~Review: The Night Bird by Brian Freeman~

The Night Bird

Brian Freeman

Published February 1st 2017 by Thomas & Mercer

Homicide detective Frost Easton doesn’t like coincidences. When a series of bizarre deaths rock San Francisco—as seemingly random women suffer violent psychotic breaks—Frost looks for a connection that leads him to psychiatrist Francesca Stein. Frankie’s controversial therapy helps people erase their most terrifying memories…and all the victims were her patients.

As Frost and Frankie carry out their own investigations, the case becomes increasingly personal—and dangerous. Long-submerged secrets surface as someone called the Night Bird taunts the pair with cryptic messages pertaining to the deaths. Soon Frankie is forced to confront strange gaps in her own memory, and Frost faces a killer who knows the detective’s worst fears.

As the body count rises and the Night Bird circles ever closer, a dedicated cop and a brilliant doctor race to solve the puzzle before a cunning killer claims another victim.

This book starts off fast paced and never lets up.  A serious of bizarre deaths in the San Francisco area have Detective Frost Easton at a loss.  Someone or something is terrifying people into doing unspeakable acts.  The victims all have one connection, psychiatrist, Francesca (Frankie) Stein has helped each one of them.  It took me a little while to deal with one of the main characters being named Frankie Stein?  Dr. Stein specializes in helping her patients, at their request, forget traumatic events that have happened in their past.  But are somethings worth forgetting?

The story weaves its way through past and traumatic experiences.  Detective Frost helps untangle the mystery of why certain people are dying and why someone is targeting Dr. Stein.  Or does Dr. Stein have some secrets of her own that she is not willing to share until it is too late?  

A great read with some great characters.  I am enthralled with the character of Detective Frost.  I want to know more of his back story.  Such a painful past which made him decide to be a detective.  I love the story of how he acquired his gorgeous home and cat.  I am looking forward to more in the next book.  A great first novel in hopefully a long series!

I received this eBook from Goodreads.  All thoughts in this review are my own.  I receive no compensation.  Thank you to Goodreads and author Brian Freeman for sharing this book with me. 

About the Author:

Brian Freeman is a #1 Amazon bestselling author of psychological thrillers, including the Jonathan Stride, Frost Easton, and Cab Bolton series. His books have been sold in 46 countries and 20 languages. He is widely acclaimed for his "you are there" settings and his complex, engaging characters and twist-filled plots.

Look for two books from Brian in 2017, including THE NIGHT BIRD (featuring a dramatic San Francisco locale) and the latest in his Jonathan Stride series, MARATHON.

Brian's seventh novel SPILLED BLOOD won the award for Best Hardcover Novel in the annual Thriller Awards given out by the International Thriller Writers organization, and his fifth novel THE BURYING PLACE was a finalist for the same award. His debut thriller, IMMORAL, won the Macavity Award for Best First Novel and was a nominee for the Edgar, Dagger, Anthony, and Barry Awards. IMMORAL was named an International Book of the Month, a distinction shared with authors such as Harlan Coben and Lisa Unger.

His novels (in order) are: IMMORAL, STRIPPED, STALKED, IN THE DARK (also called THE WATCHER overseas), THE BURYING PLACE, THE BONE HOUSE, the award-winning SPILLED BLOOD, THE COLD NOWHERE, SEASON OF FEAR, and GOODBYE TO THE DEAD.

He also has two Stride e-books, TURN TO STONE and the short story "Spitting Devil."

You can write to him at brian@bfreemanbooks.com and find him on the web (bfreemanbooks.com), Facebook (facebook.com/bfreemanfans), Twitter (@bfreemanbooks), and Instagram (bfreemanbooks).