There are those who are crooked, and then there are those who are just plain evil. Inspector Frost Easton crosses paths with both kinds in Crooked Street. I just finished Brian Freeman’s second Easton novel, The
Voice Inside, and jumped right to the newest one. Like the previous thriller, this one was just as hard to put down. Wow!

Freeman, who is well known for his Duluth detective Jonathan Stride, has based this new series in San Francisco. He’s moved his thrills from one chilly, hilly city to another, and Easton has what it takes to become another fan favorite. He’s got a reputation as a Boy Scout, a cop who plays by the rules, even if it means playing a waiting game or having to make impossibly difficult choices. Thus, he has earned the respect of good guys and bad guys alike, which isn’t to say that there aren’t those who don’t try to beat him. There are many.

When an estranged old pal shows up at his Russian Hill home, literally at death’s door, the last word out of his mouth is “Lombard.” What the heck? Naturally, the first place Frost goes is to San Francisco’s famous Lombard Street, which is known for its one block of eight hairpin turns that make it the “crookedest street in the world.”

Eventually, though, he finds a private eye who tells him about a trail he’s been following. It involves a serial killer called Lombard and graffiti-like red snake symbols left at the scenes where victims are found. Who, or what, is Lombard? A serial killer, or something more sinister? Why was Denny killed? What, if any, is the relationship between the victims? The plot takes Frost through a series of zigzags and bends with danger at every nook and cranny. Will there be more bodies before all is said and done? Does Lombard really exist, or is he/she just a myth? Who can Frost trust? He is told by his captain and a fellow investigator to trust no one. I had suspicions but nothing but my guts to rely on. This is one roller coaster ride!

Speaking of roller coasters, Frost’s personal life is sort of like that too. Remember that in the last book he thought maybe he’d found his “Jane Doe,” a woman who was, unfortunately, unavailable? Well, the plot thickens in this one. Boy, does it ever!

Also, Frost gets a lot more physical in this book. No, not like that. It seems like every time he turns around, someone in some fashion is pounding him on. Ouch! Oh, uh, Frost, you might want to consider locking your doors. It’s not just his friends and family who show up unannounced while he’s away. If not for his own safety, he needs to consider Shack, his beloved tuxedo cat. Just sayin’.

There is plenty of tension in this one. The characters are great. We get to see more of his buddy Herb, the old hippie artist. He’s a smart guy, and I love his talks with Frost. Brother Duane and his lady Tabby return. The fellow cops are interesting characters. Are they trustworthy? Who knows? Are any of them trustworthy? Having read so many of Brian Freeman’s books, I knew there was a big twist coming at the end, but I NEVER in my wildest imagination expected this one! NO!

I wish to express my appreciation to NetGalley, Thomas & Mercer, and Brian Freeman for this ARC copy in exchange for my unbiased review.

5 stars

You knew that there was going to be a twist at the end of this book. You were not quite sure which person was going to be the one that would blow Frost Eastman’s world apart and to be quite honest, when it happens, you are not fully prepared for it. Yet it happens, the plot was set and though Frost will be in for a showdown in the next book, you know that there will be no coming back.

Lombard is not just a street in San Francisco, it is also folklore that the police department has kept going for years. A mystery along the lines of “the bogeyman”, the one blamed when there are no other suspects or there is a need for deception.

When Frost’s old business partner shows up near death on his doorstep, Denny Clark is only able to utter one word “Lombard”, before he dies. This one utterance spirals Frost Easton, Detective with the San Francisco Police Department, into a high stakes game of finding the next victim before they becomes a victim and a red spray painted snake, in the shape of the most crooked street in the world, is found near the body.

Turns out that the infamous Lombard just might be real and has been in control for years with the police department either being inept and not relating the murders or there is an inside person purposely diverting the investigations. Either way, Frost is going to lay his life on the line to protect the last known survivor to have witnessed the Machiavellian goings on when a ship returns to shore and there is a person missing.

With subterfuge and espionage, Frost is beginning to believe that he can trust no one. Yet he has to trust and right now, that falls on the shoulders of his brother and his new girlfriend Tabby. They are the only two people, that is besides his street smart buddy Herb, in his life, but of course, Frost might have messed that up when one night his attraction to Tabby goes too far and his brother witnessed their spark.

The only thing that kept bothering me in this book was every operative had a unique code and when meeting someone would say, “identification”, which was supposed to cause them to snap to attention and spout information, like a soldier obeying orders. This was too much along the lines of “play Manchurian with me”, which was dominant in the Dean Koontz /Jane Hawk series and had me wondering if there could have been another way around that did not overlap.

How do you ignore a dead body on your doorstep? Frost Easton definitely can't. In Brian Freeman's latest installment of this fantastic series, Frost Easton is awakened to banging on his door in the middle of the night. He opens the door to find, Denny Clark, an estranged friend who utters the word "Lombard" before dying. The mystery gets even deeper when it's discovered that he was killed in an unusual manner - poison. But Denny was just a commercial fisherman, right? What had he gotten himself mixed up in? Frost, with the help of his usual sidekicks (including Shack), vows to figure out once and for all what happened to Denny and whether the red snakes painted at the scene of his murder (and other death scenes) are coincidence or something real.

I'm a huge fan of Brian Freeman and am especially fond of his new Frost Easton series. I loved this newest addition, especially THAT ENDING! Once I started reading I was hooked and couldn't put it down, even reading late into the night (which isn't the smartest move when you have a toddler who would have you up early the next morning) to try to finish just one more chapter. I didn't think I would fall for this series like I did the Jonathan Stride series, but I sure did. I can't wait for the next installment!

The title is perfect for this story of murder and greed. There are so many twists that it really keeps you in suspense and guessing who are the bad guys. Could not put it down and can't wait for the next one. Spoiler alert- it is a cliff hanger.

I was so excited when this book became available, I maybe even hyperventilated a little! I have loved Brian Freeman's Frost Easton series since The Night Bird, and this latest offering didn't let me down. This book opens with Frost's estranged friend Denny arriving on Frost's doorstep in the middle of the night, dying in Frost's arm, but not before getting out one word, "Lombard". Frost soon meets up with a PI named Coyle, who has a strange story, that a series of graffiti snakes have turned up near cases of unexplained deaths, and they soon find one near to where Denny was killed. Coyle thinks the snakes indicate that the mysterious Lombard is behind the deaths, but nobody in law enforcement will listen to his story. More bodies, and snakes, start to pile up and Frost finds that time is against him, and he can trust nobody. High-class escorts, drug dealers and a luxury yacht all start to muddy the waters, as Frost doesn't seem to know if he's chasing a myth, or a legend. Adding to his problems is the love triangle between himself, his brother and his brother's fiancée.
The Crooked Street is a first rate thriller, worthy of the previous books in the series. I devoured this one in quick time. Would Frost get the baddie? Or the girl? And how is Shack, the coolest cat in literary history? I recommend this book to all lovers of mysteries and crime novels.
My thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The Crooked Street is my first book by Brian Freeman. I like the setting of San Francisco because it's such an amazing city. Frost is a cool detective. A friend dies and that leads to the case. Also, what's the deal with this cat? It's a thrilling mystery and you will read late into the night. Such suspenseful things then the ending...like what? Great read! Thanks to NetGalley for an arc in exchange for an honest review.

A good mystery! Somehow I missed the second Frost Easton book so I will have to go back and read it, although this stands fine on its own if you haven't read the other ones. I will say I wasn't fully satisfied since the ending was a cliffhanger, and the twist at the end made me sad! But I will certainly be reading more books in this series!

Let me begin by saying that you do not have to have read any of the prior novels in order for this one to make sense. And while I feel like I have missed out on (maybe?) on some of the backstory, there was enough given that I understood this novel.

I enjoyed it for what is was. A new to me author with a new to me series. There wasn't anything wrong in the way the author delivered this story it just .... didn't hold my interest. There were moments when I was glued to the page, but each time it just seemed to end in disappointment to the extent that when Lombard was set up for the next novel in this series? I checked out.

Don't get me wrong, if I happen upon this author again and the synopsis strikes me like this one, I would read more. But I won't actively seek them out.

DISCLAIMER: I received a complimentary copy of this novel in exchange for my honest review. This has not affected my review in any way. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are 100% my own.

What a way to start this year! Brian freeman has knocked it out of park with "the crooked street".
The crooked street was my first read by the author and what an amazing reading experience it had been. This book is third in the series,though I've not read the other two, this book can be read as a standalone novel.

Frost Easton,a San Francisco police inspector, is faced with one of the most dangerous case when an old friend Denny Clarke dies on his doorstep. But there is nothing ordinary about the death of this friend nor about the word that Denny Clarke whispered right before he died. This leads frost's investigation to find out what happened to his friend and how his death is connected to series of murders,as they all have one thing in common,A Crooked red snake.And as the investigation continues Frost finds that circumstances and even people are not really how they appear on the surface.
the book had a calm chilliness woven around it that you're not really sure what to expect next. I could not put it down once i started it. Also special mention goes to frost's cat ,shack ,an adorable badass feline.I also loved the relationship between frost and his brother Duane.
The author had me stumped with the ending.I was not expecting it at all.So overall an engaging read which will grab your attention from the first line to the last.
This goes without saying Frost Easton is a Hero.He is a one man army who never compromises with his morals even when he has to face the brunt of his action and brevity.
I HIGHLY RECOMMEND IT!!!
Thanks to Netgalley and Thomas & Mercer Publications for providing an advance reader copy of the novel

Frost is on the hunt for a killer. A detective in San Francisco, he's distressed when an old friend dies in his arms. However, his friend also whispers an odd thing to him-Lombard. What the heck? And what's with the painting of the snake? This is a well done procedural with a pretty cool detective in Frost. How many detectives have a cat, let alone one like Shack? It's this sort of small detail that ups the ante for this series. I read the first but not the second book (don't know how I missed it) but was able to catch up quickly-and you can read this happily as a standalone. Freeman also makes good use of San Francisco as a setting. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. No spoilers but this has some big twists and while I wasn't entirely thrilled with the ending, I'm certainly looking for the next one!

If all the books I read this year are half as good as Crooked Street, it will be a good 2019. I am a big fan of the first two Frost Easton novels (how can you not love a cop whose partner is a cat?) and not that the previous baddies were lame but Lombard is the worst. He (or she?) has unlimited power and is pretty much indestructible. Frost, who is incapable of compromising his integrity, has to work really hard just to solve one measly string of murders that may only be the tip of the iceberg. Now that most of the setup is done and we know who's who and why Shack the tuxedo cat is the cutest landlord ever, we really get to the action very quickly. An old and estranged friend of Frost's shows up on his doorstep and dies, using his last breath to give him a clue: "Lombard" Frost will have to find out who or what that is. The setup will not be unheard of to anyone who has seen The Usual Suspects. Like Keyser Söze, Lombard is a myth. The master criminal that no one has ever seen but who may actually be real. This is a great setup so I was OK with it not being completely original and the rest of the story is inventive and very suspenseful. The very last twist left me screaming at my Kindle. I guess even Shack can be wrong sometimes.
I chose to read this book and all opinions in this review are my own and completely unbiased. Thank you, NetGalley/Thomas & Mercer!

I am a huge fan of this author's books, and I think this may be my favorite one yet. It is so action-packed that I couldn't put it down. You know it is a good book when you reach the end of the book and go "no!!!!!!!!!!". Needless to say, I can't wait for the next book in the this series.

The third installment in the Frost Easton series does not disappoint! The Crooked Street is full of twists and turns right to the last line. Just when I thought I had it figured out - BOOM! New twists. Trust no one.

I received a free arc of this book from NetGallery in exchange for a true and honest review. Thank you to Brian Freeman and his publisher for the opportunity to read “A Crooked Street.”
Brian Freeman is a excellent mystery writer, he draws you into his books right from the beginning pages. I have not read the previous two books in the series and, though it may have been helpful to have read them, I think it stands well on its own. I will be reading the other books in this series.
I stayed up most of the night reading this book and highly recommend it.

Having devoured every single book in Freeman's Johnathan Stride series, when I saw this book available on NetGalley, I immediately requested a copy.

Although I haven't read the first two books in the Frost Easton series, this book works well enough as a standalone.

As per the norm, Freeman takes readers on a journey full of mystery and intrigue. His descriptive writing is top-notch. Some times a little too much for this reader. I don't need to know what every character is wearing. Just give me the dirt. lol.

I did not see the ending coming. It was definitely a wtf moment.

copy received via NetGalley

I would like to thank Netgalley and Thomas & Mercer for an advance copy of The Crooked Street, the third novel to feature San Francisco detective Frost Easton.

When Frost’s old friend Danny Clarke dies on his doorstep saying the word Lombard he is put in charge of the investigation, an investigation which is gathering more interest from his bosses than it seems to warrant. Things get even more complicated when a PI points out a link through a spray painted snake to eleven previous murders.

I thoroughly enjoyed The Crooked Street which is an exciting thriller with a complicated plot. The reader will need their wits about them to keep up with the myriad characters, motivations and double crosses - my head was spinning with all the permutations as the novel progressed. Trust no one was the advice given to Frost early in the novel and my goodness is that true as Mr Freeman twists the reader every which way, never knowing who to trust, who is lying or where the truth lies. There is twist upon twist, all cleverly done and well enough disguised to fool this reader. It’s masterful but I had to drop my rating from 5 to 4* because it ends in a cliffhanger, ok it’s a doozie and extremely unexpected but how am I supposed to remember the detail of this novel in a year’s time when the sequel is published?

I like Frost Easton as a character. He’s a good man with s strong moral compass which wavers slightly over the course of the novel due to the circumstances he finds himself in.

The Crooked Street is a good read which I have no hesitation in recommending.

3.5 stars rounded up because I fell for every trick Freeman played.

I've read the other two Frost Easton books and while I thoroughly enjoyed both of them, this one is by far the best! Freeman is an excellent mystery writer and I'm usually pretty good at figuring things out about halfway through the book, and maybe I was having an off week, but all the turns took me by surprise. It stands well on it's own, but would definitely be helpful and prove for a more enjoyable reading experience if you read the previous books in the series.

Great read! I have enjoyed all of the Frost Easton books but Freemen really takes it up a notch with A CROOKED STREET. We get a deeper exploration on Easton "the boy scout" and his relationship with his brother Duane and the conflicting emotions Easton has about Duane's fiance, Tabby. But along with all this great character development, Freeman also give us a really, really good novel of suspense. The plot is as twisty as Lombard street, hailed as the most crooked street in San Francisco. I just loved it and can hardly wait for the next Frost Easton installment.

This guy just can't write a bad book! I have read all by him, except for the Frost Easton series. The Crooked Street is the 3rd in that series. I rarely begin a series without starting from the first, but it was Brian Freeman so...... well, guess who is going back and reading 1 and 2? THIS girl!!! Frost is a fun character. Much different than Johnathan Stride. I enjoyed the San Francisco setting and the fact that a cat is a big part of his life! But the story itself is a different kind of twisty. It also left an opening for a continuation that I am really looking forward too. My only issue is that I don't know which character i want to read more from now! Frost Easton, Johnathan Stride or Cab Bolton? I doubt Brian Freeman can write fast enough to keep me happy!

Loved this! Frost feels a little bit like Harry Bosch and the suspense of this book reminded me a little bit of Marathon Man. Loved the end and looking forward to what comes next!