Genre: Mystery-Thriller
LGBTQ+ Category: Gay
Reviewer: Maryann
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About The Book
Jimmy McSwain is enjoying a relaxing holiday at his grandmother’s cottage, but it turns out to be a set-up. Hester Bryne has a favor to ask: to meet with her old friends, Franklin and Carolyn Hardy, who wish to hire the young private-eye-in-training to find their son. Seems he’s been gone for forty years.
Jimmy, taken with the idea of reuniting a father with his son, wants to take the case. But he must get the all clear from his new boss, Finn, the ex-cop who has taken Jimmy under his wing. A visit to Finn’s home proves to be yet another set-up, one that takes an unexpected twist in the name of a newcomer to the city, Aiden Garvey.
As Jimmy immerses himself in the case of the missing son, he keeps getting distracted by the newfound presence of a man who makes his heart skip a beat. Juggling the promise of a new relationship with the complexities presented by this puzzling case, Jimmy realizes he’s getting too close to one of them, and it could end with more broken hearts than lives.
Can a remembrance of his father be both his motivation and the cause for the destruction lying in wait?
The Review
At ten years old, Jimmy McSwain was excited and persistent, a trait that was inherited from his father. He would finally become a policeman. He was going to Midtown South, one of the many precincts of the NYPD. He and his father, Officer Joseph McSwain, would also take time to enjoy a doughnut together. Of course, Jimmy had never understood the correlation between doughnuts and policemen. But he did understand it was a secret and a bond between him and his father, whom he worshipped.
Jimmy already knew some things about the station, and he read the words printed on the police cars: courtesy, professional and respect. Jimmy met his father’s partner, Officer John Tolliver, who presented him with a blue cap to wear and made him a police cadet. He also met Deputy Inspector Reggie McElroy, who was interested in reading Jimmy’s report, after it was graded by his teacher. After all, this was a school assignment.
Now twenty-three, Jimmy always has a place to go to get away from the city and Hell’s Kitchen. His mom Maggie and sisters Mallory and Meaghan have all come to Peach Lake, and the cottage of Grandma Hester Byrne. The Byrnes had come to America from Ireland early in the twentieth century. Hester is a first generation Irish-American, and the heart of the Byrne-McSwain clan. Maggie is much like her mother Hester, strong, strict and loving.
As his mother and sisters head back to the city, Jimmy is invited to stay for a few extra days. He’s is sitting on the dock basking in the sun when Hester calls him inside. Just what is his Grandmother up to? Apparently they have company for lunch. She introduces Jimmy to an older couple: Franklin and Carolyn Hardy.
Jimmy and Franklin find some time to talk. He questions Jimmy about being a private investigator, and Jimmy explains that he’s going through “on-the-job-training” for Finley Sullivan Investigation in the Bronx. Franklin explains that he hasn’t got much time left. He needs to find his son, Pierce Emerson Hardy, whom they haven’t seen or heard from in forty years. He goes on to explain at the age of eighteen, Pierce had found out some information that caused his life to change.
Jimmy lets Franklin know he can’t accept the case until he discusses it with his boss, PI Finley Sullivan. When Jimmy calls Sullivan, he tells Jimmy to come to his home, where they will go over the details of the case. When Jimmy arrives at Sullivan’s home in Pelham, the Sullivans have company. Beatrice introduces Jimmy to the Garveys and their nephew Aidan, who are visiting. It’s been a while for Jimmy but his gaydar kicks in with Aidan.
Sullivan gives Jimmy a warning and the go-ahead for the Franklin Hardy case. He finds himself in need of a quiet place and Uncle Paddy’s bar will do. It’s never a dull moment as Jimmy finds himself running through the streets of New York. But most of all, Jimmy will find himself immersed in the Hardy case that will touch his heart and memory.
Adam Carpenter brings Heart Beat, another “Jimmy McSwain’s Early Files”, case file #0002, to the page. The case of Pierce Emerson Hardy is sad, twisted, and suspenseful. And once more, the meaning of family is very important throughout the story.
In Heart Beat, we get a new perspective on Grandma Hester and how much she means to the Byrne-McSwain clan. And finally, Uncle Paddy gets some recognition for his support of Jimmy. In each of the “Early Years” novellas, more characters take the stage.
I highly recommend Heart Beat, the second novella in the “Jimmy McSwain’s Early Files” – it’s an excellent novella.
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.
