Genre: Historical, Mystery
LGBTQ+ Category: Gay
Reviewer: Maryann
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About The Book
Stiles finds himself torn between his loyalty to his agency director and friend, James McCullough, and his loyalty to friend Lizzie Ferguson and his lover Michael O’Leary. He can’t explain the overwhelming feelings of darkness that he feels.
When the new director of the St. Louis Pinkerton Agency, fires Lizzie and Michael, then pairs Stiles up with a new agent, things begin to unravel all around Stiles.
Lying to everyone, he heads to Chicago where James McCullough and other agents have disappeared. Determined to find his friend and discover what is really going on in the Levee District, Stiles finds himself with no one he can depend on.
Meanwhile, Lizzie moves back to New York to work in the Pinkerton office there with an old friend. And, Michael discovers he’s inherited an estate in England from his mother’s side of his family.
The group of friends are being pulled apart in different directions. There’s corruption around every corner. No one can be trusted. Can they find their way back to who they were before? Will Stiles be able to pull himself out of the hell he’s in before he loses everything? So this is hell…
The Review
Pinkerton’s Stiles Long, along with his lover Michael O’Leary and dear friend Lizzie Ferguson, have been enjoying their stay in Europe. For Stiles and Michael, it has been a special time, as they were able to be themselves.
But their stay is disrupted when a telegram is received that tells them that James McCullough, head of the Pinkerton’s in St. Louis, has disappeared. Stiles is devastated by this mysterious loss of this good man. McCullough has always been an open-minded individual and understanding about Stiles. He accepted Michael and Lizzie as Pinkerton agents, and always praised and supported them.
There’s only one thing left to do – go back to St. Louis. But Stiles dreads the return. He has the feeling things have changed, and not for the better. He also hates that he and Michael will have to hide their relationship once again. It casts a shadow over Stiles’ soul, and he doesn’t know how to explain it.
With a short layover in New York, a mysterious stranger delivers a warning to Stiles that he and the others are in danger. When they finally make it home to St. Louis, an odd letter has been waiting for them from James. As brief as his letter is, one thing stands out – trust no one.”
Chicago is in turmoil, with an upcoming election and political unrest. Stiles, Michael and Lizzie have to face McCullough’s replacement, and Stiles fears the outcome. To keep Lizzie and Michael out of danger, Stiles resorts to deceit. It’s the only way to find out the truth. But his lies will bring a separation and misunderstandings between all three companions.
Time is also an enemy, and each of them will have to make a decision to move on. As twisted as Stiles search becomes for James McCullough, will he ever find out the truth and survive?
Down But Not Out is the fifth book in “The Pinkerton Man” series by CJ Baty, and it’s the best one yet, a fast paced mystery that’s well-plotted, with intense situations and suspicious characters at every turn and an almost overwheming sense of danger.
There’s also the wonderful, but at times the sad, romance between Stiles and Michael. Lizzie is as feisty as ever, and is not afraid to speak her mind, adventurous and a woman before her time. We also get a deeper deeper look at James McCullough’s story – he’s just not a man who sits behind a desk.
There’s a host of other characters that are nice and not so nice: Lawrence Whitley, who works close to McCullough and Claire Collins, a mystery lady; Devlin Warren, agent; Martin Collins; Chester Smythe; Louis Winchester; Mark Thomas; Nicolo “Nicky” Esposito; James “Big Jim Higgins; Patty “Cake” Francis, owner of The Rose Palace; and more.
CJ Baty created an eye-catching and stunning cover of Stiles Long for the book too.
I highly recommend Down But Not Out for mystery lovers – it will keep you turning pages long past your bedtime.
“The Pinkerton” series is not over yet – CJ Baty will be bringing Stiles, Michael and Lizzie back with book six: The Secrets of Whitcomb Manor.
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.
