any crime, the first people he must look at are the victim's family. There is something not quite right with the family of Rachel Deese, the last girl to disappear. Her relationship with her mother was extremely strained and her relationship with her stepfather extremely suspicious. Could it be foul play? The road Stride must travel to get at the truth is fraught with many deep potholes and as many surprise twists and turns as the most dangerous mountain pass.

St. Martin's has high hopes for this author. Their hopes are well founded. Brian Freeman, a marketing executive for a law firm, has hit a grand slam his first time at bat. It is easily the most entertaining debut novel of the year. He never tries to be too pretentious. Instead of concentrating on poetic and lyrical language, he goes straight for the reader's jugular and never lets up. The characters are well fleshed and the major ones full of great depth. The story, itself, is easily the strongest part of the novel. It simply never lets up. Even when the plot appears to be winding down, there are more sudden twists ahead. In fact, it is not until the very last pages that everything falls into place. IMMORAL is one of my favorite reads of the year so far. I predict great things from Brian Freeman.

Normally, when I see the words "debut author" anywhere on the book's cover, I expect, at best, a new and fresh approach to whatever genre the author has chosen. I also expect to see somewhat stilted dialogue, uneven story tempo, and often unrealistic plot direction. In this story, which starts with the murder of a young girl, and the often futile struggle by the local police to solve the crime, Mr. Freeman certainly provides the new approach; his dialogue, tempo, and story line, however, are as smooth and competent as any I've seen in a long, long time. Even more importantly to me, the writer has created some very interesting characters, ones about whom I cared, and with whom anyone could identify. His plot twists kept me guessing throughout the story, and the courtroom scenes alone were worth the price of admission. Best of all, at least for me, the ending was a complete surprise, something that rarely happens after 50+ years of reading! This book is an absolute gem, and I strongly recommend that you reserve space on your bookshelves for this any and any future efforts from Brian Freeman.

I feel like I lost 4 friends. The characters are so well developed you think that you know them. All 4 cops have unique personalities and all are extremely likable.

This is one of those mysteries where everyone is a suspect. Once the killer is revealed you hit yourself on the forehead and say to yourself "I cant believe I missed the clues."

Jonathan Stride, the main detective should become the next big thing in detective series. I only hope he brings Maggie, Serena and her partner (I forgot his name) back with him in each installment.

Brian Freeman's "Imoral" ranks in the top of the best authors in the mystery, legal, thrill category. Can't put it down as the plot twists and turns to unexpected avenues until the very end. The interpersonal relationships are tastefully done without omitting the details that all readers find in all of the books of this genre. Make sure you leave some time to sit and read this thrilling novel from cover to cover. I am a dedicated reader of all of the best selling authors and I firmly beleive that Brian will soon join Patterson, Cornwell, and the like. Enjoy

The first book by author Brian Freeman. Exciting, well-developed characters, interesting setting of Duluth, Minnesota. A very good read; difficult to put down.

I am not sure now how I came across this author, but I am forever grateful for whatever fate steered me in his direction. It is always a hoot to find a first time effort to be this good and one looks forward to further efforts from Mr. Freeman's pen.

The story has been detailed by others and all I will say about it is that I defy you to figure it out before the author finally reveals all of the twists and turns that he has woven into the fabric of his text. Jonathan Stride is likely to be around for a while and I suspect that Serena Dial will be also. Freeman does not create subtle characters. They live hard, love hard and many of them die hard.

It was also hard to put this book down because it moves along at a steady pace and there are no easy resting points. A most promising debut!

The first thing I did after wolfing down Brian Freeman's Immoral one hot summer weekend is to go out check out the customer reviews on here. I see there's no need to summarize the story; no need to comment on the slightly incredible world of BF, where most of the woman are bootylicious babes, or that the conclusion of the book may be a bit hard to swallow (although it went down just fine for me).

So my impressions are that this is a remarkable debut novel and that the intricate plotting and detail have all the earmarks of bestselling author...not great literary figure, but bestselling author. This is a great beach read, a stay-up-past-your-bedtime, can't-put-it-down thriller, and the author should go a long way in the genre. I think this books cooks the way it does is because Freeman not only knows how to craft a suspenseful thriller, but he also knows how to create characters we can really care about and who have unique feelings beyond being pawns in the suspense. I don't really agree with some of the other reviewers who call his characters two dimensional or cardboard--I think for the genre, they're way above the norm in terms of histories and detail and each one of them seemed real in my imagination (despite the literary "ogling" of women Freeman does, he still succeeds in making even the hottest sex objects real people and often powerful ones).

All in all, a highly recommended example of excellent genre writing...and a great read!