Forever Haunt (The Jimmy McSwain Files #5)

Adam Carpenter has successfully and satisfactorily brought this first arc of Jimmy McSwain mysteries to a conclusion with Forever Haunt, weaving together hints and threads from each of the four previous novels and answering the series longest-running question: who orchestrated the death of Jimmys father?

The third book in the series, Stage Fright, represented a low-point for Jimmy: distracted by clues regarding his fathers long cold case, he dropped the ball on a clients case and was beaten to the solution by someone else. The fourth book, Guardian Angel, saw Jimmy a bit more back on his game, and that trend continues here: Jimmy is paying attention, making connections, not letting his lifes unanswered questions distract him from helping others and not letting other people solve the crimes hes investigating.

Jimmys character arc across the series has been a realistic one, with setbacks in his love life because of work and his work and family life because of work. Setbacks abound in this final volume, but with some interesting twists. Jimmy learns secrets that have been hinted at in the previous four books: about his parents, his neighbors, his mentor, and his adversaries and friends on the police force.

Because everyone has secrets, so many secrets you almost need a score-card to keep track. Some of the secrets are explosive (just how much did Jimmys mother know or suspect, and how exactly was Jimmys fathers partner (and Jimmys mentor) involved in what happened?). Some of the secrets revealed are more personal (Jimmys sister Mallory comes to a hard decision, following one of the funniest drunk siblings scenes Ive ever read). Long-standing questions are definitively answered, with no ambiguity. And as Ive said, the answers we get are satisfactory: theres a sense of fair play between author and reader at work here. The reveals make sense, nothing comes completely out of left field. Carpenter also seems to wink at other theories readers may have had, acknowledging that being fair and generous with clues doesnt preclude the author from throwing a few red herrings into the mix of possibilities.

Carpenter intended from the beginning for this to be a tight five-book journey for Jimmy McSwain, and hes held to his original plan. Theres something to be said for an author who sticks to an original plan (and releases the planned installments in a timely manner) even when the popularity of a series might inspire the publisher to want more books. A different writer might have strung these reveals out for three or five or ten more books, diluting the impact as storylines stagnate until the final book is scheduled. The good news is: while this particular arc is over, Jimmy McSwain will be back in future books. But thats a matter to discuss later in this review.

Every McSwain File has had two storylines running concurrently. Sometimes the mystery of Jimmys fathers death takes a secondary role to the other storyline, and sometimes Carpenter reverses it. This time the new case is the secondary mystery. It involves Jimmys new neighbor Carmen and her missing son, and if its not quite as compelling as the mysteries Jimmy has investigated in the previous books, thats okay.

In this book, the secondary mystery serves two purposes. The first is to distract Jimmy at key points, so that his focus is split between helping himself and helping people who cant help themselves. As authorial as well as in-story distractions, I dont feel like we got quite the same depth of character for the Ramirez clan that weve gotten for the characters in those previous cases. Theyre not cardboard place-holders; theres still enough depth that they feel real. It helps that just as theyre new to the reader, theyre also new to the neighborhood. Jimmys getting to know them at the same time as we are, and so first impressions are enough. This secondary mystery is not padding, though — it has its own arc and mostly satisfactory conclusion, its own internal consistency. And that enables it to serve its second purpose.

Carpenter has said there are plans to come back to Jimmy McSwain, his boyfriend Frank Frisano, and the rest of the recurring characters in a new arc. Without spoilers, I can say that the secondary mystery gives us the motivation for that new arc. Its not a motivating factor I was particularly happy to read (in fact, I tweeted the author a rather indignant I think I hate you now moments after finishing the book), but it does the job it needs to do, giving author, reader, and characters a reason to return. I do think the Jimmy McSwain Files could have continued on without the need for a new season arc, ala characters like Lawrence Blocks Bernie Rhodenbarr or MC Beatons Hamish Macbeth. But I can also see the allure of a an arc to run through however many books will comprise Jimmys second season, since the main arc of this first season worked so well.

Ill miss Jimmy and his cohorts between now and when the next series starts. And while we wait, I recommend to folks who like gritty NYC PI stories with a touch of erotic content: find the first book in this series, Hidden Identity, and get caught up.

Adam Carpenter is just an amazing writer. The Jimmy McSwain series has the all-to-rare quality of having an engrossing plot while also featuring fully-developed characters. I have followed Jimmy and his family and friends, and now boyfriend, through all five novels. Each book in the series leaves me more impressed with Carpenter’s gifts as a writer. SO HAPPY to read that there is another one in the works. You are a great writer, Mr. Carpenter. So totally recommended!

I really like this character, his family, and the stories the author tales about them. They’re believable. The writer makes me want to have a drink with all of the characters and shoot the $hyt. Also, they’re so real I’d like to be the lead character’s “guncle,” just to help him navigate the complicated relational difficulties he encounters with his hot, ambitious, semi-closeted, Italian-American, policeman friend.

Forever haunt is just as an apt title for this book that ties everything together… it leaves your emotions stirred in places you never thought they could go. This book is more serious than the previous ones, but it needs to be for what happens in it is unexpected, eerie, and… well, haunting. It’s a great tale of intrigue, secrets, and corruption. Adam Carpenter has done it again.

I love this series. Jimmy continues the hunt for his father’s killer. Along the way he picks up a missing persons case a 6 year old boy. Jimmy must work with the in cooperative family they appear to be bidding something. From the Chinese mob to the blue death Jimmy is busy.

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