NUMBER OF HEARTS: 4
Crooked Street is the third installment in the Frost Easton series. This was another great story. In Crooked Street we follow the trail of another set of murders that seem to have some very strange connections, from the snakes painted near each death to the name Lombard. This case will take Detective Easton on a wild ride of who done it. But even a veteran Detective will not fully be prepared for the answers that he will get.

If you have not started this series I would recommend that you start with book one The Night Bird as Detective Easton’s story builds with each book. I can’t wait to see what is next in this series.


Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Netgalley & Thomas & Mercer in exchange for an honest review. This review is my own opinion and not a paid review.

This is book 3 in the Frost Easton series but you don’t miss out on many major details if you read this as a stand alone. I personally preferred the first 2 books but this one was still a great read. I wasn’t sure how I felt about it when I started reading but I soon got sucked it.

The crooked street is written well and is full of twists and turns, most of which I did not see coming. There are a few lovable characters including Shack the cat. I honestly didn’t know who to trust and I was suspicious of pretty much everyone. It does finish on a bit of a cliff hanger which I know a lot of people dislike but it definitely made me excited for the next instalment.

If you love your books full of corruption and deceit and love to be kept guessing then I definitely recommend checking this one out.

Thanks to NetGalley for a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

Detective Frost Easton's ex-friend dies on his doorstep after whispering one word, "Lombard". What follows is a labyrinth running deep into the heart of San Francisco that includes corruption and concealment. This is the third novel in the Frost Easton series. I have read the first and second books and this did not disappoint.
This book had twists and turns at every corner. When I thought I had it figured out, there was a new event that it had me second guessing myself. I am excited to continue with the series!

This was a good police procedural suspense novel. I liked the pragmatic detective who was considered to be a "boy scout" by those who knew him. In other words, he played it by the book. This mystery meandered through valleys and mountains until the surprising conclusion. I would like to read more from this author.

THE CROOKED STREET, a psychological thriller is the third book in the Frost Easton series, by bestselling author Brian Freeman. Having read and enjoyed the previous two books in the series, I was anxious to continue with the series. Even though this novel reads well as a stand alone, I highly recommend that you start with the first book, to fully appreciate the ongoing character development.

The books in the series include:
The Night Bird (Book 1)
The Voice Inside (Book 2)

Denny Clark was in San Francisco’s Chinatown to deliver a warning…but he was too late. They were all dead, and he was probably next! They were tracking him on his phone. He did the only thing he could do…reach out to his old friend, Frost Easton, a San Francisco Homicide detective, who he hadn’t seen in years, to deliver a message- “Lombard.” But after crawling up to Easton’s house, Denny dies giving Easton the message.

Now Frost is assigned to the case-a homicide. The last time Frost had seen Denny, he had done character excursions on the Bay, catering to the San Francisco elite. But something wasn’t right…the victim had been carrying lots of money. There was no known motive.

Denny appears to be the latest victim in a string of murders linked by a distinctive clue: the painting of a spiralled snake near the crime scenes. Is it the work of a serial killer? Or is Denny’s death more twisted and personal?

Now Frost is on the hunt for a killer in San Francisco which soon becomes a game of cat and mouse, with an enemy who knows his every move. There is no one he can trust. And somewhere down the crooked streets of the city, the killer is ready to attack again.

This book is well written and very engaging. I highly recommend this series to all mystery and crime lovers.

Many thanks to Thomas & Mercer via NetGalley for my digital copy.

I am currently on book two of this trilogy, and I am loving the series so far. I will come back and publish my updated review once I am able to finish this, the third installment.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.

The Crooked Street by Brian Freeman is the third in a series featuring Detective Frost Easton and has a plot as crooked as the fabled Lombard Street which snakes throughout the story 😉.
It begins with a former friend named Denny showing up one night fatally wounded and uttering only the word Lombard before his death. The investigation leads Easton to what appears to be at first the work of a serial killer but what do these victims have in common?
No one can be trusted as he searches for the truth.
This is left on a cliffhanger ending but the reader doesn’t feel cheated or unsatisfied. I have long been a fan of his Jonathan Stride character and feel that Brian Freeman doesn’t get the recognition he deserves. He is one of the best thriller/mystery authors out there and his books are always on my must read list.

I loved this book. Another great read from Brian Freeman.
He always delivers a good mix of exciting characters, a twisting plot with a dash of suspense and this book was no different. Although the book was brought to a satisfactory close, it definitely left the reader knowing there will be more to come with regards to this particular villain as well as someone very close to Frost.

This is the third book in this exciting "Detective Frost " series that is part thriller and part mystery. This is the first book in the series I have read . I look forward to exploring this wonderful author's earlier books. Thank you for the ARC that does not influence my personal opinion.
I loved the challenge of the detective working a complex case after a old friend dies in his arms and utters one last word as a clue. From that one clue the challenge is complex and driven by a build up of excitement with each step in the story. The author has a gift for building a good thriller and this was one of the best I have ever read. The setting of San Francisco was done to perfection. The charcters are well crafted to the story and all add excitement and clues for the reader. The suspect is not reveled until near the ending which kept me guessing throughout. This is a fun read with a complex plot that is thrilling for any fan of mysteries. A add in of a possible hint of a romance in future books was written in with its own complications for the future but did not overpower the story.

I enjoyed this book immensely and highly recommend this read for all who enjoy thrillers and mystery reading. Very well done to the author.

The Crooked Street is the third novel in the Detective Frost Easton of San Francisco Police Department series; each instalment works perfectly as a standalone as the crime is self-contained to that particular book, but you will not be privy to information on the recurring characters full backgrounds. I loved the murder and mayhem, thrills and spills San Fran PD go through, and the complexity of the plot made this unputdownable for me.

The author challenges the reader to keep up with the developments, the endless deceit and a wholly untrustworthy mob of people; this is definitely one of the most twist-driven and surprise-filled thrillers I've had the pleasure to read of late. The twists in the tale are plentiful and pull you into one way of thinking before whipping the rug from underneath you leaving you scratching your head aghast. Mr Freeman impressed me by disguising the perpetrator until very late on, which created tension throughout, and he cleverly weaves a dark yarn that I enjoyed immensely.

It does, however, end on a cliffhanger which is rather annoying as whether I will remember the details of this book when the sequel comes out is debatable. Frost is a character I can see myself really appreciating as the series progresses. He knows his own mind and is morally driven. I looking forward to the next instalment and the evolution of the characters.

Many thanks to Thomas & Mercer for an ARC.

OMG! I devoured the 3 books in this series so far and this last one was twisted af! It was SO FREAKING GOOD! Now all I’m thinking is when will the 4th one come out? I need more Frost and this story!

This book is such an amazing continuation of the Frost Easton series! I love the introduction of Lombard and everything surrounding this enigma. The author really takes 'Who can you trust' to a new level in this story. There are plenty of twists and turns - some you may see coming, some you may not. It doesn't matter though, because the story is so thoroughly engaging that whether you know what's coming or not, you still find yourself rapidly turning pages. And wait until the ending - it's maddening having to wait for the next installment! Simply brilliant work as usual from Brian Freeman..

This is a book by the book. Directly into the action, clear timeline that's easy to follow and a great plot. Mix in some romantic drama, a few twists and even a special cat, and the story is 5 stars.

San Francisco homicide detective Frost Easton is shocked when his estranged friend Denny Clark arrives at his Russian Hill home in the middle of the night and dies in his arms. Denny utters a single word before dying: Lombard. PI Dick Coyle tells Frost that Denny is the latest victim in a string of deaths linked by a distinctive clue: the painting of a spiraled snake near the crime scenes. Denny had come a long way from when he and Frost worked on a fishing boat. Now Denny worked on hosting exclusive events on his luxury yacht to San Francisco’s shady elite. Frost learns that several other people who attended Denny's latest event are either dead or missing. Is Lombard responsible for this and what happened on the yacht? The only person left alive is talented Chinese chef Mr. Jin who has gone missing. Jin's teenaged son Fox wants Frost to find his father alive. As the body counts grow and attempts are made on his life, it is a race against time for Frost to stay alive and stop Lombard.

4.5 stars

This is the third book in the Frost Easton series and was a thrilling read. On the personal front, Frost has been denying his growing attraction to his chef brother Duane's fiancee Tabby. The book's chilling ending deals with that relationship and that leaves the door open for plenty more trouble for Frost in the next book.

I received an eARC via Netgalley and Thomas and Mercer with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book and provided this review.

The Crooked Street by Brian Freeman is the third in a series featuring San Francisco homicide detective Frost Easton. This series is officially my new favorite mystery series! Each installment is better than the last. I love Frost and his cat Shack. The two of them make a great team. Frost is investigating the murder of Denny Clark, an estranged friend of his, whom he hasn't spoken to in 10 years because of a falling out. Denny shows up at Frost's door and collapses dead, muttering his last word, "Lombard". What or who is Lombard? Why is everyone connected to Denny and his boat charter business missing or dead? Frost will stop at nothing to find out. The Crooked Street really ups the ante for Frost. It ends with a major cliffhanger and twist. I cannot wait for the 4th book! This one is not to be missed! Please make sure to read the previous two books in this series before reading this one. Thanks to Net Galley and the publisher for an ARC of this book to review.

This third outing into the Frost Easton series does not disappoint. Who (or what?) Is Lombard, and why does everyone connected to the mystery end up dead ? As Frost unravels the clues and gets closer to answers, how big is the target he is painting on his own back?
Brian Freeman is a favorite author, always on my pre-order list. If you haven't discovered him yet, do yourself a favor and clear your schedule as you do!

This is the latest book in the Frost Easton series and it is a great installment. The plot is filled with lots of twists and turns leaving you with no doubt that "trust no one" should be the theme of the book. The twists and turns in the plot make you want to stay up all night reading it as each one reveals a new avenue for the main character to chase. As always the characters are incredibly well developed and just when you think you know them incredibly well, they also have a twist. One that you should have seen coming, but didn't. If you haven't read the entire series that will not impact your enjoyment of this book too much, but you are definitely missing out by not reading the entire series. Once again, I'm back on the edge of my seat waiting for the next book to be available so I can see where the author takes Frost and his pals next.

Loved it! This book goes straight to the top of the list of best books I've read this year. Never a dull moment while reading this entertaining book. I was so into it that I ended up reading it at work. The twist at the end threw me for a loop. I can't wait to get my hands on more books by Brian Freeman.

It is the first time that i have read a book by Brian Freeman and now eager to read more. An excellent story from start to finish and talk about the twists and turns. Each time i thought i had it figured, so there was another twist. I am not going to write what the story is about, as i do prefer one to read for themselves, but i do recommend.

My thanks to Netgalley and the Publishers for my copy. This is my honest review and all opinions are my own.

There are those who are crooked, and then there are those who are just plain evil. Inspector Frost Easton crosses paths with both kinds in Crooked Street. I just finished Brian Freeman’s second Easton novel, The
Voice Inside, and jumped right to the newest one. Like the previous thriller, this one was just as hard to put down. Wow!

Freeman, who is well known for his Duluth detective Jonathan Stride, has based this new series in San Francisco. He’s moved his thrills from one chilly, hilly city to another, and Easton has what it takes to become another fan favorite. He’s got a reputation as a Boy Scout, a cop who plays by the rules, even if it means playing a waiting game or having to make impossibly difficult choices. Thus, he has earned the respect of good guys and bad guys alike, which isn’t to say that there aren’t those who don’t try to beat him. There are many.

When an estranged old pal shows up at his Russian Hill home, literally at death’s door, the last word out of his mouth is “Lombard.” What the heck? Naturally, the first place Frost goes is to San Francisco’s famous Lombard Street, which is known for its one block of eight hairpin turns that make it the “crookedest street in the world.”

Eventually, though, he finds a private eye who tells him about a trail he’s been following. It involves a serial killer called Lombard and graffiti-like red snake symbols left at the scenes where victims are found. Who, or what, is Lombard? A serial killer, or something more sinister? Why was Denny killed? What, if any, is the relationship between the victims? The plot takes Frost through a series of zigzags and bends with danger at every nook and cranny. Will there be more bodies before all is said and done? Does Lombard really exist, or is he/she just a myth? Who can Frost trust? He is told by his captain and a fellow investigator to trust no one. I had suspicions but nothing but my guts to rely on. This is one roller coaster ride!

Speaking of roller coasters, Frost’s personal life is sort of like that too. Remember that in the last book he thought maybe he’d found his “Jane Doe,” a woman who was, unfortunately, unavailable? Well, the plot thickens in this one. Boy, does it ever!

Also, Frost gets a lot more physical in this book. No, not like that. It seems like every time he turns around, someone in some fashion is pounding him on. Ouch! Oh, uh, Frost, you might want to consider locking your doors. It’s not just his friends and family who show up unannounced while he’s away. If not for his own safety, he needs to consider Shack, his beloved tuxedo cat. Just sayin’.

There is plenty of tension in this one. The characters are great. We get to see more of his buddy Herb, the old hippie artist. He’s a smart guy, and I love his talks with Frost. Brother Duane and his lady Tabby return. The fellow cops are interesting characters. Are they trustworthy? Who knows? Are any of them trustworthy? Having read so many of Brian Freeman’s books, I knew there was a big twist coming at the end, but I NEVER in my wildest imagination expected this one! NO!

I wish to express my appreciation to NetGalley, Thomas & Mercer, and Brian Freeman for this ARC copy in exchange for my unbiased review.

5 stars