Against the Wind

Rating:
Summary: Freedman has made another excellent novel for avid readers
Review: A lawyer has chosen to defend a motorcycle gang which stands accused of a murder that carries the death penalty. He is convinced they are innocent and that is how the story starts. Though the tale keeps a steady firm pace, I can affirm that then ending is the best and richest part of the book, it is full of intrigue, twisty and features something I have not seen in another mystery books and that is the deftly sudden alteration of the profile of characters, how an innocent victim can become the devil and the other way around, this was performed with mastery, brilliant narrative tactics and not relying on easy trickery. Big praise for Freedman, he is a great novelist, this book as well as his others "Key Witness" and "The Disappearance" are worth reading.

Rating:
Summary: Expected Better
Review: After reading "The Disappearance" I thought I had found a great mystery writer in J.F. Freedman. My disappointment in "Against the Wind" was profound. Although the plot itself was interesting, the descriptive sexual exploits in the book made it almost repulsive and, in my opinion, verging on pornography. The lawyer's constant flopping into bed with other women took away any admiration I might have had for him as a hero.

This author could be one of the greater mystery writers of our time if he would leave out the sleazy and "more explicit than is needed" sex talk. He does not need to cheapen his novel in this way as he has enough writing talent as it is to write a best-selling novel. It almost angered me to see him degrading himself in this way. I will give him one more try in the hopes that he wisened up in his later novels.

Rating:
Summary: The best fiction book about law and lawyers!
Review: Courtroom thrillers don't get better than this! Thgis has everything I wanted in a great rival of John Grisham. Don't forget to pick up a copy of this fast paced thriller. I simply could not put it down! Un-down-putable!

Rating:
Summary: Great Book
Review: I loved this Book!!! Read it years ago from the libary, have decided to read it again!
Has to be a good book to rate reading more than once.

Rating:
Summary: FILTHY GARBAGE
Review: I MADE THE DOUBLE MISTAKE OF READING THIS BOOK TWICE HOPING IT WOULD GET BETTER, IT DIDN'T. WHO NEEDS SUCH GRAPHIC DETRITUS? I BOUGHT FIVE OF HIS BOOKS BECAUSE I JUST READ THE DISAPPEARANCE, THIS DOES NOT ADD TO THIS RECORD.BIKERS INTELLIGENT ENOUGH TO DO RITUAL MURDER??? DAVID N BLODGETT,[e-mail]

Rating:
Summary: Worth a Look
Review: In this first novel by J.F.Freedman, the reader can see his initial effort at writing fast moving thrillers with the raw power and flawed characters that typify all of his novels.

Will Alexander, an intelligent defense attorney who finds himself ousted from his own law firm while learning his wife is leaving him and taking his beloved daughter with her, is hired to represent the leader of four motorcycle gang members accused of a vicious murder. Will struggles to make sense of his life while attempting to clear the names of the accused. He discovers that the pieces used to convict don't quite fit together and the defendants may be victims of prejudice and stereotypes. Despite the procedural flaws (and there are enough to bother the experienced readers of legal thrillers), there is enough violent, homophobic behavior, prison violence, and legal maneuverings to hold your interest in this fast-paced novel. If you enjoy J.F. Freedman's later works, you might be interested in taking a look at AGAINST THE WIND(...)

Rating:
Summary: An absolute KNOCKOUT!
Review: It is almost hard to believe that this is a debut novel - it is that outstanding. It is completely first-rate, with powerful characters, fabulous dialogue(albeit, quite raunchy & graphic) and a frightening plot that grabs you & won't let you go. I could not put it down, which is saying alot, because I read books in this genre constantly. I can't believe it took me so long to come across this (THANKS, AMAZON!), but I am so glad I did. I will now set out to read more by Mr. Freedman, to be sure! Highly recommended!

Rating:
Summary: 100% What a roller coaster ride! Exceptional.. Excellent
Review: Not a wasted word. A Perfectly told story about a lawyer et al defending four men accused of murder. The book is alive and truly interesting and exciting because it's so real... possible The characters are believable down to earth people. The story could be real. (none of that arrogant mr/ms perfect, rich lawyer in their $3,000 power suits etc. etc. defending some billionaires daughter...blahblahblah.)

Told in a full and rich manner. 3D. Like I said, not a wasted word. Nice humor as well. Will's first impression of one of the four motorcycle members. "He's huge, the baby of the group. Red hair in a bowlcut and freckles: Huck Finn in your worst nightmare." It was a joy to read....I couldn't wait to get back to it each night.

I'll be reading J. F. Freedman from here on out. He is head and shoulders above the rest. An excellent story teller. I highly recommend this book. The only thing missing from Against the Wind is an Epilogue.

Rating:
Summary: Earliest Work is Worth a Look
Review: Reviewer: Tim Smith from Fresno, CA See the review above, it's much better and that Tim Smith knows what he's writing about. Thanks

Rating:
Summary: AN EXCELLENT BOOK
Review: THIS HAS BECOME MY ALL TIME FAVORITE LEGAL THRILLER BECAUSE OF HOW THE LAWYER, WHOSE NAME I HAVE FORGOTTEN, PREVAILS AND IS REDEEMED. I ENJOYED EVERY MINUTE OF READING IT, ESPECIALLY HOW THE MYSTERY WAS SOLVED, THE REAL CULPRIT FOUND AND HOW JUSTICE PREVAILED. I LOVE THIS BOOK AND HAVE BOUGHT IT FOR MANY FRIENDS.