Genre: Contemporary, Mystery
LGBTQ+ Category: Gay
Reviewer: Maryann
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About The Book
Jimmy McSwain has to meet a man named Alexander Cort, a real-estate agent with a story to tell about an old set of friends, dating back to his childhood in Hell’s Kitchen. The friends called themselves the Four Kitcheneers, bonding together over their own ambitions and memories. On graduation night, one of the four disappeared and the other three engaged in a cover-up. Or maybe not.
The question of what happened to Silas Clayton still lingers fourteen years later. As Jimmy begins his investigation of what happened that fateful night, he also tries to put the final nail in the casket of his previous case, one that ended with Captain Francis X. Frisano arresting him for killing Mr. Wu-Tin.
These pieces comprise a puzzle Jimmy just can’t seem to solve. Until two bodies are found at the construction site across the avenue from where he grew up. Suddenly Hell’s Kitchen’s shadows are being exposed to a blinding sun of truth.
The Review
Jimmy McSwain has lived in Hells Kitchen all his life. At the age of fourteen, he witnessed the killing of his father, Detective Joseph McSwain, holding him in his arms as he died. Jimmy become a police officer, but he eventually left the homophobic and corrupt NYPD, and took another course in life to become a PI.
For years he has pursued the “Forever Haunt” case, to find his father’s murderer. Working with Lt. Salvatore Frisano of the NYPD, he believes that the case is about to come to a close. But is it really?
Jimmy has just been released from jail after a trial. He was betrayed and arrested for murder of Wu-Tin by his on-again-off-again-boyfriend, Capt. Francis X. Frisano, whose actions have once again broken the trust between them. Jimmy knows one thing – Wu-Tin may be dead, but not by his gun. There was a second Shot, and he’s bound and determined to find the truth.
While pursuing the closure in his father’s murder case, Jimmy gets a new case. Alex Cort needs to find out if he murdered someone. Cort was eighteen at the time, and one of four friends of the Kitcheneers. Being from Hells Kitchen, Jimmy was a couple years younger than these boys but he remembers them. As all is not what it seems, he calls on his sister Mallory, an attorney, to help with the case. He also finds assistance at Midtown PD from Capt. Cyrus Morgan, Fred Davis, and John Tolliver, all friends of his father.
Jimmy will also have to face the reality of change, as his neighborhood is gentrified with old buildings coming down and new high-rises going up. His mother, Maggie will also deliver news to Jimmy that brings confusion and puts distance between them. With all that he’s dealing with, a visit to Peach Lake and Grandma Hester will give Jimmy the time that he needs, and a message that will may change him.
“The Jimmy McSwain Files” is one of the best private detective series I have ever read. The first book, Forever Haunt, was published in 2014, and I have followed this series ever since. I was ecstatic to find out that book eight, False Justice, was finally coming out.
Carpenter brings Jimmy McSwain to life – a PI who knows Hells Kitchen like the back of his hand, who rides the subway system every day of his life, and seldom drives or rides in a car. He’s is a determined young man with a big heart and a great love for his Irish family, always thinking of others, trying to give them justice and closure.
I also loved the strength of the women in this story. Maggie McSwain, raising her family, hosting dinners and being head usher at the Harold Calloway Theatre, where she kept her children involved. Mallory, Jimmy’s older sister, an attorney who took a bullet for him. And Grandma Hester, who has all the wisdom of the world.
It was fun to re-visit the Dress-Up Club and owner Terry Cloth. I was so happy to see Ralphie Henderson get mentioned, a wonderful mentor to Jimmy and an even greater friend and NYPD partner to Joseph McSwain. As Jimmy has always been open about being gay, Ralphie regularly teases him, asking Jimmy, if he “still liked boys.”
Thank you, Adam Carpenter, for creating Jimmy McSwain and this series. It’s filled with heartbreak, happiness, love of family and so much more. All of “Jimmy McSwain Files” books are twisted and complex, with fast paced action, danger, and a love affair. This is not the last book, and I’m all-in for more!
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.
