Book Description
Free book promotion on Amazon 9/17/2026 - 9/21/2026!
Lying to Iris Raines is like throwing a boomerang—the truth always comes back hard.
PI Iris Raines doesn’t scare easy. Sardonic, relentless, and backed by her St. Bernard, Festus, she’s built a career digging the truth out of the dung heap of deception.
When sabotage strikes a popular San Antonio restaurant chain, owner Quinten Farragut hires Iris to find the culprit before his circus-themed dining empire collapses. But vandalism turns deadly when poisoned food kills a diner and sickens dozens more.
Iris’s search for the truth leads through a jungle of sabotage, corporate warfare, deadly cartel ties, and long-buried family secrets. The deeper she digs, the clearer it becomes that someone isn’t merely trying to destroy Farragut’s business. There’s a motive buried in the past—and somebody is willing to kill to keep it there.
Following the trail forces Iris to unravel a tangled family history, where forensic genealogy exposes secrets that have remained hidden for decades. Meanwhile, her investigation leads into a web of cartel money and enemies with far more at stake than burgers and bottom lines.
And Farragut himself isn’t telling Iris everything she needs to know.
With the danger closing in and the lies piling up, Iris must separate betrayal from misdirection and uncover who is really behind the attacks before her client’s empire goes down in flames—and takes her with it.
Fast-paced, gritty, and packed with twists, Pants on Fire is a hard-edged Texas private investigator mystery for readers who like smart investigations, complex plots, sharp humor, and danger that keeps escalating until the final page.
More About This Book
When and Why Should Someone Read It?
The plot is complex, the characters are real, and the resolution is satisfying. The story was written by a private investigator with two decades of experience.
Themes, Ideas & Atmosphere
The primary themes are found family and integrity. The protagonist is strong, independent and sardonic.
If You Loved These, You'll Love This
Janet Evanovich/Stephanie Plum; Sara Paretsky/V.I. Warshawsky; Sue Grafton/Kinsey Millhone.
The Story Behind the Book
I have been a licensed private investigator since 1995 and have worked as a forensic genealogist and archival researcher for over thirty years.
The Central Question
This book is about a struggle to find the truth.
Pants on Fire: A Texas Private Investigator Mystery by Denise Diana Huddle, a book, promoted on Goodkindles for .