Guardian Angel

Jimmy McSwain Files, Book 4

By: Adam Carpenter

Narrated by: Joel Leslie

The dual forces of good and evil take center stage in the fourth installment in the Jimmy McSwain Files, one that finds the tortured, sexy detective battling an unforeseen enemy: happiness. Yet murder will soon rear its desperate chill, hurtling Jimmy into the highest society and the lowest of lives.

Winter is nearly upon Manhattan, the holidays right around the corner. Jimmy is hired to escort the infamous tabloid favorite Serena Carson to a charity benefit, intent on guarding her from an abusive ex. Yet the job takes a brutal turn as Lothario Henderson Carlyle is found sliced to death outside of Serena's brownstone. The cops warn Jimmy away from the case, including his former lover, Captain Francis X. Frisano. Jimmy has his hands full anyway, as his visiting cousin Kellan was found beaten by onetime family friend Mickey Dean, a Hell's Kitchen thug with a dark past.

As the snow falls and answers remain buried, Jimmy finds himself thrown into the midst of two conflicting cases, one of which will expose a dormant clue to the long-unsolved murder of his father, NYPD cop Joseph McSwain. Complicating matters is a new man in Jimmy's life, who promises Jimmy security and safety, neither word easy for him to accept. When fate sends Jimmy's world into turmoil, he realizes there's a devil at work in a season usually owned by angels.

©2016 Adam Carpenter (P)2020 Tantor

Good story. Good narration.

I enjoyed the twists and turns in the mystery. I like spending time with the cast of characters in this series. Jimmy, Maggie, Megan, Mallory, Frank, and all of the side characters are interesting people. I did struggle with some of the directions this story took. I am a science nerd, so I wanted more physical evidence to point Jimmy in the right direction. I am also starting to wonder about Jimmy's investigative skills and his sense of self-preservation. He is starting to look a bit hapless.

I was entertained by the story, and intrigued by some of the developments in the Forever Haunt case. The narration continues to be well done, and I have already started on the next book.

Not as good as the last but still good

Joel Leslie's performance was brilliant as usual however the story was not as gripping and a bit too superstitious for the real world for me. Jimmy was a bit too romantic and inner monologing in this one although I appreciate the Frank and Jimmy get together. Next one already purchased

getting darker by each book

and we’re getting closer to the end of the road for the forever haunt case.. lucky I was a bit late to the series.. I can just jump right on to the next book.. 😎