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Insights, Local Color Drive Abduction Tale

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By GEOFF HAMLIN

The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 19, 2008

"The Night Stalker," by James Swain (Ballantine, $25)

James Swain's newest protagonist, pedophile-pursuing ex-cop Jack Carpenter, is back for a second outing. While this is turf that has belonged to author Andrew Vachss, Carpenter is much easier to relate to than Vachss' obsessed hunter, Burke.

Two qualities set "The Night Stalker" apart from run-of-the-mill crime fiction. The first is Swain's skillful use of local color, which should entertain Tribune readers. The second is his insight into the devious practices of child abductors.

Swain's story ranges across Florida from Starke to Dania Beach. Local readers will enjoy references such as, "I needed to take Highway 301 to reach Ocala, and pass through three of the worst speed traps in the state" (Swain lived in our area for many years). The premise of "The Night Stalker" is that Jack has been summoned to the State Penitentiary in Starke by a condemned sex murderer, Abb Grimes. Abb tells Jack that his grandson has been kidnapped and asks him to find the child in the next four days before Abb is strapped into "Old Sparky."

The tension in the story is driven not only by this deadline, but also by pleas for Jack's assistance in other missing-child emergencies - one child was stolen from a school, another from a hospital. An even bigger obstacle is the intransigence of the police and the FBI, who have decided they know who the kidnapper is, ignoring contrary evidence uncovered by Jack.

Swain's exposition of the world of child-nappers is reminiscent of the inside knowledge of the gambling world he used so entertainingly in his Tony Valentine series. Swain clearly does his homework, and the result is another fine, fast-paced story.

Geoff Hamlin of Pinellas County is a freelance writer.

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