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The Jimmy McSwain Files #7
Second Shot
A long summer has kept Jimmy McSwain away from the city he loves, uncertain of what the future holds. But upon his return, tomorrow quickly becomes a deadly today. Jimmy has often done work for his sister Mallory's law firm, and this time the new partner and his handsome associate want to hire Jimmy to solve the mystery of twin brothers. One of the twins lies in a coma, while the other has gone missing. Aiding Jimmy in this confusing case is Brenden Hendricks, the young lawyer who just happens to have a strong attraction to Jimmy. Meanwhile, there's Jimmy's lingering obsession with the criminal mastermind Mr. Wu-Tin. Jimmy is determined to bring him down, and the NYPD knows that. Brought in to assist the Special Task Force, Jimmy feels he's being manipulated, but this is his best lead yet. The problem is his partner assigned to the case: his ex, Francis X. Frisano. Soon Jimmy and Frisano are setting traps for Wu-Tin, even as the cornered man is setting his empire ablaze. Complex, confounding, the duality in his life will test more than Jimmy's loyalty, it could rock his very foundation. Deep down he knows that by solving both cases, he's got a second shot at a new life.
- GenresCrimeM M Romance
217 pages, ebook
First published August 9, 2021
4 people are currently reading
30 people want to read
About the author
Adam Carpenter
81 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 - 11 of 11 reviews
May 17, 2022
OMG - what should have been an engaging read (all the previous books of the series were 4 star reads) turned out to be one long slog - took three times as long to finish in fact! PI Jimmy was given not one but two cases to investigate (a hot and hunky fella wanting into Jimmy's pants in both scenarios). You would think quick pacing and flow would ensue given there's such a lot to work with but alas ... the action meandered as far far too much time was spent in Jimmy's head bemoaning the loss of his relationship with Detective Francis X. Frisano and fretting over his own contribution to his sister's life threatening injuries from the previous book.
I had whiplash from Jimmy's frenetic prevarications over which hot guy to get together with (Marianne Dashwood eat your heart out). It was a little shocking to me when the late in the day 'deciding event' came on so suddenly and decisively ... it just didn't match up to all Jimmy's earlier protestations and denials. Neither 'case' ended up being as interesting as promised and Jimmy's nemesis figure only really turned up at the very end for a cliffhanger ending (which promises more to be revealed in the next book - ack!).
2.5 stars very very generously rounded up to 3.
I had whiplash from Jimmy's frenetic prevarications over which hot guy to get together with (Marianne Dashwood eat your heart out). It was a little shocking to me when the late in the day 'deciding event' came on so suddenly and decisively ... it just didn't match up to all Jimmy's earlier protestations and denials. Neither 'case' ended up being as interesting as promised and Jimmy's nemesis figure only really turned up at the very end for a cliffhanger ending (which promises more to be revealed in the next book - ack!).
2.5 stars very very generously rounded up to 3.
August 13, 2021
PI Jimmy MacSwain has taken leave of his business for months. He’s spending time in Brewster at Grandma Hesters. As his family: Maggie, Meaghan, baby Joey are there to keep him grounded with family time. Mallory is making great strides after almost loosing her life. She’s ready to head back to the City and work. As the world changes around Jimmy and his family, there’s still the love and support that they share and it makes his family his number one priority.
Jimmy returns to the city and finds himself wrapped up in a case from Mallory’s law firm Loeb, Rosenstein, Caravel and Streb. He meets with one of the partners, Streb and a temporary lawyer, Brenden Hendricks, filling in until Mallory returns. Jimmy’s willing to take the strange case of the twins Chaz and Baz. He finds himself also being pursued by Brenden.
Jimmy has sworn off men with the breakup of him and Frank Frisano. He not had contact with Frank since the breakup and Jimmys feelings are still raw. Meeting Brenden Hendricks has Jimmy going against his own rules.
Jimmy get’s a call form Lt. Barone to meet with Lt. Salvatore Frisano, which is a problem within itself. Salvatore never cared for Jimmy and his sons relationship. Salvatore always had big plans for his son and still does. They have formed a task force to go after Fong Wu-Tin, who’s bullet was intended for Jimmy. Jimmy swore revenge on Wu-Tin, when Mallory took the bullet for him. Wu-Tin had gotten away but now the NYPD has knowledge that he’s back in the City and they ask for Jimmys help. Why all of sudden does the NYPD need his help? Is he being set up? Worst yet, Frank Frisano, is also on this new task force and Jimmy will have to work with him.
Why all of a sudden is Frank putting the uniform back on? Why has Salvatores feelings changed about Jimmy and is something more going on behind the need for Jimmys’ help? Jimmys caught between two cases and two men and his emotions are entangled in the chaos? Jimmys reality becomes schemes of manipulation and he has lost all trust except for his family. He knew the end would come but he never had intentions for the way it did.
Adam Carpenter brings back Jimmy McSwain, in the seventh novel, “Second Shot”. It’s another action packed mystery with excitement, suspense, high drama, high emotions, murder and heartbreak. Once again, it’s not without the fast pace, as Jimmy moves around NYC from subway to subway and on foot . There’s also the pressure and complexities as the two cases drag Jimmy deeper into the chaos but he never neglects to help his family and Maggie at the theatre.
The case of the twins is a complex, twisted mystery and I half way had it figured out but Carpenter made it even more complex with its conclusion.
Adam Carpenter has left me suspicious! I’m still on the fence about: Salvatore and Frank Frisano and the NYPD. He also has me wondering about Lt. Barone. I just feel like they are setting Jimmy up at every turn.
I love the characters: Grandma Hester, with her words of wisdom. Maggie, Mallory, Meaghan and baby Joey, a strong knit family. Uncle Paddy, whose somewhat of a father figure and a sounding board for Jimmie. Jonathan Tolliver, a friend of Jimmie’s father, who has also become a mentor and has a different approach than Ralphie. Yes, I miss Ralphie, he’s gone but not forgotten. There’s a new member to the McSwain family, Shade.
As I got closer to the end of the story, I felt it was a little rushed. I wished the proofing had been a little better, regardless Adam Carpenter will always remain a favorite author.
“The Jimmy McSwain Files” is one of the best mystery series I have ever run across. Jimmy’s story isn’t over yet and I can’t wait to see where it all leads. I love Jimmy McSwain and his families dynamics. I don’t know what comes next for Jimmy but I would jump at the chance to read the next intriguing story from the “Jimmy McSwain Files”.
Jimmy returns to the city and finds himself wrapped up in a case from Mallory’s law firm Loeb, Rosenstein, Caravel and Streb. He meets with one of the partners, Streb and a temporary lawyer, Brenden Hendricks, filling in until Mallory returns. Jimmy’s willing to take the strange case of the twins Chaz and Baz. He finds himself also being pursued by Brenden.
Jimmy has sworn off men with the breakup of him and Frank Frisano. He not had contact with Frank since the breakup and Jimmys feelings are still raw. Meeting Brenden Hendricks has Jimmy going against his own rules.
Jimmy get’s a call form Lt. Barone to meet with Lt. Salvatore Frisano, which is a problem within itself. Salvatore never cared for Jimmy and his sons relationship. Salvatore always had big plans for his son and still does. They have formed a task force to go after Fong Wu-Tin, who’s bullet was intended for Jimmy. Jimmy swore revenge on Wu-Tin, when Mallory took the bullet for him. Wu-Tin had gotten away but now the NYPD has knowledge that he’s back in the City and they ask for Jimmys help. Why all of sudden does the NYPD need his help? Is he being set up? Worst yet, Frank Frisano, is also on this new task force and Jimmy will have to work with him.
Why all of a sudden is Frank putting the uniform back on? Why has Salvatores feelings changed about Jimmy and is something more going on behind the need for Jimmys’ help? Jimmys caught between two cases and two men and his emotions are entangled in the chaos? Jimmys reality becomes schemes of manipulation and he has lost all trust except for his family. He knew the end would come but he never had intentions for the way it did.
Adam Carpenter brings back Jimmy McSwain, in the seventh novel, “Second Shot”. It’s another action packed mystery with excitement, suspense, high drama, high emotions, murder and heartbreak. Once again, it’s not without the fast pace, as Jimmy moves around NYC from subway to subway and on foot . There’s also the pressure and complexities as the two cases drag Jimmy deeper into the chaos but he never neglects to help his family and Maggie at the theatre.
The case of the twins is a complex, twisted mystery and I half way had it figured out but Carpenter made it even more complex with its conclusion.
Adam Carpenter has left me suspicious! I’m still on the fence about: Salvatore and Frank Frisano and the NYPD. He also has me wondering about Lt. Barone. I just feel like they are setting Jimmy up at every turn.
I love the characters: Grandma Hester, with her words of wisdom. Maggie, Mallory, Meaghan and baby Joey, a strong knit family. Uncle Paddy, whose somewhat of a father figure and a sounding board for Jimmie. Jonathan Tolliver, a friend of Jimmie’s father, who has also become a mentor and has a different approach than Ralphie. Yes, I miss Ralphie, he’s gone but not forgotten. There’s a new member to the McSwain family, Shade.
As I got closer to the end of the story, I felt it was a little rushed. I wished the proofing had been a little better, regardless Adam Carpenter will always remain a favorite author.
“The Jimmy McSwain Files” is one of the best mystery series I have ever run across. Jimmy’s story isn’t over yet and I can’t wait to see where it all leads. I love Jimmy McSwain and his families dynamics. I don’t know what comes next for Jimmy but I would jump at the chance to read the next intriguing story from the “Jimmy McSwain Files”.
September 1, 2025
First time I've encountered this author and I really love this series. It's very honest and I can't get enough of the story telling. I think the twin case hit a lot of my mystery buttons so I enjoyed that part quite a lot. I didn't end up hating brenden, which makes sense because the author has a way of bringing every character to life, they seem like real people to me. The characters are well done, every single one, very believable, very realistic.
I surprisingly love the romance between the MCs. Again, realistic characters and development of the relationship. This series made me realize that the reason I avoided books with couples that have a lot of back and forth was partly because the characters didn't have any or much depth to them, it just felt like the authors gave them a constant back and forth for the sake of drama and I'm not into that. I just want Jimmy and the Captain to have a happy ending, as long as they're end game and they don't abuse each other in any way then I'll see this relationship through all it's ups and downs.
I LOVE versatile men so 10/10 on that but I wanted more details on the foreplay and vulnerability. I didn't expect my captain to be insecure about his body but I absolutely loved everything about the entire exchange, the vulnerability was soo good, I need more!! I need more detailed intimacy, so far it feels like the sex is a blanket explanation of their intimacy and I want in-depth open door policy kinda spice. I want everything. That's the only reason this series isn't a 5 star read for me so far.
Looking forward to the next book!!
I surprisingly love the romance between the MCs. Again, realistic characters and development of the relationship. This series made me realize that the reason I avoided books with couples that have a lot of back and forth was partly because the characters didn't have any or much depth to them, it just felt like the authors gave them a constant back and forth for the sake of drama and I'm not into that. I just want Jimmy and the Captain to have a happy ending, as long as they're end game and they don't abuse each other in any way then I'll see this relationship through all it's ups and downs.
I LOVE versatile men so 10/10 on that but I wanted more details on the foreplay and vulnerability. I didn't expect my captain to be insecure about his body but I absolutely loved everything about the entire exchange, the vulnerability was soo good, I need more!! I need more detailed intimacy, so far it feels like the sex is a blanket explanation of their intimacy and I want in-depth open door policy kinda spice. I want everything. That's the only reason this series isn't a 5 star read for me so far.
Looking forward to the next book!!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 12, 2023
Perennially troubled NY PI Jimmy McSwain is juggling two vexing cases. The first involves manipulative twin brothers and a fortune which can only be inherited by one of them. The other case involves his nemesis, Asian mobster Mr Wu-Tin, and requires Jimmy to work closely with his ex-lover, Frank Frisano. The premise was great but I felt that Jimmy made some uncharacteristically poor choices and I was being asked to suspend too much logic and credibility in both cases. I also didn’t enjoy the huge cliffhanger, why can’t Jimmy’s stories end on happy notes? It’s been nearly two years since this was released, I’m worried that a resolution won’t appear any time soon. Joel Leslie narrates the audiobook with his usual polish and skill.
August 19, 2021
Disappointing
2 stars for editing and 3.5 for story. The best part of the book was the two cases. Enjoyable and with a good twist. However the glaring editing errors was very annoying and the romantic path this one took was very disappointing. After having waited so long I expected better. I will still purchase the next one but I'm not as excited as I usually am to spend all this money on a book that needs more editing.
2 stars for editing and 3.5 for story. The best part of the book was the two cases. Enjoyable and with a good twist. However the glaring editing errors was very annoying and the romantic path this one took was very disappointing. After having waited so long I expected better. I will still purchase the next one but I'm not as excited as I usually am to spend all this money on a book that needs more editing.
November 22, 2021
Wow honestly this was better than I expected, I hadn't read other books on this series but I know the story thanks to the reviewers, I had read other books by Adam and I liked them as erotica so when this story sells a lot more than sex I was hooked inmediatly. I love Jim and I honestly wanted to punch the cheater but it seems that they will still have more story, I really want to read the next mistery solved and see if Frisano can redeem itself and fully commit to Jim
December 26, 2021
Good with some reservations
I generally like this author and this series, but I'm getting a bit tired of the cliffhangers and the poor editing. His are among the most pricey books in this genre so he should be able to afford better editing. No need for a HEA every time but an occasional HFN would be nice to give the reader a breather, especially when more than a year passes before a new release. That's a long time to keep us hanging on the cliff! I think the way Meg Perry handles her series progression is more preferable.
I generally like this author and this series, but I'm getting a bit tired of the cliffhangers and the poor editing. His are among the most pricey books in this genre so he should be able to afford better editing. No need for a HEA every time but an occasional HFN would be nice to give the reader a breather, especially when more than a year passes before a new release. That's a long time to keep us hanging on the cliff! I think the way Meg Perry handles her series progression is more preferable.
March 14, 2022
The flawed hero Jimmy returns - still reeling from the demise of his relationship with Frisano, he bounces into a new dalliance but Frank still messes in his head and in a new case.
Two cases once again, both with many twists and turns and deceptions from those involved.
Lots of introspection from Jimmy, the family are there but not so much as others but still Mallory is involved.
And whilst it looks like we resolve the cases, there is a cliffhanger ending
Two cases once again, both with many twists and turns and deceptions from those involved.
Lots of introspection from Jimmy, the family are there but not so much as others but still Mallory is involved.
And whilst it looks like we resolve the cases, there is a cliffhanger ending
Read
April 24, 2022*More of a rant than a review*
Spoilers ahead…
I thoroughly enjoy this series and these characters but WTF!!! I was expecting CLOSURE! Not a mother fucking CLIFF HANGER!!! How long am I gonna have to wait for the next one??? When I started this series I expected it to be complete. I’m most sincerely irritated! Also, Jimmy caved FAR to quickly to Frank. BOO! Make that cheating bastard GROVEL! Don’t let him fuck you! Ugh!!!!!!
Spoilers ahead…
I thoroughly enjoy this series and these characters but WTF!!! I was expecting CLOSURE! Not a mother fucking CLIFF HANGER!!! How long am I gonna have to wait for the next one??? When I started this series I expected it to be complete. I’m most sincerely irritated! Also, Jimmy caved FAR to quickly to Frank. BOO! Make that cheating bastard GROVEL! Don’t let him fuck you! Ugh!!!!!!
February 16, 2023
Finally, I got to read this book, which continued where the previous part ended. Jimmy was conflicted about his love toward Frisano till the end. The main story-line was as always well developed and pulling.
February 16, 2023
I don't know what to think about this story plot. In was pulling at the same time unsatisfying.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews