Rating: 
Summary: well written police procedural
Review: When his spouse threatened to divorce him if he failed to stop drinking, he grabbed a six-pack, thinking it is only a marriage. However, when Dallas police captain Bill Barrick forces homicide detective Jeb Quinlin to clean up his act or face the street, he reacts differently. Not wanting to lose the job he loves, Jeb enters the Cedar Ridge Clinic. Instead of struggling with drying out, Jeb soon finds himself embroiled in a murder investigation when one of his cell mates is found dead. Soon other classmates are also found murdered. Each corpse has graffiti written on them. The words come from the twelve steps of AA. Though suffering from his detox ordeal, Jeb knows he is the perfect undercover cop to ferret out a serial killer. Fans of police procedural tales with a bite of social commentary will relish Howard Swindle's JITTER JOINT. The story line is loaded with action, and insight into alcoholism and detoxing. Jeb is a weird but wonderful oddball (even if his view on marriage seems a bit barbaric) and the secondary characters augment the plot with eccentricities but Mr. Swindle deftly keeps from overwhelming the story. Readers will want more tales starring Jeb and associates. Harriet Klausner
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Summary: A first for mystery: murderous bears!
Review: Havent read the book yet, but it's bound to be interesting--probably the first mystery with murders committed by bears (that is what "grizzly" murders means, isn't it?)
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Summary: I think that Howard Swindle has a problem with women
Review: Homicide detective, Jeb Quinlin, is an alcoholic who doesn't care about much, except the bottle and his job. So when his boss gives him the choice of detox or you're fired, he packs his bags and heads off to the Cedar Ridge Hospital because, after all, it's the job that counts. Once there, he barely has time to start the program before one of the patients in the Substance Abuse Unit is murdered. And when a second patient is murdered, soon after, Jeb's boss decides to put him on the case...he's already on the inside and in the perfect position to investigate. Howard Swindle has written a terrific first novel, that grabs you from the first page with fast paced scenes, interesting characters and enough twists and turns to keep you turning pages to the very end. His writing is smart and spare with down to earth, irreverent dialogue and the story itself is very compelling and full of suspense. A terrific debut novel with one of the best new characters to hit the mystery/detective scene. Let's hope Mr Swindle continues this series.
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Summary: A Real Winner
Review: Homicide detective, Jeb Quinlin, is an alcoholic who doesn't care about much, except the bottle and his job. So when his boss gives him the choice of detox or you're fired, he packs his bags and heads off to the Cedar Ridge Hospital because, after all, it's the job that counts. Once there, he barely has time to start the program before one of the patients in the Substance Abuse Unit is murdered. And when a second patient is murdered, soon after, Jeb's boss decides to put him on the case...he's already on the inside and in the perfect position to investigate. Howard Swindle has written a terrific first novel, that grabs you from the first page with fast paced scenes, interesting characters and enough twists and turns to keep you turning pages to the very end. His writing is smart and spare with down to earth, irreverent dialogue and the story itself is very compelling and full of suspense. A terrific debut novel with one of the best new characters to hit the mystery/detective scene. Let's hope Mr Swindle continues this series.
Rating:
Summary: I think that Howard Swindle has a problem with women
Review: I have a lot of problems with this book. Aside from the fact that the "mystery" is a cheat, the "hero" is a drunk, who cheated on his wife, a woman who has put up with his abuse for 20 years. Nonetheless, SHE'S the bad guy for forcing him into rehab and saving his life, not to mention, the horrible sin of adultery on a husband that has been buried in a bottle for years (You see, adultery is only a sin when the WIFE does it, not the husband). But don't worry - she gets hers. And as a reward for being the jackass that he is, our "hero" is rewarded with the instant "movie type love at first sight" from a blond with big... well, you know. Who just happens to be rich! Wow! She cheated a former lover out of millions! Boy, we've got a couple of heroes to root for here, guys! Obviously, Mr. Swindle has a problem with women who don't let a guy get away with abusing their trust. The wife is disposed of so that the hero and his new girl (who besides being blond and buxom, is a "total woman" type who let's big strong MAN run the show - she is every adolescent male's fantasy) can live happily ever after. I think that this is the last Howard Swindle, misogynist, book I will buy, thanks.
Rating:
Summary: I think that Howard Swindle has a problem with women
Review: I have a lot of problems with this book. Aside from the fact that the "mystery" is a cheat, the "hero" is a drunk, who cheated on his wife, a woman who has put up with his abuse for 20 years. Nonetheless, SHE'S the bad guy for forcing him into rehab and saving his life, not to mention, the horrible sin of adultery on a husband that has been buried in a bottle for years (You see, adultery is only a sin when the WIFE does it, not the husband). But don't worry - she gets hers. And as a reward for being the jackass that he is, our "hero" is rewarded with the instant "movie type love at first sight" from a blond with big... well, you know. Who just happens to be rich! Wow! She cheated a former lover out of millions! Boy, we've got a couple of heroes to root for here, guys! Obviously, Mr. Swindle has a problem with women who don't let a guy get away with abusing their trust. The wife is disposed of so that the hero and his new girl (who besides being blond and buxom, is a "total woman" type who let's big strong MAN run the show - she is every adolescent male's fantasy) can live happily ever after. I think that this is the last Howard Swindle, misogynist, book I will buy, thanks.
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Summary: A must read for suspense lovers.
Review: I just finished Howard Swindle's "Jitter Joint" and I loved it. I learned a lot about AA and serial killers. His book is packed with suspense and likable characters. If you love a great suspensful book that you won't be able to put down..Then buy this book.
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Summary: Very realistic look at early sobriety
Review: I thought this was an excellent mystery. The characters were all very real, and the plot plausible. In so many novels, the plot is so far-fetched and coincidence laden that it gets boring. I'd be interested in the continuing adventures of Jeb as he "trudges the road of happy destiny".
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Summary: Jitter Joint sequel scheduled for April 2000 release
Review: I've really appreciated all the wonderful blurbs that readers have posted on the Amazon site about "Jitter Joint." For those who want to continue to follow Jeb Quinlin, the sequel, "Doin' Dirty," is scheduled for release in April 2000 by St. Martin's Press. Please let me hear from you if you have comments or suggestions. Thanks a lot.
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Summary: Great Book
Review: Iread this book in one day, it was terrific! I do think this type of research had to be from one who has been there. It was gritty, sensitive, and page turning. Great twist yet educating one AA theory. I think this should be nominated as best novel of year.
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