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akjd77's review against another edition
4.0
**** I received this audiobook in return for a fair and honest review****
This was a new to me author and I really enjoyed the book. Jimmy McSwain is an old school P.I. who happens set in the modern world. He works his cases, spends time with his mom and sisters and tries to find that special man to share his life.
While all of this is going on he is still obsessing over the murder of his father over 15 years prior and for me, the constant mentions of this dragged the story down for me. It was constant and I understand he wanted answers but it seemed to be on his mind ALL the time above everything else.
That aside I did enjoy the rest of the story, his interactions with his family and clients are great. You can tell he cares about all of them and wants what's best. In this first story he meets Barry at a club, they hit it off, get together and things go a little sideways. We end the first story with them in limbo and with Jimmy eyeing the new police Captain.
Jimmy solves some cases in all of this, not much is given to these, not as much as I expected in a detective novel. It was much more focused on Jimmy's life and struggles dealing with his father's death.
I would be interested to see how the rest of the series shakes out. Who does he end up with.. Barry, the captain or someone else. Does he ever find out what really happened to his father.
This was a new to me author and I really enjoyed the book. Jimmy McSwain is an old school P.I. who happens set in the modern world. He works his cases, spends time with his mom and sisters and tries to find that special man to share his life.
While all of this is going on he is still obsessing over the murder of his father over 15 years prior and for me, the constant mentions of this dragged the story down for me. It was constant and I understand he wanted answers but it seemed to be on his mind ALL the time above everything else.
That aside I did enjoy the rest of the story, his interactions with his family and clients are great. You can tell he cares about all of them and wants what's best. In this first story he meets Barry at a club, they hit it off, get together and things go a little sideways. We end the first story with them in limbo and with Jimmy eyeing the new police Captain.
Jimmy solves some cases in all of this, not much is given to these, not as much as I expected in a detective novel. It was much more focused on Jimmy's life and struggles dealing with his father's death.
I would be interested to see how the rest of the series shakes out. Who does he end up with.. Barry, the captain or someone else. Does he ever find out what really happened to his father.
suze_1624's review against another edition
4.0
Well, I've found myself my next detective series to follow!
I liked the slightly unorthodox McSwain - tough guy brawler with a soft heart for his late father and his father's old friend. He's not quite the trench coat wearing PI - more jeans and t shirt, but he gets the job done.
I like the colour of the settings - the Dress Up, the theatre's, Paddy's bar, all gave a great NY feel.
The murder was solved but I can see his father's investigation rolling on for a long time. And the late addition of Frank adds a titillation too.
Off to get the next books!
I liked the slightly unorthodox McSwain - tough guy brawler with a soft heart for his late father and his father's old friend. He's not quite the trench coat wearing PI - more jeans and t shirt, but he gets the job done.
I like the colour of the settings - the Dress Up, the theatre's, Paddy's bar, all gave a great NY feel.
The murder was solved but I can see his father's investigation rolling on for a long time. And the late addition of Frank adds a titillation too.
Off to get the next books!
the_novel_approach's review
4.0
I haven’t read this author before. After reading the blurb I was really excited to read this one. I really can’t pass up a private investigator story, ever.
I really loved the style in which the author chose to tell this story. The memory about his father’s death was told in third person by the main character. It was very well executed and gives the readers a little background of what drives the main character to do what he does. The rest of the story is told from Jimmy’s POV; he’s definitely never gotten over the loss of his father.
The pacing of this story flows very easy, never a dull moment. We follow Jimmy as he wraps up one investigation and begins a new one. I loved how the author makes you think you know what’s going on, but you really don’t. Cleverly done. As to not give many spoilers away, this new case is pretty cut and dry, but some incidents occur that made me scratch my head and wonder what the hell was going on and who was behind it all. A few times I thought I had it all figured out and knew who the bad guy was, but something always happened that threw my theory right out the window. I love how the author keeps the reader in the dark until the very end.
As for the romance, yes, there is a love interest, but it doesn’t really go anywhere. I was okay with that. Being inside Jimmy’s head we know his first love is his job. He’s not quite over a past relationship, he’s just not ready to give a hundred percent. We see a good candidate for a boyfriend come and go during the course of the book. We also see a new potential lover come into play, but again, we don’t see any development between them. I’m fine with that but other readers who want that HEA, or even a HFN, will be disappointed. It just didn’t happen here.
The secondary characters were a big part of this story and a big part of Jimmy’s life, from his sisters and mother, to his father’s old friends, to the new people he encounters while working his cases. I felt each and every one of these characters play a significant role in Jimmy’s life and well being. They definitely added spark and intrigue to the storyline.
Overall, I really liked this story. I enjoyed getting to know Jimmy as well as some of the other characters here. I’m hoping the author plans on more Jimmy McSwain books. I would love to revisit Jimmy and follow along with the investigations and, hopefully, see him find his HEA.
I really loved the style in which the author chose to tell this story. The memory about his father’s death was told in third person by the main character. It was very well executed and gives the readers a little background of what drives the main character to do what he does. The rest of the story is told from Jimmy’s POV; he’s definitely never gotten over the loss of his father.
The pacing of this story flows very easy, never a dull moment. We follow Jimmy as he wraps up one investigation and begins a new one. I loved how the author makes you think you know what’s going on, but you really don’t. Cleverly done. As to not give many spoilers away, this new case is pretty cut and dry, but some incidents occur that made me scratch my head and wonder what the hell was going on and who was behind it all. A few times I thought I had it all figured out and knew who the bad guy was, but something always happened that threw my theory right out the window. I love how the author keeps the reader in the dark until the very end.
As for the romance, yes, there is a love interest, but it doesn’t really go anywhere. I was okay with that. Being inside Jimmy’s head we know his first love is his job. He’s not quite over a past relationship, he’s just not ready to give a hundred percent. We see a good candidate for a boyfriend come and go during the course of the book. We also see a new potential lover come into play, but again, we don’t see any development between them. I’m fine with that but other readers who want that HEA, or even a HFN, will be disappointed. It just didn’t happen here.
The secondary characters were a big part of this story and a big part of Jimmy’s life, from his sisters and mother, to his father’s old friends, to the new people he encounters while working his cases. I felt each and every one of these characters play a significant role in Jimmy’s life and well being. They definitely added spark and intrigue to the storyline.
Overall, I really liked this story. I enjoyed getting to know Jimmy as well as some of the other characters here. I’m hoping the author plans on more Jimmy McSwain books. I would love to revisit Jimmy and follow along with the investigations and, hopefully, see him find his HEA.
claudia_is_reading's review
4.0
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.
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