Dead Flowers

by J.M. Petrick

“J.M. Petrick is a soulful, inventive storyteller. I can’t wait to see what he does next.”

- Taylor Jenkins Reid

A washed-up child actor… A missing twin… Some stars burn out. Others vanish without a trace.

Identical twins Will and Billy Benson were once the beloved child-stars of a hit '90s sitcom. One abrupt cancellation, and thirty years later, they've been relegated to ‘Where Are They Now?’ status.

Will walked away from the spotlight and settled into obscurity as a security guard. Billy, unable to accept the end of his glory days, spent the intervening decades chasing a comeback, and spiraling further and further into addiction.

One night, Billy shows up at Will’s apartment, panicked, bloodied, and mumbling cryptically. Something happened. Something bad, but by morning, he's gone.

Now it’s up to Will to chase down clues and find his wayward twin. As he follows a trail of half-truths and faded memories, Will crosses paths with a cast of suspects pulled straight from Hollywood’s a seedy agent, a shifty pornstar, a misogynistic online influencer, and a stalker from their fan club days.

Piece by piece, Will unravels the mystery of his brother’s disappearance, only to discover that the truth is darker, and far more dangerous, than he ever imagined. Now, he’s running out of time… but the closer he gets to the truth, the closer he gets to being the next to disappear.

287 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 15, 2025

Reviews

[Bryan Lambert · Rating 5 out of 5]

I listened to the audiobook and was really impressed by the production. Great writing and voice acting.

[Kate Ryan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was one of the most fun mysteries I've read in a long time! The 90's TV show background makes for a really interesting blend of pop culture and noir, and the twists and turns kept me guessing right up until the end. I listened to the audiobook, and absolutely loved the additional music and sound effects - it made it feel like I was watching a movie!

For what at times is purely fun whodunnit, I wasn't expecting it to have such emotional depth or social commentary. Will goes through a pretty dramatic personal change, and he ends the book a very different person than he begins. There are also a lot of (very accurate) statements about the downsides of fame, and our culture's weird obsession with celebrities. I loved those added layers, and felt they gave the book more complexity than your average mystery.

Looking forward to what J.M. Petrick puts out next!

[Trevor Ortez · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Dead Flowers by J.M. Patrick

Dead Flowers is an interesting and emotional story about a former child actor whose best days seem far behind him—until one night when his twin brother unexpectedly reaches out, turning his life upside down.

I really enjoyed J.M. Patrick’s writing style and the way each character’s emotions came through so vividly. The pacing was perfect, and even though this is a work of fiction, it felt believable and grounded. I especially appreciated the nostalgic details and backstory that brought the 1990s to life.

I highly recommend Dead Flowers to anyone who enjoys mystery, character-driven stories, or Hollywood dramas. A solid 5 out of 5 stars.

[Arabella Glover · Rating 5 out of 5]

A thrilling journey through the underworld of the lost dreams of Hollywood. I loved following Will uncovering the mystery of his lost twin. Many plot turns and fun revelations along the ride. Noir pace and style frame the exploration of what fame means and how far people are willing to go to get it. Interesting to ponder child stars and their particular journey through life. A poignant lens on dysfunctional families and the inner child that lives within us all.

[Chris Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a lover of LA noir, this debut novel was right my alley. Written in the vain of Chandler and Hammett, it glides you through familiar noir territories but with a modern touch. Funny, thrilling and sad in a matter of pages, you’ll not be able to put down or I should say take out your AirPods as the audio book is made with a style that makes you feel as though your in the action with narrator.

[Akansha Chauhan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow. Just… wow. Put everything down and add "Dead Flowers" to your TBR right now.

I'm not kidding when I say this book hooked me from the very first page. It's one of those thrillers that you know is going to be special right from the start. The writing is just so incredibly good—it flows so well that you sink into the story without even realizing how much time has passed. I lost a significant amount of sleep because I physically could not put this down.

The pacing is absolutely perfect. The author has written every chapter unfolding a new twist that keeps you guessing. Just when I was sure I had it all figured out, the story would veer in a completely new direction. And that ending? It was a twist I genuinely did not see coming, and it was so satisfying and brilliantly executed.

But what really made this a 5-star read for me, beyond the fantastic thriller plot, was the heart. This book is so much more than just twists and turns. There were lines so beautifully written that they literally made me pause and just feel. The description of children as "dead flowers" was so haunting and poignant, it's an image that will stick with me for a long, long time. And the lyrics from the song "Hold On" that were woven throughout were just… everything.

Hold on, just a little bit longer,
Hold on, the dark is almost gone…

Those lines just hit me right in the chest every time. It's this emotional depth that elevates "Dead Flowers" from a great thriller to an unforgettable one.

Seriously, if you're a fan of psychological thrillers with real emotional depth and an ending that will leave you reeling, you need to read this. An absolute must-read. I cannot wait to see what this author does next!

I received an ARC of this book and I am leaving this review voluntarily. All the views are my own.

[Michael Be Reading · Rating 4 out of 5]

Once-famous twin child stars, Will and Billy Benson, now live very different lives: Will works as a security guard, while Billy struggles with addiction and lives for the possibility of a comeback. One night, a panicked and bloody Billy shows up at Will's apartment and then vanishes. Desperate to find his missing brother, Will follows a trail of clues and encounters a suspicious group of people from Hollywood's dark side. As he gets closer to the truth behind his brother's disappearance, Will uncovers a dangerous secret and realizes that he might be the next person to go missing.

I love a story that explores the underbelly of Hollywood and the lengths the rich and famous will go to keep their skeletons buried. Furthermore, this book was filled with incredible 90's TV nostalgia, so that was a great throwback to my childhood. I liked everything about the plot of this book and the final twist that I definitely did not see coming! However, I did have one significant issue with this book and it was with the audiobook production. This was like an entire audio dramatization experience, complete with music, sound effects, and character voices. While at times these components added excitement to the book, most of the time, for me, I found them to be incredibly distracting to the point where I couldn't hear the dialogue because the background music was so loud. The excessive sound effects also caused me to become distracted and I couldn't always focus on what was being said. I love the ambition of the completely unique audiobook experience, and I definitely think that style would be engaging and exciting for others. Overall, an engaging story with well developed characters, but this format was not my personal favorite.

[Genevieve Paquette · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was expecting funny, but I got “dispirited.” Despite the bait-and-switch, I thought it was good. I mean, I kept picturing the protagonist as a human Droopy Dog, he was so profoundly glum and downtrodden, and the musical accompaniment of the audio version didn’t help, but still. It was particularly topical, child stars and the Hollywood machine, heavily inspired by the Weinstein situation. I feel like the author took specific inspiration from both the Olsen twins and Macaulay Culkin, which could have gone very wrong, but it worked. There was a satisfying redemption arc, a certain amount of closure, and an overall sense of urgency that kept the pages turning. Solid writing, solid character development, good pacing, my only thing is, the big twist was set up in such a way that it was obvious from the get-go, so it lacked impact.

But yeah, for a book about a recently fired sad-sack avenging the death of his estranged deadbeat twin and confronting the traumas of their childhood, it was surprisingly entertaining. And I actually did laugh at one point. Hard. So that was a bonus. Generally, though, the vibe was melancholy and meditative, just something to bear in mind.

[Tanya Johnson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow—what a debut! While it had a bit of a slow start, it took off about 60% through and was full of unexpected twists and turns that kept me hooked til the end. I found myself rooting for the main character throughout, who carried the story with heart, grit, and humor.

The plot offered plenty of action and touched on some tough subjects. The humor felt fresh and genuine, making the emotional beats hit even harder. By the end it had made me both laughing AND crying!

I listened to the audiobook which was unlike most audiobooks out there. It elevated the story to a whole new level, with sound design and performances that made it feel cinematic.

I can’t wait to see what JM Petrick does next!

[Joshua Harding · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a fun listen, Keir O'Donnell did a fantastic job bringing life and depth to Willy Benson. I thought the story was really well paced, and had really good balance between flashbacks that enriched the listener's background knowledge and moving the plot along. I also really appreciate that the story itself was conceived of and intended for the audio format, this feels against the norm where audio seems to be an afterthought/add-on to a reading experience. The audio experience with the sound effects and background noises never feels distracting and adds to the immersive quality. I look forward to more stories from Joe Petrick.

[Meg Wallace · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is such a great read. It engages you from the first page and exposes the underbelly of fame and Hollywood with the tale of former child stars Will and Billy Benson. All of the characters are so vivid and the plot twists keep you hungrily wanting to know what will happen next. I really enjoyed every moment of this book and know you will too!

[Sam · Rating 4 out of 5]

This audiobook is an absolute ACHIEVEMENT, done by the author and a voice actor in a home studio.

[Keshia R. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Trigger Warning- There is Sexual Abuse mentioned in the book.

Good book! Full of twist and turns. I love the dramatizations of this story. Just when I thought the story was over, it wasn’t.