Spilled Blood: A Novel

Gosh, this one was a winner. It's about adults and their struggles but the teens who are involved make this a richer book and story. I was completely engaged throughout the entire book. Freeman is a master with story and somehow pulling in so many facets of people and possibilities. Joe Barrett does a great job with the narration. I have enjoyed him on other Brian Freeman books and will be looking for this duo for the next one. I'm going shopping right now!

This may appear again now and then.

Dear God: Please let this man write another book soon and please let me be here to listen to it. I can't say something like 'even his worst book is good' because I can't think of anything he's done that is worse than anything else.

Before I post this list I have to say that Sandford, Parker and MacDonald are EXTRA special. And Richard Ferrone as John Sandford's voice is an amazing match. Like George Guidall with Craig Johnson and pretty much anything George reads.

Robert B. Parker lived in this space for me as did John D. MacDonald. Currently, Michael Connelly, Robert Crais, John Hart, Craig Johnson, John Lescroart, William Kent Krueger Ridley Pearson ,and Jonathan Kellerman. Some others are really good but these guys have something special. If you are into mystery-thrillers I just gave you a back catalog I wish I could have...but I HAVE had it and it is an incredible treasure. I stopped going to libraries and swap places just so I can encourage these guys by sending them money. Please enjoy.
P.S. Adding Brian Freeman.

Another novel from Brian Freeman, a stand-alone, this time about southern Minnesota. Freeman is particularly good at describing scenery. Two towns on the Spirit River: one a prosperous town with a plant that manufactures pesticides and genetically modified grain. Down the river a second town, where working class people live, many without jobs, and some dying inexplicably of cancer, perhaps from the water brought down river from the first town? The working class town files a suit against the owner of the plant in the other town regarding the cancer deaths, but a top knotch scientist is brought in to analyze the river and the soil, and finds the company not at fault. But now the two towns are at the boiling point, and teenagers from either town roam into the other town reeking havoc-not unlike gang warfare in cities. Ashlyn, the daughter of the plant owner, is murdered in a deserted ghost town that used to be a town before the land was too damaged to support life. One of the last people to see her was Olivia, whose best friend, Kimberly, had died from leukemia, which people blame on the water. Olivia and Ashlyn have an argument, and the next day Ashlyn is dead. The last one people think saw her alive was Olivia, so the county attorney is going to bring murder charges against her. Olivia’s mother, Hannah, calls her ex-husband, a top knotch criminal defense lawyer in to help his daughter. As the story moves along, more and more layers of secrets involving the residents of both towns are revealed. A very good thriller which doesn’t back down in intensity through the entire book. Joe Barrett continues to read Freeman’s books for the audio version, and his somewhat informal chatty style fits these books well.

This was the best Brian Freeman novel I've listened to so far. I thought the storyline was well written and certainly wasn't predictable. The feeling of the rural area was communicated well, and the story all tied together in the end, even though I thought there would be loose ends. My only concern was that there is quite a bit of violence, but I don't know that's unusual in most thrillers these days.

I am just blown away by this book. A gripping story, pitch perfect performance, and compelling characters make this book one you will not be able to put down. Start this one on a long trip or a weekend - and enjoy!

It didn't floor me, but it was a nice easy get-away. I bought another book by Brian Freeman based off of reviews, and the fact that I enjoyed his writing style.