Written in the tradition of Robert B. Parker's Spenser and Raymond Chandler's Philip Marlowe―Dark Horse introduces a 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, Jim Knighthorse sets out to bring two killers to justice... ★★★★★ "To say this novel was a delightful surprise would be an understatement. I honestly loved this book and it is definitely at the top of my new favorite reads. I picked it up because I like crime fiction and mystery/suspense, figuring it would be, well, just that―a murder mystery. Instead, here's this incredibly unique story with laugh-out-loud funny lines, an unbelievably likable narrator and a subtle touch of philosophical spirituality." ―Amazon reviewer ★★★★★ "From the first line, I was hooked. Dark Horse was an easy read with its witty dialogue and interesting characters." ―Amazon reviewer ★★★★★ "Every once in a while I come across a book that is different from any other than I've read―even though it is in my genre of reading, detective thrillers. This was such a book. Knighthorse is, in a word, quirky, in his methodology of going about his work, but does so in a wonderfully dedicated way. What I especially liked about the PI is his repartee style of interrogation. He's the kind of guy who has the best comebacks that anyone could possibly have... unlike most of us that cannot think of a great rejoinder until some time after the conversation is over. Knighthorse has them all right at the tip of this tongue. His wit is enormous and dead on point all the time. I don't retell storylines in my reviews, but suffice it to say, this was one h*ll of a ride from page one to page last." ―Amazon reviewer ★★★★★ "As an avid thriller reader and reviewer, I pride myself on being on the cutting edge of new releases. How I could have missed J.R. Rain and his Jim Knighthorse is a mystery to me. (Pardon the pun.) Knighthorse is a reluctant private detective and aspiring pro-football player. He is big, strong, kind and cold and deadly. I know that sounds like a conflict of terms, but Rain makes it work, and work beautifully. Well written with believable dialog and plot-line. It was an enjoyable and nail-biting read. I plan on making J.R. Rain and his Jim Knighthorse series a staple in my Kindle library. I happily give this book a 5-star rating, and recommend it anyone looking for a new hero." ―Amazon reviewer ★★★★★ "It's not easy being a PI, especially when police think they have a slam-dunk murderer in custody. A wise-guy with a great sense of moral direction in a California setting. Plenty of twists right to the end and well worth the time." ―Amazon reviewer