The Night Stalker: A Novel of Suspense: 2 (Jack Carpenter)

Another top notch novel in what is surely going to become a series,as this is the second featuring an ex-cop turned private detective,who specialises in child abduction crimes.Engaging ,and although fired from the police force ,he is still dedicated to protecting children.The stories take place in Florida.And there is a wonderful cast of characters who hang around his beach bar abode.

James Swain seems to have hit his stride with his character of Jack Carpenter. Swain's original central character was Tony Valentine who used to figure out how the bad guys were skimming Las Vegas and I loved those books. Carpenter is into finding abducted children.It was a specialty he honed as head of the Broward County Missing Persons Unit. Although no longer with the police, he has lost none of his touch in this regard as people seek his assistance when loved ones go missing.His efforts to find a child in this instance opens many doors to other crimes and criminals and it would spoil the story to detail them here.My best advice is to strap it on and settle in for a bumpy and sometimes wild ride as Jack Carpenter "does his thing." No lesser light than Lee Child terms this a non-stop nail biter which pretty much sums it up for me.

This is a very good book but I like the author's Tony Valentine books and their rough-and-tumble casino settings better. However,"The Night Stalker" also features a rough-and-tumble guy, Jack Carpenter, who is caught up in the search for a kidnapped kid. Because of the subject matter, this book is more serious, but the lead character is no less driven and no less colorful than Valentine. Swain has become one of my favorite authors and anyone who reads this change-of-pace from the casino books will find it satisfying and enjoyable. Jack Carpenter is a character we'll be seeing more of, I'm certain.

Swain has been doing some fine things with his Grift Sense series. He did seem to be running out of steam until he came up with Midnight Rambler, and Night Stalker. These are the beginning of what I hope is a new series. Jack Carpenter is an ex-cop, who is an expert in finding lost or stolen children. With his Aussie dog Buster, he works outside the police, causing some animosity and cooperation at the same time. Tough, honest, even to himself, he makes a very interesting character.His flaws exist, but are not fatal, and he is engulfed by charming and interesting friends and locations in Florida. I would rate both books very high, and look forward to the next one.

I started reading this book about 11:00 this morning while receiving chemo in my doctors office and finished it at 8:00 this evening after a 45 minute drive home another 45 minutes going to drug store. Needless to say I spent the rest of my time reading this excellent book. It is one of the best books I have read in a long time. Thank you Mr swain, it made my day.