Jump to ratings and reviews
Rate this book
Rate this book
Jack Spirelli, paranormal investigator, public debunker of paranormal frauds, and private fixer for the magic-using community has opened his doors.

Jack's in a crunch. Since he went pseudo-public with Spirelli Paranormal Investigations, his business has sky-rocketed. Debunking the scum who prey on vulnerable targets makes up half his business now. And the rest of his time? Jack's on speed dial with the Texas Lycan Pack, the Inter-Pack Policing Cooperative gives him an occasional ring, and anything that goes bump in the night might just call him with a job.

He needs an assistant, another investigator, and some additional muscle, but maybe the dragon who just walked in and applied will do for now.

80 pages, Paperback

First published June 4, 2015

112 people are currently reading
727 people want to read

About the author

Kate Baray

68 books215 followers
Kate Baray writes page-turning urban fantasy with relatable characters.

When Kate's not tapping away at her keyboard or in deep contemplation of her next fanciful writing project, she's sweeping up hairy dust bunnies and watching British mysteries.

Kate is from Austin, Texas (where many of her stories take place) but has recently migrated north to Boise, Idaho, where soup season (her favorite time of year) lasts more than two weeks.

She's worked as an attorney, a dog trainer, and in various other positions, but writer is the hands-down winner. She's thankful readers keep reading, so she can keep writing!

Kate's series include Lost Library and Spirelli Paranormal Investigations. Under the pen name Cate Lawley, Kate (aka Cate!) writes Vegan Vamp Mysteries, Death Retired Mysteries, Fairmont Finds Canine Cozy Mysteries.

Find more information on her website: catelawley.com/kate-baray/

Ratings & Reviews

What do you think?
Rate this book

Friends & Following

Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!

Community Reviews

5 stars
145 (28%)
4 stars
197 (38%)
3 stars
131 (25%)
2 stars
35 (6%)
1 star
5 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 78 reviews
Profile Image for Cheryl .
2,397 reviews80 followers
June 10, 2018
This is a 3.5 star read.

A new author and series for me, this was a quick, fun read that introduces you to the main characters Jack and Marin of Spirelli Paranormal Investigations. The series looks to be broken up into short story "episodes", but these are not episodes that keep you hanging. (which I loathe) Each episode is an investigation and contains a beginning, middle and end so you are left satisfied at the end of the read. There is playful banter between Jack and his new employee Marin, who has been taken on to handle all the heavy duty arse-kicking requirements. Why? You'll just have to read to find out! I have joined the author's Reader's List and as a thank you I'm looking forward to reading a few more of her books gratis.
Recommended reading for urban fantasy and YA readers that like a fairly clean read.

p.s. New cover is sooooo much better.
Profile Image for Leiah Cooper.
766 reviews95 followers
October 21, 2015
Episodes 1 and 2

This is the first story I picked up at the end of my self-imposed reading hiatus. It got me interested in reading again!

I am happy to admit it. Normally, I hate serials. Really hate them. The reason? Every serial I ever read has been really lousy. They are a chapter or two, and end with no real “end.” It always feels like the writer simply grabbed a few chapters and published them with no real thought involved. Ugh. But being a lover of all things Kate Baray, I had to give up that idea when she began offering “Spirelli Paranormal Investigations.” And as with all things Kate, she doesn’t disappoint. Now This is how serial should be done.

Set in the world of the Lost Library, the stories of Jack Spirelli are tales with start-middle-end, something I haven’t found in any other serial. This is more a novella series than a serial. A really and truly fun series.

We met Jack during the Lost Library series, but now we get his story. The owner of The Junk Shop, which definitely fits its name, it is a cover for his paranormal investigation service for the magic-using community. Quiet and unassuming, often irritable, Jack never really wanted a partner. But with business growing more quickly than he really wants, he puts out a request to the Inter-Pack Policing Cooperative. And what he gets in return Lost Library (Lost Library, #1)is Marin. Yep. A dragon for a minimum wage assistant.

The story in Episode 1 is the first Jack and Marin work together – and a ghost is determined to ascertain that it is their last. It was lovely fun. In Episode 2, Jack and Marin’s next case take them back to Louisiana, where a single case of “something odd is going on . . .” becomes much more, and much more dangerous, than they ever expected.

Looking forward to Episode 3!

I received “Spirelli Paranormal Investigations Episodes 1 – 3 so far from Kate in return for a realistic review. All thoughts are my own. If you haven’t read the Lost Library series, I highly recommend it, as well as all of Kate’s other works.
Profile Image for Maria Schneider.
Author 36 books161 followers
July 11, 2017
Very fun read. Several investigations in one volume (novellas) with the same likable characters. And there is a very cool dragon. What more can you ask?
19 reviews
June 8, 2015
Jack is an ordinary human private investigator in a world that could be ours populated with werewolves, dragons, spell casters and other creatures that go bump in the night. Jack is the go-to guy for the supernatural community whenever they can't go to the regular police. In this story, Jack's simple day bodyguarding an earth witch while she shops in Austin turns into a search when her frantic husband calls to tell Jack she's missing.
Ms. Baray adds to her "Lost Library" world with this new spinoff featuring the crack investigator that helps out the Texas Lycan pack in her earlier books. You could definitely read this one on its own though. I'm looking forward to the next 'episode' in the series. My only complaint is that it was too short!
How did I get to read it before you can buy it? I received a copy of the story for my honest review. Since I loved the other books set in this world, I jumped at the chance.
Profile Image for Emily Hamilton.
2 reviews
May 18, 2022
A good collection of short stories but they are a little too short to get into properly. The idea, premise and characters are great but each story feels rushed to get to the end.
178 reviews
June 25, 2015
First this is a complete story with a satisfying ending...when I first read 'Episode 1', I was concerned that I might have to wait for the next installment to have any kind of ending. Episode 1 introduces us to Jack who is the head of SPI and we meet, with him, his first new hire Marin, whose a dragon.
Jack does investigations for the magic using community. His office is in a junk shop/bric-a-brac store that he uses as a front for clients who 'want to stay under the radar'.,
Jacks grumpy, doesn't really want an assistant but knows he needs one. Most people drive him nuts after awhile but Marin is highly motivated and has great connections , so he hires her.
What started as a simple body guard job' for an Earth Witch, turns into a missing person case.

Jack and Marin locate the witches car and cell phone, then Marin disappears.

There's 'dark shadow magic', death magic, and an unfriendly spirit.
Jack has to figure out how to save everyone including himself when he's caught inside the ' dark shadow'.

This is a great beginning to this new series. Jack is grumpy but has a sense of humor and responsibility. Marin is young but is capable and wants to prove herself. They grate on each other a little which makes them interesting to read about.
This is a short story, a fast read, and a satisfying read.
Love the characters, can't wait to see how they grow together and to read more about them and their adventures.

I received and arc of this story for an honest review.
9 reviews3 followers
November 6, 2015
This was a quick and engaging read. I have enjoyed other books by Kate Baray in the Lost Library series, and I love the way she has created this series as a spin-off. You will recognize characters from her previous series, but this book can also easily stand on its own. I'm not normally a fan of paranormal books, but the author does an impressive job of developing the characters and plot so that they are totally believable. I always have a well developed and intriguing picture in my mind of the characters as I'm reading. I definitely felt myself empathizing with the feelings of a hundred year old dragon in the human form of a tall, fierce, toothy red-head. Highly recommend and anxiously awaiting the second episode!
Profile Image for Kristen Ishihara.
1 review2 followers
June 9, 2015
Enjoyed it! I've read all the Lost Library books and thoroughly enjoy exploring the other characters that I have met in that series. A quick read that I didn't put down. Great character development and I'm always amazed at the interesting and strangely believable paranormal things that the author comes up with!
Profile Image for Mary Lou Griffith .
34 reviews2 followers
June 11, 2015
I received this episode free in exchange for an honest review. I really enjoyed it. It can stand alone but is also a spin-off of one of her series. I was familiar with the main character from the other books. The new character is intelligent and has "special" qualities and talents. I look forward to finding out what she is going to try into as the story develops.
2 reviews
June 11, 2015
A brisk, solid beginning to this series. I enjoyed the tension between Jack & Marin, and I'm looking forward to learning more about the dragon's mysterious past and magical abilities--and about Fuzzball, the... possum? Magic tribble? Large, hairy spider?
Profile Image for Kat Lebo.
855 reviews15 followers
August 22, 2017
Spirelli Paranormal Investigations, Episodes 1-3
1. The Disappearing Client
2. The Forgotten Memories
3. The Fleeing Witch
by Kate Baray

I know, I know -- I just said I was reading Episode 1, but I purchased that title, plus the next two in a compilation AND I thought I was getting 3 full novels, but nope -- more than short stories, but (at least to me) less than novellas. What do I base that assumption on? I started reading these on Monday night, August 21st, about 11:30 p.m. I finished reading the last of the three this afternoon, August 22nd, at a little after 2:30 p.m. I read at a pretty good clip, but even I couldn't read 3 full length novels in less than 24 hours. One -- yes. Three -- no. Now I note that the author is advertising this series as a "Season." So, a 6-episode Season 1, I guess. Maybe little tv scripts. Yes, I am rolling my eyes and shaking my head.

Okay, I've read Kate Baray's work before, in The Lost Library series. I thought I recognized the name Spirelli from that earlier series, although I didn't go back to it to check. While I liked that series, I didn't like the cliffhanger endings and thought the two main characters were hopelessly angst-ridden. So, I approached this series with some trepidation. I was pleasantly surprised that each "episode" is standalone and that the characters, while certain having some doubts and concerns, were confident and not prone to the overriding angst I'd seen in The Lost Library leads. It was also fun to see characters from The Lost Library series crop up in this one.

I find Baray's writing to be compelling, well-paced with smooth flow. The characters are believable, even when they are or do unbelievable things. There is a good balance of character development and action, with enough humor and character interaction to keep any reader happy. The editing was good, the proofreading in the first two was good -- not so much the third. I found a few errors or proofing misses in it. Also, like another author I read, this author likes to use the word scrubbed when she means rubbed. Yeah, I scrub my floors, I scrub my tub, I scrub pots and pans, and I have even, in my lifetime, used a scrub board to scrub clothes-- the only time I would "scrub" my face might be after a hot, sweaty, windy afternoon on my hands and knees in the garden. I rub my face (rarely). I brush my hands across my face. I wash my face. And, occasionally, I gently use a rough cloth with some cleansing beads on it. So, I kind of feel sorry for Jack Spirelli, but at least his face should be well exfoliated. (And no, I did not take any stars off for the author using a term I dislike -- but I did for the poor proofing of the third episode.

In the end, I like Spirelli Paranormal Investigations. And yes, my next read will be the Episodes 4-6 compilation, which, if it takes me the same amount of time to read as this first compilation, will leave me twiddling my thumbs until the following day when my new Kinsey Milhone is scheduled to arrive in my mailbox!
Profile Image for Marsha.
3,053 reviews58 followers
April 13, 2022
I have to admit that when I first read the synopsis for Spirelli Investigations I wasn’t sure if this book and series would be something I would be interested in. However, I was extremely pleased with the world building, characters and plot.

Jack Spirelli is a “human” paranormal investigator. Notice that I said “human “ because most of the people Jack deals with are paranormals such as witches, weres and vampires. He has a store front junk store he uses as a front but also where he meets potential clients.

Upon opening up the shop one day a red headed, green eyed woman walks into the store undetected and without setting off his wards. Her name is Marin and she is a dragon interested in applying for the unadvertised job Jack is seeking to fill. After coming to an agreement Jack and Marin are off to visit a client whose wife is missing and doesn’t want to report it to the police.

Jack and Marin are about to get into a situation they neither would have thought possible but now that they are knee deep into it they have more concerns than just a missing client. They are in for a fight for their lives. This was a quick and fun read with quirky characters who leave you wanting to know more. Each installment is like a weekly tv series and I had fun just delving into this new world. I can’t wait to read other installments to see what Jack and Marin are up to.
Profile Image for A.M..
Author 7 books58 followers
March 22, 2019
This fits in the Lost Library world. Jack Spirelli runs a junk shop as cover for his paranormal PI business and he needs an assistant.
Wanted: Paranormal investigator’s assistant. Complete discretion and some ass-kicking required. Part-time help in The Junk Shop mandatory. A high tolerance for the unexplainable preferred. (p. 2).

Marin is a dragon, and she wants the job for her own reasons.
Jack has to hire her fast, they’re needed on a missing spouse case.
***
The mystery is solved and leaves enough threads hanging to keep readers interested: why does Marin’s father want her out of the clan’s way? What is the furry rat-like creature living in the shop? And why do Jack’s family think he’s a fraud?
Kate offers the first two ‘episodes’ in her starter pack when you sign up to her mailing list.
On to episode 2.
3 stars
3,065 reviews13 followers
March 24, 2021
Episode one in the Spirelli Paranormal Investigations series is great fun. There's no world-building, just Jack in search of paranormal assistance as his business, both paranormal and in The Junk Shop he owns, has expanded.
Not that he is really looking hard, Jack prefers his own company.
Enter Marin Campbell, all woman, 100% dragon, all the time. She's 103 (make that 25 in human years) and she's willing to work for “Minimum wage. Forty hours a week, no overtime, no benefits.” She's somewhat reticent about her past but her reference passes muster.
And, as Jack notes, dragons are great for ass kicking!
Their first case concerns a missing witch and a deadly ghost from the past. It's inventively solved.
And, very much a plus for me, there's no cliffhanger.
It's short, I got through it in about 30 minutes so that leaves me plenty of time to move on to the next novella.
Profile Image for Donna.
1,750 reviews1 follower
October 20, 2017
Short story complete unto itself, although there are more episodes available. The main characters are Jack, a human who has access to magical objects, and his employee Marin, a dragon with a somewhat sketchy past.

Jack seems to go out of his way to piss off Marin by using incorrect terminology when discussing dragon-related topics. Although none is indicated in this volume, I sense a potential romance between the two.

This first case with them working together has its share of magic, danger and luck. It ends with Jack "coming out" with the news that he is a paranormal investigator. I don't think it bodes well for his familial relationships.

I'm curious as to what kind of creature is inhabiting his shop.


1,187 reviews4 followers
March 21, 2021
This is a wonderful, fun and quirky paranormal mystery that is full of unique characters. The characters are full of personality complete with strengths and weaknesses that draw you in to see what would happen. The storyline flows quickly and smoothly and is filled with surprises and activity. The character interaction is witty and interesting. I really enjoyed the story and look forward to reading more stories from this series.
Profile Image for B.C. Deeks.
Author 5 books22 followers
July 26, 2021
This is the first in an episodic series that reminds me of the Dresden files if Dresden had a hip young female dragon as a side kick. I’m not sure yet whether the author intends to develop a romantic component between the two main characters as there is a relative age gap in human years but their relationship has good chemistry which ever way it evolves. It’s an entertaining read and I am looking forward to the next case these two take on.
266 reviews2 followers
February 20, 2017
A new favorite author!

I enjoyed this new author, characters are well written, the premise both interesting, and able to surprise me! I'm going to find the next in this series and take things from there!
Profile Image for R.
360 reviews5 followers
July 6, 2017
This book was engaging and entertaining from start to finish. I thoroughly enjoyed it and heartily recommend it as a really fun read. Its different to any paranormal story I have ever read before, but in a good way. 10 out of 10!
72 reviews
August 22, 2017
Tasty tidbit

I loved this story. It would make a great first chapter. Unfortunately, I like my reading in larger doses. It takes real skill to tell a story as concisely as this though.
Profile Image for Midge.
121 reviews
October 19, 2017
I really enjoyed this paranormal mystery. I like the characters although I found Spirelli a bit curt and sometimes a bit rude to his dragon intern Marin. The mystery is really interesting and I liked how it was unusual, different but how the story has a satisfying ending.
Profile Image for Candice Azalea Greene.
Author 10 books11 followers
January 19, 2019
Engaging and well-written short story, emphasis on the short. That was the only "downside" to reading this book. I tend to read epic fantasy so I wouldn't have minded more story. I can't wait to read episode 2!
Profile Image for Hijinx Abound .
4,924 reviews44 followers
August 25, 2021
This book felt like I had missed a previous introduction into this world. Jumping into action, When done well, can be great. This book never goes back and builds the world. I felt disconnected from the story & the characters. It just did not work for me.
26 reviews
June 1, 2017
Good read

Well written and interesting characters. I am looking forward to reading the rest of the series. Maybe try something else of Kate's
101 reviews6 followers
August 17, 2017
Really enjoyed the first episode of SPI series. I look forward to reading the rest of the series. Kate Baray has made me a fan.
78 reviews1 follower
August 28, 2017
Good book

A good start to the series. The writing was good fast paced, with a good balance of action and character development. I expect to read the rest of the series over time.
16 reviews1 follower
November 3, 2017
Was fabulous!

Was different story line. No tragic love story, with dragons, spell casters and death wards! Going to have to read all the books now.
Profile Image for Enrique Ellis.
8 reviews5 followers
November 29, 2017
paranormal investigations always drag me right in. i don't believe in the paranormal, but i love the idea of it!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 78 reviews

Can't find what you're looking for?

Get help and learn more about the design.