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Detective Roese looked up, a strand of lank hair hanging across her face. Blood staining her bare hands and forearms, she kept her weight pitched forward, pressing down on the sucking chest wound, fighting desperately to prevent another tally on the list of recently deceased.
“You can’t go out there. Best case, you never find him in the middle of all this. Worst, it’s a trap.”

Outcomes Reed had already considered and dismissed, his faith placed in the inky black K-9 partner by his side. “Even a ghost leaves a scent.”

Months into the new hybrid role that was created for Detective Reed Mattox and his K-9 partner Billie, things have returned to some semblance of normalcy. A summer spent working the graveyard shift out of the 8th Precinct with the Columbus Police Department and only the occasional side job for the state Bureau of Criminal Investigations. A stretch allowing them to put the chaos of the spring behind them and to largely avoid any interaction with the governor who selected them for the role.

Their moment of peace ends abruptly with a call to the small town of Piketon in the middle of the night. A request for outside presence to oversee an investigation into the sudden and inexplicable death of seventeen-year-old Bridger Van Cott. The star quarterback of the local high school team was found dead behind the wheel of his Trans Am six days before the season opener, the vehicle festooned in the colors of the team’s rival and first opponent.

For a community still reeling from a tragedy of national proportions just a few years prior, the newest incident has the potential to become volatile. Reed and Billie’s first task is to tamp the simmering tensions and avoid. a collision brewing between neighboring communities,

Their second, to determine what happened to the young man who was already awarded a full scholarship to play major college football next year. Someone with no known enemies or medical conditions and a crime scene containing no signs of a break in or struggle.

A murder so perfect, it was almost as if it was committed by…a ghost.

458 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 21, 2022

1599 people are currently reading
283 people want to read

About the author

Dustin Stevens

84 books311 followers
I originally hail from the midwest, growing up in the heart of farm country, and still consider it, along with West Tennessee, my co-home. Between the two, I have a firm belief that football is the greatest of all past-times, sweet tea is really the only acceptable beverage for any occasion, there is not an event on earth that either gym shorts or boots can't be worn to, and that Dairy Queen is the best restaurant on the planet. Further, southern accents are a highly likeable feature on most everybody, English bulldogs sit atop the critter hierarchy, and there is absolutely nothing wrong with a Saturday night spent catfishing at the lake.

Since leaving the midwest I've been to college in New England, grad school in the Rockies, and lived in over a dozen different cities ranging from DC to Honolulu along the way. Each and every one of these experiences has shaped who I am at this point, a fact I hope is expressed in my writing. I have developed enormous affinity for locales and people of every size and shape, and even if I never figure out a way to properly convey them on paper, I am very much grateful for their presence in my life.

To sum it up, I asked a very good friend recently how they would describe me for something like this. Their response: "Plagued by realism and trained by experiences/education to be a pessimist, you somehow remain above all else an active dreamer." While I can't say those are the exact words I would choose, I can't say they're wrong. I travel, live in different places, try new foods, meet all kinds of different people, and above all else stay curious to a fault.

Here's hoping it continues to provide us all with some pretty good stories...

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5 stars
1,687 (65%)
4 stars
666 (25%)
3 stars
173 (6%)
2 stars
39 (1%)
1 star
16 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 82 reviews
Profile Image for Debbi Lund.
133 reviews2 followers
February 24, 2022
I’m fairly new to the Billie & Reed series, but not to Dustin’s books.
Reed & Billie are called to investigate the death of a young high school football player. At first, they are unsure of why he died, but delving deeper, they find out he was murdered, but why? What no one has noticed is the stranger lurking around town, blending in with the townsfolk. “The Ghost” has come to town with a job to go. Will Billie & Reed discover what he is up to before anyone else has to die? A terrific read from start to finish!!
486 reviews
February 2, 2023
This is book #10 and I’ve read them all! I love the characters in this series. As a dog lover, I worry about Billie getting severely injured. She does all she can to protect her human partner!
In this book, a senior high school promising football player dies without explanation and Reed/Billie are called in to help. The coroner in this small town determines the boy was killed by a poison causing heart failure. It’s up to Reed o find out how this poison is given to the boy. The coroner finds an injection point by the boys hip/leg.Then Reed finds that there were several other cases where the victims was killed by this same poison. Reed wonders if there is a connection and works with the detective in that case to try to find the killer. The hunt goes on to find when was the boy injected, where was he, and the biggest question was why? The book keeps you on your toes throughout the entire book trying to figure out why the boy. The reader knows who the killer is; a hired killer, but we don’t know why plus there’s a secondary victim. Will Reed find that victim b4 he is killed. As a reader, I had no clue who that person was til almost the end and it was a surprise. But then the details that unfolded made sense why the boy. Lastly, would Reed catch “The Ghost”? This book was one where I couldn’t put down but had to……I couldn’t wait to start reading again. I can’t wait for book #11. It’s interesting that Serena has a bit part in this book. Will she be in book #11?
49 reviews2 followers
February 21, 2022
The Ghost continues Dustin Stevens’ captivating Reed and Billie series - and does not disappoint. Reader enthusiasm for this series remains strong with fresh and solid plots, strong characters, and excellent narrative. Unique, also, is Stevens’ skillful weaving interesting information into his stories.

The Ghost opens with a local crime boss organizing retribution against someone for ‘crossing a line’ - no elaboration of either line or target. The retribution will be extreme with no heed to collateral damage.

Reed and Billie enter as they relax after having found a walkabout patient of the River's Edge Care Home before any harm occurred. Their mood is broken by a call to assist the rural Piketon Police Department with ‘a situation’. This is never good.

Reed and Billie arrive in Piketon amidst a weekend of celebrations before the first football game of the season. High community spirits, pep rallies, and bonfires have put the local team on center stage for the Friday Night Lights. The big problem is that the town’s favorite player is found dead. Found dead in his car that has been garishly pranked by the rival Waverly Tigers.

On the surface the local high school star quarterback seems to have suffered a heart attack but the coroner will uncover foul play. A murder staged to look not like a murder - of the most unlikely victim in town. The police procedural that unfolds is one of the better treatments I have bumped into. Very solid work and very solid writing. Readers will feel very much in the story and have a few ‘Hey, wait a minute…’ moments.

I find the narrative of the tight bond between Billie, the K-9 Detective, with Reed - her handler/partner adds another dimension to the story. K-9’s bring a unique set of skills to their team. It is interesting also to see the grounding Billie offers Reed in their high stress job.

Stevens does not shy away from developing evil characters, but has a way of creating their mayhem without gratuitous violence. The atmosphere of malevolence appears and softly settles in - like ground fog and the intrigue is in dealing with the aftermath.

The Ghost has twists, turns, and tension. Stevens’ plots are contemporary and in subtle ways explore complex human emotions and family dynamics - making characters so much more human. Here we have Reed dealing with a youth murdered in the prime of life, a grieving town, the exploitation of misfortune, and casual cruelty - but at day’s end,
Reed and Billie still have to go home at night - and getting to that point makes for a great read.
134 reviews2 followers
February 21, 2022
This is an exceptional addition to the Detectives Reed & Billie series by Dustin Stevens

The Characters

• Detectives Reed Mattox and Billie, and a Belgian Malinois, his K-9 partner, both assigned to the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation
• Ed Wainwright, also assigned to the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation, and Reed's friend
• Detective Annette Roese of the Cincinnati Homicide Department
• Chief Shawline, of the Piketon Police Department
• Rowan McNamara, a businessman
• The Ghost, a mythical assassin

The Story

Young and healthy Bridger Van Cott (aka VC), a star quarterback at the local high school in Piketon, has been found dead. The story involves Reed & Billie, his contacts, and a variety of police officials trying to find out the who, what, and why of VC's demise. This book is full of intrigue, mystery, and surprises that keeps you guessing what's going to happen next.

You should note the unusual way Stevens wrote this book. As you continue to read, you will find yourself visualizing a movie appearing slowly right before your eyes. This is a rare concept accomplished by very few authors.

So enjoy, and watch a movie as you read The Ghost!
83 reviews2 followers
February 22, 2022
We finally have another Reed and Billie adventure,  and all I can say is it was worth the wait.  This series is one of my favorite by Dustin Stevens. 
The main crux of the story starts with a mysterious death of a 17 year old named Bridger Van Cott, the star quarterback  in the small town of Piketon, Ohio. 
Reed and Billie are called to investigate this death in their special role for the state Bureau of Criminal Investigation. 
And the challenges begins.
Stevens  has a way of putting the reader in such suspense you can't put the book down until you reach the end and finally understand the what and why an event  happened. 
All of Stevens books have characters that are so real to life you would love to meet them.  But Reed and Billie will always be first on my list. 
I suggest you read the entire series!
Profile Image for Annemarie .
954 reviews22 followers
September 14, 2025
Having successfully completed a missing persons case, Reed is looking forward to continuing his weekend off, when his phone rings.
He and Billie are tasked with solving a murder. A murder which, at first glance, doesn't even look like a murder. The victim is a young football player with no gang affiliations or criminal associations. In fact, he is a well loved member of the community.
Can Reed sift through the information as it becomes available and discover why this innocent boy was targeted? Can he and Billie then discover not only who the murderer is, but his whereabouts and that of the person who hired him, and bring them both to justice?
This story left me deeply touched. A whole town turned upside down. So many lives forever changed because of one man's desire to teach another man a lesson he would never forget.
Profile Image for Gena Wood.
112 reviews3 followers
February 3, 2022
    Reed & Billie are back!!

  Personally, these are two of my favorite characters of any of the (tons of) books that I've read
  They take on the illusive "Ghost",  to find the answers to why a promising young quarterback ended up in his cross hairs.
   Billie, as always, is in rare form. Along with partner, Reed, they are on one of their hardest cases.
   This is my favorite series by Dustin Stevens....which is saying a lot, because I love all of them. His writing is some of the best I've found.
    I highly recommend this book, and the entire series, along with all his other series.

58 reviews
February 27, 2022
An indomitable team with an unbreakable bond

If you weren't an animal lover or a person who knows how strong the relationship between human and pet can be, you will have a much stronger grasp after reading this book. Not just any human/pet partnership, but one forged in the connection and interdependence of a K-9 team, the author of this series, Dustin Stevens, spotlights this relationship. Crime, politics, skill sets, bridging internal and external working requirements, and attempting to have a personal life are well framed to make this a favorite for mystery lovers looking for a hero/heroine to fall in love with and/or feel good about.
Profile Image for Beth.
2,909 reviews26 followers
April 16, 2024
An intriguing crime and mystery

A high school quarterback is found dead in his car. Reed and Billie are summoned to help investigate. Nothing is as Reed expected upon his arrival. As the investigation progresses we are privy to things Reed is not and it makes for an interesting dynamic as we draw conclusions and wonder how Reed is going to get there.

The suspense keeps you engaged and the last 15% or so kept me riveted. Exciting climax. The ending is uplifting and as hopeful as this kind of a situation can be. I really enjoy this series and know that I am always in for a good read.
129 reviews1 follower
February 23, 2022
I always enjoy Reed and Billie stories because they are excellent police procedurals. Reed works each case methodically until a resolution is reached. It becomes obvious to the locals who doubted the whiz kid sent in by the Governor that Reed knows his stuff. In this particular adventure, Reed and Billie come to two small towns on the verge of all out war. They tamp down the flames of war and proceed to solve the mystery of the untimely death of a local football star. Definitely a worthwhile read for all those who enjoy a good police mystery and animal lovers too!
15 reviews2 followers
March 12, 2022
Reed and Billie stories are my favorites

A brave man who understands loss, wants to put things right, and has a dog partner detective who complements his talents and is beloved. Reed is good at reading people A good story with unusual twists. It has interesting, well developed characters, (even the dead ones.) I have read the entire series in order, and I like watching the progression and growth of their ideas. I like the little clues that are put in so I can work along with Reed in figuring things out.
1,330 reviews44 followers
February 4, 2022
Reed and Billie are back and working for the governor in a special role that allows them to take all the risks, while he bathes in the glory. After a brief introduction in which Billie demonstrates her tracking skills to locate a missing man. Our duo gets called out to help keep a riot from happening when the local hero/quarterback is found dead and his car marked up by a rival team. Discovering who, how and why takes additional team members and the special skills of Reed and Billie.
150 reviews3 followers
February 21, 2022
I have read all the books in this series and I honestly think this is the best one yet. From start to finish it goes in different directions all the while leading to a great finish. Reed and Billie are again joined at the hip to pick their way through a maze of conflicting scenarios, I also enjoyed the addition of a few new characters as well as some old favorites too. Highly recommend this book to all of you
Profile Image for Lori.
360 reviews12 followers
February 22, 2022
Detectives Reed and Billie, his partner canine are called to investigate the death of a 17 year old quarterback star. No apparent motive to kill this young man with such a promising future. Devastating his father and twin sister, plus the whole town who backed the high school team like they were a national team. It didn’t make sense but the reason he was killed is so appalling. Reed must use his skills to hunt down this killer known as The Ghost.
449 reviews3 followers
March 2, 2022
Fast Paced Book

I really enjoy the characters and storyline in this series. The interaction with Billie and Reed is special and it’s always amazing to read about working K9 dogs and their handlers, and what they can do. This book really had you wondering why someone would kill a young athlete that was loved and respected by so many. I look forward to reading the next book in this series!
23 reviews
March 6, 2022
As always, a great read from Dustin Stevens

Stevens always manages to create an interesting set of characters surrounding his detective Mattox and K9 Billie. Action-packed to the last page, I truly enjoy every book by author Stevens, The Ghost was no exception. I will continue to seek out this author, in whichever series of main character he writes (I love the HAM bouts as well) . Well done Mr. Stevens, well done.
Profile Image for Cindy .
265 reviews9 followers
March 29, 2022
I have loved all of the previous Reed & Billie books mainly due to the action from start to finish which made me not want to put the book down until finished. This one though, I struggled to get through. The story didn't grab me from the start and it just seemed to drag along until suddenly everything just came together at the end. Will be looking forward to the next one though because it is one of my favorite series by Dustin.
1,146 reviews7 followers
January 4, 2023
Ghost Busters

The murder of a prmising high school football player lead Reed and Billy to a vicious criminal conspiracy. Their adversaries are cunning but they are determined to catch the killer of a promising young man

This was a good game read. Love Billie, the dog. The story is,overly detailed and many chapters end oddly and abruptly. Still the story was good and the conckysion satisfactorym
Profile Image for Rosemary Dreyer.
1,523 reviews5 followers
February 3, 2025
I’m a fan of this series. However, this novel was the weak link. What I liked: more Ohio landscape and glimpses into various parts of that state; new characters; the attention to detail; the various ways different law enforcement agencies can work in harmonious partnership. What I didn’t like: the essence of the plot didn’t seem feasible; Reed’s almost blind energy as he hurtles forward; the lack of depth in these relationships. Overall, I thought this book was just so-so.
Profile Image for Becky .
595 reviews15 followers
January 31, 2022
I honestly like the Reed and Billie stories. This was no exception.  A young man, in the prime of his life, slated for wondrous things, is cut down and no one knows why. It's up to Reed and Billie to make sense of this horrendous tragedy.  Hopefully they can do it before anymore lives are lost.
Another hit.
Profile Image for Elisa.
3,229 reviews42 followers
February 20, 2022
Another absolutely gripping page turner from Dustin Steven’s.
Reed and Billie are back on another case and it has then chasing their tales a bit to figure this one out.
As always Reed and Billie eventually sort things out and find the bad guy or bad guy’s and with some intriguing twists and turns this one is a must read.
Profile Image for Sharon Scott.
190 reviews4 followers
February 22, 2022
I was a bit apprehensive about reading this book and jumping in the middle of a series. All for naught! This fast paced suspenseful book can stand alone in its plot and well developed characters. The only issue I found with this book is that now, I’m hooked! I have to read the entire series now!
I received this book as an ARC, but the review is my own opinion.
64 reviews1 follower
February 27, 2022
Reed and Billie at their best!!

The Ghost was amazing! I laughed, cried, and was hooked on the mystery. This was the best yet. Reed and Billie were assigned the case as part of their duty for the state. The travel descriptions were so realistic I thought I was there. Highly recommend this book!
Profile Image for Dan.
39 reviews
June 16, 2022
Nothing better than a fur missile.

I enjoyed this entire series. I missed my calling as a K9 handler and thrive through all the books I read about law enforcement and search and rescue. I offer a little constructive criticism, that being I would like to see Billie have a bigger role and a little more "say" in any future stories.
46 reviews
February 18, 2024
Ghost... was Ghostly!!

Quite the crafty story. The race is on to discover why the star football QB has ‘been taken out’!!! We race up and down the highway (Columbus and Cincinnati). Old friends and new, plus two cold cases. Persistence. And the climatic answers to our questions. Quite a ride this time with Reed and Billie.
1,816 reviews14 followers
February 18, 2022
Reed and K9 Billie are assigned to investigate a mysterious death of a high school quarterback in a small town. Turns out to be more than Reed expected. Another case in another town with the same type of death. This novel will keep you entertained and on the edge of your seat.
Profile Image for bibiana  Perdomo .
107 reviews1 follower
February 22, 2022
received this book as an arc(advanced reader copy) in return for my honest opinion. This next saga in the Billie and Reed is fantastic. From the beginning it starts off running and the action doesn't stop. Many nights I stayed up later than usual just to get to the next chapter.
36 reviews
February 23, 2022
Another excellent Billie and Reed novel, I appreciated how the detective worked to solve a crime that had everyone stumped. I also liked how Billie interacts with Reed and plays off his emotions. You will have problems putting down an enjoyable read once you start to read it!
1,989 reviews23 followers
February 23, 2022
Another good one.

Reed may be the brains behind the team but Billie is the hero. This edition was an impossible one to solve, so don't even try to guess. Even the reason why was hidden until the end. Well written.
145 reviews1 follower
February 24, 2022
Ghost

Reed and Billie are two of my favorites! Am totally loving this duo and I am going to be so green if he is given a romantic interest. Just keep them working those so deep mysteries.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 82 reviews

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