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Brian Freeman's STRIPPED was one of my books of last year, so I ensured that STALKED did some queue-jumping to the top of my review pile. And while it won't be challenging my top ten this time around, it's still a damn good addition to what is an absolutely outstanding series. When we left Lieutenant Jonathan Stride, he'd moved to Las Vegas to be near partner Serena Dial. But he never quite adjusted to the brash ways of the city (or the high temperatures). And not being boss any more wasn’t easy. So when STALKED opens, he's back in Duluth, Minnesota, and boy, do we know it. Freeman catapults us into the midst of winter, with the storms and the biting cold. And that backdrop pervades the whole novel, including a frightening finale amidst a vicious storm. Now it's Serena who must adjust to a whole new way of life. Jonathan is back in his old job, but it's not going to be easy. He's not popular with Abel Teitscher, the cop who took over his position when Jonathan moved west. And Abel has even more ammunition when Jonathan's partner Maggie Bei is found next to the body of her dead husband. Meanwhile, a young woman has disappeared, leaving a cryptic message behind her. And as Jonathan investigates, he uncovers a sordid network which the killer is determined to keep hidden. Serena, meanwhile, has set up as a PI. And she's taken on a challenging first job to track down a blackmailer who has something on one of the city's big names. STALKED is a strange book to read. At times it seemed to drag, but when I got to the end I realised just how much I'd enjoyed it, and how good a writer Freeman is. It's not the best in the series – that accolade must go to STRIPPED – but it's tightly-plotted, intense and strong on characterisation. Only one thing, though . . . it'd be nice to see Freeman portray some 'normal' women who aren't damaged in some way. Almost all of those in the book are sinking under personal baggage.
Reviewed by Sharon Wheeler, September 2007
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Contact: Yvonne Klein (ymk@reviewingtheevidence.com)
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