This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Free Book Program, which is open to all readers and is completely free. The author will provide you with a free copy of their book in exchange for an honest review. You and the author will discuss what sites you will post your review to and what kind of copy of the book you would like to receive (eBook, PDF, Word, paperback, etc.). To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email.
This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Book Review Exchange Program, which is open to all authors and is completely free. Simply put, you agree to provide an honest review an author's book in exchange for the author doing the same for you. What sites your reviews are posted on (B&N, Amazon, etc.) and whether you send digital (eBook, PDF, Word, etc.) or hard copies of your books to each other for review is up to you. To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email, and be sure to describe your book or include a link to your Readers' Favorite review page or Amazon page.
This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Book Donation Program, which was created to help nonprofit and charitable organizations (schools, libraries, convalescent homes, soldier donation programs, etc.) by providing them with free books and to help authors garner more exposure for their work. This author is willing to donate free copies of their book in exchange for reviews (if circumstances allow) and the knowledge that their book is being read and enjoyed. To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email. Be sure to tell the author who you are, what organization you are with, how many books you need, how they will be used, and the number of reviews, if any, you would be able to provide.
Reviewed by Saifunnissa Hassam for Readers' Favorite
Steven F. Freeman's Thirty Seconds to Live is a mystery thriller with a chilling plot about people who die very quickly, under what appear to be normal circumstances. The story begins in New Zealand with the deaths of fifteen people aboard a sabotaged boat that crashes into shoreline boulders. The investigation turns formidable as the victims are identified. Who was the intended victim and who is the saboteur? Alton and Mallory Blackwell are a husband-and-wife team who are NSA special operatives whose expertise and experience are needed in the investigation. Alton has exceptional cryptography and encryption skills; Mallory is an expert in forensic accounting. The investigation turns even more ominous when the lead New Zealand investigator is found dead, and other deaths follow. Alton and Mallory find growing evidence that there is a crafty and devious killer at work.
Steven F. Freeman's chilling and suspense-filled novel, Thirty Seconds to Live, turned into an engrossing read for me from start to finish. I liked Freeman's approach to the story and the strong characters. The boat crash at the beginning sets the pace and tension in the story. People are killed abruptly, suddenly, in less than a minute. Alton and Mallory work well with each other and as part of a larger team. More than once, they face life-threatening situations but they are courageous and determined to find the killer. I liked the way Freeman handled situations when some leads proved inconclusive. Alton and Mallory share their ideas and expertise to search for connections and the unusual in the many, seemingly unrelated details. I also liked Freeman's gradual revelation of the unknown, elusive, ingenious, and very intelligent killer. All in all, a gripping and riveting read to the end!
