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The Blackwell Files #7
Tears of God
A Prophecy...a Promise...a Project
A chance encounter leads FBI agent Mallory Blackwell to investigate the circumstances surrounding the mysterious death of her father, Cutter Wilson, years ago.
Their only informant murdered, Mallory and cryptologist husband Alton lead an NSA team on a round-the-world quest to track down the perpetrator of a mysterious toxicological project.
The sleuths must summon all their investigatory skills in a desperate bid to follow a trail of clues to the hidden truth of Cutter Wilson's death, a discovery exceeding their wildest expectations.
486 pages, Paperback
First published January 5, 2016
904 people are currently reading
1062 people want to read
About the author
Steven F. Freeman
68 books80 followersThriller/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.
He currently lives near Atlanta, Georgia with his wife, daughter, and four dogs.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews
April 4, 2016
Of all Steven F. Freeman’s Blackwell Files books, Tears of God packs the most punch. The author doesn’t waste any time getting down to brass tacks. After a stranger hints that FBI Agent Mallory Blackwell’s father, who died suddenly years earlier, may have been murdered, the mysterious informant meets a similarly abrupt demise, prompting the Blackwells to embark on a mission to uncover the truth.
The fast pace kept me turning the pages. For me, this was more adventure than mystery, since I detected the biggest unknown factor in the equation quite early on. Still, I felt that the plot flowed well, and it felt good to be reunited with familiar characters. In the past, I have felt that some of the dialog between Alton and Mallory felt unnatural, and it bothered me that Alton had to mentally keep pinching himself over the fact that Mallory indeed chose him to marry. There was none of that in this book; their dialogue flows quite easily, and it seems that they have settled in comfortably together at last.
They choose to reunite with their buddy David and his adopted daughter Mastana as two of their team members for their operation. At sixteen, Mastana has a lot going for her. I loved that Freeman chose to give his female characters strong roles in this book.
The negatives for me were that much of the book read like a military mission, much more so than most of the previous novels. This was okay, to a point, but I wish he had chosen to vary the team’s methods somewhat. After all, even though they have military backgrounds, Alton and Mallory specialize in using their brains. Also, a couple of the new team members came across as a bit one-dimensional, and that tipped me off to some of the events that were to occur later in the story.
On the balance, Tears of God held my interest throughout. The reader is privy to information that Blackwell’s team is not; we get to see him try to unravel the legend of the “tears of God,” and find a killer. Steven Freeman has continued to develop his husband and wife team into two fine, likeable characters, and I’m sure we’ll see them grow even more as the series progresses.
I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for my honest, unbiased opinion.
4.5 stars
The fast pace kept me turning the pages. For me, this was more adventure than mystery, since I detected the biggest unknown factor in the equation quite early on. Still, I felt that the plot flowed well, and it felt good to be reunited with familiar characters. In the past, I have felt that some of the dialog between Alton and Mallory felt unnatural, and it bothered me that Alton had to mentally keep pinching himself over the fact that Mallory indeed chose him to marry. There was none of that in this book; their dialogue flows quite easily, and it seems that they have settled in comfortably together at last.
They choose to reunite with their buddy David and his adopted daughter Mastana as two of their team members for their operation. At sixteen, Mastana has a lot going for her. I loved that Freeman chose to give his female characters strong roles in this book.
The negatives for me were that much of the book read like a military mission, much more so than most of the previous novels. This was okay, to a point, but I wish he had chosen to vary the team’s methods somewhat. After all, even though they have military backgrounds, Alton and Mallory specialize in using their brains. Also, a couple of the new team members came across as a bit one-dimensional, and that tipped me off to some of the events that were to occur later in the story.
On the balance, Tears of God held my interest throughout. The reader is privy to information that Blackwell’s team is not; we get to see him try to unravel the legend of the “tears of God,” and find a killer. Steven Freeman has continued to develop his husband and wife team into two fine, likeable characters, and I’m sure we’ll see them grow even more as the series progresses.
I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for my honest, unbiased opinion.
4.5 stars
February 5, 2017
An Excellent Thriller
Tears of God is symbolic of death. It is a nearly outdated prophecy, which seems as far-fetched as myths are wont to be. That is, until one obscure fanatic becomes enthralled by it and decides to turn it into a deadly project. For profit, of course. Shielded in secrecy, it ensures that anyone who seeks any information relating to it ends up dead. Everything changes when Mallory, the daughter of the project’s first victim, and her husband, learn of its existence. And there the thriller begins...
Tears of God, the seventh in an 8-book series known as The Blackwell Files, takes you on a scary ride from Washington D.C. to Afghanistan where you’ll be forced to take a detour that’ll land you in the remote northern Australian town of Alice Springs. Rich in detail, it has a simple and efficient narrative voice and a cogent, spellbinding plot. On many occasions during the ride, you’ll hesitate to turn the page... but at the end, you’ll be glad it’s a work of fiction. Still, you’ll learn a vital lesson about trust and you’ll realize that sometimes a traitor isn’t as distant a figure as you might imagine.
An excellent thriller.
Tears of God is symbolic of death. It is a nearly outdated prophecy, which seems as far-fetched as myths are wont to be. That is, until one obscure fanatic becomes enthralled by it and decides to turn it into a deadly project. For profit, of course. Shielded in secrecy, it ensures that anyone who seeks any information relating to it ends up dead. Everything changes when Mallory, the daughter of the project’s first victim, and her husband, learn of its existence. And there the thriller begins...
Tears of God, the seventh in an 8-book series known as The Blackwell Files, takes you on a scary ride from Washington D.C. to Afghanistan where you’ll be forced to take a detour that’ll land you in the remote northern Australian town of Alice Springs. Rich in detail, it has a simple and efficient narrative voice and a cogent, spellbinding plot. On many occasions during the ride, you’ll hesitate to turn the page... but at the end, you’ll be glad it’s a work of fiction. Still, you’ll learn a vital lesson about trust and you’ll realize that sometimes a traitor isn’t as distant a figure as you might imagine.
An excellent thriller.
April 1, 2017
page turner.
September 29, 2016
Mallory and her mother always believed Mallory’s father, Cutter Wilson, died fifteen years ago of natural causes.
A mysterious encounter with a former agent and colleague of Cutter’s warns Mallory and her husband, Alton, that it was murder.
Very soon after he reveals this information he too is found murdered although on the surface it also appears to be natural causes.
Both Alton and Mallory are employed from time to time by Ernesto Vega, Manager of the NSA; Alton as a cryptologist and Mallory as a forensic accountant. They call on Vega to support their investigation into the deaths of both men.
The story is full of action and never gets bogged down with too much detail yet is written in a way that the reader enjoys a fast paced ride to uncover the truth. There is plenty of suspense and action dotted with humour and tempered with affection.
Their undercover operation takes them to Afghanistan and Australia in search of a company that doesn’t seem to exist.
I quickly took a liking to both Mallory and Alton and especially liked the combination of strength, tenderness and youthfulness of Mastana. In fact, all the characters, both good and evil, are well developed.
The title of the book comes from a legend that calls for a violent end to those exposed to the tears of God.
As an Australian, I feel I should comment on the Australian setting in the book. At the time of writing the author had not visited Australia and I congratulate him for not filling his story with extreme characterisation of scenes, lifestyle and slang that are found in so many non-Australian authored works.
Freeman has kept it simple but still conveys the feel of the Australian outback including the high number of venomous animals so suited to the evil Safi’s project. What jargon he has included is spot on and some little-known facts outside the country like, yes; we do have camels in the desert. The interesting fact about our camels is they came originally with traders from Afghanistan. The only mistake is our Southern Cross has five stars, not four.
This is the first of the Blackwell Files books I have read and look forward to going back and reading previous stories in the series.
I received this book for the purpose of a fair review.
This review is also on my website www.pam.id.au
A mysterious encounter with a former agent and colleague of Cutter’s warns Mallory and her husband, Alton, that it was murder.
Very soon after he reveals this information he too is found murdered although on the surface it also appears to be natural causes.
Both Alton and Mallory are employed from time to time by Ernesto Vega, Manager of the NSA; Alton as a cryptologist and Mallory as a forensic accountant. They call on Vega to support their investigation into the deaths of both men.
The story is full of action and never gets bogged down with too much detail yet is written in a way that the reader enjoys a fast paced ride to uncover the truth. There is plenty of suspense and action dotted with humour and tempered with affection.
Their undercover operation takes them to Afghanistan and Australia in search of a company that doesn’t seem to exist.
I quickly took a liking to both Mallory and Alton and especially liked the combination of strength, tenderness and youthfulness of Mastana. In fact, all the characters, both good and evil, are well developed.
The title of the book comes from a legend that calls for a violent end to those exposed to the tears of God.
As an Australian, I feel I should comment on the Australian setting in the book. At the time of writing the author had not visited Australia and I congratulate him for not filling his story with extreme characterisation of scenes, lifestyle and slang that are found in so many non-Australian authored works.
Freeman has kept it simple but still conveys the feel of the Australian outback including the high number of venomous animals so suited to the evil Safi’s project. What jargon he has included is spot on and some little-known facts outside the country like, yes; we do have camels in the desert. The interesting fact about our camels is they came originally with traders from Afghanistan. The only mistake is our Southern Cross has five stars, not four.
This is the first of the Blackwell Files books I have read and look forward to going back and reading previous stories in the series.
I received this book for the purpose of a fair review.
This review is also on my website www.pam.id.au
January 23, 2016
I received this book for the purpose of a fair review.
Overview: Alton and Mallory have just received some bad news. The man who had some information on Cutter Wilson’s death, seems to have had some enemies. His death would have silenced the investigation into the Wilson murder, if it wasn’t for his last words. Now, it’s a race to find the man who would use the ‘Tears of God.’
Likes: Alton and Mallory still seem to be devoted to each other. Also, we get to see David and Mastana again.
Dislikes: To put it mildly, it seemed like there was no respect for our Constitution from those who swore to uphold it. Also Mallory was dealing with a conflict of interest.
Conclusion: To be honest, it’s really hard to tell the difference between the investigatory team, and the killer’s crew. When you have this attitude you lose the heroic side of your protagonists. I didn't care for this one much at all.
Overview: Alton and Mallory have just received some bad news. The man who had some information on Cutter Wilson’s death, seems to have had some enemies. His death would have silenced the investigation into the Wilson murder, if it wasn’t for his last words. Now, it’s a race to find the man who would use the ‘Tears of God.’
Likes: Alton and Mallory still seem to be devoted to each other. Also, we get to see David and Mastana again.
Dislikes: To put it mildly, it seemed like there was no respect for our Constitution from those who swore to uphold it. Also Mallory was dealing with a conflict of interest.
Conclusion: To be honest, it’s really hard to tell the difference between the investigatory team, and the killer’s crew. When you have this attitude you lose the heroic side of your protagonists. I didn't care for this one much at all.
January 8, 2016
Wow, a real thriller with the Blackwells taking you on a journey of twists and turns that will surprise you and keep you turning the pages! When Alton and Mallory find out there is more to Mallory's father's untimely death than appears on the surface, the thrills begin. Steven is an extremely talented writer who has a real knack for dialog and description. When he sets the scene, you will visualize it with clarity and feel like you are right here. Don't miss this one!
January 24, 2016
What a great mystery again. I really like these books. I think they are great. I could see a computer game being created around these books. (I would buy it) They could make several games from this series. Alton and Mallory are a great couple too. I loved it! * I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest review*
December 18, 2018
This wasn't a bad book, once you got into it. A husband and wife start an investigation into the death of the wife's father several years ago. They team up with a group of NSA agents and others to try and track down a chemical plant in the middle east. They go there and find clues that lead them to a plant in Australia. Here their quest to find out what is going on and to take the person responsible for her father's murder to justice. It took me a while to get into it, but once I did, it was good.
September 16, 2022
A rather strange book and presumably series. The premise - hence the reason I got it - seemed good but the general storyline disintegrates in some quite unbelievable things. the team that is pulled together seems rather ragtag and are put in to situation with an end result that seemed totally improbable. Hence the more I read it the more I couldn't relate the results with the people.
Unusally for me i glossed over the last third of the book and found things even more unbelievable. Suffice to say I won't be reading anymore in the series
Unusally for me i glossed over the last third of the book and found things even more unbelievable. Suffice to say I won't be reading anymore in the series
December 15, 2018
An action packed thriller that rivets readers' attention irrespective of the setting they're in. The action sequences pack punch from the beginning but intensifies as the story progresses to climax. While one proceeds through halfway, it's easy to fall into the subterfuge illusion of book being a one-sided, predictable narrative. But right then author conjures up twists in the tale that arouse readers' curiosity, heightens suspense and compels to turn pages, in anxiety. A good one!.
December 20, 2018
This is a spy novel, more or less, about NSA agents on the trail of an assassin and a pharmaceutical giant that's sidelining as a terrorist poison supplier. It was not very believable and not especially fun, but the plot spun along at a good pace, so i managed to finish the book. I don't regret it, but there are a lot of other things i could have been doing with my time that would have been more rewarding.
February 13, 2017
Impossible Scenario of survival
I rated this book as fair. No strike team could survive this level of overwhelming odds. As it is a series, a cash cow, it is a foregone conclusion that they would, but there did not seem to be enough credibility in the climactic ending to provide for this.
I rated this book as fair. No strike team could survive this level of overwhelming odds. As it is a series, a cash cow, it is a foregone conclusion that they would, but there did not seem to be enough credibility in the climactic ending to provide for this.
May 28, 2019
Mallory father died suddenly of a heart attack. A stranger comes to her, and says it wasn’t, has evidence. He later died that evening. What all was in the project her father was working on. A poison that couldn’t be traced. The adventure takes them across many lands and cultural in another absorbing story by the author,
April 27, 2021
Perhaps I should preface my comment by acknowledging that this is the first book in this series I have read. I did not find it believable. The Afghanistan part...well, maybe. The Australian part, no way. Where did all the guards come from? Why did no-one notice the extreme fortifications? It is a fantasy, not a mystery.
February 24, 2022
The Tears of God by Steven Freeman
This is the 9th or 10th book of Steven Freeman that I have read. Once again, except for a few minor editorial issues, the story (spanning Afghanistan and Australia) is excellent from start to finish. The ending, especially, was completely unexpected and surprising. I am eager to read his next one.
This is the 9th or 10th book of Steven Freeman that I have read. Once again, except for a few minor editorial issues, the story (spanning Afghanistan and Australia) is excellent from start to finish. The ending, especially, was completely unexpected and surprising. I am eager to read his next one.
October 28, 2017
Good story
This was a good read. A good adventure thriller. Unfortunately this was the first book of the series so I came into this behind. The author was good about bringing you up to date. My suggestion is to start at the beginning.
This was a good read. A good adventure thriller. Unfortunately this was the first book of the series so I came into this behind. The author was good about bringing you up to date. My suggestion is to start at the beginning.
June 8, 2018
Exciting Thriller
Drew me in from the first pages. Couldn't put it down except for absolutely necessary chores! Characters are like a friend and new additions are developed well. Gotta read more of these!
Drew me in from the first pages. Couldn't put it down except for absolutely necessary chores! Characters are like a friend and new additions are developed well. Gotta read more of these!
October 27, 2018
Great as a stand alone
This is a very interesting and we'll written story. Great characters, with a great plot. The story has a nice even flow with unexpected twists and turns that takes the reader totally by surprise. Great Read
This is a very interesting and we'll written story. Great characters, with a great plot. The story has a nice even flow with unexpected twists and turns that takes the reader totally by surprise. Great Read
December 12, 2018
Rivetting drama
A rapidly more dramatic story of an undercover illicit operation which comes to life when Alton's wife, Mallory, sets out to discover the perplexing mystery of her father's sudden unexplained death by heart attack
A rapidly more dramatic story of an undercover illicit operation which comes to life when Alton's wife, Mallory, sets out to discover the perplexing mystery of her father's sudden unexplained death by heart attack
January 13, 2019
Well-written, good storyline, likeable characters. I enjoyed the book; it was fast-paced, but I found the outcome to be a little too simplistic considering the extremity of the danger. Still, I rate it 4.8 stars.
March 16, 2019
Can You Say Awesome
This story kept me on my toes. I couldn't put it down. There was always something going on. The teamwork was fantastic. And age was just a number. Who would have thought a couple of teens could pull off such a fantastic job? Great read.
This story kept me on my toes. I couldn't put it down. There was always something going on. The teamwork was fantastic. And age was just a number. Who would have thought a couple of teens could pull off such a fantastic job? Great read.
May 7, 2021
An entertaining story with a lot of action but improbable outcome when they all survive against insurmountable odds with nothing but a few injuries. The opposition must have been really bad at their job or particularly stupid especially having a spy in the group trying to infiltrate them.
November 25, 2025
Interesting but dragged a bit
When it comes to thrillers, I’ve taken to ignoring the “believability factor”. However, this novel does test the limits. Not a bad storyline but for me the book dragged quite a bit.
When it comes to thrillers, I’ve taken to ignoring the “believability factor”. However, this novel does test the limits. Not a bad storyline but for me the book dragged quite a bit.
July 20, 2017
Fantastic Read
Action packed, You don't know who the traitor is until it is revealed. From the time I picked up the book I couldn't put it down
Action packed, You don't know who the traitor is until it is revealed. From the time I picked up the book I couldn't put it down
December 11, 2018
Will follow this author
I like protagonists who aren't 100% flawless. Plus the author's of Alice Springs was legit - not faked. Exciting read; intriguing plot.
I like protagonists who aren't 100% flawless. Plus the author's of Alice Springs was legit - not faked. Exciting read; intriguing plot.
January 6, 2019
Non stop suspense!
Tears of God is a great book. It is well written and grabs you from the first chapter. You can't help but root for the team as they pursue a cold blooded killer.
Tears of God is a great book. It is well written and grabs you from the first chapter. You can't help but root for the team as they pursue a cold blooded killer.
February 20, 2019
Great Read!
From the first page to the last page this book keeps you reading. Did now want to put it down.
From the first page to the last page this book keeps you reading. Did now want to put it down.
January 3, 2020
A heart pounding read
Lots of plot twists with many surprised along the way. I enjoyed the plot and will.read.more.books from this accomplished author.
Lots of plot twists with many surprised along the way. I enjoyed the plot and will.read.more.books from this accomplished author.
May 9, 2021
On the edge of your seat
A misty that keeps drawing the reader back to see what is next. Good wins over evil. A drama with a good ending.
A misty that keeps drawing the reader back to see what is next. Good wins over evil. A drama with a good ending.
May 19, 2021
Cool Twist
I definitely got wrapped up in the characters, an interesting mix of a counterterrorism team. The twist at the end surprised me - cool.
I definitely got wrapped up in the characters, an interesting mix of a counterterrorism team. The twist at the end surprised me - cool.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews