PI Jim Bean should walk out that door and let the Vegas bouncer do his worst. That’s what an ordinary man would do. But nobody ever accused Jim Bean of being ordinary. Private investigator Jim Bean has worked hard to create his new identity in Vegas. He doesn’t have a great life, but it’s his. When his ex-fiancée Erica Floyd walks into one of his investigations looking for her missing sister, … sister, the tragic past he wanted to leave behind comes flooding back.
Despite serious reservations, Jim agrees to search for Erica’s sister. Clues lead him to a human trafficking ring and one of Vegas’s most influential mobsters. Unless Jim can face the ghosts of his past, the anger of his present, and a new enemy out for his blood, four women will suffer a fate worse than death.
Praise for Skin Game:
“With one foot in the classic PI tradition and the other in the new age, Skin Gameis no roll of the dice. J.D. Allen delivers a smart, fast-paced book that will keep the reader on edge from start to finish.”–Reed Farrel Coleman, New York Timesbestselling author of What You Break
“Skin Gameis a very solid adventure through the Las Vegas underworld.”–Crimespree Magazine
“Skin Gamenever tries to be more than it is, and that works in its favor. Instead, fully engaging with the expected tropes, Allen turns the novel into something akin to comfort food for those who enjoy this type of story. That is important and will surely make fans of classic PI novels place Allen on their radar and keep an eye out for whatever she does next.”–Criminal Element
Praise for 19 Souls, Book 1 of the Sin City Investigation series:
“[Allen’s] plotting and pacing will keep you up long after Proust and Henry James have rocked you to sleep. Stay tuned for a series that promises many, many more troubled dreams.”–Kirkus Reviews
“Bean’s inner and outer dialogue is quick, snappy, and authentic to the profession. The pace is earnest, as leads, tips, and information eventually congeal into answers; final pages are highly suspenseful and dramatic. 19 Soulsintroduces a memorable PI, grappling with a past he’s not reconciled to.”–Foreword Reviews
“Overall, a must read for thriller fans and perhaps the best PI story we have read this year so far.”–Mystery Tribune
“19 Soulsis one terrific read. With a great plot, engaging characters, and a crackling voice, this book has everything. I dare you to put it down after you start reading.”–John Gilstrap, New York Timesbestselling author
“The setup is so good, and the characters so hard to look away from…All in all, a fine thriller.”–Booklist
“Twisty, authentic, and constantly surprising! JD Allen nails her debut with this top-notch thriller–it’s gritty, smart and irresistible.”–Hank Phillippi Ryan, nationally bestselling author
more
There’s a lot more to Jim Bean than is revealed in “19 Souls,” the first book in the Sin City Investigation Series. In “Skin Game,” we discover the cavalier PI is harboring a painful past, one that shattered his world and sent him clear across the country to live out an anonymous existence. His plan blot out the past from his mind worked until the past showed up on his own turf, breaking his heart all over again while turning the life he had carved out for himself upside-down.
I was just as captivated by the second book as I was with the first. But Skin Game tackles a hideous reality that is all too real. I think the author handles the subject well, never playing down the human toll. It’s not a walk in the park by any means, but the action is so fast-paced and compelling, I couldn’t put it down.
Skin Game by J.D. Allen is hauntingly dark and twisted, but addictively fascinating. It’s a marvelous dangerous look at the underbelly of life. Definitely a 5-star read.
Skin Game by J.D. Allen, this is the 2nd book from this series and I do wish I would have read the 1st one however it is not necessary I think I would have understood Jim B. more…. not a bad book, good characters some you like some you don’t. …thank you Netgalley and the Publishers for allowing me to read this ARC book and give my opinion.
Check out my full review on my blog… http://www.premeditatedfiction.com/book-review-skin-game-by-jd-allen/
Skin Game (A Sin City Investigation Book 2)), my first read from author J.D. Allen. December seemed to be my month for new authors and January looks to continue the trend. I prefer mystery and thrillers & this didn’t disappoint. I was gifted a free copy and I’m voluntarily reviewing it because every good books need reviews. I look forward to more from this author and in this series, since I’ve started it with book 2, I’ll have to get 19 Souls (Sin City Investigations Book 1) next. (RIP Marley January 20, 2014 – July 24, 2018)
Having not read the first of the Jim Bean series may have put me at a disadvantage, but I enjoyed this tale nonetheless. With a new identity, now a Private Investigator in Las Vegas, Jim’s ex asks him to find her sister. So, the adventure begins despite his anger with her, as the injuries and death toll mounts. With good characters, dynamic writing and illuminating description of Vegas, this is darkly haunting. A three-and-a-half-star rating. With thanks to NetGalley and the author for a preview copy for review purposes.
This story included a real issue in our world today. I liked how the main character, Jim, evolves through his painful past as Korey. I loved the range of characters and thought the author did a great job of introducing each to the story. I enjoyed the pace of the book, which increased throughout the story. And the plot unfolding with clues was really done well. I will continue to read the following books.
The dark, ugly and dangerous side of Las Vegas where selling young women for the enjoyment of despicable, depraved men goes without fear of retribution. This is a
gut-wrenching narrative that will leave a lasting impression on anyone who has a
conscience. Powerful and Very Highly Recommended.
PI Jim Bean is back in Skin Game, another story of the goings on in the underbelly of Sin City. Like the previous story 19 Souls, Bean has his issues, but in this story, there is enough background on him to understand the origin of his personal damage and faults. Skin Game is action-packed and involves not only Jim, but O, Ely, and Miller working in concert to solve the case of the missing girl. While I really enjoyed 19 Souls, Skin Game has hooked me on the Sin City Investigation series. I received an Advance Reader Copy and chose to provide this review.
Former FBI agent, Jim Bean, changes his name and moves to Vegas after being falsely accused of a crime. He is exonerated, but his reputation is tarnished. He is working as a PI doing cheating spouse and insurance fraud cases. His former girl friend, Erica Floyd, comes in from Boston and asks Jim to find her sister Chris. A trail of police reports being deleted, human trafficking, a criminal police officer and a man that owns the town. This is a page turning thriller with a very exciting conclusion.
3.5 stars
While I did like certain aspects of this story, I probably should have read book 1 first. There were several mentions of things from the first book, and I didn’t realise this was book 2, at first.
Jim is a P.I. who has had a rough few years. When his ex shows up in town looking for her missing sister, Jim can’t help but get involved, despite his anger towards her. This turns into a bigger case than they originally thought, uncovering a trafficking ring, and resulting in many injuries and deaths.
I did like the writing style, and Jim as a character, and I would definitely read more from this author. I may even go back at some stage and read the first book, to get the entire picture.