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| Midnight Rambler | 
| Author: James Swain
Creator: Peter Jay Fernandez
Publisher: BBC Audiobooks America
Category: Book
List Price: $29.95
Buy New: $15.65
You Save: $14.30 (48%)
New (26) from $15.65
Avg. Customer Rating:  58 reviews
Sales Rank: 551121
Format: Unabridged
Media: Audio CD
Edition: Unabridged
Number Of Items: 8
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.6
Dimensions (in): 5.9 x 5.1 x 0.9
ISBN: 1602833095
Dewey Decimal Number: 813.54
EAN: 9781602833098
ASIN: 1602833095
Publication Date: September 25, 2007
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Condition: New Factory Sealed Unabridged CD Set - Ships Now!
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| Customer Reviews:
 His best thus far! October 7, 2007
2 out of 5 found this review helpful
Novels of child abduction and pedophiles are not my cup of latte. Were I not a huge fan of Jim Swain's spectacularly entertaining Tony Valentine novels, I never would have tried "Midnight Rambler."
"Midnight Rambler" is a stand-alone thriller, and perhaps is Jim's strongest novel to date.
Jack Carpenter was a Broward County PD missing child specialist. Now he is living over a bar in Dania, barely able to pay the rent.
He lost his badge and his marriage during the apprehension and conviction of Simon Skell, a notorious serial killer.
When Skell's lawyer orchestrates a release on a technicality, Jack is obliged to reconfirm the case or else all he lost will be for naught.
Skell is a fearsome adversary. He manages to run a bunch of hooligans on the outside from his jail cell. This ring preys on the vulnerable women, obtaining crucial info in a most ingenious and insidious manner. It is an odd coupling: a venal radio talk show host, the sinister CEO of a communication company and two sordid, reprehensible Cubans posing as cable installers.
Part of their conspiracy is to discredit Jack completely.
One of Jack's few allies is a stripper who the gang kidnaps.
As Jack competes against the ticking clock to prevent her death, for each insightful piece of the puzzle he uncovers, he runs up upon an equally imposing dead end. The frustration amplifies the suspense and tension.
The procedural aspects are absolutely credible, the action is taut, the dialogue convincing and the characters are terrifyingly real.
You know these types of lawbreakers exist. They are your worse nightmare and will make you sleep with a light on for a while.
Do not miss this book.
 4.5 stars... October 6, 2007
1 out of 3 found this review helpful
This was my first book by Mr. Swain and will not be my last! Fast paced and very exciting.
One of the Year's Best!!!! October 4, 2007
11 out of 15 found this review helpful
I have read all of James Swain's novels involving casino fraud specialist Tony Valentine and loved every one of them. When I saw that he was working on a new character in his latest novel, I was a bit concerned. I need not have been. I should have trusted Swain's talent. This book is flat out a must read thriller. I read it in a day, because I could not put the darn thing down.
Jack Carpenter is the new central character. An ex-cop, he was "allowed to leave the force" after beating up a serial killer during the course of the arrest. Simon Skell was a monster who deserved the beating that he got and although it is clear that he was involved in the murder of many young women, he is convicted of only one of them. Carpenter's testimony led to his conviction.
Carpenter, having headed up the missing persons divison for the Broward County Police Department, has become an abduction specialist which while not very remunerative, is the one thing he does very well. His marriage has foundered as a result of the scandal involving Skell and his life takes another turn for the worst at the beginning of the book as it appears that Skell, while undoubtedly a serial killer, did not murder the one victim he has been put in jail for. His release from jail is anticipated and Carpenter races against time and events to find hard evidence of Skell's complicity in the other murders.
What he discovers is much bigger than anyone had ever suspected. Michael Connelly has said that this book moves "Like a bullet train on overdrive." That's a colorful and apt description. Captain Kirk would probably say it moves at double warp speed.
It is very gratifying to see an author you already enjoy, grow further in stature and ability and Swain has certainly done that. Even better, you will find as you finish this book that there will definitly be a sequel. Hopefully, many.
riveting stand alone thriller October 4, 2007
2 out of 8 found this review helpful
Jack Carpenter was once the chief investigator of the Broward County Missing Persons Unit. He went after sexual predators preying on throwaways and runaways while also trying to help the lost youngsters when he could. Eight girls that Jack assisted have disappeared; working the case leads Jack to Simon "Midnight Rambler" Skell. Melinda the prostitute insists Simon tortured her and held her prisoner. Simon was convicted of killing a hooker; although no body was found or any bodies of the missing eight.
That case cost Jack his career as he was forced to resign due to using excess force; his marriage also collapsed subsequently. Skell is doing hard time, but new evidence surfaces when the victim he was convicted of killing is found in a shallow grave on her sister's land. Her pimp is accused of the homicide because he lives there; Skell is to be released and freed to go after Melinda and Jack unless the former detective can stop him first as the authorities choose to ignore his plea to keep her safe. When Melinda vanishes just after a shocking radio announcement, Jack goes after pedophile serial killers to rescue her or die trying.
James Swain, known for his Tony Valentine mysteries, writes a riveting stand alone thriller starring a fascinating character; who the world believes is a washed up loser. However, Jack remains confident that he is right about Skell and sets out to affirm his theory with solid proof regardless of the danger he faces. One action scene follows another in rapid machine gun style giving readers no respite to catch one's breath. Although over the top, the vile villains and the courageous man makes for a one sitting gripping read as High Noon comes to Florida.
Harriet Klausner
Great book -do not miss it! September 29, 2007
4 out of 7 found this review helpful
I picked up this book at my local library and once I started reading it, could not put it down. Jack Carpenter is an ex-cop who is scorned by both the media and most of his former fellow cops. His specialty is finding lost children and he is good at it.
Swain has written a fresh,exciting and complex thriller that is a MUST read for sure.
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