Johnny Peppers has narrated 39 audiobooks on Listento.it by 5 authors, with an average listener rating of 4.6★ across 40 ratings. The most-rated is Mysteries, Thrillers and Killers: Crime Thriller Box Set.
Now You See Him
Summary
Jeremy Sawyer was having a great time on a party barge on Lake Travis, and then he was suddenly nowhere to be found. Had he jumped? Fallen off? Been pushed? Roy Ballard - an expert in catching insurance cheats - intends to find out. After all, Jeremy Sawyer was the nephew of one of his biggest clients, and she can't shake the suspicion that it wasn't an accident. It isn't long before Roy and his partner Mia Madison begin to draw the same conclusion.
©2017 Ben Rehder (P)2017 Ben Rehder
Better to Be Lucky
Summary
The trouble at the Conlee’s lakeside estate begins when vandals topple and destroy an expensive Italian fountain. Then they slash the tires and damage the paint job on a Jaguar. That’s when Roy Ballard's client, the insurance company, asks him to catch the vandal in the act and prevent future claims. Surprisingly, the homeowner, Norman Conlee, opposes the idea. He intends to address the problem himself by fencing the property and keeping his revolver handy. Eventually, though, he gives in, and Roy goes to work. It’s not long before the case escalates in a way nobody saw coming. Roy will need some luck to close this case before he winds up a victim himself.
©2020 Ben Rehder (P)2021 Ben Rehder
Buck Fever
Summary
Edgar Award-nominated author Ben Rehder's Blanco County comic mysteries have made best-of-the-year lists in Publishers Weekly, Library Journal, Kirkus Reviews, and Field & Stream. The novels have been optioned by Warner Brothers Horizon Scripted Television for development as a cable TV series. Buck Fever: It's the week before deer hunting season, as close to a statewide holiday as you get in Texas, and the locals are getting restless. Game Warden John Marlin has his hands full with poaching complaints coming in faster than he can write out-of-season tickets. Then a call of a different sort comes in. A man dressed up in some sort of deer costume has been shot at the Circle S ranch, and witnesses are reporting a massive wild-eyed buck prancing about the pasture in a lovesick frenzy. Marlin's seen a lot in his years, but this is wilder than he could have imagined: the man in the deer suit is a good friend, and the whacked-out whitetail isn't exactly a stranger either. It's the beginning of a mad, frantic weekend in Blanco County, one that will see a few more men shot, an invasion by Colombians with more than hunting on their minds, and damn near the end of Marlin's life. Ben Rehder serves it all up with a huge helping of humor in this debut comic mystery that will firmly establish him as the funniest crime writer in Texas.
©2002 Ben Rehder (P)2013 Ben Rehder
If I Had a Nickel
Summary
Alex Dunn owned one of the most valuable collections of hobo nickels in the world, and it appears somebody killed him for it. Now Roy Ballard and Mia Madison are hired by the insurance company to track the collection down, which means they might reveal the identity of the killer in the course of their investigation. But the more they dig, the more suspects they uncover, including Dunn's children, his ex-wife, and a buxom masseuse who takes a hands-off approach to the services she offers.
©2015 Ben Rehder (P)2016 Ben Rehder
Shake and Bake
Summary
Does Caleb Dimmick really work at his father’s motorcycle dealership, or does he simply ride the payroll, thereby giving his dad a nice tax break? Roy Ballard, a legal videographer specializing in insurance fraud, is hired to find out. After just a few days, Roy is convinced everything is legit - until a dealership employee is gunned down in his own backyard, possibly by an assassin on an orange sport bike. Now, with a large life insurance payout on the line, Roy needs to identify the killer. But the deeper Roy digs, the greater the risk grows, setting up a series of deadly confrontations that will shake him to his core.
©2019 Ben Rehder (P)2019 Ben Rehder
Free Ride
Summary
Safari Adventure is a small but popular zoo that entertains visitors from all over Texas - until one morning when most of the animals escape and a body is found on the premises. Game warden John Marlin works closely with the sheriff’s office, at first to capture the animals, and then to solve the mystery of the missing zookeeper. But local good old boys Red O’Brien and Billy Don Craddock just might figure it all out first, after they pick up a hitchhiker with a questionable past and some inside information that makes him a prime suspect.
©2020 Ben Rehder (P)2020 Ben Rehder
Reel Estate Rip-off
Summary
Lights! Camera! Reed! That's right - Reed Ferguson, the intrepid hero of This Doesn't Happen in the Movies, is back. A mysterious death. A brother searching for the truth. A devious ex-wife. Real estate shenanigans. More danger for Reed than a film noir plot.
©2011 Renee Pawlish (P)2014 Renee Pawlish
Elvis and the Sports Card Cheat
Summary
Reed Ferguson returns in an outrageously fun tale! Perry Rawlings, an Elvis impersonator, has his prize Mickey Mantle baseball card stolen. Who is the culprit? This tale will keep you guessing! Other books in The Reed Ferguson mystery series: Book 1: This Doesn't Happen In The Movies Book 2: Reel Estate Rip-off Book 3: The Maltese Felon Book 4: Farewell, My Deuce Book 5: Out Of The Past Book 6: Torch Scene Book 7: The Lady Who Sang High Book 8: Sweet Smell Of Sucrets (coming soon)
©2012 Renee Pawlish (P)2016 Renee Pawlish
Electing to Murder
Summary
Deep in Kentucky lake country, Wire hid behind an empty cabin in the pitch black night. She quickly realized she wasn't the only person carefully observing the secret late night meeting with night vision goggles when gun shots rang out... Ruthless killers...grizzly deaths...escalating stakes... A clandestine late night meeting in Kentucky, a murder in a seedy St. Paul motel, a mysterious investigator operating in the shadows and dueling political masterminds all collide to provide Mac McRyan with the ultimate test in Electing To Murder. NYT and USA Today best-selling author, Roger Stelljes, delivers an action packed story that is the 4th book in the McRyan Mystery Series. Stelljes' vivid characters, his gift for gritty and real behind the scenes dialog as well as his uncanny sense of place and time, will put you in the middle of the action allowing you to feel the desperation of Mac McRyan and his fellow detectives.
©3/1/2013 Roger Stelljes (P)2014 Roger Stelljes
The Third Fan
Summary
From the author of the acclaimed Reed Ferguson mystery series! Reed Ferguson returns in another mystery set in the world of professional baseball. When Charlie Preston, second baseman for the Colorado Rockies, is suspected of murdering his best friend, Pete Westhaven, he turns to Denver private investigator Reed Ferguson for help. Reed believes in Charlie’s innocence, so he takes the case. But as Reed digs into the murder victim’s past, he quickly finds himself ensnared in the clandestine underworld of illegal steroids. As the lists of suspects grows, Reed battles not only to solve the crime, but also to save the person he loves most. All of Reed’s pals are back in this humorous tale with a clever homage to film noir. Great for fans who love a fast-paced, humorous listen, without a lot of swearing or sex.
©2015 Renee Pawlish (P)2020 Renee Pawlish
Out of the Past
Summary
Compelled by a dark secret from his past, private investigator Reed Ferguson takes on his most unique case yet: bodyguard for young, spoiled trust-fund baby Stephanie McMahon. As Reed tries to protect her from her father's enemies, he gets more than he bargained for. Things are not what they seem, no one can be trusted, and the past has a way of coming back to haunt us. And when suspicious deaths begin piling up, Reed knows he might be next.
©2014 Renee Pawlish (P)2015 Renee Pawlish
Blood Silence
Summary
She held her breath, her arms shaking, and it felt as though her heart was going to explode out of her chest. Go away, she thought. You're done. You've killed me - now leave. Tainted water. Dead bodies. Blood silence. Two people are coldly executed behind a bar in Washington DC. A high-powered lawyer and his beautiful client are brutally slaughtered in a lake house in a suburb west of Minneapolis. Two cases separated by 1,000 miles and connected by one man - Mac McRyan. In a tale of money and blood that hits a little too close to home, Mac is forced to confront his tumultuous past. Blood Silence is a web of unsettling twists, startling turns, and unforeseen redemption with each chapter adding a layer of intrigue that will pull you in further.
©2015 Roger Stelljes (P)2016 Roger Stelljes
Farewell, My Deuce
Summary
Reed Ferguson returns in his most harrowing adventure yet! Life and the detecting business are running smoothly for private eye Reed Ferguson until one of the Goofball Brothers goes missing. Reed leads the search and soon discovers Deuce's connection to some unscrupulous characters. As Reed learns more about Deuce's activities, the clues point to intrigue, danger, and death. But will Reed find his friend alive, or will it be Farewell, My Deuce?
©2013 Renee Pawlish (P)2015 Renee Pawlish
Sweet Smell of Sucrets
Summary
Amazon number one best-selling author - over one million books in circulation. From the author of This Doesn't Happen in the Movies, a readers' favorite finalist in mystery, join Reed Ferguson on another harrowing crime caper! In a nightmarish turn of events, Reed finds himself the prime suspect in the murder of Denver private investigator Noel Farrell. Wrongly accused but unable to provide a convincing alibi, Reed has to work overtime to clear his own name. As Reed untangles a complex trail of clues, he learns that Farrell had discovered something much more disturbing than the usual, run-of-the-mill PI case and had attempted to contact Reed for help. Unfortunately, whoever murdered Farrell wants Reed dead, too. But can Reed find the killers before they get to him? Filled with the usual dose of film noir and humor, the eighth book in this acclaimed mystery series brings back all of Reed’s cohorts, including girlfriend Willie, Cal, and the Goofball Brothers. Praise for Sweet Smell of Sucrets: "I loved the rest of the series and this one is no different." "Great mystery. Never know who's going to be guilty." Praise for the Reed Ferguson mystery series: "I love the Reed Ferguson series. Great story lines, interesting characters. Well written." "I love this series. I haven't miss any of the books and just ordered books nine and ten. Very enjoyable reading!" Praise for the acclaimed first novel in the Reed Ferguson mystery series, This Doesn't Happen in the Movies: "The promising kickoff to Pawlish's comic mystery series, starring far-from-perfect PI Reed Ferguson. Pawlish earns high marks for plot construction, with twists and turns naturally unfolding as Ferguson, inexperienced but not incapable, feels his way through the case. A good-humored mystery series worth following." - Kirkus Review "This is one witty, hilarious private detective story that will keep the reader glued to the pages until the very end." - Readers' Favorite
©2015 Renee Pawlish (P)2017 Renee Pawlish
Torch Scene
Summary
Denver private investigator Reed Ferguson is between cases when a house fire threatens to consume the home of his girlfriend, Willie. The police think it's arson, and they look to Willie - the owner of the building - as the logical suspect. Worse yet, when a body is found in the charred third-floor apartment, the police think Willie is the killer. Reed hops into action to clear her name, but as his own list of suspects grows, so does the danger. Can Reed find the culprit who committed murder, or will his investigation go up in flames?
©2014 Renee Pawlish (P)2016 Renee Pawlish
The Maltese Felon
Summary
Reed's back with a dose of humor and film noir that will keep you turning pages. When an attractive female client begs Reed Ferguson to find her prize-winning Maltese show dog stolen from her back yard, Reed suspects he may be channeling Ace Ventura: Pet Detective rather than his hero, Humphrey Bogart. It sounds like a simple case, but things take a dangerous turn and Reed discovers that man's-best-friend can attract some decidedly unfriendly characters!
©2012 Renee Pawlish (P)2014 Renee Pawlish
Back Story
Summary
Voted number one Best Indie Book of 2015 by ReadFREE.ly! Amazon number one best-selling author. The past and the present collide with stunning results in the latest Reed Ferguson mystery. Potential client Brad Webb asks Denver private investigator Reed Ferguson to look into the decades-old murder of Brad's grandfather, Dewey Webb. Dewey was a Denver-based private detective who died mysteriously in 1955, and although Reed is intrigued, he doesn't see much promise in solving the case. After all, the police didn't find Dewey's killer at the time, and 70 years have passed, leaving a cold trail. However, Reed accepts the case, and as he is drawn back into both the underworld and the elite society of 1950s Denver, he realizes that Dewey had discovered secrets that someone still wants to keep hidden today, even if it means resorting to murder. Can Reed piece together old and new clues to find the killer, or will the past comeback to harm him? Great for fans who love a fast-paced, humorous read, without a lot of swearing or sex. The Reed Ferguson mystery series: This Doesn't Happen In the Movies Reel Estate Rip-off The Maltese Felon Farewell, My Deuce Out Of the Past Torch Scene The Lady Who Sang High Sweet Smell of Sucrets The Third Fan Back Story Night of the Hunted The Postman Always Brings Dice Short story: Elvis and the Sports Card Cheat
©2015 Renee Pawlish (P)2021 Renee Pawlish
The Reed Ferguson Mystery Series, Box Set
Summary
Now in a single box set - the first three action-packed and humorous Reed Ferguson mysteries, plus a Reed Ferguson short story. Reed Ferguson loves film noir and classic detective fiction, and he wants more than anything to emulate his hero, Humphrey Bogart. So Reed tries his hand at the detecting business and what follows is a humorous journey into suspense territory. This Doesn't Happen in the Movies (Book 1) A wannabe private eye with a love of film noir and detective fiction. A rich, attractive femme fatale. A missing husband. A rollicking ride to a dark and daring ending. Reed Ferguson's first case is a daring adventure, complete with a dose of film noir, and a lot of humor. With a great supporting cast of the Goofball Brothers, Reed's not too bright neighbors, and Cal, Reed's computer geek friend, This Doesn't Happen in the Movies is detective noir at its best. Follow Reed as he solves crime akin to his cinematic hero, Humphrey Bogart. Reel Estate Rip-Off (Book 2) Lights! Camera! Reed! A mysterious death. A brother searching for the truth. A devious ex-wife. Real estate shenanigans. More danger for Reed than a film noir plot. Reed Ferguson's second adventure is again filled with film noir and humor. Along with the Goofball Brothers, Reed's not too bright neighbors, and Cal, Reed's computer geek friend, Reed tackles a dangerous case, sharpening his skills as he unearths a string of clues that lead to a killer - but will this case cost Reed his life? With an ode to old Hollywood and movie memorabilia, Reel Estate Rip-Off is humorous detective noir at its best. The Maltese Felon (Book 3) When an attractive female client begs Reed Ferguson to find her prize-winning Maltese show dog stolen from her backyard, Reed suspects he may be channeling Ace Ventura: Pet Detective rather than his hero, Humphrey Bogart. It sounds like a simple case, but things take a dangerous turn and Reed discovers that man's best friend can attract some decidedly unfriendly characters! "Elvis and the Sports Card Cheat" (Bonus Short Story) Reed Ferguson returns in an outrageously fun short story! Perry Rawlings, an Elvis impersonator, has his prize Mickey Mantle baseball card stolen. Who is the culprit? This tale will keep you guessing! If you're a fan of fun, suspenseful mysteries, don't miss this collection that's a fast-paced, humorous listen, without a lot of swearing or sex.
©2012 Renee Pawlish (P)2016 Renee Pawlish
This Doesn't Happen in the Movies
Summary
A wannabe private eye with a love of film noir and detective fiction. A rich, attractive femme fatale. A missing husband. A rollicking ride to a dark and daring ending. Reed Ferguson's first case is a daring adventure, complete with a dose of film noir, and a lot of humor. With a great supporting cast of the Goofball Brothers, Reed's not too bright neighbors, and Cal, Reed's computer geek friend, This Doesn't Happen in the Movies is detective noir at its best. Follow Reed as he solves crime akin to his cinematic hero, Humphrey Bogart.
©2011 Renee Pawlish (P)2014 Renee Pawlish