Change of Address (A Spencer Manning Mystery Book 1)

Change of Address (A Spencer Manning Mystery Book 1)icon

by Rick Polad

Publisher
Calumet Editions
Publication
Jan 23, 2023
Format
Paperback/Softback
Edition
2
Illustrated
No
Price
$19.99
ISBN
9781960250421
ASIN
B01LZNZ9PO
Pages
304
Age
Adult 18+
Category
Literary FictionMystery & Detective

Rights Sold

šŸŒ World Wide Rights Available

Description

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.


"I've gotten many great books from Amazon, so when I heard about Change of Address by Rick Polad, I ordered it. I expected a good story. The ingredients of a new detective, a shadow over his background, and a Chicago setting sounded like a great combination to set the stage for an interesting story. I read the book in just a couple of days and what I found was page-turning excitement with plot twists, strong emotion, and many motives for crime. Spencer Manning is brave; he will take on a hot headed diner owner, a sleazy drug dealer, some of Chicago's finest and a forlorn little girl. He's also got a heart for the lost and lonely, as well as the beautiful. Spencer Manning is driven; he will get to the truth no matter how far up the Chicago political ladder he has to climb. Every time I thought I had it figured out, something new came to light. The clues were there all along cleverly hidden by Rick Polad. I can't wait for the next Spencer Manning adventure!" -J. Graves

"I write and read romance. The only time I 'read' mysteries or thrillers is when my husband plays a Vince Flynn or C.J. Box audio book on our infrequent road trips. Oh, and I do love a good Castle episode on TV. I bought Change of Address to read over the holidays, and I was immediately taken in by the main character. He felt like a friend, and I cheered for him the whole way. He wasn't a perfect P.I. and had much to learn, but he managed to get the job done. And Spence cared about his clients and the people he met along the way. Being a romance enthusiast, I loved the happy ending. Five stars for Change of Address!"-Jan Scarbrough

"When I began reading the first in the series, I instantly became a fan! I love the variety of chapter lengths-keeps you on your toes- and as the characters evolved, I was captivated as to the directions each was taking and how one was to play against or with another. The characters were pictured in my mind, just through their interaction with each other and not for a minute did I figure out who was the ""villain""- nor did I want to as it was too intriguing, page by page. Thank you, Rick, for bringing to life, this wonderful cast of characters."-Beverly Fawcett

Awards & Endorsements

2014 Illinois Author Project

Finalist — Soon to Be Famous Illinois Author Project

Review

Change of Address is a Chicago-based mystery that is chock-full of twists and turns that includes an unexpected ending. The book is well-written and easy to read. Rick Polad has created an interesting and authentic Chicago character in Spencer Manning that hooks the reader to the very end. I felt the characters were very likable and gritty. As a resident of Chicago, I appreciated Manning’s use of sports events and of ā€˜questionable’ resources throughout the novel that are true-to-form Chicago. If you have ever lived or visited Chicago, this book will resonate with all the rule-bending, landmarks, traffic, politics, family interactions, and dynamics of the police departments. I couldn’t put the book down and cannot wait until the next Spencer Manning novel is published!

—Garden Girlfriend, verified review on Amazon

Review
Written in the first person POV, the story unfolds for the reader as it does for the main character Spencer. I found Spencer to be vulnerable and genuine as well as motivated. I loved how he cared about the people he dealt with throughout the story. I also loved the local references. Having grown up on the north side of Chicago, it was fun to see so many references to familiar places from my childhood. I felt like Spencer Manning could have been somebody that I grew up with. There was also plenty of action to keep the story moving. The characters and story stayed with me even when I had to set the book aside for a few days, I was able to pick right up where I left off, anxious to see how it played out. I’ve always been a fan of the mystery genre and this was a clever, and enjoyable read. Looking forward to more Spencer Manning mysteries.
—Rita Butler, verified review on Amazon
Review
I read the book in just a couple of days and what I found was page-turning excitement with plot twists, strong emotion, and many motives for crime. Spencer Manning is brave; he will take on a hot-headed diner owner, a sleazy drug dealer, some of Chicago’s finest and a forlorn little girl. He’s also got a heart for the lost and lonely, as well as the beautiful. Spencer Manning is driven; he will get to the truth no matter how far up the Chicago political ladder he has to climb. Every time I thought I had it figured out, something new came to light. The clues were there all along cleverly hidden by Rick Polad. I can’t wait for the next Spencer Manning adventure!
—J. Graves, verified review on Amazon
Review
My new favorite mystery series! Spencer Manning is a man with a strong love of old PI noir stories. He has a family history of police work… so naturally he becomes a PI in Chicago. This is his first case (That turns into three) and he is a likeable PI. The story isn’t rambling, it moves at a regular pace, the characters are fleshed out enough to give me opinions on each, and I enjoyed the mystery. Once certain details are revealed, it isn’t hard to put together the ā€˜who-dun-its’… but it was still worth reading. If you like mysteries, I’d recommend this one.
—Zoid Prime, verified review on Amazon

Author(s)

Rick Polad

Rick Polad

Rick Polad worked as a geologist, taught Earth Science and Astronomy at a junior college for twenty-nine years, and volunteered with the Coast Guard Auxiliary on Lake Michigan. Rick edited the English version of Living With Nuclei, the memoirs of Japanese physicist, Motoharu Kimura, and currently works as an editor for his publisher, Calumet Editions. Rick also worked at Fermilab, the country’s highest energy particle accelerator, and currently volunteers at Microtrace, one of the world’s premier forensic chemistry labs.

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