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The Jimmy McSwain Files #1
Hidden Identity
When Jimmy McSwain is hired to find missing heir Harris Rothschild, he finds that identities can be altered and lives can be changed--or taken with the simple pull of the trigger. Jimmy McSwain is a New York City private detective, operating out of Hell's Kitchen, the rough and tumble neighborhood he grew up in. At age fourteen, he watched as his NYPD father was gunned down. Now, at age twenty-eight, gay, Jimmy has never given up pursuit of whoever killed him. But a PI must make a living, and so he's taken on the case of missing heir Harris Rothschild, whose overbearing father doesn't approve of his "alternate" lifestyle. Tracking down Harris is easier than expected, but the carnage that follows isn't. With a shocking murder on his hands, and a threat coming from some unforeseen person, Jimmy's caseload is suddenly full, and very dangerous.
206 pages, Paperback
First published May 1, 2014
12 people are currently reading
212 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.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 63 reviews
July 26, 2018
***3.5 ❤️***
October 12, 2015
I am particularly fond of the detective sub-genre in the gay lit world, simply because it follows in a great tradition of such literature while offering, like Neil Plakcy’s superior “Mahu” series and Greg Herren’s Chanse MacLeod series, cops/private eyes who are gay. This very fact offers emotional opportunities for gay readers who continue to be largely ignored by the world of mainstream detective fiction.
What I particularly like about Adam Carpenter’s Jimmy McSwain is that he manages to be a Hell’s Kitchen tough guy—all Irish pubs and street-smart swagger—while also being a modern, gentle, show-tune loving gay guy. He has no shame at being gay, no doubts about his sexuality. I happen to know the neighborhood in New York where Jimmy’s life story is set, and also that it’s beginning to replace Chelsea as the new “young gay” neighborhood, just as Chelsea replaced the gay Greenwich Village of my twenties and thirties. Carpenter knows the city and captures the feel of it vividly and with a minimum of fuss. His fine writing pays homage to the noir novel, while keeping a crisp contemporary style that suits the time and place and characters. He largely avoids stereotypes and is one of those authors for whom every character is interesting and worth his effort.
Jimmy has baggage in the form of a dead father, whose murder he witnessed as a teenager. It was that murder that propelled him into being a detective. But he also has a loving family and a kinship network in the community that keep him anchored and largely happy. Again, in this he is like Plakcy’s Hawai’ian cop Kimo Kanapa’aka. In both instances the importance of family gives the narrative solid emotional grounding as well as a sense of authenticity.
I don’t want to delve into the actual plot of this book, because it is too interesting to give away any details. Let’s just say I liked McSwain easily and immediately. He’s a good guy and a smart detective. His damage doesn’t make him dysfunctional, even though it sets up hurdles for him of which he is painfully aware. His vulnerability on the romantic front just makes him more sympathetic, without in any way making him weak.
“Hidden Identity” isn’t an m/m novel—there are glimmers of romance, hopes of romance even, but that seems to be something that eludes Jimmy McSwain.For now, at least.
This is the first book in what clearly promises to be an excellent series. While it is a stand-alone story, there are threads that are left unraveled at the end, suggesting directions for the next volume’s narrative. Let’s hope Carpenter continues to deliver at this level of writing and plotting, because Jimmy McSwain has the potential to hold onto his readers for a good long time.
What I particularly like about Adam Carpenter’s Jimmy McSwain is that he manages to be a Hell’s Kitchen tough guy—all Irish pubs and street-smart swagger—while also being a modern, gentle, show-tune loving gay guy. He has no shame at being gay, no doubts about his sexuality. I happen to know the neighborhood in New York where Jimmy’s life story is set, and also that it’s beginning to replace Chelsea as the new “young gay” neighborhood, just as Chelsea replaced the gay Greenwich Village of my twenties and thirties. Carpenter knows the city and captures the feel of it vividly and with a minimum of fuss. His fine writing pays homage to the noir novel, while keeping a crisp contemporary style that suits the time and place and characters. He largely avoids stereotypes and is one of those authors for whom every character is interesting and worth his effort.
Jimmy has baggage in the form of a dead father, whose murder he witnessed as a teenager. It was that murder that propelled him into being a detective. But he also has a loving family and a kinship network in the community that keep him anchored and largely happy. Again, in this he is like Plakcy’s Hawai’ian cop Kimo Kanapa’aka. In both instances the importance of family gives the narrative solid emotional grounding as well as a sense of authenticity.
I don’t want to delve into the actual plot of this book, because it is too interesting to give away any details. Let’s just say I liked McSwain easily and immediately. He’s a good guy and a smart detective. His damage doesn’t make him dysfunctional, even though it sets up hurdles for him of which he is painfully aware. His vulnerability on the romantic front just makes him more sympathetic, without in any way making him weak.
“Hidden Identity” isn’t an m/m novel—there are glimmers of romance, hopes of romance even, but that seems to be something that eludes Jimmy McSwain.For now, at least.
This is the first book in what clearly promises to be an excellent series. While it is a stand-alone story, there are threads that are left unraveled at the end, suggesting directions for the next volume’s narrative. Let’s hope Carpenter continues to deliver at this level of writing and plotting, because Jimmy McSwain has the potential to hold onto his readers for a good long time.
November 12, 2022
2022 Review
I still enjoyed this and the narration. The story is interesting though at times a little confusing keeping track of who is who.
2016 Review
I was provided a copy of the audio in exchange for an honest review.
The narrator did a wonderful job!! There are Irish accents and I thought they were perfect. I would listen to this narrator again, and hope he narrated book 2.
I've never read anything by Adam Carpenter before (that I know of), and I found this to be a great start! I was not surprised with how everything unfolded (plot wasn't deep, which isn't a bad thing), but I loved reading about Private Eye Jimmy McSwain.
The story starts with Jimmy's father being killed while off duty as a cop. Jimmy was 14, and his father died in his arms. The killer was never caught. This is why Jimmy is a PI; he's not a cop because he felt they turned their backs on his dad and family. They didn't look hard enough for the killer, and Jimmy has resentment towards the police.
This isn't a romance, per se. Jimmy does meet a man, and they have sex - there is a connection between them - but it seems to be a lost cause before it really even starts. There is a lot against them, most of which is the fact that the man is only going to be in the US for a few months before going back home to England. Anywho, Jimmy is hired to find the missing son of a wealthy and important man.
Jimmy finds him alright, but he's not in danger and is "hiding" of his own volition from his parents, whom he feels won't accept him for who he really is.
In the midst of all this is a murder, Jimmy being attacked and eventually almost killed. I had figured out what was going on pretty quickly, and I wasn't disappointed when it all came to a close. I look forward to reading the next book in the series. I can tell Jimmy's life isn't going to be easy, be that personal or professional. Things are only starting to get tough.
I still enjoyed this and the narration. The story is interesting though at times a little confusing keeping track of who is who.
2016 Review
I was provided a copy of the audio in exchange for an honest review.
The narrator did a wonderful job!! There are Irish accents and I thought they were perfect. I would listen to this narrator again, and hope he narrated book 2.
I've never read anything by Adam Carpenter before (that I know of), and I found this to be a great start! I was not surprised with how everything unfolded (plot wasn't deep, which isn't a bad thing), but I loved reading about Private Eye Jimmy McSwain.
The story starts with Jimmy's father being killed while off duty as a cop. Jimmy was 14, and his father died in his arms. The killer was never caught. This is why Jimmy is a PI; he's not a cop because he felt they turned their backs on his dad and family. They didn't look hard enough for the killer, and Jimmy has resentment towards the police.
This isn't a romance, per se. Jimmy does meet a man, and they have sex - there is a connection between them - but it seems to be a lost cause before it really even starts. There is a lot against them, most of which is the fact that the man is only going to be in the US for a few months before going back home to England. Anywho, Jimmy is hired to find the missing son of a wealthy and important man.
Jimmy finds him alright, but he's not in danger and is "hiding" of his own volition from his parents, whom he feels won't accept him for who he really is.
In the midst of all this is a murder, Jimmy being attacked and eventually almost killed. I had figured out what was going on pretty quickly, and I wasn't disappointed when it all came to a close. I look forward to reading the next book in the series. I can tell Jimmy's life isn't going to be easy, be that personal or professional. Things are only starting to get tough.
October 6, 2016
3.5 stars
I stumbled to the review of the latest Jimmy McSwain Files series over at The Blogger Girls. I just finished Neil Plakcy's Ghost Ship so I was in the mood for another mystery book that didn't focus on romance. Based on the review, this sounds like it fits with what I am looking for.
And it was...
There were two 'cases' that Jimmy McSwain, openly gay private investigator, must taken care of. First case, he is hired by the Rothschilds to find their son, Harris. Then the second case became somewhat related when Saul Rothschild, Harris' father, was murdered after Saul met with Harris.
I really liked it. The cases are pretty straightforward, not very complicated, but still enjoyable for a mystery fan like me. Jimmy does his thing where he gathering up information, talks to the people involved ... and even if there is a side-plot of Jimmy having sexual entanglement with an Englishman but the book never focuses on any kind of romantic relationship.
I also liked Jimmy's background -- his father was murdered when Jimmy was fourteen years old and the police never caught the murderer. It somehow shaped Jimmy to become the person he is right now at twenty-nine, and I can see that his father's unsolved murder case will be the big arc to the whole series.
Jimmy's family is also an interesting bunch. His mother works as head usher at a Broadway theater, his sister works for a law firm, and his other sister also works at the theater. Growing up in theaters sure helps Jimmy with his first case with the Rothschild's son.
Anyway, I am definitely going to read the next books. It's nice to have a mystery mystery series with gay-character-lead to follow -- rather than mystery that has too many romance plot :)
I stumbled to the review of the latest Jimmy McSwain Files series over at The Blogger Girls. I just finished Neil Plakcy's Ghost Ship so I was in the mood for another mystery book that didn't focus on romance. Based on the review, this sounds like it fits with what I am looking for.
And it was...
There were two 'cases' that Jimmy McSwain, openly gay private investigator, must taken care of. First case, he is hired by the Rothschilds to find their son, Harris. Then the second case became somewhat related when Saul Rothschild, Harris' father, was murdered after Saul met with Harris.
I really liked it. The cases are pretty straightforward, not very complicated, but still enjoyable for a mystery fan like me. Jimmy does his thing where he gathering up information, talks to the people involved ... and even if there is a side-plot of Jimmy having sexual entanglement with an Englishman but the book never focuses on any kind of romantic relationship.
I also liked Jimmy's background -- his father was murdered when Jimmy was fourteen years old and the police never caught the murderer. It somehow shaped Jimmy to become the person he is right now at twenty-nine, and I can see that his father's unsolved murder case will be the big arc to the whole series.
Jimmy's family is also an interesting bunch. His mother works as head usher at a Broadway theater, his sister works for a law firm, and his other sister also works at the theater. Growing up in theaters sure helps Jimmy with his first case with the Rothschild's son.
Anyway, I am definitely going to read the next books. It's nice to have a mystery mystery series with gay-character-lead to follow -- rather than mystery that has too many romance plot :)
May 18, 2019
3.8 Stars
Way more "whodunit" than romance, and yet I was very much engaged in the story; I liked the cases and loved the characters...definitely interested in more from this series.
Way more "whodunit" than romance, and yet I was very much engaged in the story; I liked the cases and loved the characters...definitely interested in more from this series.
April 16, 2020
Audiobook review4,5 stars
I found that I really enjoyed this book. I don’t know that I would call this a romance as such. There were romantic elements and romantic interests, but this book didn’t have that feel of a romance novel. Rather it was a story about a private investigator that happened to be gay with a personal life outside of his case/s.
In Hidden Identity we meet Jimmy McSwain a private investigator with a hurtful past. He’s hired by the (very rich) parents to find their missing son. Their missing gay son. All isn’t good and well in the Rothschild family and Jimmy has to find out if something sinister happened to Harris of if the young man was keeping away of his own free will. Though, as things has a habit of in mysteries, things suddenly turn dire and much more dangerous than first advertised.
I liked Jimmy, he was an interesting character and I feel like we’ve only just begun to know him. A feeling that I highly enjoy. I like uncovering layer by layer, for things to take time. For me it adds depth and strengthens the connection to the characters and make me more invested in the events going on.
With mysteries it’s always a challenge to talk about the plot as you don’t want to spoil anything for those who haven’t yet read the book. So in the vaguest terms possible I’ll just let you know that I enjoyed it, some things played out as expected others not. There’s also an ongoing cold case Jimmy desperately wants to solve, and it’s one I believe will follow us for some time to come.
The story and characters were well rounded, not so few that you go stir crazy for another face and not so many that you couldn’t keep track. It all felt very balanced to me, both the plot and the pacing. Something I also really appreciated was the love interest. It wasn’t this “meet at page 2 and fall madly in love by page 9”. That wasn’t the case here, in fact, these guys might not end up together at the end of the day. They might, and might not, and I’m oddly okay with either way. It’s refreshing not knowing, it lends a certain credibility and relatability to it. Because relationships aren’t certain and sometimes it takes time to find the proverbial one. Some never do. Others don’t want to. So far it really works and I’m enjoying it a lot.
This book is performed by the one and only Joel Leslie. He jumps from one accent to another effortlessly. For me, adding those different accents really takes the book another level, it adds to the sense of place, to the people – and diversity. Just like always, it’s not only the accents he perfects, but also distinguishing between the different characters, making it easy for the listener to do the same. Once again, Leslie brought us a well narrated book.
Hidden Identity was a great start to a new series, because after finishing it I feel I need to know more. I’m not done with these characters just yet.
A copy of this book was generously provided by the author in exchange for an honest review
June 8, 2014
A review by The Blogger Girls.
This ended up being a bit different than what I was expecting, and there were a lot of things I really enjoyed about it.
After his father and off-duty policeman was gunned down and died in his arms at fourteen, Jimmy McSwain has made a promise to not stop until his murderer was found. This is Jimmy’s focus throughout this story, as the anniversary of his father’s death approaches. It has shaped his life and what led him to being a private detective, as opposed to a policeman.
Meanwhile, Jimmy takes on the case to search for Harris Rothschild. I had wrongly assumed this story would be about Jimmy and Harris, which it is, but they don’t ever get involved beyond a professional/friend level.
Early on, Jimmy meets a young Englishman who is in NY for a few months for work. They begin a relationship, although Jimmy’s issues get in the way. With him only being here for a few months, it never really felt like this could go anywhere.
Back to the mystery though. Jimmy actually locates Harris rather quickly, in a drag club. Harris was really sweet. He left home and out from under his controlling father. He found himself in drag and finally felt comfortable and confident with himself. Jimmy gives him the requested 24 hours before alerting his parents, but trouble gets in the way of things causing Jimmy’s case to take an abrupt turn.
I really enjoyed the references to the Broadway shows. Jimmy grew up in the theaters. His mother is a supervisor of theater ushers and often employes her kids to help out. I also really enjoyed the mystery with Harris, and the ensuing twists that happen after he is found.
One thing I had some trouble with was Jimmy constantly bringing up his father and his death. I realize that is a big part of his issues, but it just seemed unnecessarily repetitive. The other thing, which didn’t actually bother me, but it was definitely different, was the lack of a clear second MC or relationship.
Towards the end, there was some interesting potential with the police chief, but it doesn’t get very far, though perhaps we will get to see that in another story. This story moves along at a good pace, and was well written. If you’re looking for something heavy on the mystery/suspense, but doesn’t really focus on a relationship, I recommend giving this a try. I definitely enjoyed getting to know Jimmy and hope we get to see more of him tackling some new case files.
This ended up being a bit different than what I was expecting, and there were a lot of things I really enjoyed about it.
After his father and off-duty policeman was gunned down and died in his arms at fourteen, Jimmy McSwain has made a promise to not stop until his murderer was found. This is Jimmy’s focus throughout this story, as the anniversary of his father’s death approaches. It has shaped his life and what led him to being a private detective, as opposed to a policeman.
Meanwhile, Jimmy takes on the case to search for Harris Rothschild. I had wrongly assumed this story would be about Jimmy and Harris, which it is, but they don’t ever get involved beyond a professional/friend level.
Early on, Jimmy meets a young Englishman who is in NY for a few months for work. They begin a relationship, although Jimmy’s issues get in the way. With him only being here for a few months, it never really felt like this could go anywhere.
Back to the mystery though. Jimmy actually locates Harris rather quickly, in a drag club. Harris was really sweet. He left home and out from under his controlling father. He found himself in drag and finally felt comfortable and confident with himself. Jimmy gives him the requested 24 hours before alerting his parents, but trouble gets in the way of things causing Jimmy’s case to take an abrupt turn.
I really enjoyed the references to the Broadway shows. Jimmy grew up in the theaters. His mother is a supervisor of theater ushers and often employes her kids to help out. I also really enjoyed the mystery with Harris, and the ensuing twists that happen after he is found.
One thing I had some trouble with was Jimmy constantly bringing up his father and his death. I realize that is a big part of his issues, but it just seemed unnecessarily repetitive. The other thing, which didn’t actually bother me, but it was definitely different, was the lack of a clear second MC or relationship.
Towards the end, there was some interesting potential with the police chief, but it doesn’t get very far, though perhaps we will get to see that in another story. This story moves along at a good pace, and was well written. If you’re looking for something heavy on the mystery/suspense, but doesn’t really focus on a relationship, I recommend giving this a try. I definitely enjoyed getting to know Jimmy and hope we get to see more of him tackling some new case files.
February 3, 2017
Witnessing his father's death at age fourteen, Jimmy McSwain's life is forever altered. Instead of following his father as a cop, he becomes a hard boiled PI. Driving him onward is his desire to find out what really happened to his father.
Harris Rothschild, a wealthy young man has disappeared. Jimmy gets hired by his parents to find him. What he thinks is a simple case, becomes like an iceberg, very little on top, but a whole lot underneath.
This was an amazing read. It was exactly my shot of whiskey. The characters are complex. They completely draw you in. I had a hard time putting this down. It's a great story, with a nice dab of sex.
This harks back to the Raymond Chandler, Dashiell Hammett type of stories. Well done !
Harris Rothschild, a wealthy young man has disappeared. Jimmy gets hired by his parents to find him. What he thinks is a simple case, becomes like an iceberg, very little on top, but a whole lot underneath.
This was an amazing read. It was exactly my shot of whiskey. The characters are complex. They completely draw you in. I had a hard time putting this down. It's a great story, with a nice dab of sex.
This harks back to the Raymond Chandler, Dashiell Hammett type of stories. Well done !
October 7, 2020
A good start to a new series.
Read
August 27, 2018DNF . No rating
In my opinion, this is not a romance.
In my opinion, this is not a romance.
November 13, 2016
***Audiobook***Narrated by Joel Leslie***Jimmy McSwain was 14 when his father (a NYC police office who was off duty at the time) was gunned down and died in his arms. The cops pretty much dropped the ball on the investigation. Fourteen years later, Jimmy has been through the policy academy and is now a private investigator who won't stop until the murderer is found.
I would categorize this as a murder-mystery with a side of potential M/M romance. A couple hookups here along with some undeniable chemistry with a certain police captain. I can't wait to see where that goes in the next book.
Excellent narration from Joel Leslie. He transitions flawlessly from character to character, giving them each a unique voice and making it so easy to listen along. Joel is an auto-buy narrator for me!
I received a copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.
I would categorize this as a murder-mystery with a side of potential M/M romance. A couple hookups here along with some undeniable chemistry with a certain police captain. I can't wait to see where that goes in the next book.
Excellent narration from Joel Leslie. He transitions flawlessly from character to character, giving them each a unique voice and making it so easy to listen along. Joel is an auto-buy narrator for me!
I received a copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.
September 3, 2016
Simple, but precise writing makes this a wonderful debut in the first Jimmy McSwain Files mystery; I freakin' loved it; especially the characters of McSwain and Jellison, Harris and Terry Cloth-not to mention the late introduction of the new police captain. Swift prose, exceptional inner thought and perfect dialogue make this a not-to-miss series.
Can't wait to read more of the series!
Can't wait to read more of the series!
January 22, 2017
Missing Person..
This book is a mystery that centers around a missing person.
The story line is interesting and there is a gay romance on the side.
Overall, an ok Mystery.
Joel Leslie did well with the narration.
Note:
"This audio book was provided by the author, narrator, or publisher at no cost in exchange for an unbiased review."
January 21, 2023
This had a bit of a slow start but it didn't take too long to get interesting. The twists and turns in this made it a good read and the wonderful narration by Joel Leslie made it even better.
May 4, 2019
Jimmy is PI and is very much tortured by his fathers death, that is still unsolved. So Jimmy solves cases and at the same time tries to solve the mystery of his fathers murder. It's sounds simple, but really it has character growth and the way it's written just gets hold of me. I finished the first book and went bought the next one right away and of course started reading it..
One thing that annoys me is how tortured his mindset is. Really emotional. Bit too much for my liking.
The way he doesn't trust police. Like there are quite a few times, when he should have called the cops. But did he? Nope he didn't even give them a chance. Because he has lost trust to that institution. He doesn't believe in police anymore. I can relate to that, not the police part, but that when trust is broken so completely, it is very hard to place your trust in that system, even if you really should.
It will be interesting to see how he solves that issue, especially considering that Frank is police Captain. How they can over come that...if they can.
One thing that annoys me is how tortured his mindset is. Really emotional. Bit too much for my liking.
The way he doesn't trust police. Like there are quite a few times, when he should have called the cops. But did he? Nope he didn't even give them a chance. Because he has lost trust to that institution. He doesn't believe in police anymore. I can relate to that, not the police part, but that when trust is broken so completely, it is very hard to place your trust in that system, even if you really should.
It will be interesting to see how he solves that issue, especially considering that Frank is police Captain. How they can over come that...if they can.
June 4, 2020
3.5 ****: I really enjoyed the mystery of this one, delving a bit into the world of drag and trans and Jimmy's character and will definitely continue the series. I only rated this 3.5 instead of 4 because of the length for the price (too short for the price of an audio Book 2 or more hours longer)
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August 8, 2017Almost gave up at the purple prose of the prologue; not what I want in a detective story. Luckily it doesn't keep up that way, but I'm finding it very dull. DNF @35%
May 1, 2019
I enjoyed this one & will be continuing on with this series. RTC
January 14, 2020
I couldn't get into the story, I don't even know what the story was about. I listened to the audio because of the narrator - Joel Leslie - but it just simply wasnt for me.
June 14, 2020
I am officially a fan of Adam Carpenter. He writes beautifully and weaves a story worth reading. Having spent a lot my younger years in Manhattan, I felt the magic of the city the same way as Jimmy did. Strip away the dirt, roaches, garbage and the stink of urine and the heart of NYC shines. Jimmy McSwain is an unlikely hero in that he is quite dark and complex which makes the reader want to protect him from his own sharp edges. There are times when the man feels older than his twenty-nine years. Primarily a murder mystery, the story shines a small light on romance and many of the lgbt community's quirks.
January 7, 2017
REVIEW – So, first off, let me say that this series is off to very promising start. The author’s style is smooth and does hard-boiled, if young, detective rather well. The mystery element could be more fleshed out later, but it’s a good beginning to a series, laying the foundation to what is to follow.
We get introduced to Jimmy in the prologue at age 14, as he’s on the street with his father, a well known beat cop, when his off-duty dad is shot point blank in the street during a robbery gone wrong.
After that, the first chapter begins with the reader in adult Jimmy’s head years later. Jimmy’s ‘voice’ is quite dry and sarcastic, and almost bitter at times. There is an undercurrent of resentment between Jimmy and the police department as you definitely get the feeling he thinks things are ‘off’ when the police department dropped his Dad’s investigation, and it becomes an unsolved cold case. So Jimmy, well, he completes the police academy top of his class in memorium to his father, just to turn around and do an ‘F* you’ and becomes a private investigator instead.
The tone of this story is great for a mystery, and the author has drawn me in very well. I wouldn’t call this a romance, but more of a coming of age story, as Jimmy is definitely gay, but figures he doesn’t have time for relationships. He’s all for the quick and dirty hook up scene. And at this time in his life, I can see that’s all he can invest in, as his father’s unsolved murder still takes up a lot of his headspace.
I will say I didn’t feel emotionally invested in the main character except when he talked about or recalled memories of his father. He definitely loved his dad and that comes across very well in this initial installment. We do spend time getting to know his mom and sisters, but again, no real emotional connection to them. He just deals with being the man of the family now.
Joel Leslie’s narration pleasantly surprised me with his various accents, especially the Irish one of Jimmy’s mother and uncle who owns a pub in the neighborhood. and that of the other characters, making it very easy to tell when he was switching between the women in the family, the elderly, street thugs, the beat cops, and Jimmy’s character.
I will definitely continue on in this series, as there is no real resolution in this story, but it has peaked my interest, and there is foreshadowing of a possible relationship down the road. Recommended for mystery detective enthusiasts.
8 of 10 pots of gold – 80% recommended out of 100% equivalent to 4 of 5 stars
We get introduced to Jimmy in the prologue at age 14, as he’s on the street with his father, a well known beat cop, when his off-duty dad is shot point blank in the street during a robbery gone wrong.
After that, the first chapter begins with the reader in adult Jimmy’s head years later. Jimmy’s ‘voice’ is quite dry and sarcastic, and almost bitter at times. There is an undercurrent of resentment between Jimmy and the police department as you definitely get the feeling he thinks things are ‘off’ when the police department dropped his Dad’s investigation, and it becomes an unsolved cold case. So Jimmy, well, he completes the police academy top of his class in memorium to his father, just to turn around and do an ‘F* you’ and becomes a private investigator instead.
The tone of this story is great for a mystery, and the author has drawn me in very well. I wouldn’t call this a romance, but more of a coming of age story, as Jimmy is definitely gay, but figures he doesn’t have time for relationships. He’s all for the quick and dirty hook up scene. And at this time in his life, I can see that’s all he can invest in, as his father’s unsolved murder still takes up a lot of his headspace.
I will say I didn’t feel emotionally invested in the main character except when he talked about or recalled memories of his father. He definitely loved his dad and that comes across very well in this initial installment. We do spend time getting to know his mom and sisters, but again, no real emotional connection to them. He just deals with being the man of the family now.
Joel Leslie’s narration pleasantly surprised me with his various accents, especially the Irish one of Jimmy’s mother and uncle who owns a pub in the neighborhood. and that of the other characters, making it very easy to tell when he was switching between the women in the family, the elderly, street thugs, the beat cops, and Jimmy’s character.
I will definitely continue on in this series, as there is no real resolution in this story, but it has peaked my interest, and there is foreshadowing of a possible relationship down the road. Recommended for mystery detective enthusiasts.
8 of 10 pots of gold – 80% recommended out of 100% equivalent to 4 of 5 stars
September 14, 2016
This is the first in an ongoing mystery series. The MC is a PI named Jimmy McSwain. Jimmy is 29 years old and at the tender age of 14, he witnessed his father not only being shot, but dying in his arms. Jimmy has been haunted by his father's death, and promised himself he would solve it. His father was a dedicated cop, who loved his mother and his kids. You can see the void that his father's brutal murder has left on the family. Jimmy is also gay, and that will come to play on both of his cases. One case, is a husband who wife has suspicions that he's stepping out on her. The other case is one that his older sister( who is a lawyer) recommends him for.The case is of a young gay man has gone missing. I won't say more , but this is an interesting read. I'll certainly follow Jimmy to his next case.
December 26, 2016
Hidden Identity
: Adam Carpenter
This book was a bit different than what I usually listen to.However; the setting is well described, the characters are well developed, and the storyline intriguing.
I don't care for sex scenes either heterosexual or gay, so that was a bit of a turn off for me.
The narration was well done.The characters were well portrayed. Joel Leslie flowed between characters and made following easy.
"I was voluntarily provided this review copy audiobook at no charge by the author, publisher and/or narrator."
July 28, 2014
My review of HIDDEN IDENTITY appeared in Chelsea Station magazine in early July: http://www.chelseastationmagazine.com...
January 10, 2017
( Format : Audiobook)
""With the single blast of a gun ... ""
Jimmy Joseph McSwain, New Yorker trying to make a career as a P.I. (not quite there yet), lives at home with his mother and one of his two sisters, still mourning the lover who recently dumped him and the death of his cop father, shot in the street when Jimmy was fourteen. Beautiful, sexy, sad - i think I'm in love! Or would be. But Jimmy is gay, and though this doesn't define him, it does define the way he is perceived by others.
And it is because he is gay that he lands, through his older sister's recommendation, a lucrative missing person job for a wealthy lawyer couple. Their son has gone walkabout and they want him back or, at least, to know where he is and that he is safe. Yes, the son is gay, too. So Jimmy seems to them the perfect choice to track him down.
With excellent character building, Adam Carpenter introduces the reader to a new, hopefully long running, series based around Jimmy, his work and the people he meets, and his quest to find his father's killer. In this first story, his tracking the missing young man takes him, and us, to the colourful Dress Up Club, hosted by the glorious Terry Cloth, and into the arms of a possible new romance with Barry, from England. And also into danger and a murder mystery. Simply and realistically written in the first person, with good, natural dialogue, the narrator Joel Leslie is Jimmy as well as giving voice to the various other characters with sensitive interpretation and clear definition. In particular, his English accented Barry is superbly done. (As a Brit. myself, I know how rarely this is achieved). With his dramatisation the whole book comes vividly alive.
There are three sex scenes. Never a fan of graphic literary sex depictions of any persuasion, these have the distinction of at least being short in duration with, mercifully, no pretence of flowery, high 'art'. And they do not feel out of place but instead help to drive the story forward, giving another peek into Jimmy's troubled inner being.
I have to thank the right's holder of Hidden Identity for the gift of this book, via Audiobook Boom. I very much enjoyed it, listening without break from start to finish and only wished there was another to follow immediately. Recommended to anyone who enjoys the well written detective noire genre.
""With the single blast of a gun ... ""
Jimmy Joseph McSwain, New Yorker trying to make a career as a P.I. (not quite there yet), lives at home with his mother and one of his two sisters, still mourning the lover who recently dumped him and the death of his cop father, shot in the street when Jimmy was fourteen. Beautiful, sexy, sad - i think I'm in love! Or would be. But Jimmy is gay, and though this doesn't define him, it does define the way he is perceived by others.
And it is because he is gay that he lands, through his older sister's recommendation, a lucrative missing person job for a wealthy lawyer couple. Their son has gone walkabout and they want him back or, at least, to know where he is and that he is safe. Yes, the son is gay, too. So Jimmy seems to them the perfect choice to track him down.
With excellent character building, Adam Carpenter introduces the reader to a new, hopefully long running, series based around Jimmy, his work and the people he meets, and his quest to find his father's killer. In this first story, his tracking the missing young man takes him, and us, to the colourful Dress Up Club, hosted by the glorious Terry Cloth, and into the arms of a possible new romance with Barry, from England. And also into danger and a murder mystery. Simply and realistically written in the first person, with good, natural dialogue, the narrator Joel Leslie is Jimmy as well as giving voice to the various other characters with sensitive interpretation and clear definition. In particular, his English accented Barry is superbly done. (As a Brit. myself, I know how rarely this is achieved). With his dramatisation the whole book comes vividly alive.
There are three sex scenes. Never a fan of graphic literary sex depictions of any persuasion, these have the distinction of at least being short in duration with, mercifully, no pretence of flowery, high 'art'. And they do not feel out of place but instead help to drive the story forward, giving another peek into Jimmy's troubled inner being.
I have to thank the right's holder of Hidden Identity for the gift of this book, via Audiobook Boom. I very much enjoyed it, listening without break from start to finish and only wished there was another to follow immediately. Recommended to anyone who enjoys the well written detective noire genre.
May 31, 2023
Ignore the cover, this noir mystery was exactly my cup of joe! At 14 yo, Jimmy McSwain became disillusioned with the world when his NYPD father was gunned down in front of him and his cop buddies never bothered to find the killer, despite their promises. As a gay private investigator in NY, Jimmy sees his fair share of sleazy assignments including tailing a suspected unfaithful husband, but it’s when he’s asked to find a missing gay son that things start to go awry and people are endangered. I REALLY loved this investigative murder-mystery, it was a great plot! I also loved Jimmy as a character, he’s decent, well-intentioned, and has good family support. While his track record with love isn’t great, there’s a slight ray of sunshine on the grimy horizon, and I’ll look forward to that evolving over the series. With the Batman-like origin story, I’ll also look forward to the long arc of Jimmy finding his father’s killer. Audio royalty Joel Leslie performs the narration and does his usual excellent job!
January 9, 2017
"I was provided this audiobook at no charge by the author, publisher and/or narrator in exchange for an unbiased review via AudiobookBlast dot com.”
Hidden Identity is a great introduction to the Jimmy McSwain series. Son of a slain New York City police officer, Jimmy has chosen to be a private detective. In this first book of the series, he has 3 cases, surveillance on a cheating husband, searching for a missing person, and the ever-haunting case of who killed his father. A good bit of the story is told in Jimmy’s head, but that was ok because I needed to get to know him. They main mystery of the missing person was interesting and the variety of characters were diverse enough that I didn’t get bored. I will read more books in this series and look forward to seeing who Jimmy chooses as his relationship interest.
This books was enjoyed as an audiobook and the narration was great.
Hidden Identity is a great introduction to the Jimmy McSwain series. Son of a slain New York City police officer, Jimmy has chosen to be a private detective. In this first book of the series, he has 3 cases, surveillance on a cheating husband, searching for a missing person, and the ever-haunting case of who killed his father. A good bit of the story is told in Jimmy’s head, but that was ok because I needed to get to know him. They main mystery of the missing person was interesting and the variety of characters were diverse enough that I didn’t get bored. I will read more books in this series and look forward to seeing who Jimmy chooses as his relationship interest.
This books was enjoyed as an audiobook and the narration was great.
July 1, 2019
A fantastic novel, with a noir air, while being absolutely contemporary.
I really like Jimmy McSwain, he's a very interesting character. He has baggage (his father murder), but he is one of the good guys, there is no doubt about that. He's smart, very sure about his sexuality, has a loving family, enjoys his work and has found his place in the world.
There is no romance here, no really. Yes, he is dating someone during the story, but it's more a fling that something with a future. There is also a probability of something, but, for now, it's just that: a probability.
What we have here is a great mystery, very well developed, and perfectly solved. And a vivid, fond peek into New York's queer life.
Joel Leslie does a great job with the narration, giving it an old-detective's-story air that fits perfectly with it.
Yes, I'll keep reading this series.
I really like Jimmy McSwain, he's a very interesting character. He has baggage (his father murder), but he is one of the good guys, there is no doubt about that. He's smart, very sure about his sexuality, has a loving family, enjoys his work and has found his place in the world.
There is no romance here, no really. Yes, he is dating someone during the story, but it's more a fling that something with a future. There is also a probability of something, but, for now, it's just that: a probability.
What we have here is a great mystery, very well developed, and perfectly solved. And a vivid, fond peek into New York's queer life.
Joel Leslie does a great job with the narration, giving it an old-detective's-story air that fits perfectly with it.
Yes, I'll keep reading this series.
April 29, 2021
Jimmy McSwain watched his father get shot to death when he was fourteen years old, since then he has vowed to solve his fathers murder. Now he runs a private investigation out of Hell’s Kitchen. When he is hired to find a rich couple's missing son, he doesn’t expect the number of murders that follow or who is behind the murders and why.
Jimmy was a bit rough around the edges throughout the book, but I think that was what made it hard to get into the book to begin with, but once the plot got going, I realized that was just part of the charm of Jimmy. Jimmy and the police captain had sparks flying between the two of them, but nothing ever came from their flirting game. I’ll be interested to see what happens between the two of them as the series continues.
Jimmy was a bit rough around the edges throughout the book, but I think that was what made it hard to get into the book to begin with, but once the plot got going, I realized that was just part of the charm of Jimmy. Jimmy and the police captain had sparks flying between the two of them, but nothing ever came from their flirting game. I’ll be interested to see what happens between the two of them as the series continues.
March 23, 2022
Listened to the audiobook. Really enjoyed the mystery and the narrator did a great job. There’s an unresolved murder cold case (the MC’s father) as well as the current case of a missing person.
Jimmy McSwain is a PI in NYC. one thing I really enjoyed about the book is the NY is as much a character in the book as the people. Jimmy became a PI primarily so he could solve his dad’s murder from 15 years ago. But each book centers on a case he takes on now with bits and pieces related to his father’s case coming up.
The missing person’s case here is interesting and as thing develop and get more intense the narrator, Joel Leslie, does a great job of building the tension through his performance.
I’ll be binging this series.
Jimmy McSwain is a PI in NYC. one thing I really enjoyed about the book is the NY is as much a character in the book as the people. Jimmy became a PI primarily so he could solve his dad’s murder from 15 years ago. But each book centers on a case he takes on now with bits and pieces related to his father’s case coming up.
The missing person’s case here is interesting and as thing develop and get more intense the narrator, Joel Leslie, does a great job of building the tension through his performance.
I’ll be binging this series.
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