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FREEZE FRAME
What KIM thought would make a stunning wedding video affirms a cold-blooded, unseen murder. It’s not until he studies the footage on his editing console that within the murk of revelers dancing at the party is the flash of a bowie knife.
Rewind to how it all begins.
Before The Wall Street Crash of 2008, Kim’s parents had been living the high life, complacent in their earnings as investors in the Stock Market. Its aftermath leaves ELLA and JOE in a state of panic and depression.
Kim is twenty, lives with them in Brooklyn, and has a heart-bending crush on tall, willowy Nova, who lives across the street. She’s seventeen. Her new boyfriend is ZANE, twenty-four. Zane owes money to a dangerous loan shark, MALANGA,(27) Nova’s dad, MIKE, (40s) despises Zane. A widow, he shares his home with Nova, enforcing strict rules on her. This doesn’t stop his only daughter from sneaking off with Zane when he’s at work.
The wedding runs smoothly. But at the reception, the nightmare soon begins. Zane brazenly shows up, not realizing that Malanga has trailed him. To complicate matters, Mike is aware of Zane’s presence. Two people who want Zane dead. One killing.
Kim’s footage reveals the real perp.
Rewind to how it all begins.
Before The Wall Street Crash of 2008, Kim’s parents had been living the high life, complacent in their earnings as investors in the Stock Market. Its aftermath leaves ELLA and JOE in a state of panic and depression.
Kim is twenty, lives with them in Brooklyn, and has a heart-bending crush on tall, willowy Nova, who lives across the street. She’s seventeen. Her new boyfriend is ZANE, twenty-four. Zane owes money to a dangerous loan shark, MALANGA,(27) Nova’s dad, MIKE, (40s) despises Zane. A widow, he shares his home with Nova, enforcing strict rules on her. This doesn’t stop his only daughter from sneaking off with Zane when he’s at work.
The wedding runs smoothly. But at the reception, the nightmare soon begins. Zane brazenly shows up, not realizing that Malanga has trailed him. To complicate matters, Mike is aware of Zane’s presence. Two people who want Zane dead. One killing.
Kim’s footage reveals the real perp.
Kindle Edition
Published March 26, 2024
3 people are currently reading
7 people want to read
About the author
ROB SANTANA
25 books21 followersAuthor/Filmmaker.
Some of my short stories have been "traditionally" published.
Two of my feature films have screened at various festivals. (Bomber Jackets and Heysoos)
I love talking to other writers, especially about their work. Got something? Bring it on.
Some of my short stories have been "traditionally" published.
Two of my feature films have screened at various festivals. (Bomber Jackets and Heysoos)
I love talking to other writers, especially about their work. Got something? Bring it on.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
July 2, 2024
Spoilers: Rob Santana is an expert at writing the unexpected.
The Oscar Goes To features the titular awards ceremony interrupted by the Best Actress Winner’s on air suicide. Little Blue Eyes turns a potentially heartwarming story about a woman taking in an abandoned baby into a thriller about addiction, racism, and human trafficking. Even real people like Adolf Hitler and Jane Austen are taken to strange unexpected dimensions. When you read one of Santana's books you don't know what will happen. All you do know is that it won't be anything like the book that you thought it was going to be at the beginning.
His latest novel, Freeze Frame, starts out as a quirky romantic comedy drama that builds into a psychological crime thriller and gives you enough time to appreciate the transition.
Future filmmaker, Kim Poynter loves taking videos of the people around him particularly of Nova Muller, the pretty girl from across the street. He's in love with her but since she already has a boyfriend, Zane, he settles into the friend zone, for now. He is preparing to record Nova’s brother's wedding during the time that both he and Nova discover some horrible secrets about their families. The suspicion and tension from these secrets build until the wedding when Kim happens to capture a crime that will change his and Nova's lives forever.
Freeze Frame is the type of book that has a slow build up before it reaches the climax. If done right, it can be a benefit by letting one get to know the characters and the conflicts. If done wrong, it can be a sluggish detriment as the Reader waits for something exciting to happen. Santana does it right. He allows us to understand his characters, particularly Kim and Nova, and see them as rich vibrant people before their worlds fall apart around them.
Kim struggles with his own ambitions and expectations from his family. He has an eye for film and is interested in capturing the world around him. It is how he expresses himself by measuring every camera angle, preparing every shot, and making his work into works of cinematic art even if they are weddings, parties, and every day events. They aren't ordinary to him. They allow him to understand the people that he is recording and allow them to recognize his dedication.
Kim's materialistic parents however are not supportive of his drive. They want to know why he isn't more interested in earning money and making investments. Look at them. They put their money into Lehman Brothers and that is certainly “too big to fail.” Right? (This book is set in the late 2000’s before the financial crisis.)
Besides his parent's lack of financial foresight, they are also having marital troubles. Kim captures a compromising situation involving his parents and it changes their relationship forever.
Kim captures videos because for him they symbolize perfection. If he doesn't like something he can edit it or change it. The negative parts can be removed. Unfortunately, that cannot happen after he puts the camera down. He has to deal with real life with all of its complications, messiness, and hypocrisy.
Nova is the opposite of Kim in many ways. Kim uses his camera to create a fanciful perfect world, but Nova uses herself. She acts like the smart attractive girl next door. The Miss Everything who is going places. What everyone thinks that they see is a brilliant beautiful good girl. What they don't see is a troubled young woman with a suspicious nature, a surly attitude, and complicated relationships with those around her.
She doesn't get along with her father who is overprotective of her in ways that could veer towards inappropriate. There is a bond that at times might be loving but can also be suffocating even threatening.
Their relationship gets progressively worse throughout the book until it completely deteriorates in a way that is sad but inevitable.
Nova also doesn't like her future sister in law at all. Her only supporter is her brother and even that will soon change. Her relationship with Zane is crumbling. He can be incredibly possessive and verbally abusive. Nova has some serious emotional issues that need working through and her friendship with Kim gives her the chance to be honest.
The build-up of Kim and Nova's “will they won't they” potential relationship is a quirky romantic comedy drama, the story of two misfits, that are two-thirds of a love triangle and are from dysfunctional families, that find their way to each other. Then it takes a 180 degree turn and this sweet and cute potential romance is not so sweet or cute.
Things occur that cause them to question their relationships with friends, family, and each other. One or more secrets are brought forward and a violent act is committed. This violent act spirals the book into a thriller. Kim records it and has to weigh whether to reveal it to the authorities and how to hide it from nefarious people who want it to stay private.
The characterization that was present at the beginning gives way more to plot. But since the Reader has gotten to know Kim and Nova, that makes their situation more dire and the conflicts surrounding them more pronounced. They are left with some difficult choices to make and either way could result in more difficulties. They are hard choices but once made are clearly understood because of what we had experienced with the characters beforehand.
Freeze Frame captures a memorable quirky romance turned crime thriller. It is the picture of an excellent read and is among Santa's best.
The Oscar Goes To features the titular awards ceremony interrupted by the Best Actress Winner’s on air suicide. Little Blue Eyes turns a potentially heartwarming story about a woman taking in an abandoned baby into a thriller about addiction, racism, and human trafficking. Even real people like Adolf Hitler and Jane Austen are taken to strange unexpected dimensions. When you read one of Santana's books you don't know what will happen. All you do know is that it won't be anything like the book that you thought it was going to be at the beginning.
His latest novel, Freeze Frame, starts out as a quirky romantic comedy drama that builds into a psychological crime thriller and gives you enough time to appreciate the transition.
Future filmmaker, Kim Poynter loves taking videos of the people around him particularly of Nova Muller, the pretty girl from across the street. He's in love with her but since she already has a boyfriend, Zane, he settles into the friend zone, for now. He is preparing to record Nova’s brother's wedding during the time that both he and Nova discover some horrible secrets about their families. The suspicion and tension from these secrets build until the wedding when Kim happens to capture a crime that will change his and Nova's lives forever.
Freeze Frame is the type of book that has a slow build up before it reaches the climax. If done right, it can be a benefit by letting one get to know the characters and the conflicts. If done wrong, it can be a sluggish detriment as the Reader waits for something exciting to happen. Santana does it right. He allows us to understand his characters, particularly Kim and Nova, and see them as rich vibrant people before their worlds fall apart around them.
Kim struggles with his own ambitions and expectations from his family. He has an eye for film and is interested in capturing the world around him. It is how he expresses himself by measuring every camera angle, preparing every shot, and making his work into works of cinematic art even if they are weddings, parties, and every day events. They aren't ordinary to him. They allow him to understand the people that he is recording and allow them to recognize his dedication.
Kim's materialistic parents however are not supportive of his drive. They want to know why he isn't more interested in earning money and making investments. Look at them. They put their money into Lehman Brothers and that is certainly “too big to fail.” Right? (This book is set in the late 2000’s before the financial crisis.)
Besides his parent's lack of financial foresight, they are also having marital troubles. Kim captures a compromising situation involving his parents and it changes their relationship forever.
Kim captures videos because for him they symbolize perfection. If he doesn't like something he can edit it or change it. The negative parts can be removed. Unfortunately, that cannot happen after he puts the camera down. He has to deal with real life with all of its complications, messiness, and hypocrisy.
Nova is the opposite of Kim in many ways. Kim uses his camera to create a fanciful perfect world, but Nova uses herself. She acts like the smart attractive girl next door. The Miss Everything who is going places. What everyone thinks that they see is a brilliant beautiful good girl. What they don't see is a troubled young woman with a suspicious nature, a surly attitude, and complicated relationships with those around her.
She doesn't get along with her father who is overprotective of her in ways that could veer towards inappropriate. There is a bond that at times might be loving but can also be suffocating even threatening.
Their relationship gets progressively worse throughout the book until it completely deteriorates in a way that is sad but inevitable.
Nova also doesn't like her future sister in law at all. Her only supporter is her brother and even that will soon change. Her relationship with Zane is crumbling. He can be incredibly possessive and verbally abusive. Nova has some serious emotional issues that need working through and her friendship with Kim gives her the chance to be honest.
The build-up of Kim and Nova's “will they won't they” potential relationship is a quirky romantic comedy drama, the story of two misfits, that are two-thirds of a love triangle and are from dysfunctional families, that find their way to each other. Then it takes a 180 degree turn and this sweet and cute potential romance is not so sweet or cute.
Things occur that cause them to question their relationships with friends, family, and each other. One or more secrets are brought forward and a violent act is committed. This violent act spirals the book into a thriller. Kim records it and has to weigh whether to reveal it to the authorities and how to hide it from nefarious people who want it to stay private.
The characterization that was present at the beginning gives way more to plot. But since the Reader has gotten to know Kim and Nova, that makes their situation more dire and the conflicts surrounding them more pronounced. They are left with some difficult choices to make and either way could result in more difficulties. They are hard choices but once made are clearly understood because of what we had experienced with the characters beforehand.
Freeze Frame captures a memorable quirky romance turned crime thriller. It is the picture of an excellent read and is among Santa's best.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 23, 2024
I've read other books from Rob Santana, and as good as they were, this one is over the chart! Judging by the title I knew it would have something to do with Kim's video he took at the wedding. However, I was not ready for everything that developed from the wedding footage to the people involved, and the responses each person gave due to their part in the filming.
It has lots of nail-biting moments and shockers that sneak up on you! From Kim's immediate longing and attachment to his neighbor, Nova who seems to affect many people the way she does Kim. Therein lies the problem, or should I say one of them. Kim's best friend, and sometimes helper in his video tapings, Danny, also has a hidden secret. But that isn't all. Santana brings many characters into play with his own parents, Joe and Ella and how they were riding a high from the stock market... until it crashed. Not to mention Nova's widowed dad, Mike isn't the just the pet vet, he has a hankering for his neighbor, leaving Kim ready to pull his hair out.
Enter in the family's mysteries is Nova's brother, Rudy and his soon to be wife, Trish. It seems Kim caught more on video tape than anyone expected or wished to be revealed. There is a sadness in all of this when you examine how something as blissful as a wedding video could show the hidden secrets of so many people. I'm not about to give away what happens in the book, but you should definitely read it if you're a fan of thrillers, mysteries and a splash of romance. I've got to say Bravo! to Mr. Santana for keeping me up late at night to find out what happens next! You get a full 5 Star review, Rob Santana!
It has lots of nail-biting moments and shockers that sneak up on you! From Kim's immediate longing and attachment to his neighbor, Nova who seems to affect many people the way she does Kim. Therein lies the problem, or should I say one of them. Kim's best friend, and sometimes helper in his video tapings, Danny, also has a hidden secret. But that isn't all. Santana brings many characters into play with his own parents, Joe and Ella and how they were riding a high from the stock market... until it crashed. Not to mention Nova's widowed dad, Mike isn't the just the pet vet, he has a hankering for his neighbor, leaving Kim ready to pull his hair out.
Enter in the family's mysteries is Nova's brother, Rudy and his soon to be wife, Trish. It seems Kim caught more on video tape than anyone expected or wished to be revealed. There is a sadness in all of this when you examine how something as blissful as a wedding video could show the hidden secrets of so many people. I'm not about to give away what happens in the book, but you should definitely read it if you're a fan of thrillers, mysteries and a splash of romance. I've got to say Bravo! to Mr. Santana for keeping me up late at night to find out what happens next! You get a full 5 Star review, Rob Santana!
March 21, 2025
I received an advance review copy for free and am leaving this review voluntarily.
This is my first experience with this author so I did not have any expectations of what this book would be like, WHAT A FREAKING RIDE!
Oh, to be a photographer/videographer at a wedding…I was on the edge of my seat with all of the twists, the toxic relationships, secrets…my goodness…AT A WEDDING!!!
Mr. Santana has a new reader in me! This was everything I never knew I needed.
Thank you Booksirens, for the ARC of this edge-of-your-seat read!
This is my first experience with this author so I did not have any expectations of what this book would be like, WHAT A FREAKING RIDE!
Oh, to be a photographer/videographer at a wedding…I was on the edge of my seat with all of the twists, the toxic relationships, secrets…my goodness…AT A WEDDING!!!
Mr. Santana has a new reader in me! This was everything I never knew I needed.
Thank you Booksirens, for the ARC of this edge-of-your-seat read!
August 8, 2024
Freeze Frame by Rob Santana, this was a new author for me so wasn't really sure what to expect. Although for me it was a hard book to get into, overall I found it to be a good read not a great one. There really wasn't any character in the book that I liked, some I downright detested. Having said that I would still recommend this book to others because I realize not everyone enjoys the same books.
I received an ARC from BookSirens for free, and I am leaving my review voluntarily.
I received an ARC from BookSirens for free, and I am leaving my review voluntarily.
July 4, 2024
An interesting take on a murder in a crowd and how an amateur photographer by looking at the video screen by screen sees something that then engenders a thrilling mystery.
The young characters are well depicted and also the pains of dating as a teen and not knowing what is infatuation nor love.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
The young characters are well depicted and also the pains of dating as a teen and not knowing what is infatuation nor love.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
June 10, 2024
The characters are so well written, it’s almost as if a friend is telling me a story about people i know. It gives a cozy-murder mystery feel which i love. There’s so much happening, and it worth the adventure!
thank you @booksirens for the ARC opportunity!
thank you @booksirens for the ARC opportunity!
April 4, 2024
FREE MAR 5 ONLY.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews