FICTION
“Season of Fear”
by Brian Freeman
Quercus, 448 pages, $26.99
“Everything is politics,” observes a character on the periphery of what will be a tumultuous Florida governor’s race in “Season of Fear.” And politics seems to seep into every action in “Season of Fear” — whether it’s a relaxing day at the beach or a simple meal in this well-plotted first of a planned series by Edgar Award finalist Brian Freeman.
Ignore the rather shaky prologue during which Birch Fairmont, a congressional candidate from the newly formed Common Way Party, and two others are assassinated, a decade ago during a political fundraiser in Lake Wales. “Season of Fear” soon kicks into high gear as it combines the police procedural with the political thriller, never neglecting the tenets of each while exploring the best of both categories of mystery fiction.
A lot has happened during the past 10 years. Birch’s widow, Diane Fairmont, is now running for Florida governor on the Common Way ticket. Yet, those murders remain unsolved.
Cab Bolton is allowed a brief leave from his job as a police detective in Naples, Fla., when he’s hired to find out if those killings could be related to the threats Diane has been receiving at her Tampa home and nearby campaign headquarters. Cab also has a personal connection to the case — Diane and Cab’s mother, Hollywood actress Tarla Bolton, have been best friends all their lives. Cab’s investigation intersects with inquiries being made by Peach Piper, a campaign staffer whose boyfriend and coworker recently was found dead.
Freeman enthusiastically delves into the machinations of Florida politics with realistic behind-the-scenes details. The tightly coiled plot erupts in several directions, each plausible and believable to anyone the least bit familiar with Florida politics.
Tampa’s byways, landmarks and restaurants shine as “Season of Fear” showcases Florida’s west coast. “Season of Fear” will make you want to make a reservation at the Columbia in Ybor City and then visit the mobile Taco Bus.
But politics aside, the strong characters show their resilience and acuity. The race for Tallahassee rules the plot but the scenes between Cab and Tarla give “Season of Fear” its heart as mother and son learn to reconnect.
