BOURNE AGAIN: Stepping into the Shoes of an Icon: Guest Post by Brian Freeman

BRIAN FREEMAN:
BOURNE AGAIN: Stepping into the Shoes of an Icon

I first read Robert Ludlum’s THE BOURNE IDENTITY when it was released in 1980. That was forty years ago. I was seventeen years old.

Since then, Jason Bourne’s reputation as an iconic thriller hero has only grown – through three bestsellers by Ludlum, a continuation after Ludlum’s death with eleven more books by Eric Van Lustbader, and a wildly successful movie franchise featuring Matt Damon. (Bonus points as a Bourne aficionado if you also remember the 1988 miniseries starring Richard Chamberlain and Jaclyn Smith.)

So when Putnam Books and the Ludlum estate asked me to bring back Jason Bourne in an all-new re-boot of the series, I knew I had big shoes to fill. I also had to keep a lot of different audiences happy: devotees of Ludlum and his original novels, Eric’s many fans, and the millions of Matt Damon movie lovers. They all had very different ideas of who Bourne is.

My goal was to bring Bourne into the modern era (after 40 years, a Vietnam backstory wouldn’t really work today!) and re-introduce this character in a way that keeps all of his essence as a hero, but gives the series a fresh new start. So THE BOURNE EVOLUTION functions as a stand-alone; you can read this book without having read any of the earlier Bourne books or seen any of the movies. However, my hope is that existing fans of Ludlum and Bourne (and Matt Damon, too!) will also immediately recognize the character they’ve known and loved for years.

In planning the next iteration of Jason Bourne, I started with one question: What is it about Bourne that has made him such an iconic figure in the thriller world? Why has he endured all these years?

Ironically, I think part of Bourne’s appeal is that he’s not a super-hero, not in the Jack Reacher or Mitch Rapp sense. Because of his lost memory, he’s fractured, constantly questioning himself and dealing with uncertainty over his own identity. Is he a killer? Is he a moral man? Can he trust himself? That inner dialogue is a part of Bourne’s day-to-day life, and it’s part of what humanizes him for readers.

Because of that struggle, Bourne’s instinct is to be a loner. The movie versions play up this side of his personality, as most of his fight is simply a desire to be left alone. In Ludlum’s books, Bourne pushes people away because of his fears over who he is. And yet, at heart, his relationships (especially with his lover and then wife Marie St. Jacques) define Bourne and help him rise above his past. He thinks he needs to be alone, but that’s not really what he wants.

So in THE BOURNE EVOLUTION, I was trying to get back to the roots of Jason Bourne in all of his moral and emotional complexity. This book isolates Bourne by making him the target of a manhunt as the suspect in a political assassination. As he looks for a way to escape from this maze, he must embrace the help of a journalist named Abbey Laurent, for whom Bourne feels a deep (but reluctant) attraction. Like Marie St. Jacques, Abbey recognizes that Bourne is something far deeper than a killer, even if that’s all that Bourne sees in himself.

Taking a page from most of the Ludlum books, THE BOURNE EVOLUTION also places Bourne at the center of a far-reaching conspiracy. In this case, the threat is grounded in “ripped from the headlines” data hacking and social media manipulation. In many ways, the current era is the perfect time to re-imagine Bourne, because Ludlum’s plots emerged out of the 1970s as a product of Vietnam and Watergate, when conspiracy theories and distrust in government ran rampant. Sound familiar? The story of THE BOURNE EVOLUTION will feel classically “Ludlum” because of the eerie similarities in the times – and yet it should also feel as if you’re reading today’s newspaper.

As for fans of THE BOURNE IDENTITY, you’ll find fun little echoes of the original novel in this re-boot. Some are “big picture” tributes – Marie St. Jacques from the first Bourne novel was a Canadian economist; Abbey Laurent is a Canadian journalist – but other references are just tiny tips of the hat to the Ludlum classic. One of the main characters in THE BOURNE IDENTITY, for example, is a French general named Villiers. In THE BOURNE EVOLUTION, Bourne and Abbey follow a suspect in the conspiracy to a New York wine bar named – you guessed it – Villiers.

So this July, I hope you’ll welcome Jason Bourne back to the thriller world. For me, it was a real honor (and an exciting creative challenge) to step into the shoes of an author, book, and character I’ve loved since I was a kid.

***

Brian Freeman (bfreemanbooks.com) is a New York Times bestselling author of more than twenty psychological thrillers. His novel SPILLED BLOOD won the award for Best Hardcover Novel in the ITW Thriller Awards. His first Jason Bourne book for the Robert Ludlum estate, THE BOURNE EVOLUTION, was published on July 28.

MINNESOTA BOOK AWARDS

The Minnesota Book Award Winners were announced today. Congrats to all, especially Brian Freeman.

GENRE FICTION AWARD:

The Voice Inside by Brian Freeman (Thomas & Mercer)

Also nominated:
Dreadful Young Ladies and Other Stories, by Kelly Barnhill (Algonquin Books)
Leave No Trace, by Mindy Mejia (Atria Books)
The Shadows We Hide, by Allen Eskens (Mulholland Books)

To see all Categories, Nominees, and Winners, go HERE.

MINNESOTA BOOK AWARD FINALISTS

The Minnesota Book Award Finalists were announced today. Congrats to all finalists, especially those in Genre fiction. Congrats to all.

GENRE FICTION

Dreadful Young Ladies and Other Stories, by Kelly Barnhill (Algonquin Books)
Leave No Trace, by Mindy Mejia (Atria Books)
The Shadows We Hide, by Allen Eskens (Mulholland Books)
The Voice Inside by Brian Freeman (Thomas & Mercer)

To see all Categories and Finalists, go HERE.

When Worlds Collide: Jonathan Stride, Meet Cab Bolton: Guest Post by Brian Freeman

BRIAN FREEMAN:
When Worlds Collide: Jonathan Stride, Meet Cab Bolton

Fans of my Florida detective Cab Bolton have been asking for some time when they would meet Cab again in one of my books. So when I wrote those words in my new thriller ALTER EGO – “Jonathan Stride, meet Cab Bolton” – I got a shiver of excitement down my back. Yes, ALTER EGO is not only the tenth novel to feature Duluth police lieutenant Jonathan Stride, it’s also the third novel to feature Cab Bolton.

Readers love the idea of fictional characters crossing over from one world into another. Agatha Christie reported that readers were always urging her to write a book where Hercule Poirot met Jane Marple. I noticed that as soon as Cab made his first appearance, readers at library events and book clubs began asking if Cab and Stride would ever come together.

But writers don’t necessarily share the enthusiasm that readers have for crossovers. (Christie said Poirot and Marple would have hated each other if they’d met.) Before starting ALTER EGO, I thought long and hard about the creative challenges of two of my series detectives meeting in one book.

The Series That Almost Wasn’t 

From 2005 to 2010, I wrote five novels featuring Jonathan Stride, starting with my Macavity-winning debut novel IMMORAL and continuing to THE BURYING PLACE, which was a finalist for Best Hardcover Novel in the ITW Thriller Awards. I felt like I’d put Stride through such hell over the course of five books that he needed a vacation.

So I wrote what I intended to be a stand-alone – one of my most popular books, a novel called THE BONE HOUSE. It was set both in Florida and in the remote Wisconsin region known as Door County. The heroes of the book were a married couple named Mark and Hillary Bradley, but the novel also introduced a supporting character – a quirky Florida detective named Cab Bolton. Cab was six-foot-six, with spiky blond hair and a wealthy Hollywood pedigree thanks to his actress mother. His ironic sense of humor made him a lot of fun to write.

I never intended this book to launch a Cab Bolton series, but I began getting notes from readers almost immediately after THE BONE HOUSE to ask when I’d be doing another Cab novel. And I admit, I liked the idea of writing another story featuring this distinctive hero. It took me a few years, but eventually, I released SEASON OF FEAR, set entirely in Florida, with Cab as the star.

Now I had two series, with Jonathan Stride and Cab Bolton.

The Pros and Cons of Crossovers

For writers, the advantage of multiple series is that it gives us the opportunity to go in new creative directions. Stride and Cab are so different as heroes that I can tell stories with one that I could never tell with the other. Cab is a more glamorous figure than Stride, and he travels in wealthier circles. His emotional baggage is very different. And he has a much more casual outlook on life than the intense, determined Lieutenant Stride.

Cab also gives me the opportunity to explore new settings. Most of my books have been set in the bitter winters of the Midwest, but Cab took me to the heat and storms of central Florida. And giving readers a “you are there” feel in my settings is a vital part of my thrillers.

However, the differences between the two series also argue against bringing the two characters together. If they are such different men, living in different worlds, you run the risk of having a crossover feel artificial. So when readers asked me about Stride meeting Cab, I usually responded – probably not. But I also knew that if there was one character who might somehow bring the two series together, it was Stride’s partner, my sexy, snarky Chinese detective, Maggie Bei. Maggie, I said, would get along just fine with Cab.

And that’s exactly what happened.

ALTER EGO 

The plot for ALTER EGO actually started in my mind as a novel for Cab. It features a Hollywood actor with a dark side, and given Cab’s Hollywood connections, it seemed like a natural book for him.

But as I thought about the next steps for Stride, I realized that I could do a lot with the idea of a Hollywood actor playing Stride in the movies (ahem, film agents). I turned this actor into Stride’s “alter ego,” and that’s how the dark plotline began to take shape.

However, Cab still lingered in my mind. If there were one book where the two heroes might meet, this was it. And I thought about Maggie acting as a creative bridge to bring Cab into Stride’s world.

So when a murder investigation takes Maggie to Florida, she finds herself talking to the detective who handled a case with ties to the crime in Duluth – in this case, a tall, glamorous man named Cab Bolton. Soon enough, Maggie and Cab are romantically involved – and they’re heading back to Minnesota for a rendezvous with Stride.

Never Say Never 

Stride and Cab have met now, and the dynamics of ALTER EGO advance the characters in both series in profound ways. After saying for years that I thought Stride and Cab would never get together, I’m glad they did. Their differences as men are actually what make ALTER EGO work.

Of course, now I have a third series for readers, too: my San Francisco-based series featuring Homicide Inspector Frost Easton that includes THE NIGHT BIRD and THE VOICE INSIDE (with the third book, THE CROOKED STREET, arriving next January). I know the questions I’m going to get.

Will Frost ever meet Stride?

Will Cab ever meet Frost?

Or will the three of them ever find themselves together in one book?

My first thought is to say – probably not. Then again, I’ve said that before, and look what happened in ALTER EGO. So I’ve learned to never say never.

Brian Freeman released two new thrillers in 2018, THE VOICE INSIDE (featuring Frost Easton) and ALTER EGO (featuring both Jonathan Stride and Cab Bolton). His stand-alone novel SPILLED BLOOD won the award for Best Hardcover Novel in the ITW Thriller Awards. Find out more about him and his books at bfreemanbooks.com. 

10 Qualities of a Great Mystery/Thriller (and 10 Novels That Get it Right)

I came across this article by award winning thriller writer Brian Freeman on Bookish, and I wanted to share it with all of you.  Brian checked with Bookish, and they agreed to allow a reprint of his brilliant article. Thanks, Bookish and Brian. Love to hear your comments.
 

10 Qualities of a Great Mystery/Thriller (and 10 Novels That Get it Right) 
By Brian Freeman 
Author of MARATHON 
www.bfreemanbooks.com

1. A Sense of Place: 
LOS ALAMOS by Joseph Kanon 

The best mysteries have a “you are there” quality, where every chapter feels as if you’ve been dropped down in the middle of the action, and you can hear, see, taste, touch, and smell everything happening around you. That’s true in a lot of series novels (Laura Lippmann in Baltimore, James Lee Burke in New Orleans, etc.), but there are wonderful stand-alones with a great sense of place, too.

LOS ALAMOS captures not only “where” but “when” in its setting. Kanon’s novel is a murder mystery set in 1945 at the atomic bomb facility in New Mexico. He is equally vivid in bringing the arid but beautiful Santa Fe desert landscape to life and in capturing the culture, uncertainty, and fear of people living in the midst of war and secrecy. It’s like going back in time.

2. A Gripping First Chapter: 
THE UNLIKELY SPY by Daniel Silva 

When I’m buying a book, the first thing I do is read the first page. Does it grab me by the throat? Does it immediately conjure an atmosphere of suspense and drama? Yes, there are great novels that unfold slowly — but most of my favorite mysteries hook me in the opening pages.

Before there was Daniel Silva’s series hero Gabriel Allon, he wrote a brilliant debut THE UNLIKELY SPY. Here’s the first line: “Beatrice Pymm died because she missed the last bus to Ipswich.” Ten pages later, after back-and-forth sequences between the perspectives of Beatrice and her killer, I dare you to stop reading.

3. A Human Hero: 
THE REDBREAST by Jo Nesbo

I don’t like to write about super-heroes. The moral grayness of the mystery novel — we’re writing about murder, after all — demands a hero who is human and flawed, with a determination to find justice in an often unjust world, sometimes at the cost of his or her personal happiness.

That’s why readers relate to a hero like Harry Hole (I love the name) in Jo Nesbo’s Norwegian crime novels. Harry is weighed down by personal loss, including the devastating murder of a colleague in THE REDBREAST that Nesbo handles with great emotional depth. And yet Harry ultimately rises above his own struggles to solve a wrenching mystery with roots from the distant past. This is a novel that shows how solving crimes takes a little bit of the hero’s soul with every case.

4. A Page-Turning Pace: 
THE CHANCELLOR MANUSCRIPT by Robert Ludlum 

I once had a reader tell me she’d been reduced to taking “illicit bathroom breaks” at work to get in another chapter. Great mysteries and thrillers give us a story so “unputdownable” that you have to keep turning the pages to find out what happens next.

I bought THE CHANCELLOR MANUSCRIPT as a teenager in the 1970s, and even now, you can see why Ludlum revolutionized the thriller genre. I started reading it as I walked out of the store, and I don’t think I stopped reading — or even took a breath! — until I finished it hours later. The story, about a novelist writing a political conspiracy thriller that may be too close to the truth, never lets up for a single page.

5. A Sense of Humor: 
THE CHARM SCHOOL by Nelson DeMille 

Most mysteries and thrillers deal with dark themes. People die. Things blow up. Serial killers lurk in every abandoned building. It makes you wonder how writers get up in the morning — so I love it when a writer tells dark, hard stories with a wink and an irresistible sense of humor.

DeMille may be the best novelist around in that regard. Most of his thrillers have a narrator with an ironic wit that makes them irresistible. You can’t really go wrong with any DeMille novel, but THE CHARM SCHOOL is my own pick. It’s a Cold War novel about the Russians training moles to work their way into American society. Dark, right? But he manages to lighten this gripping thriller with a sly, charming hero.

6. A Lot of Clues: 
SUSPECT by Michael Robotham 

Mystery readers are detectives themselves. They want to solve the crime before the hero does, and that’s part of the fun. So readers expect the author to play fair — by dropping in clues throughout the story that give you a shot at figuring out the ending. (Mind you, don’t expect us to make it easy!)

Australian crime writer Michael Robotham wrote an amazing debut with SUSPECT, in which psychologist Joseph O’Loughlin starts as a consultant — but soon becomes a suspect — in the murder of a former patient. The denouement has the perfect mystery quality: The clues stare you in the face throughout the book, but then you slap your head at the end and wonder how you missed them.

7. A Spectacular Twist: 
I KILL by Giorgio Faletti 

OMG! Isn’t that the reaction we want in every mystery? We want to turn the page and have our breath taken away by a surprise we never saw coming.

The late Giorgio Faletti was one of Italy’s great crime writers. His bestselling novel I KILL tells the story of a serial killer who calls into a radio show to taunt a popular host. It’s a long and winding road to get to the heart of the mystery, but the “whodunit” in this whodunit is simply brilliant. You’ll never guess the killer’s true identity.

8. An Elegantly Simple Solution: 
BLOOD WORK by Michael Connelly 

I love mysteries that are so multi-layered that they inspire what I call a “delicious confusion” in the reader. However, when you get to the end, the best mysteries take your breath away because the solution is so, well, simple. It should make such perfect sense that you wonder why you didn’t expect it.

BLOOD WORK isn’t a Harry Bosch book, so it’s not as well known as some of Connelly’s other novels (despite a Clint Eastwood movie adaptation). However, it’s my favorite Connelly book, because the resolution of the mystery is so elegant. Along the way, the motive of the killer seems horrifyingly random — but then you discover the gruesome logic underlying the entire book.

9. A Sense of Closure: 
11/22/63 by Stephen King 

Yes, we expect to solve the mystery at the end of the book — but a great mystery or thriller gives us more than that. We should also feel like the ending gives us the last piece in the psychological puzzle and a sense of closure for the characters.

Stephen King won the Thriller Award for 11/22/63 (the year before I won for SPILLED BLOOD). By writing a time-travel thriller about a man trying to stop the Kennedy assassination, he sets a high bar for closure, because we know he can’t really “stop” the assassination. (Or can he?) King manages to have his cake and eat it, too, by bringing pitch-perfect emotional resolution not just for his hero, but for the rest of us who live in a post-1963 world, too.

10. A Story You Want to Read Again: 
IN A DRY SEASON by Peter Robinson 

The best mysteries and thrillers aren’t books that you can simply put aside when you’re done. They should linger in your heart. The story should be so compelling — and the characters so richly drawn — that you want to go back and experience it all over again. When you do, you pick up wonderful nuances and subtleties that you missed the first time.

Peter Robinson’s IN A DRY SEASON revolves around crimes in the present and distant past. It has all of the other nine qualities on this list, which is what makes it one of my favorite mysteries of all time. And what a great premise — a World War II murder that is only discovered when a dry lake exposes the ruins of a small town that was flooded years earlier. I won’t tell you any more than that. Just read it.

Brian Freeman Literary Salon May 18 - Berkeley

Join Mystery Readers NorCal on Wednesday,  May 18, 7 p.m. in Berkeley (CA) for a Literary Salon with Thriller Writer Brian Freeman.  Post a comment below with your email address if you'd like to attend.

We're thrilled to have a return visit from Brian Freeman, the bestselling author of psychological thrillers, including the Jonathan Stride and Cab Bolt series. Since 2005, he has sold books in 46 countries and 20 languages. His stand-alone novel Spilled Blood won the Thriller Writers Award for Best Hardcover Novel, and his novel The Burying Place was a finalist for the same award.

His debut thriller, Immoral, won the Macavity Award and was a finalist for the Dagger, Edgar, Anthony, and Barry awards for Best First Novel. Immoral was also chosen as International Book of the Month by book clubs around the world and was a Main Selection in the Literary Guild and the Book of the Month Club.

In addition to his intense, character-driven thrillers, Freeman enjoyed success in a completely different genre with his romantic comedy-drama, The Agency, which People Magazine described as 'entertaining...witty..a delight."

His latest thriller is Goodbye to the Dead, featuring detective Jonathan Stride and Serena Dial.

Brian lives in Minnesota with his wife, Marcia, and their three cats. Read Marcia Freeman's post on Mystery Fanfare: Family Affair: The Author's Life and the Author's Wife. Marcia will also be at the Literary Salon. They're a great team!

FAMILY AFFAIR: The Author's Life and the Author's Wife: Marcia Freeman

Today I'm starting a new feature on Mystery Fanfare: The Author's Spouse. First up is Marcia Freeman, wife of Thriller writer Brian Freeman. Love this duo!

Marcia Freeman (aka The Author’s Wife) is married to Brian Freeman and “mom” to cats Heathrow, Gatwick and Baltic. In addition to everything listed above, she’s also responsible for locking Brian away at the beginning of the day to write (and letting him out in the evening). Before her book marketing responsibilities, she spent almost twenty years in professional fundraising. 

Brian Freeman is a bestselling author of psychological thrillers, including the Jonathan Stride and Cab Bolton series. He won the award for Best Hardcover Novel in the International Thriller Writers Awards, and his books have been sold in 46 countries and 20 languages. His debut, IMMORAL, won the Macavity Award for Best First Novel. GOODBYE TO THE DEAD is the newest in his Jonathan Stride series and launches today.

Marcia Freeman:
FAMILY AFFAIR: The Author’s Life and The Author’s Wife 

Back in the 1960s (yes, I’m dating myself!), I grew up watching a TV show called “Family Affair.” That’s now the phrase that Brian and I use to describe our partnership in the book business. Obviously, we’re married — but we also have a unique joint approach to Brian’s career as an author. Brian writes the books, but we work very closely—as a team—on every phase of the business, and we each have our own roles throughout the entire process. As a guest blogger, I wanted to give you an inside look at how we share our duties.

When you read Brian’s newest book, GOODBYE TO THE DEAD, you’ll see that Brian likes to give his readers a “you are there” feeling in his settings. In order to do that, he carefully maps out his scenes, much the same way a film director does for a movie. Then, off we go together to scout out actual locations. Glamorous? Well, not so much. Perhaps you’ve heard about some of the research trips we’ve taken? Duluth in January…? Tampa in August…? (Yes, we need to work on our timing.)

We’ve spent many hours tromping around deserted buildings or driving up and down streets and across bridges. Brian’s usually at the wheel, and I’m hanging out the window—snapping pictures and videos all the way.

Once the research is done, Brian gets down to the nitty gritty of drafting the actual manuscript. During this writing phase, we adopt a “mysterious” philosophy—Brian doesn’t tell me anything about the plot. Why? Because when the manuscript is completed, I’m his first advance reader and it’s crucial that I not know anything about the plot before I begin. It’s his job to tell the story in way that builds suspense for the reader from the beginning to the ending…it’s my job to tell him whether he’s succeeded in doing that. And if I already know details of the plot, then I can’t give him an accurate and objective critique.

I’m the first to admit…my critique is brutally honest. Of course, I look at the overall plot, as well as descriptive details, but I also look for typographical errors. That’s because we want the readers to have the best reading experience possible. Nothing stops a reader faster than a plot detail that doesn’t fit—or a misspelled word…!

Once I’ve been through the manuscript and given Brian my feedback, it goes to several other advance readers for their thoughts. Brian compiles all of these into the book, and then it goes to his publishers for review and publication.

However, the process doesn’t end there. When the book is released, we often travel together to bookstores, libraries and book clubs—talking about Brian and his books. As you might guess, there’s a lot that goes into these arrangements and keeping it all straight—so I’m the primary liaison with librarians, booksellers, publishers, media outlets, and bloggers to set up events and maintain our calendars and travel arrangements. Thank goodness for a nicely integrated computer/phone set-up!

Brian also maintain his website (www.bfreemanbooks.com) and Facebook pages (www.facebook.com/bfreemanfans), and he sends out periodic emails to readers—telling them about upcoming book releases and local events in their areas. The internet and social media have given readers around the world a wonderful way to keep in touch with their favorite authors—and Brian responds to all of his fan mail and messages personally.

Several years ago, it became apparent that readers also wanted to talk to me! Brian writes dark stories, but he’s such a nice guy—they want the “inside scoop” about what he’s really like. We decided to broaden that opportunity, so I created a Facebook page called “The Author’s Wife” (www.facebook.com/theauthorswife). I can’t believe that title hadn’t already been taken…! This is a place where I can share stories about our lives at home and out on the road. Readers can write to me and ask questions or share pictures—and just like Brian, I write my own posts and respond to the messages and emails personally. It’s a great way to stay in touch with readers throughout the year.

So, you can see that when it comes to the book business, it really is a “family affair” in the Freeman household. But now I’ll let you in on a little secret. There is one area that most definitely is NOT a partnership…scooping the litter boxes for our three cats is entirely Brian’s job…!

Brian Freeman Literary Salon 6/24 Berkeley

Join Mystery Readers NorCal on Wednesday, June 24, 7 p.m. in Berkeley.  Post a comment below with your email address if you'd like to attend.


Brian Freeman is a bestselling author of psychological thrillers, including the Jonathan Stride and Cab Bolt series. Since 2005, he has sold books in 46 countries and 20 languages. His stand-alone novel Spilled Blood won the award for Best Hardcover Novel in the International Thriller Writers Awards, and his novel The Burying Place was a finalist for the same award.

His debut thriller, Immoral, won the Macavity Award and was a finalist for the Dagger, Edgar, Anthony, and Barry awards for Best First Novel. Immoral was also chosen as International Book of the Month by book clubs aournd the world and was a Main Selection in the Literary Guild and the Book of the Month Club.

In addition to his intense, character-driven thrillers, Freeman enjoyed success in a completely different genre with his romantic comedy-drama The Agency, which People Magazine described as 'entertaining...witty..a delight."

Brian lives in Minnesota with his wife, Marcia, and their three cats.