Midnight Rambler

by: James Swain

Published by: Ballantine Books (September release)

Reviewed by Bob Pike CSP, CPAE-Speakers Hall of Fame

Jack Carpenter is a former cop, turned abduction specialist. His last case on the force involved the “Midnight Rambler” a.k.a. Simon Skell. He got him convicted, but his methods forced his resignation – and cost him his wife. Even Jack’s college-age daughter doesn’t know what to think.

But Carpenter is good at what he does – and ekes out a living as a consultant to police department that need his experience to recover lost children. And he does just that. Then Jack’s life threatens to unravel further. The body of the Midnight Rambler’s last victim is found in her prostitute sister’s backyard, with her pimp’s cross, clutched in her hand.

Now the local radio shock jock is up in arms. Skell’s wife and attorney are trying Jack in the media with his help, and more people are going missing. While the local police try to distance themselves from Jack, an FBI agent believes Jack’s story – and together they begin to unearth a much greater problem than the Midnight Rambler. But getting to the truth puts everything at risk – witnesses who have stepped forward in the past are being killed or threatened, Jack’s few remaining relationships are drying up, and someone’s doing a great job of setting Jack up as the real Midnight Rambler!

The action never stops and you’d better be prepared to keep reading once you start! Like Tony Valentine (another of Swain’s great characters), you’ll find yourself pulling for Jack every step of the way.

Armchair Interviews says: Great to have a main character you really want to root for.

Check out the really neat web site: http://www.jimswain.com