Discover the World of Spencer Manning Mysteries
CHANGE OF ADDRESS
- In his debut novel, Spencer Manning agrees to look for a little girl's unknown father in exchange for beef stew and chocolate cake. His search quickly crosses paths with an open murder investigation in which Spencer's client is a suspect. Spencer's close relationship with the police give him an open door to information, and his sometimes-creative strategies bring insight the police would not otherwise have. A colorful cast of interesting characters add humor and intrigue and lead Spencer to the racetrack and the mayor's house where all is not as it seems. When Spencer puts the clues together, the race is on to save a little girl's life. Sprinkled with Chicago history, Change of Address will take you through Chicago neighborhoods, where despair and sadness dwell side by side with big money. The list of suspects will keep you guessing and wanting more Spencer Manning.
DARK ALLEYS
History is being repeated as women are being murdered in the streets of Chicago. Spencer Manning is drawn into the middle of it all by a friend who asks for a simple favor. The sinister, dark world of Chicago at night leads Spencer into dark alleys as he tries to unravel the confusing stories of prostitutes, some of whom aren't as they appear. Follow Spencer as he tries to figure out what street walkers, a high-priced call girl, and a young girl who looks like she should be in college have to do with each other.
HARBOR NIGHTS
- In a thrilling continuation of the Spencer Manning Mystery series, Spencer takes us from Chicago to Door County, Wisconsin, a quaint resort area with all the history and charm of a cozy vacation spot. When Spencer’s old girlfriend is accused of stealing her own painting and then vanishes without a trace, Spencer suspects something more sinister than art theft. That’s when the murders begin. When another painting is reported stolen from the gallery in Chicago, the mystery deepens because the painting is worthless. So why was it stolen?
- The gallery is in Chicago, and the murders are in Door County. Trying to find the connection leads Spencer to a Chicago crime boss, a police chief who is not fond of Spencer’s snooping, and a handful of questionable characters all of whom may not be what they seem. The mystery deepens when kidnapping is added to the list. But who has been kidnapped? With help from some unexpected sources, Spencer lays a trap for a daring rescue.
- All of Spencer’s friends return for an entertaining tale of murder and intrigue on the streets of Chicago.
MISSING BOY
- This fourth installment of the Spencer Manning Mystery series focuses on the famous Riverview Amusement Park in Chicago. In this tale, a sixteen-year-old amusement park worker fails to come home from work one day, and Spencer sets out to track him down. Spencer makes numerous enemies as he attempts to solve a seemingly impossible mystery that seems to grow in complexity by the minute. When he starts to ask questions, missing turns to murder and Spencer is pulled into a sinister plot that goes far beyond a missing boy and promises to be a rollercoaster ride of surprises for fans of great mysteries and a worthy addition to this fine series.
COLD JUSTICE
- In this fifth installment of the Spencer Manning Mystery series, author Polad gives us a twisty murder mystery that unravels layers of intrigue to bring about contemporary justice. If the recent murder is a frame, it’s a good one. Justice is a strange animal—sometimes it comes late, sometimes it never comes at all, and sometimes it comes for the wrong crime.
- P.I. Spencer Manning is offered the highest profile case of his career, but is conflicted about helping the mobster making the offer. And he can’t help but wonder if, this time, justice has caught up… but for the wrong crime.
- But maybe that’s okay. Two murders leave Spencer remembering a time when Chicago streets were ruled by Al Capone and Bugs Moran, and tommy guns left Chicago streets bathed in blood.
DEATH'S DOOR
- Welcome Dealing with death is never easy, especially when it's murder-especially for Chicago P.I. Spencer Manning when he can't directly help. Spencer is confused by strange letters he finds in a case under Stosh's bed. But what led him to that case, and why are the police at Stosh's house, and why are Spencer and Rosie in Green Bay wearing wedding rings? Following the trail of the letters, Spencer breaks into the offices of an adoption agency and ends up in a hospital bed where he meets a friend from a prior case. Confusing clues lead Spencer on a trail of revenge and murder with twists and turns along the way as he and Rosie race to prevent the next murder. The police have solved the crime, but as Spencer delves into the new field of forensic entomology he realizes they are wrong. Only he has the solution to the puzzle. The best Spencer book yet will keep you turning pages right up to the end.
DRUG AFFAIR
- Spencer is hired by a beautiful, rich widow to look into her son's drug arrest. It should be a simple problem, but the son isn't cooperating, and after three murders, the simple case becomes complicated. The trail of clues soon involves a Chicago police detective, an FBI agent, a US senator, the head of a Chicago gang, and a nun who tells Spencer the Lord will provide. The Lord does, but not in a way Spencer expected. The list of suspects is long and confusing. Why would a senator risk his career? Why would a detective be involved with drugs? And how does the widow's affair fit into the puzzle? Drugs lead to murders, and murders lead back to drugs, and the only way Spencer can tie all the loose ends together is to set a trap, one that may very well land him in jail, or dead. The result is his most challenging case yet.
A GRAVE MATTER
A cemetery is a peaceful place - usually. But a cryptic phone call leads P.I. Spencer Manning to a cemetery that appears to be anything but peaceful. Spencer investigates a growing number of people who have disappeared and a graveyard where the bodies may not match the names on the markers. If Spencer can find a connection between the two mysteries, it could expose a scandal that reaches higher than anyone could imagine. Unfortunately, the only way to solve this puzzle is to set a trap with himself as bait. Join Spencer Manning as he tackles his eighth and most perplexing case yet.