Stalked [Library Binding]

Brian Freeman (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 5, 2008

Lieutenant Jonathan Stride knows his partner, Maggie Bei, is in trouble when she reports a deadly crime on a bitter winter night. She's obviously hiding a terrible secret, and her silence only feeds suspicion. But Maggie isn't the only one keeping secrets in Duluth. A seductive young woman has disappeared, leaving behind a stash of lurid fantasies and a cryptic message: "I know who it is."

Following a twisted trail, Stride uncovers a sordid web of violence and voyeurism that someone is willing to kill to keep hidden. His lover, Serena Dial, a homicide cop turned private investigator, is chasing a blackmailer who knows all the city's dirty secrets--even Maggie's. But as Stride and Serena hunt for a killer, a predator is hunting them--with a terrifying plan for revenge.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

In Freeman's chilling, atmospheric latest, Jonathan Stride returns from a Las Vegas stint (in Stripped) to head the major crimes detective bureau of his former Duluth, Minn., department. When the husband of Maggie Bei, Stride's former detective partner, is murdered, Maggie becomes the prime suspect, and Stride determines to clear her. Meanwhile, Dan Erickson, an ambitious Duluth county attorney, hires Stride's lover, PI Serena Dial (who returned with Stride from Vegas), to pay off a blackmailer. Freeman slowly weaves the cases together into a labyrinthine search for a serial killer. Following the anonymous predator as well as the cops, the reader is teased by the fiend's identity and hidden motives. The stalwart, intuitive Stride digs into the case's disparate elements, including the city's sexual underworld, and a terrified Serena runs into serious trouble. A strong narrative crammed with twists and studded with sex and violence; a mysterious, even mystical, sense of place; and a well-crafted set of characters and relationships make this one of Freeman's stronger crime thrillers. (Feb.)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review

Praise for Freeman's Stripped, winner of AudioFile Earphones Award: "Barrett deftly handles the rapid-fire dialogue, believable plot shifts, and wide variety of voices and accents. In dusky, appealing tones, Barrett turns Freeman's deliciously decadent diversion into compelling listening." --AudioFile

"Recommended for fans of Harlan Coben, who will enjoy the compelling cast and swift, sinuous plot." --Booklist

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Library Binding
• Publisher: Blackstone Audio Inc.; Unabridged edition (February 5, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1433209640
• ISBN-13: 978-1433209642
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.8 x 2.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (72 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,611,284 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Brian Freeman is an international bestselling author of psychological suspense novels featuring detectives Jonathan Stride and Serena Dial. His books have been sold in 46 countries and 19 languages and have appeared as Main Selections in the Literary Guild and the Book of the Month Club. His settings in the bleak, frozen landscape of Duluth, Minnesota, and his deeply complex characters, have drawn comparisons to Swedish noir.

Freeman's fifth novel THE BURYING PLACE was a finalist for Best Novel of 2010 in the International Thriller Writer Awards. He was recognized along with fellow nominees Michael Connelly, Jeffery Deaver, Mo Hayder, and John Sandford. His debut thriller, IMMORAL, won the Macavity Award for Best First Novel and was a nominee for the Edgar, Dagger, Anthony, and Barry Awards. It was named International Book of the Month by book clubs around the world, a distinction shared with authors such as Harlan Coben and Karin Slaughter. His novel STRIPPED was named one of the top 10 mysteries of 2006 by the South Florida Sun-Sentinel.

His third novel STALKED was released in February 2008. "Freeman just keeps outdoing himself with each book," said the starred review in Library Journal. Publishers Weekly similarly gave a starred review to Freeman's fourth novel, IN THE DARK (2009), calling it his best book yet, "harrowing and heartrending."

His fifth novel THE BURYING PLACE arrived in bookstores in 2010. Upon its release in the UK, London's Daily Mail called Freeman the discovery of the year in crime fiction and said of the book: "Fleshed-out characters, high tension and terrifying twists put Freeman up there with Harlan Coben in the psychological crime stratosphere."

His newest novel and first stand-alone is THE BONE HOUSE, released in 2011.

In addition to his suspense series, Freeman is also the co-author of THE AGENCY (2009) under the pen name "Ally O'Brien." THE AGENCY is Janet Evanovich meets The Devil Wears Prada, a light and sexy satire of the publishing industry that received favorable reviews in People Magazine and Entertainment Weekly, among others.

Freeman was born in Chicago and grew up in San Mateo, California, before moving to Minnesota. You can write to him at [e-mail] and find him on Facebook by clicking the link at his web site (www.bfreemanbooks.com).

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

22 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Third Continues to be a Charm!, March 15, 2008

By 

John R. Linnell (New Gloucester, ME United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Stalked (Hardcover)

Brian Freeman continues to impress in his third chilling novel featuring Jonathan Stride and his second with his lover, Serena Dial. The plot outline has been well recounted here by others, but what is so compelling about this author is the way he leads the reader along to believe one set of facts and then turns things in on themselves in a way that keeps the pages turning and the lights on late into the night.

Freeman's books contain copious amounts of graphic violence and sex, however none of it is gratuitous. This is, as the book jacket describes it about Obsession, Blackmail and Murder....In zero degrees. But the story is red hot.

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Brian Freeman Has Never Let Me Down, March 17, 2008

By 

Nancy Grisso "Stepfordmomto2" (Tehachapi, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Stalked (Hardcover)

In this 3rd outing, Jonathan Stride returns from Las Vegas with Serena to take back his job with the Duluth Minnesota Police Department. Jonathan receives an urgent call from Maggie, his former partner, when she awakes to find that her semi-estranged husband is dead in their home. Of course, Maggie is the prime suspect, spouses always are. Stride and Serena set out to find the truth only to find themselves in much deeper then either would have suspected. Serena's past is put to the test when not only does it come back to haunt her, but to literally bite her.

You have to pay attention in this book because nothing is quite as it seems. Who is after whom and why gets a bit twisted but in a way that Freeman is famous for and will keep you turning the pages.

I highly recommend this author. His foray's into the underbelly always make for a fascinating read.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Brian has done it again!, March 17, 2008

By 

Linda Ritchie "Book Hog" (Grand Saline, Texas) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Stalked (Hardcover)

Since his first book, Immoral, I have hesitated to start the others as I cannot put them down and I am afraid Brian will not live up to his first. I have no worries. He just keeps getting better and better. Even though I get little inklings of who-dunit, I never really know for sure until the reveal. This guy knows how to write a book and the characters of Stride and Dial are more and more interesting. The relationship between Jonathan and his partner Maggie always leaves me wanting more as well. For some reason, the setting in the freezing winters of Minnesota work better than the Vegas one did, but then the writer knew that Jonathan was like a fish out of water and sent him home. Can't wait to see where they will go next...........