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Jackie Swaitkowski #2
Bad Bird
Jackie Swaitkowski may not be the most buttoned-up lawyer in the Hamptons, but a plane crash before her very eyes is hard to miss. Just before the struggling air taxi takes a nosedive, its female pilot tosses out a camera case. To Jackie, the accident’s only witness, the case (so to speak) seems meant for her.
The camera's memory card holds an unusual set of photos. Jackie recognizes more than a few of the faces in those pictures. Are they telling her the story of the crash? The pilot, a hard-nosed biker chick named Eugenie Birkson, came from a family tree filled with ex-cons, and boasted a passenger list packed with high society. And Jackie soon learns that solving the mystery of Eugenie’s death will mean uncovering some dark secrets from her own past as well.
All this and a freshly revived romance with gentle giant Harry Goodlander, and Jackie yet again has her heart and her hands full.
Award-winning mystery writer Chris Knopf returns to Southampton, a one-of-a-kind small town where the rich and the rest of us rub shoulders on a daily basis, generating all the frictions that might imply.
The camera's memory card holds an unusual set of photos. Jackie recognizes more than a few of the faces in those pictures. Are they telling her the story of the crash? The pilot, a hard-nosed biker chick named Eugenie Birkson, came from a family tree filled with ex-cons, and boasted a passenger list packed with high society. And Jackie soon learns that solving the mystery of Eugenie’s death will mean uncovering some dark secrets from her own past as well.
All this and a freshly revived romance with gentle giant Harry Goodlander, and Jackie yet again has her heart and her hands full.
Award-winning mystery writer Chris Knopf returns to Southampton, a one-of-a-kind small town where the rich and the rest of us rub shoulders on a daily basis, generating all the frictions that might imply.
304 pages, Hardcover
First published February 1, 2011
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews
June 14, 2019
Jackie Swaitkowski may not be the most buttoned-up lawyer in the Hamptons, but a plane crash before her very eyes is hard to miss. Just before the struggling air taxi takes a nosedive, its female pilot tosses out a camera case. To Jackie, the accident’s only witness, the case (so to speak) seems meant for her.
The camera's memory card holds an unusual set of photos. Jackie recognizes more than a few of the faces in those pictures. Are they telling her the story of the crash? The pilot, a hard-nosed biker chick named Eugenie Birkson, came from a family tree filled with ex-cons, and boasted a passenger list packed with high society. And Jackie soon learns that solving the mystery of Eugenie’s death will mean uncovering some dark secrets from her own past as well.
All this and a freshly revived romance with gentle giant Harry Goodlander, and Jackie yet again has her heart and her hands full.
The camera's memory card holds an unusual set of photos. Jackie recognizes more than a few of the faces in those pictures. Are they telling her the story of the crash? The pilot, a hard-nosed biker chick named Eugenie Birkson, came from a family tree filled with ex-cons, and boasted a passenger list packed with high society. And Jackie soon learns that solving the mystery of Eugenie’s death will mean uncovering some dark secrets from her own past as well.
All this and a freshly revived romance with gentle giant Harry Goodlander, and Jackie yet again has her heart and her hands full.
May 27, 2018
PROTAGONIST: Jackie Swaitkowski, attorney
SETTING: Southampton, New York
SERIES: #2
RATING: 3.75
WHY: Jackie Swaitkowski is a real estate lawyer in the Hamptons who finds herself handling a criminal defense case. She was an eyewitness to the crash of a small plane piloted by Eugenie Birkson. As the plane plummets, Birkson tosses out a camera case and Jackie tries to make sense of its images. There is evidence that the plane was tampered with, and the logical suspect is Ed Conklin, her mechanic husband. Things get rather tangled, and Jackie finds herself unraveling part of her own family history as well. The plot and characterization were well done. I found myself liking Jackie more than Knopf's original lead character, Sam Acquillo, who also plays a role in the book.
SETTING: Southampton, New York
SERIES: #2
RATING: 3.75
WHY: Jackie Swaitkowski is a real estate lawyer in the Hamptons who finds herself handling a criminal defense case. She was an eyewitness to the crash of a small plane piloted by Eugenie Birkson. As the plane plummets, Birkson tosses out a camera case and Jackie tries to make sense of its images. There is evidence that the plane was tampered with, and the logical suspect is Ed Conklin, her mechanic husband. Things get rather tangled, and Jackie finds herself unraveling part of her own family history as well. The plot and characterization were well done. I found myself liking Jackie more than Knopf's original lead character, Sam Acquillo, who also plays a role in the book.
August 25, 2021
Real Estate Attorney Jackie Swaitkowski is back.
By happenstance, she sees a small plane struggle before it crashes. She makes eye contact with the woman pilot. The pilot throws a camera case out before the fatal crash.
The contents of the case set Jackie off on a mystery that ties into her own troubled family.
A well done mystery with a good mix of humour and suspense.
By happenstance, she sees a small plane struggle before it crashes. She makes eye contact with the woman pilot. The pilot throws a camera case out before the fatal crash.
The contents of the case set Jackie off on a mystery that ties into her own troubled family.
A well done mystery with a good mix of humour and suspense.
Read
April 30, 2021a bit too trendy for me
November 18, 2021
A good mystery with a surprise ending!
December 21, 2021
I tried hard. I listened to 3/4ths of it but honestly quit caring after the first quarter. I just kept hoping it would get better. The book was blah and the reader was not at all interesting.
August 12, 2022
Such a complex story line but I never get confused or have to reread. Just a really good read.
Read
July 15, 2024I did not like this book.
November 11, 2017
Library Audio (A story reminder)
Jackie Swaitkowski, a real estate lawyer saw a pilot, Engenie and her a plane crash before her very eyes. She saw the face of Engenie. Before the struggling air taxi takes a nosedive, its female pilot tosses out a camera case. To Jackie, the accident’s only witness, the case (so to speak) seems meant for her. She assigns Ed Conklin the husband as her client.
The camera's memory card holds an unusual set of photos. Jackie recognizes more than a few of the faces in those pictures. Are they telling her the story of the crash? That was the assumption but it helped even though mistaken. The pilot, a hard-nosed biker chick named Eugenie Birkson, came from a family tree filled with ex-cons, and boasted a passenger list packed with high society.
All this and a freshly revived romance with gentle giant Harry Goodlander, and Jackie yet again has her heart and her hands full. The syep tries to rape Jackie and kill her as well.
What turns out that Engenie was originally Matt Junior born with both male and female sexually and later decided for the female side. Thus he Matt junior went away and came back as Engenie and it was keep secret from almost all.
Ed Cocklin's son, Brian, Engenie's step son discovers about the sex change and he is a real son of a bitch and he is the one who murdered his step mother by making the plane malfunction. The logs etc it appears meant nothing.
Matt Junior - Birkson (now Engenie) ,Jackie's estranged brother Billy and the real villian Benson Mackaboy were all at the shop the day the shop keeper was beaten with a batton. Matt Junior kept it as evidence just in case. It was in the camera case. And it confirmed the guilt of Benson Mackaboy and cleared jackie's brother of the beating at least
Jackie Swaitkowski, a real estate lawyer saw a pilot, Engenie and her a plane crash before her very eyes. She saw the face of Engenie. Before the struggling air taxi takes a nosedive, its female pilot tosses out a camera case. To Jackie, the accident’s only witness, the case (so to speak) seems meant for her. She assigns Ed Conklin the husband as her client.
The camera's memory card holds an unusual set of photos. Jackie recognizes more than a few of the faces in those pictures. Are they telling her the story of the crash? That was the assumption but it helped even though mistaken. The pilot, a hard-nosed biker chick named Eugenie Birkson, came from a family tree filled with ex-cons, and boasted a passenger list packed with high society.
All this and a freshly revived romance with gentle giant Harry Goodlander, and Jackie yet again has her heart and her hands full. The syep tries to rape Jackie and kill her as well.
What turns out that Engenie was originally Matt Junior born with both male and female sexually and later decided for the female side. Thus he Matt junior went away and came back as Engenie and it was keep secret from almost all.
Ed Cocklin's son, Brian, Engenie's step son discovers about the sex change and he is a real son of a bitch and he is the one who murdered his step mother by making the plane malfunction. The logs etc it appears meant nothing.
Matt Junior - Birkson (now Engenie) ,Jackie's estranged brother Billy and the real villian Benson Mackaboy were all at the shop the day the shop keeper was beaten with a batton. Matt Junior kept it as evidence just in case. It was in the camera case. And it confirmed the guilt of Benson Mackaboy and cleared jackie's brother of the beating at least
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 14, 2013
Overall, I liked the book - Jackie's world revolves around the Hamptons that most folks don't see, with the supporting characters providing good contrast to Jackie herself. I will say off the bat that I disliked Sam Acquillo's role of the "heavy" here, brought in to harangue a couple of guys as a total "nyah-nyah can't touch me or he'll beat you up!" wuss. Her 6' 8" boyfriend Harry goes along a couple of times as well, but not with all that game-playing. There's a subplot involving a mentally ill homeless man that adds zero to the plot at all, just takes up space. The main plot itself worked well enough, including Jackie's awkward interaction with her estranged brother. I wasn't surprised by the plot twist in resolving the story, although by then things had become rather convoluted, so that I was looking for things to be over. Folks compare Jackie to Kinsey Milhone, though if anything I'd say Stephanie Plum might be a bit closer.
Deanna Hurst's narration was generally good, although her "local" New York accent for a couple of the characters grated bit. Also, I was thrilled with her Sam voice, but that could be as I liked listening to the first books in his series, which are quite different in tone.
Finally, the story could stand alone, if one were to read this book first. However, it's best to read the second Sam book for its coverage of the explosion in which Jackie was seriously injured (Sam far less so).
Deanna Hurst's narration was generally good, although her "local" New York accent for a couple of the characters grated bit. Also, I was thrilled with her Sam voice, but that could be as I liked listening to the first books in his series, which are quite different in tone.
Finally, the story could stand alone, if one were to read this book first. However, it's best to read the second Sam book for its coverage of the explosion in which Jackie was seriously injured (Sam far less so).
March 11, 2013
Jackie Swaitkowski is a pot smoking lawyer struggling to get by in Southampton. Her specialty is real estate but she also handles the occassional criminal defense case. When she witnesses a small plane crash and is thrown a camera case by the soon to be deceased pilot, she seeks out the pilot's husband as a client so as to have better access to inside information. The case ultimately intrudes into her personal history as well forcing her to face a past she'd rather not deal with. This is the second book in the series. There seemed to be fewer pot breaks in this one or maybe I'm just getting used to it. Jackie's route to 'clear thinking' is a glass of wine and a joint, which usually leaves her passed out on the couch. And since at one point in the book she is sleeping with a Glock, that doesn't seem like the best idea to me, but hey, who am I to judge. Audio narrated by Deanna Hurst.
April 21, 2016
this is the series with jacky the woman lawyer who is friends with sam and his dog eddie. she is watching the horses in a field when a woman pilot throws a briefcase out of the window before the plane explodes and she is killed. she gathers up the stuff and finds the memory card to the camera. she looks at the photos and tries to help the police figure out what is going one. one photo is of the store her brother robbed and almost killed the man. she never saw her brother again after he was sent to prison. she sees him to question him about the pilot but he doesnt know she is his sister until she tells him at the second visit. he is out of prison and working and married at this point. the homeland security gets involved tho she thinks it was drug running...she is representing the husband of the pilot who maintained the plane.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 13, 2012
This book was from the very beginning an action filled suspense novel. We have an attorney, Jackie Swaitkowski who becomes part of a crashed airplane event. Although, Jackie is a witness, she soon realizes that far more is at stake. The pilot views her and throws out her camera case just prior the flaming end.
What Jackie discovers within the case and on the grounds, gets her invested in finding out just what really occurred. Was it an accident, a suicide, or a murder plot? I had as many theories as Jackie, herself, as I stormed through this novel barely stopping to eat.
Not only does Jackie help Homeland Security, the local police, but, she solves her own family's mystery after many decades of false beliefs.
This was a great read. Not a cozy but close.
What Jackie discovers within the case and on the grounds, gets her invested in finding out just what really occurred. Was it an accident, a suicide, or a murder plot? I had as many theories as Jackie, herself, as I stormed through this novel barely stopping to eat.
Not only does Jackie help Homeland Security, the local police, but, she solves her own family's mystery after many decades of false beliefs.
This was a great read. Not a cozy but close.
March 28, 2011
Pretty solid sequel. I enjoyed Bad Bird. I loved Jackie’s character. She is an intelligent, messy, pot smoking attorney who isn’t afraid to tell it like it is. She is independent, yet knows when to rely on her friends for help. The secondary characters are equally as interesting, especially her boyfriend, Harry. I think we would all want someone like Harry in our life. While she has relationship issues, he is happy to take her anyway he can get her. The relationship in this is pretty subtle and secondary to the plot. The mystery was interesting with a real twist at the end that I didn’t see coming. I like to be surprised when I read mysteries and this one didn’t disappoint.
July 5, 2015
A good read. The plot is satisfying, and if you pay attention, you can work out some of the twists before they occur. Certainly a well-written effort by Knopf, with the wit and alcohol consumption present but more under control than in some of his other books.
There are a few recurring bits which continue to bother me a bit. The East End of Long Island is very short on Ivy League alumni except among the summer people (who are peripheral to both Knopf's series), yet once again in Benson MacAvoy we have an Ivy grad. Also every story seems to center around one or more ex-convicts (several in this case). Finally, oops -- It's "Marian McPartland," not "Mary." Oh well.
There are a few recurring bits which continue to bother me a bit. The East End of Long Island is very short on Ivy League alumni except among the summer people (who are peripheral to both Knopf's series), yet once again in Benson MacAvoy we have an Ivy grad. Also every story seems to center around one or more ex-convicts (several in this case). Finally, oops -- It's "Marian McPartland," not "Mary." Oh well.
March 29, 2015
As I listened to this book I realized that there was clearly some history to this character (and there is, this is second in series, and Jackie was a minor character in another series), but the background wasn’t necessary to enjoy this book. This is clearly not high-brow literature, but it was a good enough story and had enough humor to make it an enjoyable listen on a long car trip.
September 1, 2016
This is another book in an excellent series by Chris Knopf. In this, one of his main characters, Jackie Swiatkowski, witnesses the fatal crash of a light plane. Jackie, a lawyer working on the far tip of Long Island, finds a camera in the plane and removes the memory card, which kicks off an excellent read.
May 3, 2011
Humorous but complicated mystery featuring a Long Island lawyer who observes a woman throwing a case out of her airplane before it crashes. I really liked the main character and her dialogue with various, mostly men that help/hinder her investigations.
July 19, 2011
"Light hearted murder mystery...easy listening, interesting cast of characters, completely blindsided at the end with the identity of the actual murderer. Listened to this on audio book, the reader had a very nice voice with genuine inflection."
-Colleen/Central
-Colleen/Central
August 19, 2015
Jackie Swiatkowki, an attorney living in the Hamptons, gets involved when she witnesses a plane crash and the death of the pilot. Pretty formulaic, the writing didn't excite me and I felt the story was plodding.
January 4, 2012
protagonist jackie. a real estate lawyer in the hamptons with a propensity to get involved in murder, is a funny, tough, wise cracking, herione, much in the vein of sue grafton's kinsey malhone. I hate to admit it, but at times she's even funnier and gutsier. a fun easy read for mystery fans.
July 2, 2012
Sam Acquillo's wacky, wire-haired lawyer is stealing me away from the original hero of the four Hamptons Mysteries. The only downside to a focus on Jackie is missing Sam's incomparable canine companion, Eddie Van Halen.
May 8, 2011
I thought it was pretty good but the ending left me confused. It had a little humor in it and a good plot but it seemed like the author wasn't sure how to wrap it all up in the end.
February 17, 2012
Couldn't finish. Not worth the effort!
January 14, 2012
Good fun mystery novel with a well thought out story line.
June 9, 2012
The rueful substance abusing protagonist Jackie makes this book well worth reading. Plus, the plotting was very good. Even though I have read many many mysteries, I didn't guess who did it.
October 5, 2012
Interesting whodunit. Not wild about the reader.
May 29, 2013
Ok summer read
April 15, 2021
Long Island pilot leaves clues before her plane crashes.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews