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Split to Splinters: An Eli Sharpe Mystery
Private investigator Eli Sharpe thought his next case would be recover a stolen baseball. Not just any baseball—the one from Jim Honeycutt’s 300th career win, a priceless piece of memorabilia belonging to the legendary Hall of Fame pitcher and self-made millionaire. But when Eli arrives at the Honeycutt estate in the Blue Ridge Mountains, he finds himself entangled in a family feud straight out of Shakespeare—part King Lear, part Southern Gothic nightmare.
Honeycutt’s note to Eli is “LOOK AT DAUGHTERS. FIND YOUR BALL.”
The meaning becomes clear soon enough. The old pitcher has four daughters, each more ambitious—and more dangerous—than the last. There’s Magnolia, the sharp-tongued lawyer with a hoarder’s house and a knack for manipulation; April, the calculating bookkeeper with beauty and brains; Robin, the English teacher with secrets of her own; and Heather, the precocious teenage prodigy who could talk circles around a Harvard debate team. Then there’s Tess Honeycutt, the glamorous matriarch who may be pulling the family’s strings—or strangling them with them.
What starts as a search for a missing baseball turns into an explosive investigation of greed, jealousy, and betrayal inside one of Asheville’s wealthiest and most dysfunctional families. Eli quickly realizes the stolen ball is just the surface. Below it lies a deadly inheritance dispute, a ghostwritten autobiography gone wrong, and a trail of deceit that could leave someone dead.
Armed with nothing but his wit, his worn seersucker jacket, and a stubborn sense of honor, Eli navigates a mansion full of liars, drunks, and opportunists—all while trying to stay one step ahead of a client who might be more villain than victim.
In Split to Splinters, Max Everhart serves up a masterful mystery rich in crackling dialogue, sardonic humor, and emotional depth. As Eli Sharpe digs deeper into the Honeycutt family’s secrets, he must decide whether justice is something you chase—or something you invent for yourself.
Smart, stylish, and darkly funny, this second Eli Sharpe mystery delivers a fast-paced, character-driven story that will satisfy fans of Robert B. Parker, Raymond Chandler, and Tana French.
Honeycutt’s note to Eli is “LOOK AT DAUGHTERS. FIND YOUR BALL.”
The meaning becomes clear soon enough. The old pitcher has four daughters, each more ambitious—and more dangerous—than the last. There’s Magnolia, the sharp-tongued lawyer with a hoarder’s house and a knack for manipulation; April, the calculating bookkeeper with beauty and brains; Robin, the English teacher with secrets of her own; and Heather, the precocious teenage prodigy who could talk circles around a Harvard debate team. Then there’s Tess Honeycutt, the glamorous matriarch who may be pulling the family’s strings—or strangling them with them.
What starts as a search for a missing baseball turns into an explosive investigation of greed, jealousy, and betrayal inside one of Asheville’s wealthiest and most dysfunctional families. Eli quickly realizes the stolen ball is just the surface. Below it lies a deadly inheritance dispute, a ghostwritten autobiography gone wrong, and a trail of deceit that could leave someone dead.
Armed with nothing but his wit, his worn seersucker jacket, and a stubborn sense of honor, Eli navigates a mansion full of liars, drunks, and opportunists—all while trying to stay one step ahead of a client who might be more villain than victim.
In Split to Splinters, Max Everhart serves up a masterful mystery rich in crackling dialogue, sardonic humor, and emotional depth. As Eli Sharpe digs deeper into the Honeycutt family’s secrets, he must decide whether justice is something you chase—or something you invent for yourself.
Smart, stylish, and darkly funny, this second Eli Sharpe mystery delivers a fast-paced, character-driven story that will satisfy fans of Robert B. Parker, Raymond Chandler, and Tana French.
272 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 26, 2025
About the author
Max Everhart
15 books26 followersMAX EVERHART is the author of the Eli Sharpe series, including GO GO GATO, ED, NOT EDDIE, and SPLIT TO SPLINTERS, which is a finalist for the Shamus Award in the Best P.I. Original Paperback category. He also wrote ALPHABET LAND, a gritty crime thriller featuring The Rook, a problem-solver with a strong moral compass. His most recent book is a collection of short stories called ALL THE DIFFERENT WAYS LOVE CAN FEEL. Find him on the web at http://www.maxeverhart.com.
PRAISE FOR Eli Sharpe series:
From its hero to its milieu to its eccentric, three-dimensional characters, Max Everhart’s GO GO GATO is a terrific read. The North Carolina minor-league baseball scene feels authentic and beloved, and I was always rooting for protagonist Eli Sharpe. The best news is that this excellent mystery is first in a series. Fans of Harlan Coben will want to check out Max Everhart, a major new talent!
–Steve Ulfelder, Edgar finalist author of WOLVERINE BROS. FREIGHT & STORAGE
Go Go Gato is the debut entry in a promising new series by Max Everhart, and it’s a fast-paced, entertaining tale. Eli Sharpe is a very appealing character who combines just the right amounts of wit, humor, intelligence and courage, and it will be fun to watch him in action as the series continues to grow and develop.
–James L. Thane, author of UNTIL DEATH and NO PLACE TO DIE
PRAISE FOR Eli Sharpe series:
From its hero to its milieu to its eccentric, three-dimensional characters, Max Everhart’s GO GO GATO is a terrific read. The North Carolina minor-league baseball scene feels authentic and beloved, and I was always rooting for protagonist Eli Sharpe. The best news is that this excellent mystery is first in a series. Fans of Harlan Coben will want to check out Max Everhart, a major new talent!
–Steve Ulfelder, Edgar finalist author of WOLVERINE BROS. FREIGHT & STORAGE
Go Go Gato is the debut entry in a promising new series by Max Everhart, and it’s a fast-paced, entertaining tale. Eli Sharpe is a very appealing character who combines just the right amounts of wit, humor, intelligence and courage, and it will be fun to watch him in action as the series continues to grow and develop.
–James L. Thane, author of UNTIL DEATH and NO PLACE TO DIE
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