What do you think?
Jonathan Stride #12
Where the Road Ends
The murder of a judge and his wife turns Jonathan Stride’s world upside down and leaves him facing a shocking crossroad in this electrifying mystery from New York Times bestselling author Brian Freeman
Jonathan Stride’s partner, Maggie Bei, is driving home after midnight when a call comes shots fired at the home of a Duluth judge.
Moments later, she finds Gordon and Tracy Hartwick murdered in their bed. But someone is hiding in the judge’s house, and as Maggie lays chase, she’s forced to make a split-second decision that leaves the intruder dead.
When Stride arrives at the scene, he has to give Maggie devastating news. The intruder had no gun. He wasn’t the killer. She shot an innocent man.
With Maggie facing a firestorm over her actions, Stride must discover who really killed Gordon and Tracy Hartwick—and what secrets they were hiding that put them in the gunsights of a murderer. The shattering finale will change Stride’s world in ways he can’t imagine and leave everyone he loves asking the same When you reach the end of the road, where do you go from there?
Jonathan Stride’s partner, Maggie Bei, is driving home after midnight when a call comes shots fired at the home of a Duluth judge.
Moments later, she finds Gordon and Tracy Hartwick murdered in their bed. But someone is hiding in the judge’s house, and as Maggie lays chase, she’s forced to make a split-second decision that leaves the intruder dead.
When Stride arrives at the scene, he has to give Maggie devastating news. The intruder had no gun. He wasn’t the killer. She shot an innocent man.
With Maggie facing a firestorm over her actions, Stride must discover who really killed Gordon and Tracy Hartwick—and what secrets they were hiding that put them in the gunsights of a murderer. The shattering finale will change Stride’s world in ways he can’t imagine and leave everyone he loves asking the same When you reach the end of the road, where do you go from there?
394 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 6, 2026
About the author
Brian Freeman
85 books3,250 followersBrian Freeman is a New York Times bestselling author of psychological thrillers, including the Jonathan Stride series and multiple popular stand-alones. His books have been sold in 46 countries and 24 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 he has since published eight bestselling Bourne novels.
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 53 reviews
October 8, 2026
This is a review of the audiobook!
How have I never read this author? This was a surprising, suspenseful mystery/family drama with intricate plotting. I really enjoyed it!
The plot starts with Detective Maggie Bei returning from a Halloween party. A call comes over her radio. She’s close so she responds - there were shots heard at the Hartwick home.
While searching the home she finds Gordon and Tracy Hartwick murdered in their bed. She searches for an intruder but initially finds no one. When she hears movements she returns to the bedroom and checks the closet - a man runs by her. A chase ensues that ends with Maggie shooting the man - she thinks in self defense.
White Tracy is on administrative leave, a dual plotline is developed, but I’ll let that surprise you.
I was so intrigued with the plots and how they could be connected the I couldn’t stop listening!
I enjoyed the characters and even though I have jumped in at #12 in the series, I was able to understand the relationships.
I received the audiobook from Blackstone Publishing Audiobooks and Netgalley. It was my pleasure to listen to and review this novel.
How have I never read this author? This was a surprising, suspenseful mystery/family drama with intricate plotting. I really enjoyed it!
The plot starts with Detective Maggie Bei returning from a Halloween party. A call comes over her radio. She’s close so she responds - there were shots heard at the Hartwick home.
While searching the home she finds Gordon and Tracy Hartwick murdered in their bed. She searches for an intruder but initially finds no one. When she hears movements she returns to the bedroom and checks the closet - a man runs by her. A chase ensues that ends with Maggie shooting the man - she thinks in self defense.
White Tracy is on administrative leave, a dual plotline is developed, but I’ll let that surprise you.
I was so intrigued with the plots and how they could be connected the I couldn’t stop listening!
I enjoyed the characters and even though I have jumped in at #12 in the series, I was able to understand the relationships.
I received the audiobook from Blackstone Publishing Audiobooks and Netgalley. It was my pleasure to listen to and review this novel.
April 29, 2026
Happy Release Day for my favorite series! I will be listening as an encore because it is narrated by January Lavoy!
The Jonathan Stride series is my favorite of all time. The title of this one brings concern for the series as Stride is aging and the job does take a toll on a person especially from this wonderful author. This book is packed with some unexpected surprises for the true fans and reads as a page turner for all. The plot was the typical standard of creative, woven, and driven by all the characters. I love the Duluth setting and hope to get back there soon. I won’t show any cards on how this book wraps up other than saying what I’ve said for years: Stride Rocks!
Thank you to both Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity in exchange for an honest review.
The Jonathan Stride series is my favorite of all time. The title of this one brings concern for the series as Stride is aging and the job does take a toll on a person especially from this wonderful author. This book is packed with some unexpected surprises for the true fans and reads as a page turner for all. The plot was the typical standard of creative, woven, and driven by all the characters. I love the Duluth setting and hope to get back there soon. I won’t show any cards on how this book wraps up other than saying what I’ve said for years: Stride Rocks!
Thank you to both Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The book opens with a spookily similar event to that detailed in another new book I recently read, Robert Dugoni’s One Split Second: in both books an American off duty cop shoots and kills a perpetrator in circumstances that leave them open to charges that might end up handing them a prison sentence. Here, in the latest instalment of this long running series, Maggie Bei, front man Jonathan Stride’s detective partner, picks up a call on her way back from a party and interrupts a burglary in process. The circumstances leading to the shooting are understandable from Maggie’s point of view, but under scrutiny there are also reasons for doubting her actions.
Stride and his girlfriend Serena (also a detective) are desperate to protect Maggie, but to do so they will need to investigate and understand a complex series of events, including some that may or may not be linked to the shooting. In the background there are spooky happening creating rumours of alien activity There is also an illegal high-stakes poker school in operation that Stride is keen to close down. Also, separate mysteries surrounding a missing boy and a missing girl (both now believed to be dead). It’s a dense and complex soup. Can Stride and Serena make sense of it all, sort the wheat from the chaff and help Maggie? It’s certainly going to be an uphill task.
There’s a good deal of back-story mixed in here from earlier novels I haven’t read. But this mainly relates to returning characters – spoilers are thankfully minimised. I quickly became hooked and also invested in the outcome for Maggie. It’s a well written and suspenseful tale. There’s no real downside here, other than perhaps a slight sense of the author stretching readers ability to swallow a complex series of semi-linked events.
My thanks to Blackstone Publishing for supplying an early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Stride and his girlfriend Serena (also a detective) are desperate to protect Maggie, but to do so they will need to investigate and understand a complex series of events, including some that may or may not be linked to the shooting. In the background there are spooky happening creating rumours of alien activity There is also an illegal high-stakes poker school in operation that Stride is keen to close down. Also, separate mysteries surrounding a missing boy and a missing girl (both now believed to be dead). It’s a dense and complex soup. Can Stride and Serena make sense of it all, sort the wheat from the chaff and help Maggie? It’s certainly going to be an uphill task.
There’s a good deal of back-story mixed in here from earlier novels I haven’t read. But this mainly relates to returning characters – spoilers are thankfully minimised. I quickly became hooked and also invested in the outcome for Maggie. It’s a well written and suspenseful tale. There’s no real downside here, other than perhaps a slight sense of the author stretching readers ability to swallow a complex series of semi-linked events.
My thanks to Blackstone Publishing for supplying an early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
September 22, 2026
I have loved the Jonathan Stride novels since I read Immoral 20 years ago. This one definitely didn’t disappoint. I admit I was upset about what happened at the beginning and didn’t see how it couldn’t end very badly. But the seemingly unrelated threads eventually came together, and the ending left a lot of room for Brian Freeman to go in several different directions. Perhaps a new series is in the making.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
BLUEB:
Jonathan Stride investigates the murders of a judge & his wife, while detective Maggie Bei faces the fallout of shooting an intruder. As they dig deeper, a web of secrets & missing person cold cases unravels.
REVIEW:
This is my second read from Brian Freeman after loving PHOTOGRAPH last year, so I was excited to pick this up, especially with January LaVoy narrating again. This is the 12th book in the Jonathan Stride series, but it can be read as a standalone. I was immersed and invested in the characters almost immediately. There’s a lot of backstory between Jonathan and other characters, and I definitely want to go back and read the earlier books.
This is a multi-POV story with a LOT of moving parts, told mostly via Lieutenant Jonathan Stride, his partner Serena, Detective Maggie Bei, and Katt, a runaway Jonathan and Serena took in who’s become a successful young adult. The story opens with a gripping prologue set six years earlier, when 14-year-old Emma Strong notices a car watching her outside her window & tells her mother and brother after it drives away. Then her father returns home from a trip to discover his wife and son murdered and Emma gone. From there, we jump forward to Halloween night, when Maggie gets a call about shots fired at a home. She arrives and finds Judge Gordon Hartwick and his wife, Tracy, murdered & chases an intruder and shoots him, believing he has a gun. From there, the story goes in many different directions. There are suspicious characters, hidden motives, and seemingly unrelated threads that come together later on in clever, unexpected ways. And some very interesting side threads—a man in town who believes he’s being stalked by aliens, secret gambling parties, a series of burglaries, and the cold case disappearance of Emma Strong.
The FMCs—Maggie, Serena, and Katt—are all very different, but they’re all intelligent and determined and follow a different thread of the larger mystery. Katt’s storyline was my favorite, particularly her premonition dreams and her connection with Loring, the autistic boy who speaks to an imaginary friend. There’s a subtle supernatural/psychic element, similar to Freeman’s last book, PHOTOGRAPH, and I wonder if he incorporates these kinds of elements into all of his books. Very effective!
The chapters are short to medium length, and the pacing is propulsive throughout. What impressed me most was how cleverly the story was structured. There are so many storylines and moving pieces here, and Freeman feeds you small details and clues in almost every single chapter that become important later. I recommend listening at a slower speed in audio to not miss any key details.
Just when I thought the main mystery was over, I saw there were almost TWO HOURS left on audio and wondered what else was coming…turns out a lot! The final act is a race against time as the different threads crash together, and I couldn’t put the book down. And when the dust settles and the story becomes reflective, the rug is pulled out from underneath you in a dramatic cliffhanger that made me want the next book immediately!! Even though I didn’t read the previous books, I understand why this book is described as a turning point for the series. I hope we don’t have to wait too long for the next one!
And if you’re an audiobook listener, you need to listen to this one! January LaVoy handles the huge cast of characters with distinct voices, excellent pacing, and so much intensity and deserves all the stars. If you love unpredictable, intricate mysteries, complex characters, police procedurals, and a dash of the supernatural, don’t hesitate on this one! I reserve my 5 stars for books like these, where the story is unpredictable, layered, and brilliantly crafted and where I’m completely invested in the characters! I hope this book gets the attention it deserves!
Jonathan Stride investigates the murders of a judge & his wife, while detective Maggie Bei faces the fallout of shooting an intruder. As they dig deeper, a web of secrets & missing person cold cases unravels.
REVIEW:
This is my second read from Brian Freeman after loving PHOTOGRAPH last year, so I was excited to pick this up, especially with January LaVoy narrating again. This is the 12th book in the Jonathan Stride series, but it can be read as a standalone. I was immersed and invested in the characters almost immediately. There’s a lot of backstory between Jonathan and other characters, and I definitely want to go back and read the earlier books.
This is a multi-POV story with a LOT of moving parts, told mostly via Lieutenant Jonathan Stride, his partner Serena, Detective Maggie Bei, and Katt, a runaway Jonathan and Serena took in who’s become a successful young adult. The story opens with a gripping prologue set six years earlier, when 14-year-old Emma Strong notices a car watching her outside her window & tells her mother and brother after it drives away. Then her father returns home from a trip to discover his wife and son murdered and Emma gone. From there, we jump forward to Halloween night, when Maggie gets a call about shots fired at a home. She arrives and finds Judge Gordon Hartwick and his wife, Tracy, murdered & chases an intruder and shoots him, believing he has a gun. From there, the story goes in many different directions. There are suspicious characters, hidden motives, and seemingly unrelated threads that come together later on in clever, unexpected ways. And some very interesting side threads—a man in town who believes he’s being stalked by aliens, secret gambling parties, a series of burglaries, and the cold case disappearance of Emma Strong.
The FMCs—Maggie, Serena, and Katt—are all very different, but they’re all intelligent and determined and follow a different thread of the larger mystery. Katt’s storyline was my favorite, particularly her premonition dreams and her connection with Loring, the autistic boy who speaks to an imaginary friend. There’s a subtle supernatural/psychic element, similar to Freeman’s last book, PHOTOGRAPH, and I wonder if he incorporates these kinds of elements into all of his books. Very effective!
The chapters are short to medium length, and the pacing is propulsive throughout. What impressed me most was how cleverly the story was structured. There are so many storylines and moving pieces here, and Freeman feeds you small details and clues in almost every single chapter that become important later. I recommend listening at a slower speed in audio to not miss any key details.
Just when I thought the main mystery was over, I saw there were almost TWO HOURS left on audio and wondered what else was coming…turns out a lot! The final act is a race against time as the different threads crash together, and I couldn’t put the book down. And when the dust settles and the story becomes reflective, the rug is pulled out from underneath you in a dramatic cliffhanger that made me want the next book immediately!! Even though I didn’t read the previous books, I understand why this book is described as a turning point for the series. I hope we don’t have to wait too long for the next one!
And if you’re an audiobook listener, you need to listen to this one! January LaVoy handles the huge cast of characters with distinct voices, excellent pacing, and so much intensity and deserves all the stars. If you love unpredictable, intricate mysteries, complex characters, police procedurals, and a dash of the supernatural, don’t hesitate on this one! I reserve my 5 stars for books like these, where the story is unpredictable, layered, and brilliantly crafted and where I’m completely invested in the characters! I hope this book gets the attention it deserves!
October 10, 2026
This was an intriguing mystery filled with murder, secrets, and unexpected consequences. When Maggie Bei shoots an innocent man while responding to a double murder, Jonathan Stride must uncover the truth about what really happened and the secrets the victims were hiding.
I enjoyed the suspense and the investigation as Stride worked to piece together the clues. The story had plenty of twists and kept me curious about how everything would connect. I also liked the emotional stakes and how Maggie’s actions affected everyone involved.
Overall, this was an engaging crime thriller with an interesting mystery and plenty to uncover. While it wasn’t a complete standout for me, it was an enjoyable read. I did like the characters and you can relate to Maggie!
I enjoyed the suspense and the investigation as Stride worked to piece together the clues. The story had plenty of twists and kept me curious about how everything would connect. I also liked the emotional stakes and how Maggie’s actions affected everyone involved.
Overall, this was an engaging crime thriller with an interesting mystery and plenty to uncover. While it wasn’t a complete standout for me, it was an enjoyable read. I did like the characters and you can relate to Maggie!
October 6, 2026
Intro
Brian Freeman returns with a gripping new installment in his acclaimed Jonathan Stride series, Where the Road Ends (2026) with #12. While longtime fans expect a grounded police procedural, Freeman takes a daring, surreal turn into a mind-bending territory that challenges everything Stride knows about justice, timing, and human depravity.
The Hook
A dual tragedy separated by six years collides in the dark woods of Duluth when a routine response to a judge’s murder accidentally silences the only man who may know about a kidnapping from a past mystery. .
Elevator Pitch
When Duluth Judge Gordon Hartwick and his wife are executed in their bed, Detective Maggie Bei responds to the scene. and shoots an intruder dead. The twist? The intruder was unarmed, and he didn’t kill the judge. Instead, he may be a serial predator. How does the present connect with the past with a murdered a doctor’s family six years ago and the kidnapping of his daughter, Emma. The clock is ticking. Where is Emma? Could she still be alive? Jonathan Stride must untangle the dead judge's secrets to find Emma and put the pieces of the puzzle together.
Setting
The stark, chilly, and unforgiving landscape of Duluth, Minnesota. The dense woods, isolated cabins, and freezing ambient environment act as a physical cage keeping the past buried.
Vibe
Gothic noir meets high-stakes race against time. It blends a gritty, snow-crusted crime drama with a deeply unsettling, psychological edge.
Genre
Psychological Thriller / Police Procedural / Crime Fiction
Themes
~The Consequences of Split-Second Decisions:
~Survival against Indomitable Odds
~Grief and Long-Term Obsession
~The Duality of Monsters: Real-world evil hidden behind delusional manifestos.
Standout Characters
~Jonathan Stride: A deeply principled investigator who remains grounded and humanly flawed while fighting an uphill battle for the truth.
~Maggie Bei: A sharp, dedicated detective grappling with the sheer trauma and public backlash of an irreversible tactical mistake.
~Loring: The isolated young boy whose connection to an "invisible friend" serves as the brilliant bridge between past and present.
Author Writing Standout
Brian Freeman deliberately steps outside his usual comfort zone here. Known for strictly grounded realism, he introduces a villain driven by unstable, bizarre delusions about "aliens" and cosmic conspiracies. It throws the reader off-balance in the best way possible, introducing a vivid, Stephen King-esque psychological terror to a classic detective procedural.
Takeaway
A split second can destroy a career, but a decades-long secret can destroy an entire family. Justice is rarely a straight line; sometimes it requires digging through the wildest delusions to find the hardest truths.
Title Significance
Where the Road Ends refers to the literal geographic isolation of the northern wilderness where secrets are hidden, but it also symbolizes the psychological breaking point for the characters—where conventional law enforcement ends and desperate survival begins.
Metaphor
The investigation is a fading echo. The initial gunshot happened six years prior, but its sound is still rippling through the lives of the survivors, bouncing off a dead judge, and fracturing the present day.
Why You Should Read
Read this if you want a classic detective series that isn't afraid to take massive, creative risks. It combines the procedural satisfaction of Bosch with the eerie, tense countdown elements of Room.
My Thoughts
An absolute powerhouse of a thriller. The setup is incredibly brave, immediately placing a beloved series regular in a seemingly indefensible position. Freeman handles the ensuing fallout with stunning nuance and continuous, heart-pounding escalation. The mystery surrounding the judge is brilliantly plotted, building to a stunning, emotional finale that reshapes Stride’s world.
A huge Brian Freeman fan; however. the introduction of the "wacky psycho" alien letters initially threw me completely for a loop! Freeman doesn’t usually write villains this eccentric, and listening to it on audio made the time jumps a bit disorienting at first. However, once I realized how masterfully Freeman grounds these sci-fi delusions back into a devastatingly real, heartbreaking human mystery, I was hooked. The pacing in the second half is phenomenal. The fun literary layers turn what could have been a standard "ticking-clock" thriller into something much more haunting and memorable.
Verdict 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 5 / 5 Stars
"An absolute masterclass in police procedural and psychological suspense, combined with a compelling fun literary mystery puzzle. A brilliant, unputdownable masterpiece! A gripping, risky, and intensely rewarding thriller that proves a veteran series can still completely surprise you."
Recs or Read-Alikes
~Thief River Falls by Brian Freeman
~The Deep, Deep Snow by Brian Freeman
~The Cold Dish by Craig Johnson
~Desert Star by Michael Connelly
~No Second Chance by Harlan Coben.
~The Woods by Harlan Coben .
Audio Standout
January LaVoy is an absolute masterclass narrator. While the lack of physical page markers makes tracking the 2020 vs. 2026 timelines tricky through audio alone, LaVoy’s distinct vocal characterizations are what save it. She injects so much raw, visceral emotion into Emma's plight and Stride’s urgency that you can't help but keep listening. "January LaVoy’s Golden Voice performance turns this thriller into an immersive, deeply cinematic experience.“
She delivers an elite performance that perfectly captures the complex emotional landscape of the novel. Her rich cadence lends an air of gravity to Stride’s internal struggles, while her superb vocal shifts maximize the sheer, claustrophobic panic of the book's intense interrogation and action sequences.
Special thanks to Blackstone Publishing for sharing an advanced reading and listening copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.
Blog review posted @
JudithDCollins.com
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
Pub Date: Oct 6, 2026
My Rating: 5 Stars
Oct 2026 Must-Read Books
Oct Newsletter
Brian Freeman returns with a gripping new installment in his acclaimed Jonathan Stride series, Where the Road Ends (2026) with #12. While longtime fans expect a grounded police procedural, Freeman takes a daring, surreal turn into a mind-bending territory that challenges everything Stride knows about justice, timing, and human depravity.
The Hook
A dual tragedy separated by six years collides in the dark woods of Duluth when a routine response to a judge’s murder accidentally silences the only man who may know about a kidnapping from a past mystery. .
Elevator Pitch
When Duluth Judge Gordon Hartwick and his wife are executed in their bed, Detective Maggie Bei responds to the scene. and shoots an intruder dead. The twist? The intruder was unarmed, and he didn’t kill the judge. Instead, he may be a serial predator. How does the present connect with the past with a murdered a doctor’s family six years ago and the kidnapping of his daughter, Emma. The clock is ticking. Where is Emma? Could she still be alive? Jonathan Stride must untangle the dead judge's secrets to find Emma and put the pieces of the puzzle together.
Setting
The stark, chilly, and unforgiving landscape of Duluth, Minnesota. The dense woods, isolated cabins, and freezing ambient environment act as a physical cage keeping the past buried.
Vibe
Gothic noir meets high-stakes race against time. It blends a gritty, snow-crusted crime drama with a deeply unsettling, psychological edge.
Genre
Psychological Thriller / Police Procedural / Crime Fiction
Themes
~The Consequences of Split-Second Decisions:
~Survival against Indomitable Odds
~Grief and Long-Term Obsession
~The Duality of Monsters: Real-world evil hidden behind delusional manifestos.
Standout Characters
~Jonathan Stride: A deeply principled investigator who remains grounded and humanly flawed while fighting an uphill battle for the truth.
~Maggie Bei: A sharp, dedicated detective grappling with the sheer trauma and public backlash of an irreversible tactical mistake.
~Loring: The isolated young boy whose connection to an "invisible friend" serves as the brilliant bridge between past and present.
Author Writing Standout
Brian Freeman deliberately steps outside his usual comfort zone here. Known for strictly grounded realism, he introduces a villain driven by unstable, bizarre delusions about "aliens" and cosmic conspiracies. It throws the reader off-balance in the best way possible, introducing a vivid, Stephen King-esque psychological terror to a classic detective procedural.
Takeaway
A split second can destroy a career, but a decades-long secret can destroy an entire family. Justice is rarely a straight line; sometimes it requires digging through the wildest delusions to find the hardest truths.
Title Significance
Where the Road Ends refers to the literal geographic isolation of the northern wilderness where secrets are hidden, but it also symbolizes the psychological breaking point for the characters—where conventional law enforcement ends and desperate survival begins.
Metaphor
The investigation is a fading echo. The initial gunshot happened six years prior, but its sound is still rippling through the lives of the survivors, bouncing off a dead judge, and fracturing the present day.
Why You Should Read
Read this if you want a classic detective series that isn't afraid to take massive, creative risks. It combines the procedural satisfaction of Bosch with the eerie, tense countdown elements of Room.
My Thoughts
An absolute powerhouse of a thriller. The setup is incredibly brave, immediately placing a beloved series regular in a seemingly indefensible position. Freeman handles the ensuing fallout with stunning nuance and continuous, heart-pounding escalation. The mystery surrounding the judge is brilliantly plotted, building to a stunning, emotional finale that reshapes Stride’s world.
A huge Brian Freeman fan; however. the introduction of the "wacky psycho" alien letters initially threw me completely for a loop! Freeman doesn’t usually write villains this eccentric, and listening to it on audio made the time jumps a bit disorienting at first. However, once I realized how masterfully Freeman grounds these sci-fi delusions back into a devastatingly real, heartbreaking human mystery, I was hooked. The pacing in the second half is phenomenal. The fun literary layers turn what could have been a standard "ticking-clock" thriller into something much more haunting and memorable.
Verdict 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 5 / 5 Stars
"An absolute masterclass in police procedural and psychological suspense, combined with a compelling fun literary mystery puzzle. A brilliant, unputdownable masterpiece! A gripping, risky, and intensely rewarding thriller that proves a veteran series can still completely surprise you."
Recs or Read-Alikes
~Thief River Falls by Brian Freeman
~The Deep, Deep Snow by Brian Freeman
~The Cold Dish by Craig Johnson
~Desert Star by Michael Connelly
~No Second Chance by Harlan Coben.
~The Woods by Harlan Coben .
Audio Standout
January LaVoy is an absolute masterclass narrator. While the lack of physical page markers makes tracking the 2020 vs. 2026 timelines tricky through audio alone, LaVoy’s distinct vocal characterizations are what save it. She injects so much raw, visceral emotion into Emma's plight and Stride’s urgency that you can't help but keep listening. "January LaVoy’s Golden Voice performance turns this thriller into an immersive, deeply cinematic experience.“
She delivers an elite performance that perfectly captures the complex emotional landscape of the novel. Her rich cadence lends an air of gravity to Stride’s internal struggles, while her superb vocal shifts maximize the sheer, claustrophobic panic of the book's intense interrogation and action sequences.
Special thanks to Blackstone Publishing for sharing an advanced reading and listening copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.
Blog review posted @
JudithDCollins.com
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
Pub Date: Oct 6, 2026
My Rating: 5 Stars
Oct 2026 Must-Read Books
Oct Newsletter
October 11, 2026
Authentic and suspenseful crime thriller with psychological depth.
In this police procedural, part of the Jonathan Stride series, he and wife Serena deal with the fallout from a devastating double homicide of a judge and his wife. The two detectives find that the crisis escalates quickly when Stride’s partner, Maggie Bei, shoots an unarmed intruder fleeing from the murder scene. Maggie is put on probation and faces a media storm and internal investigation. Meanwhile, Stride and Serena try to figure out what happened in the home of Judge Gordon Hartwick and his wife, Tracy. As the investigation widens, a strange connection to a cold case develops, centered on a teenage girl named Emma Strong who was kidnapped six years prior.
Fast paced and full of interesting, complex characters, this provided twists and a multilayered plot. An ideal pick for me as I really enjoy realistic crime thrillers with some emotional weight. The setting of Duluth, Minnesota, with the cold and snow, adds to the tone of the story matching the moral gray areas and angst of a tragic mistake. I’ve read a couple of others in this series but now want to go back and get the ones I missed. Like the writing style and these characters.
I was able to listen to the audio book while also following along in the e-book ARC, both provided by the publishers. The narrator was the incomparable January LaVoy. I love her voice and the way she inhabits the characters and makes them all sound unique. Listening to her dramatic flair and expression totally immersed me in the story and enhanced my enjoyment of the book. She’s one of my favorite audio book narrators and I highly recommend the listen.
In this police procedural, part of the Jonathan Stride series, he and wife Serena deal with the fallout from a devastating double homicide of a judge and his wife. The two detectives find that the crisis escalates quickly when Stride’s partner, Maggie Bei, shoots an unarmed intruder fleeing from the murder scene. Maggie is put on probation and faces a media storm and internal investigation. Meanwhile, Stride and Serena try to figure out what happened in the home of Judge Gordon Hartwick and his wife, Tracy. As the investigation widens, a strange connection to a cold case develops, centered on a teenage girl named Emma Strong who was kidnapped six years prior.
Fast paced and full of interesting, complex characters, this provided twists and a multilayered plot. An ideal pick for me as I really enjoy realistic crime thrillers with some emotional weight. The setting of Duluth, Minnesota, with the cold and snow, adds to the tone of the story matching the moral gray areas and angst of a tragic mistake. I’ve read a couple of others in this series but now want to go back and get the ones I missed. Like the writing style and these characters.
I was able to listen to the audio book while also following along in the e-book ARC, both provided by the publishers. The narrator was the incomparable January LaVoy. I love her voice and the way she inhabits the characters and makes them all sound unique. Listening to her dramatic flair and expression totally immersed me in the story and enhanced my enjoyment of the book. She’s one of my favorite audio book narrators and I highly recommend the listen.
August 6, 2026
I am forever a fan of the Johnathan Stride series. I’m from the Duluth area and love how I can envision all the locations and seasons vividly. The characters I’ve always loved and their entwined relationships and history are all represented well in this installment. Yet there are new characters and intriguing ways to solve the mysteries in this one too. I loved it all and everyone is set up for a future of different paths at the explosive ending.
A note of gratitude to NetGalley, Blackstone Publishing, and Brian Freeman for an ARC of Where the Road Ends.
A note of gratitude to NetGalley, Blackstone Publishing, and Brian Freeman for an ARC of Where the Road Ends.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to NetGalley and the Blackstone Publishing - Audiobooks for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
It didn't take me long to realize that Where the Road Ends was part of an existing series, but instead of frustrating me, it made me want to keep reading. It reminded me of when I first picked up Criminal by Karin Slaughter and later discovered it was the sixth book in a series. Even though I knew more than I probably should have, I was so invested that I immediately went back to start at the beginning. In the end, it gave me an even greater appreciation for the characters and their history.
That's exactly how I felt with this book. I was completely intrigued by the story and the characters, especially Loring. I loved how the author created the possibility that something supernatural might be happening while also showcasing Loring's sharp intellect and determination to find logical answers. The mystery kept me engaged, and I enjoyed watching the investigation unfold.
Now I find myself wanting to go back and read the earlier books in the series. I only hope I haven't spoiled too much for myself because I'm excited to learn more about the characters and everything that led to this point.
Overall, this book left me wanting more, which is probably the best compliment I can give. I'm already planning to go back and start at the beginning of the series. Highly recommended! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
It didn't take me long to realize that Where the Road Ends was part of an existing series, but instead of frustrating me, it made me want to keep reading. It reminded me of when I first picked up Criminal by Karin Slaughter and later discovered it was the sixth book in a series. Even though I knew more than I probably should have, I was so invested that I immediately went back to start at the beginning. In the end, it gave me an even greater appreciation for the characters and their history.
That's exactly how I felt with this book. I was completely intrigued by the story and the characters, especially Loring. I loved how the author created the possibility that something supernatural might be happening while also showcasing Loring's sharp intellect and determination to find logical answers. The mystery kept me engaged, and I enjoyed watching the investigation unfold.
Now I find myself wanting to go back and read the earlier books in the series. I only hope I haven't spoiled too much for myself because I'm excited to learn more about the characters and everything that led to this point.
Overall, this book left me wanting more, which is probably the best compliment I can give. I'm already planning to go back and start at the beginning of the series. Highly recommended! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
October 2, 2026
Wow! This was my first book by this author and I’m hooked!! I will absolutely be going back and reading more books in this series.
I loved how this one has it all! It’s a crime thriller with lots of mystery & suspense, with a touch of paranormal/supernatural vibes.
The character development is spectacular! I was able to read this as a standalone never having read any previous books in the series.
I listened to the audio and the narration!! Absolutely beautiful. I listened to the entire book in less than 24 hours!! Yep, this one stole my sleep 🤣
Thank you so much NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing for this advanced reader copy! I’ve now found a new-to-me author to love and a ton of books to add to my never ending tbr!!
I loved how this one has it all! It’s a crime thriller with lots of mystery & suspense, with a touch of paranormal/supernatural vibes.
The character development is spectacular! I was able to read this as a standalone never having read any previous books in the series.
I listened to the audio and the narration!! Absolutely beautiful. I listened to the entire book in less than 24 hours!! Yep, this one stole my sleep 🤣
Thank you so much NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing for this advanced reader copy! I’ve now found a new-to-me author to love and a ton of books to add to my never ending tbr!!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This is the first novel of Brian Freeman for me. I am very pleased and plan to look at more books by him. I didnt know there were more books tied to this until the book was over. This says a lit to me about the author! I loved that I could enjoy this as a stand alone but now im excited I can get to know the characters even better. I can't recommend this book enough.
For my group of friends I know will see this.. it does have a lot of the F word! Wish it was less but it's worth overlooking for this one!
For my group of friends I know will see this.. it does have a lot of the F word! Wish it was less but it's worth overlooking for this one!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I have always been a fan of the Jonathan Stride series and was excited to read this next installment. This one had all the things I loved from previous books. The cast of characters is perfect, their flaws and all. I like the setting as well. The mystery wasn't as strong to me as previous books, but I still was invested. I thought it was pretty off putting how the character of Guppo was described and portrayed in every scene he was in. It didn't feel necessary.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Title: Where the Road End
Series: Jonathan Stride #12
Author: Brian Freeman
Format: 🎧
Narrator: January LaVoy
Publisher: Blackstone Publishing Audiobook
Genre: Mystery
Audiobook Release Date: December 8, 2026
My Rating: 4.6 Stars
Pages 352
Prologue goes back six years when a mother and son were murdered, and the fourteen-year-old daughter Emma went missing.
Story starts when Detective Jonathan Stride and his partner, Maggie Bei, were both attending a Halloween party and left after midnight. A call comes in: Shots fired at the home of a Duluth judge. Maggie immediately responds.
Moments later, she finds Gordon and Tracy Hartwick murdered in their bed. As Maggie is investigating, she realizes she didn’t check the walk-in closet when she went into the bedroom and sure enough, she is jumped. She has to make a split-second decision when she sees he has a gun- she responds which leaves the intruder dead.
She is put on leave while they investigate, Stride has to give her the initial news. The intruder had no gun. He wasn’t the killer. She shot an innocent man.
With Maggie facing a firestorm over her actions, Stride must discover who really killed Gordon and Tracy Hartwick—and there is talk of the judge getting messages from aliens. In fact, there is a best-selling book about “Aliens and UFOs in Duluth.
what secrets they were hiding that put them in the gunsights of a murderer.
The shattering finale will change Stride’s world in ways he can’t imagine and leave everyone he loves asking the same question: When you reach the end of the road, where do you go from there?
This is Book #12 and my first! I don’t know how I missed this series.
Love both Stride and Serina; plus, fun that their adopted daughter Cat (Catalina) played a big role, enjoyed her friendship with Loren the student who has an imaginary friend named Emma. They connected via authors I follow and love.
Then there is Maggie! I wanted to like her but her profanity was over the top for me. But the story had me glued.
I was drawn to the story as I am a Big Fan of audiobook narrator January LaVoy. Her performance is always fabulous. She can make the characters real. I knew she would make the story enjoyable ~ Which she did!!
Also love the Author’s Note – Yes! The title made us readers fear perhaps this story might be where the series ends. However, the end looks promising - we are also given the impression a new series might be in the works.
I am looking forward to #13 – the cliffhanger has me ready!
Hoping we hear more from Cat perhaps even her own series.
As for a ‘Bei and Bolton’ series- I doubt it is possible for Maggie to clean up her language enough for me to be anxious for that series!!!!
I want to thank NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing for this audiobook.
Audiobook Publishing Release Date scheduled for December 8, 2026.
Series: Jonathan Stride #12
Author: Brian Freeman
Format: 🎧
Narrator: January LaVoy
Publisher: Blackstone Publishing Audiobook
Genre: Mystery
Audiobook Release Date: December 8, 2026
My Rating: 4.6 Stars
Pages 352
Prologue goes back six years when a mother and son were murdered, and the fourteen-year-old daughter Emma went missing.
Story starts when Detective Jonathan Stride and his partner, Maggie Bei, were both attending a Halloween party and left after midnight. A call comes in: Shots fired at the home of a Duluth judge. Maggie immediately responds.
Moments later, she finds Gordon and Tracy Hartwick murdered in their bed. As Maggie is investigating, she realizes she didn’t check the walk-in closet when she went into the bedroom and sure enough, she is jumped. She has to make a split-second decision when she sees he has a gun- she responds which leaves the intruder dead.
She is put on leave while they investigate, Stride has to give her the initial news. The intruder had no gun. He wasn’t the killer. She shot an innocent man.
With Maggie facing a firestorm over her actions, Stride must discover who really killed Gordon and Tracy Hartwick—and there is talk of the judge getting messages from aliens. In fact, there is a best-selling book about “Aliens and UFOs in Duluth.
what secrets they were hiding that put them in the gunsights of a murderer.
The shattering finale will change Stride’s world in ways he can’t imagine and leave everyone he loves asking the same question: When you reach the end of the road, where do you go from there?
This is Book #12 and my first! I don’t know how I missed this series.
Love both Stride and Serina; plus, fun that their adopted daughter Cat (Catalina) played a big role, enjoyed her friendship with Loren the student who has an imaginary friend named Emma. They connected via authors I follow and love.
Then there is Maggie! I wanted to like her but her profanity was over the top for me. But the story had me glued.
I was drawn to the story as I am a Big Fan of audiobook narrator January LaVoy. Her performance is always fabulous. She can make the characters real. I knew she would make the story enjoyable ~ Which she did!!
Also love the Author’s Note – Yes! The title made us readers fear perhaps this story might be where the series ends. However, the end looks promising - we are also given the impression a new series might be in the works.
I am looking forward to #13 – the cliffhanger has me ready!
Hoping we hear more from Cat perhaps even her own series.
As for a ‘Bei and Bolton’ series- I doubt it is possible for Maggie to clean up her language enough for me to be anxious for that series!!!!
I want to thank NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing for this audiobook.
Audiobook Publishing Release Date scheduled for December 8, 2026.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I am definitely not okay after reading this latest and possibly greatest entry into Brian Freeman's EXCELLENT Jonathan Stride series. Oh my gosh, the emotions are high with this one! This is a long-running series featuring detective Jonathan Stride and his fellow detectives and family in Duluth, Minnesota. All the usual characters are here, as well as a few welcome surprises for long-time fans. A huge thank you to the author for that! I love Stride and Serena's evolving relationship with Cat and also learning what happened to Elton from the previous book. Loring was a fantastic character. I loved him and his thought process! The story opens with detective Maggie Bei driving home from a party. A call goes out for a murdered judge and his wife. Maggie is close by, so she heads over to investigate. She ends up shooting and killing a possible unarmed man. The fallout from that is one plot point. We also have a missing girl, a dead high-school student, an illegal gambling operation and a truly evil and highly entertaining bad guy, just to name a few other points. Stride and friends are on the case, or cases. Make no mistake, this is a gritty and dark series that touches on some heavy topics. I love the setting and atmosphere. It is COLD in Duluth, Minnesota and this Texas girl loves reading about it! As excited as I was to receive this ARC, I went into it nervously. The title suggests an end to the series, but I feel so many doors were opened with this book. At least I hope so. The last few chapters are just WOW!!! So many feels! These characters are old friends and when they are happy, I am happy. When they hurt, I hurt. I cried at the end. Happy tears and sad tears. Please, please bring Stride and company back quickly!! I would also love to see a continuation of the Cab Bolton series. Just throwing that out there!
For newbies to this series, yes, Where the Road Ends can definitely be read as a standalone but take my advice and immediately go back and catch up with Book 1, Immoral and go from there. You can thank me later. I also feel this series is perfect for Karin Slaughter/Will Trent fans looking for something comparable. And I don't say that lightly. This series is PHENOMENAL!
Thank you so much to #NetGalley, Brian Freeman and Blackstone Publishing for this much appreciated ARC. I was honored to be given the opportunity to read this early copy. All opinions are my own.
For newbies to this series, yes, Where the Road Ends can definitely be read as a standalone but take my advice and immediately go back and catch up with Book 1, Immoral and go from there. You can thank me later. I also feel this series is perfect for Karin Slaughter/Will Trent fans looking for something comparable. And I don't say that lightly. This series is PHENOMENAL!
Thank you so much to #NetGalley, Brian Freeman and Blackstone Publishing for this much appreciated ARC. I was honored to be given the opportunity to read this early copy. All opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨
Where the Road Ends by Brian Freeman turned out to be one of those mysteries that had me fooled in that I really thought I had at least some idea of where everything was headed… I absolutely did not. The twists and turns kept surprising me, and I never saw the ending coming!
One of the things I enjoyed most was the way Freeman builds a story around several different layers using seemingly unrelated mysteries. I thoroughly enjoyed listening as his separate storylines gradually intertwined to form one coherent and genuinely satisfying resolution. That was probably my favorite part of the book. By the end, things that initially seemed disconnected suddenly made perfect sense, and I really appreciated how carefully it had all been constructed. The twists didn’t feel like they were there simply for shock value either—the revelations ultimately served the larger story and made the final resolution that much more effective.
My only real complaint, and what kept this from being a full five stars for me, was the pacing. There were a few brief stretches where the story seemed to drag and I could feel my attention starting to wander. But each time that happened, the pace picked right back up and we were off again! Once the story really began pulling those different threads together, I had a hard time putting it down.
And then there’s January LaVoy. I love listening to her narrate a story! Once again she’s done an exceptional job with this one. She has such a wonderful ability to give characters their own distinct voices and personalities, and she handles both the quieter emotional moments and the suspense beautifully.
Overall, Where the Road Ends was a cleverly layered, twisty mystery that kept surprising me and blew my mind with a brilliant ending.
Many thanks to Blackstone Publishing - Audiobooks and NetGalley for the advanced listening copy. I thoroughly enjoyed the experience of this one in audio. As always, all opinions are entirely my own. 🎧❤️
Where the Road Ends by Brian Freeman turned out to be one of those mysteries that had me fooled in that I really thought I had at least some idea of where everything was headed… I absolutely did not. The twists and turns kept surprising me, and I never saw the ending coming!
One of the things I enjoyed most was the way Freeman builds a story around several different layers using seemingly unrelated mysteries. I thoroughly enjoyed listening as his separate storylines gradually intertwined to form one coherent and genuinely satisfying resolution. That was probably my favorite part of the book. By the end, things that initially seemed disconnected suddenly made perfect sense, and I really appreciated how carefully it had all been constructed. The twists didn’t feel like they were there simply for shock value either—the revelations ultimately served the larger story and made the final resolution that much more effective.
My only real complaint, and what kept this from being a full five stars for me, was the pacing. There were a few brief stretches where the story seemed to drag and I could feel my attention starting to wander. But each time that happened, the pace picked right back up and we were off again! Once the story really began pulling those different threads together, I had a hard time putting it down.
And then there’s January LaVoy. I love listening to her narrate a story! Once again she’s done an exceptional job with this one. She has such a wonderful ability to give characters their own distinct voices and personalities, and she handles both the quieter emotional moments and the suspense beautifully.
Overall, Where the Road Ends was a cleverly layered, twisty mystery that kept surprising me and blew my mind with a brilliant ending.
Many thanks to Blackstone Publishing - Audiobooks and NetGalley for the advanced listening copy. I thoroughly enjoyed the experience of this one in audio. As always, all opinions are entirely my own. 🎧❤️
October 11, 2026
I never quite know what Brian Freeman is going to throw at me, and honestly, that’s half the fun. This book takes a wide, unapologetic left turn straight out of the gate, and I buckled in and let the ride happen. Murder? Sure. Aliens? Why not. Spectrum? Poker games? A missing girl only Loring can see? Freeman basically emptied the entire mystery‑thriller junk drawer and said, “Let’s see what sticks.”
And somehow… it works. Mostly.
While all this chaos is unfolding, Maggie is being investigated for a police shooting she swears was justified. Stride has his own path to navigate, including a tense meeting with Broadway, the man behind the invite‑only poker games. It’s a lot, and Freeman doesn’t slow down to let you catch your breath.
Loring, though, he’s the standout. Every time he popped up, I kept thinking of Theo Cray [Andrew Mayne] (minus the “I talk to invisible people” vibe) or even Morgan from the television show ‘High Potential’. He’s that kind of character: sharp, odd, compelling, and capable of anchoring a series all his own. Freeman may not have intended it, but he accidentally created someone readers will latch onto.
The middle of the book wobbles a bit. There are multiple storylines, and some are more interesting than others. You might find yourself mentally nudging the plot forward, waiting for the threads to braid together. But when they do? The ending becomes one of those hold‑your‑breath, flip‑the‑pages‑faster sequences that remind you exactly why you read Freeman in the first place.
And that title, paired with the final chapters, leaves you wondering what’s next for Stride, Serena, Maggie, and Cat. Freeman clearly has a plan simmering, and now we’re all just sitting here hoping he finds a way forward for this cast we’ve grown attached to over this series.
And somehow… it works. Mostly.
While all this chaos is unfolding, Maggie is being investigated for a police shooting she swears was justified. Stride has his own path to navigate, including a tense meeting with Broadway, the man behind the invite‑only poker games. It’s a lot, and Freeman doesn’t slow down to let you catch your breath.
Loring, though, he’s the standout. Every time he popped up, I kept thinking of Theo Cray [Andrew Mayne] (minus the “I talk to invisible people” vibe) or even Morgan from the television show ‘High Potential’. He’s that kind of character: sharp, odd, compelling, and capable of anchoring a series all his own. Freeman may not have intended it, but he accidentally created someone readers will latch onto.
The middle of the book wobbles a bit. There are multiple storylines, and some are more interesting than others. You might find yourself mentally nudging the plot forward, waiting for the threads to braid together. But when they do? The ending becomes one of those hold‑your‑breath, flip‑the‑pages‑faster sequences that remind you exactly why you read Freeman in the first place.
And that title, paired with the final chapters, leaves you wondering what’s next for Stride, Serena, Maggie, and Cat. Freeman clearly has a plan simmering, and now we’re all just sitting here hoping he finds a way forward for this cast we’ve grown attached to over this series.
September 22, 2026
I’m ashamed to admit I was not familiar with this series going in, and in the very beginning I was questioning what I was getting myself into.
We start off with some very immature teenage siblings. “Mommmm, he ate all the chippers!” Whines the sister, as her older brother gobbles up the last three cookies at once. Are kids these days calling chocolate chip cookies “chippers”? Because that’s almost as repulsive as this kid shoveling multiple cookies into his mouth.
There was also a reference to a Hallmark Christmas movie in March, so I was like, is this the tone for this book? But January LaVoy was narrating, so I figured it was worth sticking it out, and sure enough, it’s not long before the tone changes completely.
At this point, we move on to our second introduction, when Maggie, who I now realize is a character I should already be familiar with, makes a mistake that sets everything in motion. The book then continues with several different mysteries throughout. We can assume they’re probably somehow connected, but the question is how?
Even though it was obvious this was part of a series, I never felt confused about anything, so I would say reading this as a standalone is fine. As with most series, the author weaves in each character’s backstory as it pertains to the story, and that felt like enough for me throughout.
The book does end on what I would consider a bit of a cliffhanger, which I found frustrating because now I’m itching to listen to the next book in the story, all while telling myself I should probably go back and start with the first one.
I went in with no expectations and found it an enjoyable listen that kept me guessing throughout.
Thanks to NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing for the advanced listening copy.
We start off with some very immature teenage siblings. “Mommmm, he ate all the chippers!” Whines the sister, as her older brother gobbles up the last three cookies at once. Are kids these days calling chocolate chip cookies “chippers”? Because that’s almost as repulsive as this kid shoveling multiple cookies into his mouth.
There was also a reference to a Hallmark Christmas movie in March, so I was like, is this the tone for this book? But January LaVoy was narrating, so I figured it was worth sticking it out, and sure enough, it’s not long before the tone changes completely.
At this point, we move on to our second introduction, when Maggie, who I now realize is a character I should already be familiar with, makes a mistake that sets everything in motion. The book then continues with several different mysteries throughout. We can assume they’re probably somehow connected, but the question is how?
Even though it was obvious this was part of a series, I never felt confused about anything, so I would say reading this as a standalone is fine. As with most series, the author weaves in each character’s backstory as it pertains to the story, and that felt like enough for me throughout.
The book does end on what I would consider a bit of a cliffhanger, which I found frustrating because now I’m itching to listen to the next book in the story, all while telling myself I should probably go back and start with the first one.
I went in with no expectations and found it an enjoyable listen that kept me guessing throughout.
Thanks to NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing for the advanced listening copy.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I don’t usually jump into a series this far down the road, but I had recently read my first Brian Freeman book, The Deep, Deep Snow, and enjoyed it so much I wanted to sample another. When I first started this one, I thought I’d really made a mistake in bypassing the previous Jonathan Stride books. I knew I was missing the depth of understanding one gets from getting to know characters over several years. It didn’t take long, though, to forget all about that.
The main story lines were engaging from the start—the murder of a judge and his wife, the disappearance of a young girl six years ago, and the apparent suicide of a high school boy. Though this is the latest installment in the Stride series, Stride wasn’t the focus of the story. The stars were Maggie, a police colleague; Serena, his wife; and Cat, his adopted daughter. They shone brightly by unraveling tangled webs of obsession, revenge, and family ties to solve the cases and save themselves with only a few assists from Stride.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book, even with a couple of plot points that strained credulity. Who cares when it’s this entertaining. But I haven’t decided whether I’m going back to the beginning of the Stride saga, or just take it from here since I’m confident Stride has more cases to solve, and Maggie, Serena, and Cat each have new horizons to explore. No matter what I decide, I will definitely keep reading Freeman’s work.
Thanks to NetGalley, Blackstone Publishing, and Brian Freeman for providing a copy of this book for review. Where the Road Ends is scheduled for release October 6, 2026.
The main story lines were engaging from the start—the murder of a judge and his wife, the disappearance of a young girl six years ago, and the apparent suicide of a high school boy. Though this is the latest installment in the Stride series, Stride wasn’t the focus of the story. The stars were Maggie, a police colleague; Serena, his wife; and Cat, his adopted daughter. They shone brightly by unraveling tangled webs of obsession, revenge, and family ties to solve the cases and save themselves with only a few assists from Stride.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book, even with a couple of plot points that strained credulity. Who cares when it’s this entertaining. But I haven’t decided whether I’m going back to the beginning of the Stride saga, or just take it from here since I’m confident Stride has more cases to solve, and Maggie, Serena, and Cat each have new horizons to explore. No matter what I decide, I will definitely keep reading Freeman’s work.
Thanks to NetGalley, Blackstone Publishing, and Brian Freeman for providing a copy of this book for review. Where the Road Ends is scheduled for release October 6, 2026.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
My timing is impeccable. What a time to join in on Brian Freeman’s Jonathan Stride series. Better late than never. You see, I have always depended on my brother-in-law to give me a heads-up about a mystery/thriller series to check out. Let’s just say that he failed me in never mentioning this series and he may be getting lumps of coal this year for Christmas.
This book is heavy. There is some tough issues that Brian Freeman addresses in this novel and we get to join in with Stride and his team as they have to wrestle with them. Any time you involve kids, your heart is going to race as you just beg the deity of your choice they make it. What makes it worse is that you don’t need an imagination. You know some of these horrors are real. Now, to Freeman’s credit, he doesn’t get so dark that the book should come with a trigger warning. But understand the heaviness weighs on the good guys and you feel it take its toll.
The process of getting to the end of this novel is so well written and is a great read. So, once again, I find myself thinking that I need to go back and read all the previous 11 entries in this series. My summer reading list just got full.
There are a lot of relational dynamics played out that I know I missed some of the emotions long time readers must have felt. However, you are able to read this as a newcomer to the series.
I received this ARC from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an unbiased review.
This book is heavy. There is some tough issues that Brian Freeman addresses in this novel and we get to join in with Stride and his team as they have to wrestle with them. Any time you involve kids, your heart is going to race as you just beg the deity of your choice they make it. What makes it worse is that you don’t need an imagination. You know some of these horrors are real. Now, to Freeman’s credit, he doesn’t get so dark that the book should come with a trigger warning. But understand the heaviness weighs on the good guys and you feel it take its toll.
The process of getting to the end of this novel is so well written and is a great read. So, once again, I find myself thinking that I need to go back and read all the previous 11 entries in this series. My summer reading list just got full.
There are a lot of relational dynamics played out that I know I missed some of the emotions long time readers must have felt. However, you are able to read this as a newcomer to the series.
I received this ARC from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an unbiased review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
3.75 ⭐️
Dark, twisty, and definitely entertaining!
I was really entertained by Brian Freeman’s storytelling. Little did I know, this is part of the Jonathan Stride series, but I read it as a standalone and had no trouble following along. His writing reminded me of a mix of Lisa Gardner and Michael Robotham with a little Harlan Coben thrown in. Multiple storylines, secrets, questionable motives, psychological elements, and those late reveals are all my favorite story elements. But there was also a real crime and mystery backbone holding everything together and I actually liked that aspect of it too. Even more, I liked the strong focus on the characters. There was a lot happening, but I still felt tied to them and their individual storylines. The dark, wintry atmosphere added to the overall feel of the story, and that ending!! Freeman definitely saved some surprises for the very end.
My one complaint was some of the dialogue. At times, it felt a little elementary and didn’t sound as natural as I would have liked. It stood out to me because the rest of the story felt much stronger. However, the narration made up for it. January LaVoy, one of my favorite narrators nailed it. So enjoyable, as always, to listen to her storytelling. She’s one of those narrators I can always count on.
Thank you to Blackstone Publishing for the advance listener copy. In exchange for the opportunity to listen to an advance copy, I’ve provided my honest feedback.
Dark, twisty, and definitely entertaining!
I was really entertained by Brian Freeman’s storytelling. Little did I know, this is part of the Jonathan Stride series, but I read it as a standalone and had no trouble following along. His writing reminded me of a mix of Lisa Gardner and Michael Robotham with a little Harlan Coben thrown in. Multiple storylines, secrets, questionable motives, psychological elements, and those late reveals are all my favorite story elements. But there was also a real crime and mystery backbone holding everything together and I actually liked that aspect of it too. Even more, I liked the strong focus on the characters. There was a lot happening, but I still felt tied to them and their individual storylines. The dark, wintry atmosphere added to the overall feel of the story, and that ending!! Freeman definitely saved some surprises for the very end.
My one complaint was some of the dialogue. At times, it felt a little elementary and didn’t sound as natural as I would have liked. It stood out to me because the rest of the story felt much stronger. However, the narration made up for it. January LaVoy, one of my favorite narrators nailed it. So enjoyable, as always, to listen to her storytelling. She’s one of those narrators I can always count on.
Thank you to Blackstone Publishing for the advance listener copy. In exchange for the opportunity to listen to an advance copy, I’ve provided my honest feedback.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This action and murder packed book set in Duluth starts with a Strong beginning. Adam Strong returns home from work to a domestic tragedy and to the disappearance of his daughter Emma, a talented pianist and avid reader.
Skip to Maggie a police officer on her way back from a Halloween party and responding to a report of gunshots at a judge’s house.
This is the 12th book in the Jonathan Stride series. Stride is a senior police officer in his 50s, and the main detective in the series. However, in this story the women are in the forefront. The story contains a lot of characters but this doesn’t make it overwhelming.
This is a story that gets better the longer you read / listen to it, although in the first half hour the reader will want to ban all Americans from possessing guns.
This cleverly plotted story - possibly too clever- contains mysterious murders, a missing girl, a boy on the spectrum, and a secret code. There’s also a shooting by cop, police accountability, and alien conspiracies.
There are many nods to former stories in this series, but this doesn’t stop the reader from understanding the current book. When I have time, I will go back and read previous books in this series.
I listened to the audiobook and would like to add that the narrator does a good job.
I received the audiobook as an ARC from NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing. Thank you to both. The opinions are all my own.
Skip to Maggie a police officer on her way back from a Halloween party and responding to a report of gunshots at a judge’s house.
This is the 12th book in the Jonathan Stride series. Stride is a senior police officer in his 50s, and the main detective in the series. However, in this story the women are in the forefront. The story contains a lot of characters but this doesn’t make it overwhelming.
This is a story that gets better the longer you read / listen to it, although in the first half hour the reader will want to ban all Americans from possessing guns.
This cleverly plotted story - possibly too clever- contains mysterious murders, a missing girl, a boy on the spectrum, and a secret code. There’s also a shooting by cop, police accountability, and alien conspiracies.
There are many nods to former stories in this series, but this doesn’t stop the reader from understanding the current book. When I have time, I will go back and read previous books in this series.
I listened to the audiobook and would like to add that the narrator does a good job.
I received the audiobook as an ARC from NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing. Thank you to both. The opinions are all my own.
October 6, 2026
****I received an ARC from Net Galley in exchange for my honest review
In book 12 of the Jonathan Stride series, Judge Gordon Hartwick & his wife Tracy are shot dead in their beds. The gunshots are heard by a neighbor, who calls 911, and the call goes out. Maggie Bei, Stride's partner is on her way home from a Halloween party when she hears the call. She has had a little to drink at the party, but is not drunk. Since she is only a couple of roads away from the crime scene, she responds to the call. After she discovers the victims, someone hiding in the closet comes barreling out, knocking into her. She gives chase, and split-second decision that leaves the intruder dead. When Stride arrives at the scene, he has to give Maggie devastating news. The intruder had no gun. He wasn’t the killer. She shot an innocent man. With Maggie facing a firestorm over her actions, it is up to Stride to find out who killed the couple, and why.
I have loved this author's books from the very first book he wrote. This will keep you guessing until the end, and I promise you will fall in love with Stride, his wife Serena, and especially their adopted daughter, Cat. There was also a boy named Loring that was on the spectrum that had an invisible friend, and he stole my heart. Even though this is part of a series, each book can be read as a standalone. If you enjoy detective novels, you should check this out
In book 12 of the Jonathan Stride series, Judge Gordon Hartwick & his wife Tracy are shot dead in their beds. The gunshots are heard by a neighbor, who calls 911, and the call goes out. Maggie Bei, Stride's partner is on her way home from a Halloween party when she hears the call. She has had a little to drink at the party, but is not drunk. Since she is only a couple of roads away from the crime scene, she responds to the call. After she discovers the victims, someone hiding in the closet comes barreling out, knocking into her. She gives chase, and split-second decision that leaves the intruder dead. When Stride arrives at the scene, he has to give Maggie devastating news. The intruder had no gun. He wasn’t the killer. She shot an innocent man. With Maggie facing a firestorm over her actions, it is up to Stride to find out who killed the couple, and why.
I have loved this author's books from the very first book he wrote. This will keep you guessing until the end, and I promise you will fall in love with Stride, his wife Serena, and especially their adopted daughter, Cat. There was also a boy named Loring that was on the spectrum that had an invisible friend, and he stole my heart. Even though this is part of a series, each book can be read as a standalone. If you enjoy detective novels, you should check this out
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This latest edition of the Jonathan Stride series moves into fourth gear almost immediately. In this case, after Stride’s partner is called out to the scene of a late night shooting in the home of a judge, she discovers two bodies and kills an intruder when he appears to be raising a gun in her direction. However, as there is no gun to be found, she finds herself suspended and facing murder charges. As Stride attempts to solve the murders, he uncovers a connection to a a 15-year old boy who went missing months earlier. Along with roller coaster twists and turns the novel is filled with an array of fascinating characters.
All in all, this 12th book of the series was nearly impossible to put down, as the suspense was on high-octane and the underlying mystery of the murders became deeper with each new discovery. In addition, it was nice to see how Stride and his cohorts aged in real time, to the point that he made a number of reference to possible retirement. Fortunately, for the readers of this series, the novel ended with an unexpected bang…which laid the promise of another book involving Jonathan Stride and his team. In any event, this is a 5-star read and definitely recommended.
My thanks to Net Galley and the publishers for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for honest feedback.
All in all, this 12th book of the series was nearly impossible to put down, as the suspense was on high-octane and the underlying mystery of the murders became deeper with each new discovery. In addition, it was nice to see how Stride and his cohorts aged in real time, to the point that he made a number of reference to possible retirement. Fortunately, for the readers of this series, the novel ended with an unexpected bang…which laid the promise of another book involving Jonathan Stride and his team. In any event, this is a 5-star read and definitely recommended.
My thanks to Net Galley and the publishers for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for honest feedback.
September 23, 2026
Thank you @blackstonebooks for my complimentary copy. All opinions expressed are my own.
PLOT OVERVIEW: When a judge and his wife are murdered, Jonathan Stride is drawn into a deeply personal investigation that turns his world upside down. As shocking secrets emerge, he must confront an impossible choice that could change everything.
MY THOUGHTS: I was thrilled when I saw that the latest Jonathan Stride mystery was finally available! This is truly my favorite detective series, and the newest installment did not disappoint!
All of my favorite characters return—Jonathan, Serena, Maggie, and Cat—and there’s even an appearance by Cab Bolton, the colorful private investigator from another Freeman series. The pacing is excellent, and the suspense kept me turning the pages, while the familiar relationships added depth and buy-in to the investigation.
If you enjoy well-written police procedurals with a likable cast, richly developed backstories, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 a compelling plot filled with twists and surprises, I highly recommend this five-star series.
This latest installment can be read as a standalone, but I’m sure you’ll want to binge the entire series afterward!
The audiobook is narrated by January LaVoy, whose widely respected talent brings each character vividly to life. She gives every character a distinct and memorable voice, making the audiobook especially enjoyable.
PLOT OVERVIEW: When a judge and his wife are murdered, Jonathan Stride is drawn into a deeply personal investigation that turns his world upside down. As shocking secrets emerge, he must confront an impossible choice that could change everything.
MY THOUGHTS: I was thrilled when I saw that the latest Jonathan Stride mystery was finally available! This is truly my favorite detective series, and the newest installment did not disappoint!
All of my favorite characters return—Jonathan, Serena, Maggie, and Cat—and there’s even an appearance by Cab Bolton, the colorful private investigator from another Freeman series. The pacing is excellent, and the suspense kept me turning the pages, while the familiar relationships added depth and buy-in to the investigation.
If you enjoy well-written police procedurals with a likable cast, richly developed backstories, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 a compelling plot filled with twists and surprises, I highly recommend this five-star series.
This latest installment can be read as a standalone, but I’m sure you’ll want to binge the entire series afterward!
The audiobook is narrated by January LaVoy, whose widely respected talent brings each character vividly to life. She gives every character a distinct and memorable voice, making the audiobook especially enjoyable.
October 11, 2026
I found another detective series I need to start at the beginning. You can read this book without reading the rest of the series, but if you are like me, you will want to go back and start from the beginning. Jonathan Stride and his team are relentless as they try to find the person who murdered a judge and his wife. Jonathan partner, Maggie, struggles to come to terms with the fact that she shot the intruder who did not have a gun. So who shot the judge and his wife, and why was the intruder in the house after the murders? Maggie launches her own investigation into the intruder to clear her name while Jonathan and his team try to find the killer. Are the two events connected? You will never guess how the pieces come together! I loved so many of the side characters in this book! No spoilers, but a young boy is the star of the book. This book tackles some big moral questions that police are often asked to answer. A huge bonus is January LaVoy narrates the audiobook! The narration is 10 🌟as you would expect. I was on the edge of my seat at the end of he book. The tension and suspense were so high as I listened to the conclusion. If you love detective books with complex cases and great character development then this is your next read.
October 4, 2026
Home invasions, murder, a missing person and MULTIPLE storylines that seemingly have nothing to do with each other…..This is my second Brian Freeman and I’m realizing this man loves a complex ass mystery. His writing is super descriptive and reminds me a little of Charlie Donlea because you truly have ZERO clue where tf the story is going until he starts putting those puzzle pieces together.
There was also some dark humor sprinkled throughout that got me. “Maybe more than one boy because dicks usually travel in packs” 😭 And the amount of times this man described how big/kinda gross Detective Guppo is had me like damn, this man will never no peace! I also liked getting dialogue from different sides surrounding police shootings of unarmed people. This is technically book 12 in the series, but I read it completely as a standalone and had no issues!
And last but certainly not least, JANUARY LAVOY narrates it!! Her work during crazy Craig’s POV was INSANE. You could hear the instability in him and then “we’re back Craig, we are here”?! CREEPY JANUARY literally froze me in my place. She continues to absolutely slay these 3rd person police procedurals with huge casts and tons of dialogue. Another master class performance and an absolute MUST LISTEN!
There was also some dark humor sprinkled throughout that got me. “Maybe more than one boy because dicks usually travel in packs” 😭 And the amount of times this man described how big/kinda gross Detective Guppo is had me like damn, this man will never no peace! I also liked getting dialogue from different sides surrounding police shootings of unarmed people. This is technically book 12 in the series, but I read it completely as a standalone and had no issues!
And last but certainly not least, JANUARY LAVOY narrates it!! Her work during crazy Craig’s POV was INSANE. You could hear the instability in him and then “we’re back Craig, we are here”?! CREEPY JANUARY literally froze me in my place. She continues to absolutely slay these 3rd person police procedurals with huge casts and tons of dialogue. Another master class performance and an absolute MUST LISTEN!
October 8, 2026
This is book twelve of the Jonathan Stride books and it can be hard jumping into a series so late but I never felt lost or confused on the history while reading Where The Road Ends. The backstory was described well where needed with the ongoing characters.
The book has several side plots involving missing teens. The book opens with the abduction of a girl years before and a missing boy who was taught by the judge's wife who is presumed dead after his clothes and bike were found. Also aliens, because why not. They all make sense in the end but it did make me wonder if I was reading the right book at the beginning.
I really enjoyed this one. Very much police procedural and handled Maggie's shooting well showing both the cop and media/public side of the situation. It felt like maybe the series was winding down with Stride considering retirement but it is clear we will see more from Stride at the end.
Content warnings: murder & violence, mental health, inappropriate relationships with minors, kidnapping, mentions of past sexual assaults, infant loss and adoption, gambling
Thanks to Blackstone Publishing for the advance copy for review
The book has several side plots involving missing teens. The book opens with the abduction of a girl years before and a missing boy who was taught by the judge's wife who is presumed dead after his clothes and bike were found. Also aliens, because why not. They all make sense in the end but it did make me wonder if I was reading the right book at the beginning.
I really enjoyed this one. Very much police procedural and handled Maggie's shooting well showing both the cop and media/public side of the situation. It felt like maybe the series was winding down with Stride considering retirement but it is clear we will see more from Stride at the end.
Content warnings: murder & violence, mental health, inappropriate relationships with minors, kidnapping, mentions of past sexual assaults, infant loss and adoption, gambling
Thanks to Blackstone Publishing for the advance copy for review
September 25, 2026
Maggie Bei is driving home after attending a Halloween party when a call comes through about shots being fired. Knowing that she is close by to the scene, Maggie knows that she should just let an officer who is on duty get the call since she had been drinking. Since she is so close and the person of intrest may still be in the area she decides to go ahead and secure the scene. What happens next will put Maggie's who career on the line when an unarmed man is killed fleeing the house. What turns out to be just a radom break in and murder of a judge and his high school teacher wife leds Jonathan Stride down a path that has more questions than answers. While when I requested this audiobook I didn't know that it was number 12 in the series, I did enjoy the audiobook and the author did a good job at intertwinng in the past novels with this one. I wasn't confused about any of the characters and what happened in the past novels. I would like to thank both NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing for letting me listen to an advance copy of this audiobook.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thanks to Netgalley and Blackstone Publishing for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
A judge and his wife are murdered in their home and Maggie Bei responds, killing the apparent murderer as he flees the scene, but then it is determined that he was unarmed and couldn't have been the murder, so why was he at the house? And who really did kill the judge? And what happened to a girl named Emma who disappeared 6 years ago on the same night her mother and brother were murdered? Jonathon Stride and Serena investigate.
Brian Freeman has been one of my top 5 authors for at least 20 years, since I read and was blown away by Immoral. I continue to love this series and basically anything else that he writes. There were several threads in this story and I couldn't figure out how it all would come together, but I wasn't at all disappointed with the resolution, and there is a bit of a cliffhanger at the end. Another great read from this author.
A judge and his wife are murdered in their home and Maggie Bei responds, killing the apparent murderer as he flees the scene, but then it is determined that he was unarmed and couldn't have been the murder, so why was he at the house? And who really did kill the judge? And what happened to a girl named Emma who disappeared 6 years ago on the same night her mother and brother were murdered? Jonathon Stride and Serena investigate.
Brian Freeman has been one of my top 5 authors for at least 20 years, since I read and was blown away by Immoral. I continue to love this series and basically anything else that he writes. There were several threads in this story and I couldn't figure out how it all would come together, but I wasn't at all disappointed with the resolution, and there is a bit of a cliffhanger at the end. Another great read from this author.
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