Unbalanced: Renegade Force

Detective Remy Ferguson Thriller Mystery Series #5

by Dan Grylles

When corruption strikes, justice hangs in the balance …

A Miami judge appears to have committed suicide. Rumored evidence of police abuses of authority has mysteriously disappeared. And two more officers have been lured into a hit .

Mere weeks after a bomber terrorized Miami’s citizens and the entire police force, Det. Remy Ferguson is thrust deeper into a dark web of danger that threatens his beloved city. The connection between the bombings, the suicide, and the murder of cops eludes his grasp, while a relentless reporter stays a step ahead.

Remy suspects that the alluded corruption and conspiracy run deep. Unsure who to trust within the justice system, Remy resorts to unconventional tactics to avoid detection of his investigation by those who may be leading a . . . renegade force.

The Renegade Force trilogy reveals how Remy Ferguson earns the right to be called Miami’s Best Detective!

“⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️I loved… the twists… the mix of characters… anticipating what could be in store for Remy next!” - series reader review

Follow Remy as his challenge unfolds in the explosive Renegade Force prequel trilogy within the Det. Remy Ferguson Thriller Mystery Series (either trilogy in the series can be read first).

Renegade Force books take place years before Det. Remy encounters L’
Book 4: Unchecked
Book 5: Unbalanced
Book 6: Unmasked (coming in 2026)

L’Inconnu books follow a genius psychopathic serial killer who lures and taunts Det. Remy in a suspenseful Holmes versus Moriarty type
Book 1: Mystery of L’Inconnu
Book 2: Innocence Lost
Book 3: Mass Infliction

Genres: Thriller

392 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 30, 2025

About the author

Dan Grylles is an award winning short story author. At a young age he developed three lifelong passions - writing computer programs, writing music to play on his guitar, and reading mystery/crime novels. Later, lured by the intrigue of thriller mysteries, he followed the clues of his own life and began writing those too. Dan's professional background includes many years managing a pet sitting business which inspired his fun and quirky novella, M is for Dog Show. Contact: Dan@DanGrylles.com.

Reviews

[Tara Leigh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dan Grylles delivers again with another gripping Remy Ferguson installment. This is police procedural done right, taut, gritty, and endlessly compelling. With corrupt cops on one side and ruthless drug lords on the other, you’re never quite sure who the real villains are, and that moral murkiness makes the ride even better. Fans of Steve Cavanagh’s Eddie Flynn series will feel right at home here.

[Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

Detective Remy Ferguson looks into what seems to be the suicide of a judge only to find that there is massive corruption within the police force. If you enjoy a tense plot and seeing corruption rooted out and punished, you will enjoy this thriller. Hard to put down.

[Roger Campbell · Rating 5 out of 5]

📚 Book Review by R.M. Campbell 📚
Unbalanced: Renegade Force
By
Dan Grylles
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

This is Book 5 in the Detective Remy Ferguson Thriller Mystery Series, and this installment definitely delivers all the action, suspense, and thrills I’ve come to expect from Dan Grylles. A judge is found dead in his chambers, an apparent suicide from all indications. Making the crime scene a suicide is a no-brainer, considering the chamber’s doors were locked from the inside, and the only fingerprints on the weapon were those of the victim. Detective Remy Ferguson, investigating the crime, is not convinced the judge took his own life, and the complicated, intriguing mystery begins. Added to situation, two more cops are murdered. Are the two events connected and if so, how?
I was totally drawn into this story from the first chapter. Dan Grylles does a fabulous job of creating a suspenseful thriller with plenty of twists that will captivate the reader and keep you turning the pages. The characters' interactions were spellbinding, with suspense, tension, action, deception, and a touch of romance for all included. Who to trust, who is telling the truth, and how the murder was even committed are all puzzle pieces that Remy and his team have to put together. This is a clever and unpredictable thriller with plenty of action coming at the reader from all directions. I highly recommend this thriller mystery.

[Laura R · Rating 5 out of 5]

Remy's latest case is a complex one. One the surface it seems cut and dried - a judge found dead in his locked office which can only be unlocked from inside the office. However, as the investigation proceeds, something isn't adding up and Remy starts to think it may be murder rather than suicide. There are surprises found regarding the judge's earlier career and another murder that may or may not be connected.

I loved the police procedural aspect of the storyline and how Remy often stopped to review the information they had and then determine the next steps. And as can be expected, it doesn't take long before the case becomes political with the mayor calling for a quick resolution, thereby putting more pressure on Remy to solve the case.

At the same time, there is a continuation from the previous book of the potential corrupt cops and an update on Remy's personal life.

[Nora Flood-Houston · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Remy Ferguson. He's the kind of detective that won't give up. He dosent allow the higher ups to "solve" the cases. He and his partner, who's perfect for him, are tenacious. This case has a judge committing suicide. But did he ? When I start one this author's books I dont put it down until the end. I get too involved in the story. Of course police corruption is still going on it comes more to the forefront in this book. Still dont know who the big dog is. Im sure it's coming...

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Michelle Webb · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the 5th book in the Detective Remy Ferguson series and it doesn't disappoint. This book is full of twists and turns with corruption running deep and it threatens justice. A Miami judge supposedly committed suicide and rogue cops are running wild. Remy is scared for what else could go wrong in his city. Between the "suicide", corruption and dirty cops it looks like Miami could be on the brink of a civil war.

[Gloria · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book two of the Renegade Force prequel trilogy finds Det. Remy Ferguson Investigating a supposed Judge's suicide and the ambush of two patrol cops. Remy thinks that whatever is going on is at a high level Of government. This is an action packed story that will keep guessing. Great series.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Barbara Harrison · Rating 5 out of 5]

Allow two days for this convoluted, intense, adult, contemporary, procedural, thriller detective mystery about police corruption and the death of a judge in Miami, Florida, touching on surveillance cameras, a renegade force, drugs, mafia, midlife, murder, politics, PTSD, spies, and violence.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Debbie Jones Warren · Rating 5 out of 5]

The complex plots and intriguing tangents just keep getting better as Detective Remy Ferguson brings all his intelligence and intuition into play with the Renegade Force. Dan Grylles is an exceptional story teller!

[Donna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Who killed the judge

Set Remy won't let anything rest until he finds the killer. He keeps pushing and pushing until he gets the truth.

[Texas · Rating 3 out of 5]

Detective Remy Ferguson Thriller Mystery Series:
Source: Booksprout.
UNBALANCED, #5 - I am a little disappointed in this book. While the story lines are interesting and the characters are good, the book was so wordy that I was bored in several places. 3*

DRAGGING DOWN, #0 - A simplistic, quickly read novella introducing Ferguson with an interesting twist in a case he is investigating. 4*

MYSTERY OF L'INCONNU, #1 - A more indepth killing spree. It drug on in the beginning but became more interesting as the story unfolded. Good story lines with a variety of characters, and plenty of misdirection to keep my interest. A bit wordy but a still entertaining. There is the L'Inconnu Passenger Manifest describing the passengers, which did not interest me. I wanted to read L'Inconnu fresh without knowing anything about the passengers. 4*

INNOCENCE LOST, #2 - A faster pace than 'Mystery of L'Inconnu' and filled with a lot of intrigue making for an interesting story. Bad news though, the multiple investigations are not finished making the story just stop point blank, to be continued. 4*

MASS INFLICTION, #3 - Interesting and intriguing, although the start was slow. Once the story picked up it was immersing with good story lines, plenty of misdirection (some obvious), and some surprises. Not as good as Innocence Lost, but still a good read. 4*
Detective Remy Ferguson Thriller Mystery Series end.