The Modern Detective

“It is part memoir, part how-to guide, a celebration of the analytical and interpersonal intelligence that makes a great investigator….It takes nothing away from Maroney’s fascinating account to say that the gap between the profession’s noblest aspirations and its customary activities is a subject worth investigating.” — The New Yorker “Using his superb reporting and writing skills, journalist-turned-gumshoe Tyler Maroney has produced one of the best books to take us behind the scenes into the fascinating world of private investigation. I found The Modern Detective riveting.” —William Cohan, bestselling author of The Last Tycoons and House of Cards "A modern-day shamus, Tyler Maroney operates as a one of the good guys in an industry of shady operators who hack, pretext, and impersonate others to get their information. Taking us from Mombasa to Beirut, into a prison and then into the hard drive of a hedge fund‘s computer, Maroney explains how he operates as a principled intelligence gatherer, ferreting out corruption and even serving the public good. His tale is a how-to for dogged and ethical sleuthing. It‘s also a hell of a lot of fun." —Jesse Eisinger, author of The Chickenshit Club: Why the Justice Department Fails to Prosecute Executives “Part charming memoir, part gripping thriller, The Modern Detective offers a fascinating look at a secretive and deeply influential industry.” —Sheelah Kolhatkar, bestselling author of Black Edge “Tyler Maroney takes the reader behind the scenes with the largely unknown investigators and researchers who work to make a difference around the world. This book is a must-read for those seeking to understand how this growing professional class holds government officials accountable, advances factual reporting, and exposes corporate wrongdoing.” —Daniel J. Jones, former lead investigator for the Senate Intelligence Committee and founder of Advance Democracy, Inc. “Former journalist turned PI Tyler Maroney’s new book should be the Bible for those who want to be private investigators and for those who want to find out precisely what it is that private investigators can find out. The book is part memoir, part how-to, and entirely engrossing.” —Bethany McLean, contributing editor at Vanity Fair and author of The Smartest Guys in the Room, All The Devils Are Here, and Saudi America “Tyler Maroney’s insightful, and counterintuitive, take on the vital role private investigators play in society will appeal to fans of narrative journalism and noir fiction alike. He recounts how savvy private eyes help to reform the criminal justice system, expose official wrongdoing, uncover financial frauds, assess business deals, and satisfy curiosities.” —Barry Scheck, Co-Founder of The Innocence Project and author of Actual Innocence