A Visible Darkness (Max Freeman Novels (Audio))

Rating:
Summary: Not Great, but Not Bad
Review: After Jonathon King's stellar debut with THE BLUE EDGE OF MIDNIGHT I admit I had high expectations for this book. While it is still a well-written book with a compelling cast of characters, the plot was a little too predictable.

I can't give it an unqualified recommendation, but it still is a good solid read-if only the beach variety. This one won't strain your brain.

Rating:
Summary: A Visible Darkness
Review: Following up on his intense and enjoyable first novel "The Blue Edge Of Midnight," author Jonathon King brings back his soon to be signature character Max Freeman. It has been a few months since the events depicted in the first novel but Max is still dealing with his sudden unwanted return to notoriety and unexpected consequences. Then, he gets a call from his old friend and attorney Billy Manchester. Billy who has long been trying to end Max's self imposed isolation needs his help and knows that Max won't refuse him.

A series of elderly women have died and the police and medical examiner's office have concluded in each case that the women died of natural causes due to age. But a daughter of one of the women has contacted Billy and asked for his help in finding out who killed her Mother. Billy agrees that something isn't right and with nothing more to go on than the strange coincidence that all the deceased women had recently sold their life insurance policies to investors, Max begins working the case.

However, it soon appears that something is going on and that there are links to other unsolved cases in the surrounding area. Cases that no one before had linked because of the area involved as well as an inability to see the big picture. Soon, Max is dealing with many of the members of the task force from the first book and feeling the old adrenalin surge as he chases a killer.

This book does not feature the intensity level of the first book. This might be because from page one, the reader knows exactly who the killer is by name, but not the motivation. As such, there is less intensity as the novel shifts back and forth from the killer's point of view to Max's and back again. This shift is not often and therefore does not serve as a distraction for the reader.

This sequel does feature all the complexity of the first novel as well as the further development of the Max Freeman character. Other character developments are also encouraged and tie in very nicely in the storyline as the novel moves forward. The ongoing professional confrontation between Hammond and Max should serve as major plot points in the coming novels.

This is another excellent read and the author has established an excellent starting point in his first two novels, which should be read in order. Hopefully, this is the beginning of a major series on the order of Sanford's "Prey" books as one example. While not widely known despite award nominations, this is an author to definitely keep your eyes on for future novels.

Rating:
Summary: Close Your Eyes and Feel the Heat
Review: I've read the first two books of this series and will, without a doubt, purchase the newest. I don't know what else I can say that hasn't already been said better by other reviewers. Jonathan King is to Florida what I feel Michael Connolly and Robert Crais are to L.A. He writes the same beautiful music, just in a different setting.

Rating:
Summary: action packed investigative tale
Review: In West Palm Beach, Floridian Billy Manchester believes that at least five elderly African-American widows have recently been murdered to collect their insurance money. The police accept the medical examiner's official position of natural causes and the insurance companies agree, paying the benefactor.

Billy asks his buddy, disabled retired Philadelphia cop Max to investigate. The deaths involve ailing African-American widows over eighty from Fort Lauderdale, who sold their life insurance to a viatrical purchasing company. Max agrees with the assessments of the professionals that this is a waste of time, but works the streets anyway especially after meeting the daughter of one of the deceased. Soon he begins to hear noises about invisible Eddie, who even the nastiest drug dealers fear, but is he a loose cannon serial killer or an "agent" of corporate greed.

With suspense thrillers like this one and his debut THE BLUE EDGE OF MIDNIGHT, Jonathan King will become very visible to the reading public quite quickly. A VISIBLE DARKNESS is an action packed investigative tale that grips the audience because the characters are very realistic, even Eddie, who most people have met some time in their life. The chills grow though Eddie is introduced as the murderer at the beginning. A visible history of South Florida over the past century is a bonus brilliantly interwoven into the powerful plot. More novels like this winner will mean fans will recognize that this author lives up to his surname.

Harriet Klausner

Rating:
Summary: A Strong Follow-Up
Review: Jonathon King's novice effort, A Visible Darkness, is another sharp, effective and, unfortunately, short police thriller that should thrill any fans of the genre. King brings back his retired cop, Max Freeman, for another dose of darkness and mayhem. And, although this one is very entertaining, it left me wanting more in the end. Like in the case of King's previous novel, the book is so short and straight to the point that you never really get the chance to fully enjoy it all because you keep on craving for more.

This time, Freeman faces a killer who pries on elderly women, killing them in a way to make their death look natural. As Freeman investigates, he uncovers a plot concerning an insurance company and an insurance investigator who might have one secret too many hidden in his closet. Add to this a very original and disturbing character, a feeble-minded street man, and you should have the formula for one heck of a book. Freeman once again teams up with his good friend and lawyer Billy, and the female cop, Richards, he began seeing after the events of King's first novel.

The plot of A Visible Darkness might be just a bit too simple for its own good. There were not enough subplots to let us really get to know the characters. This is a pretty basic plot that takes you from point A to point B without any added troubles. It's a very, very rare case of 'more is better'.

And yet, I really enjoyed A Visible Darkness. Freeman is a great character, always broody, often cynical. And Richards will hopefully pop up in King's next novel; she is a very mysterious character I can't wait to get to know better.

I get the feeling that Jonathon King is just on the verge of writing one heck of a thriller. If he can let himself explore his characters a bit more and throw more a few more problems their way, all the while capturing the very same levels of suspense and thrills this one presented, his next novel could very well end up being a great one.

Rating:
Summary: Mesmerizing!
Review: No sophomore slump for Jonathon King. His debut ("Blue Edge of Midnight") was nominated for an Edgar and "A Visible Darkness" is equally as strong.

The characters are realistic...you have seen or met all of them...the villains you have avoided and averted eye contact.

Protagonist Max Freeman has taken disability from the Philadelphia PD and moved to the Florida Everglades. A Fort Lauderdale lawyer he grew up with is his civilized world contact and anchor. He is serious, smart, studious and careful.

Max has not lost his investigative instincts and is compelled to avenge wrongs in an almost vigilante way. The crimes are particularly despicable...more a how and why dunit, as we know the perp from the start. Working with his lawyer and the FLPD, the investigation takes Max into Fort Lauderdale's drug market. There he forms a most unusual alliance.

The plotting is swift. The romantic subplot and flashbacks to his Philly days add depth and fill in a few blanks.

Mr. King writes like a veteran. This is a most provocative series.

Highest possible recommendation.

Rating:
Summary: Visible Darkness is a visible hit!
Review: The accurate and engrossing details of Visible Darkness point to John King's life as a crime reporter. More importantly the story itself is compelling and believable making this book very hard to put down. The action matches the character's personalities, something many writers are unable to accomplish.

I now have to find the other Max Freeman books and catch up on his life. King makes the back-story interesting without clogging the current story with unnecessary details.

This book is a winner and I highly recommend it.

Rating:
Summary: Visible Darkness is a visible hit!
Review: The accurate and engrossing details of Visible Darkness point to John King's life as a crime reporter. More importantly the story itself is compelling and believable making this book very hard to put down. The action matches the character's personalities, something many writers are unable to accomplish.

I now have to find the other Max Freeman books and catch up on his life. King makes the back-story interesting without clogging the current story with unnecessary details.

This book is a winner and I highly recommend it.

Rating:
Summary: 4.5 stars actually
Review: Very rarely do I give a book 5 star rating...but this one came really close!!! This is the first book that I have read from this author and I plan to read more as newer installments in this series come along...the characters in this book came to life. I felt as though I were watching a movie instead of reading a book!! Excellent, Excellent author with a mind that never stops....