Author: Brian Freeman
Published: October 7, 2025, by Blackstone Publishing, Inc.
Format: Kindle, Hardcover, 306 Pages
Genre: Suspense
Source: My thanks to Netgalley and the Publisher for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book.
Blurb: Shannon Wells is a private investigator who helps women with nowhere else to go. Last year, a woman named Faith Selby came to Shannon with a strange Find out who I really am.
Shannon soon discovered that Faith was hiding a whole other life, but was unable to penetrate the web of mystery the woman had built around her past. Now Faith is dead. The only clue to who she was and why she was murdered is an old photograph of a little girl in the rain outside a Midwestern motel.
The hunt for answers takes Shannon from the hot beaches of Florida to a remote small town in Michigan as she peels away layer after layer of a shocking cold case that has rippled violently into the present. With each secret she uncovers, the danger around her grows—and forces Shannon to confront the demons hiding in her own past.
My Opinion: I’ve long been a fan of Brian Freeman’s Jonathan Stride series; his pacing, character depth, and grounded suspense always hit the mark. But when it comes to his standalones, I find myself bracing for the woo-woo. There’s usually a paranormal thread woven in, and while I’m open to a little mystery beyond the veil, shadow twins and reincarnation push me into murkier waters.
The premise is undeniably riveting: a long-lost photo surfaces, hinting at buried secrets and lives lived in the shadows. Freeman knows how to hook a reader, and the opening reels you in with promise. But somewhere along the way, the tension starts to fray. Plot turns feel a bit too convenient, as if the story is straining to keep its momentum. Loose ends are tucked into twists that feel more convenient than helpful, and the emotional payoff gets diluted in the shuffle.
That said, there’s something compelling about the layers of deception and the slow reveal of motive. By the halfway point, a careful reader, channeling their inner Agatha Christie, can likely pinpoint the culprit. But the “why” remains elusive, tangled in a web of past choices and hidden truths. It’s this psychological unraveling that gives the book its weight, even if the structure feels a touch convoluted.
If you’re already a fan of Freeman’s standalone style and don’t mind a dash of the metaphysical, “Photograph” might land better for you. For me, it was a mixed bag: intriguing setup, uneven execution, and a finale that left me feeling glad it was over than satisfied. Still, I admire Freeman’s willingness to take risks, even if I’m not always on board for the ride.
Shannon soon discovered that Faith was hiding a whole other life, but was unable to penetrate the web of mystery the woman had built around her past. Now Faith is dead. The only clue to who she was and why she was murdered is an old photograph of a little girl in the rain outside a Midwestern motel.
The hunt for answers takes Shannon from the hot beaches of Florida to a remote small town in Michigan as she peels away layer after layer of a shocking cold case that has rippled violently into the present. With each secret she uncovers, the danger around her grows—and forces Shannon to confront the demons hiding in her own past.
My Opinion: I’ve long been a fan of Brian Freeman’s Jonathan Stride series; his pacing, character depth, and grounded suspense always hit the mark. But when it comes to his standalones, I find myself bracing for the woo-woo. There’s usually a paranormal thread woven in, and while I’m open to a little mystery beyond the veil, shadow twins and reincarnation push me into murkier waters.
The premise is undeniably riveting: a long-lost photo surfaces, hinting at buried secrets and lives lived in the shadows. Freeman knows how to hook a reader, and the opening reels you in with promise. But somewhere along the way, the tension starts to fray. Plot turns feel a bit too convenient, as if the story is straining to keep its momentum. Loose ends are tucked into twists that feel more convenient than helpful, and the emotional payoff gets diluted in the shuffle.
That said, there’s something compelling about the layers of deception and the slow reveal of motive. By the halfway point, a careful reader, channeling their inner Agatha Christie, can likely pinpoint the culprit. But the “why” remains elusive, tangled in a web of past choices and hidden truths. It’s this psychological unraveling that gives the book its weight, even if the structure feels a touch convoluted.
If you’re already a fan of Freeman’s standalone style and don’t mind a dash of the metaphysical, “Photograph” might land better for you. For me, it was a mixed bag: intriguing setup, uneven execution, and a finale that left me feeling glad it was over than satisfied. Still, I admire Freeman’s willingness to take risks, even if I’m not always on board for the ride.
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