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Jim McGill #2
The Hangman's Companion
Always a good sport, Jim McGill, the first private-eye to live in the White House, agrees to accompany his wife, the president, to London to be her escort at a dinner given by the queen—yes, the one who lives in Buckingham Palace. Problem is, he’ll have a week in England beforehand, while the president attends a G8 meeting, with nothing to do.
Then a client comes to McGill, the daughter of a former Chicago cop McGill knew but didn't like when he was a captain on the CPD. McGill’s former colleague went to Paris to scatter the ashes of his late, French-born wife in the Seine. While tending to that solemn obligation, the former cop managed to get into a brawl with and kill France’s national sports hero. The guy from Chicago claims he was only saving a blonde woman from being beaten by the Frenchman, as French law actually required him to do. Only problem is, the blonde has disappeared.
The former cop’s daughter asks McGill to find the woman and save her father.
Beats glad-handing the locals in nearby London, he decides. He just has to wrap up the case in time to get to dinner with the president and the queen.
Then a client comes to McGill, the daughter of a former Chicago cop McGill knew but didn't like when he was a captain on the CPD. McGill’s former colleague went to Paris to scatter the ashes of his late, French-born wife in the Seine. While tending to that solemn obligation, the former cop managed to get into a brawl with and kill France’s national sports hero. The guy from Chicago claims he was only saving a blonde woman from being beaten by the Frenchman, as French law actually required him to do. Only problem is, the blonde has disappeared.
The former cop’s daughter asks McGill to find the woman and save her father.
Beats glad-handing the locals in nearby London, he decides. He just has to wrap up the case in time to get to dinner with the president and the queen.
451 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 11, 2010
720 people are currently reading
417 people want to read
About the author
Joseph Flynn
69 books197 followersJoseph Flynn has been published both traditionally — Signet Books, Bantam Books and Variance Publishing — and through his own imprint, Stray Dog Press, Inc. Both major media reviews and reader reviews have praised his work. Booklist said, “Flynn is an excellent storyteller.” The Chicago Tribune said, “Flynn [is] a master of high-octane plotting.” The most repeated reader comment is: Write faster, we want more.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 110 reviews
March 10, 2024
Always excited to discover a new author, I gladly embarked on this adventurous political thriller series by Joseph Flynn. Jim McGill, a former cop whose life has been altered when his second wife is elected as the US president, seeks to define himself and chooses to open a PI firm in the heart of DC. He wants to stay close to the people and chooses not to engage in too many ‘formal duties’ . However, he gladly accepts a chance to travel with President Grant to Europe, where she will attend the G8 Summit. While President Grant rubs elbows in England, McGill takes on a case of a former police acquaintance in Paris, accused of killing a popular footballer (soccer, to us North Americans) during a scuffle. The evidence is strong, but McGill hopes to show a local magistrate that nothing is quite as it seems. Flynn does well with this story and keeps the reader engaged until the every end.
Jim McGill is always one up for an adventure, usually found during a case with his PI firm. However, he cannot turn down the invitation by his wife, US President Patricia Grant, to attend a state dinner with the Queen of England in London. President Grant will be keeping herself busy for a week beforehand at the G8 Summit, leaving McGill to fill his time.
While many would think museums and photo opportunities should help pass the time, Jim McGill lucks into something when a client graces his door. Daughter of a former acquaintance on the Chicago Police Department, she tells the story of how her father is being held in Paris for murdering a man during a scuffle. Trouble is, this is a former football superstar who is the love of many across France. McGill learns of how his former colleague was in Paris to scatter his wife’s ashes, but intervened when he saw a woman being attacked, as the ensuring fight left the sports star dead. The woman who was being attacked has disappeared unable to support the American’s alibi.
Tasked with heading to Paris to get to the truth, McGill agrees, with a promise to be ready to attend the State Dinner with President Grant in a week. While in France, McGill meets a powerful magistrate who is conducting his own investigation into the crime. Together, they try to peel things back, working under the rules of the French judicial system, though McGill is apt to use all the items in his possession to get to the truth. What they discover will not only be hard to prove, but essential to keep an American out of French prisons for a lifetime. All while things run amok back in DC for McGill’s work partner, as she tries to piece together a shooting of a reputable security member. The story moves along and McGill knows how important solving things will be for his colleague and the country as a while. Flynn does a masterful job here and kept me up flipping pages well into the night.
Joseph Flynn effectively melds politics into a strong police procedural, leaving the reader eager to delve into this story, which connects well with the series debut. The story gains momentum as soon as the backstory is presented, leaving the reader to hold on as things rush forward. Juggling a number of narratives that tell the numerous stories on offer, Flynn keeps the reader appraised of them all as things progress. The use of ‘chapters’ is a deceiving aspect that Flynn presents, actually creating nine parts to the book and using numbered divisions within to delve deeper into the story, the true chapters of the book. This is masterful, though somewhat cunning at the same time. The characters who appear are well-paced and developed to keep the reader guessing, leaving many to wonder how they will fare throughout the piece. McGill shows some of his true colour and this helps provide the reader with a well-rounded picture of the protagonist, without getting too bogged down.
The central plot point of the story works well against some of the secondary stories that emerge. I can only hope to see this as the series progresses, as Flynn does well to juggle everything, without shortchanging the reader at any point. There is mystery, intrigue, and a great deal of plot twisting along the way, providing something both entertaining and informative for the reader to enjoy. A longer piece, but it needed it, in hindsight, to fully hash out all the mysteries that took place. I look forward to seeing where things are headed and how Jim McGill will keep things moving to provide the reader with more excitement.
Kudos, Mr. Flynn, for leaving me eager to delve deeper into this series.
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
Jim McGill is always one up for an adventure, usually found during a case with his PI firm. However, he cannot turn down the invitation by his wife, US President Patricia Grant, to attend a state dinner with the Queen of England in London. President Grant will be keeping herself busy for a week beforehand at the G8 Summit, leaving McGill to fill his time.
While many would think museums and photo opportunities should help pass the time, Jim McGill lucks into something when a client graces his door. Daughter of a former acquaintance on the Chicago Police Department, she tells the story of how her father is being held in Paris for murdering a man during a scuffle. Trouble is, this is a former football superstar who is the love of many across France. McGill learns of how his former colleague was in Paris to scatter his wife’s ashes, but intervened when he saw a woman being attacked, as the ensuring fight left the sports star dead. The woman who was being attacked has disappeared unable to support the American’s alibi.
Tasked with heading to Paris to get to the truth, McGill agrees, with a promise to be ready to attend the State Dinner with President Grant in a week. While in France, McGill meets a powerful magistrate who is conducting his own investigation into the crime. Together, they try to peel things back, working under the rules of the French judicial system, though McGill is apt to use all the items in his possession to get to the truth. What they discover will not only be hard to prove, but essential to keep an American out of French prisons for a lifetime. All while things run amok back in DC for McGill’s work partner, as she tries to piece together a shooting of a reputable security member. The story moves along and McGill knows how important solving things will be for his colleague and the country as a while. Flynn does a masterful job here and kept me up flipping pages well into the night.
Joseph Flynn effectively melds politics into a strong police procedural, leaving the reader eager to delve into this story, which connects well with the series debut. The story gains momentum as soon as the backstory is presented, leaving the reader to hold on as things rush forward. Juggling a number of narratives that tell the numerous stories on offer, Flynn keeps the reader appraised of them all as things progress. The use of ‘chapters’ is a deceiving aspect that Flynn presents, actually creating nine parts to the book and using numbered divisions within to delve deeper into the story, the true chapters of the book. This is masterful, though somewhat cunning at the same time. The characters who appear are well-paced and developed to keep the reader guessing, leaving many to wonder how they will fare throughout the piece. McGill shows some of his true colour and this helps provide the reader with a well-rounded picture of the protagonist, without getting too bogged down.
The central plot point of the story works well against some of the secondary stories that emerge. I can only hope to see this as the series progresses, as Flynn does well to juggle everything, without shortchanging the reader at any point. There is mystery, intrigue, and a great deal of plot twisting along the way, providing something both entertaining and informative for the reader to enjoy. A longer piece, but it needed it, in hindsight, to fully hash out all the mysteries that took place. I look forward to seeing where things are headed and how Jim McGill will keep things moving to provide the reader with more excitement.
Kudos, Mr. Flynn, for leaving me eager to delve deeper into this series.
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
April 18, 2024
Not a great book, but I enjoyed it because of its light touch, humor, and it's nice when the good guys win, which they usually do in this series. I especially liked his partner, Margaret Sweeney, AKA Sweetie. She's a former cleric and cop, still believes in the Catholic dogma but is also is someone you wouldn't want to fight with. And like most of the other women in the book, she's apparently beautiful.
Much of this story takes place in England and France, which makes it more interesting.
Much of this story takes place in England and France, which makes it more interesting.
November 21, 2014
Second verse as good as the first! Looking forward to reading more Jim McGill books.
July 28, 2022
A decent thriller with two pl0ts, in Paris and in Virginia, and quite long because of that.
February 13, 2019
90% of the time while reading this series, I am enjoying myself. The President and her husband end up in interesting situations and are (most of the time) good people.
There are times, though, that these books make me very uncomfortable. Some of it is the politics: occasionally, there is a political rant (maybe one per book) which doesn't feel to me as though it fits the character giving it, making me wonder whether this is a chance for the author to air his personal political views. And there was a very weird discussion in this book where it sounded as though the author had not bothered to research how the line of succession for the British Crown works, even though it was a major point in one subplot.
But, absent those record-scratch moments, the vast majority of the time I am reading this series, I am enjoying myself and captivated by the First Couple and their friends and families as well as the characters that pass through Jim McGill's office. So, the books always fall short of my hopes for them, but they remain entertaining enough for me to continue to read.
There are times, though, that these books make me very uncomfortable. Some of it is the politics: occasionally, there is a political rant (maybe one per book) which doesn't feel to me as though it fits the character giving it, making me wonder whether this is a chance for the author to air his personal political views. And there was a very weird discussion in this book where it sounded as though the author had not bothered to research how the line of succession for the British Crown works, even though it was a major point in one subplot.
But, absent those record-scratch moments, the vast majority of the time I am reading this series, I am enjoying myself and captivated by the First Couple and their friends and families as well as the characters that pass through Jim McGill's office. So, the books always fall short of my hopes for them, but they remain entertaining enough for me to continue to read.
March 30, 2021
Book Two in The Jim McGill Series
The 2and Book in This series was better than the first. The first American woman POTUS is going to her first G8 summit held in London England. The British Prime Minister supported POTUS s rival in the last Presidential election and he doesn't believe that woman should be The Head of a Government. The author also created two other sub plots, first McGill is hired by the daughter of a former Chicago Police officer that McGill didn't respect. The former policeman is charged with murdering the number one Soccer player in France. The Prime Minister of France and the American President were lovers in college. President Darden's main enemy rival Senator is trying to exploit the past affair to damage her politically. The third plot involves McGill s partner hired by the Mother of a Secret SERVICE Agent Ky to find out who attempted to murder him. The author understands the Political Climate and differences that foreign countries have with their legal system. Very good story and this character would make a tremendous series on Netflix or HBO max
The 2and Book in This series was better than the first. The first American woman POTUS is going to her first G8 summit held in London England. The British Prime Minister supported POTUS s rival in the last Presidential election and he doesn't believe that woman should be The Head of a Government. The author also created two other sub plots, first McGill is hired by the daughter of a former Chicago Police officer that McGill didn't respect. The former policeman is charged with murdering the number one Soccer player in France. The Prime Minister of France and the American President were lovers in college. President Darden's main enemy rival Senator is trying to exploit the past affair to damage her politically. The third plot involves McGill s partner hired by the Mother of a Secret SERVICE Agent Ky to find out who attempted to murder him. The author understands the Political Climate and differences that foreign countries have with their legal system. Very good story and this character would make a tremendous series on Netflix or HBO max
July 12, 2017
Flynn knocks it out of the park again!
This time we find the President's Henchman working across the Atlantic trying to clear a fellow ex Chicago cop accused of killing a star on France's soccer team. Meanwhile his partner Margaret "Sweetie" Sweeney works on finding the villain responsible for the shooting of Secret Service agent and friend Deke Kyle.
The two find themselves involved in nefarious plots one aimed at the President of France, the other aimed at the Catholic church.
It's a thrill ride as both cases carry the reader to a conclusion. Once again Flynn writes a thriller that will keep readers up late into the night.
This time we find the President's Henchman working across the Atlantic trying to clear a fellow ex Chicago cop accused of killing a star on France's soccer team. Meanwhile his partner Margaret "Sweetie" Sweeney works on finding the villain responsible for the shooting of Secret Service agent and friend Deke Kyle.
The two find themselves involved in nefarious plots one aimed at the President of France, the other aimed at the Catholic church.
It's a thrill ride as both cases carry the reader to a conclusion. Once again Flynn writes a thriller that will keep readers up late into the night.
October 6, 2024
Unlike the first book, this one was self published which shows in some weird formatting ...chapters starting mid page for instance... but you can get past that... Again, there are too many storylines... The main one with McGill investigating a crime in France was the most interesting.. even if somewhat implausible. The stuff with Sweetie trying to find the shooter of a secret service agent was far less interesting and I would up kinda skipping through those chapters... All the religious stuff with her character I find rather annoying as well which makes me not particularly like her storylines.
October 29, 2017
Jim McGill, the First Man (his wife is the President) gets bored when he doesn't have anything to do. So he is still running his private detective agency with his former police partner Sweetie. Jim gets a request to look into an old cop acquaintance who is charged with murder in Paris. He has to go to London with the Mrs. anyway so he takes the case. Sweetie has her own case going in DC involving the Catholic Church and an Asian gang. This series is worth reading, I love it!
July 1, 2018
This is the second book in the Jim McGill series. I loved the first book! While I did like this book it wasn't the page turner that the first one was for me. I still love McGill, Patti and the other returning characters. A couple of the new characters in this book were also quite likable - Gabbi and Pruet - but the thriller/mystery aspects of the book didn't hold my attention as they did in the first book.
May 5, 2020
Fun to read
Again, this is full of memorable characters, excellent mysteries and stellar humor. The president goes to London for an international conference and political shenanigans ensue. Her henchman goes to Paris to help an American accused of murder and becomes involved in his own political intrigue, while back home Sweeney is on the trail of the man who shot Deke. All three plots are twisty and fascinating. I love this series so far.
Again, this is full of memorable characters, excellent mysteries and stellar humor. The president goes to London for an international conference and political shenanigans ensue. Her henchman goes to Paris to help an American accused of murder and becomes involved in his own political intrigue, while back home Sweeney is on the trail of the man who shot Deke. All three plots are twisty and fascinating. I love this series so far.
December 3, 2020
Four and a half stars
An amusing and entertaining tale set largely in Paris. Jim Mc Gill, the PI husband of POTUS is hired to clear a fellow American, a police officer he once worked with, of the murder of a famous French footballer. Patti, the president is required to attend a G8 summit in London. Jim’s business has another important case in Washington, finding the attempted murderer of Jim’s secret service bodyguard.
An amusing and entertaining tale set largely in Paris. Jim Mc Gill, the PI husband of POTUS is hired to clear a fellow American, a police officer he once worked with, of the murder of a famous French footballer. Patti, the president is required to attend a G8 summit in London. Jim’s business has another important case in Washington, finding the attempted murderer of Jim’s secret service bodyguard.
February 18, 2022
A smorgasbord of treachery and triumph!
The story is packed with subplots, intrigue, and danger. The action is non-stop and whips the reader between continents and battles! While heads-of-state strive to create a new status quo and preserve their governments, Jim McGill and Sweetie are neck-deep in cases.
I loved this book! The storyline grabbed me from the very beginning and I could not put the book down until I finished it.
The story is packed with subplots, intrigue, and danger. The action is non-stop and whips the reader between continents and battles! While heads-of-state strive to create a new status quo and preserve their governments, Jim McGill and Sweetie are neck-deep in cases.
I loved this book! The storyline grabbed me from the very beginning and I could not put the book down until I finished it.
February 22, 2018
The Henchman Strikes Again
Another action-packed tale of Madam President and her main man. My only suggestion would have been to condense it a little. It takes quite a long while to read when you know you've got sequels waiting for you! I do enjoy the dry sense of humor of Jim and Sweetie in particular. I vicariously enjoyed revisiting England and Paris.
Another action-packed tale of Madam President and her main man. My only suggestion would have been to condense it a little. It takes quite a long while to read when you know you've got sequels waiting for you! I do enjoy the dry sense of humor of Jim and Sweetie in particular. I vicariously enjoyed revisiting England and Paris.
August 17, 2018
4.5 stars.
The President is going to London for a G8 meeting; her husband flies to Paris to try to figure out why another American is in solitary confinement.
Well written, at least three threads of stories, and it holds together for all the skipping around (on the pages). I am committed to this series now.
The President is going to London for a G8 meeting; her husband flies to Paris to try to figure out why another American is in solitary confinement.
Well written, at least three threads of stories, and it holds together for all the skipping around (on the pages). I am committed to this series now.
December 6, 2018
Good read for sure.
The author knows how to keep your attention. Nothing is over the top or totally unbelievable.
I actually enjoyed the slight religious undertones.
It's a reverse Cinderella story.
I just love a good series. I've read many, and this one is the current favorite.
The author knows how to keep your attention. Nothing is over the top or totally unbelievable.
I actually enjoyed the slight religious undertones.
It's a reverse Cinderella story.
I just love a good series. I've read many, and this one is the current favorite.
April 15, 2019
Excellent!
The McGills are so much fun to spend time with. This one I really did not want to put down. All of the characters are so invigorating and meaningful.
For Flynn to have 2 entirely different situations going on in several different countries with the good guy always winning, is just great. Very talented mind.
The McGills are so much fun to spend time with. This one I really did not want to put down. All of the characters are so invigorating and meaningful.
For Flynn to have 2 entirely different situations going on in several different countries with the good guy always winning, is just great. Very talented mind.
May 13, 2019
Book 2 of Jim McGill series is as exciting as book 1
Another winner from Joseph Flynn. Female President and ex-cop First Husband who works as a Private Detective. The mix of politics and thrill of suspense and action keeps you turning pages without a break. You love the characters and hate the villains-from the 7 foot monster to the unscrupulous politicians.
Another winner from Joseph Flynn. Female President and ex-cop First Husband who works as a Private Detective. The mix of politics and thrill of suspense and action keeps you turning pages without a break. You love the characters and hate the villains-from the 7 foot monster to the unscrupulous politicians.
May 17, 2022
I love MC Gill.
The characters in this series are so real.
McGill is the hero everyone wants to read about. His sidekick is just as much fun.
SA Crogher is interesting as well as all the other supporting characters.
I haven't enjoyed a series so much since Bosch.
Keep them coming,please!
The characters in this series are so real.
McGill is the hero everyone wants to read about. His sidekick is just as much fun.
SA Crogher is interesting as well as all the other supporting characters.
I haven't enjoyed a series so much since Bosch.
Keep them coming,please!
August 16, 2017
I'm hooked on this author
I just can't get enough of this masterful storyteller, this series of political thrillers is so hard to put down I just want to read them all. I highly recommend them.
I just can't get enough of this masterful storyteller, this series of political thrillers is so hard to put down I just want to read them all. I highly recommend them.
February 26, 2018
A great read!
I love the characters in this book and will definitely read the series! Well written and fast moving. I recommend reading the first series before this one even though he does a good job of filling in the background.
I love the characters in this book and will definitely read the series! Well written and fast moving. I recommend reading the first series before this one even though he does a good job of filling in the background.
March 21, 2018
I found this book very hard to put down. There seemed to be 2 or 3 stories going on at the same time that kept me jumping to keep up. I would recommend it to anyone that likes to keep track of many things at one time.
July 30, 2018
Another wow
Another thrilling story by Mr. Flynn that kept my attention for three days. Three story lines all connected by intrigue and interesting charActers written to entice and embrace the readers mind. I look forward to more of these fabulous stories!
Another thrilling story by Mr. Flynn that kept my attention for three days. Three story lines all connected by intrigue and interesting charActers written to entice and embrace the readers mind. I look forward to more of these fabulous stories!
August 13, 2018
Good story!
Good characters, two interesting cases run simultaneously but both storylines are clear and easy to follow. Can't wait to get to the next book in the series to see what else McGill Investigations gets into.
Good characters, two interesting cases run simultaneously but both storylines are clear and easy to follow. Can't wait to get to the next book in the series to see what else McGill Investigations gets into.
August 22, 2018
Loved the characters,the locations and the diversity throughout the book. Easy to follow and simply a pleasure to read. This was my introduction to Joseph Flynn and I'm sure I'll be reading more of his great stories.
September 2, 2018
Another day and furious ride, this time on two continents
I enjoyed the second in this series as much as the first. It's a fun read and I really wanted to just keep reading all the way through, but some sleep is necessary. Lol
I enjoyed the second in this series as much as the first. It's a fun read and I really wanted to just keep reading all the way through, but some sleep is necessary. Lol
December 31, 2018
Great book !
I have come to rally love this author and His Jim McGill stories. They are exciting and action-filled! I love the relationship of all the characters. I think you would enjoy every thing about this author’s work. It’s a great read !
I have come to rally love this author and His Jim McGill stories. They are exciting and action-filled! I love the relationship of all the characters. I think you would enjoy every thing about this author’s work. It’s a great read !
August 5, 2019
Great read
This is the second one of the series I've read the characters remain entertaining and control grow in depth and detail. I'm looking clear to reading more of Mr. Flynn's books.
This is the second one of the series I've read the characters remain entertaining and control grow in depth and detail. I'm looking clear to reading more of Mr. Flynn's books.
July 8, 2020
The second book is just as good as first one. Joseph Flynn is very skillful in developing a story with many twists and turns as well as different plots yet able to intertwine characters with overlapping interests. Well done.
September 29, 2020
Flynn is a gifted storyteller
Never before have a read books that have multiple storylines. Each story could stand alone but Flynn weaves them all together with action, humor and politics.
Never before have a read books that have multiple storylines. Each story could stand alone but Flynn weaves them all together with action, humor and politics.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 110 reviews