Author: Adam Carpenter
Publisher: MLR Press
Length: 238 Pages
Category: Mystery/Suspense
At a Glance: The Jimmy McSwain Files is a smartly written detective series; the plots are genius and get better with each new installment.
Reviewed By: Maryann
Blurb: Jimmy McSwain returns to help his sister’s boyfriend fight a murder charge—and finds he may just have a lead on a cold case.
Hell’s Kitchen private investigator Jimmy McSwain returns in a twisting tale of past sins and present-day vengeance. Jimmy McSwain isn’t thrilled about taking a case for free, but when his sister fears her boyfriend, Rocky, is cheating on her, he has no choice. But the case takes a deadly turn when Rocky is standing over the body of a man he was just seen kissing, and he’s holding the gun. He begs Jimmy to prove his innocence.
Meanwhile, as a sweltering heat wave claims New York City, a gunman with a thirst for blood is targeting Manhattan deli owners and has already claimed two victims. Jimmy knows a thing or two about those—fourteen years ago his father was killed outside a deli, and it’s possible today’s killer could be linked to that unsolved murder, one that continues to haunt Jimmy. Enlisting the aid of sexy NYPD Captain Francis X. Frisano, Jimmy finds himself torn between the two cases, as well as the heat simmering between himself and the hot cop. Suddenly a quiet summer has erupted into a full-blown crime wave.
Review: Jimmy McSwain is still working to solve the “Forever Haunt”, the murder of his father, Joseph McSwain, when he finds himself with a new client—his sister, Meaghan. They’re on a stakeout, watching Meaghan’s boyfriend, Rocky, because she’s suspects that Rocky is cheating on her. It isn’t like Rocky hasn’t been in trouble before, but this time cheating turns to murder, and Jimmy finds himself deep in this case.
Jimmy suspects a former cop, Rashad Assan, of Joseph’s murder and begins collaborating with Captain Francis X. Frisano of the NYPD. Jimmy feels that if he can find Assan and talk with him, maybe there will be something that can clear up his father’s murder. But when he gets close to finding Assan, the one man he thought he could trust takes that away from him.
The Jimmy McSwain Files is a smartly written detective series; the plots are genius and get better with each new installment. Jimmy always has more than one iron in the fire, and he handles himself smoothly. Crime Wave is an emotional story on so many different levels, and Jimmy has so many obstacles to overcome. In trying to solve his father’s murder, he has to deal with the NYPD not only hating that he’s a P.I. but also that he’s gay. To add to that, there is also something wrong going on with the NYPD. Because of my suspicions about Frisano, who’s not out, and Jimmy, who doesn’t hide his sexuality, I just didn’t know if this was a healthy situation. This story was somewhat of a heartbreaker; I thought Jimmy may have found someone he could have a relationship with, but with the loss of trust and truth, the beginning ends fast.
The family dynamics, with all the warmth and emotions, jumps off the pages. I liked the solidness of all the characters as well as the connection Jimmy has with his father’s old partner, Ralphie Henderson, who always gives solid advice. I’m absolutely hooked on the Jimmy McSwain Files.
You can buy Crime Wave here:
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