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Target Pool
When ad exec Diana Lane scores a hot new sales lead, it seems like her string of bad luck has come to an end. But the new ad campaign exhibits odd behavior, prompting Lane to suspect it's linked to a recent assassination attempt by political extremists. As she investigates whether the client's ads are being used to distribute surveillance software, Diana is torn between looking the other way for an easy payout and risking her own life by trying to uncover the truth.
In this debut novel by a real advertising technology exec, the mechanics of the surveillance economy are laid bare. Inspired in part by real life events and actual technology vulnerabilities, Target Pool examines how advertising exists in a grey area between necessary — and necessary evil.
Reviews:
“This debut novel is both a gripping thriller and a thought-provoking commentary on how much we’re watched in the digital age.”
“It was captivating and is a mix of mystery with a splash of surfing and technology.”
“Target Pool by S.A. Black was such a fun read. I definitely recommend it to anyone who wants a little mystery.”
In this debut novel by a real advertising technology exec, the mechanics of the surveillance economy are laid bare. Inspired in part by real life events and actual technology vulnerabilities, Target Pool examines how advertising exists in a grey area between necessary — and necessary evil.
Reviews:
“This debut novel is both a gripping thriller and a thought-provoking commentary on how much we’re watched in the digital age.”
“It was captivating and is a mix of mystery with a splash of surfing and technology.”
“Target Pool by S.A. Black was such a fun read. I definitely recommend it to anyone who wants a little mystery.”
249 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 27, 2025
3 people are currently reading
12 people want to read
About the author
S.A. Black
1 book9 followersS. A. BLACK is an American writer, technologist, and executive. Black is the author of the novel Target Pool, a thriller with a plot centered around the surveillance economy. A lifelong writer and the author of numerous short stories, Black has also written extensive nonfiction work about advertising and technology, published in the national and advertising trade press. Black is a lover of the outdoors, travel, cooking, and a dedicated reader.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
November 7, 2025
Frankly, the jargon in the middle nearly lost me, but then the ethical dilemma Diana faces slams into high gear. It’s that constant tug-of-war between looking the other way for an easy out, and risking everything to expose a massive secret. I found myself impatient for the action, but that impatience is exactly the point. Is the conspiracy moving too slow, or are we just too late to stop it? It’s a compelling, unsettling read about the line between business as usual and a threat to democracy, and how easy it is to mistake one for the other.
October 19, 2025
For sure not a book that’s typically in my read stack but I enjoyed it. A thrill of a ride that catches your attention with the mystery and suspense
November 7, 2025
If you’ve eveeeerrr felt like your phone is listening to you… this book is for you! The author is able to weave real world vulnerabilities into the plot, while maintaining not only your attention, but the pace of the book!! We are heeeereee for the corporate drama 😝 This book almost felt like it hit a little TOO close to home because of the authenticity! It truly felt like you were apart of the political plot. Thank you so much for reaching out to us to have us read your book!
July 21, 2025
Target Pool is a mix of mystery, thriller and surfing. Add in a healthy dose of advertising detail and a spattering of tech jargon and you’ve got a story that isn’t 100% sure what genre it wants to be.
Our protagonist, Diana, is fairly fleshed out. She’s an established advertising lead who knows enough to sell herself and the company she works for, but isn’t full tech-nerd. She’s a surfer, which helps calm her anxieties and stresses from an overly busy and time-stealing job. She’s a bit of a nebulous being that doesn’t quite gel in my opinion.
I liked her, but I did feel like her advertising side and her surfing side were too different to reconcile into one character. She felt most real when she was enjoying the natural art establishments near her house, over either the surf or work. And her thoughts on the coffee shops locally to her also felt more real than some of her other quirks.
The supporting cast was perhaps a little large and too varied, but I can also understand why. I thought Cissy would play a more pivotal role given how much realestate she took early on and Nico just sort of flapped helplessly in the wings.
The main part that ruined this story for me was the pace going into the climax. It was so fast it felt anti-climatic and brushed under the rug. The scene in question was over before it had even really begun.
Overall, this has the bones of a good story, it just needs a little massaging to improve on pacing, add some more flesh to the characters and perhaps throw in a few red herrings to support having a wider supporting cast.
The advertising guff was in-depth given the author’s real world experience in this field, but it wasn’t overly so. Complex ideas and concepts were explained in a manner that a reader with zero advertising experience should be able to grasp. Well done!
The text could do with another run through from an editor, mainly line edits.
A few things I noticed:
43% - …handsome Black (unsure why it is capitalised) man…
45% - …and outlInes (capital I) the ad formats…
46% - … before you go to (delete to) back to the client…
59% - Had she had (delete had) inadvertently…
94% - What could had (delete had) she have said…
- … stood to off (swap to and off) one side of the driveway…
*Note: I was provided an electronic copy of this book from the Author.*
Our protagonist, Diana, is fairly fleshed out. She’s an established advertising lead who knows enough to sell herself and the company she works for, but isn’t full tech-nerd. She’s a surfer, which helps calm her anxieties and stresses from an overly busy and time-stealing job. She’s a bit of a nebulous being that doesn’t quite gel in my opinion.
I liked her, but I did feel like her advertising side and her surfing side were too different to reconcile into one character. She felt most real when she was enjoying the natural art establishments near her house, over either the surf or work. And her thoughts on the coffee shops locally to her also felt more real than some of her other quirks.
The supporting cast was perhaps a little large and too varied, but I can also understand why. I thought Cissy would play a more pivotal role given how much realestate she took early on and Nico just sort of flapped helplessly in the wings.
The main part that ruined this story for me was the pace going into the climax. It was so fast it felt anti-climatic and brushed under the rug. The scene in question was over before it had even really begun.
Overall, this has the bones of a good story, it just needs a little massaging to improve on pacing, add some more flesh to the characters and perhaps throw in a few red herrings to support having a wider supporting cast.
The advertising guff was in-depth given the author’s real world experience in this field, but it wasn’t overly so. Complex ideas and concepts were explained in a manner that a reader with zero advertising experience should be able to grasp. Well done!
The text could do with another run through from an editor, mainly line edits.
A few things I noticed:
43% - …handsome Black (unsure why it is capitalised) man…
45% - …and outlInes (capital I) the ad formats…
46% - … before you go to (delete to) back to the client…
59% - Had she had (delete had) inadvertently…
94% - What could had (delete had) she have said…
- … stood to off (swap to and off) one side of the driveway…
*Note: I was provided an electronic copy of this book from the Author.*
October 6, 2025
In Target Pool by S.A. Black, advertising executive Diana Lane lands a promising new client, but things quickly spiral when she suspects their ad campaign is more than it seems. As she digs deeper, she uncovers ties to political extremists and hidden surveillance technology, forcing her to choose between staying quiet for profit or risking everything to reveal the truth. This debut pulls back the curtain on the surveillance economy, blending thriller, mystery, and sharp insights into how ads and technology shape our daily lives.
This is a little out of my normal genre, but I found it really engaging. It puts into perspective how the advertising industry and technology as a whole operate, and how our phones really can “hear us.” I’ve experienced it myself: you mention something once, and suddenly ads appear everywhere. I also enjoyed the twist on how just having a little bit of data, and not caring enough about privacy, can cause major damage in the wrong hands. Sadly, the book shows just how easy it is to get that info.
I liked this book and truly recommend it. ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4 stars)
Thank you, S.A. Black!
This is a little out of my normal genre, but I found it really engaging. It puts into perspective how the advertising industry and technology as a whole operate, and how our phones really can “hear us.” I’ve experienced it myself: you mention something once, and suddenly ads appear everywhere. I also enjoyed the twist on how just having a little bit of data, and not caring enough about privacy, can cause major damage in the wrong hands. Sadly, the book shows just how easy it is to get that info.
I liked this book and truly recommend it. ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4 stars)
Thank you, S.A. Black!
September 19, 2025
"Target Pool" by SA Black is a thrilling dive into the shadowy intersection of advertising and surveillance, seen through the eyes of Diana Lane, an ad exec caught in a web of danger and deception. The story’s tension builds as Diana uncovers unsettling truths about her new campaign, forcing her to choose between safety and exposing a sinister plot. The author’s insider knowledge shines, giving readers a rare look into the vulnerabilities of the surveillance economy and the ethical gray areas of modern advertising. This debut novel is both a gripping thriller and a thought-provoking commentary on how much we’re watched in the digital age.
August 27, 2025
Loved the story line and the representation of all of the characters! I do love a happy ending from time to time. The one and only thing I would change would be the extreme detail about how to do advertising and things of that nature. I read for entertainment. Not necessarily to learn about how to do something I'll never do nor am I interested in. Aside from that, I really liked it!!!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 6, 2026
The prologue immediately pulled me in and set the tone for an engaging read. I really enjoyed the author’s writing style, which made the story easy to sink into from the start.
One of the most surprising elements was how naturally sales and marketing were worked into the plot. I went in with zero background knowledge in either, yet it stayed interesting and never felt heavy or confusing. Instead, it added an unexpected layer to the story.
The characters are likeable with a touch of mystery, keeping things intriguing as the plot unfolds. The pacing ramps up nicely toward the end, where the story becomes especially exciting and satisfying.
Overall, this was a really neat and entertaining read that I would happily recommend.
One of the most surprising elements was how naturally sales and marketing were worked into the plot. I went in with zero background knowledge in either, yet it stayed interesting and never felt heavy or confusing. Instead, it added an unexpected layer to the story.
The characters are likeable with a touch of mystery, keeping things intriguing as the plot unfolds. The pacing ramps up nicely toward the end, where the story becomes especially exciting and satisfying.
Overall, this was a really neat and entertaining read that I would happily recommend.
July 26, 2025
Enjoyable and captivating thriller! Fun to read and timely; pulls you in and keeps you turning pages to see what happens next.
August 29, 2025
This book gets you thinking in lots of ways, from advertising in general and how it works, to how it feels like we’re being targeted for ads on social media (okay, are being, it isn’t just a feeling). Then we throw in the current thing that is giving people concerns, for good reason, artificial intelligence and how that might figure into this. The result is something that should get you thinking, put you on guard, and just might make you feel a little bit paranoid, but justifiably so.
But woven in with this scary stuff is a lot of fun stuff. I’ve never been surfing nor will I ever be doing that, but the protagonist is an avid surfer and you’ll feel like you’re on the waves with her at times which is quite an adventure. If you love the city of San Francisco and surrounding area as much as I do then the descriptions of it as the protagonist enjoys her city and describes different parts of it will pull you in. If you aren’t already a SF lover, this might help you realize that you’ve been missing out and want to visit someday. This all helped offset as well as contrast with the more intense parts of the book and helped make the story even better.
**Originally written for "Books and Pals" book blog. May have received a free review copy. **
But woven in with this scary stuff is a lot of fun stuff. I’ve never been surfing nor will I ever be doing that, but the protagonist is an avid surfer and you’ll feel like you’re on the waves with her at times which is quite an adventure. If you love the city of San Francisco and surrounding area as much as I do then the descriptions of it as the protagonist enjoys her city and describes different parts of it will pull you in. If you aren’t already a SF lover, this might help you realize that you’ve been missing out and want to visit someday. This all helped offset as well as contrast with the more intense parts of the book and helped make the story even better.
**Originally written for "Books and Pals" book blog. May have received a free review copy. **
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews