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The Blackwell Files #1-3

The Blackwell Files: Volumes I, II, & III

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Books 1-3, the Blackwell Beginnings...

NEFARIOUS : a fast-paced foray charting the investigation of an ex-Army captain and an intelligent, beautiful FBI agent into a covert, sinister project.

RUTHLESS : Alton and Mallory strive to identify the culprit behind a series of perplexing homicides, racing to unravel the mystery in time to avoid becoming the killer’s next victims. But will their growing relationship survive the presence of the beautiful Chelsea Mancini, who seems to lie in the center of the chaos?

T WAVE : FBI agent Mallory Wilson begins investigating the potential theft of narcotics at a local hospice, but the case quickly escalates as she and boyfriend Alton Blackwell uncover a series of questionable patient deaths. Can they unravel the mystery in time to stop a potential killer?

853 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 3, 2015

1260 people are currently reading
834 people want to read

About the author

Steven F. Freeman

68 books80 followers
Thriller/mystery author Steve Freeman is a former member of the US Army's Signal Corps, a thirty-four-year employee of a large American technology company, and an avid traveler who has visited every continent but Antarctica. His novels draw from firsthand knowledge of military service, the tech industry, and the diverse cultures of our world.

He currently lives near Atlanta, Georgia with his wife, daughter, and four dogs.

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Community Reviews

5 stars
320 (39%)
4 stars
266 (33%)
3 stars
148 (18%)
2 stars
49 (6%)
1 star
20 (2%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 reviews
Profile Image for Coco.V.
50k reviews132 followers
Want to read
June 9, 2020
🎁 FREE on Amazon today (6/9/2020)! 🎁
Profile Image for Lori Bindner.
168 reviews3 followers
September 23, 2017
Uplifting suspense

Great characters, plots and plenty of surprises to keep you tuning the pages. Pick up this series, you will not regret it.
I look forward to more of these loveable characters, more digging for answers and finding love along the way. Heading to Amazon for more of this author's thrilling words.
Profile Image for Denise.
1,771 reviews24 followers
February 29, 2016
Overall, 'The Blackwell Files: Volumes 1, 2 & 3' were quite intriguing books. They do need some more editing, but it wasn't so bad that I couldnt follow the stories. 'Nefarious', 'Ruthless' and 'T Wave' were all full of deceit, suspense, thrilling scenarios, romance and an abundance of characters who fit the role of 'bad guys'. Alton and Mallory make such a great team. They truly compliment each other and their strengths make them the ideal couple. David and Fahima are such an awesome couple. Their romance was so endearing. This series had me hooked from the first chapter in the first book and didn't let go. I look forward to reading more.
Profile Image for Michael.
376 reviews6 followers
July 6, 2017
Excellent Trilogy

This three volume set was an excellent read. The author maintained the seat-of-the-pants tension throughout each volume, with interesting twists and turns which lead to surprising conclusions. Well worth the time you spend reading them. I'm trying to give it five (5) stars but keep having my submission encounter a problem.
23 reviews
November 1, 2016
The blackwell files

Good story premise. Conversations within the book are very stilted and many are unrealistically simplistic. Will not read any further books.
122 reviews2 followers
October 16, 2017
Exceptional

I had read The Dig before realising that it was book 8 in The Blackwell Files. I enjoyed The Dig so much that when l realised there were others l decided l wanted to read the series preferability in the correct order. I am so glad l did. Having read the box set of Volumes 1,2 & 3 l am enthralled by the characters of Alton, Mallory, David and Fahima. The writer Freeman has established these characters with a background of their lives and shown us the reader their capacity for Mortality. From meeting in Afghanistan where three of the characters were deployed on military duty and meeting Fahima through each adventure one envolving a research pharmaceutical company another unexplained deaths in a hospital l have come to love these characters.. They are welcome characters and l am going to enjoy reading the rest of the books.
Profile Image for Kimara Nicholas.
15 reviews
Read
April 28, 2016
Really enjoyed the twist and turns in all three of these books. Really good read.
7,757 reviews50 followers
May 21, 2019
BOOK.1. As I started and wondered is it going to be only about Afghanistan. That is only a small part, this is about the characters, the scheme of missions that fail, the friendship that was needed, and so much more. It draws you in, and your heart goes out for Alton, a shattered leg, and self confidence. A bomb and seeing a young girl badly injured he picks her up and carries inside for medical help. With that he knew there was no more chance of returning to the field, with more damage done to his leg.The career he excelled in, like no one else, and still needed, but at a desk. The chance to use his skill in the tracking of Al Qaeda. The list of what all this story covers, is many and its only the first book. Definitely one to read.
BOOK 11
Jay Mancini son of a mobster family was killed with multiple gun shots. A niece Chelsea comes to Alton saying only he can figure out who. Days later Jay’s girlfriend is killed..The.body count goes up, the wrong address for the pizza guy, when will it end. The romance of David and Fatima, will she get a visa, she needs to have a lot of money to come .Good story we got to know the couples better, and the murders to figure out,
BOOK 111
Alton is in a frenzy about to meet his girlfriend’s mother, a retired General.
While Mallery was sleeping on the couch, he stated how he felt about her.
At Mallery work she was given a case to look into missing drugs, the administrator at a hospice suspects An employees is stealing them. Since she is good at paper trailing. Then with David’s father being admitted they all are there seeing what is happening. Surprised trip for Alton and Mallory
Which leave you hanging as they get on the plane.
1 review
June 15, 2022
This series is centered around an officer in the army serving in the Middle East near Kandahar as a cryptographer. Using these skills and others obtained during his life, he goes about solving mysteries with his friends.
I think overall, this series is really good. The characters are presented in a way that you like them. They also are presented as ordinary people, not superhuman or anything, which I appreciate.
It is an easier read, meaning one doesn't have to be brilliant or a certain age to understand it. Does contain lots of references to alcohol and smoking with some swearing. Even then, it's not super heavy or detracting from the story.
But yeah, great books. I recommend them.
196 reviews
January 1, 2022
Blackwell Files 1-3

All three stories (Nefarious, Ruthless and T-Wave) were pretty gripping each portraying a different setting and with differing intents for criminally behavior. In all instances the perpetrators emerged o be very surprising. There were quite a few editorial issues... one reason why I gave 4 stars rather than 5 that I have given for this author’s three other, later, books that I have read.
423 reviews
January 4, 2022
Read this collection to the end

The three major works in this collection are all I expected them to be. A great set of thrilling novels with a good chunk of humanity. On the other hand that tiny short story at the end is probably the author’s best work. Sometimes an author gets a special hit of inspiration and writes a perfect,usually very short, story. This one is one that I’ll remember for a long time.
681 reviews4 followers
July 9, 2017
Totally riveting stories

This is the first time I have read this author's work and I have to say I look forward to more by him. Each story contained the right amount of intrigue mystery and even some romance . They are easy to follow and enjoyable hard to put down once you start.. great job Steven
Profile Image for Norma.
510 reviews2 followers
August 12, 2017
Entertaining series.

Really loved the character development, especially the friendships in the books. I only wish that the author would curtail the main character's severe insecurity over his disability. It gets a bit heavy handed for someone so accomplished and talented...poor Alton needs to get over himself and allow himself to just...be.
526 reviews6 followers
December 26, 2024
Unbelievable drama, romance and excitement

A wonderful collection of the initial 3 volumes of the Blackwell Files. Beginning with military life abroad, where Mallory and Alton first come in to contact, and following through the evolving of their lives together through the FBI, they develop in to a very close relationship and an even closer mutual togetherness.
61 reviews3 followers
January 2, 2025
Somewhat predictable, yet enjoyable story line. The app I used to listen to this book is using AI generated narration. No change in voice with multiple different characters. Gave this feedback in hopes that they don't 'cheap out' from human to AI narration. Would consider a different platform if this becomes their norm.
Profile Image for Thomas.
56 reviews
July 11, 2017
Good Plot line and characters. Way too long over descriptive and verbose in story lines. Found myself speed reading through it as there were long and tedious gaps. Enjoyed the descriptive army/technical side but was not spellbound
2 reviews
December 28, 2017
Good read

The books flow well into each other, and you can read them as stand-alones.
I enjoyed the thought processes of Alton and Mallory in solving their investigations. I'm looking forward to book IV
Profile Image for Stephen Hubbard.
32 reviews
July 2, 2018
Excellent

Bought the first three books as a set on Kindle. Really enjoyed the stories and now want too know more about Alton and Mallory. Just bought number 4, Haven, need to find out what happens next.
459 reviews
April 23, 2019
Great

All three stories were interesting. I enjoyed the characters and the way each investigation was planned out.The only reason for the four stars and not give was for the one use of the Lords name in vain that was used. That could have been avoided.
53 reviews
April 29, 2021
Very good read

I was pleasantly surprised by these books. It was my first encounter with this author but it will not be my last. I enjoyed the twists and turns in all three volumes and found myself not wanting to put the book down. Looking forward to more adventures.
24 reviews
March 22, 2023
Stories are good but dialogue is stilted. I also am not a fan of most of the endings. Who gets all the parties involved (guilty, innocent, survivors, thugs etc together for a conference? Seems implausible to me. Probably a quick way to tie up loose ends for the reader.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Kathy Farrell.
1 review
December 27, 2024
The Blackwell Files

Really loved the of mystery with romance. The story of Alton and Mallory kept me reading well into the hours I should have been sleeping. Can wait to read more mysteries.
150 reviews1 follower
October 28, 2017
Mystery clouded by romance

Well written, good plot lines, plenty of twists and turns, but the romance seems to be somewhat stilted or awkward.
Profile Image for iainascot.
267 reviews
November 7, 2017
2/3

First two books were excellent but the quality dropped off in the third it was by no means bad, just not up to the standard of the first two.
12 reviews
May 14, 2018
Rating

Pretty good read, but a bit slow in places. Would read more from this author. I get a bit upset being forced by Amazon to submit lengthy rativgs.
33 reviews1 follower
June 20, 2020
Confusing and interesting

Sometimes it was hard to get into but than it would get more interesting. I was surprised that they were waiting to get married.
24 reviews
October 11, 2020
Brilliant

I was not sure when I started to read this series but onc e I had started I had a job to put it down.
Seriously I will think about reading more of his books
17 reviews
April 26, 2021
Another good one

After reading the first book in the series and then the second one in the series this did not disappoint.
10 reviews
December 6, 2021
Interesting read

Had many twists to getting to the conclusions sometimes I was able to guess and other times not. I enjoyed these books very much.
145 reviews2 followers
December 9, 2021
Case Solved

Alton and Mallory do UT again. Plenty of clues and plenty of suspects. At least Buster was not under suspicion.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 reviews

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