Another Must Read From My Collection!

Ok, first I want you to know that I am posting this about a week in advance. Why? Because I am finishing the last 50 pages of Brian Freeman's upcoming Jonathan Stride book, In the Dark, and I realized, like I always do, that I've not posted anything about Brian Freeman yet. 

So, I'll be nice and start with the very first book in the series (since I want you to run out and buy it and read in order). But seeing as how this came out while I was still a bookseller and only doing newsletter reviews, I have to borrow from an outside source for the synopsis. 

Straight from Brian Freeman's website, here is some info on his amazing, edge-of-your-seat debut Jonathan Stride thriller, Immoral: 

Lieutenant Jonathan Stride is suffering from an ugly case of déjà vu. For the second time in a year, a beautiful teenage girl has disappeared off the streets of Duluth, Minnesota. Gone without a trace, like a bitter gust off Lake Superior.

The two victims couldn't be more different. First it was Kerry McGrath. Bubbly. Sweet sixteen. And now Rachel Deese. Strange and sexually charged. A wild child.

The media is hounding Stride to catch a serial killer. But Stride, haunted by personal loss and by his failure to solve Kerry's murder the year before, doesn't think the answer is that simple. As he exposes Rachel's twisted background, he begins to believe that the truth behind Rachel's disappearance is more complex than anyone imagines. And more evil.

The search carries Stride from the icy stillness of the northern woods to the erotic heat of Las Vegas. And Stride finds his own life changed forever by the secrets he uncovers.

Secrets that stretch across time in a web of lies, death, and illicit desire.

Secrets that are chillingly... immoral.

And because I will never recommend a book that I didn't enjoy, it's obvious that I liked this one. But it was more than that! I LOVED it. This was a really stand-out debut for me. First because Freeman did something that I hadn't ever really seen in a mystery before. He moved on. Halfway through the book, it's months after the fact and Stride is trying to move on. Then he changes pace and ends up in Vegas. It really shakes up the book. Second, because I love Stride and Maggie Bei and the setting. And finally, because they're freaking intense! I would recommend reading when you know you can devote enough time to finishing. You won't want to put this down for anything. 

Immoral is a super fast read. If you like Harlan Coben, you're going to love Brian Freeman. And, Stride's tales continue in Stripped, Stalked, and now In the Dark (due out Tuesday!). 

Also, I just learned that Freeman is half of the team Ally O'Brien's The Agency. Yep, it's true. Freeman and London agent Ali Gunn are Ally O'Brien. I should have a chance to delve into Freeman's feminine side shortly. Until then, run out and buy Immoral if you haven't already! I'll post some follow-ups about Stripped and Stalked before I post about In the Dark (which is fabulous, chilling, heart wrenching, and as intense as the rest of the series). In the meantime, if you are caught up on your Freeman, my review of In the Dark is now up at bookbitch.com.