Throwing Off Sparks

This is good, tough stuff. Retro and modern at the same time. Not an easy trick. Highly recommended." -- Joe Lansdale, bestselling author of the Hap and Leonard Series

A teenage girl in trouble. A female detective in crisis. Can Riley Reeves save the girl without neglecting her own loved ones at the time they need her most?

East Texas private investigator Riley Reeves specializes in cases of at-risk girls that often lead her into dangerous waters. On the same day that a socialite couple hires Riley to protect their sheltered daughter Carmen from a mysterious stalker, Riley’s troubled alcoholic brother and last living relative, Chip, shows up on her doorstep fresh out of the state penitentiary.

Riley’s investigation soon uncovers that Carmen is deeply involved with a dangerous group of country boy criminals, though their connection to her stalking remains unclear. Meanwhile, Chip is off the wagon and running wild, drumming up constant, imminent trouble that soon arrives at Riley’s doorstep. Before long, there is death in the air and destruction on the horizon in every direction.

As pressure ratchets up from all sides, personal and professional, Riley must work through both her past and present to solve the case while keeping her personal life from coming apart at the seams...

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FROM THE EDITOR

Throwing Off Sparks launches one of the most entertaining and remarkable new female detective series in years. Riley is one badass female detective, and the East Texas landscape she inhabits is overflowing with interesting, dangerous, and entertaining characters who come to life on the page. Riley is the Texas female detective the world has been waiting for. Fans of Joe Lansdale’s Hap and Leonard series will instantly recognize the playful East Texas dialogue, and readers of all locations and persuasions will fall in love with Riley.

Isa Reeb, P.I. Tales Production Editor

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PRAISE FOR THROWING OFF SPARKS

“Private investigator Riley Reeves is exactly how I like my sleuths: whip-smart, tenacious, and compassionate. And tougher than a Texas rattlesnake when it comes to meting out justice to violent criminals. With its page-turning pace, surprising turns, and an insider’s look at the underbelly of Texas society, author Michael Pool has launched a must-read series. I loved it!”  – Barbara Nickless, author of the bestselling Sydney Parnell series, Blood on the Tracks, Dead Stop, Ambush, and Gone to Darkness

“Riley Reeves is a tough, capable heroine, and Pool writes PI fiction with hard-won authenticity and infectious love for the genre. Throwing Off Sparks is highly recommended.”  – Sam Wiebe, author of the Dave Wakeland series, Invisible Dead and Cut You Down

“Right from the jump, I was drawn in by Michael Pool’s well-crafted Throwing Off Sparks. It’s got pace and heart, and well-drawn characters, some you’ll love, some you’ll hate. To put it simply, it’s sharp writing that makes for edge-of-your-seat reading. And like so many of my favorite series, the worst part of this one is having to wait for the next installment.”  – Dietrich Kalteis, award-winning author of The Deadbeat Club, Ride the Lightning and House of Blazes

Throwing Off Sparks is a P.I. novel with more pulse-pounding action than most thrillers. This book will be landing on Best of 2020 lists.” – Chris Rhatigan, publisher, All Due Respect


Genre: Mystery

"Right from the jump, I was drawn in by Michael Pool's well-crafted Throwing Off Sparks. It's got pace and heart, and well-drawn characters, some you'll love, some you'll hate. To put it simply, it's sharp writing that makes for edge-of-your-seat reading. And like so many of my favorite series, the worst part of this one is having to wait for the next installment." - Dietrich Kalteis

"Private investigator Riley Reeves is exactly how I like my sleuths: whip-smart, tenacious, and compassionate. And tougher than a Texas rattlesnake when it comes to meting out justice to violent criminals. With its page-turning pace, surprising turns, and an insider's look at the underbelly of Texas society, author Michael Pool has launched a must-read series. I loved it!" - Barbara Nickless

"Riley Reeves is a tough, capable heroine, and Pool writes PI fiction with hard-won authenticity and infectious love for the genre. Throwing Off Sparks is highly recommended." - Sam Wiebe