Genre: Contemporary, Mystery, Romance
LGBTQ+ Category: Gay
Reviewer: Maryann
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About The Book
A long summer has kept Jimmy McSwain away from the city he loves, uncertain of what the future holds. But upon his return, tomorrow quickly becomes a deadly today.
Jimmy has often done work for his sister Mallory’s law firm, and this time the new partner and his handsome associate want to hire Jimmy to solve the mystery of twin brothers. One of the twins lies in a coma, while the other has gone missing. Aiding Jimmy in this confusing case is Brenden Hendricks, the young lawyer who just happens to have a strong attraction to Jimmy. Then murder rocks the Portnoy clan.
Meanwhile, there’s Jimmy’s lingering obsession with the criminal mastermind Mr. Wu-Tin. Jimmy is determined to bring him down, and the NYPD knows that. Brought in to assist the Special Task Force, Jimmy feels he’s being manipulated, but this is his best lead yet. The problem is his partner assigned to the case: his ex, Francis X. Frisano. Soon Jimmy and
Frisano are setting traps for Wu-Tin, even as the cornered man is setting his empire ablaze.
Complex, confounding, the duality in his life will test more than Jimmy’s loyalty, it could rock his very foundation. Deep down he knows that by solving both cases, he’s got a second shot at a new life.
The Review
PI Jimmy MacSwain has taken leave of his business for months. He’s spending time in Brewster at Grandma Hesters’.His family, Maggie, Meaghan, and baby Joey, are there to keep him grounded with family time.
Mallory is making great strides after almost loosing her life. She’s ready to head back to the City and work. As the world changes around Jimmy and his family, there’s still the love and support that they share, and it makes his family his number one priority.
Jimmy returns to the city and finds himself wrapped up in a case from Mallory’s law firm – Loeb, Rosenstein, Caravel and Streb. He meets with one of the partners, Streb. and a replacement lawyer, Brenden Hendricks, who is filling in until Mallory returns.
Jimmy is willing to take the strange case of the twins Chaz and Baz. He also finds himself also being pursued by Brenden.
Jimmy has sworn off men after the breakup with Frisano. He has not had contact with Frank since they split, and Jimmy’s feelings are still raw. Meeting Brenden Hendricks means Jimmy’s going against his own rules.
Jimmy gets a call form Lt. Barone to meet with Lt. Salvatore Frisano, Frank’s father – a problem in itself. Salvatore never cared for Jimmy and his so’s relationship. Salvatore always had big plans for his son, and he still does. They’ve formed a task force to go after Fong Wu-Tin, whose bullet was intended for Jimmy.
Jimmy swore revenge on Wu-Tin when Mallory took the bullet for him. Wu-Tin got away, but now the NYPD knows he’s back in the City, and they ask for Jimmy’s help.
Why, all of sudden, does the NYPD need his help? Is he being set up? Worse yet, Frank is also on this new task force, and Jimmy will have to work with him.
Jimmy is caught between two cases and two men, and his emotions are entangled in the chaos. Jimmy’s reality dissolves in schemes of manipulation, and he loses all trust, except for his family. He always knew the end would com, but never intended for it to be like this.
Carpenter brings back Jimmy for this seventh novel of The Jimmy McSwain Files, “Second Shot”. It’s another action-packed mystery brimming over with excitement, suspense, high drama, big emotions, murder and heartbreak. Things move quickly as Jimmy careens around NYC from subway to subway and on foot. There’s also pressure and emotional and mental complexities as the two cases drag Jimmy deeper into chaos. And yet he never neglects to help his family and Maggie at the theatre.
The case of the twins is a thorny, twisted mystery, Halfway through, I figured it out, but Carpenter made it even more complex in its conclusion.
Adam Carpenter has left me suspicious – I’m still on the fence about Salvatore and Frank Frisano and the NYPD. He also has me wondering about Lt. Barone. I feel like they’re setting Jimmy up at every turn.
I love the characters side characters – Grandma Hester, with her words of wisdom. Maggie, Mallory, Meaghan and baby Joey, a strong-knit family. Uncle Paddy, who’s somewhat of a father figure and sounding board for Jimmie. Jonathan Tolliver, a friend of Jimmie’s father, who has also become a mentor and has a different approach than Ralphie. Yes, I miss Ralphie – he’s gone but not forgotten. There’s also a new member to the McSwain family, Shade.
As I got closer to the end of the story, it did fee; a little rushed, and I wished the proofing had been a little better. Still, Adam Carpenter will always remain a favorite author.
“The Jimmy McSwain Files” is one of the best mystery series I have ever run across. Jimmy’s story isn’t over yet, and I can’t wait to see where it all leads. I love Jimmy and his family dynamics. I don’t know what comes next, but I’ll jump at the chance to read the next intriguing story from The Jimmy McSwain Files.
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 piques 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.
