Explosive. Pulse-pounding. Heart-racing. From the bestselling author The Wall Street Journal hails as “one terrific writer,” Midnight R...
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Apr 05, 2009
Eric_W
rated it: 
I have read most of Swain's Tony Valentine series and enjoy them a lot. Swain apparently knows the gambling and grifting business cold and it shows in the stories. Midnight Rambler is a departure from that knowledge set, I think. His protagonist is an ex-cop who got thrown off the force for beating up a suspect. He specializes in finding missing persons, especially children. He has Bruno, a dog to provide some comic relief. It's a good story but the detail doesn't ring as authentic as his grifte
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Apr 30, 2009
Kevin
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Yes, the detective protagonist is a former police officer, burned out, broke, and isolated from his family and friends due to a high profile serial killer case, and yes, there is nothing new with that plot device.
Even so, I have to credit James Swain through his cliches for the mostly artful presentation, which moves the detective and the reader convincingly from the hunt for clues to bloody confrontations, and back on the hunt again. The specter of the serial killer's release (for w More...
Even so, I have to credit James Swain through his cliches for the mostly artful presentation, which moves the detective and the reader convincingly from the hunt for clues to bloody confrontations, and back on the hunt again. The specter of the serial killer's release (for w More...
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Jul 04, 2010
Viccy
rated it:
Former cop Jack Carpenter now finds lost kids. He specializes in it. After he beat a confession out of Simon Skell, the Midnight Rambler, he was drummed off the police force and lost his job and his marriage. The story opens with Jack finding a baby stolen out of the maternity ward. Then, the body of a former prostitute, one of the Midnight Rambler's victims, is found in the wrong place. Skell is released from prison and Jack is a marked man. Jack has to solve the murders of Skell's eight other
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Aug 21, 2011
Drick
rated it: 
This novel features Jack Carpenter, an ex-cop who specializes in finding missing persons, particularly children who have been kidnapped. in this case he slowly uncovers a network of sexual predators abducting young women, mostly sex workers and killing them in a slow tortuous way while playing the Rolling Stones' "Midnight Rambler." Carpenter is a troubled and self-defeating hero, who through his tenacity breaks the ring despite indifference from law enforcement and in defiance of typi
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Dec 30, 2008
Kathy
rated it:
I stumbled across this book via a review in the Sunday St. Pete Times. It is the store of a former south Florida police detective, that specialized in missing persons, particularly children, and because of politics was thrown off the force.
This is the first book of what might prove to be an ongoing series dealing with this particular form of crime. This first book was pretty good, and time will tell if the author can maintain the readers interest for multiple books.
This is the first book of what might prove to be an ongoing series dealing with this particular form of crime. This first book was pretty good, and time will tell if the author can maintain the readers interest for multiple books.
Dec 16, 2007
Annie
rated it:
A patron of my librarian hubby recommended this and I read it in one sitting. It was very good and I will get more by him.
A specialist in finding missing children, former cop Jack Carpenter was fired from the force for assaulting a prisoner. Broke after a civil lawsuit and estranged from his wife and daughter, he's living in a seedy beachside apartment north of Miami, Fla., with his dog. Then Simon Skell (aka the Midnight Rambler), whom Carpenter helped convict for murdering prostit More...
A specialist in finding missing children, former cop Jack Carpenter was fired from the force for assaulting a prisoner. Broke after a civil lawsuit and estranged from his wife and daughter, he's living in a seedy beachside apartment north of Miami, Fla., with his dog. Then Simon Skell (aka the Midnight Rambler), whom Carpenter helped convict for murdering prostit More...
Jan 19, 2009
Yvonne
rated it: 
James Swain is a Florida author who puts the reader inside the mind ofthe criminal as well as the good guy Jack Carpenter. He keeps the story flowing with twists and turns and things that jump out when you least expect it. Jack has his own set of issues to deal with as he tries to find who is killing women.
James is a fellow Florida Author who should be on anyone's shelf
James is a fellow Florida Author who should be on anyone's shelf
Jul 07, 2009
Rose
rated it:
I had never read anything by this author previously, and picked this book up because the synopsis sounded good. I wasn't disappointed. A fast-paced, edge-of-your seat detective novel, this page turner draws you in from the first sentence. I look forward to reading "The Night Stalker," the next in the Jack Carpenter series.
Feb 18, 2010
Joe
rated it:
Excellent; Continuing character: Jack Carpenter (first in series); a serial killer that Carpenter put away (and beat up resulting in him resigning from the police) is being released because of new evidence; as he tries to keep this from happening he stumbles upon a much larger conspiracy
Jun 08, 2011
Dale
rated it:
This was the first James Swain book I have read and I was NOT disappointed. It is the 1st of the Jack Carpenter series and I loved him, too. He is an ex-cop (won't spoil your read with the reason why)and he is after a serial killer. Very good, smooth, & fast read. Will definitely try another.
Oct 26, 2011
Cathy
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At times got a little bogged down, but I love Swain's characters. This was a little on the chilling side for my liking, but all in all, a good read. Just partial to James Swain, especially Valentine.
Oct 10, 2010
Bart
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I read this after reading Grift Sense. This is NOT a Tony Valentine novel, and I didn't like it as much as that book. But it was a good read. Swain is very sure footed with a story and plot.
Aug 23, 2011
Jim
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First of the Jack Carpenter series. A good place to start with this author if you haven't tried him. His Tommy Valentine series is also very good but much better in the early books.
Dec 29, 2008
Mel
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I really like this character and the way the book describes the process of finding missing persons while solving a mystery/murder.
Good story line, interesting characters.
Good story line, interesting characters.
Nov 18, 2009
Patti
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A new author for me. Had a blurb by Michael Connelly on the front so thought I would give it a try. I was not disappointed. I look forward to reading other books by this author.
Dec 22, 2008
This was really good. Well written, suspenseful as it kept me on the edge of my seat and I couldn't put it down. Plus, the ending wanted to make me read the next one!
Jul 20, 2009
Alvin
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Gritty as nails in a prostitute's garage. Moves like thunder in a midwest rainstorm. Dark and compelling from the first page.
Dec 26, 2010
Tanya
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A simple yet engaging mystery. Engaging, but some things just happened a little too coincidentally.
Jul 25, 2010
not a bad book but I wonder about the series. How many god books could get longevity of a book like this
Dec 23, 2008
Sharon
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Never heard of this author before....picked the book up when it was returned at circ. Definitely would read another by him.
Jul 30, 2011
excellent writer, his novels are great, read them all and can't wait for his next one.
Apr 02, 2008
Joyce
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This is one of those books you can't put down once you start it. Jack Carpenter is a great hero...a no longer cop who used to head the missing persons division in Broward County who is now broke, familyless and convinced he is right about a serial killer who is about to be released from prison. He even has a dog! The plot is fast moving. The novel is well written. I'm going to check out Swain's other books. Hopefully they will be as good.
Apr 25, 2008
Mo
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Gritty, gruesome, gripping and grotesque. I'm not a huge reader of mysteries, but this grabbed me right away. It's set in South Florida and told at a breakneck pace with very simple and clear writing. I really enjoyed Swain's other novels, mostly set in Vegas, and I always forget that he's a fellow Floridian. He really gets Florida like few other writers do...it's not all happy sunshine and tourists and rum runners, that's for sure.
Oct 01, 2008
Laura
rated it:
Swain knows how to tell a good story with compelling characters and a plot that moves quickly, with just enough twists to keep the reader wondering how everything will end. Midnight Rambler is one of those and at various points it’s downright hard to set aside.
There are no “greater truths” or intriguing metaphors in the book. The story is all about entertainment, and on that level it delivers.
Enjoy.
There are no “greater truths” or intriguing metaphors in the book. The story is all about entertainment, and on that level it delivers.
Enjoy.
