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The Freeman Files #2
Last Orders
Gus Freeman now heads up a newly-formed Crime Review Team charged with investigating cold cases that puzzled his former colleagues. Gus is assisted by: -
DS Alex Hardy – a police pursuit motorcyclist currently confined to a wheelchair as he recovers from a high-speed accident. Alex is desperate to return to active duty
DS Neil Davis - a bright young detective whose family members have served in the Wiltshire force for generations. His father, Terry took early retirement in 2012 and a hasty exit to Marbella hinted at a shady past
Lydia Logan Barre – at twenty-five, this is the first job for the forensic psychologist graduate. Attractive, outspoken and fiercely competitive. She believes feathers were designed to be ruffled
In ‘Fatal Decision’ Gus soon found his feet after three years in retirement. A murderer awaits sentencing and another cold case file has landed on his desk
‘Last Orders’ follows the case of Trudi Villiers, a 26-year old barmaid murdered as she walked home from the Ring O’Bells pub in October 2003
Trudi may have been a good-time girl with a string of lovers, but she was someone’s daughter and Gus wants his team to find the truth about what happened to her on that fateful night.
DS Alex Hardy – a police pursuit motorcyclist currently confined to a wheelchair as he recovers from a high-speed accident. Alex is desperate to return to active duty
DS Neil Davis - a bright young detective whose family members have served in the Wiltshire force for generations. His father, Terry took early retirement in 2012 and a hasty exit to Marbella hinted at a shady past
Lydia Logan Barre – at twenty-five, this is the first job for the forensic psychologist graduate. Attractive, outspoken and fiercely competitive. She believes feathers were designed to be ruffled
In ‘Fatal Decision’ Gus soon found his feet after three years in retirement. A murderer awaits sentencing and another cold case file has landed on his desk
‘Last Orders’ follows the case of Trudi Villiers, a 26-year old barmaid murdered as she walked home from the Ring O’Bells pub in October 2003
Trudi may have been a good-time girl with a string of lovers, but she was someone’s daughter and Gus wants his team to find the truth about what happened to her on that fateful night.
“Gus Freeman shows a dogged determination to hunt down the killer in a complex police procedural with a shocking final twist”
205 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 17, 2020
259 people are currently reading
112 people want to read
About the author
Ted Tayler
79 books304 followers Ted Tayler is the international best-selling indie author of the Freeman Files and Phoenix series. Ted lives in the English West country, where his stories are based. He was born in 1945 and has been married to Lynne since 1971. They have three children and four grandchildren.
His thought-provoking mysteries appeal to readers of Sally Rigby, Joy Ellis, Pauline Rowson, and Faith Martin. His action-packed thrillers are a must for fans of Mark Dawson and J C Ryan.
Gus Freeman’s cold case investigations are carried out with reasoned deduction rather than bursts of frantic action. In each of the 24 books, unsolved murders are accompanied by romance, humour, and country life. The core message in the 12 Phoenix novels is that criminals should pay for their crimes. Unfortunately, the current system fails to deliver the correct punishment, so Phoenix helps redress the balance.
His thought-provoking mysteries appeal to readers of Sally Rigby, Joy Ellis, Pauline Rowson, and Faith Martin. His action-packed thrillers are a must for fans of Mark Dawson and J C Ryan.
Gus Freeman’s cold case investigations are carried out with reasoned deduction rather than bursts of frantic action. In each of the 24 books, unsolved murders are accompanied by romance, humour, and country life. The core message in the 12 Phoenix novels is that criminals should pay for their crimes. Unfortunately, the current system fails to deliver the correct punishment, so Phoenix helps redress the balance.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews
January 19, 2020
Ex-Detective Gus Freeman is back heading up the Cold Case Review Team. This time around he and his team are looking into the case of Trudi Villiers.
Trudi, finished with her work at the local pub, walks toward home alone, well after midnight. She never makes it home. Her body is found the next morning.
Trudi was known as a good time girl .... she liked men and she liked to party. But not everyone liked her. Who would want Trudi dead?
Her family did not approve of her lifestyle, especially her father. Her roommate stated that Trudi didn't like that she had a steady boyfriend and resisted partying along with Trudi. A cop who investigated the case when she was found 15 years ago .... and known to have had a fling with her... and interestingly enough, his son is now a part of Freeman's team.
This is a well-executed police procedural. Gus is someone who wants justice for the victims and closure for the families, no matter how long it's been. His team is diverse and dedicated. One is in a wheelchair recovering from a high-speed accident. One is the son of a possibly corrupt cop. One is a female forensic psychologist graduate. They are all outstanding characters. Each book in this series, so far, reveals more about all their backgrounds .. who they are and how they got to where they are.
Although second in the series, this does well as a stand alone. As usual, I highly recommend starting at the beginning so as to not miss those little nuggets that make this an exceedingly interesting series.
Many thanks to the author for the digital copy of this crime fiction. Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
Trudi, finished with her work at the local pub, walks toward home alone, well after midnight. She never makes it home. Her body is found the next morning.
Trudi was known as a good time girl .... she liked men and she liked to party. But not everyone liked her. Who would want Trudi dead?
Her family did not approve of her lifestyle, especially her father. Her roommate stated that Trudi didn't like that she had a steady boyfriend and resisted partying along with Trudi. A cop who investigated the case when she was found 15 years ago .... and known to have had a fling with her... and interestingly enough, his son is now a part of Freeman's team.
This is a well-executed police procedural. Gus is someone who wants justice for the victims and closure for the families, no matter how long it's been. His team is diverse and dedicated. One is in a wheelchair recovering from a high-speed accident. One is the son of a possibly corrupt cop. One is a female forensic psychologist graduate. They are all outstanding characters. Each book in this series, so far, reveals more about all their backgrounds .. who they are and how they got to where they are.
Although second in the series, this does well as a stand alone. As usual, I highly recommend starting at the beginning so as to not miss those little nuggets that make this an exceedingly interesting series.
Many thanks to the author for the digital copy of this crime fiction. Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
January 17, 2020
This second book in the Freeman Files carries on in excellent fashion from the first book, continuing to build the development of the CRT team as a group and as individuals. This book has 2 quite different stories interwoven, one cold case and one current, and the action in both builds nicely throughout the book. I really think that Ted Tayler has hit on a winning series with this one and I am looking forward to book 3, Pressure Point.
April 15, 2020
Up to Par
This is my second Ted Taylor "Freeman" book, and I liked it. I liked it even better than the first which I had enjoyed so much, I went on to read the next one right away. After this, I will move on to Pressure Point, the third in the series.
Why do I enjoy these books so much? I will tell you they are straight, down-the-line, detective procedurals. No frills. Gus Freeman draws you in by being a no-nonsense copper with an uncanny ability to see through the muck of an inquiry to the truth of the twisted situation. As a retiree myself, I relate to his ambivalence between enjoying his time on the allotment and his reluctant thrill of the chase. His team mates are shaping up to be an interesting crew, and his higher ups have the right mix of self-aggrandizing ineptitude to make the journey both amusing and satisfying.
If you enjoy British procedurals, I could not recommend a better way to spend your time than by getting into this fun series.
This is my second Ted Taylor "Freeman" book, and I liked it. I liked it even better than the first which I had enjoyed so much, I went on to read the next one right away. After this, I will move on to Pressure Point, the third in the series.
Why do I enjoy these books so much? I will tell you they are straight, down-the-line, detective procedurals. No frills. Gus Freeman draws you in by being a no-nonsense copper with an uncanny ability to see through the muck of an inquiry to the truth of the twisted situation. As a retiree myself, I relate to his ambivalence between enjoying his time on the allotment and his reluctant thrill of the chase. His team mates are shaping up to be an interesting crew, and his higher ups have the right mix of self-aggrandizing ineptitude to make the journey both amusing and satisfying.
If you enjoy British procedurals, I could not recommend a better way to spend your time than by getting into this fun series.
October 31, 2020
Again, this was a bit hard to get into, and there was quite a bit of review of book 1. The cold case review team is given a 15-year-old murder of a sexually promiscuous young woman to solve. The outcome is a bit of a surprise.
June 4, 2021
The second in the Freeman Files. The story is entertaining and not self indulgently too long. I do have an issue with the characterisation of Gus. I find him rather dull and cannot warm to him. There are no likeable quirks to the character to render him likeable.
January 29, 2021
We just finished, and really enjoyed, Tayler’s second outing, “Last Orders”, in his (currently) 8-book Gus Freeman series. Once again, Gus, a retired-cop now a consultant, shows a lifetime of experience and a sharp mind in leading his Brit special police team into solving their second cold case, this time concerning a barmaid killed some 15 years ago. Several developments add nicely to what we learned in the debut novel. Firstly, his diverse team of three subordinates is settling in and add to the fun as we get to know them better. Secondly, widower Gus apparently has a surprising appeal to the ladies, and is now to some extent making advances with two attractive colleagues. Thirdly, in addition to the cold case, an ongoing new murder of one of his “allotment” (garden patch) friends makes for an interesting additional sub-plot.
We find ourselves enjoying these fairly short, straightforward British police procedurals, somewhat in the “classic” mode without unnecessary thrills and chills, and credit author Tayler with both fine writing and plot development skills. We suspect all eight tales will be quite entertaining and so plan to devour all of them over the next year or so!
We find ourselves enjoying these fairly short, straightforward British police procedurals, somewhat in the “classic” mode without unnecessary thrills and chills, and credit author Tayler with both fine writing and plot development skills. We suspect all eight tales will be quite entertaining and so plan to devour all of them over the next year or so!
April 9, 2020
Another great thriller
First, Tayler is an excellent writer and storyteller. I am a big fan of his work, first the Phoenix series, and now, his new series, The Freeman files. Gus is an unforgettable character, and I've gotten attached to him. Tayler knows how to tell a story, and this new one, is thrilling and exciting, and in some ways, makes you hold your breath. Magnificent story, kept this reader turning the pages. A definite attention grabber. The thrills and intrigue is written clearly and the characterizations are engrossing. The Crime Review Team is an amazing team with different backgrounds, and yet, they work well together, especially when focused on the murder of Trudi. It's a great story. Magnificent indeed. I look forward to reading more by this author. This book is a definite recommendation by Amy's Bookshelf Reviews.
First, Tayler is an excellent writer and storyteller. I am a big fan of his work, first the Phoenix series, and now, his new series, The Freeman files. Gus is an unforgettable character, and I've gotten attached to him. Tayler knows how to tell a story, and this new one, is thrilling and exciting, and in some ways, makes you hold your breath. Magnificent story, kept this reader turning the pages. A definite attention grabber. The thrills and intrigue is written clearly and the characterizations are engrossing. The Crime Review Team is an amazing team with different backgrounds, and yet, they work well together, especially when focused on the murder of Trudi. It's a great story. Magnificent indeed. I look forward to reading more by this author. This book is a definite recommendation by Amy's Bookshelf Reviews.
October 21, 2020
This was the second of a 3-book 'box set' I enjoyed reading this somewhat old-fashioned, traditional, English police procedural. A retired detective returns as a civilian consultant to work with a small team on cold cases. In this volume, he and his team solve the case by doggedly following up on old clues years later. He (Gus Freeman) is an appealing character, and I'm looking forward to reading more about his life and his 2nd career. I must say, these three stories together would make one good long book. Some padding could have been removed, because each book has quite a bit of review of previous storylines.
May 29, 2022
I enjoyed the book. It was very well organized and the plot followed through to the end. I would recommend this as a great book to read. Language and sexual descriptions are minimal. I found the characters relatable and entertaining. It is a bit dry to read as there is not a lot of action or attention grabbing scenes or scenarios. It is still worth reading if you like to read. I got the combined set of 1-3. Read all three pretty quick. It is something that you can put down and pick up and not feel lost as to what is going in. It was what I read on my lunch break at work. I fell in love with the characters.
January 12, 2026
As I said for the first book, the author’s is very easy to read and I finished the book in just a couple of sessions.
Again I had a couple of niggles, quite early in the book the team dismissed a contradiction in statements and it wasn’t long before it was clear the murderer was one of two people. This tended to make the rest of the investigation a bit redundant.
Also I could have done without the author’s attempts at adding romance into the story
One slight detail that isn’t really important, Gus talks about the big freeze winter of 62-63 as starting on Boxing day 63, it should be 62, I remember it really well.
Again I had a couple of niggles, quite early in the book the team dismissed a contradiction in statements and it wasn’t long before it was clear the murderer was one of two people. This tended to make the rest of the investigation a bit redundant.
Also I could have done without the author’s attempts at adding romance into the story
One slight detail that isn’t really important, Gus talks about the big freeze winter of 62-63 as starting on Boxing day 63, it should be 62, I remember it really well.
June 17, 2021
In this second book in the series, Gus Freeman comes into his own and shines as a detective and mentor, working with his three younger members of the team investigating cold cases in their shire. Here we have the recent disappearance then murder of a fellow working a gardening allotment near Gus's that overlaps with a larger drug cartel case, even as the team tries to uncover who actually raped and killed a nymphomaniac barmaid fifteen years ago. This procedural gets exciting as it moves to climax.
October 21, 2022
The second cold case assigned to Gus Freeman's team in 2018 was a murder from 2003. The original investigation had quickly identified a suspect, who was convicted of the crime but turned out to be innocent. Gus's team revisits the file and soon finds some additional evidence, enabling them to close the case quickly, despite some major distractions that divide Gus's attention (and threaten his life).
September 18, 2022
Excellent
This is the second in the series and just as enjoyable as the first. All of the characters are continuing to develop and you feel as if you know them.
I love that there's no unnecessary filler -- everything is pertinent to the story and the current cold case being reviewed/solved.
I look forward to the next in the series.
This is the second in the series and just as enjoyable as the first. All of the characters are continuing to develop and you feel as if you know them.
I love that there's no unnecessary filler -- everything is pertinent to the story and the current cold case being reviewed/solved.
I look forward to the next in the series.
February 14, 2024
I read book 1 in this series quite some time ago and had a little bit of trouble remembering the storyline from that book that followed directly into this book. For that reason I would recommend reading these in order and reasonably close together time-wise. That being said, they are both great books and I enjoyed them.
February 7, 2020
Old times unite!
Gus used old school, tried and true techniques and comes out smelling like a rose. It is not without some hair raising experience. A good sit down and read till the end book!
Gus used old school, tried and true techniques and comes out smelling like a rose. It is not without some hair raising experience. A good sit down and read till the end book!
January 18, 2021
The team is developing nicely with enjoyable banter as they doggedly pursue the second cold case in the Freeman Files. With another case closer to home that threatens Gus unexpectedly, this adds to the pace of this enjoyable police procedural.
June 7, 2021
I LIKE GUS AND HIS TEAM MEMBERS, THEY WORK WELL TOGETHER. IT WAS VERY INTERESTING HOW EACH OF THEM WORKED LIKE A WELL OILED MACHINE. THEY PUT ALL THE PUZZLE PIECES TOGETHER OF AN OLD CRIME. I HOPE GUS AND VERA GET SORTED OUT, I’M ROOTING FOR THEM.
October 10, 2022
Gus Freeman is now back at work and leading a Crime Review Team.
This case involves a woman who worked at a bar and was murdered one night.
I am enjoying the character development of the team.
This case involves a woman who worked at a bar and was murdered one night.
I am enjoying the character development of the team.
October 17, 2022
Book 2 of 13: typical crime set-up, plot thickens, red herrings, and quick snap conclusion.
Makes one wonder: how many ‘trophies’ have you seen in your lifetime and never knew it was a souvenir trophy? Do you really know your neighbor?
Makes one wonder: how many ‘trophies’ have you seen in your lifetime and never knew it was a souvenir trophy? Do you really know your neighbor?
June 14, 2023
This is the second book in this series and Ted does not disappoint. With new technology old cases can bring about the results in finding who committed the murder. Great story and cannot wait to read the next one in this series.
June 12, 2024
As I said before for Book #1, retired DI (detective inspector) Gus Freeman is a fabulous character. Ted Tayler created quite an interesting cast and situations. Book 2 ended too quickly. I'm on the way to begin #3.
October 15, 2025
So with this my second read of the series I have to admit I find it very formulaic, but I think I'll read one more in the series before I pass my judgment up on Gus and his team as they are very easy to like.
(Please forgive my poor English, my excuse is I’m Swedish).
(Please forgive my poor English, my excuse is I’m Swedish).
June 6, 2020
Cold case British police procedural. I like the retired detective
June 16, 2020
Good reading
Not a tough crime to figure out!! Still kept me up all night!! Enjoyed the story ! Glad he didn’t kill Gus off!
Not a tough crime to figure out!! Still kept me up all night!! Enjoyed the story ! Glad he didn’t kill Gus off!
January 26, 2021
I liked it better than the first book. Now I am familiar with all of the characters.
April 1, 2021
These books are much better than I expected. I do have to put up with a silly love triangle but the mystery and procedural aspects are excellent.
May 7, 2021
An excellent crime story.
Read
January 17, 2022Read 1/22
December 1, 2022
Did not enjoy as much as book 1 in series
June 22, 2023
Second volume in the Freeman Files, and Gus Freeman and his young team managed again to solve a cold case, in spite of politics and other organisations' "input".
Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews