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A Carter Jones Story #1
The Case of the Jilted First Secretary
Wednesday, November 24, 1954
Breakfast is done and Carter Jones has kissed his husband, Nick Williams, and sent him off to a meeting when the doorbell rings.
Two men are standing on the threshold and asking some pushy questions about Nick and where they can find him.
Smelling a rat, Carter says he doesn't know where his husband is and sends the two men, one speaking perfect English with a slight accent and the other as shifty as all get out, on their way.
Knowing something big is up, he calls down to the office on Bush Street and ends up talking to Sam Halversen, an operative who works for them at Consolidated Security.
Within a few minutes, Sam has run up to the top of Nob Hill to fill Carter in on what turns out to be one of the strangest tales ever.
In the end, Carter has to ask himself: How far and to what lengths will some men go for love?
Breakfast is done and Carter Jones has kissed his husband, Nick Williams, and sent him off to a meeting when the doorbell rings.
Two men are standing on the threshold and asking some pushy questions about Nick and where they can find him.
Smelling a rat, Carter says he doesn't know where his husband is and sends the two men, one speaking perfect English with a slight accent and the other as shifty as all get out, on their way.
Knowing something big is up, he calls down to the office on Bush Street and ends up talking to Sam Halversen, an operative who works for them at Consolidated Security.
Within a few minutes, Sam has run up to the top of Nob Hill to fill Carter in on what turns out to be one of the strangest tales ever.
In the end, Carter has to ask himself: How far and to what lengths will some men go for love?
- GenresMystery
234 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 14, 2021
10 people are currently reading
6 people want to read
About the author
Frank W. Butterfield
123 books106 followersFrank W. Butterfield, not an assumed name, loves old movies, wise-cracking smart guys with hearts of gold, and writing for fun.
Although he worships San Francisco, he lives at the beach on another coast.
Born on a windy day in November of 1966, he was elected President of his high school Spanish Club in the spring of 1983.
After moving across these United States like a rapid-fire pinball, he currently makes his home in a hurricane-proof apartment with superior water pressure that was built in 1926.
While he hasn't met any dolphins personally, that invitation is always open.
Although he worships San Francisco, he lives at the beach on another coast.
Born on a windy day in November of 1966, he was elected President of his high school Spanish Club in the spring of 1983.
After moving across these United States like a rapid-fire pinball, he currently makes his home in a hurricane-proof apartment with superior water pressure that was built in 1926.
While he hasn't met any dolphins personally, that invitation is always open.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
December 3, 2022
The first A Carter Jones Story from Frank W. Butterfield's Nick Williams' universe. Love these two. And to read a story from Carter's perspective gave me a peek into the man who loves and shares his life with the richest man in 1950's San Francisco. So much fun these books. Butterfield always keeps me coming back for more.
June 2, 2021
The Case of the Jilted First Secretary (Carter Jones Mysteries #1)
BY Frank W. Butterfield
Published by the author, 2021
Four stars
This whole book felt weird – and then I realized why. We’re not used to seeing the world through Carter’s eyes. Till now, through all these books, we’ve been seeing Carter through Nick Williams’s eyes. We think we know Carter, and I guess we do know him as well as Nick does. But we’ve never BEEN Carter, seen the world through his eyes. It’s kinda startling, really.
But first: two strange guys show up at the front door of the Williams manse on Nob Hill, asking for Nick. Carter instantly knows they’re trouble, and it soon becomes clear that the trouble involves Ferdinand, one of Nick and Carter’s two Czech manservants. Right away, Carter understands two uncomfortable things: Ferdinand is terrified, and Nick can’t know about any of this.
Because this storyline goes back to the beginning of the original Nick & Carter series, Carter is still a fireman at heart, even though he’s technically been a private detective along with Nick for a while, working for their company, Consolidated Security. The author kindly, and cleverly, fills the reader in (i.e. new readers, but a refresher for longtime fans, too) on the background facts. Nick and Carter seem to be running a security business, but what they’re really doing is saving gay folks from the prejudice of the larger reality of the Good Old Days. They provide a safe haven and a ready-made family at a great salary.
As in most of Butterfield’s books, there are intertwined story lines, one of them being the actual plot of whatever’s going on; the other one being the inner workings of the heart and mind of the main character. Even as Carter tries to figure out what’s going on with his young wartime refugee domestic staff, he’s also fighting an internal battle – one that Nick Williams never really sees. We always see Carter as big and brawny, confident, and even intimidating. What we don’t see is the man inside, the one who has none of Nick’s inbred self-confidence. Sure, Carter’s brave and strong, but he’s afraid, too, even if that deep inner fear isn’t what we expect it to be. What we all see for the first time is the frightened small-town Georgia boy, scarred by the life he fled with his best friend Henry when they were barely more than teenagers.
It’s a little disconcerting to see Carter’s vulnerable side; but on the other hand, it’s like we really understand him at last. I didn’t think it was possible to love Carter Jones more. Well, I was apparently wrong.
BY Frank W. Butterfield
Published by the author, 2021
Four stars
This whole book felt weird – and then I realized why. We’re not used to seeing the world through Carter’s eyes. Till now, through all these books, we’ve been seeing Carter through Nick Williams’s eyes. We think we know Carter, and I guess we do know him as well as Nick does. But we’ve never BEEN Carter, seen the world through his eyes. It’s kinda startling, really.
But first: two strange guys show up at the front door of the Williams manse on Nob Hill, asking for Nick. Carter instantly knows they’re trouble, and it soon becomes clear that the trouble involves Ferdinand, one of Nick and Carter’s two Czech manservants. Right away, Carter understands two uncomfortable things: Ferdinand is terrified, and Nick can’t know about any of this.
Because this storyline goes back to the beginning of the original Nick & Carter series, Carter is still a fireman at heart, even though he’s technically been a private detective along with Nick for a while, working for their company, Consolidated Security. The author kindly, and cleverly, fills the reader in (i.e. new readers, but a refresher for longtime fans, too) on the background facts. Nick and Carter seem to be running a security business, but what they’re really doing is saving gay folks from the prejudice of the larger reality of the Good Old Days. They provide a safe haven and a ready-made family at a great salary.
As in most of Butterfield’s books, there are intertwined story lines, one of them being the actual plot of whatever’s going on; the other one being the inner workings of the heart and mind of the main character. Even as Carter tries to figure out what’s going on with his young wartime refugee domestic staff, he’s also fighting an internal battle – one that Nick Williams never really sees. We always see Carter as big and brawny, confident, and even intimidating. What we don’t see is the man inside, the one who has none of Nick’s inbred self-confidence. Sure, Carter’s brave and strong, but he’s afraid, too, even if that deep inner fear isn’t what we expect it to be. What we all see for the first time is the frightened small-town Georgia boy, scarred by the life he fled with his best friend Henry when they were barely more than teenagers.
It’s a little disconcerting to see Carter’s vulnerable side; but on the other hand, it’s like we really understand him at last. I didn’t think it was possible to love Carter Jones more. Well, I was apparently wrong.
April 17, 2021
A new series with the same characters, but a new, fresh point of view. Because now, we are inside Carter's head, and that changes everything.
Because, of course, Carter sees people and life differently than Nick, so there is a shift in the perspective, we get an independent, unalike valorisation of the rest of the characters. It's quite fascinating to see the differences, really.
The language is simply fabulous. I can't get enough of the slang of the time, I truly enjoy it and it gets me just right there, in that time and place, almost without effort.
And shees! I loved seeing Carter improvise and create 'characters' while trying to discover what's going on with those two very suspicious characters that keep trying to find Nick. And his relationship with Sam... RESPECT! *laughs*
He keeps reminding himself that he never should act without showing respect, no matter how angry he is. If that's not Carter in a nutshell, I don't know what could it be :P
The mystery is enthralling and very well layered, with crumbs and bits that keep adding up until we get the complete picture.
Oh, this series is going to be fantastic, and I can't wait for the next book!
Because, of course, Carter sees people and life differently than Nick, so there is a shift in the perspective, we get an independent, unalike valorisation of the rest of the characters. It's quite fascinating to see the differences, really.
The language is simply fabulous. I can't get enough of the slang of the time, I truly enjoy it and it gets me just right there, in that time and place, almost without effort.
And shees! I loved seeing Carter improvise and create 'characters' while trying to discover what's going on with those two very suspicious characters that keep trying to find Nick. And his relationship with Sam... RESPECT! *laughs*
He keeps reminding himself that he never should act without showing respect, no matter how angry he is. If that's not Carter in a nutshell, I don't know what could it be :P
The mystery is enthralling and very well layered, with crumbs and bits that keep adding up until we get the complete picture.
Oh, this series is going to be fantastic, and I can't wait for the next book!
April 25, 2021
Carter Jones, private investigator
I just finished the first Carter Jones mystery. He's a fireman who's interested in arson investigation and lives with Nick , a private eye. Oh, and they happen to be the richest gay men in town, maybe the world. Let me first say that I adore the team of Nick and Carter but their stories are always told by Nick, a sophisticated man about town.This time we get the story from Carter`s point of view, a country boy from a small town in Georgia. He interacts differently from Nick with all the familiar characters and it's refreshing to see him in the lead. We also get a glimpse inside how Carter thinks.
He's kind and good and smart and clever and sneaking around behind Nick's back is eating him up page by page. We also see a little bit more of some of the other players, especially Sam and the staff who work at Nick and Carter's home.
The story is fun. It's a little complicated. There are spies and blackmail, false identities , family secrets and a good helping of how much Nick and Carter love each other .
I enjoyed it and Frank, if you're reading this, please sir can I have some more?
I just finished the first Carter Jones mystery. He's a fireman who's interested in arson investigation and lives with Nick , a private eye. Oh, and they happen to be the richest gay men in town, maybe the world. Let me first say that I adore the team of Nick and Carter but their stories are always told by Nick, a sophisticated man about town.This time we get the story from Carter`s point of view, a country boy from a small town in Georgia. He interacts differently from Nick with all the familiar characters and it's refreshing to see him in the lead. We also get a glimpse inside how Carter thinks.
He's kind and good and smart and clever and sneaking around behind Nick's back is eating him up page by page. We also see a little bit more of some of the other players, especially Sam and the staff who work at Nick and Carter's home.
The story is fun. It's a little complicated. There are spies and blackmail, false identities , family secrets and a good helping of how much Nick and Carter love each other .
I enjoyed it and Frank, if you're reading this, please sir can I have some more?
April 20, 2021
An excellent supplement to the main series - here Carter has centre stage in an investigation several people are anxious to keep from Nick. This puts Carter in a bit of a quandary... As well as Carter playing a major rôle (rather than as half of NickandCarter) a number of supporting names have more than usually prominent parts.
There are references to previous events but I think that this is intelligible as a standalone - however to get the full flavour it's best to seek out and read the earlier Nick Williams Mysteries and then slot this volume in the proper chronological sequence. I read this in one sitting - unusually as I prefer to savour the stories over several days but this is a most definite page turner!
There are references to previous events but I think that this is intelligible as a standalone - however to get the full flavour it's best to seek out and read the earlier Nick Williams Mysteries and then slot this volume in the proper chronological sequence. I read this in one sitting - unusually as I prefer to savour the stories over several days but this is a most definite page turner!
April 30, 2021
When I got the news that the Nick Williams story would be told through the eyes of his handsome partner, Carter Jones, I was excited to get a copy of the first in the series. Carter, being a very different character than his husband, sees things completely differently and is a much more aware and open man with his feelings.
In this tale, Carter must manage a volatile situation with possible international consequences. And, he can't tell Nick anything about it. That leads to many secret meetings, half-told truths, and lots of avoidance. His misery of keeping it all secret gets a little old after a while. There's too much repetition of the same stuff instead of carrying it forward, but that's a minor thing for fans.
Everything that happens in the story helps you see Carter in a deeper more complete way. He's not just the muscly hunk keeping his millionaire (or billionaire depending when you pick up the series) husband satisfied. The story moves fairly quickly. It involves the whole household and revisits characters relatively early in their relationship, as well as a few you may have forgotten about (I know I did).
After reading the entirety of the Nick Williams series, I'm glad the characters are still alive and kicking, albeit from a different point of view. It's a great, fast read.
In this tale, Carter must manage a volatile situation with possible international consequences. And, he can't tell Nick anything about it. That leads to many secret meetings, half-told truths, and lots of avoidance. His misery of keeping it all secret gets a little old after a while. There's too much repetition of the same stuff instead of carrying it forward, but that's a minor thing for fans.
Everything that happens in the story helps you see Carter in a deeper more complete way. He's not just the muscly hunk keeping his millionaire (or billionaire depending when you pick up the series) husband satisfied. The story moves fairly quickly. It involves the whole household and revisits characters relatively early in their relationship, as well as a few you may have forgotten about (I know I did).
After reading the entirety of the Nick Williams series, I'm glad the characters are still alive and kicking, albeit from a different point of view. It's a great, fast read.
April 27, 2021
Just finished the book and I was amazed at how reading a book from Carter's point of view could make such a difference in the tone of the book. I could imagine hearing Carter's voice in my head. Great story. Definitely recommend reading this book.
May 7, 2021
Different take on a time we've already seen in the series. Looking forward to more of these.
May 19, 2022
Carter Jones is more than just a pretty boy with muscles and a great smile!
It is wonderful to be in Carter’s mind. We get a better understanding of who he is. He’s strong and smart and he’s also vulnerable. Carter is a complicated man.
It was interesting to see the other characters from Carter’s point of view. He isn’t as idealistic as Nick is about their employees.
If there are more Carter books I hope they center on his expertise in solving arson cases.
I still do not care for Nick’s father and Marnie’s mother. Lol - I’ll never like them.
It is wonderful to be in Carter’s mind. We get a better understanding of who he is. He’s strong and smart and he’s also vulnerable. Carter is a complicated man.
It was interesting to see the other characters from Carter’s point of view. He isn’t as idealistic as Nick is about their employees.
If there are more Carter books I hope they center on his expertise in solving arson cases.
I still do not care for Nick’s father and Marnie’s mother. Lol - I’ll never like them.
November 12, 2025
ot What I Expected
I’ve read the 50+ books of the Nick and Carter series more than once and so was familiar with the majority of the characters in this Carter Jones book, yet I found the storyline to be disjointed and, if not confusing, then mostly pointless. IMHO, if this is how the series is going to progress, then I need not read any more of it.
I’ve read the 50+ books of the Nick and Carter series more than once and so was familiar with the majority of the characters in this Carter Jones book, yet I found the storyline to be disjointed and, if not confusing, then mostly pointless. IMHO, if this is how the series is going to progress, then I need not read any more of it.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews