Rating: 
Summary: an enjoyable thriller
Review: Ace lawyer writer J. F. Freedman delivers a gratifying suspense thriller in his latest - 'wrong place at the wrong time' novel Bird's Eye View. Ever since I read the author's Above the Law, I had made it a point to read all his legal thrillers including Disappearance, Against the Wind and Key Witness. This time around, the author takes a leave from the legal thriller genre, and the protagonist herein is a history teacher, and not a lawyer.
Fritz Tullis, a Texas University Professor of History and an amateur photographer is on a sabbatical after being suspended for having an illicit affair with the wife of one of the patrons of the University. Disillusioned and an alcoholic he now spends his time near the Chesapeake Bay watching migrating birds and taking their photos. He has a particular interest in Ollie, a Whooping Crane and an endangered species that has found its way to Chesapeake Bay. One day while watching the antics of Ollie, Tullis is distracted by the sounds of an approaching plane, and through his camera Fritz sees a murder being committed and he catches the same on film. The victim is a senior Russian Diplomat, and the primary villain is James Roach (Roach, a most apt name for a bad guy, right?), an Assistant Secretary of State. What follows is thrilling action with the Professor trying to bring to book, the murderers, placing his life, that of his family and that of Ollie in danger.
Suspense wise, this book is a good read. The convoluted twist in the tail plot is interesting, and page-turning. However, after reading the fantabulous Disappearance and Above the Law, I expected something in those lines, and I was dissatisfied. For one thing there is no legal action, and secondly the taut narration and storytelling prowess that is the hallmark of a Freedman work, especially Disappearance, is absent herein. Sometimes that's what happens when a writer delivers a masterpiece, readers begin to expect more, and in that level, Bird's Eye View is a disappointment.
So in the end I must say, to the uninitiated Freedman reader, Bird's Eye View would prove interesting, but to the seasoned reader of Freedman works, it is a letdown.
Rating:
Summary: an enjoyable thriller
Review: Ace lawyer writer J. F. Freedman delivers a gratifying suspense thriller in his latest - `wrong place at the wrong time' novel Bird's Eye View. Ever since I read the author's Above the Law, I had made it a point to read all his legal thrillers including Disappearance, Against the Wind and Key Witness. This time around, the author takes a leave from the legal thriller genre, and the protagonist herein is a history teacher, and not a lawyer.
Fritz Tullis, a Texas University Professor of History and an amateur photographer is on a sabbatical after being suspended for having an illicit affair with the wife of one of the patrons of the University. Disillusioned and an alcoholic he now spends his time near the Chesapeake Bay watching migrating birds and taking their photos. He has a particular interest in Ollie, a Whooping Crane and an endangered species that has found its way to Chesapeake Bay. One day while watching the antics of Ollie, Tullis is distracted by the sounds of an approaching plane, and through his camera Fritz sees a murder being committed and he catches the same on film. The victim is a senior Russian Diplomat, and the primary villain is James Roach (Roach, a most apt name for a bad guy, right?), an Assistant Secretary of State. What follows is thrilling action with the Professor trying to bring to book, the murderers, placing his life, that of his family and that of Ollie in danger.
Suspense wise, this book is a good read. The convoluted twist in the tail plot is interesting, and page-turning. However, after reading the fantabulous Disappearance and Above the Law, I expected something in those lines, and I was dissatisfied. For one thing there is no legal action, and secondly the taut narration and storytelling prowess that is the hallmark of a Freedman work, especially Disappearance, is absent herein. Sometimes that's what happens when a writer delivers a masterpiece, readers begin to expect more, and in that level, Bird's Eye View is a disappointment.
So in the end I must say, to the uninitiated Freedman reader, Bird's Eye View would prove interesting, but to the seasoned reader of Freedman works, it is a letdown.
Rating:
Summary: I'd Like to Give it More I Really Would
Review: Again I feel the editorial reviews summed the plot up enough, it would be redundant if I gave an additional summary.
First though let me say I am a big fan of Freedman's works, however I couldn't in good conscience give this offering more than 3 stars.
As thriller's go it is interesting, and has many elements I look for in thrillers namely excellent characterization, after all if reader doesn't feel he/she can genuinely care or sympathize for characters why read the book? Freedman again presents an anti-hero worthy of readers' emotion, and it is not there I failed to totally fall for this story.
It is just not exceptional. The tie-in with Ollie the Crane was nice play on title, but the overall plot didn't make me go wow I've gotta stay up all night reading. I know Freedman is an extrememely talented writer and although this could be he most mature work I can't claim its his best. Having said that I am reviewing it not necessarily to give it the ol' 2 thumbs up but to at least praise it as being worthy for a quick read.
Rating: 
Summary: Good suspense story
Review: Although this is a suspense novel, J.F. Freedman departs from his usual field of legal thriller and his usual setting of California to tell this story of Fritz Tullis, the black sheep of a prosperous Maryland family, and the murder he witnesses.Tullis, a former history professor forced to resign in disgrace, has carved out a minimalist existence in the woods on his mother's estate. He spends his days bird-watching, and on one expedition, he sees (and photographs) a murder on a neighbor's land. Touchy about breaking out of his isolation, Tullis is initially reluctant to report a crime that doesn't seem to impact him. The novel deals with Tullis's decision to quietly investigate the crime to see if he should actually report it to the authorities. Along the way, he begins to undergo a healing process that can restore his life. As is typical with Freedman, this book is written in the first person and, unusually, in the present tense. The departures from his usual story and setting work okay, but he is usually stronger on his more familiar ground. There is very little that is wrong with this story, but it is not exceptional enough to merit five stars. Nonetheless, it is a fast and entertaining read for those who like mysteries.
Rating: 
Summary: Bird's Eye View of Murder
Review: As a mystery author with my debut novel in its initial release, I genuinely enjoyed J.F. Freedman's tale of Fritz Tullis. Fritz is a man who was born on third base and who is in danger of getting picked off before he scores. His roots are as establishment as they can get. His mother is a Maryland patrician, and he was, until he had an affair with the wrong woman, a respected history professor at the University of Texas. After losing his job, he returns to his family's Maryland estate, drinks too much, chases convenient skirts, and takes up birdwatching. He becomes fascinated with a whooping crane. One hungover morning, as he is searching for his favorite member of that endangered feathered species, he witnesses a murder on a neighboring airstrip. It turns out the airstrip is owned by an undersecretary of state with a checkered past. The victim turns out to be a Russian diplomat. Fritz decides something has to be done, and he finds his efforts assisted by a beautiful Harvard academic with a famous film star's name yet her own deep secrets. BIRD'S-EYE VIEW is an enjoyable read on many levels. I recommend it highly.
Rating:
Summary: strange disparity of language
Review: Bird's Eye View is the story of an academician on "sabbatical"--
euphemism his high-brow, genteel mother uses to describe her son fritz's termination as a tenured history professor--who finds himself an accidental witness to an international incident. others have reviewed the plot at length, but not many have pondered the strangest disparity of language ever seen in a novel, which in my opinion makes fritz an implausible character. fritz is highly educated, fairly likeable and expresses himself intelligently in dialogue and narrative with one GLARING exception. all physical contact with women throughout the book is referred to as [bad word] and his descriptions of female anatomy and sexual situations are straight from a bad porn script. imo, this totally undermined his character's credibility. on a few occasions, i felt like shutting an otherwise decent book for good, because of it. i'm not sure i comprehend the author's reasons for using such vernacular, but i feel it detracted from the story as a whole, and wasn't true to the main character's other traits--a glaring flaw in any novel.
Rating: 
Summary: Disappointing
Review: For an author whose books usually keep me on the edge of my seat,
this book really dragged. I forced myself to finish it and regretted the time I spent reading it.
Rating:
Summary: Suspenseful tale sets good pace, not just for the birds!
Review: Freedman has six prior novels, but was unknown to us until a friend insisted we read "Bird's-Eye". We weren't sorry, as our author combines solid writing skills with the ability to capture our interest immediately and keep us turning pages in a hurry with mystery and suspense. Already in Chapter One, we meet our leading man, Fritz Tullis, but have no idea why this thirty-something high-achiever, from a land-owning family wealthy for generations, is living in a shack on his mother's property in the swampish backwoods of the lower Chesapeake Bay. He spends his days doping, drinking, and enjoying ready sex partners, with occasional forays into the swamp to photograph birds (hence the title) with long telephoto lenses. By chapter's end, his camera catches a murder on a nearby property with a private air strip from a concealed, on the water, vantage point no one would ever know about. Tullis spends much of the first half of the story staying uninvolved - but as he learns more about the potential culprits, or at least the conspirators involved, he cannot resist doing the right thing (solving the crime) while seeking little help from the authorities, with whom he knew he would have little credibility. Meanwhile, another new lady friend takes just a little too much interest in both the birds, one of which is a rare whooping crane, as well as the murder mystery; and we readers get enough info to smell a rat much sooner than does Tullis. Corruption and politics soon enter the fray as an Assistant Secretary of State, James Roach (presumably no pun!) turns out to be the neighbor who owns the air strip. Along the way, another murder or two adds to the intrigue and the dangerous nature of the chase, with the action and affairs of the heart reaching crescendo pace by book's end. Freedman develops a fine plot without engaging so many characters we lose track. The suspense is realistic, as are the players and their thoughts and feelings. In sum, we not only enjoyed this novel immensely but will seek out his earlier works soon. Enjoy!
Rating:
Summary: Suspenseful tale sets good pace, not just for the birds!
Review: Freedman has six prior novels, but was unknown to us until a friend insisted we read "Bird's-Eye". We weren't sorry, as our author combines solid writing skills with the ability to capture our interest immediately and keep us turning pages in a hurry with mystery and suspense. Already in Chapter One, we meet our leading man, Fritz Tullis, but have no idea why this thirty-something high-achiever, from a land-owning family wealthy for generations, is living in a shack on his mother's property in the swampish backwoods of the lower Chesapeake Bay. He spends his days doping, drinking, and enjoying ready sex partners, with occasional forays into the swamp to photograph birds (hence the title) with long telephoto lenses. By chapter's end, his camera catches a murder on a nearby property with a private air strip from a concealed, on the water, vantage point no one would ever know about. Tullis spends much of the first half of the story staying uninvolved - but as he learns more about the potential culprits, or at least the conspirators involved, he cannot resist doing the right thing (solving the crime) while seeking little help from the authorities, with whom he knew he would have little credibility. Meanwhile, another new lady friend takes just a little too much interest in both the birds, one of which is a rare whooping crane, as well as the murder mystery; and we readers get enough info to smell a rat much sooner than does Tullis. Corruption and politics soon enter the fray as an Assistant Secretary of State, James Roach (presumably no pun!) turns out to be the neighbor who owns the air strip. Along the way, another murder or two adds to the intrigue and the dangerous nature of the chase, with the action and affairs of the heart reaching crescendo pace by book's end. Freedman develops a fine plot without engaging so many characters we lose track. The suspense is realistic, as are the players and their thoughts and feelings. In sum, we not only enjoyed this novel immensely but will seek out his earlier works soon. Enjoy!
Rating:
Summary: International Intrigue comes home to roost in Maryland swamp
Review: Freedman wrote one of my favorite thrillers ever--Against the Wind, and several dynamite follow-ups. This is not one of them.
The basic plot elements are all great. Ordinary guy falls on hard times, too much alcohol, too much self-pity, too much self-absorbtion. Then a series of events, rooted in gun running in decades past, mixed with political intrigue, conspire to intrude into hero's neat little self-contained world.
The plot twists and turns; no one is quite who we thing he (and, most significantly, she) is. The story unfolds with Freedman's great writing, and the pages keep turning.
Two problems. First, the scenes between Maureen and Franz feel extremely forced, and even to the point of being long winded. Second, the story simply peters out at the end. We don't know if the bad guy gets away with it. We don't know if true love will out. We don't even know what happens to the birds.
I suspect that Freedman got bored with thrillers, and tried to do something more "literary". The title is an excellent double (triple, more?) entendre--it is by viewing his birds that Franz gets sucked in; but it is also by trying to live life from a bird's point of view--above it all, with no cares about the world--that Franz gets sucked deeper and deeper into trouble. Finally, the whole problem is caused by the fact that Ollie (our hero's whooping crane) is not where he belongs--several thousand miles from Texas, where he "belongs". This is also Franz' problem, who got lost in Texas, and ended up a few hundred feet away from Ollie in the Maryland swamps.
Good read, but not as good as the other Freedman's I've read.
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