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Max Freeman #1
The Blue Edge of Midnight
Max Freeman's old life ended on a night he killed a twelve-year-old child in self-defence in a Philadelphia shootout. The night he stopped being a cop. Now he lives an existence of solitary confinement on the edge of the Florida Everglades Then he finds the corpse of a child beside an ancient river, and Freeman's past explodes into the present. He is thrust into the centre of the search for a serial killer, distrusted as an outsider by the longtime residents of the Glades and considered a suspect by the police. And when another child goes missing, all eyes turn to Freeman, and the ex- cop, driven by his old habits and the memories of that long-ago Philadelphia midnight, knows that he has no choice but to hunt down the murderer himself.
259 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2002
154 people are currently reading
1715 people want to read
About the author
Jonathon King
14 books151 followersEdgar-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.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 172 reviews
May 13, 2023
2,5 Sterne
Dieses Buch zu bewerten, fällt mir nicht ganz leicht. Ich habe das Buch vor vielen Jahren schon einmal gelesen und habe mir damals vier Sterne dafür notiert. Jetzt würde ich tatsächlich eher zu zwei Sternen tendieren, was mir nicht leicht fällt, weil es wirklich kein schlechtes Buch ist. Ich glaube eher, es war nicht die richtige Zeit dafür.
Die Geschichte an sich finde ich immer noch gut und eigentlich auch spannend, aber irgendwie hat mich das Buch beim erneuten Lesen verloren. Die Figuren waren so austauschbar; ich habe keinen Bezug zu ihnen gefunden. Da ich dem Buch beim ersten Lesen vier Sterne gegeben habe, muss es damals anders gewesen sein.
Richtig gut hat mir dafür das Setting gefallen. Wir sind in den Everglades in Florida, und die Atmosphäre kam gut bei mir an.
Wer weiß, vielleicht lese ich das Buch in ein paar Jahren ein drittes Mal, einfach weil ich neugierig bin, wie es mir dann gefallen wird :)
Dieses Buch zu bewerten, fällt mir nicht ganz leicht. Ich habe das Buch vor vielen Jahren schon einmal gelesen und habe mir damals vier Sterne dafür notiert. Jetzt würde ich tatsächlich eher zu zwei Sternen tendieren, was mir nicht leicht fällt, weil es wirklich kein schlechtes Buch ist. Ich glaube eher, es war nicht die richtige Zeit dafür.
Die Geschichte an sich finde ich immer noch gut und eigentlich auch spannend, aber irgendwie hat mich das Buch beim erneuten Lesen verloren. Die Figuren waren so austauschbar; ich habe keinen Bezug zu ihnen gefunden. Da ich dem Buch beim ersten Lesen vier Sterne gegeben habe, muss es damals anders gewesen sein.
Richtig gut hat mir dafür das Setting gefallen. Wir sind in den Everglades in Florida, und die Atmosphäre kam gut bei mir an.
Wer weiß, vielleicht lese ich das Buch in ein paar Jahren ein drittes Mal, einfach weil ich neugierig bin, wie es mir dann gefallen wird :)
July 3, 2023
This is the debut novel of Jonathan King. At this present time, it has been over 15 years, and nine more novels in the interim, but this one is still an exceptionally good book especially for a number one in a series.
Max Freeman was a Philadelphia cop who was involved in a shooting where a 12-year-old is killed. He moved to the Florida Everglades to free himself mentally from that responsibility, but finds the dead body of a young girl in a river not far from his home. When he reports his find, he becomes the leading suspect. In order to free his name, he must take up the responsibilities that he thought he left in Philadelphia.
The story is a really well-written and compelling police procedural, murder mystery. It is well-plotted. The characters are distinct and memorable. The setting is unique. It was quite easy to fall into the novel and very difficult to pause my reading time to go to sleep. This is a very high recommend.
Max Freeman was a Philadelphia cop who was involved in a shooting where a 12-year-old is killed. He moved to the Florida Everglades to free himself mentally from that responsibility, but finds the dead body of a young girl in a river not far from his home. When he reports his find, he becomes the leading suspect. In order to free his name, he must take up the responsibilities that he thought he left in Philadelphia.
The story is a really well-written and compelling police procedural, murder mystery. It is well-plotted. The characters are distinct and memorable. The setting is unique. It was quite easy to fall into the novel and very difficult to pause my reading time to go to sleep. This is a very high recommend.
May 12, 2011
If you like crime/thrillers, you know the feeling of following a character into the twilight zone, that place where no one ever really goes.
The character draws you in, and you identify with them and want to see them succeed. Then, out of the blue, they are with the hottest women/man on earth, while destroying evil greater than can be imagined in ways that are beyond belief.
Not in "The Blue Edge of Midnight". In this first series novel what you find is a well developed believable story, with strong characters that face real problems in authentic ways.
It's hard to say which I enjoyed more, the writing or the story because both were excellent.
The character draws you in, and you identify with them and want to see them succeed. Then, out of the blue, they are with the hottest women/man on earth, while destroying evil greater than can be imagined in ways that are beyond belief.
Not in "The Blue Edge of Midnight". In this first series novel what you find is a well developed believable story, with strong characters that face real problems in authentic ways.
It's hard to say which I enjoyed more, the writing or the story because both were excellent.
July 27, 2021
Thriller ligero, con buena ambientación geográfica pero sin sustos ni sobresaltos. Para pasar el rato, sin más.
November 2, 2020
The Blue Edge of Midnight by Jonathon King won an Edgar award for best first novel. Personally, I didn’t think the story was that great. Max Freeman was a cop in Philadelphia and shoots a 12-year-old child in self-defense. The child had shot him in the neck and after recovering from this, he decides he is done with police work and moves to a remote cabin in the Everglades. On a nightly canoe ride, he finds a child’s body. Turns out this was one of several children that had recently been abducted and killed. And the Miami police think Max may have had something to do with the murder since he found the body. Even though I didn’t think the story was that original or exciting, I loved the descriptions of Miami and the Everglades. I also thought his lawyer friend with the stuttering problem was a fascinating character and I would like to have known more about his back story.
December 27, 2014
Edgar Winner 2002
Former Philadelphia Cop Max Freeman has fled to an isolated cabin in South Florida's Everglades to forget. But he can't forget the night he was shot answering a Robbery in Progress Call. The memory of being shot and fatally shooting the 12 year-old accomplice haunts him to the point that he rows his kaiak nightly to his exhaustion point. This loner lives austerely: no television, no telephone, no electricity, and almost no human contact. But when he sees a bundle in his beloved river tied to a tree stump, Max knows he must find the killer of the little girl wrapped in canvas, disposed as river debris.
He has no idea that a Serial Killer is working in his own "backyard" and he, has attracted the killer's interest. Is he being set up to be Law Enforcement's primary suspect or is he the killer's ultimate victim? Freeman must return to civilization to find the answers and elicits the help of his friend and attorney, Billy Manchester.
Manchester is a brilliant attorney who has a tension stutter and is great as Freeman's sidekick. He also becomes alarmed when a GPS system is found in Max's cabin and is convinced that the killer is setting up his friend. Does the killer know Freeman's past? So, when another child is taken, Max throws his cop instinct out and goes after the killer.
Jonathon King writes superbly. His discreptions of South Florida is right on the money. The reader can see Billy's plush penthouse, the Glades, Lauderdale, even the Blue Gulfstream. He tod me that he was influenced by Southern writers during a Goodreads.com Discussion and that influence is evident in the writing and pacing. I have found a new favorite mystery writer and can't wait to read the entire series.
Former Philadelphia Cop Max Freeman has fled to an isolated cabin in South Florida's Everglades to forget. But he can't forget the night he was shot answering a Robbery in Progress Call. The memory of being shot and fatally shooting the 12 year-old accomplice haunts him to the point that he rows his kaiak nightly to his exhaustion point. This loner lives austerely: no television, no telephone, no electricity, and almost no human contact. But when he sees a bundle in his beloved river tied to a tree stump, Max knows he must find the killer of the little girl wrapped in canvas, disposed as river debris.
He has no idea that a Serial Killer is working in his own "backyard" and he, has attracted the killer's interest. Is he being set up to be Law Enforcement's primary suspect or is he the killer's ultimate victim? Freeman must return to civilization to find the answers and elicits the help of his friend and attorney, Billy Manchester.
Manchester is a brilliant attorney who has a tension stutter and is great as Freeman's sidekick. He also becomes alarmed when a GPS system is found in Max's cabin and is convinced that the killer is setting up his friend. Does the killer know Freeman's past? So, when another child is taken, Max throws his cop instinct out and goes after the killer.
Jonathon King writes superbly. His discreptions of South Florida is right on the money. The reader can see Billy's plush penthouse, the Glades, Lauderdale, even the Blue Gulfstream. He tod me that he was influenced by Southern writers during a Goodreads.com Discussion and that influence is evident in the writing and pacing. I have found a new favorite mystery writer and can't wait to read the entire series.
July 17, 2011
I could not put The Blue Edge of Midnight down.
Jonathon King has created one of the truest 'sense of place' in his depiction of the Everglades that I have ever read. I was sucked into this story by the authors knowledge of the Glades and the world he enters in the first chapter. The mystery surrounding Max Freeman's part of the river of grass is tight and well-thought out. My heart ached for the main character as he tried to solve the crime encroaching on his sanctuary in the wild and battled the demons of his past. As the mystery deepened, the tension rose and Max quickly became one of my favorite Florida characters.
I am glad that The Blue Edge of Midnight is the start of a series. I will pick up the second book immediately after I come back from going for a paddle through the Everglades--I couldn't get the place out of my mind while reading this book. It is as much a travelogue as a mystery worthy of the Edgar award it won for the Best First Mystery.
Jonathon King has created one of the truest 'sense of place' in his depiction of the Everglades that I have ever read. I was sucked into this story by the authors knowledge of the Glades and the world he enters in the first chapter. The mystery surrounding Max Freeman's part of the river of grass is tight and well-thought out. My heart ached for the main character as he tried to solve the crime encroaching on his sanctuary in the wild and battled the demons of his past. As the mystery deepened, the tension rose and Max quickly became one of my favorite Florida characters.
I am glad that The Blue Edge of Midnight is the start of a series. I will pick up the second book immediately after I come back from going for a paddle through the Everglades--I couldn't get the place out of my mind while reading this book. It is as much a travelogue as a mystery worthy of the Edgar award it won for the Best First Mystery.
September 3, 2007
THE BLUE EDGE OF MIDNIGHT (Former Cop-Florida-Cont) – G
King, Jonathon – 1st book
Dutton, 2002- Hardcover
Max Freeman, while a policeman in Philadelphia, killed a young boy in a self-defense shootout. Now retired, Max has moved to a shack in the Everglades. When he finds a child's body, it takes him back to the shooting. But other young children have recently, and still are disappearing and Max is being set up as a suspect.
*** The character of Max is interesting, but unrelentingly depressed and not as fleshed out as I'd have liked. However, King does a wonderful job describing the Everglades and creating a sense of suspense. I would possibly read more of this series. This was a good read, perfect for an airplane or a Sunday afternoon.
King, Jonathon – 1st book
Dutton, 2002- Hardcover
Max Freeman, while a policeman in Philadelphia, killed a young boy in a self-defense shootout. Now retired, Max has moved to a shack in the Everglades. When he finds a child's body, it takes him back to the shooting. But other young children have recently, and still are disappearing and Max is being set up as a suspect.
*** The character of Max is interesting, but unrelentingly depressed and not as fleshed out as I'd have liked. However, King does a wonderful job describing the Everglades and creating a sense of suspense. I would possibly read more of this series. This was a good read, perfect for an airplane or a Sunday afternoon.
June 15, 2018
I was drawn to this book because I dig dark crime stories, and I also dig stories that take place in intimate, rural settings. Odd preferences, I know. But this book fit both bills. You had your evil dude murdering kids, and you had the Florida Everglades. It couldn't go wrong. Plus, the novel won an Edgar award. I felt it'd warrant AT LEAST 3 stars.
Unfortunately, it didn't deliver.
There were numerous faults. The writing style was fine - in fact, that's what I enjoyed most about the book. Good word choices on the author's part, and really cool descriptions. But the story sort of seemed slapped together. It was a written in a mystery/whodunit fashion, but I knew whodunit instantly, and I SUCK at guessing whodunit. The author, Jonathon King, tossed 0.0 red herrings my way. There was just one choice in this book as to who the killer was. I'll give you a hint: IT'S THE ONLY BAD GUY IN THE BOOK (and his motivations for killing kids were borderline ridiculous).
The characters were boring. Sure Max had an interesting history full of heartache and despair, but interesting histories do not a character make. Max wasn't particularly tough, weak, smart, stupid, or funny. There was nothing to him. He was just...there.
The Billy character didn't feel "real." I mean, this dude treats Max like a king. Billy acts as Max's personal chef, chauffeur, coffee-maker, researcher, and even lets him stay over at his crib while he's not there (or, even worse, while Billy has his drop-dead gorgeous dame over for a romantic evening). So Billy does all this stuff for Max and, as far as I can tell, Max doesn't offer much in return, other than maybe a massive headache. Plus, reading a stutter (Billy) gets old quick. My b-b-brain f-orced m-m-e to a-actually s-sound out the w-w-words in a st-stuttering f-fashion. Did yours?
I'm not a big flashback guy. There were a lot of unneeded Max flashbacks, and several of them went unresolved (it would have been cool if the author further explored Max's failed marriage). How many times can a guy fall asleep by the ocean and "dream" a flashback? In this case, several times, over the course of just a few days.
Anyway...if this won an award, it may be time to pull out that crappy quarter-finished novel I've written that's currently gathering digital dust on my hard drive. It may just win me a Pulitzer!
Unfortunately, it didn't deliver.
There were numerous faults. The writing style was fine - in fact, that's what I enjoyed most about the book. Good word choices on the author's part, and really cool descriptions. But the story sort of seemed slapped together. It was a written in a mystery/whodunit fashion, but I knew whodunit instantly, and I SUCK at guessing whodunit. The author, Jonathon King, tossed 0.0 red herrings my way. There was just one choice in this book as to who the killer was. I'll give you a hint: IT'S THE ONLY BAD GUY IN THE BOOK (and his motivations for killing kids were borderline ridiculous).
The characters were boring. Sure Max had an interesting history full of heartache and despair, but interesting histories do not a character make. Max wasn't particularly tough, weak, smart, stupid, or funny. There was nothing to him. He was just...there.
The Billy character didn't feel "real." I mean, this dude treats Max like a king. Billy acts as Max's personal chef, chauffeur, coffee-maker, researcher, and even lets him stay over at his crib while he's not there (or, even worse, while Billy has his drop-dead gorgeous dame over for a romantic evening). So Billy does all this stuff for Max and, as far as I can tell, Max doesn't offer much in return, other than maybe a massive headache. Plus, reading a stutter (Billy) gets old quick. My b-b-brain f-orced m-m-e to a-actually s-sound out the w-w-words in a st-stuttering f-fashion. Did yours?
I'm not a big flashback guy. There were a lot of unneeded Max flashbacks, and several of them went unresolved (it would have been cool if the author further explored Max's failed marriage). How many times can a guy fall asleep by the ocean and "dream" a flashback? In this case, several times, over the course of just a few days.
Anyway...if this won an award, it may be time to pull out that crappy quarter-finished novel I've written that's currently gathering digital dust on my hard drive. It may just win me a Pulitzer!
March 17, 2013
actually maybe 4.5 stars. why can't we do halves? have had this on my shelf for a long time. really enjoyed it. set in Florida everglades. very atmospheric. once i went along with the premise by which the main character gets sucked into the situation (which was better explained later in the book, at least well enough for me) i got carried away. finished in one day. and given the length of time it has taken me to finish some of my books lately that says something.
May 26, 2016
The storyline was too slow Which was unfortunate the blurb got me in but not for long the author concentrated too much on the scenery & highways he was travelling on more than the murder of the little girl just average for me i am afraid.
There was no tension build up in each chapter to like a book there has to be a WOW factor this did not have it i DNF
There was no tension build up in each chapter to like a book there has to be a WOW factor this did not have it i DNF
October 25, 2018
This is a tough, compassionate, well paced novel. King's description of the Everglades and it's nasty sawgrass is spooky and magical at the same time. Max is a likeable character, with a past you want to learn more about. If you like James W. Hall, you'll enjoy this impressive debut.
March 25, 2021
The Blue Edge of Midnight by Jonathon King is the first book in his Max Freeman mystery / thriller series. Freeman is an ex-Philadelphia cop who has moved to Florida to escape from an incident that happened while he was responding to an incident in Philadelphia. It resulted in the shooting of a teenager and also in Freeman being shot.
Freeman now lives in a cabin in the Everglades as far from life as he can. Unfortunately, a series of child abductions and murders forces Freeman to confront the real world as he becomes heavily involved in the murders. Someone is playing with Freeman, maybe trying to set him up. The cops are suspicious and the denizens of the byways in the Everglades are also suspicious of this stranger to their home.
Freeman, with the help of friend, lawyer Billy Manchester, Freeman digs into the murders, meets with people who live deep in the Everglades, trying to keep their lives private and to stop the interlopers who want to disrupt life in this area.
The story develops quickly, we get glimpses of Freeman's past in Philadelphia and begin to find out more about Freeman as a person. There were some moments which I found frustrating, things that Freeman did / kept secret from the police investigators, but all in all it was a tense, well-crafted story and provided an interesting view of an area of Florida that I really knew nothing about. Looking forward to finding out more about Freeman and reading other stories. (4 stars)
Freeman now lives in a cabin in the Everglades as far from life as he can. Unfortunately, a series of child abductions and murders forces Freeman to confront the real world as he becomes heavily involved in the murders. Someone is playing with Freeman, maybe trying to set him up. The cops are suspicious and the denizens of the byways in the Everglades are also suspicious of this stranger to their home.
Freeman, with the help of friend, lawyer Billy Manchester, Freeman digs into the murders, meets with people who live deep in the Everglades, trying to keep their lives private and to stop the interlopers who want to disrupt life in this area.
The story develops quickly, we get glimpses of Freeman's past in Philadelphia and begin to find out more about Freeman as a person. There were some moments which I found frustrating, things that Freeman did / kept secret from the police investigators, but all in all it was a tense, well-crafted story and provided an interesting view of an area of Florida that I really knew nothing about. Looking forward to finding out more about Freeman and reading other stories. (4 stars)
August 20, 2017
I am writing this review while already half way through the second in the series. The second book gives some answers to what was only hinted at in the first (deeper background of Max and Billy's friendship). This helps with the perspective - now I understand that some subplot strings were left dangling intentionally. But never mind. Even if "The Blue Edge of Midnight" is the only Max Freeman book you are going to read it is still a very good book.
As a genre, it is a crime story with all the obligatory elements - a baffling case, a cop with traumatic past, a nice trail of obstacles, a little twist and the final bloodcurdling chase, all wrapped nicely in about 260 pages paperback.
For that alone I'd give the book 3 stars. The 4th star is for the rich, smooth language, the atmosphere, the unhurried building of the background, both nature - Max's retreat in Everglades - and history of the area. I like books that offer good balance of plot and worldbuilding, no matter real or fictional. But if you are a person who wants all icing and no cake this book is not for you - the stretches where "nothing happens" actionwise will test your patience.
260 pages paperback is not considered a big adult book today. This is the size of an average Raymond Chandler and about half the size of a Harry Bosch (nothing against Harry Bosch, just read some recently so it came as an easy reference). For me it shows a person who can curb an urge of verbal overflow what in the advent of writing with software can be an undoing of a lesser writer.
As a genre, it is a crime story with all the obligatory elements - a baffling case, a cop with traumatic past, a nice trail of obstacles, a little twist and the final bloodcurdling chase, all wrapped nicely in about 260 pages paperback.
For that alone I'd give the book 3 stars. The 4th star is for the rich, smooth language, the atmosphere, the unhurried building of the background, both nature - Max's retreat in Everglades - and history of the area. I like books that offer good balance of plot and worldbuilding, no matter real or fictional. But if you are a person who wants all icing and no cake this book is not for you - the stretches where "nothing happens" actionwise will test your patience.
260 pages paperback is not considered a big adult book today. This is the size of an average Raymond Chandler and about half the size of a Harry Bosch (nothing against Harry Bosch, just read some recently so it came as an easy reference). For me it shows a person who can curb an urge of verbal overflow what in the advent of writing with software can be an undoing of a lesser writer.
May 16, 2018
Not bad, writing is pretty good, even clever at times, but something's missing for this to be more than 3 stars book. Not sure what. Emotions, maybe? Because kids are dropping dead like flies, I needed more accompanying drama expressed.
Or maybe, I should visit my GP and request testosterone patch?
Or maybe, I should visit my GP and request testosterone patch?
March 6, 2019
THE BLUE EDGE OF MIDNIGHT won the Edgar Award for best first novel in 2003.
One of the interesting features of the novel, given that it is published at the beginning of the 21st century, is the use of a GPS tracking device, left as a clue to detectives near the site of each child's body. For me that was a distraction because I am not sure that it worked as the author thought it might. Nor was I sure that the murderer would be able to afford to do that. Surely GPS devices in 2003 were very expensive?
The murderer appears to be trying to pin the series of murders that he is committing of children on to Max Freeman. And therein lies one of the puzzles. Apart from accidentally killing a child himself, what has Max Freeman done to become a target for a serial killer? And then secondly, why is he killing children? The answers are there, and make sense in the end.
A very dark novel painting an interesting picture of life in the Everglades, newly opened up to tourists by the road built from Tampa to Miami.
One of the interesting features of the novel, given that it is published at the beginning of the 21st century, is the use of a GPS tracking device, left as a clue to detectives near the site of each child's body. For me that was a distraction because I am not sure that it worked as the author thought it might. Nor was I sure that the murderer would be able to afford to do that. Surely GPS devices in 2003 were very expensive?
The murderer appears to be trying to pin the series of murders that he is committing of children on to Max Freeman. And therein lies one of the puzzles. Apart from accidentally killing a child himself, what has Max Freeman done to become a target for a serial killer? And then secondly, why is he killing children? The answers are there, and make sense in the end.
A very dark novel painting an interesting picture of life in the Everglades, newly opened up to tourists by the road built from Tampa to Miami.
October 1, 2021
This story and series is off to a great start and I can’t wait for the rest!
Retired police officer shot by a 16 year old thug, goes into early retirement after he returns fire and kills a 12 year old. He goes way out into swamp land in Florida and wishes for peace and redemption. But peace is the very last thing he gets when he finds a body of a child in the waters. He becomes the prime suspect and has to use his police skills to track down the real killer.
Very fast paced and full of twists. I can’t wait to move to next in the series.
Retired police officer shot by a 16 year old thug, goes into early retirement after he returns fire and kills a 12 year old. He goes way out into swamp land in Florida and wishes for peace and redemption. But peace is the very last thing he gets when he finds a body of a child in the waters. He becomes the prime suspect and has to use his police skills to track down the real killer.
Very fast paced and full of twists. I can’t wait to move to next in the series.
March 2, 2025
I enjoyed it. Has nice character development and an interesting plot. Look forward to reading more of the series.
April 20, 2019
An accomplished first novel. Entertaining and not too overdone in terms of our hero’s remarkable stamina. Worth the Edgar it won, in my opinion.
June 6, 2018
Another great suggestion from Goodreads! Loved it!
October 27, 2013
This is written in similar style to Michael Connolly. In fact the author mentions a painting by Hieronymus Bosch. It is a fast read as it keeps you on the edge of your seat. Max Freeman is a disabled former cop who is a suspect /investigating a series of child abductions and murders set in the Florida Everglades. Vivid descriptions of the atmosphere in the glades. Some interesting characters as well.
April 24, 2008
Wounded in a shooting in which he killed a 12-year-old boy, Max Freeman leaves the police department for a secluded shack in the Everglades. Trouble follows him when he finds a child's body deep in the swamp while canoeing.
A great effort for a first novel. good character development and tight plotting. Highly recommend.
A great effort for a first novel. good character development and tight plotting. Highly recommend.
May 14, 2008
A former Philly cop relocates to desolate area of the Everglades to meditate upon his life and his losses. He is unfortunately pulled into everyday life when he finds the body of a murdered child while out in his canoe. An outsider and a suspect, he must take an active part in the investigation in order to survive.
February 18, 2010
Max Freeman, former Philadelphia cop, moves to a shack in the Florida Everglades to escape his past. He discovers a child victim of a serial killer and is forced back into the world of police investigation as a suspect. I liked the book, even though some of it is a bit far fetched. The writing is descriptive and filled with atmosphere. It kept me reading all weekend.
July 8, 2013
Great writing style, intriguing book. I enjoyed learning more about Max and his friend Billy, different, interesting characters that I would like to read more about. I loved the backwoods Florida setting and how it contrasts to the commercialism and over-developement Max must reluctantly venture into. I will definately be reading more...
December 16, 2015
Florida everglades.
Mysterious abductions and murder of children in developing everglades. Max Freeman trying to clear his name and find who is behind all this. American Indians=people living in everglades. New comers=people living in developers houses. Learned a lot about everglades.
Mysterious abductions and murder of children in developing everglades. Max Freeman trying to clear his name and find who is behind all this. American Indians=people living in everglades. New comers=people living in developers houses. Learned a lot about everglades.
September 22, 2012
Jonathon King won and Edgar in 2003 for this novel.
The first sentence, "I was a mile upriver, my feet planted on the stained concrete dam, back bent to the task of yanking my canoe over the abutment."
I knew I was in the hands of a great writer and had to read on.
The first sentence, "I was a mile upriver, my feet planted on the stained concrete dam, back bent to the task of yanking my canoe over the abutment."
I knew I was in the hands of a great writer and had to read on.
August 31, 2014
Fun setting in the Everglades. Intriguing flawed hero/detective. Really enjoyed it!
Want to read
April 30, 2019Synopsis: Freeman's life as a cop ended when he killed a child in self-defence. Now in Florida, he finds a dead child.
March 31, 2025
I enjoyed reading this book, "The Blue Edge of Midnight," by Jonathon King! I would recommend it. The book is relatively short, 264 pages, but moves constantly and keeps your attention throughout. Max Freeman is an ex-cop from Philadelphia who has moved to a shack on the edge of the Everglades in Florida. He was shot in the neck on the streets of Philly as he fired a shot that ended up killing an 12-year old kid. It ended up being the final event of his Cop career. Now he is trying to forget, but can't.
He ends up getting caught up in events surrounding the disappearance and killings of several children in the new neighborhoods popping up on the edge of the Everglades where some of the locals think no one should be living let alone whole neighborhoods of suburbanites out of their element on the edge and disappearance/encroachment of the Glade. After discovering a body in the river near his shack, Max jumps to the top of the suspect list being the first person associated with the killings.
While being on the top suspect list for the cops, he, also, becomes a target of the killer or killers. Someone is trying to kill him.
The cops don't know what to think. Is he the killer or is he being set up by the killer?
After surviving a plane crash in the Everglades when the plane he is flying in is, obviously, sabotaged, Max has to rescue the Pilot in the harsh surroundings of the murky water and dangerous habitat while trying to save himself, too!
Max has his lawyer, Jimmy Manchester, trying to help and giving him a place to hang out and recuperate after numerous issues and run-ins that test his physicalness.
Again, fast moving action with great characters and a great story! Toward the middle of book, I was looking for every opportunity to pick it up and read some more.
He ends up getting caught up in events surrounding the disappearance and killings of several children in the new neighborhoods popping up on the edge of the Everglades where some of the locals think no one should be living let alone whole neighborhoods of suburbanites out of their element on the edge and disappearance/encroachment of the Glade. After discovering a body in the river near his shack, Max jumps to the top of the suspect list being the first person associated with the killings.
While being on the top suspect list for the cops, he, also, becomes a target of the killer or killers. Someone is trying to kill him.
The cops don't know what to think. Is he the killer or is he being set up by the killer?
After surviving a plane crash in the Everglades when the plane he is flying in is, obviously, sabotaged, Max has to rescue the Pilot in the harsh surroundings of the murky water and dangerous habitat while trying to save himself, too!
Max has his lawyer, Jimmy Manchester, trying to help and giving him a place to hang out and recuperate after numerous issues and run-ins that test his physicalness.
Again, fast moving action with great characters and a great story! Toward the middle of book, I was looking for every opportunity to pick it up and read some more.
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