Freeman [Paperback]

Well... wow, for starters. This certainly has a different feel to the majority of a lot of M/M romance, even to the author's previous stories that I've read.

It's gritty, well plotted and reads like a film, maybe like a British crime film where the mood is gray and the setting is on the bleak side, where you wonder if all the characters will be left for dead at the end of it.
Not that it has much in the way of violence, but it has an atmosphere of threat, of things about to go wrong with nothing left to salvage.
A film that could have Daniel Craig in the lead, not as James Bond, but as the silent middleman observer type who falls for his boss's wife and finds himself up a creek without a paddle.
I didn't actually picture the actor in my mind while reading, but it's in the way Freeman the protagonist/narrator is a man of few words, with a face that gives little away, a bit of an antihero, possibly not quite always walking on the legal side of things, a very independent character, alone out of choice - maybe bacause of his past but probably partly because he's just built that way. That is until he crosses paths with Kit, a young rent boy of sorts stubbornly surviving in the seedy shades of the city, who is like a spark of vibrant energy shooting it's way down to light up and shake the deep slumbering underwater currents of Freeman's emotions. It really does read like a good script with all the main character parts laid out and nicely fleshed out. I read it at one sitting, with only a few coffee making brakes, seeing the scenes unfold before my eyes.
I found it a very visual read even though it wasn't overly descriptive in setting and feature. It was satisfying in the way that it made me actively engaged in the progress. I wasn't quite biting my nails wondering what was coming next, but then, I don't bite by nails.
It's not really a fast paced action thriller in that way, it's slower and more observant, it's not a mystery with red herrings littering the pages either, but it does have things to reveal and does so with a nice flow to things.

I won't go into the plot, and I'm sure there will be plenty of really good reviews about this coming up. I'd recommned it to anyone, really. If it's only fluffy romance you read then it might not find it's way on your reading list, but it's not all sombre and bleakness so you might give it try anyway and suprise yourself. It's not just about Freeman and Kit even if they are at the fore front of it, their relationship has a really nice curve to it within the story and not the cheap instant brew kind but rather a full bodied java where the taste lingers still hours after consumption. And before I sound like I'm trying to sell beverages here,
full five stars recommended reading, a really worthwhile addition to the top shelf of my M/M library.

I love narrated stories as you get to feel the story deeply and empathize with the characters, more so in the hands of an expressive writer. This is the case in Freeman, which is my second book from Clare. Freeman is one intense and gripping narration. Both plot and setting are highly original, its atmosphere tense, never overbearing and hold you captive right from the beginning till the end. I finished it in one sitting as I simply could not put it down. As for the characters of Freeman and Kit, they are fascinating.

Freeman the narrator is an intriguing personality, his past and present as mysterious as the man himself. What he does for a living is almost a secret. He seems cool to the outside world, tough and never reveals his emotions. Yet we know Freeman is capable of deep feelings when his controlled world starts to unravel as he falls for his ex-boss' boy-toy. Kit is the complete opposite, open with his feelings, even empathetic. There is a vulnerability within Kit and an intact innocence, traits which somehow calls to the protective instinct in Freeman who has built a wall around himself since his unhappy fallout with his ex-wife/ex-lover/ex-boss who were once his firm friends too. Yet Kit is far from a wimp with a strong will and instinct to survive in the near disastrous circumstances he found himself in.

I love the guys' chemistry and the deep emotions built-up between these 2 men, which Clare really excels. The supporting characters from Freeman's ex-lover to his ex-wife to the villain himself are all three dimensional, their interaction with Freeman just as intense. I enjoy the twists and turns in the plot especially the suspense towards the end. Like a cat and mouse game, we just hold our breath as the plot unfolds. I really appreciate this M/M romance thriller which is so distinct from the usual. Do not miss this one. Bravo Clare!

Freeman is a man on his own and his return to the city is a mystery to everyone-including friends he left behind years ago. As he benignly goes about his mysterious work, Freeman seems to have picked up the interest of his old friends, especially when he becomes involved with Kit. The more Freeman seems to remain on the fringe of life in the city, the more mysterious his presence becomes. Even in the face of Freeman's reluctant involvement with Kit, his fingers seem to be dipping into many of the pies that his old comrades are involved in. But when push comes to shove, what is Freeman really after? And what will become of Kit?

Freeman is a very complex and intricate tale that will keep you guessing well until the end - especially Freeman's motivations and motives for returning back to the city. Freeman is a mysterious character shrouded in emotional camouflage that hides his true feelings very well. Yet, his deviousness is incredible and his craftiness leads to a surprising end. Kit, on the other hand, is more of an open book on emotional terms, but his stubbornness lead him into more trouble than he can handle. As these two dance around each other, Claire. London creates a complicated web of drama and tension that will have you on the edge of your seat to see if Kit and Freeman will survive to see the end of the day and explore the feelings between them. Pick up Freeman a day you are looking for a gripping read that will have you reading well into the night!

Sabella
Reviewed for Joyfully Reviewed