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The Ransom Walsh #1
Picture Perfect Murder
Retired homicide detective Ransom Walsh has seen some gruesome things in his day. But nothing as nightmarish as a cop’s murdered family in carefully chosen poses. He didn’t intend to investigate the case, but the nature of the crime makes it personal. Before Ransom and his former partner can make any headway, they discover another perfectly staged mass murder. Frustrated with the lack of leads and hindered by his bum knee, he never suspects that his own family will become the next target… As the deadly game closes in on Ransom, will the time-worn cop solve the case before the killer’s grudge hits home? Picture Perfect Murder is the first book in The Ransom Walsh series of dark cozy mysteries. If you like complex cases, gritty detectives, and a story that hooks you from the first line, then you’ll love Rusty Ellis’ serial killer mystery.
228 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 4, 2018
14 people are currently reading
8 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
July 13, 2022
Needs an Editor!!
This novel is badly in need of the services of a good editor. It is rife with errors, including sentence fragments, run-on sentences, spelling errors, punctuation errors, grammar errors and usage errors. It made reading the story difficult, and there should be no excuse for publishing a work so riddled with these kinds of errors.
In this story, a retired homicide detective from the Metropolitan Police Department, more commonly known as “Metro,” is included in a homicide investigation into who is murdering active duty police officers and their entire families. Ransom Walsh is his name, and he is in constant pain from an old war wound he received while serving in Iraq. He walks with a cane. It isn’t clear to me that any police department anywhere would allow retired cops to actively participate in a current investigation of any sort, but I guess fiction will allow almost anything.
In several places in the book, the author refers to the “Marine Corp,” as though it was a large corporation, instead of the proper term of Marine Corps with an “s” on “Corp.” He describes somebody who is driving a car stepping on the “breaks,” instead of the correct spelling of “brakes.” In Chapter 5, somebody is “pommeled,” rather than the correct term of “pummeled.” On page #35, Ransom lets something “slip,” instead of letting it “slide.” On page #41, Ransom’s daughter keeps an eye on him so that he doesn’t “overdue it,” kinda like a library book, I guess. He mixes “affect” with “effect” on page #47, and mixes plurals and possessives constantly. On page #89, Ransom’s pen becomes a “pin,” before he puts it in his pocket. The one that irritated me the most, though was the assertion that “Teresa blinked deeply and smiled at Ransom’s prolonged gaze.” How do you “blink deeply”? “Slowly” I can understand, but “deeply”? Sheesh!
The title of the book is also a mystery. There seems to be little connection to pictures in the story, and those that are mentioned are not “perfect.” The title could have been more appropriate, in my view. This was a difficult read. Feel free to skip it. It is not very well-written.
This novel is badly in need of the services of a good editor. It is rife with errors, including sentence fragments, run-on sentences, spelling errors, punctuation errors, grammar errors and usage errors. It made reading the story difficult, and there should be no excuse for publishing a work so riddled with these kinds of errors.
In this story, a retired homicide detective from the Metropolitan Police Department, more commonly known as “Metro,” is included in a homicide investigation into who is murdering active duty police officers and their entire families. Ransom Walsh is his name, and he is in constant pain from an old war wound he received while serving in Iraq. He walks with a cane. It isn’t clear to me that any police department anywhere would allow retired cops to actively participate in a current investigation of any sort, but I guess fiction will allow almost anything.
In several places in the book, the author refers to the “Marine Corp,” as though it was a large corporation, instead of the proper term of Marine Corps with an “s” on “Corp.” He describes somebody who is driving a car stepping on the “breaks,” instead of the correct spelling of “brakes.” In Chapter 5, somebody is “pommeled,” rather than the correct term of “pummeled.” On page #35, Ransom lets something “slip,” instead of letting it “slide.” On page #41, Ransom’s daughter keeps an eye on him so that he doesn’t “overdue it,” kinda like a library book, I guess. He mixes “affect” with “effect” on page #47, and mixes plurals and possessives constantly. On page #89, Ransom’s pen becomes a “pin,” before he puts it in his pocket. The one that irritated me the most, though was the assertion that “Teresa blinked deeply and smiled at Ransom’s prolonged gaze.” How do you “blink deeply”? “Slowly” I can understand, but “deeply”? Sheesh!
The title of the book is also a mystery. There seems to be little connection to pictures in the story, and those that are mentioned are not “perfect.” The title could have been more appropriate, in my view. This was a difficult read. Feel free to skip it. It is not very well-written.
November 10, 2018
The name fits this story to a T, as I started listening to this I set in shock thinking oh my lord how strange but as I was pulled in I felt like this could have been a true story. It is mind blow how this killer kills and stages the scene. You are left with so many questions until the author lays out the secrets he holds. It is chilling, thrilling and very scary and holds your attention from the start.
The narrator had me in the palm of his hands from the start as he lays out a terrorizing story that pulls you in making you step back and really think. He paints the picture that author gives making you close your eyes as you take it all in seeing what he is saying in vivid detail. I thought he did a wonderful job with the character voices both male and female it was easy to tell who was talking and what they were feeling. He gives true emotions that makes your heart stop and then beat faster as he lays it out. There were no background noises, no repeating of words, and no volume changes just a very clean and clear audio that I couldn’t put down. He really bought the story to life for me making it very easy to picture it and feel like I was there watching. I look forward to listening to more of his work.
The author did a great job laying out the plot giving a few surprising twists and turns. I loved the mystery and it did take me a little time to work out who and what. He is keeping his cards close giving few clues and really holds your interest. I had no trouble feeling the emotions of his characters and the chilling facts of the story. This is one story that makes you really setup and listen and could have been out of the headlines of the news. It was totally enjoyable, I loved the mystery. This is one author that has no problem holding your attention with a story I couldn’t put down.
The narrator had me in the palm of his hands from the start as he lays out a terrorizing story that pulls you in making you step back and really think. He paints the picture that author gives making you close your eyes as you take it all in seeing what he is saying in vivid detail. I thought he did a wonderful job with the character voices both male and female it was easy to tell who was talking and what they were feeling. He gives true emotions that makes your heart stop and then beat faster as he lays it out. There were no background noises, no repeating of words, and no volume changes just a very clean and clear audio that I couldn’t put down. He really bought the story to life for me making it very easy to picture it and feel like I was there watching. I look forward to listening to more of his work.
The author did a great job laying out the plot giving a few surprising twists and turns. I loved the mystery and it did take me a little time to work out who and what. He is keeping his cards close giving few clues and really holds your interest. I had no trouble feeling the emotions of his characters and the chilling facts of the story. This is one story that makes you really setup and listen and could have been out of the headlines of the news. It was totally enjoyable, I loved the mystery. This is one author that has no problem holding your attention with a story I couldn’t put down.
September 18, 2018
Picture Perfect Murder by Rusty Ellis
Story starts out with a patrolman, Ransom in Vegas and he's stopped along the road, sees people sitting in their car but things aren't right...
Lisa Briggs and her partner Gabe show up and investigate the scene of his grandkids and daughter and her spouse in the car...
We also learn about his past with his wife and child. They investage the couples house also and this sounds like something that happened to a cousin of mine-terrifying!
Terrifying to learn how these are all connected...details are so descriptive that the author makes you feel like you are there experiencing it all yourself.
Passenger seat therapy-love it! About the author and other works are highlighted at the end. Eash to follow along, handful of characters.
Received this review copy from the author via Goodreads contact and this is my honest opinion.
Story starts out with a patrolman, Ransom in Vegas and he's stopped along the road, sees people sitting in their car but things aren't right...
Lisa Briggs and her partner Gabe show up and investigate the scene of his grandkids and daughter and her spouse in the car...
We also learn about his past with his wife and child. They investage the couples house also and this sounds like something that happened to a cousin of mine-terrifying!
Terrifying to learn how these are all connected...details are so descriptive that the author makes you feel like you are there experiencing it all yourself.
Passenger seat therapy-love it! About the author and other works are highlighted at the end. Eash to follow along, handful of characters.
Received this review copy from the author via Goodreads contact and this is my honest opinion.
November 7, 2018
Ransom Walsh is a retired detective...well, he was forced to retire due to a bum knee. Ransom is contacted by his former partner to assist on a special case. Someone is killing the entire families of LEOs...and it started with the daughter of a detective...a close friend of Ransom’s. Will Ransom and Detective Lisa Gardner catch the killer before his own family and new love interest are the next targets? Great story, lots of action and suspense...good thing that I’m not a detective because I wouldn’t have figured this out! New-to-me narrator did a fantastic job with the various characters. Now I’m ready for the next book in the series!
I voluntarily accepted a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I voluntarily accepted a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
May 5, 2020
OMG! I absolutely LOVED this story! It is fast paced and easily kept my interest! The story shocked and surprised me. It was told very well and took me “til those sunglasses came off” to figure it out. The character of Ransom I enjoyed. Even though he is retired I could tell he was a good detective. He is not overbearing and seems friendly to the other cops. He is a very likable character.
I HIGHLY recommend this! Although this is a first time author for me I will be looking for more from him. I listened to this on audio. This is the first time I have listened to Daniel J O’Donnell as a narrator. He did a perfect job using his voice for different characters. I will be looking for others from him as well.
This will be going on my favorites and re-listen list.
I HIGHLY recommend this! Although this is a first time author for me I will be looking for more from him. I listened to this on audio. This is the first time I have listened to Daniel J O’Donnell as a narrator. He did a perfect job using his voice for different characters. I will be looking for others from him as well.
This will be going on my favorites and re-listen list.
November 15, 2018
This was a really great book with very likable characters. I certainly hope this is the beginning of a series. Ransom is not only an excellent retired detective but has a personal life and good background story. Leesa, his former partner, shows the bond forged between them. Rusty Ellis has a winner on his hands.
October 3, 2019
Very Good - Fast Paced - Murder Mystery
Great murder mystery for anyone who likes a fast paced thriller. The details are amazingly accurate, the characters are vividly realistic, and the plot keep me wondering “what’s going to happen next?” — I highly recommend this series to anyone who likes mysteries. — Very well written!!! Can’t wait to start book 2 in the series.
Great murder mystery for anyone who likes a fast paced thriller. The details are amazingly accurate, the characters are vividly realistic, and the plot keep me wondering “what’s going to happen next?” — I highly recommend this series to anyone who likes mysteries. — Very well written!!! Can’t wait to start book 2 in the series.
October 2, 2018
Wow, I had a hard time putting it down. good read.
March 27, 2019
Listened to the Audiobook version of this book. Loved it. Held my interest from beginning to end.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews