The Zero Night

A Jonathan Stride Novel, Book 11

By: Brian Freeman

Narrated by: Joe Barrett

“Freeman’s Bourne novels might get more publicity, but his Stride novels are where his skills as a storyteller are really showcased. First-rate.” — Booklist

A woman has been kidnapped.
Now Jonathan Stride must decide if her husband wants her back … dead or alive.

After nearly dying of a gunshot wound, Jonathan Stride has been on leave from the Duluth Police for more than a year. When his partner, Maggie Bei, gets called about a suspicious abduction involving a local lawyer, she tells Stride it’s time for him to come back.

Attorney Gavin Webster says he paid $100,000 in ransom money to the men who kidnapped his wife. Now they’ve disappeared with the cash, and she’s still missing. Gavin claims to be desperate to find her—but Stride discovers that the lawyer had plenty of motive to be the mastermind behind the crime.

Even as Stride digs for the truth about Gavin Webster and his wife, he must also deal with a crisis in his own marriage.

His wife, Serena, is struggling after the death of her mother, the abusive woman she hadn’t seen in twenty-five years. When she loses control at a crime scene and draws her gun on a fellow cop, Serena finds herself kicked off the Webster case. Alone at her desk, she begins hunting through old police files and starts to ask questions about a mother’s death that was written off as suicide. That death haunts Serena like an echo of her own childhood—but her obsession with it takes a terrible toll.

As Serena shuts him out of her despair, and his own investigation grows increasingly tangled, Stride wonders whether going back to his detective work was the right decision. But all he can do is keep moving forward. Because Stride fears the Webster kidnapping may be only one part of a horrific murder conspiracy.

And it’s not over yet.

©2022 Brian Freeman (P)2022 Blackstone Publishing

Critic reviews

Publishers Weekly Pick

Bad News and Good News!

The bad news is that all good things must come to an end.
The good news is that there will be another next year.

My chief complaint is that it is too short.
I savored each chapter and dreaded the end because it meant that I must wait an entire year for the next installment.

This was perhaps one of the most enjoyable books in the series. All the characters are firmly developed and planted not only in the book but well established in my mind as well. I can’t wait till the next book.

Brian Freeman and the Stride series

I really enjoy the Jonathan Stride series
Entertaining, enjoyable, and engaging
I highyr recommend all the series

Really good

Excellent character development complex plot but not contrived. Definitely above average. Great series and great author.

LOTS OF TWISTS

Enjoyed this book. I've yet to find a book by BF lacking. The end made me very happy!

The stride series never disappoints

Another home run extraordinaire book. This book was filled with so many twists and turns, that I gave up guessing who did it ( just kidding). I've always prided myself in being able to guess the ending or who did it. But, not with Jonathan Stride books. This book is one of those books you just can't put down. You will not be disappointed or feel this was a waste of your time. In fact, you will hate that the book eventually has to end. My husband and I are hooked Brian Freeman books. Thank you Brian for not disappointing us. looking forward to your next book. The story, performance, and overall are 5 stars in our review.

The only thing wrong with this series is...

Waiting for the next Johnathan Stride book!! Outstanding! I strongly suggest starting with the first book in the series & reading them in order. The characters have developed over time & their back story is important. Five stars!

Another great thriller!!

Must read! Johnathon Stride series is phenomenal! Don’t hesitate start at book 1 and don’t stop!

Loved it!

The story line kept me wanting to keep listening. The characters kept me guessing all the time.

Loved it

Great story and mystery. I love the Jonathan stride series. Cannot wait to read the next one.

What makes you feel like your home?

This was another Excellent book by Brian Freeman in the Jonathan Stride series. Jonathan is trying to heal from being shot. Serena is struggling with her own demons. How do they put their Life & Home back together. How does Serena use her past to help another young girl like, Cat? Delaney. To try to put her life back together, what are a few things Johnny never knew about Serena's past but so very important to Serena to heal the pains of her youth. How does a stray & abused dog, help does these strange pieces help them put their home & life back together.