What do you think?
Rate this book
Jimmy McSwain's Early Files #1
Silver Shield
A recent graduate of the NYPD’s cadet academy, Jimmy McSwain dreams of anything except being a cop. He has a complicated history with the police, and it isn’t from a rap sheet. Years ago, his police officer father was gunned down during an off-duty incident, leaving Jimmy bitter that his killer was never found.
Now, trained in the art of law, Jimmy decides to embark on a new that of private detective. But he just can’t get his own license; he needs experience. What happens will lead Jimmy into a part of New York he doesn’t know, realizing he’s the stranger in a neighborhood that lives by its own rules.
His mother, Maggie McSwain, is skeptical about his job but there’s nothing she can do to stop her headstrong son from entering this shadowy new world. As a warm spring settles over the city, a twist of fate has Jimmy taking on his first case, one that is a time bomb ready to explode.
What he can’t leave behind is the memory of his father, and the silver shield which he earned only out of respect. Can he live with his decision?
Now, trained in the art of law, Jimmy decides to embark on a new that of private detective. But he just can’t get his own license; he needs experience. What happens will lead Jimmy into a part of New York he doesn’t know, realizing he’s the stranger in a neighborhood that lives by its own rules.
His mother, Maggie McSwain, is skeptical about his job but there’s nothing she can do to stop her headstrong son from entering this shadowy new world. As a warm spring settles over the city, a twist of fate has Jimmy taking on his first case, one that is a time bomb ready to explode.
What he can’t leave behind is the memory of his father, and the silver shield which he earned only out of respect. Can he live with his decision?
88 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 21, 2024
5 people want to read
About the author
Adam Carpenter
83 books99 followersADAM CARPENTER is the best-selling author of many titles of gay mystery, intrigue, romance, and erotica.
His series featuring P.I. Jimmy McSwain is, in order: HIDDEN IDENTITY, CRIME WAVE, STAGE FRIGHT. GUARDIAN ANGEL, FOREVER HAUNT, FRESH KILL, SECOND SHOT, FALSE JUSTICE and JERSEY SCORE, co-written with Joseph Pittman.
Jimmy McSwain's Early Files features SILVER SHIELD, HEART BEAT, DOUBLE EDGE, and the forthcoming BURIAL PLOT.
Adam's is also the author of the soapy drama, "The Cane's Inlet Mystery" trilogy: SCANDALOUS LIES, SINISTER MOTIVES, and SUSPICIOUS TRUTHS.
He is also the author of the "Edenwood Saga" trilogy, EDEN'S PAST, EDEN'S PRESENT, and EDEN'S FUTURE, now back-in-print.
The European Flings Quartet includes the short story, PASSPORT TO A FLING, PASSION IN PARIS, RAPTURE IN ROME, LUST IN LONDON, and NUPTIALS IN NICE, all to be reissued in 2025.
His series featuring P.I. Jimmy McSwain is, in order: HIDDEN IDENTITY, CRIME WAVE, STAGE FRIGHT. GUARDIAN ANGEL, FOREVER HAUNT, FRESH KILL, SECOND SHOT, FALSE JUSTICE and JERSEY SCORE, co-written with Joseph Pittman.
Jimmy McSwain's Early Files features SILVER SHIELD, HEART BEAT, DOUBLE EDGE, and the forthcoming BURIAL PLOT.
Adam's is also the author of the soapy drama, "The Cane's Inlet Mystery" trilogy: SCANDALOUS LIES, SINISTER MOTIVES, and SUSPICIOUS TRUTHS.
He is also the author of the "Edenwood Saga" trilogy, EDEN'S PAST, EDEN'S PRESENT, and EDEN'S FUTURE, now back-in-print.
The European Flings Quartet includes the short story, PASSPORT TO A FLING, PASSION IN PARIS, RAPTURE IN ROME, LUST IN LONDON, and NUPTIALS IN NICE, all to be reissued in 2025.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
September 29, 2024
It was a day to celebrate as Joseph McSwain watched over his son Jimmy McSwain.
Jimmy was born into an Irish clan to Maggie and Joseph McSwain, they also have two daughters. Mallory working her way up in law and Meaghan now a disinterested teenager. Jimmy followed in his father’s footsteps and went to the Police Academy and passed top ten in his class. He earned the gold cords and blue citations, not just with the necessary requirements but with achievement in physical strength and excelled. Though it’s a day of celebration with his Ma, Maggie, her brother and uncle Paddy in attendance, he requested they not celebrate. Somewhere in the sea of people was Ralphie. Ralphie Henderson was his father’s best friend and his NYPD partner. Jimmy chose Mario’s an Italian restaurant for the gathering of his Irish family and even Grandma Hester came.
Over four-hundred cadets had graduated this day. Some would be assigned to their neighborhood or the five Burroughs. Once home Jimmy removed the uniform and silver badge and placed it back in the case never to be worn again. He told his mother “today was for Dad” and “tomorrow is for me.”
At twenty-three, Jimmy was ready to party in the heart of Hell’s Kitchen. It was the Ninth Ave Food Festival one of the biggest block parties. He and Jack Sauter were friends since high school and became a matter of convince. They never dated nor were they committed to each other. They hid their predilection but not behind closed doors. Jimmy and his Ma knew he was gay from a very early age, but it was never discussed with his father.
After a long night of partying, drinking and sex Jimmy is ready to face a new day and hopefully future. He has a plan and heads to his major mode of transportation the NYC subway. He avoided crossing Tenth & 46th where he saw, NYPD Officer James McSwain loose his life. Jimmy was ready to help people like himself. To help people’s souls, who were lost, helpless and maybe he could find redemption. He’s headed to Woodlawn and Little Ireland. He waited for his subject to make an appearance and followed him to the pub Neamh. With barkeep Mads looking on and impressed, Jimmy makes contact with Finley Sullivan a licensed PI from Boston. Jimmy needs the experience in order for him to become a licensed PI. Sullivan agrees to give him an appointment for the next morning. But Jimmy will have to do his homework and study up on restraining orders.
As Jimmy’s life is about to change, he still has an air of confidence but he also has his fears. Will he be able to prove himself as a PI? Can he find the justice needed to heal his heart?
Just when I thought Jimmy McSwain would never be heard of again, Adam Carpenter springs a surprise with the first novella “Silver Shield” for “Jimmy McSwain’s Early Files”. Once again, Carpenter tugs at the heart-strings as he sees Jimmy from the eyes of Joseph McSwain, Jimmy’s deceased father. Jimmy has grown up with strong -willed women in mother, Maggie McSwain and sisters Mallory and Meaghan. Although Jimmy is as strong-willed, he has respect for his mother and siblings, even with the banter and teasing. The author also shows the love that keeps this Irish family together. Maggie McSwain, works at the Harold Calloway Theatre as head usher.
She will always call on her children when help is needed. Her Monday’s are her days off and those days are committed to tradition of family dinners. For Maggie and Jimmy they have a deep heartfelt connection and there isn’t a moment when he and Maggie have much needed discussions. It’s a special love between mother and son.
One of my favorite characters is Ralphie Henderson. Now at sixty-five and retired from the NYPD, he and Jimmy have a special connection. He never hesitates to give Jimmy much needed advice, especially when Maggie calls for help.
I highly recommend “Silver Shield” and the new start with the “Jimmy McSwain Early Files”. It’s a very emotional story but has it’s moments of intense suspense, sadness and steamy moments. The “Jimmy McSwain Files” started with the first book “Hidden Identity” in 2014 and I was hooked. Then in 2023 “Jimmy McSwain Files” ended with book eight “False Justice”. I am overly excited and looking forward to see what Adam Carpenter has coming up for “Jimmy McSwain’s Early Files”. Outstanding come back!
Jimmy was born into an Irish clan to Maggie and Joseph McSwain, they also have two daughters. Mallory working her way up in law and Meaghan now a disinterested teenager. Jimmy followed in his father’s footsteps and went to the Police Academy and passed top ten in his class. He earned the gold cords and blue citations, not just with the necessary requirements but with achievement in physical strength and excelled. Though it’s a day of celebration with his Ma, Maggie, her brother and uncle Paddy in attendance, he requested they not celebrate. Somewhere in the sea of people was Ralphie. Ralphie Henderson was his father’s best friend and his NYPD partner. Jimmy chose Mario’s an Italian restaurant for the gathering of his Irish family and even Grandma Hester came.
Over four-hundred cadets had graduated this day. Some would be assigned to their neighborhood or the five Burroughs. Once home Jimmy removed the uniform and silver badge and placed it back in the case never to be worn again. He told his mother “today was for Dad” and “tomorrow is for me.”
At twenty-three, Jimmy was ready to party in the heart of Hell’s Kitchen. It was the Ninth Ave Food Festival one of the biggest block parties. He and Jack Sauter were friends since high school and became a matter of convince. They never dated nor were they committed to each other. They hid their predilection but not behind closed doors. Jimmy and his Ma knew he was gay from a very early age, but it was never discussed with his father.
After a long night of partying, drinking and sex Jimmy is ready to face a new day and hopefully future. He has a plan and heads to his major mode of transportation the NYC subway. He avoided crossing Tenth & 46th where he saw, NYPD Officer James McSwain loose his life. Jimmy was ready to help people like himself. To help people’s souls, who were lost, helpless and maybe he could find redemption. He’s headed to Woodlawn and Little Ireland. He waited for his subject to make an appearance and followed him to the pub Neamh. With barkeep Mads looking on and impressed, Jimmy makes contact with Finley Sullivan a licensed PI from Boston. Jimmy needs the experience in order for him to become a licensed PI. Sullivan agrees to give him an appointment for the next morning. But Jimmy will have to do his homework and study up on restraining orders.
As Jimmy’s life is about to change, he still has an air of confidence but he also has his fears. Will he be able to prove himself as a PI? Can he find the justice needed to heal his heart?
Just when I thought Jimmy McSwain would never be heard of again, Adam Carpenter springs a surprise with the first novella “Silver Shield” for “Jimmy McSwain’s Early Files”. Once again, Carpenter tugs at the heart-strings as he sees Jimmy from the eyes of Joseph McSwain, Jimmy’s deceased father. Jimmy has grown up with strong -willed women in mother, Maggie McSwain and sisters Mallory and Meaghan. Although Jimmy is as strong-willed, he has respect for his mother and siblings, even with the banter and teasing. The author also shows the love that keeps this Irish family together. Maggie McSwain, works at the Harold Calloway Theatre as head usher.
She will always call on her children when help is needed. Her Monday’s are her days off and those days are committed to tradition of family dinners. For Maggie and Jimmy they have a deep heartfelt connection and there isn’t a moment when he and Maggie have much needed discussions. It’s a special love between mother and son.
One of my favorite characters is Ralphie Henderson. Now at sixty-five and retired from the NYPD, he and Jimmy have a special connection. He never hesitates to give Jimmy much needed advice, especially when Maggie calls for help.
I highly recommend “Silver Shield” and the new start with the “Jimmy McSwain Early Files”. It’s a very emotional story but has it’s moments of intense suspense, sadness and steamy moments. The “Jimmy McSwain Files” started with the first book “Hidden Identity” in 2014 and I was hooked. Then in 2023 “Jimmy McSwain Files” ended with book eight “False Justice”. I am overly excited and looking forward to see what Adam Carpenter has coming up for “Jimmy McSwain’s Early Files”. Outstanding come back!
October 20, 2024
Silver Shield (Jimmy McSwain’s Early Files 1)
By Adam Carpenter
Published by JMS Books, 2024
Five stars
I loved the Jimmy McSwain books, and thus was ready to embrace this novella, which is, essentially, his origin story. While we know what it was that sparked Jimmy’s career, and his obsession with his father’s murder, we had never learned just how he became a private investigator. This book does just that, and also opens up some personal insight into Jimmy’s status as a romantic loner.
All the people in Jimmy’s life are there, people who we see again and again in the course of the later series. The central emotional theme is still Jimmy himself, and how he decided the path he was going to follow. It’s short (just 88 pages) and sweet, and written in that distinctive way we’ve come to expect from Adam Carpenter.
By Adam Carpenter
Published by JMS Books, 2024
Five stars
I loved the Jimmy McSwain books, and thus was ready to embrace this novella, which is, essentially, his origin story. While we know what it was that sparked Jimmy’s career, and his obsession with his father’s murder, we had never learned just how he became a private investigator. This book does just that, and also opens up some personal insight into Jimmy’s status as a romantic loner.
All the people in Jimmy’s life are there, people who we see again and again in the course of the later series. The central emotional theme is still Jimmy himself, and how he decided the path he was going to follow. It’s short (just 88 pages) and sweet, and written in that distinctive way we’ve come to expect from Adam Carpenter.
November 25, 2025
Right back to the beginning - Jimmy graduatesas a cop then resigns, and starts his PI journey.
With his FWB he works his first case- to thwart a stalker.
Lots of life lessons for Jimmy
Quick easy reads - but knowing what comes much later
With his FWB he works his first case- to thwart a stalker.
Lots of life lessons for Jimmy
Quick easy reads - but knowing what comes much later
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews