Book Review

Reviewed by JustJen

Title: Crime Wave
Author: Adam Carpenter
Series: The Jimmy McSwain Files
Heroes: Jimmy McSwain
Genre: MM Contemporary
Length: 238 Pages
Publisher: MLR Press
Release Date: July 19, 2015
Available at: Amazon and Barnes & Noble
Add it to your shelf: Goodreads

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: The story of Jimmy McSwain continues in this book, which picks up not long after Hidden Identity ended. The hunt for his father’s killer is always present, but he works to solve some other cases in the meantime. This time around, he is sort of thrown into a case when on a stakeout for his sister who believes her boyfriend is cheating, he ends up at the scene of a crime where nothing is cut and dry. The cops have their suspect, but Jimmy believes he is innocent, having been there at the time of the incident. He must now find a way to prove them wrong and free a seemingly innocent man. At the same time, there are other shootings going on that Jimmy believes mirror his own father’s and he tries desperately to connect the dots.

Jimmy has totally grown on me. I really love his quick wit and snappy comebacks, his total sexiness and even his vulnerability. All of this shines through in his work and his play, which, as was alluded to in the first book, involves the uber sexy Capt. Frisano. Unfortunately, it seems these two have no chance at anything beyond their hot hookups, which is a shame, but totally believable. This is a story that seems more about Jimmy and his mystery solving and not so much into his finding love and romance. With that being said, there is still some hot sex that never left me feeling like something was missing. Yes, I’d like to see Jimmy find someone to be happy with, but the way this story reads, I was content to wait it out and see what comes next. With things cooling down with Capt. Frisano, and the upcoming return of Jimmy’s ex (the only other guy besides Capt. Frisano to really get to Jimmy), the next installment should be quite interesting.

This story takes place in NYC, where Jimmy lives. If you are at all familiar with the area, you’ll find it fun to follow Jimmy’s footsteps as he makes his way around the City looking for clues, etc. It will difficult not to be on the lookout for the Dress-Up Club and Paddy’s Pub the next time I’m there and wishing I could run into Jimmy McSwain.

If you want a really enjoyable gripping whodunit mystery, be sure to give this series a try. It’s a fast-reading tale that moves along at a great pace, with colorful characters and interesting twists.  I’m definitely a fan and am really looking forward to the next one.

Overall Impression: I loved it

*I received a copy of this book from the author in return for a fair and honest review.*