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Break Every Rule
From the New York Times bestselling author of Robert Ludlum’s Jason Bourne series comes a breathtaking thriller about a man whose only chance to rescue his family is to return to the past he thought he’d left behind.
Tommy Miller is a man with deadly skills, hiding in Florida under a false identity. After being set up on an overseas mission, he’s on the run from terrorists—and from the government who betrayed him. So when his wife and daughter are violently abducted, it seems his ghosts are finally catching up with him.
But Tommy isn’t the only one with secrets. His wife, Teresa, has been concealing her own dangerous past, and as Tommy races to rescue his family, he must peel away the clues she’s left behind. With a hotshot police detective, Lindy Jax, close on his trail, Tommy follows a twisted path from Florida to the Bahamas, one that brings him face to face with ruthless enemies.
His search for answers soon puts him on the wrong side of the law—hunted by the police and pursued by men who want him dead. Worst of all, if he hopes to save Teresa and their daughter, Rosalita, he must become the man he once was—a killer operating from the deepest shadows.
But when the lives of the people you love are at stake, rules are made to be broken.
Tommy Miller is a man with deadly skills, hiding in Florida under a false identity. After being set up on an overseas mission, he’s on the run from terrorists—and from the government who betrayed him. So when his wife and daughter are violently abducted, it seems his ghosts are finally catching up with him.
But Tommy isn’t the only one with secrets. His wife, Teresa, has been concealing her own dangerous past, and as Tommy races to rescue his family, he must peel away the clues she’s left behind. With a hotshot police detective, Lindy Jax, close on his trail, Tommy follows a twisted path from Florida to the Bahamas, one that brings him face to face with ruthless enemies.
His search for answers soon puts him on the wrong side of the law—hunted by the police and pursued by men who want him dead. Worst of all, if he hopes to save Teresa and their daughter, Rosalita, he must become the man he once was—a killer operating from the deepest shadows.
But when the lives of the people you love are at stake, rules are made to be broken.
346 pages, Hardcover
First published September 10, 2024
283 people are currently reading
5880 people want to read
About the author
Brian Freeman
74 books3,073 followersBrian Freeman is a New York Times bestselling author of psychological thrillers, including the Jonathan Stride and Frost Easton series. His books have been sold in 46 countries and 22 languages. He is widely acclaimed for his "you are there" settings and his complex, engaging characters and twist-filled plots. Brian was also selected as the official author to continue Robert Ludlum's Jason Bourne series, and his novel THE BOURNE EVOLUTION was named one of the Best Mysteries and Thrillers of 2020 by Kirkus.
Brian's seventh novel SPILLED BLOOD won the award for Best Hardcover Novel in the annual Thriller Awards given out by the International Thriller Writers organization, and his fifth novel THE BURYING PLACE was a finalist for the same award. His novel THE DEEP, DEEP SNOW was a finalist for the Edgar Award for Best Paperback Original.
His debut thriller, IMMORAL, won the Macavity Award for Best First Novel and was a nominee for the Edgar, Dagger, Anthony, and Barry Awards. IMMORAL was named an International Book of the Month, a distinction shared with authors such as Harlan Coben and Lisa Unger.
All of Brian's books are also available in audiobook editions. His novels THE BONE HOUSE and SEASON OF FEAR were both finalists for Best Audiobook of the Year in Thriller/Suspense.
For more information on Brian's books, visit his web site at bfreemanbooks.com or find him on Facebook at facebook.com/bfreemanfans or Twitter and Instagram (@bfreemanbooks).
Brian's seventh novel SPILLED BLOOD won the award for Best Hardcover Novel in the annual Thriller Awards given out by the International Thriller Writers organization, and his fifth novel THE BURYING PLACE was a finalist for the same award. His novel THE DEEP, DEEP SNOW was a finalist for the Edgar Award for Best Paperback Original.
His debut thriller, IMMORAL, won the Macavity Award for Best First Novel and was a nominee for the Edgar, Dagger, Anthony, and Barry Awards. IMMORAL was named an International Book of the Month, a distinction shared with authors such as Harlan Coben and Lisa Unger.
All of Brian's books are also available in audiobook editions. His novels THE BONE HOUSE and SEASON OF FEAR were both finalists for Best Audiobook of the Year in Thriller/Suspense.
For more information on Brian's books, visit his web site at bfreemanbooks.com or find him on Facebook at facebook.com/bfreemanfans or Twitter and Instagram (@bfreemanbooks).
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 276 reviews
July 26, 2024
4.5🌟
There are secrets, then there are…SECRETS!
Tommy Miller has been trying to live a quiet life with his wife Teresa and their young daughter. Of course, he has a past no one knows about, not even his wife. He feels she doesn’t need to know everything…right!?💁🏻♀️
But after Teresa and their baby go missing, Tommy discovers Teresa’s secrets may even be bigger than his!
I enjoyed Tommy’s character, his dangerous past, but unquestionable love for his family.
Lindy Jax, the detective tracking down Tommy and Teresa wanted answers. She was fierce in her determination, refusing to take no for an answer. Even if it meant going out on her own outside the lines of police procedures.
This was exactly the action-packed thriller I’ve come to expect from the very talented Brian Freeman.
Are you a fan of Brian Freeman’s writing? Make sure this latest makes your reading list!
If he’s a new author for you, this would be the perfect read to launch into his world!
But consider yourself warned! Just like potato chips, his books are highly addictive and you can’t just pick up one!
Lastly, make sure not to miss his heartfelt acknowledgment.
Thank you to NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing
There are secrets, then there are…SECRETS!
Tommy Miller has been trying to live a quiet life with his wife Teresa and their young daughter. Of course, he has a past no one knows about, not even his wife. He feels she doesn’t need to know everything…right!?💁🏻♀️
But after Teresa and their baby go missing, Tommy discovers Teresa’s secrets may even be bigger than his!
I enjoyed Tommy’s character, his dangerous past, but unquestionable love for his family.
Lindy Jax, the detective tracking down Tommy and Teresa wanted answers. She was fierce in her determination, refusing to take no for an answer. Even if it meant going out on her own outside the lines of police procedures.
This was exactly the action-packed thriller I’ve come to expect from the very talented Brian Freeman.
Are you a fan of Brian Freeman’s writing? Make sure this latest makes your reading list!
If he’s a new author for you, this would be the perfect read to launch into his world!
But consider yourself warned! Just like potato chips, his books are highly addictive and you can’t just pick up one!
Lastly, make sure not to miss his heartfelt acknowledgment.
Thank you to NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing
September 30, 2024
4⭐
Genre ~ crime thriller
Setting ~ Florida
Publication date ~ September 10, 2024
Publisher ~ Blackstone Audio
Est Page Count ~407 (p+ 46 chapters)
Audio length ~ 11 hours 56 minutes
Narrator ~ Scott Brick
POV ~ multiple 3rd
Featuring ~ 3 parts, abduction, trafficking, murder, non stop action
Dark secrets are slowly revealed when a wife and baby go missing, but does the husband or the wife have the bigger secret?
Tommy and Teresa have been married for a couple of years and have a baby girl. When they go missing he has no choice but to involve the cops, but doing so could reveal everything he’s been hiding from all these years.
Detective Lindy Jax is on the case. I thought she did a top notch job and wouldn’t mind if this turned into a series following her.
There's another POV that plays an intricate part in the story, and that's all I'm going to say on that.
Overall, the action never lets up for this fast paced thriller. If you like crime thrillers with powerful people that think they're above the law then you might want to give this one a go.
Narration notes:
He did a nice job. Since the cop is a woman I would have preferred a female narrator for her parts.
Connect with me ➡ Blog ~ Facebook ~ Twitter
Genre ~ crime thriller
Setting ~ Florida
Publication date ~ September 10, 2024
Publisher ~ Blackstone Audio
Est Page Count ~407 (p+ 46 chapters)
Audio length ~ 11 hours 56 minutes
Narrator ~ Scott Brick
POV ~ multiple 3rd
Featuring ~ 3 parts, abduction, trafficking, murder, non stop action
Dark secrets are slowly revealed when a wife and baby go missing, but does the husband or the wife have the bigger secret?
Tommy and Teresa have been married for a couple of years and have a baby girl. When they go missing he has no choice but to involve the cops, but doing so could reveal everything he’s been hiding from all these years.
Detective Lindy Jax is on the case. I thought she did a top notch job and wouldn’t mind if this turned into a series following her.
There's another POV that plays an intricate part in the story, and that's all I'm going to say on that.
Overall, the action never lets up for this fast paced thriller. If you like crime thrillers with powerful people that think they're above the law then you might want to give this one a go.
Narration notes:
He did a nice job. Since the cop is a woman I would have preferred a female narrator for her parts.
Connect with me ➡ Blog ~ Facebook ~ Twitter
July 9, 2025
5 Impressive Stars.
September 25, 2024
Two girls escape a yacht after one of them kills a P*d*phile!
The killer knows that she will be forever hunted!
A couple who both keep secrets from each other know their boundaries, till the wife goes missing. When the husband thinks her disappearance may be due to his past; he begins to look into his wife's past as well.
How far will a man go to get his family back?!
Solid 5 stars!!!!!
The killer knows that she will be forever hunted!
A couple who both keep secrets from each other know their boundaries, till the wife goes missing. When the husband thinks her disappearance may be due to his past; he begins to look into his wife's past as well.
How far will a man go to get his family back?!
Solid 5 stars!!!!!
November 6, 2024
A bit heavy on violence in a world where people get away with it.
September 23, 2024
Brian Freeman is one of my all-time favourite authors. He gives us a breathtaking thriller with "Break Every Rule".
Tommy Miller is a man with deadly skills and a false identity. When his wife and daughter are abducted he must return to the past he thought he'd left behind. As he races to rescue his family he must become the man he once was, a killer.
A non-stop page turner!
Highly recommended!
Superb narration by Scott Brick!
Thank you to NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing Audiobooks for an arc of this audiobook in exchange for my honest review!
Tommy Miller is a man with deadly skills and a false identity. When his wife and daughter are abducted he must return to the past he thought he'd left behind. As he races to rescue his family he must become the man he once was, a killer.
A non-stop page turner!
Highly recommended!
Superb narration by Scott Brick!
Thank you to NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing Audiobooks for an arc of this audiobook in exchange for my honest review!
September 25, 2024
4.5 Stars
Break Every Rule was an exciting action-packed thriller/mystery!
Tommy knew his wife, Teresa, had secrets, but he didn’t pry, not realizing how dangerous they were, mostly because he had his own secrets to keep. However, he’s in a race against time when Teresa and their baby daughter are abducted. He’s not certain if it’s because of his past or hers that she’s been taken, but he needs to figure it out quickly.
This thriller was fast-paced, and I was riveted by the story as past events from Tommy’s past is revealed through his recollections and Teresa’s past is revealed through Tommy’s investigations. Both of their histories were dangerous and interesting. I was enraged for Teresa and some of the other women. I was also extremely worried for her! It’s sad and infuriating that the situations described happen in real life!
I’m a big fan of Scott Brick as a narrator and his talents enhanced this exciting story! His performance of the action scenes, as well as a variety of voices, both male and female was excellent!
I voluntarily listened to an audio copy courtesy of the publisher. These are my honest thoughts and opinions.
Break Every Rule was an exciting action-packed thriller/mystery!
Tommy knew his wife, Teresa, had secrets, but he didn’t pry, not realizing how dangerous they were, mostly because he had his own secrets to keep. However, he’s in a race against time when Teresa and their baby daughter are abducted. He’s not certain if it’s because of his past or hers that she’s been taken, but he needs to figure it out quickly.
This thriller was fast-paced, and I was riveted by the story as past events from Tommy’s past is revealed through his recollections and Teresa’s past is revealed through Tommy’s investigations. Both of their histories were dangerous and interesting. I was enraged for Teresa and some of the other women. I was also extremely worried for her! It’s sad and infuriating that the situations described happen in real life!
I’m a big fan of Scott Brick as a narrator and his talents enhanced this exciting story! His performance of the action scenes, as well as a variety of voices, both male and female was excellent!
I voluntarily listened to an audio copy courtesy of the publisher. These are my honest thoughts and opinions.
September 22, 2024
I enjoyed this one, even though I had some complaints.
What I liked was the complexity of the story lines and I appreciated the fast pace. BUT....I didn't appreciate the jumping around when it came to the timelines because there were so many characters to keep track of. I had to start this one numerous times before I was able to settle into it.
The characters were easy to like (or dislike if they were rotten). And I liked all of the unexpected twists and turns. That kept things interesting. BUT.....with all of that going on, I wanted more detail. I saw rough edges, but I wanted more light too.
Still, by no means a deal breaker. This was a well constructed story with a satisfying ending. So 4 stars.
What I liked was the complexity of the story lines and I appreciated the fast pace. BUT....I didn't appreciate the jumping around when it came to the timelines because there were so many characters to keep track of. I had to start this one numerous times before I was able to settle into it.
The characters were easy to like (or dislike if they were rotten). And I liked all of the unexpected twists and turns. That kept things interesting. BUT.....with all of that going on, I wanted more detail. I saw rough edges, but I wanted more light too.
Still, by no means a deal breaker. This was a well constructed story with a satisfying ending. So 4 stars.
May 20, 2024
Brian Freeman has done it again! Break Every Rule is a great book with some fantastic characters and it could be the beginning of a new series. If not it's a realy well written stand alone and I love the complications and twists that had me stumbling around trying to figure out what and who. Talk about having secrets... and on so many levels. I really need to dig up Freemans back catalog and read more of his work. I give a big thank you to Blackstone Publishing and to Edelweiss for letting me read this advance copy of a book that hits the shelves in September. Don't miss this one.
January 29, 2025
I had started this book when it released but then some book club books took priority so I definitely wanted to jump back into it to kick off 2025. Brian Freeman has been my favorite author for years. There is something about his writing that absolutely resonates with me. This book gave me some hybrid vibes of one of his standalone thrillers coupled with the edge of a Bourne book. Definitely a page turner with a lot of unique characters, suspense, twists, and a climatic ending but most of all I thought his Acknowledgments on what inspired him to write this book showed me why this author is one of the best in the business. Love the cover and the title really made sense by the end. Another winner for me! Seeing Scott Brick as the narrator (who does his Bourne series books) must’ve been perfect for this one but I opted to read it because Scott is Bourne for me with this author plus reading all his other thrillers is such a pleasure.
January 29, 2025
A solid 4.5 stars and I added another 1/2 for I just love Brian Freeman as an author. 'Nuf said !!
August 20, 2024
4.5 strong stars
This latest by Brian Freeman will please his many fans. He introduces us to Tommy Miller, a former detective and Special Forces soldier who is living a quiet, contented life in his new persona with his wife and baby girl. When an unforeseen incident suddenly occurs his life as Tommy Miller is upended. He must revert to his former self, the man known as Tiger, the mercenary whose past has taught him skills he must put to use again to keep his family safe. He will break every rule to accomplish that. He and his wife Teresa have been married a short time, but are very committed to each other. However, in the name of safety, they both have secret pasts they have not shared with each other. Could this incident be related to his past or hers?
Millers target here (the bad guy in the plot) is a billionaire who owns an island in Nassau, and entertains the wealthy elite by providing them with anything their hearts desire. Think Jeffrey Epstein. Ugh!!
The characters are well-fleshed and interesting, as we’ve come to expect from this author, he doesn’t disappoint. The pace is perfectly staged, the action and suspense will have you totally invested in what happens next.
A great read. I especially appreciated the authors notes at the end where he shares his inspiration for this novel, a real-life hero, and gives kudos to all those special men and women who risk their lives for the safety of our country and those we love.
Happily recommended.
Get your copy September 10, 2024
My thanks:
#netgalley
#blackstonepublishing
#brianfreeman
This latest by Brian Freeman will please his many fans. He introduces us to Tommy Miller, a former detective and Special Forces soldier who is living a quiet, contented life in his new persona with his wife and baby girl. When an unforeseen incident suddenly occurs his life as Tommy Miller is upended. He must revert to his former self, the man known as Tiger, the mercenary whose past has taught him skills he must put to use again to keep his family safe. He will break every rule to accomplish that. He and his wife Teresa have been married a short time, but are very committed to each other. However, in the name of safety, they both have secret pasts they have not shared with each other. Could this incident be related to his past or hers?
Millers target here (the bad guy in the plot) is a billionaire who owns an island in Nassau, and entertains the wealthy elite by providing them with anything their hearts desire. Think Jeffrey Epstein. Ugh!!
The characters are well-fleshed and interesting, as we’ve come to expect from this author, he doesn’t disappoint. The pace is perfectly staged, the action and suspense will have you totally invested in what happens next.
A great read. I especially appreciated the authors notes at the end where he shares his inspiration for this novel, a real-life hero, and gives kudos to all those special men and women who risk their lives for the safety of our country and those we love.
Happily recommended.
Get your copy September 10, 2024
My thanks:
#netgalley
#blackstonepublishing
#brianfreeman
September 16, 2024
A cool action packed thriller that grabs you every page of the book.
Some minor not very believable parts of the plot prevented me from given this book 5 stars, but they don't retract from the fun.
Some minor not very believable parts of the plot prevented me from given this book 5 stars, but they don't retract from the fun.
September 5, 2024
BREAK EVERY RULE by Brian Freeman
Thank you to NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing - Audiobooks for the ARC audiobook to read.
4.5 ⭐️
Narrator, Scott Brick, always does an outstanding narration and this too, was done to perfection. Scott Brick is a favorite narrator of mine.
This is my second read by Brian Freeman and I throughly enjoyed, Break Every Rule; an addictive thriller full of nonstop action and suspense.
Tommy Miller must return to his past; a killer operating from the deepest shadows to find his missing wife, Teresa, and his missing daughter, Rosalita. He realizes he must break every rule to save his family. Tommy reports Teresa and Rosalita missing to the sheriff’s office in Alachua County, FL and it doesn’t take long for Sheriff’s Office detective, Lindy Jax, to figure out Tommy is hiding several details. But does he really know who his wife is? Rife with action in this fast-paced suspense crime thriller filled with twists and turns. I look forward to more from Brian Freeman. I would also like to see Tommy Miller in another book by Brian Freeman.
Thank you to NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing - Audiobooks for the ARC audiobook to read.
4.5 ⭐️
Narrator, Scott Brick, always does an outstanding narration and this too, was done to perfection. Scott Brick is a favorite narrator of mine.
This is my second read by Brian Freeman and I throughly enjoyed, Break Every Rule; an addictive thriller full of nonstop action and suspense.
Tommy Miller must return to his past; a killer operating from the deepest shadows to find his missing wife, Teresa, and his missing daughter, Rosalita. He realizes he must break every rule to save his family. Tommy reports Teresa and Rosalita missing to the sheriff’s office in Alachua County, FL and it doesn’t take long for Sheriff’s Office detective, Lindy Jax, to figure out Tommy is hiding several details. But does he really know who his wife is? Rife with action in this fast-paced suspense crime thriller filled with twists and turns. I look forward to more from Brian Freeman. I would also like to see Tommy Miller in another book by Brian Freeman.
September 14, 2024
Perfectly fine. Good but not great. That's what I'm feeling after completing this one. Freeman is one of my more favorite writers and I'd be lying if I didn't say that I hold those writers to a higher standard, especially when they've written series and been consistently good for a long period of time. They demonstrate the level they can write to as a baseline so a book like this one, which is good, but doesn't meet that baseline winds up being a bit of a disappointment on some level.
For me--and I'm only speaking for myself here--I think things have been on a bit of a downturn since Freeman started writing Ludlum's Bourne Series. I don't know if it took more of his time and attention and left him with less for his own series' and books but obviously that's just conjecture on my part. It's also necessary to point out that I didn't really care for Freeman's Bourne books. They too were just okay. I feel like writing in someone else's world boxed him in and maybe that's affected his other writing as well because this book also feels boxed in. Freeman is a creative writer when he's at his best and he has a talent for flipping the script and for sudden twists and turns and endings that are rarely what you expect. Nothing about this book feels especially creative though. There are no twists or turns that challenge a reader. There isn't much creativity.
The plot revolves around an Epstien-like character with his own Gisele and the island on which they conduct their evil. It also involves a loner, super-soldier type of character who defies all odds to go and save the woman who breaks through his lone wolf exterior and helps him find love, after she winds up on the island.
Freeman uses the Epstein Island theme but doesn't add to it. He doesn't even really bother to portray the horror of what's going on there. He relies on the reader's understanding of what goes on there from the all-to-easy allegory. That reliance is a big problem with this book. The bad guys are bad but we don't get a lot of reason to hate him. Don't get me wrong, it's clear he's doing evil and is a bad dude but if you rely on the evil of a real life person to make your bad guy bad, then that character is never going to be a proper villain. He's the shadow of a villain.
The book lacks tension and pace and buy-in because it's just another super soldier who is forced back into the life to save the woman he loves story. It's almost its own genre at this point. Without creating an unimaginable villain to ratchet everything up a notch this books just slogs on until the final 100 pages where all of the excitement takes place. And the final 100 pages were good. Getting there took effort though. This was an easy book to put down and it was easy to get distracted from.
I also think that Freeman is better with his detective novels. That seems to me to be his sweet spot for writing. This book has more in common with the Bourne novels he writes. It's an action hero book. I just don't think he writes as well in that genre. His protagonist is compelling but he's no Jack Reacher--or maybe he lacks the opportunity to be Reacher because the bad guy is so underdeveloped?
Look: I did a lot of complaining here. I hope you take my early warning to heart. This isn't a bad book. It's just not up to what I consider to be Freeman standards. It's a solid 3 star score for me which means perfectly average. Readable. Would I recommend it to you? Not unless you've read his other books--the series and the standalones, excluding the Bourne books--first. If you've read them you'll love this writer and his stories. Then you can read this one and accept it for what it is. If this is your first time reading Freeman, please, please, please start at the very beginning. You won't regret it. Then we can cross our fingers together that Freeman finds his way back home with the next book he writes.
For me--and I'm only speaking for myself here--I think things have been on a bit of a downturn since Freeman started writing Ludlum's Bourne Series. I don't know if it took more of his time and attention and left him with less for his own series' and books but obviously that's just conjecture on my part. It's also necessary to point out that I didn't really care for Freeman's Bourne books. They too were just okay. I feel like writing in someone else's world boxed him in and maybe that's affected his other writing as well because this book also feels boxed in. Freeman is a creative writer when he's at his best and he has a talent for flipping the script and for sudden twists and turns and endings that are rarely what you expect. Nothing about this book feels especially creative though. There are no twists or turns that challenge a reader. There isn't much creativity.
The plot revolves around an Epstien-like character with his own Gisele and the island on which they conduct their evil. It also involves a loner, super-soldier type of character who defies all odds to go and save the woman who breaks through his lone wolf exterior and helps him find love, after she winds up on the island.
Freeman uses the Epstein Island theme but doesn't add to it. He doesn't even really bother to portray the horror of what's going on there. He relies on the reader's understanding of what goes on there from the all-to-easy allegory. That reliance is a big problem with this book. The bad guys are bad but we don't get a lot of reason to hate him. Don't get me wrong, it's clear he's doing evil and is a bad dude but if you rely on the evil of a real life person to make your bad guy bad, then that character is never going to be a proper villain. He's the shadow of a villain.
The book lacks tension and pace and buy-in because it's just another super soldier who is forced back into the life to save the woman he loves story. It's almost its own genre at this point. Without creating an unimaginable villain to ratchet everything up a notch this books just slogs on until the final 100 pages where all of the excitement takes place. And the final 100 pages were good. Getting there took effort though. This was an easy book to put down and it was easy to get distracted from.
I also think that Freeman is better with his detective novels. That seems to me to be his sweet spot for writing. This book has more in common with the Bourne novels he writes. It's an action hero book. I just don't think he writes as well in that genre. His protagonist is compelling but he's no Jack Reacher--or maybe he lacks the opportunity to be Reacher because the bad guy is so underdeveloped?
Look: I did a lot of complaining here. I hope you take my early warning to heart. This isn't a bad book. It's just not up to what I consider to be Freeman standards. It's a solid 3 star score for me which means perfectly average. Readable. Would I recommend it to you? Not unless you've read his other books--the series and the standalones, excluding the Bourne books--first. If you've read them you'll love this writer and his stories. Then you can read this one and accept it for what it is. If this is your first time reading Freeman, please, please, please start at the very beginning. You won't regret it. Then we can cross our fingers together that Freeman finds his way back home with the next book he writes.
October 29, 2024
“That’s the question you need to answer for yourself. Are you willing to break every rule?”
Brian Freeman is usually an auto-read for me. There have been a few here and there that have not been my favorite but I usually really enjoy his books.
Break Every Rule is a stand alone thriller about human trafficking and the lengths one husband and father would go to get his wife and daughter back. It immediately added a new item to my bucket list: never visit Miami.
This wasn’t one of my favorites by Freeman, and I would say that is largely due to the nature of the plot. Human trafficking just makes me sick and angry. At least the book doesn’t glorify it and we do see some form of justice which is good, but it’s just one of those books you don’t necessarily ‘enjoy.’
This book also had a lot more swearing than some of this other books so I wasn’t keen on that.
In some ways it reminded me of Freeman’s book Immoral which very appropriately named. This one felt better to read than that one. The immorality felt more clearly defined in Break Every Rule and the good guys and bad guys more differentiated.
Plot Basics
The main character of Break Every Rule is Tommy Miller— an ex-soldier/ex-cop jaded by a system that can’t get to the worst of the worst because of corruption or money or the murder of witnesses. They are “untouchable.”
He gets roped into a group that manipulated that anger to use him to do secret ops. To do what the system couldn’t do— bring justice and get the bad guys: The Outsiders.
Until a mission with The Outsiders went awry and Tommy (previously known as The Tiger) had to go into hiding.
His wife, Teresa, has secrets of her own. When she and their (baby) daughter get kidnapped, Tommy starts to realize that the people after her are not the same ones that are after him. But trying to rescue his wife will alert his own enemies to his location and complicate his plans.
Not only is he evading his enemies, but the detective working his wife’s disappearance, Lindy Jax, has made this case personal and is going out of her way to figure out what Tommy is up to and who he really is.
But if there is one thing Tommy knows, it’s that to get his wife and daughter back, he’s going to have to break some rules.
“We can’t change the law, so we break it when the law stands in the way.”
My Soap Box
Break Every Rule is ‘Taken’ meets Epstein’s horrific private island. Down to the very same principle of being ‘untouchable.’
That’s what makes this book hard to read. It’s not fiction. It’s happening today in the Caribbean and all over the world. And anyone who turns a blind eye to it is despicable.
“She was consumed with outrage that no one would help us. That the rich and famous would gather around Fell and not let the truth come out.”
That is what I feel. Outrage. Because there is no doubt in my mind that the rich and famous and influential are blocking the truth from coming out in our real world about so much injustice. To protect their own cash flow or their own reputations. It’s sick.
If only Tommy Miller was a real person who could infiltrate, expose, and bring justice. That’s the thing about this book and Taken. Yeah, these men have special skills that help them get their loved ones back, but that’s not normal. That’s not reality. The reality is most of these girls and women either don’t have anyone looking for them or anyone with the resources and capabilities to rescue them.
This is a soap box I’ll stand on all day: the pornography industry and the legitimizing of ‘sex work’ are both intimately connected to sexual abuse and increase and support the market for human trafficking. There is no doubt.
It’s shocking to me that people think ‘sexual freedom’ has no consequences. Either they are blind to the horrors of the very real trajectory of that line of thought or they are aware and they simply don’t care.
I hope that if you read this book and Martin Fell and his ‘use’ of women angers you, that you will think about the parallels to the real world and consider helping dry up the market on sex for sale. Check out Fight the New Drug and its facts and resources surrounding this topic and more information on what you can do to educate others and support a good cause.
One of the characters that’s part of Martin Fell’s ‘enterprise’ admits, “We’ve built our lives around stealing the innocence of little girls.”
Help protect innocence.
Other Comments
I thought it was weird that Tommy so quickly and easily started referring to Teresa as Alina after finding that out. Maybe Freeman did that for clarity for the reader but it seemed unnatural.
I like to make connections to other books I’ve read and there are two to be found here:
- Teresa and Tommy talk about classical music a bit which reminded me of the book Every Good Boy Does Fine: A Love Story in Music Lessons and I think they would have both appreciated that book.
- This book reminded me of The Spy Coast which details an ex-CIA agent pulled out of her quiet, hidden retired life when another agent disappears. They too have a local detective on their heels investigating them while they’re ‘breaking the rules’ to find those hunting them down. But at least Brian Freeman made his detective more legitimate and not the foolish, bumbling variety that Gerritsen did. Plus Freeman did what I was hoping Gerritsen would have: force the main character to work WITH the detective. Although that book is the first in the series so that will probably come eventually.
- A couple nonfiction books that relate: Taking Down Backpage or The Porn Problem
Speaking of the detective, Lindy Jax: “She was a Black woman recruited to the department right out of college, and the white men— hell, even some of the Black men— made it clear that they considered her nothing but a diversity hire. So she’d had to out-hustle all of them, and they didn’t like that.”
The interesting argument here isn’t even that DEI hires are unqualified people— Lindy was qualified and that would be a whole different conversation— but just the idea of that is making it hard for diverse people to feel belonging in their job because people can speculate that you were hired because of your gender, race, or sexuality rather than your merit. I’m not at all convinced DEI does what it claims to do for diversity but rather muddies the waters. I don’t doubt that Lindy is up against it working in the environment she does as a black woman! And I don’t think the DEI groups helped her out much just by their mere existence.
Last comment, the characters encounter Alina’s foster parents and I appreciate that they portrayed a good foster home. I know the system is broken but I also know of a lot of good people that take really good care of foster children and love them very much. We don’t recognize that enough so I’m glad they chose to show the positive side of that in a book that exposes a lot of corruption.
Recommendation
While, this book isn’t my favorite of his, I would still recommend it in general. The subject matter of the plot could be enough to hinder readers especially if that would be a trigger, but I can at least attest that there is some form of justice in the end. I think, for me, I would need to know that before reading a book like this, so I will share that ‘spoiler’ but I won’t tell you the specifics.
If this plot doesn’t appeal, I would still try some of Brian Freeman’s other books: stand alones like Thief River Falls, I Remember You, or Infinite, or his Frost Easton series or the latter part of his Jonathan Stride series.
[Content Advisory: 86 f-words; 28 s-words; 5 b-words; mentions of rape and human trafficking]
**Received and ARC via NetGalley**
Book Review Blog | Facebook | Pinterest | StoryGraph
Brian Freeman is usually an auto-read for me. There have been a few here and there that have not been my favorite but I usually really enjoy his books.
Break Every Rule is a stand alone thriller about human trafficking and the lengths one husband and father would go to get his wife and daughter back. It immediately added a new item to my bucket list: never visit Miami.
This wasn’t one of my favorites by Freeman, and I would say that is largely due to the nature of the plot. Human trafficking just makes me sick and angry. At least the book doesn’t glorify it and we do see some form of justice which is good, but it’s just one of those books you don’t necessarily ‘enjoy.’
This book also had a lot more swearing than some of this other books so I wasn’t keen on that.
In some ways it reminded me of Freeman’s book Immoral which very appropriately named. This one felt better to read than that one. The immorality felt more clearly defined in Break Every Rule and the good guys and bad guys more differentiated.
Plot Basics
The main character of Break Every Rule is Tommy Miller— an ex-soldier/ex-cop jaded by a system that can’t get to the worst of the worst because of corruption or money or the murder of witnesses. They are “untouchable.”
He gets roped into a group that manipulated that anger to use him to do secret ops. To do what the system couldn’t do— bring justice and get the bad guys: The Outsiders.
Until a mission with The Outsiders went awry and Tommy (previously known as The Tiger) had to go into hiding.
His wife, Teresa, has secrets of her own. When she and their (baby) daughter get kidnapped, Tommy starts to realize that the people after her are not the same ones that are after him. But trying to rescue his wife will alert his own enemies to his location and complicate his plans.
Not only is he evading his enemies, but the detective working his wife’s disappearance, Lindy Jax, has made this case personal and is going out of her way to figure out what Tommy is up to and who he really is.
But if there is one thing Tommy knows, it’s that to get his wife and daughter back, he’s going to have to break some rules.
“We can’t change the law, so we break it when the law stands in the way.”
My Soap Box
Break Every Rule is ‘Taken’ meets Epstein’s horrific private island. Down to the very same principle of being ‘untouchable.’
That’s what makes this book hard to read. It’s not fiction. It’s happening today in the Caribbean and all over the world. And anyone who turns a blind eye to it is despicable.
“She was consumed with outrage that no one would help us. That the rich and famous would gather around Fell and not let the truth come out.”
That is what I feel. Outrage. Because there is no doubt in my mind that the rich and famous and influential are blocking the truth from coming out in our real world about so much injustice. To protect their own cash flow or their own reputations. It’s sick.
If only Tommy Miller was a real person who could infiltrate, expose, and bring justice. That’s the thing about this book and Taken. Yeah, these men have special skills that help them get their loved ones back, but that’s not normal. That’s not reality. The reality is most of these girls and women either don’t have anyone looking for them or anyone with the resources and capabilities to rescue them.
This is a soap box I’ll stand on all day: the pornography industry and the legitimizing of ‘sex work’ are both intimately connected to sexual abuse and increase and support the market for human trafficking. There is no doubt.
It’s shocking to me that people think ‘sexual freedom’ has no consequences. Either they are blind to the horrors of the very real trajectory of that line of thought or they are aware and they simply don’t care.
I hope that if you read this book and Martin Fell and his ‘use’ of women angers you, that you will think about the parallels to the real world and consider helping dry up the market on sex for sale. Check out Fight the New Drug and its facts and resources surrounding this topic and more information on what you can do to educate others and support a good cause.
One of the characters that’s part of Martin Fell’s ‘enterprise’ admits, “We’ve built our lives around stealing the innocence of little girls.”
Help protect innocence.
Other Comments
I thought it was weird that Tommy so quickly and easily started referring to Teresa as Alina after finding that out. Maybe Freeman did that for clarity for the reader but it seemed unnatural.
I like to make connections to other books I’ve read and there are two to be found here:
- Teresa and Tommy talk about classical music a bit which reminded me of the book Every Good Boy Does Fine: A Love Story in Music Lessons and I think they would have both appreciated that book.
- This book reminded me of The Spy Coast which details an ex-CIA agent pulled out of her quiet, hidden retired life when another agent disappears. They too have a local detective on their heels investigating them while they’re ‘breaking the rules’ to find those hunting them down. But at least Brian Freeman made his detective more legitimate and not the foolish, bumbling variety that Gerritsen did. Plus Freeman did what I was hoping Gerritsen would have: force the main character to work WITH the detective. Although that book is the first in the series so that will probably come eventually.
- A couple nonfiction books that relate: Taking Down Backpage or The Porn Problem
Speaking of the detective, Lindy Jax: “She was a Black woman recruited to the department right out of college, and the white men— hell, even some of the Black men— made it clear that they considered her nothing but a diversity hire. So she’d had to out-hustle all of them, and they didn’t like that.”
The interesting argument here isn’t even that DEI hires are unqualified people— Lindy was qualified and that would be a whole different conversation— but just the idea of that is making it hard for diverse people to feel belonging in their job because people can speculate that you were hired because of your gender, race, or sexuality rather than your merit. I’m not at all convinced DEI does what it claims to do for diversity but rather muddies the waters. I don’t doubt that Lindy is up against it working in the environment she does as a black woman! And I don’t think the DEI groups helped her out much just by their mere existence.
Last comment, the characters encounter Alina’s foster parents and I appreciate that they portrayed a good foster home. I know the system is broken but I also know of a lot of good people that take really good care of foster children and love them very much. We don’t recognize that enough so I’m glad they chose to show the positive side of that in a book that exposes a lot of corruption.
Recommendation
While, this book isn’t my favorite of his, I would still recommend it in general. The subject matter of the plot could be enough to hinder readers especially if that would be a trigger, but I can at least attest that there is some form of justice in the end. I think, for me, I would need to know that before reading a book like this, so I will share that ‘spoiler’ but I won’t tell you the specifics.
If this plot doesn’t appeal, I would still try some of Brian Freeman’s other books: stand alones like Thief River Falls, I Remember You, or Infinite, or his Frost Easton series or the latter part of his Jonathan Stride series.
[Content Advisory: 86 f-words; 28 s-words; 5 b-words; mentions of rape and human trafficking]
**Received and ARC via NetGalley**
Book Review Blog | Facebook | Pinterest | StoryGraph
September 23, 2024
Break Every Rule
Brian Freeman
Narrated by Scott Brick
September 10, 2024
Blackstone Publishing – Audio
First, when a book is narrated by Scott Brick I will go straight to the audio. He is one of my favorite narrators. He can put so much life and emotion into a story I will often sit in the truck and listen when I get home.
Mutiple POV’s and several main characters could make this a tough story to listen to or read especially as a stand-alone. Fear not listeners, it is worth all the background necessary to paint the picture. However, I have a feeling that this will be part of a series. Tommy Miller has so much back story that Break Every Rule could be in the middle of Tommy’s story and if it is, count me in!
Well developed complex characters, intricate plots and a story line to be remembered. Brian Freeman has knocked another one out of the park. Oh, and don’t forget, listen to the acknowledgments. It is beautiful.
Brian Freeman
Narrated by Scott Brick
September 10, 2024
Blackstone Publishing – Audio
First, when a book is narrated by Scott Brick I will go straight to the audio. He is one of my favorite narrators. He can put so much life and emotion into a story I will often sit in the truck and listen when I get home.
Mutiple POV’s and several main characters could make this a tough story to listen to or read especially as a stand-alone. Fear not listeners, it is worth all the background necessary to paint the picture. However, I have a feeling that this will be part of a series. Tommy Miller has so much back story that Break Every Rule could be in the middle of Tommy’s story and if it is, count me in!
Well developed complex characters, intricate plots and a story line to be remembered. Brian Freeman has knocked another one out of the park. Oh, and don’t forget, listen to the acknowledgments. It is beautiful.
October 3, 2024
Such a great thriller! I loved the backstory & the characters. There was a lot of info and it could’ve easily been too much, but the pacing was done really nicely to keep the plot on track.
Tommy is on a search for his family, and he may have to revisit a past he thought he’d never venture back into to get them back. As he begins his search, he starts to realize his wife has her own secrets. Can he find her before the police do?
Would recommend the read!
Thank you to the publisher for the gifted ARC
Tommy is on a search for his family, and he may have to revisit a past he thought he’d never venture back into to get them back. As he begins his search, he starts to realize his wife has her own secrets. Can he find her before the police do?
Would recommend the read!
Thank you to the publisher for the gifted ARC
October 30, 2024
4.5 Stars.
Excellent story.
Action packed.
Well written.
Beautiful acknowledgment
(read after the novel).
I recommend this book!
Excellent story.
Action packed.
Well written.
Beautiful acknowledgment
(read after the novel).
I recommend this book!
June 2, 2025
"Break Every Rule" by Brian Freeman, released in 2024 and narrated by Scott Brick, is a pulse-pounding standalone thriller that blends high-stakes action with emotional depth. Known for his work on Robert Ludlum’s Jason Bourne series, Freeman delivers a gripping narrative centered on Tommy Miller, a former Army Ranger living under a false identity in Florida. This audiobook, published by Blackstone Publishing, showcases Freeman’s knack for intricate plots and complex characters, elevated by Brick’s masterful narration.
Set in the humid, vibrant landscapes of Central and Southern Florida, with detours to a shadowy island near Nassau, the story kicks off when Tommy’s wife, Teresa, and their infant daughter, Rosalita, are violently abducted. Tommy, a man with a past steeped in deadly skills, is forced to confront the ghosts he thought he’d buried after a botched overseas mission left him on the run from terrorists and a betraying government. The narrative unfolds through multiple perspectives, including Tommy’s relentless pursuit and Detective Lindy Jax, a sharp, driven investigator haunted by her own unresolved trauma - her brother’s disappearance years ago. Freeman weaves a tense plot involving a billionaire’s sinister operations, layered with themes of human trafficking and corruption, though these darker elements are handled with care to avoid gratuitous detail. The story’s pacing is relentless, with each chapter ending on a cliffhanger that propels listeners forward.
Key highlights include Freeman’s vivid character development and atmospheric settings. Tommy is a compelling protagonist, balancing a lethal edge with vulnerability as a husband and father, making his desperate race to save his family deeply relatable. Teresa’s own secrets add intrigue, peeling back layers of their marriage in unexpected ways. Lindy Jax stands out as a tenacious detective, her personal stakes enriching the cat-and-mouse dynamic with Tommy. The Nassau island subplot introduces a chilling real-world-inspired villain, amplifying the stakes without overshadowing the personal drama. Some minor plot points stretch believability, but the emotional weight and action sequences keep the story engaging.
Scott Brick’s narration is a triumph, infusing the audiobook with intensity and nuance. His gravelly, emotive delivery captures Tommy’s urgency and Lindy’s determination, while distinct character voices ensure clarity across multiple POVs. Brick’s pacing enhances the thriller’s relentless momentum, making quiet moments as gripping as bone-crunching action scenes. Minor occasional over-dramatization, but his performance is brings Freeman’s vivid prose to life, and can be compared to his award-winning narrations.
"Break Every Rule" by Brian Freeman should be lauded for its non-stop thrills and character depth. Ideal for fans of Freeman’s Bourne novels or Taken-style thrillers, this audiobook is a standout, hinting at potential for a Tommy Miller series. It’s a must-listen for those craving action, heart, and a narrator who elevates every word
Set in the humid, vibrant landscapes of Central and Southern Florida, with detours to a shadowy island near Nassau, the story kicks off when Tommy’s wife, Teresa, and their infant daughter, Rosalita, are violently abducted. Tommy, a man with a past steeped in deadly skills, is forced to confront the ghosts he thought he’d buried after a botched overseas mission left him on the run from terrorists and a betraying government. The narrative unfolds through multiple perspectives, including Tommy’s relentless pursuit and Detective Lindy Jax, a sharp, driven investigator haunted by her own unresolved trauma - her brother’s disappearance years ago. Freeman weaves a tense plot involving a billionaire’s sinister operations, layered with themes of human trafficking and corruption, though these darker elements are handled with care to avoid gratuitous detail. The story’s pacing is relentless, with each chapter ending on a cliffhanger that propels listeners forward.
Key highlights include Freeman’s vivid character development and atmospheric settings. Tommy is a compelling protagonist, balancing a lethal edge with vulnerability as a husband and father, making his desperate race to save his family deeply relatable. Teresa’s own secrets add intrigue, peeling back layers of their marriage in unexpected ways. Lindy Jax stands out as a tenacious detective, her personal stakes enriching the cat-and-mouse dynamic with Tommy. The Nassau island subplot introduces a chilling real-world-inspired villain, amplifying the stakes without overshadowing the personal drama. Some minor plot points stretch believability, but the emotional weight and action sequences keep the story engaging.
Scott Brick’s narration is a triumph, infusing the audiobook with intensity and nuance. His gravelly, emotive delivery captures Tommy’s urgency and Lindy’s determination, while distinct character voices ensure clarity across multiple POVs. Brick’s pacing enhances the thriller’s relentless momentum, making quiet moments as gripping as bone-crunching action scenes. Minor occasional over-dramatization, but his performance is brings Freeman’s vivid prose to life, and can be compared to his award-winning narrations.
"Break Every Rule" by Brian Freeman should be lauded for its non-stop thrills and character depth. Ideal for fans of Freeman’s Bourne novels or Taken-style thrillers, this audiobook is a standout, hinting at potential for a Tommy Miller series. It’s a must-listen for those craving action, heart, and a narrator who elevates every word
December 4, 2024
Tommy Miller is a dangerous man with a secret past who is hiding out in Florida with his wife Teresa and their daughter Rosalita. His wife doesn't even know who he REALLY is. When Teresa and their daughter go missing, Tommy assumes his past is catching up to him. He soon discovers Teresa had secrets too, so is it his chickens coming home to roost or hers?
Hooo wee! This was an action packed thrill ride combined with police procedural and mystery elements. Tommy is an enigmatic character and as details about his past and what he's running from are slowly revealed, so is how he came to meet Teresa. Whip smart, no nonsense detective Lindy Jackson is in charge of the investigation to find Teresa and Rosalita and Tommy must navigate her suspicions of him while searching for them himself. There are many players involved including a character I loved to hate who is filthy rich and owns a private island where he indulges in his nasty proclivities AND for the right price so do others.
Scott Brick is a fantastic narrator and I appreciated the accents and the emotion he delivered. For the story, I think you could physically read the book or listen to the audio and either method would be great! I wasn't as fully engaged in the plot or characters as I would've liked, but it was a fun popcorn thriller that felt like a Hollywood blockbuster film. In fact, it would make a great movie!
____
Thank you Blackstone Publishing for the free audiobook. All opinions are mine.
____
Potential spoiler content warnings below.
⚠️Content warnings: moderate language, violence, gun violence, torture, abduction, Mention of: rape, human trafficking, sex trafficking
Hooo wee! This was an action packed thrill ride combined with police procedural and mystery elements. Tommy is an enigmatic character and as details about his past and what he's running from are slowly revealed, so is how he came to meet Teresa. Whip smart, no nonsense detective Lindy Jackson is in charge of the investigation to find Teresa and Rosalita and Tommy must navigate her suspicions of him while searching for them himself. There are many players involved including a character I loved to hate who is filthy rich and owns a private island where he indulges in his nasty proclivities AND for the right price so do others.
Scott Brick is a fantastic narrator and I appreciated the accents and the emotion he delivered. For the story, I think you could physically read the book or listen to the audio and either method would be great! I wasn't as fully engaged in the plot or characters as I would've liked, but it was a fun popcorn thriller that felt like a Hollywood blockbuster film. In fact, it would make a great movie!
____
Thank you Blackstone Publishing for the free audiobook. All opinions are mine.
____
Potential spoiler content warnings below.
⚠️Content warnings: moderate language, violence, gun violence, torture, abduction, Mention of: rape, human trafficking, sex trafficking
March 12, 2025
3.75⭐️
This was a very high energy and fast paced thriller. Lots of characters to remember/track, so that was a bit of a struggle for me.
This is my second book by Freeman, and I was captivated by his writing. He packs a lot of details into his plot, so it’s imperative to pay attention to everything and everyone!
TW: sex trafficking.
This was a very high energy and fast paced thriller. Lots of characters to remember/track, so that was a bit of a struggle for me.
This is my second book by Freeman, and I was captivated by his writing. He packs a lot of details into his plot, so it’s imperative to pay attention to everything and everyone!
TW: sex trafficking.
September 11, 2024
Tommy Miller is an ordinary family man, with a boring sounding background, for anyone who cares to look, and a young wife and their infant daughter. Ordinary until Teresa and Rosalita, the wife and daughter, are abducted outside of Teresa's antique shop in Florida.
Just like that, Tommy sheds his Tommy Miller skin to become someone who he thought he had left behind years ago. A highly trained Investigator, and more importantly, killer. There is one person in Tommy's past that would love to catch up with him. Is that who grabbed his family?
The more Tommy digs though, the more he realizes that the secrets he always knew his wife held close, are much more sinister than he ever would have guesses.
The trail leads Tommy to a tropical island, owned by a wealthy man, who is responsible to young women going missing from all over the world.
And Tammy past....he has to deal with that also.
Thank you to Netgalley and Blackstone Audio for the opportunity to enjoy this Suspense Thriller audio_ARC narrated by the talented Scott Brick.
Just like that, Tommy sheds his Tommy Miller skin to become someone who he thought he had left behind years ago. A highly trained Investigator, and more importantly, killer. There is one person in Tommy's past that would love to catch up with him. Is that who grabbed his family?
The more Tommy digs though, the more he realizes that the secrets he always knew his wife held close, are much more sinister than he ever would have guesses.
The trail leads Tommy to a tropical island, owned by a wealthy man, who is responsible to young women going missing from all over the world.
And Tammy past....he has to deal with that also.
Thank you to Netgalley and Blackstone Audio for the opportunity to enjoy this Suspense Thriller audio_ARC narrated by the talented Scott Brick.
September 16, 2024
Whenever I see Brian Freeman has written another thriller, I’m all in. My favorites are Thief River Falls and The Deep Deep Snow series. Break Every Rule is a terrific read. This thriller is action packed from the start, but never at the expense of character development. I’m hopeful this will be the beginning of a new series.
The audiobook production is excellent. Scott Brick is as wonderful as ever and he narrates this story beautifully.
The audiobook production is excellent. Scott Brick is as wonderful as ever and he narrates this story beautifully.
September 15, 2024
Thank you #partner @bibliolifestyle @blackstonepublishing for having me on this tour!
This was my first read by Brian Freeman and my goodness I enjoyed it. Fast paced, started right off the bat and did not let up the whole time, husband and wife both have secrets and the wife and daughter are now abducted. This was quite a wild, twisty, ride that went places I did not guess, and was overall very satisfying. Loved this one, the audio was excellent, and overall I definitely recommend.
This was my first read by Brian Freeman and my goodness I enjoyed it. Fast paced, started right off the bat and did not let up the whole time, husband and wife both have secrets and the wife and daughter are now abducted. This was quite a wild, twisty, ride that went places I did not guess, and was overall very satisfying. Loved this one, the audio was excellent, and overall I definitely recommend.
September 9, 2024
“Break Every Rule” by Brian Freeman is an absolutely riveting thriller and my favorite book of this genre so far this year!
The story is about a former homicide detective, Ranger, and secret operative agent for a classified agency who is retired and living in small town Florida with his wife and 8 month old daughter. But, they both have secret pasts that they have kept from each other! The wife and daughter suddenly go missing and the past comes ferociously back.
The characters are all brilliantly portrayed and faced with decisions that revolve around righting a wrong and the rules you would break to save the love of your life and family. The criminals are evil and the victims are people you are rooting for from the very first page.
I am a big fan of this author and enjoy all of his books, but this is my favorite and could not put it down. You can tell this was written from the heart, if I could give it 10 stars I would!
Thank you NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.
September 15, 2024
There are “secrets” and then there are DARK secrets! Hope this author will continue with Tommy Miller and his wife Theresa, plus one daughter, hiding, an island, sex trafficking, “past issues”, detective Lindy Jax and those twists and turns. Enjoy
September 15, 2024
What a story! It looks like the start of another new series which will be a BLOCKBUSTER! Politics clandestine ops, sex and drugs. Impossible to put down the book.
September 13, 2024
Thank you, Partner @bibliolifestyle & @blackstonepublishing for my complimentary physical copy and audiobook in exchange for an honest review.
Every time I read Brian Freeman I am impressed by how well he writes! He has a talent for developing complex characters and intricate plots with surprising twists that somehow all weave back together perfectly. Brian Freeman has been a favorite author of mine for years, so I am excited to present this book today!
SYNOPSIS: Tommy Miller is a man hiding his dangerous past as a mercenary. He has been living incognito for several years, and even his wife, Teresa, doesn’t know who he really is. But when Teresa and their baby daughter are abducted, Tommy has to resume his former persona to search for her, only to discover Teresa has a few secrets of her own. With the police hot on his trail, Tommy has to unravel the past in order to find Teresa and the baby before it is too late!
This story caught my attention from the very first page. The action and suspense continue at a great pace, and lead to an exciting conclusion. I also appreciated the author’s acknowledgements at the end.
I checked out both the print and audio versions and loved both! Scott Brick does an excellent job as the narrator and is the perfect voice for the alpha male main character. I highly recommend this one!
Every time I read Brian Freeman I am impressed by how well he writes! He has a talent for developing complex characters and intricate plots with surprising twists that somehow all weave back together perfectly. Brian Freeman has been a favorite author of mine for years, so I am excited to present this book today!
SYNOPSIS: Tommy Miller is a man hiding his dangerous past as a mercenary. He has been living incognito for several years, and even his wife, Teresa, doesn’t know who he really is. But when Teresa and their baby daughter are abducted, Tommy has to resume his former persona to search for her, only to discover Teresa has a few secrets of her own. With the police hot on his trail, Tommy has to unravel the past in order to find Teresa and the baby before it is too late!
This story caught my attention from the very first page. The action and suspense continue at a great pace, and lead to an exciting conclusion. I also appreciated the author’s acknowledgements at the end.
I checked out both the print and audio versions and loved both! Scott Brick does an excellent job as the narrator and is the perfect voice for the alpha male main character. I highly recommend this one!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 276 reviews