Still Doing Time

by Wanda Adams Fischer

Former minor-league baseball player Jimmy Bailey spent four years incarcerated after taking a plea deal for a crime he didn't commit. He believed freedom awaited him on the day his sister, Debbie, picked him up from Walpole State Prison, a maximum-security facility in Massachusetts and brought him home to live with his mother in North Weymouth, Massachusetts.. Little did he know that both he and Debbie, as well as others they knew and loved, would face stalking, kidnapping, and more from people associated with the prison, and, even though Jimmy was no longer behind bars, he still didn't feel free. Begun as a sequel to the 2017 novel Empty Seats by this author, Still Doing Time is a journey into intrigue, crime, conspiracy, kidnapping, baseball, and even a little romance, set in eastern Massachusetts in 1976. A touch of feminism, introspection, soul-searching, and racism cap off this novel, which also interacts with several celebrities of the time.

379 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2024

Reviews

[Karen Prive · Rating 3 out of 5]

Jimmy Bailey once was a minor league pitcher with a promising career in front of him – that is, until a drunken evening ended with the unexpected death of an acquaintance. Jimmy plead guilty even though he knew he didn’t kill the man, but he had no proof of his innocence. As Still Doing Time begins, Jimmy is counting down the days until his release from Walpole and hoping for a new start. When his sister Debbie comes to pick him up, a seemingly little incident at the prison triggers off a dramatic series of events that puts Jimmy and all those he loves in danger.

Jimmy is a gentle giant, and prison didn’t toughen him. He’s naïve and not very deep, but lovable and easy to root for. In fact, most of the characters Wanda Adams Fischer created in the book are likable. Thank goodness, because there’s a lot of them! Jimmy’s family, his friends, his x-ray technician, his cellmate Keeshon, the nurses at the hospital, his old teammates – the list goes on. Not only does Fischer include a grocery list of characters, but many of them lack depth. Unfortunately, the extensive cast can leave the reader confused – especially when similar names are used. Eileen is Jimmy’s romantic interest, while later in the book we’re introduced to Debbie’s roommate Elaine.

While much of the book is told from Jimmy’s point of view, many chapters give us the perspective of other characters. Fischer pulls this off rather well most of the time, but a few chapters were focused on relatively minor characters. While this choice conveniently explained where the story was going, the trick seemed a little clunky.

Still Doing Time is not a prison novel, or a sports novel (although baseball is featured), but rather more like a cozy mystery in which you have to suspend your disbelief and just relax into the story. If you’re looking for a light, PG-rated story, this might be the book for you.

Grateful to have received an ARC in exchange for a fair review. See full review at https://reedsy.com/discovery/book/sti...

[Yvette Calleiro · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book! I had read its prequel, Empty Seats, when it first came out and enjoyed it, but this book took things to a whole other level. The main character, Jimmy, is being released from prison after serving four years for a crime he didn't commit. Unfortunately, some of the guards on the inside weren't too fond of his good-mannered ways, and when his sister offended one of them as Jimmy was leaving, the guards decided to get even in their own way.

Their retribution led to an all-scale investigation into an inner crime ring, which put Jimmy and everyone he loved in even more danger. Every chapter kept me needing to know what would happen next. The author did a phenomenal job in keeping so many moving parts going until they finally merged together with a climactic ending. Each character had it's own believable personality, and I truly enjoyed all of them. Besides Jimmy, my favorite character was definitely Keeshaw. And I loved the two fierce moms! They were awesome!

If you are looking for a page turner with some good wholesomeness sprinkled in between, you will love this book!

[Jack Morgan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really like how it explores the idea that freedom isn’t always real once the prison doors open. The mix of crime, conspiracy, and personal fallout gives it a strong sense of tension, while the themes of family loyalty, injustice, and self-reflection add real depth. Setting it in 1970s Massachusetts with touches of baseball, romance, and social issues makes it feel grounded and authentic. It comes across as a thoughtful, suspenseful novel that’s as much about surviving the past as it is about confronting the present.

[Jane Fallon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Packs lot in

Don’t let the quick read fool you. The novel is filled with enough character, plot, and history to keep the reader entertained. The author’s characters are fleshed out realistically down to the accents. 1970’s Boston comes alive as we can’t help but get involved in the story line and the fates of all concerned. A well-written tale that digs into the deepest wells of human nature, while also being just fun. A good read to put on your list.

[lindsey hart · Rating 5 out of 5]

Still Doing Time

I am always looking for books that speak louder than the noise of the world around me. This kept my attention and silenced my surroundings. I love this style of writing.

Same page. Same chapter. Same book.

Thank you for sharing your gift for writing with the world.

[Megan Johnston · Rating 5 out of 5]

A gripping, big-hearted read that balances tension with tenderness. I couldn’t stop rooting for these characters long after I closed the book

[Rey Maynard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fischer’s prose hums with lived-in detail and quiet power. It’s the kind of story that leaves you both breathless and hopeful.

[Ben Baxter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Electric with suspense and compassion, this novel shines a light on resilience and second chances. It lingers like a favorite song you keep replaying.