Chasing Betty

by Jason Prugar

Meet Garrison Chase, a private eye with a checkered past. As an army deserter, he's used to running from his problems, but when a wealthy shipping magnate hires him to find his missing daughter and grandson, Chase can't resist the allure of a big payday. What starts as a routine missing person's case quickly turns into a dangerous game of cat and mouse, as Chase navigates a world of broken bridges and shifting allegiances.

With his own troubled past threatening to catch up with him, Chase must use all his cunning to solve the mystery of Betty's disappearance before it's too late. Chasing Betty is a heart-pounding mystery that will leave you guessing until the very end.

298 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 28, 2021

Reviews

[Yvonne Oloo · Rating 5 out of 5]

'Chasing Betty' by Jason Prugar is a suspense thriller on the life of Garrison Chase, a guy who prefers soda to beer and would do anything to protect women, family or otherwise, to a fault. Garry works odd jobs that involve cleaning other people's mess to the extent that some call him a janitor. His pay is low, but helps him get by. His days can sometimes be mundane, and his love life is nothing to speak of until one day when a well-known tycoon needs his help. In return, the tycoon offers to help Gary sort out an issue that keeps him from his family and twice his daily wage for the days he'll be on task. The tycoon only asks for discretion, but Gary feels there's something off with the deal.

This suspense thriller by Prugar is short but sweet. The story's pace starts slow, but the tension typical of suspense thrillers builds up right to the end; the author offers a surprising turn of events as the story progresses. The story is in first-person narrative, so Gary is the storyteller. Supporting characters work well with the main plot. There is also a bit of humor and emotional tension, which work well throughout the story. The setting is also fitting, as the author sets the events in a post-Migration America, with diminished surveillance and stringent gun control rules.

The book has an unlikely ending but given the storyline and situation the protagonist is in; it is understandable and just okay. I recommend this book to lovers of suspense thrillers.

[Gladys Nakote · Rating 5 out of 5]

The author mixes funny moments with tense ones and kept me entertained, always wondering what would happen next as I read. The relationship between Garrison and Hara is also nice to read about.
 
I think the author's way of writing is easy to understand and connect with. Garrison Chase is a guy who is good at finding lost stuff. Also, his relationships with Carrie are interesting and easy to like. Their love story amazed me a lot. 
 
There are some quiet moments in the book that I liked. One of them is when Carrie shares a special memory of Gene with Garrison through chocolate. It's a touching moment that adds to the narrative. 
 
The part where Chase said something that got my attention was: "I don't want to live in a world that allows those people to thrive." Got my attention. And when he texted 911 while stuck in the cab, it showed he's smart and wants to get out of a bad situation. 
 
The book also creates a cool futuristic world; the cultural details in it, like the mention of the Baghdad Battery and the special chocolate, make the story even more fun to read and interesting. 
 
There is a lot to this book. Grab it and enjoy more exciting moments in it. You will be entertained from the very first page until the very end. 

[Kelly Petruno · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 stars to the author! 3 stars to their editor… I was intrigued by this book being set in Pittsburgh (since I live there!) and you’ll catch a reference here or there without it being a major part of the story. Chasing Betty pulled me in within the first few chapters and kept me hooked. This book is action packed the whole way through, and will leave you with intrigue as a “Migration” event that is never fully explained sets up a kind of alternate reality in which the story takes place. Heavy male POV, so female readers be prepared. I rate the editor lower because you will find a handful of typos, and there are one or two areas where I feel like an additional descriptive sentence would’ve helped the flow of the scene. Overall it doesn’t detract from the story and I’m looking forward to the next!

[Emily Dacho · Rating 5 out of 5]

In my opinion, an addictive book features well-developed characters, an easy-to-follow plot, and writing that is on par. Chasing Betty impressed me as it ticked off all these boxes. The main character is not only strong but also funny; he clearly states the days he likes and those he doesn't. He gets beaten at the bar on Thursday, and on Friday, a highly-paying job comes his way. The plot is immersive, drew me in right from the start after I got acquainted with the man I'd be reading about for the next 216 pages. And Prugar's writing doesn't disappoint; short sentences, simple words, and humor weaving a world slightly different from our own. The only area I didn't understand well enough revolves about the Migration. Overall, the book is a must-read for readers who love a perfect blend of investigation, action, a little bit of romance, and a family feud.

[Roxanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Chasing Betty introduces me to Garrison Chase, a private investigator shaped by a troubled past he can’t quite outrun. A former army deserter, Chase has learned to survive by keeping his head down and his options open until a wealthy shipping magnate offers him a job that’s too lucrative to refuse: find his missing daughter and grandson. What begins as a straightforward missing person case quickly unravels into a dangerous game of shifting loyalties, buried secrets, and moral compromises. As Chase follows the trail, old wounds resurface and his own history threatens to collide with the present.

[Hannah Lawson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Chasing Betty follows Garrison Chase, a private investigator with a troubled past who takes on what seems like a simple missing persons case for a powerful shipping magnate. But when the search for a missing daughter and grandson leads him into a web of lies, shifting loyalties, and dangerous enemies, the job turns deadly fast.
Haunted by his own history as an army deserter, Chase must stay one step ahead of both his past and his pursuers to uncover the truth before time runs out. Chasing Betty is a fast paced, gritty mystery filled with suspense and hard choices.

[Diana Fletcher · Rating 5 out of 5]

Garrison Chase is a private investigator with a troubled past and a habit of running from his mistakes. When a wealthy shipping magnate hires him to find his missing daughter, Betty, and her young son, Chase sees a chance at redemption and a big payday. But the case quickly spirals into a dangerous chase through shifting loyalties, hidden motives, and mounting threats. As enemies close in and his own past resurfaces, Chase must rely on his instincts and grit to uncover the truth before Betty and he disappear for good.

[Alexie Linn · Rating 4 out of 5]

A wild ride

An exciting and painful story for the pi. It's written in the old Sam Spade style. I liked the ongoing action. If you like never a dull (or almost never) moment, you'll gobble this one up.

Not for childrem, it's got some raw language, but not an onslaught that feels like it was added. I docked it a star because I had to best guess at several !missing words.