The Watcher (Jonathan Stride Book 4)

Lieutenant Jonathan Stride has never forgotten the case that made him decide to join the police force. Back in the 1970s, Laura sister of Stride's girlfriend was murdered. The obvious suspect was a vagrant, who slipped through the hands of the police, including Stride's detective hero Roy. Now, though, Stride's looking at the case in a new light. Tish Verdure, an old friend of Laura's, has come home: and she's certain that the killer was a local boy, now an attorney with connections at the highest level. Stride's soon convinced that there was a deliberate decision to direct the investigation towards a simple solution and away from Tish's suggested perpetrator: but he's also convinced that Tish is hiding a secret about the past. A secret that could have shattering consequences including a second murder...

“'With not one but two breathtaking climaxes, Freeman delivers a tale of intrigue and anguish. Lyrical descriptions of Minnesota's wild weather add another element to a mesmerizing mix'”

Edgar-finalist Freeman's fourth thriller to feature Duluth, Minn., police lieutenant Jonathan Stride (after Stalked) may be his most ambitious--and accomplished--work to date. As the title suggests, even those involved in the closest relationships can be kept in the dark about a loved one's past. When a woman shows up in town and informs Stride that she's writing a book about the 30-year-old mystery surrounding the murder of the older sister of the girl who grew up to become Stride's spouse, he's forced to re-examine the validity of his bond with not only his late wife, Cindy, who died of cancer five years earlier, but also that involving his current love interest, a former Vegas cop turned PI, Serena Dial. Powered by darkly poetic atmospherics and deep character development (especially Stride, whose understated intensity, dignity and resilience are emblematic of the Twin Ports area itself), this harrowing and heartrending novel will leave readers guessing until the very last pages. - Publishers Weekly

His most ambitious - and accomplished - work to date - Publishers Weekly

Powered by darkly poetic atmopherics and deep character development... this harrowing and heartrending novel will leave readers guessing until the very last pages - Publishers Weekly

...gripping, with the right balance of all those things that make a successful thriller - strong characters, believable plot and plenty of tension - Herald Sun, Australia

The writer finishes each chapter with a dramatic sentence that compels you to turn the next page to the final gripping conclusion - Launceston Examiner, Australia

With not one but two breathtaking climaxes, Freeman delivers a tale of intrigue and anguish. Lyrical descriptions of Minnesota's wild weather add another element to a mesmerizing mix - The Advertiser, South Australia

An author returns to her home town to write a book about a 30-year-old unsolved murder and stumbles into more than she'd bargained for. The result is gripping, with the right balance of all those things that make a successful thriller - strong characters, believable plot and plenty of tension - Herald Sun, Australia

Clever and classy - Gold Coast Bulletin, Australia

Brian Freeman had a successful career in marketing before deciding to write full time. He lives in Minnesota.

Lieutenant Jonathan Stride has never forgotten the case that made him decide to join the police force. Back in the 1970s, Laura sister of Stride's girlfriend was murdered. The obvious suspect was a vagrant, who slipped through the hands of the police, including Stride's detective hero Roy. Now, though, Stride's looking at the case in a new light. Tish Verdure, an old friend of Laura's, has come home: and she's certain that the killer was a local boy, now an attorney with connections at the highest level. Stride's soon convinced that there was a deliberate decision to direct the investigation towards a simple solution and away from Tish's suggested perpetrator: but he's also convinced that Tish is hiding a secret about the past. A secret that could have shattering consequences including a second murder...

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