Book Review – THE FREEZER by Timothy S Johnston

The Freezer Synopsis:

A Tanner Sequence Novel, 2402 AD

CCF homicide investigator Kyle Tanner and his girlfriend are on their way to Pluto, en route to a new life together. Just one little death to check out in the asteroid belt first. But when you’re as tangled up in conspiracy as Tanner is, a few hours on a case can change your life. Or end it.

The mystery is a strange one—one man dead, a cryptic message his dying breath. Still, Tanner’s ready to wrap it up until another gruesome murder shakes him to his core. The discovery of a microscopic bomb near his own heart offers the first faint clue, but the clock is ticking. He has four days….

A desperate search for answers takes Tanner to The Freezer, an isolated facility on one of Jupiter’s moons. With anti-CCF dissidents targeting the facility, a team of scientists conducting experiments the military would rather remain hidden, and a mysterious man in white hunting him on the ice, Tanner will have to choose his allies carefully. Putting his faith in the wrong person will leave him bleeding out in seconds. (Barnes & Noble)

BOOK REVIEW

I was thoroughly entertained by the first novel in Johnston’s Tanner Sequence Trilogy, The Furnace, and have been looking forward to finding out what strife his endearing hero gets himself into next. He’s a military man with an expanding heart.

Once again Johnston has displayed his knack for writing cracking opening lines:

I left Mars on a Tuesday in a jumpship bound for Ceres, and I didn’t know it at the time but by Saturday I would be dead.

Now you don’t need to be a science-fiction buff to be hooked by that.

Johnston doesn’t waste time on artistic prose, he keeps his foot on the accelerator pedal in The Freezer, with the action almost non-stop. While scientific concepts such as nano technology and experimental medical procedures are woven into this mystery, Johnston’s straight forward storytelling ensures this novel remains accessible to a broad audience.

Bluffs and double crosses abound among the ensemble of characters (sometimes one-dimensional) CCF homicide investigator Kyle Tanner finds himself isolated with. Johnston’s penchant for killing off characters with little warning keeps readers on their toes. Almost anything can happen, and often does.

In The Freezer Johnston has developed the leading character of this series a little more and given him ample opportunity to flex his muscles in this adventurous outing, often with gory consequences. Lots of blood is spilled on this ice moon. Johnston contextualizes these life or death battles with the foreboding presence of lightning wracked Jupiter and their relative isolation within the galaxy.

I felt minuscule and insignificant. It was a common feeling while forging the vast distances between planets or stars. The immensity of celestial objects and the spaces between colonies were difficult to comprehend. Even being out here, on the ice with three other people, made me feel tiny. Death could take us at any time.

The Freezer plot-line was great escapist entertainment. I look forward to the questions surrounding the CCF’s societal control introduced in this title being further developed in the next novel, The Void scheduled for release by Carina Press in early 2015.

BOOK RATING: The Story 3.5 / 5 ; The Writing 2.5 / 5

Have you read The Freezer ? Do you want to?

Join the discussion below.

Genre: Mystery, Action-Adventure, Sci-Fi, Thriller, Crime-Detective

Author Information: Timothy S. Johnston is a lifelong fan of techno-thrillers and science-fiction thrillers in both print and film. His greatest desire is to contribute to the genre which has given him so much over the past four decades. He wishes he could personally thank every novelist, screenwriter, filmmaker, director and actor who has ever inspired him to tell great stories. He has been an educator for nearly twenty years and a writer for twenty-five. He lives on planet Earth, but he dreams of the stars.

Check out Timothy S Johnston’s website.

Other reviews of The Freezer : The Qwillery; DeFlipside; EbookAnoid; Martha’s Bookshelf

* My receiving an ebook copy from Carina Press via the author for review purposes in no way hindered the expression of my honest opinions in the above.