What do you think?
Rate this book
Jonathan Stride #11
The Zero Night
A woman has been kidnapped.Now Jonathan Stride must decide if her husband wants her back ... dead or alive.
After nearly dying of a gunshot wound, Jonathan Stride has been on leave from the Duluth Police for more than a year. When his partner, Maggie Bei, gets called about a suspicious abduction involving a local lawyer, she tells Stride it's time for him to come back.
Attorney Gavin Webster says he paid $100,000 in ransom money to the men who kidnapped his wife. Now they've disappeared with the cash, and she's still missing. Gavin claims to be desperate to find her--but Stride discovers that the lawyer had plenty of motive to be the mastermind behind the crime.
Even as Stride digs for the truth about Gavin Webster and his wife, he must also deal with a crisis in his own marriage.
His wife, Serena, is struggling after the death of her mother, the abusive woman she hadn't seen in twenty-five years. When she loses control at a crime scene and draws her gun on a fellow cop, Serena finds herself kicked off the Webster case. Alone at her desk, she begins hunting through old police files and starts to ask questions about a mother's death that was written off as suicide. That death haunts Serena like an echo of her own childhood--but her obsession with it takes a terrible toll.
As Serena shuts him out of her despair, and his own investigation grows increasingly tangled, Stride wonders whether going back to his detective work was the right decision. But all he can do is keep moving forward. Because Stride fears the Webster kidnapping may be only one part of a horrific murder conspiracy.
And it's not over yet.
After nearly dying of a gunshot wound, Jonathan Stride has been on leave from the Duluth Police for more than a year. When his partner, Maggie Bei, gets called about a suspicious abduction involving a local lawyer, she tells Stride it's time for him to come back.
Attorney Gavin Webster says he paid $100,000 in ransom money to the men who kidnapped his wife. Now they've disappeared with the cash, and she's still missing. Gavin claims to be desperate to find her--but Stride discovers that the lawyer had plenty of motive to be the mastermind behind the crime.
Even as Stride digs for the truth about Gavin Webster and his wife, he must also deal with a crisis in his own marriage.
His wife, Serena, is struggling after the death of her mother, the abusive woman she hadn't seen in twenty-five years. When she loses control at a crime scene and draws her gun on a fellow cop, Serena finds herself kicked off the Webster case. Alone at her desk, she begins hunting through old police files and starts to ask questions about a mother's death that was written off as suicide. That death haunts Serena like an echo of her own childhood--but her obsession with it takes a terrible toll.
As Serena shuts him out of her despair, and his own investigation grows increasingly tangled, Stride wonders whether going back to his detective work was the right decision. But all he can do is keep moving forward. Because Stride fears the Webster kidnapping may be only one part of a horrific murder conspiracy.
And it's not over yet.
350 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 1, 2022
205 people are currently reading
2797 people want to read
About the author
Brian Freeman
61 books3,103 followersBrian Freeman is a New York Times bestselling author of psychological thrillers, including the Jonathan Stride and Frost Easton series. His books have been sold in 46 countries and 22 languages. He is widely acclaimed for his "you are there" settings and his complex, engaging characters and twist-filled plots. Brian was also selected as the official author to continue Robert Ludlum's Jason Bourne series, and his novel THE BOURNE EVOLUTION was named one of the Best Mysteries and Thrillers of 2020 by Kirkus.
Brian's seventh novel SPILLED BLOOD won the award for Best Hardcover Novel in the annual Thriller Awards given out by the International Thriller Writers organization, and his fifth novel THE BURYING PLACE was a finalist for the same award. His novel THE DEEP, DEEP SNOW was a finalist for the Edgar Award for Best Paperback Original.
His debut thriller, IMMORAL, won the Macavity Award for Best First Novel and was a nominee for the Edgar, Dagger, Anthony, and Barry Awards. IMMORAL was named an International Book of the Month, a distinction shared with authors such as Harlan Coben and Lisa Unger.
All of Brian's books are also available in audiobook editions. His novels THE BONE HOUSE and SEASON OF FEAR were both finalists for Best Audiobook of the Year in Thriller/Suspense.
For more information on Brian's books, visit his web site at bfreemanbooks.com or find him on Facebook at facebook.com/bfreemanfans or Twitter and Instagram (@bfreemanbooks).
Brian's seventh novel SPILLED BLOOD won the award for Best Hardcover Novel in the annual Thriller Awards given out by the International Thriller Writers organization, and his fifth novel THE BURYING PLACE was a finalist for the same award. His novel THE DEEP, DEEP SNOW was a finalist for the Edgar Award for Best Paperback Original.
His debut thriller, IMMORAL, won the Macavity Award for Best First Novel and was a nominee for the Edgar, Dagger, Anthony, and Barry Awards. IMMORAL was named an International Book of the Month, a distinction shared with authors such as Harlan Coben and Lisa Unger.
All of Brian's books are also available in audiobook editions. His novels THE BONE HOUSE and SEASON OF FEAR were both finalists for Best Audiobook of the Year in Thriller/Suspense.
For more information on Brian's books, visit his web site at bfreemanbooks.com or find him on Facebook at facebook.com/bfreemanfans or Twitter and Instagram (@bfreemanbooks).
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 268 reviews
March 12, 2023
It was clear that this story was going to present a mystery that I assumed I’d spend practically the whole book trying to unpick and resolve, and that there would most likely be a dramatic ending that would inevitably involve violence. That’s okay, it’s precisely what I signed up for when I selected this novel. What I didn’t realise, and what I actually found most appealing about it, is how deeply I was to become drawn into the lives of the characters. There’s emotional depth here, bags of it.
This is the latest in a long running series featuring Duluth cop Jonathan Stride, his family and his colleagues. I’ve dipped in and out of it (as is my want) so I’ve missed chunks of the group’s history. As the story begins, Stride is recovering from a serious gunshot wound and hasn’t worked in a year. There’s some doubt as to whether he’ll ever return. He’s romantically entangled with Serena, who he lives with and had also worked with, and in the background (and sometimes the foreground) are others who feature large in both of their lives.
A man reports the kidnapping of his wife, in circumstances that throw suspicion on his own actions in the lead up to the alleged event. It’s quite possible that events unfolded exactly as he describes them, but is there more to this than meets the eye? There is money in the mix, not only the ransom demand but also a background involving riches lost and found. This is going to be a tricky one: a woman is certainly missing but by whose hand and to what end?
As the investigation and the search proceeds, we get deeper into other matters that are occupying the minds of the various characters. There is a family death, backgrounds of neglect and abuse, alcoholism and mental health issues. This might sound grim, and I suppose it is, except it really fleshes out the players and provides context for their moods and their actions. I found myself drawn in, the matter of the kidnapping receding into the background.
The only false note in the whole story occurs as it reaches its its conclusion. Here, an action is taken which is out of step with everything that preceded it, a ‘why did they do that’ moment which gift wraps the opportunity for a dramatic climax. In truth, resolution of this tale is it’s weakest component: after setting up a set-piece ending, loose ends are tied up a little too easily and far too neatly for my tastes. It’s a pity and I really wish the author had been a little braver in this regard. But overall it’s an enjoyable read with deft scene setting, excellent characterisation and strong dialogue all ticking boxes for me.
My thanks to Blackstone Publishing for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This is the latest in a long running series featuring Duluth cop Jonathan Stride, his family and his colleagues. I’ve dipped in and out of it (as is my want) so I’ve missed chunks of the group’s history. As the story begins, Stride is recovering from a serious gunshot wound and hasn’t worked in a year. There’s some doubt as to whether he’ll ever return. He’s romantically entangled with Serena, who he lives with and had also worked with, and in the background (and sometimes the foreground) are others who feature large in both of their lives.
A man reports the kidnapping of his wife, in circumstances that throw suspicion on his own actions in the lead up to the alleged event. It’s quite possible that events unfolded exactly as he describes them, but is there more to this than meets the eye? There is money in the mix, not only the ransom demand but also a background involving riches lost and found. This is going to be a tricky one: a woman is certainly missing but by whose hand and to what end?
As the investigation and the search proceeds, we get deeper into other matters that are occupying the minds of the various characters. There is a family death, backgrounds of neglect and abuse, alcoholism and mental health issues. This might sound grim, and I suppose it is, except it really fleshes out the players and provides context for their moods and their actions. I found myself drawn in, the matter of the kidnapping receding into the background.
The only false note in the whole story occurs as it reaches its its conclusion. Here, an action is taken which is out of step with everything that preceded it, a ‘why did they do that’ moment which gift wraps the opportunity for a dramatic climax. In truth, resolution of this tale is it’s weakest component: after setting up a set-piece ending, loose ends are tied up a little too easily and far too neatly for my tastes. It’s a pity and I really wish the author had been a little braver in this regard. But overall it’s an enjoyable read with deft scene setting, excellent characterisation and strong dialogue all ticking boxes for me.
My thanks to Blackstone Publishing for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
November 22, 2022
An excellent mystery that gets better and better through the end. 9 of 10 stars
September 20, 2022
Holy intensity!
The Zero Night is dark crime fiction with a heavy emotional component.
The content is deep and complex. I had to keep putting this book down because the emotional turmoil was killing me. But then I had to pick it right back up because I had to know.
I confess to cursing the author a few times (sorry Brian!) because he seemed to take great pleasure in torturing me.
This is the kind of writing that puts you right inside the story with the characters. I felt it all, emerged emotionally drained, and loved every single moment.
Oh, and the ending! 😭 Perfection!
The Zero Night is book 11 (!) in the Jonathan Stride Series. I haven't read the others (how did this happen?!), and I had absolutely no problem jumping into the series.
Now I'm hooked and I have to go back and buy the first 10!
*Huge thank you to Blackstone Publishing for sending me an ARC!*
The Zero Night is dark crime fiction with a heavy emotional component.
The content is deep and complex. I had to keep putting this book down because the emotional turmoil was killing me. But then I had to pick it right back up because I had to know.
I confess to cursing the author a few times (sorry Brian!) because he seemed to take great pleasure in torturing me.
This is the kind of writing that puts you right inside the story with the characters. I felt it all, emerged emotionally drained, and loved every single moment.
Oh, and the ending! 😭 Perfection!
The Zero Night is book 11 (!) in the Jonathan Stride Series. I haven't read the others (how did this happen?!), and I had absolutely no problem jumping into the series.
Now I'm hooked and I have to go back and buy the first 10!
*Huge thank you to Blackstone Publishing for sending me an ARC!*
March 29, 2025
Love love Freeman, discovery from 2024 and his plots are just genius. Stumbled on this series and boy is this good!!!
So Apparently main character was injured on duty and we see him contemplating coming back; (what I've garnered so far) They an attorney's wife goes missing. MC"s wife is also dealing with some past trauma coming back with the death of a loved one, old wounds are coming to the surface that could end her sobriety. So where's the attorney's wife and could he be involved in her disappearance?
Solid 4.5 Stars!!!
So Apparently main character was injured on duty and we see him contemplating coming back; (what I've garnered so far) They an attorney's wife goes missing. MC"s wife is also dealing with some past trauma coming back with the death of a loved one, old wounds are coming to the surface that could end her sobriety. So where's the attorney's wife and could he be involved in her disappearance?
Solid 4.5 Stars!!!
December 11, 2022
Another wonderful addition to the Jonathan Stride series!
At home recovering from a gunshot wound, Jonathan Stride has been on leave from the Duluth Police Department for more than a year. When a woman is kidnapped under suspicious circumstances Maggie Bei, Jonathan's partner, tells him it's time to get back to work.
As Stride investigates the crime he also has to deal with a crisis in his own marriage.
Action-packed and unputdownable!
With each novel it's always wonderful to revisit the characters I have come to know in the Stride series.
A series I highly recommend!
Thank you to NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing for an arc of this novel in exchange for my honest review.
At home recovering from a gunshot wound, Jonathan Stride has been on leave from the Duluth Police Department for more than a year. When a woman is kidnapped under suspicious circumstances Maggie Bei, Jonathan's partner, tells him it's time to get back to work.
As Stride investigates the crime he also has to deal with a crisis in his own marriage.
Action-packed and unputdownable!
With each novel it's always wonderful to revisit the characters I have come to know in the Stride series.
A series I highly recommend!
Thank you to NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing for an arc of this novel in exchange for my honest review.
June 19, 2024
Intense, raw, emotional!! You won’t be able to put it down until the last word is lifted from the last page. In the Audiobook version, Joe Barrett narrates a powerful believable dialogue.
Freeman did an outstanding, masterful job of capturing and weaving a taut mystery between heart breaking struggles and addiction. WOW!
This book can probably be read as a standalone. The book fills in enough in the way of characters and backstory that you won’t be lost, but I highly recommend the Jonathan Stride series.
Freeman did an outstanding, masterful job of capturing and weaving a taut mystery between heart breaking struggles and addiction. WOW!
This book can probably be read as a standalone. The book fills in enough in the way of characters and backstory that you won’t be lost, but I highly recommend the Jonathan Stride series.
November 3, 2022
This was a rough book for Serena and Jonathan, they were off in their relationship, not really talking about their troubles to each other, yet the love was there, even as they drifted apart more. It took them to really talking about hard things and admitting how "weak" they were and how they hated the other to see them that way before they could end the book in a much stronger place. I especially felt bad for Serena, as her past came back to slap her in the face in a couple of ways.
I really liked how tenacious Serena was in working her case and the one that was a couple years old. I was stunned at the places that her following leads led her, but glad that she was there for someone who needed her. I was also stunned at how the "bad guy" was able to play the long game to almost get what they wanted. Not sure that I would have been able to do what they did.
I loved how this one ended, loved that Serena was able to get another adoring fan to be in her life!
I really liked how tenacious Serena was in working her case and the one that was a couple years old. I was stunned at the places that her following leads led her, but glad that she was there for someone who needed her. I was also stunned at how the "bad guy" was able to play the long game to almost get what they wanted. Not sure that I would have been able to do what they did.
I loved how this one ended, loved that Serena was able to get another adoring fan to be in her life!
June 2, 2023
I liked this Stride novel better than most, perhaps because the plot stayed realistic even though the bad guy's planning was Machiavellian and their execution was flawless. Freeman is a master of the twist-on-a-twist-on-a-twist for his solutions. Master, because the solution never seems contrived, fits the known facts, and is a surprise only because Freeman always has us (and his cops) looking the other way for good reason. This story is no exception: if I didn't know Freeman's style I'd have been screaming halfway through that this avenue or that event can't be related; why are we paying attention? Freeman makes it all work in a satisfying way. I may have liked this book better because his obsession with traumatized characters might have been toned down a smidge. Or not: Stride is recovering from a gunshot that almost killed him and distanced from his wife; Serena's estranged mother just died, the mother who traded sex with her juvenile daughter for drugs; Serena is a recovering alcoholic having cravings; Stride's adopted daughter Kat, a former sex worker pimped by HER mother is in college, and so on. These are the good guys, imagine the suffering of the bad guys and the victims! I think Freeman's writing in general lacks necessary humor; how much joy can characters perpetually on the edge of suicide experience? At least this book has some happy endings after everybody suffers and/or is killed.
January 21, 2024
Right off, I have to say, that this book is not as fast-paced as I like; nonetheless, I found myself enthralled. I have never read a Jonathan Stride series novel, but I guess I now have something else to read!
After nearly dying of a gunshot wound, Jonathan Stride has been on an extended leave, trying to ascertain whether or not going back to the Police Department is really in his future.
Maggie Bei, gets called about a suspicious abduction involving a local lawyer, she tells Stride it's time for him to come back.
Stride returns to a tangled web, and he must locate the appropriate string to pull for the answers to appear.
After nearly dying of a gunshot wound, Jonathan Stride has been on an extended leave, trying to ascertain whether or not going back to the Police Department is really in his future.
Maggie Bei, gets called about a suspicious abduction involving a local lawyer, she tells Stride it's time for him to come back.
Stride returns to a tangled web, and he must locate the appropriate string to pull for the answers to appear.
December 11, 2024
I love to read books about my youth in Duluth. Brian does a good job of bringing back some semblance to my life. He hasn't brought back hockey yet, but I'll give him the chance. He had all the regulars in his characters, Maggie Bei, Serena Jonny's wife, Cat going to UMD as a Freshman, her nemesis in math Delaney and a new character Serena's pooch Elton. This is a time when Jonny is recovering from a gunshot wound to his chest and the recovery has taken 14 months. Is he going back to work? Serena's find out that her mother has died on a park bench in Phoenix. A Lawyers wife has been kidnapped. The Lawyer has paid the ransom but did not hear back from the kidnappers and then went to the police. That is at much information I will give you so you can read the rest which has a lot of different scenarios in store for you. I give Brian a 4 out of 5 for his story. It is really good read and I recommend it.
December 23, 2022
Superb and scary. A Jonathan Stride novel. A woman is kidnapped. But this kidnapping is different. It's the tip of the iceberg. Something only possible with modern IT, dating websites and social media.
Scary story in that it could happen. And variations of it do ie men/women searching for partners with money.
Well written, great plot, Superb storyline. Unputdownable.
Scary story in that it could happen. And variations of it do ie men/women searching for partners with money.
Well written, great plot, Superb storyline. Unputdownable.
March 19, 2023
A super strong slice of Stride (and the gang) pie. I really enjoyed the multiple storylines and character interactions in this one. It's book 11 in the series but Mr Freeman keeps finding new ways to keep said series fresh and interesting. And pretty unputdownable.
A really enjoyable read!
4 Satisfying Stars
A really enjoyable read!
4 Satisfying Stars
November 8, 2022
This is one of the better mysteries I’ve read this year. Even though it’s number 11 in a series, it works very well as a stand-alone. Although I'd not read any of its predecessors, I never felt lost or like I needed to catch up.
Set in and around Duluth, Minnesota, "The Zero Night" features two police investigations undertaken by Lieutenant Jonathan Stride, his wife Detective Serena Stride, and his former partner and now boss, Lieutenant Maggie Bei. The first is a kidnapping. The second is the reexamination of a suicide from several years ago.
Author Brian Freeman has given us a complex and surprising plot starring some terrific characters having lots of range and emotional depth. The story is not just about the crimes being investigated. It is also about three inter-connected detectives, the people they care about, and the perpetrators they’re chasing. All these characters have, and even share, various demons. Freeman writes about their relationships and emotional challenges with great understanding and sensitivity, addressing issues such as alcoholism, child abandonment and abuse, mid-life crossroads, loneliness, the inability to make connections, and finding one's purpose.
So, a very good detective story with some very human and believable characters.
Set in and around Duluth, Minnesota, "The Zero Night" features two police investigations undertaken by Lieutenant Jonathan Stride, his wife Detective Serena Stride, and his former partner and now boss, Lieutenant Maggie Bei. The first is a kidnapping. The second is the reexamination of a suicide from several years ago.
Author Brian Freeman has given us a complex and surprising plot starring some terrific characters having lots of range and emotional depth. The story is not just about the crimes being investigated. It is also about three inter-connected detectives, the people they care about, and the perpetrators they’re chasing. All these characters have, and even share, various demons. Freeman writes about their relationships and emotional challenges with great understanding and sensitivity, addressing issues such as alcoholism, child abandonment and abuse, mid-life crossroads, loneliness, the inability to make connections, and finding one's purpose.
So, a very good detective story with some very human and believable characters.
November 7, 2022
I'm a big fan of Freeman and of this series, in particular. I think the Jonathan Stride books are Freeman's best work and I've been waiting for this one for quite some time now. The truth is that I was a bit worried about it though. I haven't particularly liked the last two books I've read by this author. One was a standalone and the other an entry in the Jason Bourne series. I was worried that perhaps Freeman had bitten off a bit more than he could chew, balancing a bunch of different series and writing too many books in too short a period of time.
I was put at ease pretty early on in this book. Freeman returned to familiar ground and his already established great family of characters and this book began like stepping into a warm bath--the tension just melted away.
That said, this book wasn't without its issues. The cop battling alcoholism trope has been done to death in this genre. It can be intelligently argued that it's so prevalent in law enforcement that not including it is being unrealistic. I'll buy that. What I won't buy is including but not doing anything new with it. As soon as I saw it was going to be a major part of the book I couldn't help but roll my eyes. This book had a really strong pace to it, but that pace was interrupted every time we went back to the character who was struggling with alcoholism. It gave the book a bad case of the hiccups.
Every other aspect of the book was pretty tight though. As I said, the pace was mostly solid the characters, though previously established in other books, were all on point and the plot was compelling. Freeman almost always makes you feel like you're in good hands as his stories progress. You know he's taking you on a ride and he makes you pay attention because you know any detail might come back to be the clue that the story winds up hinging upon.
I didn't particularly care for the way this book concluded. With Freeman, you know he's going to flip the script in the end and of course, he did so here. However, when he's on his game his flips are usually elegant and mind-blowing. You usually feel like you could have figured it out but he hid it so well and pushed you to other outcomes with red herrings and misdirection that you missed it. This book felt like one of the twist reveals was pretty obvious once it was revealed as a possibility and the other felt kind of lazy. The character was barely developed at all and there was nothing there to suggest that character could even possibly be more than what they seemed. And the way the case is cracked with that bad guy was kind of silly. The way that thread ended seemed a bit silly as well. It all felt a lot like just going through the motions.
So, this is a 3.5 star book for me and I'm rounding down to 3 for my official rating here. I'm happy to recommend it and to recommend the entire series as a matter of fact, but this isn't one of the better books in the series. No regrets on reading it and I'll certainly be back for the next installment in the series but I'm really hoping Freeman will find his way back to his more elite writing capability.
I was put at ease pretty early on in this book. Freeman returned to familiar ground and his already established great family of characters and this book began like stepping into a warm bath--the tension just melted away.
That said, this book wasn't without its issues. The cop battling alcoholism trope has been done to death in this genre. It can be intelligently argued that it's so prevalent in law enforcement that not including it is being unrealistic. I'll buy that. What I won't buy is including but not doing anything new with it. As soon as I saw it was going to be a major part of the book I couldn't help but roll my eyes. This book had a really strong pace to it, but that pace was interrupted every time we went back to the character who was struggling with alcoholism. It gave the book a bad case of the hiccups.
Every other aspect of the book was pretty tight though. As I said, the pace was mostly solid the characters, though previously established in other books, were all on point and the plot was compelling. Freeman almost always makes you feel like you're in good hands as his stories progress. You know he's taking you on a ride and he makes you pay attention because you know any detail might come back to be the clue that the story winds up hinging upon.
I didn't particularly care for the way this book concluded. With Freeman, you know he's going to flip the script in the end and of course, he did so here. However, when he's on his game his flips are usually elegant and mind-blowing. You usually feel like you could have figured it out but he hid it so well and pushed you to other outcomes with red herrings and misdirection that you missed it. This book felt like one of the twist reveals was pretty obvious once it was revealed as a possibility and the other felt kind of lazy. The character was barely developed at all and there was nothing there to suggest that character could even possibly be more than what they seemed. And the way the case is cracked with that bad guy was kind of silly. The way that thread ended seemed a bit silly as well. It all felt a lot like just going through the motions.
So, this is a 3.5 star book for me and I'm rounding down to 3 for my official rating here. I'm happy to recommend it and to recommend the entire series as a matter of fact, but this isn't one of the better books in the series. No regrets on reading it and I'll certainly be back for the next installment in the series but I'm really hoping Freeman will find his way back to his more elite writing capability.
November 1, 2022
Happy Publication Day!!!
The eleventh full length novel in the Jonathan Stride series adds another exciting story to my favorite series. With timeless page turning and a family of characters, I feel this is a thriller treat.
This story has emotional aspects that keep it tense throughout. I’ve been pretty good with perp hunting on his books lately but seeing everything unfold remains very suspenseful. I hope the next Stride book is sooner than later!
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity in exchange for an honest review.
The eleventh full length novel in the Jonathan Stride series adds another exciting story to my favorite series. With timeless page turning and a family of characters, I feel this is a thriller treat.
This story has emotional aspects that keep it tense throughout. I’ve been pretty good with perp hunting on his books lately but seeing everything unfold remains very suspenseful. I hope the next Stride book is sooner than later!
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity in exchange for an honest review.
November 13, 2022
Best One Yet! Cried Ugly Tears!!
Brian Freeman is in my Top 5 favorite authors. I have read everything this man has written so far, with the exception of The Bourne books. He can literally do no wrong. The Jonathan Stride series is my favorite and this one is book 11 in that series. Yes, this can work as a standalone, but do yourself a huge favor and go back and read the series, beginning with Immoral. That will give you that relationship with the fantastic characters and their histories. This story focuses more on Serena and her story. My heart broke a little when I got to the part where I realized what the title of the book means. Serena and Jonathan are at a crossroads. I was rooting so hard for them through the whole story. Elton!! Oh my gosh! Ugly tears! Oh yeah, and there is a mystery/suspense story going on also, obviously. Well actually two. Jonathan and Maggie are working on a kidnapped wife case and Serena takes on a previously solved case that just never felt right. Both are so masterfully written and no plot holes and an amazing ending. If you have no idea what I'm talking about in this review, that means you haven't read the Jonathan Stride series and probably not a Brian Freeman book either. That is your loss and you need to correct that ASAP! And on a sidenote, the Cab Bolton and Frost Easton series' are awesome also and could use new entries. Hint, Hint.
Brian Freeman is in my Top 5 favorite authors. I have read everything this man has written so far, with the exception of The Bourne books. He can literally do no wrong. The Jonathan Stride series is my favorite and this one is book 11 in that series. Yes, this can work as a standalone, but do yourself a huge favor and go back and read the series, beginning with Immoral. That will give you that relationship with the fantastic characters and their histories. This story focuses more on Serena and her story. My heart broke a little when I got to the part where I realized what the title of the book means. Serena and Jonathan are at a crossroads. I was rooting so hard for them through the whole story. Elton!! Oh my gosh! Ugly tears! Oh yeah, and there is a mystery/suspense story going on also, obviously. Well actually two. Jonathan and Maggie are working on a kidnapped wife case and Serena takes on a previously solved case that just never felt right. Both are so masterfully written and no plot holes and an amazing ending. If you have no idea what I'm talking about in this review, that means you haven't read the Jonathan Stride series and probably not a Brian Freeman book either. That is your loss and you need to correct that ASAP! And on a sidenote, the Cab Bolton and Frost Easton series' are awesome also and could use new entries. Hint, Hint.
November 8, 2022
Jonathan Stride is recovering from being shot when his wife Serena finds out her estranged mother has died. Jonathan and Serena haven't been on the best terms and this puts her over the edge. She starts making bad decisions at work and Jonathan ends of picking up the slack after being off work for months. They investigate the kidnapping of the wife of a local defense lawyer and while they think he is guilty, they can't seem to make their suspicions stick.
Another great one from Brian Freeman. His Stride series is one of my favorites and I always look forward to the next entry. I was not disappointed. It was another good police procedural and it progressed the Stride characters.
Another great one from Brian Freeman. His Stride series is one of my favorites and I always look forward to the next entry. I was not disappointed. It was another good police procedural and it progressed the Stride characters.
November 23, 2022
The latest novel in the first-class Jonathan Stride series from author Brian Freeman, THE ZERO NIGHT, introduces us initially to a keen missing persons mystery and then beneath that flowers into an outstanding character-driven piece about married Detectives Jonathan and Serena Stride.
The initial case involves a Defense Attorney named Gavin Webster, one who has played on the opposite side of the legal table for many years, now the possible victim of a ransom threat when his wife Chelsey goes missing. The striking opening scene finds a drenched Gavin Webster sitting on a bench during a fierce storm along the dock of the raging Lake Superiour waters in Minnesota. He has decided following three hours of no response after paying a 100K ransom to contact the local Duluth Police Department. Maggie Bei takes that call and handles the initial questioning of Webster.
Of course, Maggie feels things are somewhat suspicious. This is mainly due to the fact that she learns Gavin Webster recently came into a 3 Million Dollar inheritance following the death of his sister. When Webster is also connected to several shady business dealings that include a large illegal underground gambling ring, one in which he may owe a ton of money to, Maggie has her suspicions well confirmed. To her, it looks like Mr. Webster may have actually been the mastermind behind his wife’s ‘disappearance’ in light of his new upcoming lifestyle change as a result of the serious found money he has recently come into.
Simultaneous to these proceedings, Detective Serena Stride learns of the unexpected death by heart attack of her estranged mother Samantha. Even though there was no love lost between Serena and her birth mother, the incident affects her enough to impact her performance on the job and Maggie is forced to reassign her from the Gavin Webster case. As a result, Maggie reaches out to the her former boss, Jonathan Stride, who has been away from the Duluth P.D. now for fourteen months after nearly losing his life when he was shot through the heart during his last assignment. Stride initially agrees to come back to work on some long open cold cases before eventually being pulled into the Gavin Webster case.
As for those cold cases that Jonathan Stride is saddled with, I have to remark that I was pleasantly surprised to find my own namesake included in the group. A ‘Ray Palen’ had been missing for fifteen months when his car was found at Fish Lake with no evidence of foul play. The accountant from a local independent brewery has not been seen since and, I hope, Jonathan Stride eventually dives into this case to save my namesake and return him to what sounds like an extremely cool job!
Meanwhile, the character study portion of THE ZERO NIGHT firmly belongs to Serena Stride and Freeman produces some of his most poignant work to date describing her personal struggles throughout this novel. To begin with, the harsh memories of the abuse she suffered at the hands of her now late mother are serious as well as their struggles living for a while as a homeless duo during Serena’s youth. Serena has had to battle alcoholism to the point where she awakens each night in bed after midnight and counts to herself the amount of days sober she has lived. The number gets to over six thousand but is vanquished in a night at a bar where she seriously falls off of the wagon. Now, this night has become her zero night as the tally is wiped out for her nightly count.
Adding to Serena’s story is the bond she makes with her adopted daughter, Cat, now a student at local UMD college. Serena remembers clearly from her zero night seeing a vision of a former victim from a prior case, Nikki Candis, who had taken her own life via a self-inflicted bullet to the head. While she knows this is impossible, Serena also recognizes that the death of Nikki Candis never sat well with her and she always felt she had missed something. This is where she truly connects with Cat as she needs her help in being introduced to a fellow college student at UMD named Delaney Candis, daughter of the late Nikki. This meeting will allow Serena to pursue that case in her own way and also opens her up to many feelings she did not expect to have in the wake of the unique grief she is presently dealing with. Had it not been for the Gavin Webster case I believe that the issues Serena goes through in this novel would have seriously taken a toll on her marriage to Jonathan.
Jonathan has jumped right back into the fold with his old partner, Maggie, and takes to the Gavin Webster case like a dog with a newly found bone. When they learn that the alleged kidnappers might have been in touch with the Webster household prior to the actual kidnapping it really fuels the prospect that this entire thing might be a set-up. The issue for Jonathan and Maggie will be their ability to obtain enough evidence to prove this, especially with Gavin Webster claiming to be the victim the entire time.
Again, the driving force for me in this novel was Serena and her extremely personal story. The two stories are both dynamic and in whole make for a great read. Brian Freeman continues to show his mastery of the mystery/thriller genre with the addition of THE ZERO NIGHT to his array of best-selling novels. Now, I can only hope he sends Jonathan Stride down the road on that poor Ray Palen cold case so my namesake can finally get some peace!
Reviewed by Ray Palen for Book Reporter
The initial case involves a Defense Attorney named Gavin Webster, one who has played on the opposite side of the legal table for many years, now the possible victim of a ransom threat when his wife Chelsey goes missing. The striking opening scene finds a drenched Gavin Webster sitting on a bench during a fierce storm along the dock of the raging Lake Superiour waters in Minnesota. He has decided following three hours of no response after paying a 100K ransom to contact the local Duluth Police Department. Maggie Bei takes that call and handles the initial questioning of Webster.
Of course, Maggie feels things are somewhat suspicious. This is mainly due to the fact that she learns Gavin Webster recently came into a 3 Million Dollar inheritance following the death of his sister. When Webster is also connected to several shady business dealings that include a large illegal underground gambling ring, one in which he may owe a ton of money to, Maggie has her suspicions well confirmed. To her, it looks like Mr. Webster may have actually been the mastermind behind his wife’s ‘disappearance’ in light of his new upcoming lifestyle change as a result of the serious found money he has recently come into.
Simultaneous to these proceedings, Detective Serena Stride learns of the unexpected death by heart attack of her estranged mother Samantha. Even though there was no love lost between Serena and her birth mother, the incident affects her enough to impact her performance on the job and Maggie is forced to reassign her from the Gavin Webster case. As a result, Maggie reaches out to the her former boss, Jonathan Stride, who has been away from the Duluth P.D. now for fourteen months after nearly losing his life when he was shot through the heart during his last assignment. Stride initially agrees to come back to work on some long open cold cases before eventually being pulled into the Gavin Webster case.
As for those cold cases that Jonathan Stride is saddled with, I have to remark that I was pleasantly surprised to find my own namesake included in the group. A ‘Ray Palen’ had been missing for fifteen months when his car was found at Fish Lake with no evidence of foul play. The accountant from a local independent brewery has not been seen since and, I hope, Jonathan Stride eventually dives into this case to save my namesake and return him to what sounds like an extremely cool job!
Meanwhile, the character study portion of THE ZERO NIGHT firmly belongs to Serena Stride and Freeman produces some of his most poignant work to date describing her personal struggles throughout this novel. To begin with, the harsh memories of the abuse she suffered at the hands of her now late mother are serious as well as their struggles living for a while as a homeless duo during Serena’s youth. Serena has had to battle alcoholism to the point where she awakens each night in bed after midnight and counts to herself the amount of days sober she has lived. The number gets to over six thousand but is vanquished in a night at a bar where she seriously falls off of the wagon. Now, this night has become her zero night as the tally is wiped out for her nightly count.
Adding to Serena’s story is the bond she makes with her adopted daughter, Cat, now a student at local UMD college. Serena remembers clearly from her zero night seeing a vision of a former victim from a prior case, Nikki Candis, who had taken her own life via a self-inflicted bullet to the head. While she knows this is impossible, Serena also recognizes that the death of Nikki Candis never sat well with her and she always felt she had missed something. This is where she truly connects with Cat as she needs her help in being introduced to a fellow college student at UMD named Delaney Candis, daughter of the late Nikki. This meeting will allow Serena to pursue that case in her own way and also opens her up to many feelings she did not expect to have in the wake of the unique grief she is presently dealing with. Had it not been for the Gavin Webster case I believe that the issues Serena goes through in this novel would have seriously taken a toll on her marriage to Jonathan.
Jonathan has jumped right back into the fold with his old partner, Maggie, and takes to the Gavin Webster case like a dog with a newly found bone. When they learn that the alleged kidnappers might have been in touch with the Webster household prior to the actual kidnapping it really fuels the prospect that this entire thing might be a set-up. The issue for Jonathan and Maggie will be their ability to obtain enough evidence to prove this, especially with Gavin Webster claiming to be the victim the entire time.
Again, the driving force for me in this novel was Serena and her extremely personal story. The two stories are both dynamic and in whole make for a great read. Brian Freeman continues to show his mastery of the mystery/thriller genre with the addition of THE ZERO NIGHT to his array of best-selling novels. Now, I can only hope he sends Jonathan Stride down the road on that poor Ray Palen cold case so my namesake can finally get some peace!
Reviewed by Ray Palen for Book Reporter
August 9, 2024
There was a lot going on in this one....and the author managed to bring it all together in the conclusion. The ending was my favorite part because it was so well done.
I'm always a fan of subplots and this one had that. The kidnapper was no surprise, but the way the MCs collected clues was done in a logical & methodical way. I loved that too.
Overall this was a fun read. So 4 stars.
I'm always a fan of subplots and this one had that. The kidnapper was no surprise, but the way the MCs collected clues was done in a logical & methodical way. I loved that too.
Overall this was a fun read. So 4 stars.
November 18, 2022
Blog review in progress.
Another SQUEE 🤗🤗🤗🤗 Brian Freeman read. Jonathan and his crew make me all kinds of happy!
Another SQUEE 🤗🤗🤗🤗 Brian Freeman read. Jonathan and his crew make me all kinds of happy!
April 1, 2025
This is another masterpiece from Mr Freeman! This gentleman’s books are amazing. He weaves his mystery through his words like pearls. His Stride novels are few and far between, but they are always worth waiting for. Besides, we can read his other prolific series, which are what drew me to his novels in the first place! Stride makes it back to his place in the world and the four main characters are where they belong. The ending is a surprise worth going through all the twists and turns to the answers.
August 2, 2022
This is another winner in a series I like very much.
Jonathan Stride is recovering from a gunshot wound that nearly ended his life and his wife, Serena, is dealing with the death of a mother whom had no chance of mother of the year. Throw in a kidnapping and a cold case involving a suicide…..no way they could be connected, right?
The plot is intriguing, the character development is spot on, and the ending….well you will have to read it for yourself.
Highly recommended!
Jonathan Stride is recovering from a gunshot wound that nearly ended his life and his wife, Serena, is dealing with the death of a mother whom had no chance of mother of the year. Throw in a kidnapping and a cold case involving a suicide…..no way they could be connected, right?
The plot is intriguing, the character development is spot on, and the ending….well you will have to read it for yourself.
Highly recommended!
September 1, 2022
Another 5⭐️ for Brian Freeman.
This is the eleventh installment in the series.
Jonathan Stride and Maggie Bei search for a lawyer’s kidnapped wife while Jonathan’s wife Serena investigates the suicide of a woman two years ago. This book is full of twist’s and turns and didn’t want to put it down.
Thanks NetGalley, Blackstone Publishing and Brian Freeman for the chance to read this ARC!
November 2, 2022
Jonathan Stride is back for his 11th novel in The Zero Night by Brian Freeman. There is a lot going on in this novel right off the bat. A familiar defense attorney has his wife kidnapped and Stride, still recovering from his injuries, is convinced to come back and work the case. Meanwhile his wife, Serena, finds out that her mom has died. This leads her to contemplating drinking for the first time in a long time. She also decides to revisit a case that she ruled suicide two years.
This book is very addictive from the start. As with any book for Mr. Freeman, there are a number of twists and turns throughout the story. I will say one of them was kind of easy to guess, but Mr. Freeman does such a good job disguising his twists that I found myself second guessing through the novel. I thought each storyline was very strong and could’ve stood on their own. Mr. Freeman did an excellent job leaving the two stories together to make one. It was very interesting to see Stride and Serena both on separate cases and dealing with their own personal problems.
If you like a good thriller with unsuspected twists and turns. This is the book for you. It is an easy and fast read that you won’t want to put down. The characters are well developed, and don’t feel like you can’t read this book if you haven’t read the rest of the series. It works as a standalone novel, but I would recommend picking up the rest of the series.
Thank you to Brian Freeman, NetGalley, and Blackstone Publishing for a free arc for an honest review.
This book is very addictive from the start. As with any book for Mr. Freeman, there are a number of twists and turns throughout the story. I will say one of them was kind of easy to guess, but Mr. Freeman does such a good job disguising his twists that I found myself second guessing through the novel. I thought each storyline was very strong and could’ve stood on their own. Mr. Freeman did an excellent job leaving the two stories together to make one. It was very interesting to see Stride and Serena both on separate cases and dealing with their own personal problems.
If you like a good thriller with unsuspected twists and turns. This is the book for you. It is an easy and fast read that you won’t want to put down. The characters are well developed, and don’t feel like you can’t read this book if you haven’t read the rest of the series. It works as a standalone novel, but I would recommend picking up the rest of the series.
Thank you to Brian Freeman, NetGalley, and Blackstone Publishing for a free arc for an honest review.
April 15, 2023
This has been my first book in the series, albeit it is the 11th. I have been following Brian Freeman since his introduction as an author under the Robert Ludlum Estate penning the Bourne Series. Thereafter, started following his writings and enjoyed his two works in the Shelby Lake series. This book featuring protagonist, Jonathan Stride was an engrossing read, and certainly would like to catch up on the previous books in the series.
Duluth cop, Jonathan Stride is recovering from a fatal gunshot that has left him out of operations for more than a year. However, he is asked to return to his work when his partner, Maggie Bei reports the kidnapping of a woman under mysterious circumstances. Attorney Gavin Webster reported that he had received an anonymous ransom call, asking him to pay $100,000 in exchange for his wife. However, Stride discovers that Gavin has enough motive to mastermind the crime and starts to investigate the kidnapping from a different perspective. At the same time, Stride has to deal with a crisis in his own life. His wife Serena, after struggling with the death of her abusive mother, losses control during the investigation and is taken off the Webster case and assigned desk duty.
As the investigation unfolds, Jonathan realizes that there is more than what is apparent to the eye. He has to dig deeper into the minds of the characters and unravel their nefarious intentions. What turns out to be a simple case of kidnapping for ransom soon turns out to weave a web of betrayal, money, and murder conspiracy. The only glitch in the whole machination was the conclusion. It felt that the climax was a rushed sequence of events, which then led to some untied ends or vice-versa. Overall, a well-written storyline and is recommended for readers of crime and mystery.
Duluth cop, Jonathan Stride is recovering from a fatal gunshot that has left him out of operations for more than a year. However, he is asked to return to his work when his partner, Maggie Bei reports the kidnapping of a woman under mysterious circumstances. Attorney Gavin Webster reported that he had received an anonymous ransom call, asking him to pay $100,000 in exchange for his wife. However, Stride discovers that Gavin has enough motive to mastermind the crime and starts to investigate the kidnapping from a different perspective. At the same time, Stride has to deal with a crisis in his own life. His wife Serena, after struggling with the death of her abusive mother, losses control during the investigation and is taken off the Webster case and assigned desk duty.
As the investigation unfolds, Jonathan realizes that there is more than what is apparent to the eye. He has to dig deeper into the minds of the characters and unravel their nefarious intentions. What turns out to be a simple case of kidnapping for ransom soon turns out to weave a web of betrayal, money, and murder conspiracy. The only glitch in the whole machination was the conclusion. It felt that the climax was a rushed sequence of events, which then led to some untied ends or vice-versa. Overall, a well-written storyline and is recommended for readers of crime and mystery.
November 5, 2022
Brian Freeman does it again- a 5 star read that keeps you engaged and trying to figure out the twists and turns from the first page. There are 2 story lines here. In one Jonathan, recovering from a serious injury incurred in the line of duty is drawn back into work to help solve the abduction of a lawyers wife. In the second his wife, Serena decides to revisit a case she originally declared a suicide. Her interest in the case comes about as she deals with the death of her own estranged mother with whom she had a complicated relationship. As you try to unravel all the pieces of these two investigations you are also drawn into the personal lives of those involved, including Stride's co workers, Cat they young girl they have befriended, Delaney, the daughter of the "suicide victim, and I can't leave out Elton the dog who needs Serena as much as she needs him. In the end all the pieces of the story come together in a dramatic conclusion. I highly recommend this book and hope Mr. Freeman keeps his Jonathan Stride series going for years to come.
November 27, 2022
Brian Freeman is writing at his best in this series entry. The book is both a thriller police procedural and an exploration of multiple emotions : love both unconditional and conditional, found and lost; hate; broken mother and strong daughter relationships; falling down, fighting to get up, coming back; greed; the black side of human nature; death and life. An active kidnapping case focuses the Duluth PD on a local defense attorney while a case review raises new questions in an old murder marked closed. The final pages contain surprises both bad and good. This is a story designed to be read slowly and thoroughly which will provide many rewards to the reader as the pages turn.
February 11, 2023
Jonathan Stride is one of my favorite series. Brian Freeman is one of my favorite authors. There have only been a couple Brian Freeman books that I wasn’t a fan of but can honestly say I have loved all of the Jonathan Stride books. Well, one of them made me so angry that I fired off an email to Brian Freeman late at night when I finished reading it. Have to give Brian props-he answered me right back and told me the direction I “thought” he was taking Jonathan was NOT going to happen. So anyways Jonathan and wife Serena is back. Was a little hard to read the challenges Serena was going through but all turned out well at the end. Oh yes and there is a DOG!! Perfect!!
September 9, 2025
I ended up accidentally binging on this series, and I have to say that they get better as the series goes on. This one is a great example of a complex mystery paired with a compelling personal story for the series regulars. My pet peeves are still here: too much focus on sex and implausible scenes of police approaching violent suspects without a partner or any backup. But Freeman's formula works, and most of these books are captivating to listen to.
I'm not sure if more is planned for Stride. This didn't really end like a series conclusion but it came out in 2022, so I guess we'll see. Lots of this series is free on Audible right now, so if you like a good mystery, look them up.
I'm not sure if more is planned for Stride. This didn't really end like a series conclusion but it came out in 2022, so I guess we'll see. Lots of this series is free on Audible right now, so if you like a good mystery, look them up.
January 29, 2025
Very good suspenseful book. Now I need to get more Brian Freeman books from somewhere! It starts out as a kidnapping of a lawyer's wife and a required payoff of one hundred thousand dollars for her safe return. Only she is not returned. The reader is led to believe that the husband/lawyer is behind all of the happenings in the story. It is so involved with so many characters that it will make your head spin. And when you find out who is behind the plot, you'll be shocked. The dog ending was perfect!!!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 268 reviews