Rating: 
Summary: A very worthy Edgar winner
Review: One of the year's most polished debuts concerns a retired Philadelphia police officer, Max Freeman. Freeman was responsible for gunning down a black youth during a robbery attempt. In spite of the fact that he was almost killed, he lives with the guilt and retires from the police force. He decides to flee civilization and travels to the Florida Everglades where he purchases a desolate house in the midst of the swamp. One day, as he canoes along the waterway, he discovers the body of a missing child who was abducted from home. It appears a serial killer is on the loose kidnapping and killing children in the new developments bordering the Everglades. Of course, with his unstable past, suspicion is initially thrown on Max who finds he getting closer and closer to the crimes. He must solve them himself or he might very well go down for the murders. In reading a first novel such as THE BLUE EDGE OF MIDNIGHT, one is immediately struck by the strong sure style of writing that is quite reminiscent of an individual who makes a living using language. Jonathon King is a journalist and has been for over twenty years. It almost isn't fair to compare the beauty of these smooth flowing passages to other debut authors who do not write for a living. King may remind the reader of another journalist who decided to pursue a writing career through the crime fiction genre, Michael Connelly. Yes, he is that good. The description of the locale lends it a great deal of immediacy. The characters are true to life and their dialogue quite natural. However, the most important thing is Mr. King knows how to tell a compelling story and does so without very much filler material. The book is the length it must be-no shorter and no longer. The reader must truly appreciate that. This is one of the best debuts I have read so far this year.
Rating:
Summary: taut, fast-paced debut
Review: The Blue Edge of Midnight has it all. This taut, fast-paced debut is certain to put Jonathon King on high on the crime series favorite lists. This is one of those thrillers where time just flies by and pages turn effortlessly. Max Freeman is an ex-cop from the gritty streets of Philadelphia. Caught in a life-or-death shootout, his career ended at the same moment a bullet from his service weapon ended the life of a twelve-year-old suspect. Taking a lump-sum payment to leave the force, Max lives to the life of a hermit in an isolated shack in the middle of the Florida Everglades. He's made himself so far removed from people that he must paddle his canoe through canals and streams to get to the nearest civilization - an Everglades ranger station. But Max's world is turned upside-down as he finds the corpse of a child on his river. The demons he's beaten back return to push Max to find the killer(s). King is a master at mixing and matching the high-tech world of helicopters and GPS systems with good old boy Florida gator poachers. The book keeps you guessing 'till the end and is filled with just the right amount of twists and turns. Jonathon King is a new novelist to watch. He earned a "starred review" from Publishers Weekly for this book, which should get him noticed.
Rating:
Summary: Couldn't Put It Down
Review: This book kept me guessing right until the end! If you like a mystery with twists and turns, then you will enjoy this one.
Rating: 
Summary: Strong start
Review: This series is well written and one hopes GPS doesn't become a crutch in all the books. Great hopes for the future.
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