Still Doing Time

Wanda Adams Fischer returns to one of the characters in her third novel, STILL DOING TIME, who appeared in her first novel, EMPTY SEATS, set in 1970’s, around Boston. Minor league baseball hopeful Jimmy Bailey spent four years in a Walpole prison for a murder he didn’t commit. When his sister stands up to a lecherous guard as Jimmy leaves, it sets of a chain of dangerous events tied to a criminal ring within the prison. All Jimmy wants is a fresh start, a job, another chance, maybe a date with the pretty Eileen, and his former cellmate’s safety. Unfortunately, factions beyond his control have other plans. The desegregation tensions of the time and prejudices are well done, as are the flavors of neighborhoods such as Weymouth, Arlington, and Beacon Hill. Jimmy’s sister is a firecracker, on track to a solid career that gives her independence. Smart and feisty, she’s also resourceful when the chips are down. The story unfolds through multiple points of view, offering pieces of the puzzle as it unfolds. The story has a bit of everything: murder, kidnapping, physical violence, romance. Anyone who wondered what happened next for Jimmy after the end of EMPTY SEATS will relish this historical novel with touches of suspense and romance.