Dark Horse
Dark Horse
A Jim Knighthorse Novel
Book #1
Dark Horse takes place in Huntington Beach, California. Surf City, U.S.A. Written in the tradition of Robert B. Parker's Spenser and Raymond Chandler's Philip Marlowe, Dark Horse introduces a new hard-hitting, wise-cracking hero with a modern twist.
When high school student Derrick Booker, the only black student at a posh Orange County high school, is accused of killing his white girlfriend, ex-college football hero and detective Jim Knighthorse is hired to dig a little deeper into the murder. It doesn't take long for Knighthorse to realize that not all is as it seems at tranquil Huntington High, from a band director who preys on the innocent to a vice-principal with a secret agenda of her own. Not to mention someone's hired a professional killer to keep Knighthorse permanently off the case.
As the investigation continues, Knighthorse's personal life is shattered by the discovery of new evidence relating to his mother's unsolved murder, a murder dating back twenty years. Reeling from the discovery, a determined Jim Knighthorse sets out to bring two killers to justice.
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"I read Dark Horse by J.R. Rain. He's the author of Moon Dance, that I reviewed last column. The author is a private investigator, and it shows; this is another fast moving and entertaining detective story. It is the first of a series, published by Lulu.com. Rain is surely destined for larger success, if he can get the right break; his fiction is fun reading."
--Piers Anthony, bestselling author of A SPELL FOR CHAMELEON and ON A PALE HORSE
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"I finished Dark Horse late last night. I enjoyed it immensely--very good story, J.R.! I really liked your dialogue, which kept me chuckling each time I sat down to read the book. Add great character and scene descriptions and a well-paced plot, and you've got a gripping story indeed. I can honestly say your book was as entertaining as anything I've ever read from Patricia Cornwell. I can easily see Dark Horse moving to the big screen!"
--Aiden James, author of THE VAMPIRES' LAST LOVER and CADES COVE
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"Dark Horse is one of the best books I've read in a long time! A great classic detective story with a modern twist. Unique and interesting characters (I think I'm half in love with Jim Knighthorse now!), a great plot that kept me guessing until the end, and some of the funniest lines I've read anywhere. Rain does an amazing job of blending suspense, mystery and humor in this fantastic debut novel destined for the keeper shelf."
--Gemma Halliday, three time RITA nominee and National Readers' Choice award winning author of SACNDAL SHEET and SPYING IN HIGH HEELS
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"An injury forced ex-football player Jim Knighthorse out of the game, and side-swiped a potential career in the NFL. But he has recuperated, is in training, and may have another shot at a pro football career. In the meantime, he pays the bills doing the only other thing he knows--investigative work. Although circumstances may have dictated his current career, he's darn good at it, and takes it seriously. Each case is more than just a job to him - he is intent on seeing justice served, no matter what he has to do to get there.
Case in point: the arrest of high school student Derrick Booker for the murder of his girlfriend. Knighthorse's gut tells him the young man is innocent, and the series of threats against the private dick that ensue as soon as he accepts the case do more than confirm what his gut tells him--they make him more determined than ever to uncover the real villain.
Dark Horse is the first in J.R. Rain's Jim Knighthorse series, and my first read by this author. I can tell you unequivocally I am looking forward to the next in this fun series! Rain infuses Jim Knighthorse with a dry wit, and readers are entertained by quips worthy of any popular TV private detective through his dialogue with other characters and by experiencing the hero's every thought, a benefit of the story being written in first person. Indeed, it is hard to imagine the story being written in a different format, as the first person view affords us an interesting insight to the male psyche while enjoying Knighthorse's random musings concerning just about everything.
I called this a fun series, and I laughed quite a bit, but the book and the main character have their dark side as well. Jim is a bit of an anti-hero at times, and goes to great lengths to protect those who are unable to defend themselves, sometimes using some very unconventional methods to achieve his goals.
What would a good mystery be without some interesting twists? Dark Horse definitely has several of those! I have read a great many mystery novels ever since I was a kid, bred on Agatha Christie novels. My mind is pretty good at solving puzzles of all kinds, and I am always impressed with a story that manages to surprise me. I came fairly close to figuring out the plot twists, but Rain still managed to pull a couple of surprises over on me--much to my delight!
The author is working on a sequel to this story, and I will definitely be watching for its release!"
--Jennifer Ray, Wild On Books
