What do you think?
Rate this book
The Pinkerton Man #5
Down But Not Out
Stiles finds himself torn between his loyalty to his agency director and friend, James McCullough, and his loyalty to friend Lizzie Ferguson and his lover Michael O'Leary. He can't explain the overwhelming feelings of darkness that he feels.
When the new director of the St. Louis Pinkerton Agency, fires Lizzie and Michael, then pairs Stiles up with a new agent, things begin to unravel all around Stiles.
Lying to everyone, he heads to Chicago where James McCullough and other agents have disappeared. Determined to find his friend and discover what is really going on in the Levee District, Stiles finds himself with no one he can depend on.
Meanwhile, Lizzie moves back to New York to work in the Pinkerton office there with an old friend. And, Michael discovers he's inherited an estate in England from his mother's side of his family.
The group of friends are being pulled apart in different directions. There's corruption around every corner. No one can be trusted. Can they find their way back to who they were before? Will Stiles be able to pull himself out of the hell he's in before he loses everything? So this is hell...
When the new director of the St. Louis Pinkerton Agency, fires Lizzie and Michael, then pairs Stiles up with a new agent, things begin to unravel all around Stiles.
Lying to everyone, he heads to Chicago where James McCullough and other agents have disappeared. Determined to find his friend and discover what is really going on in the Levee District, Stiles finds himself with no one he can depend on.
Meanwhile, Lizzie moves back to New York to work in the Pinkerton office there with an old friend. And, Michael discovers he's inherited an estate in England from his mother's side of his family.
The group of friends are being pulled apart in different directions. There's corruption around every corner. No one can be trusted. Can they find their way back to who they were before? Will Stiles be able to pull himself out of the hell he's in before he loses everything? So this is hell...
Kindle Edition
Published August 31, 2022
2 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
October 7, 2022
Reviewed for Love Bytes – 5 Hearts
While in Europe, Stiles receives a message that his friend and director of the Pinkerton Agency, James, was missing and presumed dead. The news knocks him for six. James was a man ahead of his time, free-thinking and accepting. Stiles smells a rat and intends to investigate. While travelling back to the USA, Stiles slips into despair – even more so when his friend, Lizzie and lover Michael are separated from him, causing rifts and uncertainty.
I am a fan of CJ Baty’s work and have been for some time. She has a way of writing emotionally atmospheric stories. She stays true to the plot line without getting sidetracked. And while worldbuilding isn’t extensive, she still creates a picture in the mind that compliments the plot
without it being overshadowed – perfect for my reading tastes. I hoped that Down But Not Out would follow this scenario, and I wasn’t disappointed.
This story is a darker venture than some previous works, delving into the seedier side of Chicago life of drugs, brothels, and the criminals lording over the streets. It was delicious to read characters with ulterior motives and double-crossers mixed with those trying to do good – it made for a great web of deceit where the end was not foreseen nor could be predicted. The opening pages are emotional, and I felt it through every word as Stiles slipped into soul-wrenching darkness where the worry from those close to him was palpable. In those early paragraphs, his own thoughts emphasized a spiral that I found realistic. From then on, I was hooked on this story.
Down But Not Out is book five in the Pinkerton Man series. It is told in the third person, primarily from the viewpoint of Stiles. Occasionally, in conversations, I wasn’t sure who was talking but overall, the story is technically sound. One of many things that I loved was how seamlessly the scenes flowed. Nothing felt forced or engineered.
The dynamic between Stiles and Michael is delightful; whenever the two are intimate, the liaisons are subtle, tender, and worded appropriate for the era of the story. Stiles is a man with considerable experience, and it shows in every action and thought. He also does what is necessary to protect those he loves. And while Michael doesn’t get as much physical airtime, he is never far away from Stiles’ thoughts.
I must put a shout-out here for Lizzy. Damn, that woman is a scene stealer.
Anyhoo, onto the plot. I am not going to say too much here as I try my best not to do spoilers. But, what I will say is – imagine a lattice – no, scratch that. I don’t honestly know what to say, except the plot is complex without being confusing (my aged brain cells kept up nicely) - but you don’t know it’s intricate until the end. Everything makes sense while it’s happening, but apart from a couple of things, nothing is predictable.
I found, Down But Not Out, a gritty page-turner whose main characters could melt hearts and blow your balls off with a derringer if necessary. The closer I came to the end, the faster I wanted to read, yet I didn’t want to miss a word.
This book was provided free in exchange for a fair and honest review for
Love Bytes.
While in Europe, Stiles receives a message that his friend and director of the Pinkerton Agency, James, was missing and presumed dead. The news knocks him for six. James was a man ahead of his time, free-thinking and accepting. Stiles smells a rat and intends to investigate. While travelling back to the USA, Stiles slips into despair – even more so when his friend, Lizzie and lover Michael are separated from him, causing rifts and uncertainty.
I am a fan of CJ Baty’s work and have been for some time. She has a way of writing emotionally atmospheric stories. She stays true to the plot line without getting sidetracked. And while worldbuilding isn’t extensive, she still creates a picture in the mind that compliments the plot
without it being overshadowed – perfect for my reading tastes. I hoped that Down But Not Out would follow this scenario, and I wasn’t disappointed.
This story is a darker venture than some previous works, delving into the seedier side of Chicago life of drugs, brothels, and the criminals lording over the streets. It was delicious to read characters with ulterior motives and double-crossers mixed with those trying to do good – it made for a great web of deceit where the end was not foreseen nor could be predicted. The opening pages are emotional, and I felt it through every word as Stiles slipped into soul-wrenching darkness where the worry from those close to him was palpable. In those early paragraphs, his own thoughts emphasized a spiral that I found realistic. From then on, I was hooked on this story.
Down But Not Out is book five in the Pinkerton Man series. It is told in the third person, primarily from the viewpoint of Stiles. Occasionally, in conversations, I wasn’t sure who was talking but overall, the story is technically sound. One of many things that I loved was how seamlessly the scenes flowed. Nothing felt forced or engineered.
The dynamic between Stiles and Michael is delightful; whenever the two are intimate, the liaisons are subtle, tender, and worded appropriate for the era of the story. Stiles is a man with considerable experience, and it shows in every action and thought. He also does what is necessary to protect those he loves. And while Michael doesn’t get as much physical airtime, he is never far away from Stiles’ thoughts.
I must put a shout-out here for Lizzy. Damn, that woman is a scene stealer.
Anyhoo, onto the plot. I am not going to say too much here as I try my best not to do spoilers. But, what I will say is – imagine a lattice – no, scratch that. I don’t honestly know what to say, except the plot is complex without being confusing (my aged brain cells kept up nicely) - but you don’t know it’s intricate until the end. Everything makes sense while it’s happening, but apart from a couple of things, nothing is predictable.
I found, Down But Not Out, a gritty page-turner whose main characters could melt hearts and blow your balls off with a derringer if necessary. The closer I came to the end, the faster I wanted to read, yet I didn’t want to miss a word.
This book was provided free in exchange for a fair and honest review for
Love Bytes.
August 31, 2022
Pinkerton’s Stiles Long along with his lover, Michael O’Leary, and dear friend Lizzie Ferguson, have been enjoying their stay in Europe. For Stiles and Michael it has been a special time, as they were able to be themselves. Their stay becomes disrupted when a telegram is received. James McCullough head of the Pinkerton’s in St. Louis has disappeared. Stiles is devastated with this mysterious loss of this good man. McCullough has always been an open minded individual and understood Stiles. He accepted Michael and Lizzie as Pinkerton agents and always praised and supported them.
There’s only one thing left to do and that’s return to St. Louis. But Stiles dreads the return. He has the feeling things have changed and not for the best. He also hates that he and Michael will have to hide their relationship once again. It sends a darkness deep into Stiles soul and he doesn’t know how to explain it.
With a short layover in New York, a mysterious stranger delivers a warning to Stiles and all are targets of danger. After the unpleasantness of what occurred in New York,
they’ve made it home to St. Louis. An odd letter has been waiting for them, from James McCullough. As brief as his letter is one thing stands out, “trust no one.”
Chicago is in turmoil with an upcoming election and political unrest. Stiles, Michael and Lizzie have to face McCullough’s replacement and Stiles fears the outcome. To keep Lizzie and Michael out of danger, Stiles resorts to deceit, for him it’s the only way to find out the truth. But deceit will bring a separation and misunderstandings to the three companions. As time is also an enemy each will have to make a decision to move on. As twisted as Stiles search becomes for James McCullough, will he ever find out the truth and survive?
“Down But Not Out” is the fifth book in “The Pinkerton Man” series by CJ Baty and it’s the best yet! The author brings a fast paced mystery that’s well plotted, with intense situations and suspicious characters at every turn and the danger is overwhelming. As always, there’s the wonderful, but at times the sad romance between Stiles and Michael. Lizzie is as feisty as ever and is not afraid to speak her mind. She’s ever adventurous and a woman before her time. There’s also a deeper look at James McCullough, he’s just not a man who sits behind a desk
There’s a host of characters that are nice and not so nice: Lawrence Whitley, who works close to McCullough and Claire Collins, a mystery lady; Devlin Warren, agent;
Martin Collins, Chester Smythe, Louis Winchester, Mark Thomas, Nicolo “Nicky” Esposito, James “Big Jim Higgins, and Patty “Cake” Francis owner of The Rose Palace and more.
CJ Baty created an eye-catching and stunning cover of Stiles Long for “Down But Not Out”. I highly recommend, “Down But Not Out” for mystery lovers, it was a definite page-turner for me! “The Pinkerton” series is not over yet, CJ Baty will be bringing: Stiles, Michael and Lizzie back with book six: “The Secrets of Whitcomb Manor”.
There’s only one thing left to do and that’s return to St. Louis. But Stiles dreads the return. He has the feeling things have changed and not for the best. He also hates that he and Michael will have to hide their relationship once again. It sends a darkness deep into Stiles soul and he doesn’t know how to explain it.
With a short layover in New York, a mysterious stranger delivers a warning to Stiles and all are targets of danger. After the unpleasantness of what occurred in New York,
they’ve made it home to St. Louis. An odd letter has been waiting for them, from James McCullough. As brief as his letter is one thing stands out, “trust no one.”
Chicago is in turmoil with an upcoming election and political unrest. Stiles, Michael and Lizzie have to face McCullough’s replacement and Stiles fears the outcome. To keep Lizzie and Michael out of danger, Stiles resorts to deceit, for him it’s the only way to find out the truth. But deceit will bring a separation and misunderstandings to the three companions. As time is also an enemy each will have to make a decision to move on. As twisted as Stiles search becomes for James McCullough, will he ever find out the truth and survive?
“Down But Not Out” is the fifth book in “The Pinkerton Man” series by CJ Baty and it’s the best yet! The author brings a fast paced mystery that’s well plotted, with intense situations and suspicious characters at every turn and the danger is overwhelming. As always, there’s the wonderful, but at times the sad romance between Stiles and Michael. Lizzie is as feisty as ever and is not afraid to speak her mind. She’s ever adventurous and a woman before her time. There’s also a deeper look at James McCullough, he’s just not a man who sits behind a desk
There’s a host of characters that are nice and not so nice: Lawrence Whitley, who works close to McCullough and Claire Collins, a mystery lady; Devlin Warren, agent;
Martin Collins, Chester Smythe, Louis Winchester, Mark Thomas, Nicolo “Nicky” Esposito, James “Big Jim Higgins, and Patty “Cake” Francis owner of The Rose Palace and more.
CJ Baty created an eye-catching and stunning cover of Stiles Long for “Down But Not Out”. I highly recommend, “Down But Not Out” for mystery lovers, it was a definite page-turner for me! “The Pinkerton” series is not over yet, CJ Baty will be bringing: Stiles, Michael and Lizzie back with book six: “The Secrets of Whitcomb Manor”.
March 27, 2024
A very gritty tale for Stiles and Michael this time, though mostly Stiles.
When new blood at St Louis office fires Michael and Lizzie, Stiles and his new partner defy orders and go to the hub of all that is wrong, and of missing agents, Chicago.
And this is the arse end of Chicago, with brothels and drug dens and the worst of humanity and depravity.
Stiles is drawn into the world, but not too far, searching for clues. Michael eventually comes to find him but is soon on his way to England again, fearing the worst for Stiles
When new blood at St Louis office fires Michael and Lizzie, Stiles and his new partner defy orders and go to the hub of all that is wrong, and of missing agents, Chicago.
And this is the arse end of Chicago, with brothels and drug dens and the worst of humanity and depravity.
Stiles is drawn into the world, but not too far, searching for clues. Michael eventually comes to find him but is soon on his way to England again, fearing the worst for Stiles
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews