Customer Reviews

Last Call Intl: A Novel of Suspense

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Miami criminal defense lawyer Jack Swyteck still worries about his former client bar owner Theo Knight as he knows his best friend has lingering resentment, rightfully so. When Theo was a teen raised by kind Uncle Cy (after his mom was killed) in the roughest hood, he was arrested and convicted for murder. He became the youngest person on death row and was only saved when Jack proved he could not have committed the homicide; even then he still almost was executed.

Jack learns that someone tried to kill Theo in his old hood. Apparently, convict Isaac Reems promised to provide Theo with the name of his mom's killer in exchange to helping him elude the law. Instead the escaped con leaves evidence that Theo abetted his escape while setting Theo up for the failed shooting. Theo has always wanted to avenge his mother's murder, but the case went cold for the cops and him as the trail was outside the hood. While Jack joins Theo on his investigation, he hopes to keep his buddy from committing a homicide, but that may not matter when Isaac is found dead with proof that Theo killed him. Meanwhile an affluent unknown adversary wants the son as dead as the mother so that a two decade old murder stays unsolved.

LAST CALL is an excellent South Florida mystery as the key players bring the Greater Miami area to life in a fast-paced tale. Isaac and whoever hired him cleverly use the past that haunts Theo to get at him while Jack is there for him. A touch of two romances and a bit of humor adds depth to a great cat and mouse thriller.

Harriet Klausner

I'll start by saying that I've really enjoyed Grippando's series featuring Jack Swyteck, wise-cracking defense attorney in Miami. Usually, the stories rocket right along; a lot of wit, humor and action; colorful characters in dire straits; a great feel for mood and setting.

I won't go into a plot synopsis, other than to include this quote from the product review:

"An escaped convict from the old neighborhood shows up at Theo's back door, asking for help. In return, he'll finger the man who murdered Theo's mother. But the answers aren't so simple, and soon Theo's own life is in danger. Jack and Theo must piece together a twenty-year-old conspiracy of greed and corruption that leads to the very top of Miami's elite, while revisiting a past that Theo has tried hard to forget."

That kind of highlights the problem with this book for me: the central character this time around is Swytek's buddy Theo. Swytek himself is in a secondary role, and frankly, Theo's not nearly as interesting a character as Swytek. The funny lines, quips, and skewed outlook normally associated with this series are all tied to Swytek.... not Theo. Theo's actually a pretty dour guy, and not that interesting; great sidekick material as a foil for Swytek. Not a leading man; not quite ready for prime time.

Further, Theo's Uncle Cy also takes next-to-center stage, and frankly, I found him to be rather boring and pretty much a lame loser. When the scenes centered on codger Cy, I could hardly wait for them to end.

So, bottom line, it wasn't terrible; it was okay. But I certainly hope we're not going to have another Theo-centric book in the future. Crais could pull it off with his Joe Pike character, and Burke with his Clete Purcell, but both are more complex, rounded and -- frankly -- interesting characters than Theo.

This installment of Grippando's Jack Swytek series focuses on Jack's best friend Theo Knight, a man Jack saved from death row. Theo owns his own bar and is on the verge of expanding his business when Isaac Reems, former gang member and an escaped convict, shows up asking for help. Theo isn't so inclined but Reems's bargaining chip is that he can reveal the identity of the person who killed Theo's mother 20 years earlier. The FBI, hot on the trail of Reems, suspects Theo is helping the convict, and when Reems is murdered, their focus is on Theo. Jack and Theo suspect all is tied to his mother's death but that road leads to danger.

This addition to the series is middle-of-the-road, better than some, not as good as others. Grippando brings back FBI agent Andie Henning, and although chemistry is hinted at between Andie and Jack, it's just not there. Swytek seems off his game and Theo's constant emotion is anger, although there is good cause. More is learned of Theo's Uncle Cy, an interesting character.

Jack and Theo back again. This time we are trying to find the cold case rapist/killer of Theo's Mother. We roll through the mire and muck of Miami's gangland Ghetto.All through this tied together we have the gangsta's ways involved. We continue with quite a few twists and turns and suddenly at the end we have a real surprise that is quite unexpected. Again we have a great offering from a wonderful Author. I highly recommend this novel.

I stood and waited for the bookstore to unpack Grippando's latest Jack Syteck caper, and I was not disappointed. This author never misses in my opinion. I was entertained from the first page to the last. I love the dynamics between Jack and his best buddy Theo. They have a lot of history together and this book gives the reader more information on Theo's past. I'm always hoping Jack's personal life will show improvement and his romances always amuse me. If you don't have this book in your hand, buy it tomorrow.

Since this was my first venture into a book by James Grippando book I don't have any preconceived ideas about his writing before this. I noticed some less than positive reviews and had I read previous books perhaps I would see it differently. I found the book fast moving. I hate to read a book that bogs down in the middle or doesn't tie up the ending but felt right from the beginning it moved along swiftly. Okay it's not great literature or perhaps even a book of any great depth. However, for a few hours I found it entertaining. I appreciated the fact that there was not a lot of profanity. Now when I say profanity I mean the f*** word inserted in every other sentence. The type of book this is (prison setting and etc.), other authors would certinly overuse the profanity. There is some crudeness but some of it is rather amusing.

I found the main characters likeable (well except for the villians). Many times I will find at least one or two of the characters annoying. It certainly had an interesting storyline.

I would read another book by Mr. Grippando. In fact have my name on the list of our local library for his newest book and will go back and read some earlier books.

At the end of the book Mr. Grippando talks of losing his longtime four legged friend, Sam and Last Call was the first book he wrote without his trusty Sam by his side. Perhaps if those who have read his previous books, find this one not up to par, maybe that was the reason. I know what it is like to lose a beloved pet.

All in all I liked the book and as I said will try some more of his books.

Having proved the innocence of a best friend who had been falsely accused of murder, criminal defense attorney Jack Swyteck is once again called upon to help his friend when the latter is offered the identity of his mother's killer in exchange for helping an escaped convict. BT.
This is the first Novel by James Grippando that I've listened to. I've actually read his others. Maybe this had an affect on the whole story overall, but I thought this to be just an average effort. The narrator did a wonderful job with clarity and voices but I still didn't feel myself getting pulled in to the plot.
I liked this audio, but intend on reading his next.

After a one-book hiatus, Jack Swyteck and his long-time friend (and client) Theo return in this gripping story relating to Theo's boyhood. It is the seventh in the series, with a backdrop of Miami's roughest neighborhoods and past glory in the jazz world. As a youth, Theo ran with a gang. Jack and Theo met while Theo was on Death Row, and the former governor's son, now a defense attorney, got him an acquittal based on DNA evidence.

Early one morning, Theo gets a phone call from an escaped convict (who was the gang leader of his youth), seeking help. He offers to tell Theo the name of his mother's murderer in exchange for assistance. Thus, the beginning of the tale which involves Theo's sax-playing uncle Cy, Jack, and FBI agent Andie Henning. Throughout the novel, Jack has ups and downs with regard to his love life, wondering about Andie who he dated a few times previously but had broken off the relationship when he thought she "dissed" his friend Theo.

Grippando slowly builds the tension toward a gripping finale. His descriptions of Miami's Little Harlem and jazz clubs are detailed and authentic. The characters are well drawn and interesting. A very good read.

I enjoyed reading more about Jack and Theo and their family history. Theo is a huge part of Jack's life and it was good to see Jack from another view point. The story kept me going until the last few pages. I look forward to the next one.

Criminal Defense Attorney Jack Swyteck is back in another adventure involving a friend, Theo McKnight, who Jack had saved, when Theo was on death row in Florida, Theo is really a good guy but his undeserved past reputation is still with him. Theo is in search of the person that murdered his mother some years ago. He has his suspicions but proof has to be discovered. Theo gets Jack to give him an assist in this involved matter. Theo owns a club and has future desires to own another one in a better area. He has some roadblocks occur that slow down that dream for a while.

Last Call takes place mostly in the Miami area. There are many gangs active in the area, gangs that have no qualms regarding killing anyone that looks at them the wrong way. They have gang initiations that force their candidates to doing the vilest things to others. Theo felt that these gangs were responsible for his mother's death and he decided to play his old gang contacts so he could find the murderer. The problem became one that caused more murders along with many beatings that included Theo and his Uncle Cy. Uncle Cy had been a musician in his earlier days and still maintained that great memory and played those places all over again in his mind. He was a tough guy but getting older reduced his available actions to retaliate.

Swyteck had relationships with Rene but Rene had to go back to Africa, many times sooner than necessary in Jack's thinking. They had great sex but then it was goodbye Rene for months when Jack usually didn't hear from her. Jack had another acquaintance he liked quite well. Andie Henning had been an FBI agent for several years and Jack remembers the 'sparks' that could fly just seeing her. When an old prison acquaintance of Theo's, Isaac Reems, escaped from prison too easily, Andie was called into the case. This, of course, brought Andie and Jack back together in another case and renewed the `friendship' that neither ever forgot.

After several murders and beatings, the search for Reems intensified. When he killed a state trooper, the investigation got frantic. While Theo wanted to find his mother's murderer, he hated to get involved in any part of the investigation but Reems forced him into that. Reems was a tough guy. He used some of his many gang contacts in and out of the Miami area as well as in prison to make Theo become deeply involved. He was terrific at using people and at killing them after he was through with them.

Last Call tells a terrific story in a very interesting way. The author uses his characters well and keeps the reader guessing all through the book. I read Mr. Grippando's last book, The Pardon, and thoroughly enjoyed it. He gives no less a great story in his new book. I thoroughly recommend Last Call if your interests lie in lawyer, police, gangland, killing, beatings, and of course, love. What more can be said. You will not be disappointed in this great read.