Title: Fresh Kill
Series: The Jimmy McSwain Files, Book 6
Author: Adam Carpenter
Genre: Mystery
LGBTQ+ Category: MM/Gay
Publisher: MLR Press
Reviewer: Maryann
Get it On Amazon
About the Book
Jimmy McSwain returns, but the question lingers, now that he has finally solved the fifteen-year-old murder of his NYPD cop-father, Joseph, who has he become?
Busy concentrating on family issues, Jimmy hasn’t taken a new case in nearly three months, and when a call comes in from Philip Connelly, who wants proof of his wife, Myra’s, cheating, Jimmy is torn. Take the case, or say no. He rejects it, only to learn a week later that Philip has been found dead in a park on Staten Island. The police believe it was suicide, but Myra—a self-admitted adulteress—is convinced he was murdered. Jimmy agrees to take the case. But it seems his decision to rejoin the world has also affected the other areas of his life: his sister is facing a health crisis, an old friend from his father’s past has resurfaced, and his lover, Captain Francis X. Frisano, is working a difficult case in Chelsea where gay men are being attacked.
If that wasn’t enough, Jimmy is on the hunt to bring down his new nemesis, the criminal mastermind Mr. Wu-Tin. A fire at one of his warehouses stirs fear in Jimmy that the man is trying to destroy evidence of his crimes. That’s when life throws him a twist, and suddenly Jimmy feels that just as he’s hoping to find answers, new mysteries emerge about whether the path he’s on leads to a fresh start, or a fresh kill.
The Review
It’s been a long time coming but Adam Carpenter delivers another emotional, suspenseful, and complex mystery in “The Jimmy McSwain Files”. He takes us once again on the streets and subways of NYC and this time the ferry to Staten Island. His writing and story telling through Jimmy’s eyes is superb.
After so many emotional ups and downs for Jimmy, he feels it’s time to get back to being a PI and winds up taking a case that he actually refused. He still finds the NYPD, no matter what precinct, there’s still corruption and he doesn’t even realize he’s being used. Jimmy finds no matter what cases he solves there’s still a loose end that’s out of reach.
I have a very short list of characters that I get really involved in and Jimmy McSwain has always touched my heart. He’s a different kind of PI, doesn’t carry a gun and does a lot of foot work on the streets and subways of NYC. What’s really striking about Jimmy is his love and loyalty to his family, his father’s old friends: Ralphie and John Tolliver. Baby Joey is a new bright spot in Jimmy’s life, along with the recovery of Mallory. His feelings for Frisano keep growing, at least for him. Jimmy deserves so much more in life but it seems when things look up there’s always a down side.
As for Frank Frisano, he doesn’t deserve Jimmy. This probably won’t happen but I hope Frisano moves on and Jimmy finds someone that really appreciates him.
The Jimmy McSwain Files is one of my top favorite mystery series and there’s another in the works “Second Shot”.
About the Reviewer
Hi, I’m Maryann, I started life in New York, moved to New Hampshire and in 1965 uprooted again to Sacramento, California. Once I retired I moved to West Palm Beach, Florida in 2011 and just moved back to Sacramento in March of 2018. My son, his wife and step-daughter flew out to Florida and we road tripped back so they got to see sights they have never seen. New Orleans and the Grand Canyon were the highlights. Now I am back on the west coast again to stay!
From a young age Ialways liked to read. I remember going to the library and reading the “Doctor Dolittle” books by Hugh Lofting. Much later on became a big fan of the classics, Edgar Alan Poe, Mary Shelley, Bram Stoker and as time went by Agatha Christie, Ray Bradbury and Stephen Kingand many other authors. My first M/M shifter book I read was written by Jan Irving the “Uncommon Cowboys” series from 2012. She was the first author I ever contacted and sent an email to letting her know how much I liked this series.
Sometime along the way I read “Zero to the Bone”by Jane Seville, I think just about everyone has read this book! As it stands right now I’m really into mysteries, grit, gore and “triggers” don’t bother me. But if a blurb peaks my interest I will read the book. My kindle collection eclectic and over three thousand books and my Audible collection is slowly growing.
I have both the kindle and audible apps on my ipod, ipads, and MAC. So there is never an excuse not to be listening or reading. I joined Goodreads around 2012 and started posting reviews. One day a wonderful lady, Lisa Horan of The Novel Approach, sent me an email to see if I wanted to join her review group. Joining her site was such an eye opener. I got introduce to so many new authors that write for the LGBTQ genre.
Needless to say, it was heart breaking when it ended. But I found a really great site, QRI and it’s right here in Sacramento. Last year at QSAC I actually got to meet Scott Coatsworth, Amy Lane and Jeff Adams.
