C.T. Ferguson is trying to enjoy a vacation. After his last case, he needs one. If the persistent lady from Baltimore would stop calling, it would be much easier.
It doesn’t get easier. Back home, C.T. talks to her and agrees to search for her niece, Libby. The troubled girl has been missing for some time.
C.T. hunts for the girl from the worst areas of Baltimore to the most rural parts of Maryland. When he encounters group of terrible men, he knows he’s on the right path. They hide in the shadows of the Internet and prey on the weak and vulnerable.
The system designed to protect girls like Libby let her down. Could it also be enabling the people who preyed on her? Can C.T. take them down before any more lives are ruined—including his?
A March from Innocence is the gripping sixth novel in the C.T. Ferguson mystery series. If you like your hard-boiled crime fiction served with cyber intrigue and witty quips, you’ll love this action-packed mystery from an Amazon bestselling author.
Tom Fowler was born and raised in Baltimore and still resides in Maryland. He is an unabashed homer for Baltimore sports teams. His full-time job is in the field of computer security.
At about age seven, polite young Tom wrote a "murder mystery" in which no one died. The story gave him the writing bug, however, and he's been putting pen to paper and fingers to keys ever since.
When not working or writing, Tom enjoys spending time with his family and friends, reading, sports, movies, and writing brief bios in the third person.
The C.T. Ferguson Series: The Reluctant Detective #1 – This is my first read by this author and I like it. This story fits into one of my all-time favorite genres with plenty of humor, action and investigations. The storylines are good and realistic, and I like that the PI is a privileged person instead of a Mickey Spillane stereotype. C.T. also has an interesting past that plays a large part in this introduction. Add in his parents, his older police Detective cousin and a good supporting cast, which all make it difficult to put the book down. The pace is steady without any boring bits. This is one of the better edited books I’ve seen from an Indie author. 4*
The Unknown Devil #2 - Another difficult to put down fast paced pages full of intrigue, suspense and action. Unfortunately, this is my fourth read, instead of my second, but that did not detract from the meshing of previous storylines with the current lines. This book is well thought out in plot and character development along with realistic dialogues, realistic fight scenes and a smart mouthed character full of himself with plenty of good humor. There is infrequent use of vulgar language considering the criminal elements involved. Interesting information about the hacking of cellphones and other electronics. There is a bit too much detailing of insignificant information: clothing; cooking; etc., but still a worthy read. 4*
The Workers of Iniquity #3 - Even with the relaxed pace, this is another hard to put down book. There are multiple storylines happening and if that is not enough to hold your interest, here are a few more added. The characters are interesting and they have good dialogues and work in their roles. C. T. has been a PI for almost a year at this point. The solutions and the way problems are handled are entertaining; some have a good revenge edge and others bring rewards. The crime topics are more than loan sharking. 4*
Already Guilty #4 – I could not put this book down. Well written, fasted paced, and intriguing with great storylines and characters, a real page-turner. Bits reminded me of Lithgow and Denzel’s revenge movie, but the author does well making this his work. There are plenty of good characters, old and new, and the storylines merge well with the story’s plot and the past books. Of course, there is always something or someone to mess up the flow, but that is what makes the series interesting. C.T. is C.T. and you cannot help but respect him and his efforts, and he has a hard row to hoe this time with his special case. I do not know how the previous books flowed since I have only read the first of this series. 5*
Daughters and Sons #5 - I enjoy reading this series. Even though I have not read all of them, I have not missed anything due to the author's talent for storytelling. The past is not thrown at the reader to figure out or reminisce over. C.T. continues to develop as more of his personality appears. He has good supporting characters, which is perfect to go along with the intriguing and interesting storylines. There is enough detail to make the reader a fly on the wall without the Hollywood dramatics or the usual stupidity found in this genre. Realistic with storylines, dialog and actions while immersed with good humor and quite a bit of smart mouth from C.T. 5*
A March From Innocence #6 - This story picks up a couple of weeks after Daughters ended. Well thought out storylines; good action scenes; intelligent dialogues; well developed characters on both sides of the law; and good humor with some romance. Clean but the topic is disgusting. Young children. Older men. Add some interesting ways that C. T. handles things makes this a difficult book to put down. 5*
Inside Cut #7 - Oh, dear. My first C. T. book that did not work for me. It felt incomplete, like not everything was there, no enthusiasm on Mr. Fowler's end. True, I do not care much for college sports so the topic was not my cup of tea. I did like a past method coming to play; never think if something (or someone) is outdated that it cannot work in the present or future. Lack of education and experience is easy to beat. The storylines dragged a bit for me but the characters were good, like always. I disagree with the outcome on Eddie, the old family friend should have his due. Although, the way the storyline went on involving Bruno in the first place did not work for me. C. T. came through and did his usual good work helping others and correcting the outcome of an uncovered crime. While this story is not on par with the others in this series, it is still an OK read. 3*
The Next Girl #8 - C. T. is back again with new storylines that move at a fast pace through the frustrations, the investigations and the pain of his newest case. Well thought out and vividly told, this is a difficult story to put down. The new characters run the gamut while the old do their jobs. It is easy to figure out the who and the why, but it is still an interesting, intriguing read. 5*
Dead Cat Bounce #11 - I missed a few books in this series but it was easy to get back in the groove. While I think some of the previous books were better, which may be due to the missing books gap, this story is still a good read. Interesting. Good storylines and good characters. TJ is a good addition to the mix. It was easy to finish the book without interruptions. 4*
Don't Say Her Name, C.T. Ferguson #12 - This is one of my favorite characters and series. There is plenty of interesting characters, an interesting writing style and interesting story lines. It is best to start with the first book since there is a continuous building of new onto the old, BUT it is not necessary. Fortunately, Fowler does not rehash the past in great detail in his books, he keeps the present book interesting. There is action, romance and humor. Language is mostly clean; a very minimum on the vulgar, which is character-related. The romance is clean without the stupid arguments and ridiculous mind sets that other authors add for drama, but mischievous and adult dialog between the two lovers. There is the mysterious disappearance of a client's father but C.T. has to figure out the who of why he and his family are targets. Another in one sitting read. 5*
Night Comes Down, C.T. Ferguson #13 - Interesting. I like that this book is about hacking and revenge. Well written with interesting story lines, a good blending of old and new, along with some intense bits made this another hard to put down read. 5*
Concrete Angels, #14 - Pretty interesting with a bigger role in the narration and duties for TJ. The good story lines kept me involved in the book and some of the characters are doozies. 5*
Novellas: Hong Kong Dangerous, prequel - This is an interesting introduction to C.T. and his cousin Rick. The events in this short, quickly read novella lays the path to C. T. becoming PI. C.T. is in HK hacking and being a nuisance to the Chinese government. He and his cohorts are arrested and C.T. finds himself in prison. Rick is a sergeant in the Bmore police force working hard to become a detective. A few of the other repeat characters are mentioned but not in detail. 4*
3.5 Red City Blues - This is an interesting read perfect for quick getaway. The timeline is a year after he starts his PI business. A basic well told story with none of the usual detailed cooking or running scenes. 4* The C.T. Ferguson Series end.
A March From Innocence #6 - This story picks up a couple of weeks after Daughters ended. Well thought out storylines; good action scenes; intelligent dialogues; well developed characters on both sides of the law; and good humor with some romance. Clean but the topic is disgusting. Young children. Older men. Add some interesting ways that C. T. handles things makes this a difficult book to put down. 5*
The C.T. Ferguson Series: The Reluctant Detective #1 – This is my first read by this author and I like it. This story fits into one of my all-time favorite genres with plenty of humor, action and investigations. The storylines are good and realistic, and I like that the PI is a privileged person instead of a Mickey Spillane stereotype. C.T. also has an interesting past that plays a large part in this introduction. Add in his parents, his older police Detective cousin and a good supporting cast, which all make it difficult to put the book down. The pace is steady without any boring bits. This is one of the better edited books I’ve seen from an Indie author. 4*
The Unknown Devil #2 - Another difficult to put down fast paced pages full of intrigue, suspense and action. Unfortunately, this is my fourth read, instead of my second, but that did not detract from the meshing of previous storylines with the current lines. This book is well thought out in plot and character development along with realistic dialogues, realistic fight scenes and a smart mouthed character full of himself with plenty of good humor. There is infrequent use of vulgar language considering the criminal elements involved. Interesting information about the hacking of cellphones and other electronics. There is a bit too much detailing of insignificant information: clothing; cooking; etc., but still a worthy read. 4*
The Workers of Iniquity #3 - Even with the relaxed pace, this is another hard to put down book. There are multiple storylines happening and if that is not enough to hold your interest, here are a few more added. The characters are interesting and they have good dialogues and work in their roles. C. T. has been a PI for almost a year at this point. The solutions and the way problems are handled are entertaining; some have a good revenge edge and others bring rewards. The crime topics are more than loan sharking. 4*
Already Guilty #4 – I could not put this book down. Well written, fasted paced, and intriguing with great storylines and characters, a real page-turner. Bits reminded me of Lithgow and Denzel’s revenge movie, but the author does well making this his work. There are plenty of good characters, old and new, and the storylines merge well with the story’s plot and the past books. Of course, there is always something or someone to mess up the flow, but that is what makes the series interesting. C.T. is C.T. and you cannot help but respect him and his efforts, and he has a hard row to hoe this time with his special case. I do not know how the previous books flowed since I have only read the first of this series. 5*
Daughters and Sons #5 - I enjoy reading this series. Even though I have not read all of them, I have not missed anything due to the author's talent for storytelling. The past is not thrown at the reader to figure out or reminisce over. C.T. continues to develop as more of his personality appears. He has good supporting characters, which is perfect to go along with the intriguing and interesting storylines. There is enough detail to make the reader a fly on the wall without the Hollywood dramatics or the usual stupidity found in this genre. Realistic with storylines, dialog and actions while immersed with good humor and quite a bit of smart mouth from C.T. 5*
Novellas: Hong Kong Dangerous, prequel - This is an interesting introduction to C.T. and his cousin Rick. The events in this short, quickly read novella lays the path to C. T. becoming PI. C.T. is in HK hacking and being a nuisance to the Chinese government. He and his cohorts are arrested and C.T. finds himself in prison. Rick is a sergeant in the Bmore police force working hard to become a detective. A few of the other repeat characters are mentioned but not in detail. 4*
1.5. The Confession 2.5 Land of the Brave 3.5 Red City Blues - This is an interesting read perfect for quick getaway. The timeline is a year after he starts his PI business. A basic well told story with none of the usual detailed cooking or running scenes. 4* The C.T. Ferguson Series end.
I love the CT Ferguson series. I ran across the first book and got hooked! I have read the first six books in a row and enjoyed them all. Looking forward to the rest of the series. CT is a rich computer hacker who got into trouble in China. He gets home and his parents cut him off financially. He has to go get a job and help people. So, he decides he can be a private investigator and help people for free. Probably to get back at his folks for making him do work that helps others. But then he discovers he likes it. Along the way he uses his cop cousin for help and makes new friendships with other characters. These are truly enjoyable reads. There is humor and excitement, and a girl named Gloria, in every book. Sit back and enjoy the read. Tom Fowler will entertain you with his stories.
This is the first C.T. Ferguson book I've read & I must say that I enjoyed it, well as much as anyone can considering the subject matter. Love the concept of a free private detective though. C.T.'s morals are great to have in his line of work. I'm sure a lesser character could be tempted to compromise, but, not C.T. He got his man in the end, with a lot of people to keep the perv company. They say misery loves company & they'll need it for where they're going. Now to go read the novels I missed. Well done Tom!
I so enjoyed following C.T on another adventure. There is so many twists, turns and surprises as C.T. tries to find a missing girl with no clues to get started with. As the clues increase so does the problems he encounters. By the time the investigation comes to a conclusion it includes several local authorities as well as the FBI and C.T. goes home to Gloria and gets an increase in his pay from his parents.
CT is asked to help find a missing teenaged girl. His search leads him, to quote him, down a rabbit hole he is not certain he wants to enter. The book is a look at what street prostitutes might/must go through to survive (or not). Another book I couldn’t get away from. ENJOY!
I found this extremely hard to put down. The story kept moving, building in suspense and intrigue. Tearing at your heart, telling a tale ripped from the news. This is a character worth following.
Another great C.T Furguson crime thriller. Coming back from vacation c.t has had many calls from a lady trying to get hold of him. Once he’s back he answers her call to find her niece is missing. This case leads c.t into underage prostitution, drugs and a massive pedophile ring. Great read!
I chose this rating because for me it was a really good read. Like all the characters he works with and subject of this story was awful and the way he got justice really tickled me.
I did not enjoy the subject matter, but the plot was interesting. All Gloria does is sleep, eat breakfast, play tennis , order in dinner and have sex. What does CT see in her other than the physical nature of their relationship ?
Certainly on a roll with this series and not disappointed. This case draws CT into the dark world of paedophiles and the lengths they will go to in order to protect it. Tom Fowler does not let the side down with his superb writing.
Hired to find a missing girl led to much more. One thing for sure is that he is persistent and an excellent fighter. First time I have read this author. Story keeps you involved.
OMG, just can't put this down. Love this series,! The main character is one of my favorites. The story lines are complex and, and sadly, realistic. Highly recommend!
On a theme so awful as paedophile, Mr. Fouler broke all lines, and gave us a superb plot and development of C.T. Abilities. Monica Beltrami. Montevideo, Uruguay.
This is book six in the C.T. Ferguson Mystery series and sees C.T. off on holiday after having his P.I. license suspended for a month, for what he did in his last case. Even though he and Gloria are on a month long holiday in the sun, C.T. is still getting a few calls, one, a very persistent lady who wants his help to find her missing niece. He ignores everything until the day they get back. Shortly after, this woman calls again and he agrees to see her. Thus starts another case.
The missing girl is fifteen year old Libby, who may have been missing anywhere from a week to at least two months. No-one seems to know exactly. Her mother is a drug addict who can’t even remember when asked, that she even has a daughter! Libby had been with a few different foster families and has clearly slipped through the child service cracks, when she disappeared from her last home placement. C.T. has to start finding any type of clue to her location, friends, possible drug use or even prostitution.
He finds some chilling stories of men charged with paedophilia, who somehow were released and found not guilty, due to faults, supposedly in the prosecutor’s cases. Leaving lots of families, whose children were the victims, left angry and with no recourse or even justice. This links C.T. to certain areas of Maryland and the seedier parts of Baltimore. It seems someone doesn’t want him investigating any further and he encounters some who want to threaten him into inaction.
There is a group of men, hidden and protected by someone more powerful, getting away with abusing young, teenage boys and girls. They are passing information between each other, using the powers of the dark net. Hiding their existence and the secret activities they are undertaking. Talking to some of the local street girls, gives C.T. a fantastic evidence to identify some of the men in this group. Using his not quite legal actions and computer know how, C.T. manages to set up a situation to snare all the main culprits, using bait and some other old contacts to catch them.
Another fantastic tale by the author, bringing us close again to what happened in the previous book and one close to Gloria’s main charity, she has chosen to assist and support. Helping those that are young, being preyed upon because of their lack of family or home life and bad life style choices. Being dragged into places they should never have ended up in, if only someone had believed in them or just given them a helping hand. Some parts may feel very similar, but then there are others that are so intense, you will feel sickened that there are so many evil people in this world. Innocence is lost and lives ruined by the types of evil people involved in this case.
I loved reading this story, even though the main part of it is about such a very difficult subject. If teen drug and sexual abuse is a subject close to you, you may not wish to read this. It is written in a manner which doesn’t need to spell out any of the actions themselves, but you are made clear on what effect it has had on these kids. How successful C.T. is in solving his initial case and managing to grab all of those involved, is up to readers to find out. It was another fine example of C.T’s somewhat unusual techniques being used to solve a series of crimes, written by the author. Can’t wait to read what he is up to next. I was lucky to receive an ARC copy of this book from the author and I have freely given my own opinion of the book above.
A March from Innocence by Tom Fowler is one of the smoothest reads I have ever read. The words flow for the reader from the first page to the last, and snares the reader from the beginning page, as C.T. Ferguson, newly badged PI (to appease his family), begins and dedicates himself to his new profession, and finds he is actually good at being “dedicated” to helping others, and thus being a NON QUITTER, perseveres as he and his police officer cousin combine efforts. NO SPOILERS. But kudos goes to Author Tom Fowler for shinning a much needed light, albeit through a vehicle of fiction, on a much needed social ill which is pedofiles. Tom Fowler with his unique style of writing sets in motion a very captivating and exciting read. This one I could not put down until I finished A March from Innocence...and I wanted it to not end. What a great read this book was!! Characters are all well developed and very lifelike, lending yet more tense and exciting mystery to an already tense topic. Can’t say enough about A March from Innocence, ergo I will say please do not miss this one!! You will love yourself for reading this satisfying read. Great topic, great characters, great plot...in other words there is a “greatness” about how Author Tom Fowler approached and wrote a masterful book about a very tough and sad topic. Grab this one and allot time because you will need it. Thank you Tom Fowler for a book well DONE!!!
This is the sixth in a series by Tom Fowler featuring Private Investigator C.T. Ferguson. It is one of the best. C. T. and Gloria are taking a much-needed vacation in Hawaii after a rather gruelling experience in his previous case. While they are relaxing there he keeps getting calls from a Baltimore woman about her missing niece Libby. He ignores these calls until his return to Baltimore when he is persuaded to search for Libby.
His search takes him into the underbelly of Baltimore and adjoining counties as he discovers that Libby had left her foster home and taken to the streets. He talks to a number of young prostitutes and discovers that Libby is only one of a number of young women to have disappeared off the streets in recent months.
The trail takes C.T. to a neighboring county where he encounters a judge who has a habit of letting accused pedophiles go free. Following the threads he discovers a group of very nasty but seemingly respectable men who are part of a group preying on young women. With the help of his cousin Rich C.T. reveals the full extent of their crimes, and orchestrates their downfall.
In life these girls were once someone’s daughter- before they became someone used and forgotten. Melinda once came from a wealthy family and a private school background. She ended up on the streets after family drama became family trauma- and lead her down a rabbit hole.
Private Detective CT Ferguson was able to help bring Melinda back to her family, and the family has an outreach that works to help others trapped in the kinds of situation Melinda once found herself in.
Libby comes from a family situation where she brought herself to child protective services. Part of her problems stem from being used to care for her drug addicted mother. She just does not relate to being treated as a dependent child by foster families.
Predators prey on girls like Libby, on girls like Donna- another private school girl. Destruction and death of innocence of any kind await victims of these particularly nasty predators of children.
To be as successful as this particular group is, they seem to have far reaching connections.
CT Ferguson is back with another mystery to solve and this is definitely his toughest case yet. Breaking in on CTs vacation a persistent woman wants him to find her niece. He takes the case and quickly starts to learn that the missing girls life has gone from bad to goodness knows what. Tom Fowler builds this story with layer upon layer of mystery and conspiracy. There’s some really unpleasant characters in this one. As the story progresses you can see it getting to CT himself as he’s a little freer with the flying fists than he normal. This book feels a lot darker than the rest of the series but still has all the hallmarks of a CT Ferguson novel. After the previous book where his case was decidedly personal and now this one with some heinous villains you have to wonder when, or even if, poor CT will get a real chance to rest and recharge! Tom Fowler does what he does best and delivers a mystery filled with compelling characters. Another great addition to the series that I’d recommend to anyone not afraid to read about the darker side of human life.
In the newest C.T.Ferguson book, A March From Innocence, C. T. takes on a missing person case that opens up a can of rotten worms. While this book is fiction, Mr. Fowler explores/ exposes one of the most horrific crimes of today’s society, pedophilia. He shows readers that it isn’t necessarily a crime of the downtrodden, but one that involves some of those in the top echelon of today’s society. The book is thought provoking and informative. As with most of Mr. Fowler’s books, this one grabs your attention from the beginning. It takes readers on an exciting adventure through the various neighborhoods around Baltimore and into rural Maryland. It is so realistic that you weep for the victims, and cheer for the good guys. Using fineness and talent, Mr. Fowler has written a book about a disturbing topic that doesn’t totally disgust the reader.