I love a good mystery, and Funeral for a Friend definitely qualified! Besides having a great plotline, the book is set in Duluth, Minnesota, only a few hours from my home base, and the audio version’s narrator, Joe Barrett, read the dialogue in an authentic Minnesota accent (especially surprising for a guy born in NYC). Incidentally, Freeman has lived in The Land of 10,000 Lakes for more than 35 years.

To be honest, I didn’t think I was going to like this book as much as I did. I read the first book in the Jonathan Stride series, but the second one was so disturbing I quit (serial killer butchering prostitutes), but I received an advance reader copy of Funeral for a Friend and gave it a shot. Boy, and I every glad I did! This book is more mystery and less butchering. For those not in the know, Jonathan Stride is a police lieutenant who patrols the bitter, beautiful beat of Duluth, Minnesota, on the shore of Lake Superior. His late wife Cindy calls him “a man of fire, honor, ego, and stubbornness — all good things, but sometimes not in perfect proportion.” Stride isn’t a super-hero. He’s a flawed, determined, passionate man.

Freeman is a writing machine. I gave his Thief River Falls (2020) a five-star rating, and he has authored four books since then. He has been named by Putnam and the Robert Ludlum estate as the official author to continue Ludlum’s famous Jason Bourne franchise. Brian’s first Bourne novel THE BOURNE EVOLUTION was named one of the Best Mysteries and Thrillers of 2020 by Kirkus. I’ll be picking up that one. 4.5 stars

Easily one of the best of series for Brian Freeman's Stride books. The past and present collide in a fascinating murder investigation where Stride is the main suspect.

‘Funeral for a Friend’ by Brian Freeman (Blackstone Publishing)

Ten books into Brian Freeman’s Jonathan Stride series, “Funeral for a friend” traverses a literary tightrope that few authors can manage: the novel works equally well as a standalone for a first-time reader, or as part of the fuller Stride canon for his longtime fans.

For those fans, Freeman brings back a welcomed cast of characters. There is Stride, of course, a Duluth detective with uncommonly common sense, and Stride’s wife, Serena, their “adopted” daughter, Cat, and Stride’s partner, Maggie Bei, among them.

Here, though, the stakes are higher than they have been before. In this novel, Maggie is forced, in response to a decades-old murder, to ask her partner the unthinkable: “Did you kill him?”

With Freeman’s masterful diversions, deceptions and angular plotting, you’ll be asking yourself the same question — and likely hoping for the same answer as is Maggie. After all, when Stride’s lifelong friend declares in confidence on his deathbed that the detective has nothing more to worry about the body he buried for him, it borders disbelief that Stride wouldn’t know what he’s talking about. Tie this to the secrets Stride has kept for decades about the murder victim’s connection to his ex-wife, and unraveling this whodunit takes on multiple dimensions.

As always, Freeman’s characters here are as developed as his plot, and even if this is your first foray into the Stride universe you’ll come to know Serena, Stride, Cat, Maggie and others as family.

Narrating the familial cast in the 9 1/2-hour long audio version of the novel is Joe Barrett, whose talents range from the adventure-thriller of a Freeman novel to the literary depths of William Faulkner and John Irving. Barrett, who also voices Freeman’s popular Frost Easton series, again brings depth to Stride’s world in this new story.

The first two-thirds of this book was slow and plodding. No highs or lows, just a straight line with a couple of references that you were not sure were clues or relevant information. About halfway through, I was ready to give up, but Brian Freeman had never (well, maybe Cab Bolton) disappointed me, so continue I did. At the three-quarter mark, this is where the book went from drab to fantastic. The pace picked up, the characters came together, and the usual Freeman suspense was back.

With best friend Steve Garske on his death bed, there is a confession of a buried body in the garden. Ned Bauer disappeared seven years ago after coming to town to investigate a thirty-year-old rape - an allegation that can be the end of a local Politician. But Stride being Stride, can’t let things lie, even if it means his career will be over and his ex-wife’s secrets will become public.

Now add in the next adventure of Cat Mateo, the teenager that Stride and Serena took in. Her life has become too public after an assault, but that is not going to hold her down. Unfortunately, all that unwanted attention has brought a stalker into her life. When things begin to get downright scary, Stride asks around the department if anyone wants extra work as a bodyguard. Braydon is the first to volunteer, and this is how the two storylines mesh and though a bit farfetched and too convenient, Brian Freeman takes the reader on a thrilling ride to the end.

I was concerned this was the end of Jonathan Stride since Brian Freeman mentioned previous cases and prior heartaches, but I hope there is more. The combination of Stride, Serena, Maggie, and Cat bring this series life. All four parts need to be there, as broken and damaged as they are, to make each other whole.

Jonathan Stride’s best friend, Steve Garske, makes a shocking deathbed confession: he protected Stride by covering up a murder. Hours later, the police dig up Steve’s yard and find a body with a bullet hole in its skull. The victim ... a reporter looking for the woman who made an anonymous claim of rape against a well-known politician.

Stride was the last known person to see this man ... but he's lied to protect someone. Stride is off the case and he is a prime suspect in the man's murder. His partner, Maggie Bei, is now lead investigator ... and that includes questioning Stride.

His only ally in clearing his name is his wife, Serena, who retraces the reporter’s investigation into the explosive allegations. The clues all point to a hot Duluth summer years earlier that everyone in town would prefer to forget.

Someone was willing to kill rather than let those long-ago secrets come out, and the suspect with the strongest motive … is Stride.

As with all this author's books, this is a well-written crime thriller, an action-packed page turner with twists and turns that keep on coming. There are plenty of suspects to watch .. and many buried dark secrets. Although 10th in the series, it can be read as a stand alone. However, I strongly recommend starting at the very beginning of this series for some serious 5-star reading.

Many thanks to the author / Blackstone Publishing / Netgalley for the digital copy of this crime thriller/fiction. Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.

**Will be posted on my Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and Amazon on pub date**

It all starts with the confession of a dying man to his lifelong friend, “Don’t worry you’re safe. I found the body, and buried it.” The only trouble is, the friend is a police officer, and he did not commit the murder.

This book is part of a series but can be read as a standalone too. I think it was a great plot, with multiple characters, each with a very distinct personality and a voice of their own, and their background stories, which all eventually merge towards the end of the story. I liked how the complex relationships between the characters were described, it was so on point.

It sure was gripping and kept me turning the pages, but midway through the story, it all became a bit too unbelievable and unrealistic, and I found myself struggling with it a bit. Also, I felt there were too many liberties taken with the usual police procedures. The ending wasn’t predictable, and that’s just something. I think it makes for a lazy read for a lazy weekend.

Thanks to Netgalley, authors, and publishers for the opportunity to read this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was my first book by Brian Freeman. I'll note that this is part of a series, I would not recommend this as a stand-alone. There were a few times where I felt I was missing something or moments felt they were bigger than they were to me.

The writing was great, I'd compare him to Ace Atkins. I'll definitely be reading more of his work.

5 Stars

Review on Twitter, Facebook, Goodreads. Will be placed on Amazon after (09/22)

Blog Site: https://bit.ly/3bvobAV

Book: Funeral for a Friend (Jonathan Stride #10)

Author: Brian Freeman

Release date (if applicable): September 22, 2020

Synopsis: Stride’s friend is dying. He has one last secret to tell Stride before he goes. The body of a reporter who was tormenting Stride’s former wife is buried in his yard with a bullet in his head. Who killed him and why are all eyes on Jonathan Stride? While Stride is trying to clear his name, his ward, Cat finds herself with a stalker who wants her dead.

My rating: Oh so 5 Stars!

My opinion: So, while 2020 has been a stressful year, I have had numerous great things happen. One of those has been the release of a Jonathan Stride novel two years in the making. Brian Freeman is tops on my list for favorite living American mystery writers and one of the top authors I recommend, so when I saw a Jonathan Stride novel in the works, I became giddy. Brian writes stories and characters that suck the reader in almost immediately. Funeral for a Friend was no exception. I found myself having to make myself stop reading it to make time to continue with other books I am currently reading.

Source: Netgalley for review

Would I recommend? Hell yes! Brian Freeman is my number one recommended living American mystery writer and for good reason. I love reviewing his books because every time I do, I get to introduce new readers to a GREAT mystery writer. Mr. Freeman is fantastic about throwing in great twists and turns that throw readers off until the very end. Funeral for a Friend was no different.

Stand Alone or Part of a Series: Funeral for a Friend is number 10 in the Stride series. Now, authors and publishers hate when I do this, but, particularly with this series, give yourself an extra treat and read the series prior to reading this book. Brian Freeman is one of the most character driven authors I read and he remained true to process in this book. This book has a lot of reference to his past books, so a reader may find themselves lost. Can this book be read as a standalone? Sure, but why not give yourself that little extra treat and meet a great new series?!?!

Funeral For a Friend by Brian Freeman is the 10th book in the Jonathan Stride series. In this story, Stride‘s best friend Steve is about to die of cancer. On his deathbed he tells Stride not to worry that he took care of the body. Stride is not sure what he’s talking about. Once Steve dies, Stride informs the Duluth homicide team and his partner Maggie about what Steve said. He tells them to dig up a garden in Steve’s yard. A skeleton is found with a bullet hole in the head. It is soon revealed that it is the remains of Ned Baer. Years ago Ned was in town to cover a story about a politician anonymously accused of rape. He was digging up dirt on people and making lots of enemies. Unfortunately, Stride was one of the last people to see him. Stride becomes the main suspect in the murder.
In the meantime, Cat, the young woman whom Straub and his wife Serena have taken is in a huge mess. Somebody is stalking her and threatening her.
Are these two things connected? Who killed Ned? What really happened all those years ago? This is a very intricate storyline. Do not read this book if you have not read the previous books in the series. I really love the characters. Freeman does a great job of bringing them to life and making them human. I feel like I know all these people personally. I look forward to many more books to come in the series. Thank you to net galley and the publisher for the advanced copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

I’ve read several books in the Jonathan Stride series by Brian Freeman…although I tend to think of them as the Duluth series, because Freeman has done such a good job with the setting in this series, the city of Duluth and “the Point” in particular have become fixtures for fans of these books.

Thanks to Blackstone Publishing and NetGalley, I received a copy of Funeral for a Friend, #9 in the series, in exchange for my honest review (although Amazon lists it as #10 of 9, which makes no sense to me, but whatever…). Along with Jonathan Stride himself, we have his partner Maggie, his (current) wife Serena, and teenaged former hooker Cat who now lives with the Strides in a family-of-choice situation. There are nine books in the series, and although this one can definitely be read as a stand-alone, I totally recommend reading the entire series…lots of backstory to the people and their situation.

As the story opens, Stride’s longtime friend and colleague Steve is dying, and when Stride visits him on his deathbed, there is a classic deathbed confession indicating that there is a body buried in the backyard. Steve put it there years ago to protect Stride, because he believed Stride had been the one to put a bullet in the guy’s head. The victim, an investigative reporter whose “…focus was digging up dirt on left-leaning politicians,” had been in town researching decades-old anonymous allegations of a rape—allegations against the local Congressman who is now running for the U.S. Senate. Turns out the anonymous accuser is Stride’s ex-wife Andrea, and she and Stride seem to be the two most obvious suspects in the murder.

There are lots of twists and turns and red herrings. As usual, I did not figure it out prior to the resolution, and it’s a good story, but I admit there were a few things I didn’t care for. One was lines like “…huge blue lake, which constantly changed its mood like a beautiful woman” UGH). The other was the need for an editor here and there (“…wore a swimsuit adorned with colorful pineapples that came down below his knees”).

Now, about that ending…there were several things I didn’t like about it, most of which are spoilers, and one of which would just make me sound like a terrible person. I love the series, and I enjoyed this one up until…well. Let’s just say I will definitely look for the next episode (and why isn’t this either a TV or film series, anyway?) but I can’t go five stars with the reaction I had to the last fifty or so pages. Four stars.

I am a big fan of Freeman’s Jonathan Stride series and this book just reinforces that. Stride’s best friend’s dying words were a reassurance that he helped Stride by covering up a murder Stride committed years before. But did Stride commit the murder? If you enjoy a good mystery then you should enjoy this book!

Thank you Netgalley for the opportunity to preview Funeral for A Friend by Brian Freeman. The Stride series is one of my favorites. Freeman brings Stride to the brink in this new novel. Returning characters and the landscape are vivid; not to mention alot of action and intrigue.
Another hit for Freeman - this one is really good.
4 stars.

SUPERB!!!

I have followed the entire Jonathan Stride series - I believe that this may be the best story of them all!

Although this can be read as a standalone, I recommend all of the other books in this Brian Freeman series - as well as other books he has written.

Lots of action, twists, and suspense will appeal to readers of many genres. I literally could not put this book down....

Many Thanks to Blackstone Publishing and NetGalley for a wonderful read.

All right readers! Another winner in the Jonathan Stride series! Mark the month of September, 2020 for the release of this explosive thriller with more twists and turns than a West Virginia mountain road. I have a feeling you will not want to put this one down until the end and boy what an ending it is! I have to tell you I did not see this one coming. This series just keeps getting better and better. Hurry up with the next one, Mr. Freeman!

Highly recommended!

Brian Freeman is a top notch author. His books are written with brevity and a nice turn of phrase, occasionally.
Wonderful plot. Always look forward to his books.

I have followed this series since the beginning. This just might be the best one yet. Stride, Maggie, Serena, Cat...all are just as important to me as a reader as I've become invested in them. This book answers a lot of questions from the past and also opens new doors. I look forward to the next story.