MIDNIGHT RAMBLER
James Swain
Ballantine Books
Thriller
ISBN: 9780345475466

James Swain is best known for his Tony Valentine novels, set in the world of casinos and populated by grifters, cardsharps, hustlers and cheats of all descriptions. Valentine is an expert at catching these guys while describing their methods; Swain himself is a renowned sleight-of-hand magician who, like Valentine, is an expert on cons and scams. His latest book, MIDNIGHT RAMBLER, is a complete departure from his previous novels, to the extent that there is no gambling; there are cons, schemes and scams, however, and the stakes are much higher than mere money.

The protagonist is an ex-cop named Jack Carpenter, who resigned from the police force after severely beating Simon Skell, aka the Midnight Rambler, a suspect in a serial killer investigation. Although Skell ultimately was convicted of one murder, Carpenter's subsequent media notoriety and his reaction to it cost him his job, family, sobriety and most significantly his self-respect. His skill at tracking abducted children, however, is such that he is still in demand when law enforcement is stuck.

What is left of Carpenter's life is about to come unraveling apart when a grisly discovery threatens to capsize Skell's conviction. Everyone, including a popular radio talk show host, begins piling on him, and things only get worse as it begins to appear that Carpenter not only fabricated the evidence against Skell, but also may be more deeply involved --- and in a more chilling way --- in the murders than was originally thought. Carpenter has no choice but to revisit the evidence and uncovers a conspiracy that is more diabolical than he previously suspected, even as he himself becomes the subject of police scrutiny, and the lives of those he knows and loves hang in the balance.

Swain is nothing short of marvelous here. Just to illustrate: there is one segment of MIDNIGHT RAMBLER where Carpenter is asked to assist personnel at Disney World in the investigation of what appears to be a child abduction. His account of Carpenter's step-by-step investigation --- even as the chances increase that the missing child is gone forever --- is first-rate and dead-on, and his description of Disney World and its environs will make those who have been there before feel as if they dropped right back into the park. You will also keep extra-close eyes on your young children, no matter how vigilant you may be now. And try --- just try --- to put MIDNIGHT RAMBLER down before reading it at least once. It can't be done. This is a book destined for this year's "Best Of" lists.

    --- Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub

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