Reel Estate Rip-Off

Reed Ferguson Mystery #2

by Renee Pawlish

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. Reed Ferguson's second adventure is again filled with film noir and a lot of 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.

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Mystery Thriller, Cozy, Amazon, Crime

244 pages, Paperback

First published October 30, 2011

About the author

From the time she was ten and tried to write her own detective series in the fashion of the Hardy Boys, Renée Pawlish has been developing her craft. Along with creative writing classes, Renée studied great writers like Dashiell Hammett, Rex Stout, Stephen King, Sue Grafton and many more. Once Renée graduated from college, she began her first novel. Now, all these years later, she has penned numerous books in a variety of genres.

Renée was born in California, but has lived most of her life in Colorado. When she's not hiking, cycling, or chasing ballplayers for autographs, she is writing mysteries and thrillers. She also has some middle grade novels waiting to be published.

Renée loves to travel and has visited numerous countries around the world. She has also spent many summer days at her parents' cabin in the hills outside of Boulder, which was the inspiration for the setting of Taylor Crossing in her novel Nephilim: Genesis of Evil.

The Reed Ferguson Mystery Series
This Doesn't Happen In The Movies
Reel Estate Rip-off

The Nephilim Trilogy
Nephilim Genesis of Evil
Books Two and Three soon to be released

The Noah Winter YA Adventure Series
The Emerald Quest

Take Five
A short story collection that includes a Reed Ferguson tale.

The Sallie House: Exposing the Beast Within
A non-fiction book about one of the most haunted houses in America.

To learn more you can follow her on Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/reneepawlish....

on her blog:
http://tobecomeawriter.wordpress.com/

on Twitter:
http://twitter.com/reneepawlish

Reviews

[Kevin Mclauchlan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm currently reading "The Maltese Felon", taking Pawlish's Reed Ferguson series in order, which means that I read "This Doesn't Happen in the Movies" and enjoyed it enough to read "Reel Estate Rip-Off", which I enjoyed enough to... well, you get the idea.

Pretty good.

Reed Ferguson is not quite Kinsey Millhone, yet, but he's growing. The tone is generally light (well, as light as a murder mystery can be) but Pawlish doesn't overdo it. It's not laugh-out-loud funny, in the manner of Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum stories, but then it's not meant to be... just some wit and charm in otherwise well-plotted and serious stories.

I don't like to see Reed getting the crap beat out of him (being the empathetic sort that I am), but I appreciate that he stays wounded for a while after an accident or an assault. He doesn't bounce back like some TV superman detective with nary a hair out of place. He doesn't formulate a complex and convoluted solution in his head from a few scraps of evidence, like some modern Sherlock; rather he pokes around, asks questions, beats bushes, and generally does the grunt work of detecting, to get to a resolution.

Any detective, private or police, needs some element of luck, but Pawlish never overdoes that. Reed earns his way to catching the bad guys.

The plot does move right along and doesn't rely on grossly-contrived twists and 'deus ex machina' to get from point A to point B. Pawlish has been paying attention in her formal and informal studies. Good on her. I hope she writes more of this - I'll buy 'em.

[Glen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun mystery. Reed Ferguson is hired by a man to find out whether his brother was killed in an accident or...murder. Reed starts poking around, and finds that the brother had a valuable movie poster, despite being poor as a churchmouse. How did he get it? This leads Ferguson to a little real estate chicanery, and a couple of beating.

Breezy and light, but entertaining.

[Laura Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reed was ready to start the weekend. Hang with his buddies and relax.
His plans changed when Jack Healy introduced himself. He wanted to hire Reed to find his brother's killer or killers.
Reed's response is, "I'll take it."
There are the usual questions:
Why would anyone want to kill his brother?
Did he have any enemies?
What's up with the ex-wife?
Any trouble with the law?

The cast of characters:
The Goofball brothers Ace and Deuce. They are the comic relief and add seasoning and laughs to the story.
Cal, computer geek and genius, is up to his usual tricks. Digging out the secrets that people want to keep buried.
Willie. Reed's new neighbor. Could she be a love interest? He is really crushing on her, but she gently rebuffs his advances.
"Reed. I like you. A lot. Even before I broke up with Alan, I was tempted to go out with you. But you want to know why I won't?"
"Because you need time to get over Alan?"
She shook her head. "That's only part of the reason. I don't want to get involved with you and then find out that you've been hurt or killed."
"C'mon. I got shot in the rear as I was diving to the floor."
"But, it could have been any number of ways," Willie pointed out. "I've seen it happen before. You were lucky it was only your ass."
Reed is a man's man. His enthusiasm and sarcastic humor is contagious and reaches out to grab you. He does have a lighter side.
His mother is a real card:
"Hello, dear." My mother's high-pitched voice carried over the phone lines like a parrot on cocaine. "You sound groggy. Why is it every time I call, you're asleep? Does this have something to do with that detective work? Are you on drugs? Paul," she yelled away from the phone, "your son's on drugs, I just know it."

The investigation gets serious. Events start steam rolling. The s-curves of the investigation keep it exciting and interesting with plenty of hairpin turns. Jump on the speeding train and hang on.
The ending is gift-wrapped with a shiny bow on top. I was left feeling sated, with a little smile on my face. It was a pleasure all the way.

I wonder what will happen between Reed and Willie?

Happily, I discovered that their are two more Reed Ferguson Mysteries.
Elvis and The Sports Card Cheat
The Maltese Felon.
You can be sure I will be reading these.

[Hubert · Rating 3 out of 5]

The series is light-hearted fun. In this book, Reed's detective career continues to expand, following much of the same outline as the first in the series. Reed is confused, beaten, helped by friends, and cleverly uses his movie knowledge to solve the mystery. A book that is something like comfort food, you don't expect to be surprised, too much. Anyway, I rate this as 3 stars not because it is poorly done, but because I, personally, find the lack of true suspense to be kind of boring. That said, if you like the first book in the series, read this one too, and make up your own mind if you want to invest time in continuing to the next.

[Tex · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cozy-type mystery sorta like Murder She Wrote if Lenny and Squiggy live upstairs from Sam Spade. Set in the early 2000’s when cell phones were newish and there were still pay phones in use, the internet was still an expert’s playground, and Starbucks were not ubiquitous. This time, we have a man who wants to know who killed his loser brother. Loads of old movie references.

[Literary Chanteuse · Rating 4 out of 5]

We again are taken on another case with the amateur detective but not to be fooled. In this book he has certainly sharpened his skills which includes his witty banter and with the help of his interesting friends he manages to solve the mystery. Still with a touch of noir and ode to old Hollywood. I'm actually giving this one a 4.5 because I liked the first slightly more however this is still a really good mystery book.

[Kathleen Rowland · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reed Ferguson is an engaging amateur detective. Talented writer Renee Pawlish gives THE REEL ESTATE RIP-OFF a Hitchcock twist, making the reader think Reed might have something terrible up his sleeve. There were fascinating story threads, and Pawlish tied everything together with a great conclusion.

[Janet · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fun, relaxing, kick-back book to read! I love the way this author develops the characters and the story. Reed is on the trail again! A secret passage, movie memorabilia, and his friends (particularily the Goofball Brothers) make for a fun and zany read.

[Maya Shenoi · Rating 4 out of 5]

just awesome.

[Elisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another light-hearted murder mystery with a few twists. I love the humor, great characters and stories they are entertaining reads.

[Anne Fox · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another good one by Renee Pawlish. My editor's eye caught only two minor errors as well.

Reed Ferguson is at it again, this time tasked with finding the killer of his client's brother. Being a novice P.I., he makes his usual number of gaffs while gradually figuring out just what the heck is a-goin' on here. His love of old movies plays prominently in this book, taking center stage from the dead man's ex-wife who is suspected of being his murderer. But why? That's the question that gnaws at Reed as he continues to pursue the case.

Just as in the first installment, the plot takes its twists and turns, seemingly following the mind of Reed himself as the story is told from his perspective. The reader finds oneself following along, trying along with Reed to get to the truth. In the first book, he gets shot in the derriere; in this one, his butt gets bitten in only the figurative sense, while his head takes the brunt of the impacts from blunt objects. In spite, however, of being back and blue, with stitches in his scalp, and sporting a horrendous haircut, he manages to deduce the reason for the crime, finally finding himself confronted by the killer, who naturally is also his assailant.

If you want a book that probably portrays what real detective work is like, the Reed Ferguson series just might be your binge-read of choice.

On to Book 3!

[Beverly · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoy Renee Pawlish's Reed Ferguson. His idol is Humphrey Bogart, so he's decided to be a private detective just like him in The Maltese Falcon. He has a gun but doesn't carry it, as he's not very proficient with it. His neighbors, Ace and Deuce Smith, who he calls the Goofball Brothers, aren't very bright, but they help him out now and again with stakeouts. Winnie, an emergency room nurse, lives across the street. She likes him but is leery of getting involved because he has a tendency to get the crap beat out of himself. He's a film noir movie buff and uses aliases like Sam Spade when gathering information from people. His best childhood friend, Cal, a serious computer research expert, AKA hacker, helps him out with research on persons of interest. These characters are all in this edition. Reel Estate Rip-Off centers on a real estate agent (who lost everything when the real estate market bottomed out) who may or may not have been murdered who had a very expensive vintage film poster on the wall in his extremely sparsely furnished apartment. Reed's research into his real estate deals shows one property that had two contracts on it. Very interesting.

[Gary · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fun mystery. Reed Ferguson is a somewhat bumbling detective with some unusual friends, but the story is a good one. The guy gets himself into some tight spots and gets knocked around a little, but never gives up. His methods are unorthodox to say the least. He doesn't have much finesse. but must be a very likeable guy. In this story he is hired by the brother of a man who dies of what has been ruled an accident, but the brother doesn't think it was an accident. Along the way to solving the mystery, Reed has some fun with friends who help him out of tight spots and help him solve the case. As an extra bonus the story is also educational...if you are interested in old movies. Wink, wink.

[Nina · Rating 3 out of 5]

I would classify this as amusing and mindless airplane reading. Second in a series, of which I did not read the first, but it wasn't necessary to quickly catch up on the lead character. The protagonist, a Denver private investigator with a passion for all things film noir, uses his arcane knowledge of movie memorabilia to solve a murder case (and to prove it was murder and not an accident in the first place). He is assisted by his best friend, a computer genius (all modern mysteries require such a friend in the plot), and two goofy brothers who are his neighbors (all light-hearted novels require goofy sidekicks).

[Lyle Nicholson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Renee Pawlish is an engaging author. Her series of a recreation of the hard-boiled detective (with feelings) is an interesting niche market. This book moves along quickly with the amateur detective finding lots of trouble and meeting numerous interesting characters.

However, I found myself not really enjoying this genre. Perhaps it was the setting in Denver with the premise of a search for Hollywood Memorabilia, maybe LA would have suited this better? I'm not sure. This book is well written, good dialogue, however, I'm not the old detective story type. If this is your genre you will enjoy this.

[Scott Kalas · Rating 5 out of 5]

A reading past my bedtime read

The second Reed Ferguson Mystery was just as good as the first. I read it into the night. It is rare these days a book captivates me from my sleep.😴

A couple of weak spots, but detailing them would be a spoiler and spoil I try not to do. The series is still a clean read. Some sexual descriptions work with the story but very mild. I enjoy it when Renee references an old classic like the 1946 version of the Killers with Burt Lancaster.

I am looking forward to number three, The Maltese Felon. I also like the play on words in the titles and movie classics.

[Janet Graham · Rating 5 out of 5]

Modern-Day Gumshoe and Black and White Classic Movies
This is a very good book. It is the second in a long series. I think it is best to read these in order so that the reader can keep track of the background info. As far as the mystery goes, the books can be read in any order as they are complete in themselves. This story is all about movie memorabilia from the turn of the last century. I got pretty excited to just learn new stuff about old movies. The book has its lighthearted moments, but the detective work takes its toll. I am going to start book 3 because I think I will be binge-reading this series!

[Jeff Benham · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am really liking this series. A bicyclist goes for a ride in the mountains and goes over the edge. The police call it an accident but his brother doesn't think so and hires Reed to find out what really happened. The victim was a real estate agent who had made some bad decisions and was broke. He did have a Bogie movie poster in his house, but little else. There doesn't seem to be a motive for murder, but he was afraid of heights, so why would he be up on the mountain? The rest of the cast is back to assure a good time.

[robin pollack · Rating 4 out of 5]

Maybe it’s the movie buff in me but I love this series

This is a really fun series with some great characters and always a good mystery. Reed is beginning his new career as a private detective, he has great instincts and cool friends who provide lots of entertainment while he solves his cases. It’s a good storyline that has the right amount of mystery and drama and is very readable. For me, it’s a nice shift from the hard boiled thrillers that I usually read. I’m looking forward to reading the next book.

[Shayla Markham · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another Reed Ferguson Mystery Novel Readers Won't Want to Put Down!

Renee Pawlish puts detective Reed Ferguson into a compelling real estate mystery when his friend's realtor brother turns up dead , found over a cliff from an apparent accident. But, the deceased was known to hate both bicycling and heights! Mix in great characters, humor, plenty of puzzles that twist and turn, and fascinating history about Hollywood celebs and memorabilia!! A great read!!

[Donna Dolf · Rating 5 out of 5]

Detective story and movie noir

I really like the Reed Ferguson detective stories. Reed is hired to figure out if his client's brother was murdered. He stirs up trouble with his questions until the murderer tells him the whole story, on video no less. The movie memorabilia described on the way adds an interesting facet to the story. The goofball brothers are funny. A good little mystery.

[Brooke · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reed is always a joy to be around. He's a man's man who is smart and genuine. Where are men like Reed these days? This is the second in the series but you feel right at home like you've been reading it for years. The supporting cast is fun and enjoyable and the mystery keeps you on your toes. Definitely worth your time.

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some nice growth on our novice detective's part as well as his "Scooby gang". These are fun, quick reads. No, they're Not hard to solve and yes, you can probably figure out about 20 things our novice detective did or did Not do that you would probably do differently. 🤨 He's No Poirot-alright. But the books are fun detective noir romps and they do what they're trying to do well.

[Weiping Yin · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fantastic rookie detective

A young man happens to like the job of private detective. In the process of finding the truth about a apparent suicide to its actual murder, the rookie told us a lot about the history of Oscar, the triumphs and actors. It is fantastic and never boring.

[Liz Warwick · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very enjoyable read. Flowed well and had me wincing and smiling along with our hero.

A lovely read. Good old fashioned whodunnit beautifully written and well crafted. Read it. You know you want to. Am off to find the next book: 'The Maltese Felon' I believe.

[John · Rating 3 out of 5]

I accidentally read this book in the series before I read Book #1. As a result, I found it a bit hard to 'get a grip' on the main character. I may need to return to this review once I've read the first book.

Reasonably good story though.

[Laurie Hanan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another fun case with one of my favorite private eyes, Reed Ferguson. A baffling mystery, plenty of suspense, some rough-and-tumble, but no graphic violence, sex, or swearing. Just loads of good clean fun with a satisfying ending.

[LeAnne · Rating 4 out of 5]

I always enjoy reading the Reed Ferguson series. I've read several. Good, likeable characters. Private Eye detective film noir type stories. Reed is a big 1940's movie buff, especially Bogart. I recommend this series.

[IMHO · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Reel Estate Rip-off"
( The second book in the Reed Ferguson Mystery Series )
continues as film noir loving detective Reed investigates the
death of a realtor for the dead man's brother.

Renee Palish is on MY MUST READ LIST and is Highly Recommended.

[Heidi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm reading this series out of order, but it really doesn't matter because the characters are so enjoyable and the story lines are believable. I haven't read a book yet in this series that disappointed me.