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COPYRIGHT 2005 South Florida Sun-Sentinal
Byline: Oline H. Cogdill
BAD PEOPLE ADD UP TO A GOOD STORY
``Immoral'' by Brian Freeman; St. Martin's Minotaur ($22.95)
It's not just that the villain in Brian Freeman's riveting debut is Immoral _ he is. And Freeman cleverly crafts him as the worst type of immoral predator, smug in his sins and convinced of his invincibility. But Freeman also skillfully avoids the predictable by shaping a victim who may be just as self-centered, egotistical and immoral.
Freeman, a business writer and marketing executive, delivers a near pitch-perfect first novel that soars with believable characters, crisp dialogue and, for the most part, logical twists and turns. Although Freeman has a couple of brief scenes and one twist that dip into too much theatrics, the author quickly recovers ``Immoral'' with a plot that is as realistic as it is chilling as its Minnesota background.
Duluth police detective Jonathan Stride _ who has all the makings of a sturdy series hero _ investigates the disappearance of Rachel Deese. The popular teenager vanished after apparently arriving home. The stepdaughter of a wealthy banker, Rachel was a sexually charged, manipulative young woman who had mastered the fine art of using people. This case contrasts sharply with the disappearance a year before of a sweet, innocent 16-year-old girl that the detective also investigated.
Freeman packs ``Immoral'' with an emotionally involving story that excels at providing three-dimensional characters. Jonathan Stride literally strides onto the page _ flawed, complicated and very appealing. His concern for the victims and his heart-breaking memories of his late wife bring a passion and energy to ``Immoral.'' The author brings this same awareness to Stride's partner, Maggie Bei, the...
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