Reviewed by Taylin

TITLE: Freeman

AUTHOR: Clare London

PUBLISHER: Self Published

LENGTH: 240 pages

RELEASE DATE:  January 21, 2018

BLURB:

Freeman’s return to the city is quiet, without fuss. Another client: another case. He’ll source what they need and be on his way. But he’s been missed by more people than he thought: his ex-wife, his ex-lover, and his ex-business partner. And at least one of them wants him the hell gone again.

Freeman – private, controlled – just does his job. But when he strikes up an unusual friendship with the young runaway Kit, trouble comes looking for both men, ready to expose secrets that can destroy their fragile trust. Yet, for Kit, Freeman’s more than ready for the challenge.

REVIEW:

Freeman got out from under George’s regime when he realized the deal was going wrong. He stayed away for years, but he’s back, and only Freeman knows why. Not giving away his secrets is annoying others and making them nervous. He’s at George’s club, staying quiet, yet his presence is known. Then Kit sits by his side. Kit is George’s latest toy, but Kit is enamoured with Freeman. Everyone has secrets, but who is prepared to give up theirs first?

I’ll say from the off that I loved this story. Throughout, the scene setting put me alongside Freeman, in whatever venue he was residing. It is told in the first person by Freeman. His British observational tone allows for the tale to have a lovely balance of dialogue and storytelling. My only gripe was the nervous lip biting, it’s a quirk that belongs in my personal room 101, but many don’t mind it.

The story starts among the seedier elements of London though Freeman lives in much better surroundings and is not short of a penny or two. Information, whether investigative or personal is delivered in morsels big enough to keep me turning the page. Thus, curiosity drew me in, and before long I was hooked. Freeman holds his cards close to his chest, though he does think a lot. Even then, he tells an intriguing tale while keeping the ability to surprise.

It was like putting together a large jigsaw. Connections between the characters emerge as the story progresses, with each chapter adding a new piece to the puzzle keeping my rapt attention. Freeman is one clever bastard, whose actions are cool and calculated – he is far more capable than his adversaries believe.

George is an ambitious individual, who although married to another female part of the jigsaw, has no problem with receiving a blow job from Kit, in full view of everyone in his club. He is up to something that he doesn’t want Freeman anywhere near – prompting threats to back off from his entourage. This only makes Freeman more curious and determined to uncover more.

Kit is a young man who desires to make it on his own. But, under George, he doesn’t get the chance to discover who he is or what he wants. George attempts to govern his every move. However, Kit is a free spirit which occasionally gets him into trouble.  Freeman encourages Kit’s independent thought and action and shies away from directing Kit in any way. Nevertheless, he does his best to keep Kit safe while slowly falling in love with him.

The cast is small and interesting – none of them are superfluous to the story, and everyone has their secrets. Freeman is known to stay quiet when he should probably be talking. This instinct gets him into and out of trouble.

During the investigation, support comes from an unexpected source, which adds to the intrigue for how everything will play out. I found myself totally captivated to the final page. I could go on and say more, but I believe the best thing I can say is – go out and read it for yourself.

RATING:

BUY LINK: 

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