Shadow Men

Max Freeman #3

by Jonathon King

Book three of the bestselling Max Freeman mystery Max seeks to uncover the twisted truth behind an eighty-year-old triple homicide
In the 1920s, three of Mark Mayes’s ancestors left to help build the first road through the Everglades—backbreaking labor from which they never returned. Now, decades later, Mayes has discovered letters that point to murder as the cause of their disappearance, and he hires Max Freeman to get to the bottom of it all. But as Freeman follows the trail of evidence, he incurs the wrath of the corporation that built the road, and finds that the murder case may not be as cold as everyone assumed. Freeman’s search takes him to the heart of the Everglades to reveal the truth behind the murders—and put a stop to a cycle of violence three generations in the making.

Genres: Mystery, Thriller, Fiction, Detective, Crime, Audiobook, Mystery Thriller

202 pages, Trade Paperback

First published January 1, 2004

About the author

Edgar-award winning author Jonathon King is the creator of the Max Freeman crime series set in the Everglades and on the hard streets of urban South Florida. In his previous career as a journalist, he was a police and court reporter for 24 years with the Sun-Sentinel in Fort Lauderdale and the Philadelphia Daily News.

Reviews

[Katzenkindliest · Rating 4 out of 5]

Überwiegend sympathische Protaginsten und ein etwas außergewöhnlicher Fall... Mir hat's gefallen!

[Teresa mcgaha · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the third book in the Max Freeman series. Max left Philly man years ago and gave up being a cop. He lives in the shacks of the Everglades and would pretty much prefer not to associate with others. He is a very private man. His high school buddy is a succesful lawyer who has Max freelance as a private investigator. His old girlfriend is on the police department and feels missing girls are not missing but dead. She thinks an ex cop from Philly is responbile and convinces Max to find evidence to arrest him. The plot moves at a quick pace and both stories are told well. Max is investigating a cruise ship company who is threatening their illegal workers after a boiler blows up. You feel for these people who are trying to make a living and are exploited by the rich people. He also is helping out with the missing girls. King keeps his storyline tight and when clues are presented, he doesnt give you a false lead or red herrings but you need to figure it out and decide how to use the infomation to determine what happened to these girls.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

While I wasn't too thrilled with the second book of the Max Freeman series, this is closer to what I fell in love with about the first book - clever story and awesome characters.

It seemed like there were a few things yet to be resolved (fire?), but maybe that will come up in the next book!

[Wyckliffe Howland · Rating 3 out of 5]

Max Freeman, retired Philly cop in the Fla Everglades - this time investigating an 80 year old crime. I would call this one not "top flight" - but still fun...

[Anne (Booklady) Molinarolo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Edgar Award Winner Jonathon King has topped his debut novel THE BLUE EDGE OF MIDNIGHT in this chilling third Max Freeman outing. In the first plaguey chapter we are shown in detail the moonlit flight of Cyrus Mayes and his two sons from the Everglades road site (the Tamiani Trail) to what would be their grave site. The private road company proved to be as nefarious as the gators, mosquitoes, and quicksand of Freeman’s beloved Glades.

King swiftly fasts forward to the present. Armed with letters from Cyrus, Mark Mayes hires Billy Manchester to find out what happened to his great-grandfather and uncles. Intrigued by the 80 year old missing persons' case, Max agrees to look into the mystery. But the Modern Day Company has reasons to stop Freeman and Manchester: millions of dollars in liability. To solve this case Max he needs the old Glades man, Nate Brown and a lot of luck.

Meanwhile, Detective Sherry Richards has a problem of her own – a female colleague is being abused by her boyfriend: another cop. As Max gets closer to the evil that threatens both him and Manchester, his lady friend becomes obsessed with her friend’s plight.

Yes, Freeman still describes himself when he looks into a mirror, lives in that isolated shack with the mismatched armoires; the top bunk is still his eclectic library (novels, history, and travel books), his coffee is still brewed on the propane burner. But Max is more comfortable in his own skin than in the prior two books. He finally tells Sherry about his abusive father and fears what affect that information on her given her need to protect her friend at all costs. The conflicts are delicious and King never slows the pace until the very last word.

[M. Sprouse · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5
I was captivated by the background story of a time not that far away and the evil that men do. I'm thinking 5 stars half way through this novel. Jonathon King's writing is engaging. I've thoroughly enjoy the first three books of this series. Max Freeman is a protagonist with a mix of toughness, determination and humor. I like the fact that he has to canoe home.

However, the last 40 pages or so were "unsatisfying," to quote another reviewer. I can't actually put my finger on the reason. It just made me feel a bit blase'. Maybe the ending seemed a little unreal and choreographed, not quite lifelike. There also wasn't much suspense or action in this Max Freeman version, but the story made up or it. Overall, I thought the book was very worth the reading if you like this genre. I was sorely tempted to give it five stars.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the third story featuring Max Freeman, a PI living in the Florida Everglades. Max is a man who loves beverages and getting to the truth no matter what danger is involved. His friend Billy is perhaps the perfect man. He is so attractive that women accost him in the street. His IQ is off the scale, he dresses beautifully, lives in a great apartment overlooking the sea, is a wonderful cook and what's more he can commit. And to top it off he's a very nice person who'll always go that extra mile to help a friend.

The plot is good and fast paced. The descriptions of the Everglades are a highlight for me, a person who lives in a very dry part of Australia. All that water sounds so exotic. All in all an enjoyable read.

[Colin David · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the third book in the series, of a Philly Cop, Max Freeman, disabled out of the force, living in the Florida Everglades. Good descriptions of the area wrapped around a mystery surrounding the building of the Tamiami Trail through the Everglades. Max solves the case with the help of his friends, not before a few people are maimed and killed!

[Joe O'Connor · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent; Continuing character: Max Freeman; an 80 year old murder mystery surrounding the building of the road traversing the Everglades pits Freeman and his lawyer friend against a corporation

[Barrie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it, as I do all of King's books that feature Max Freeman.

[Steve Payne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very fast and entertaining read with good deal of Florida history and scenery thrown in. I love the Nate Brown character and he is a big part of this installment.

[Em K · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have been putting this book off for almost a year and I deeply regret it. This is a fantastic book that I should have definitely read sooner. I recommend reading this book.

[Shirley Hartman-Rozee · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fascinating account of the hardships and brutal conditions afforded the men who chopped, dug, shovelled and worked their way through the Everglades building a road. I don’t know if such cruel conditions happened in real life but in this book when it came time to get paid, the wages were bullets to the head. A young man wants to find out what happened to his grandfather—did he abandon his wife and young son or was there another reason why he never came home. Billy takes on a client and Max is tasked with the job of searching the Everglades to find a man and his two sons in thousands of miles of swamp with only a name mentioned in a letter as a clue. The description of the terrain and wildlife is vivid, beautiful and interesting. The two main characters, Max and Billie, are likeable and well written, especially that of Billie and his mom. There are a couple of subplots that find resolution and not in a good way; they may come back on Max in future books.

[Steve · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an excellent Private Detective novel.
Max takes on investigating the eighty-year murders of a father and sons who worked on building the Tamiami Trail road in the 20s.
I enjoyed reading about the history of South Florida in those times and recognized many of the places visited during the investigation.

[Sharon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Former Philadelphia police office Max Freemen is hired by a decendent to investigate the deaths of a father and his two sons who labored building the first road through the Floroida Everglades. The young relative just wants to know what happened and Max agrees to look into it. This mystery feaatures many interesting characters and a good story of a long buried crime/

[Benjamin · Rating 4 out of 5]

A century ago, work started on what became the Tamiami Trail through the Everglades. The work was hard and dirty. The times were desperate and so were the men that were hired for the work. There were deaths, but not all of them due to natural causes. What happened to those men and why? Max Freeman is about to find. Some people don't want the secrets revealed. Recommended.

[Suzy Parker · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent and, in most ways, the most realistic story of the series so far, certainly in broad outline: the brutal history of "progress" and the continuing, often brutal efforts to cover that history up. Plus the elevation of Nate Brown to a major character in this one was wonderful. Like the beauty of the Everglades itself, I'll be sad when he's no longer there.

[Bryngel · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really like the Everglades setting, and also Max and his comrades, but this time I really had a struggle with both the first-person narrative and I unfortunately also found the plot weaker. I might continue with this series, I haven't decided just yet.

(Please forgive my poor English, my excuse is I’m Swedish).

[Kim · Rating 3 out of 5]

This 3rd book in the Max Freeman series took me much longer than I anticipated to read. I think it was the building of the suspense that was too slow, but once I got 2/3 through, the book really picked up.

[Diane Fisher · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another good Max Freeman tale

Loved the story. King creates evocative imagery that lingers long after the last page is read.

My only objection is that often the word “eyes” is in italics with no discernible reason. Kinda weird!

[Jeffrey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good mystery set in the Florida Everglades. The ending was too predictable. I really enjoyed the setting .

Pet peeve -- bad firearms details: "loading a clip" into a Glock and then checking its safety? Really?

[Lorrie · Rating 3 out of 5]

The best part of this series is the setting. If it wasn't for that it wouldn't be anything special. However, I enjoy the stories. I will be continuing the series.

[Paschalis]

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[John Worpenberg · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well written, brings to mind the John D MacDonald Travis McGee series in style and characters.

[Victoria McVicker · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nothing real special about this one, but will read the next in the series at some point as it's already downloaded. Reading through the stuttering of Billy gets annoying fast, though.

[Lee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Max Freeman is the man (PI), in the Florida Everglades......

[Pamela · Rating 4 out of 5]

Getting better. Good action. The ‘grinding’ is still annoying as can be.

[Craig Sisterson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Florida author Jonathon King burst onto the crime writing scene a decade ago with The Blue Edge of Midnight, which introduced an intriguing and multi-layered hero, former Philadelphia cop turned private eye Max Freeman, and won the prestigious Edgar Award for best first novel.

In Shadow Men, Freeman, who lives in an isolated shack in the Florida Everglades, is approached via his good friend Billy Manchester, a lawyer, by the descendant of three men who vanished without a trace while working as labourers on a dangerous road building project 80 years ago. The client has discovered old letters from his ancestor detailing all sorts of injustices and horrors faced by those building the Tamiami Trail through the Everglades, horrors that may have lead to a violent end.

From the opening chapter, King brings the Everglades vividly to life on the page – the atmosphere, setting, and history of an area filled with murky water and murkier deeds. As we follow Freeman on his chase for the truth, themes of corporate greed, family ties, sense of self, and more are all woven into a well-written and gripping tale.

Packed with excitement, colour, and memorable, fascinating characters; highly recommended.

Review originally written for Good Reading magazine in Australia.

[LJ · Rating 4 out of 5]

SHADOW MEN (Police Procedural-Florida-Cont) – VG
King, Jonathon – 3rd in series
Dutton, 2004 - Hardcover
Former policeman Max Freeman is now a private investigator living in a shack in the Everglades of Florida and taking occasional cases as a favor to his childhood friend, attorney Billy Manchester. Billy has been asked by a young man, Mark Mayes, to find out what happened to his great-grandfather and two uncles who disappeared while working for a private company building the first highway across the Everglades in 1923. Freeman quickly realizes uncovering the past is not only difficult, but dangerous.
*** It’s the characters, dialogue and sense of place that draws me in and keep me there page after page. Max and Billy are great characters with a strong, involving history. The secondary characters are interesting, rich and dimensional. The contrast between the city and the Everglades, as well as the time Freeman’s spends on the water between the two, adds an atmosphere and richness to the story. The plot is a bit weak—I never did quite understand the motive for the killings in the 20’s, but the sense of melancholy and nature versus nurture was compelling. I’d certainly recommend giving King a try.

[Diane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not quite sure how I discovered this author, Jonathon King, but love his writing style. Similar in style and quality to Michael Connelly and John Sandford. This was the first title of King's that I "read" (I listened to the audiobook version read by David Colacci). It is one of his Max Freeman series, though not the first. The story moves between the present time investigation conducted by Freeman and decades earlier deaths that occur in the course of the early 1900s construction of Florida's Tamiami Trail into the Everglades. The central protagonist, Max Freeman, a former Philly policeman, is hired by a young man wanting to learn the circumstances of the mysterious deaths of his grandfather who worked the construction of the Trail. Freeman begins to unravel complex details about the construction project that even present day corporate entities are determined to keep hidden. Characters are well drawn, plot twists abound, and resolution -- at last -- is satisfying and not too far-fetched! Good read, good author!!