I recommend it for those who like thrillers. This book is a why they done it because you know who the killer was from the start.

Enjoyable sequel to The Night Bird. I like Frost and would like to know what happens to him next!

This is the second book in the Frost Easton series. Rudy Cutter, the serial killer Frost had put behind bars, gets let out of prison on a technicality. Frost is then on a mission to find more evidence to put him away for good.
I am a huge fan of Brian Freeman's books and this one did not disappoint. I could not put this book down! Definitely a must-read for fans of thrillers.

First Sentence: Frost Easton felt a shiver in the house, which jolted him from a deep sleep. He assumed it was the beginning of an earthquake.

Rudy Cutter is serving a life sentence for the murders of several young women, including the sister of homicide detective Frost Easton. Now Easton learns his boss, and former lover, Jess, planted the evidence which got Cutter convicted. The original case is completely thrown out, Easton’s friend is fired, and Cutter back on the street to kill again. Frost is determined to stop Cutter and reporter-turned-writer Eden Shay wants to help.

This is the way to start a book. No prologue. The story begins on the very first page. The scene is created, and one knows exactly where it’s set. There is a suggestion of threat which grows quickly until even as a reader, you nearly jump from the sense of danger being revealed, and the knowledge that it is only the beginning.

Freeman knows how to create a strong sense of place—“Painted murals adorned the massive columns of the freeway overpass.., Behind a metal fence, he saw the concrete ramps of a skateboard park…”. For those who live, or spent time, in the San Francisco/Bay Area, the local references--"He parked his police Suburban in the empty lot where buses normally unloaded tourists to walk across the Golden Gate Bridge. ... For tourists, this was the symbol of San Francisco. For the locals, it was just a bridge."--are a wonderful touch, but they don’t overwhelm or slow down the pace of the story.

Freeman also excels at the well-executed plot twist; the ones you feel you should have seen coming, but didn’t. He also created excellent “what would you do” scenarios.

The argument about--“the line." The line between going by the book and taking shortcut. It was a line that every cop faced sooner or later, when he had to decide if the end justified the means. Sometimes doing the right thing meant a criminal going free. Sometimes doing the wrong thing saved lives." It is a point which gives one something about which to seriously think. The title of the book is taken from the poem of the same name by Shel Silverstein.

The book’s plot is interesting in that there is no question as to the identity of the killer, and he is not a sympathetic character; no anti-hero here. But there is also more here than we expect.

Frost is a well-developed character; thought of as a “Boy Scout” by fellow cops. One thing that is rather questionable is the freedom he has. We never see him going into headquarters, rarely working with a team, or working more than one case. Frost is taken by his own good looks and ease of attracting women. Fortunately, at the end, we feel he may be maturing. His chef-brother, Duane, is a wonderful bit of lightness and his girl-friend Tabby, fits in the middle. We do so hope Freeman doesn’t take the stereotypical-relationship route with these characters, but it seems that may be avoided. Eden Shay, the writer, is a bit predictable but still steps outside that role. Comparing Easton’s former-lover Jess to a track of music is fascinating.

“The Voice Inside” is a step ahead in this series with an intense plot a dramatic climax and follow-on, and a well-done conclusion.

THE VOICE INSIDE (Pol Proc-Frost Easton-San Francisco, CA-Contemp) – VG+
Freeman, Brian – 2nd in series
Thomas & Mercer – January 2017

The Voice Inside – Brian Freeman
Brian Freeman’s newest novel was un-put-downable for me! After making his debut appearance in The Night Bird, Frost Easton is back in The Voice Within, now as a homicide inspector for the San Francisco PD, a position he took years ago after the death of his sister - a seemingly anomalous killing - in a string of serial murders in The Golden Gate City. The killer was caught and imprisoned, but many questions remain for Frost, but most puzzling, how did Katie, his sister, become a victim of the killer?
As the story begins, Frost is sound asleep on his couch when he is awakened by a strange thump one night and awakens to investigate only to find multiple audible alarms going off in his home, all set to 3:42AM, and an address on a card pinned to his door via a butcher knife. So begins the next installment of the Frost Easton series as he follows a twisted path left for him, and learns that a trusted partner had planted evidence in the prior investigation, and that a serial killer will now go free. A killer who wants revenge against those who wrongly imprisoned him, and an incomplete agenda he feels compelled to finish. As Frost and the SFPD search for their newly-freed killer, they always seem to be one step behind… Will they re-capture him before it’s too late??
Freeman offers page-turning action, plenty of twists and turns and, as always, an ending you might not quite anticipate…I was hooked from page one and could NOT put this book down!! If you love Sandford, Slaughter, Kava & Stelljes, you’ll LOVE Brian Freeman!!

I am a big fan of the author. However, this book was a disappointment. The plot and suspense as the story developed was a five star. But the basic foundation of the story was a minus one. Without a sound, reasonable foundation the story lost a lot of its excitement for me.

I would like to thank Netgalley and Thomas & Mercer for an advance copy of The Voice Inside, the second novel to feature Inspector Frost Easton of the San Francisco Police.

Frost is an honourable man so when he is led to evidence that proves his boss and on/off lover, Jess Salcedo, planted the evidence that led to the conviction of Rudy Cutter, the serial killer who killed, among others, Frost's sister Katy he is conflicted but finally reports it. Not many people are happy with him as Cutter wins his freedom, not just to live life but to continue his "work".

I thoroughly enjoyed The Voice Inside. It is the first Frost Easton novel I have read although I have been reading the Jonathan Stride novels for years (so many books, so little time!). The novel grabbed me from the start with a creepy break-in at Frost's house and held me throughout. I love the premise of a guilty man, and there is no ambiguity in this, being freed on a technicality and the ensuing cat and mouse game as Frost tries to catch legally. The twists come thick and fast as Cutter goes about his business and Frost trails behind before finally catching up. I'm not sure about the final twist as, while it makes for great reading and is a real surprise, it seems a bit farfetched.

Throughout the novel there is the shadow of trauma with Cutter being a damaged individual. On the other hand Frost lost his sister and Eden Shay, who is writing a true crime novel on the case and helps him with her notes, was held captive and left for dead when younger. What makes one person a killer and the other uphold the law? It's not a question Mr Freeman explores in depth but it hovers in the background asking to be examined.

I like the linear timeline in the novel which moves along at a brisk pace, rarely pausing and always relevant. The third person narrative is mostly from Frost's point of view with the occasional foray into Rudy Cutter's thoughts and actions. I'm not always a big fan of this approach but it works well here, giving the reader an insight into Cutter's thought processes without over egging it.

The Voice Inside is a good, straightforward read which I have no hesitation in recommending.

THE VOICE INSIDE is an excellent follow-up to THE NIGHT BIRD. Frost Easton's integrity will not allow him to keep his sister's killer behind bars after he learns that the cop who caught the killer planted false evidence to secure a conviction. Easton's decision to come forward is not supported by his fellow officers or the families of the victim. Worse yet, the killer it at it again. Easton struggles with his decision while simultaneously trying to catch and convict the murderer once again. Like all of Freeman's work, THE VOICE INSIDE is well-written and suspenseful with strong and interesting characters. Can't wait for the next one.

Homicide Detective Frost Eastman has to make a decision that will end one cop's career and put a serial killer of women, including Frost's own sister, back out on the streets free to kill again ...and again...and again.

Frost wants Rudy Cutter put away again ... only all the old evidence has been thrown out by the courts. It's like starting at the very beginning .. and Frost wants nothing more than to see this killer brought to justice..dead or alive.

Staying ahead of this brutal killer will not be easy, especially as Frost is still battling his own demons that have been present since his sister was killed. Shack seems to be the only one that can console him ... and he's a furry four-legged cat.

While the first book is this series, THE NIGHT BIRD, was outstanding, this one is even better. And even though it's not the first, it does well as a stand-alone, but as always, I recommend starting at the beginning.

One of the first things readers learn about Frost is that he is known as a boy scout within his law enforcement family. He will always choose to do the right thing, He is dedicated to his job and will always seek the truth to bring justice to the victims and their families.

The reader knows from the beginning who the killer is .. which doesn't take away at all from the high level of suspense these characters bring. All the characters are very well developed, from his family all the way to the killer. They come to life under this author's manipulations. The story premise is excellent. And the ending is explosive and totally unexpected.

Many, many thanks to the author / Thomas & Mercer / Netgalley for the advance digital copy of this extremely well-written book. Opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.

With this book we really got to know Frost better, to learn the rigid moral code he lives by, which caused quite a bit of trouble. I was so torn at the start, not sure that I would have made the same choice Frost did when he learned of the planted evidence. It really made me admire Frost for the hard road he took, especially with this close personal connection to the man that was freed.

I hated the way that Rudy taunted Frost, that it seemed like he knew more that Frost did. Frost did a great job of keeping up, often time surprising Rudy with how close he was to him. I really hated the last bomb that Rudy managed to pull on Frost, but Frost was more than up to dealing with it.

There were times that Frost didn't make good choices with the women in his life, one very obvious, but it's the one at the very end that had possibilities to really cause damage and Frost will have no one to blame but himself.

I wouldn't want to be Frost. I wouldn't want to be neither Eden nor Rudy Cutter because both were downright evil and wicked to kill.
What I would however love is to look Mr. Freeman in the eye and say "that was one hell of a chase! You've practically got me to steer clear of 3:42 am!"
I did not look forward to any psychological twists when I requested to read this book off NetGalley. I was intrigued by the title, the blurb and I was looking forward to taking a break from all the romance and poetry I'd been soaking up. This book offers an uncanny pace because where I expected Frost to use his detection skills and hunt Rudy Cutter for the sick serial killer he was, Frost took time to reflect on his sister's life and murder. Frost's actions went against the grain of my expectations and this made reading this book such a thrill.
If you're looking for a psychological thriller laced with some action and a good detective on the hunt, then this would be right up your alley. I'm going with a four star review because the ending left me wanting more and knowing for sure that Tabby and Frost have unfinished business and I'd love to know how he'll work his way through that one.

I loved the first installment in this series so I was really excited with the chance to read this ARC and I was not disappointed!
This is a great thriller. Well written, with well developed characters, good dialogue, excellent suspense building and a very interesting twist that I wasn't expecting at all at the end. It's that unusual kind of mystery where you know who the killer is but not his motives or how/when he'll get caught, and this can be even better than the classic whodunit because it leads to a cleverer, more suspenseful and moving path. Without losing the thrill it has the depth of a character study.
I am officially a Frost Easton fan now and will accompany him and his cat in the next books for sure!

I'd like to thank NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC of this novel in exchange for my honest review.

This second novel in the Frost Easton series is even better than the first. Brian Freeman is a master of suspenseful writing. Try starting THE VOICE INSIDE, and trying to put it down because you need to sleep before work and you'll see what I mean. His characters are imbued with such realistic emotions and feelings that they literally leap off the page and pull you into the story alongside them. I believe I've read every book Mr Freeman has written and I have to say he never fails to leave me wanting more .I just hope to God he's not finished with Frost because I'm dying to know what the next chapter in his life brings! Very highly recommended once again!

This is one of my favorite books from Brian Freeman. Frost Easton returns, along with the setting of San Francisco, and Frost is put through hell and back in this latest book.

Because Frost is such an honorable and honest cop, a serial killer decides to play with Frost in the most fiendish way possible. Frost is forced to turn over evidence provided thanks to the killer, which forces the state to release the serial killer from prison and which ruins the career of a friend. Making it so much worse is that this depraved serial killer, Rudy Cutter, was imprisoned for killing Frost's younger sister, Katie, as one of the victims of Rudy's killing spree.

Could any of us do the right thing when it causes so much pain?

The Voice Inside is a bookthat will cause you to read on through the night if you start it too late in the evening. 5 stars!

What if doing the right thing means letting a convicted killer go free? The same killer who took the life of your sister? For San Francisco homicide cop, Frost Easton, it’s an agonizing choice, but in the end he knows he must come clean about the evidence planted to get the necessary conviction of serial killer Rudy Cutter. Once Cutter is back on the street, Frost makes it his only goal to see the man behind bars again, this time legally and for the rest of his life. With the help of Eden Shay, who wrote a book about Cutter, he tries to stay ahead of a serial killer determined to exact revenge. Freeman does a fantastic job of presenting a man, a cop, struggling with right and wrong, vengeance and justice. A must read