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Reed Ferguson Mystery #10
Back Story
The past and the present collide with stunning results in the latest Reed Ferguson mystery.
Potential client Brad Webb asks Denver private investigator Reed Ferguson to look into the decades-old murder of Brad’s grandfather, Dewey Webb. Dewey was a Denver-based private detective who died mysteriously in 1955, and although Reed is intrigued, he doesn't see much promise in solving the case. After all, the police didn't find Dewey's killer at the time, and seventy years have passed, leaving a cold trail. However, Reed accepts the case, and as he is drawn back into both the underworld and the elite society of 1950s Denver, he realizes that Dewey had discovered secrets that someone still wants to keep hidden today, even if it means resorting to murder. Can Reed piece together old and new clues to find the killer, or will the past come back to harm him?
Potential client Brad Webb asks Denver private investigator Reed Ferguson to look into the decades-old murder of Brad’s grandfather, Dewey Webb. Dewey was a Denver-based private detective who died mysteriously in 1955, and although Reed is intrigued, he doesn't see much promise in solving the case. After all, the police didn't find Dewey's killer at the time, and seventy years have passed, leaving a cold trail. However, Reed accepts the case, and as he is drawn back into both the underworld and the elite society of 1950s Denver, he realizes that Dewey had discovered secrets that someone still wants to keep hidden today, even if it means resorting to murder. Can Reed piece together old and new clues to find the killer, or will the past come back to harm him?
196 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 1, 2015
1123 people are currently reading
888 people want to read
About the author
Renee Pawlish
114 books347 followersFrom the time she was ten and tried to write her own detective series in the fashion of the Hardy Boys, Renée Pawlish has been developing her craft. Along with creative writing classes, Renée studied great writers like Dashiell Hammett, Rex Stout, Stephen King, Sue Grafton and many more. Once Renée graduated from college, she began her first novel. Now, all these years later, she has penned numerous books in a variety of genres.
Renée was born in California, but has lived most of her life in Colorado. When she's not hiking, cycling, or chasing ballplayers for autographs, she is writing mysteries and thrillers. She also has some middle grade novels waiting to be published.
Renée loves to travel and has visited numerous countries around the world. She has also spent many summer days at her parents' cabin in the hills outside of Boulder, which was the inspiration for the setting of Taylor Crossing in her novel Nephilim: Genesis of Evil.
The Reed Ferguson Mystery Series
This Doesn't Happen In The Movies
Reel Estate Rip-off
The Nephilim Trilogy
Nephilim Genesis of Evil
Books Two and Three soon to be released
The Noah Winter YA Adventure Series
The Emerald Quest
Take Five
A short story collection that includes a Reed Ferguson tale.
The Sallie House: Exposing the Beast Within
A non-fiction book about one of the most haunted houses in America.
To learn more you can follow her on Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/reneepawlish....
on her blog:
http://tobecomeawriter.wordpress.com/
on Twitter:
http://twitter.com/reneepawlish
Renée was born in California, but has lived most of her life in Colorado. When she's not hiking, cycling, or chasing ballplayers for autographs, she is writing mysteries and thrillers. She also has some middle grade novels waiting to be published.
Renée loves to travel and has visited numerous countries around the world. She has also spent many summer days at her parents' cabin in the hills outside of Boulder, which was the inspiration for the setting of Taylor Crossing in her novel Nephilim: Genesis of Evil.
The Reed Ferguson Mystery Series
This Doesn't Happen In The Movies
Reel Estate Rip-off
The Nephilim Trilogy
Nephilim Genesis of Evil
Books Two and Three soon to be released
The Noah Winter YA Adventure Series
The Emerald Quest
Take Five
A short story collection that includes a Reed Ferguson tale.
The Sallie House: Exposing the Beast Within
A non-fiction book about one of the most haunted houses in America.
To learn more you can follow her on Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/reneepawlish....
on her blog:
http://tobecomeawriter.wordpress.com/
on Twitter:
http://twitter.com/reneepawlish
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 122 reviews
August 22, 2023
I like the format of the story. Nice idea.
March 23, 2022
I had to re-read this one again.
A couple of years ago I started the Reed Ferguson series and read this far and a few after it. Then I discovered the Dewey Webb series. I had just read the last one in the series when I was reminded that Back Story was about Dewey Webb's last case when he was murdered. What!? That Dewey?! So I had to return to the scene of the crime.....the final story. I was so sad. I loved Dewey and his little family, Clara and Sam. Back Story was very touching to read and to learn a little about Dewey's family in the later years. Still sad though.
A couple of years ago I started the Reed Ferguson series and read this far and a few after it. Then I discovered the Dewey Webb series. I had just read the last one in the series when I was reminded that Back Story was about Dewey Webb's last case when he was murdered. What!? That Dewey?! So I had to return to the scene of the crime.....the final story. I was so sad. I loved Dewey and his little family, Clara and Sam. Back Story was very touching to read and to learn a little about Dewey's family in the later years. Still sad though.
July 19, 2015
The Reed Ferguson books are good, fast reads and very entertaining. The writing is clever and much funnier than Janet Evanovich's books. Each book in the series keeps getting better. I can't wait for the next.
Read
February 10, 2016What a wonderful, gripping story with it's "time travel" back and forth (well handled). An exceptionally well written Reed Ferguson page turner. Brava, Renee and thank you!
February 14, 2016
This book is awesome. You get to go back in time and solve a unsolved crime
May 25, 2019
When I started Back Story, I had forgotten. I was expecting just another enjoyable Reed Ferguson mystery. Then Reed's client shows up with the surname of Webb... and it began to click. Then he asked Reed to look into the death of his grandfather, Dewey Webb, and the click turned into a snap. This is the book in which Dewey Webb, Ms. Pawlish's other great detective, is introduced! I was really excited! And I wasn't even a bit disappointed. Ms. Pawlish successfully combined the investigations of rather casual Ferguson with those of hard-boiled Webb, as we were taken back and forth between the two men's investigations - one of which led to Dewey Webb's death. This was one of more enjoyable reads that I have had in quite a while.
January 29, 2021
This is neat and certainly different. Two case, two PIs, 60 years apart. Back in 1955, Dewey Webb was hired to investigate insurance fraud. Someone claiming insurance for an expensive painting that they say was stolen. The insurance company has doubts. Dewey digs deep into this and had no idea how deep it actually went. We are talking possible mob involvement. Suffice it to say, Dewey ends up dead. Too bad, I really liked him. It is ruled an accident. 60 years later, his grandson comes to Reed for help. He doesn't think his grandfather's death was an accident. Whatever deep dark secrets that should have been buried with Dewey are alive and well in 2015. Dark enough and deep enough to murder for. Dewey left a detailed journal. A sort of road map where you have to check all the exits.
August 8, 2023
This book has a clever premise, but it was executed with one major logical flaw. Reed has access to Dewey’s diary, and the storyline flips back and forth from the past to the present as Reed reads the diary and tries to solve Dewey’s murder. What I couldn’t get past though was, why wouldn’t Reed just sit down and read the entire diary? This made the book feel silly and hard to get in to. Additionally, there are about 15 new characters introduced in the past and flipping back and forth in time made it very hard to remember who is who and why they matter. Definitely not my favorite book in this series so far.
July 11, 2022
A very noir murder mystery.
As glad as I was to read that Mr. and Mrs. Ferguson are a happy couple, and that together they solved another murder mystery, the story itself is rather sad. I suppose that's what makes it NOIR. The whole of WWII was stupid. For the Jewish community, however, it was devastating. Being thrown out of home and country with millions killed is just horrible. The only good thing to come out of WWII for them was the return to the Promised Land - but that's another story.
As glad as I was to read that Mr. and Mrs. Ferguson are a happy couple, and that together they solved another murder mystery, the story itself is rather sad. I suppose that's what makes it NOIR. The whole of WWII was stupid. For the Jewish community, however, it was devastating. Being thrown out of home and country with millions killed is just horrible. The only good thing to come out of WWII for them was the return to the Promised Land - but that's another story.
March 3, 2019
A blast from the past.
Reed is on the trail of some very slippery and dangerous characters. It all starts with the murder of Dewey Webb, a PI from the 50s. Reed is hired by his grandson because he thinks someone is following him and thinks it might be connected to the case Dewey was working on when he was killed. One of the richest families in Denver has a dark secret and they'll go to any length to keep it.
Reed is on the trail of some very slippery and dangerous characters. It all starts with the murder of Dewey Webb, a PI from the 50s. Reed is hired by his grandson because he thinks someone is following him and thinks it might be connected to the case Dewey was working on when he was killed. One of the richest families in Denver has a dark secret and they'll go to any length to keep it.
March 14, 2019
Refreshing
Well written and suspenseful. The story was intriguing from the beginning and throughout to the end. The organized structure of the past in twined with the story's present really added to the suspense and the unfolded narrative. I really enjoyed the story, it's structure and it's characters. I hope you will enjoy it as well. It is also free of violence, sex and foul language.
Well written and suspenseful. The story was intriguing from the beginning and throughout to the end. The organized structure of the past in twined with the story's present really added to the suspense and the unfolded narrative. I really enjoyed the story, it's structure and it's characters. I hope you will enjoy it as well. It is also free of violence, sex and foul language.
March 27, 2019
Well Executed
A thoroughly enjoyable cold case saga involving stolen art which takes place in 1955 and in 2015. PI Reed Ferguson opens up an old case of PI Dewey Webb left open when he is murdered one evening in his office.
Story is well executed, well plotted and well written. Chapters alternate between 2015 and 1955 picking up the thread of the story at the end of each chapter and moving the narrative one step closer to its conclusion.
A nice solid tale.
A thoroughly enjoyable cold case saga involving stolen art which takes place in 1955 and in 2015. PI Reed Ferguson opens up an old case of PI Dewey Webb left open when he is murdered one evening in his office.
Story is well executed, well plotted and well written. Chapters alternate between 2015 and 1955 picking up the thread of the story at the end of each chapter and moving the narrative one step closer to its conclusion.
A nice solid tale.
July 7, 2020
I am a big Renee Pawlish fan. However, this was not one of my favorites in the Reed Ferguson series. It may have been because of the dual story lines and swapping between the stories, which I mention not as a criticism but as a possible reason I enjoyed it less than the others. With that being said, I still enjoyed the book very much, still love the characters created in the series, and gave this book a 4 1/2 [out of 5] on my personal rating system.
February 16, 2019
Two detectives, two different years working the same case to solve.
The past was of stolen art and statues, never to be seen again. The present picks up what did happen. Typical of Reed loving the old black and white movies. he has some quirky neighbors that add to the story. Good easy to follow plot,.
The past was of stolen art and statues, never to be seen again. The present picks up what did happen. Typical of Reed loving the old black and white movies. he has some quirky neighbors that add to the story. Good easy to follow plot,.
May 25, 2020
Simply delightful
I stayed up late finishing this book because it's a real treat for fans of noir and detective fiction. Both stories weave together almost too seamlessly at times and everything has a satisfying conclusion. It gets bonus love from me for being set in Denver instead of any larger or more notable cities.
I stayed up late finishing this book because it's a real treat for fans of noir and detective fiction. Both stories weave together almost too seamlessly at times and everything has a satisfying conclusion. It gets bonus love from me for being set in Denver instead of any larger or more notable cities.
May 13, 2025
I’m so glad Reed didn’t have to get beat up this time to solve his case. As usual, the plot kept twisting and turning. But that’s what makes a great mystery. I love the fact that the affectionately named Goofball brothers always contribute to the positive execution of the plan. I just love them….wonder if they could get their own series? Wouldn’t that be a whodunnit? I’m moving on to book #11
August 14, 2017
Very good book
I was very glad to read this book. I did not have to worry about bad language or graphic love screens. I love a good mystery and this one kept me going and wanting to read more.
I was very glad to read this book. I did not have to worry about bad language or graphic love screens. I love a good mystery and this one kept me going and wanting to read more.
June 29, 2018
Enjoyable quick read. Really felt connected to Reed Ferguson. You get to experience a little "time travel" as the novel goes back in time and then forward almost chapter by chapter as we explore earlier mysteries that are connected to the present.
February 25, 2019
Beautifully written suspenseful story of a private investigator digging into the cold case murder of a P.I. many years prior. With the help of the old files, Reed makes progress but discovers that some of those who were involved are still alive. Will Reed survive or meet the same fate?
February 27, 2019
Reed is looking into a murder that happened in the 50's
A client shows up that has just lost his father and thinks it ha something to do with his grandfather who died mysteriously in the 50's.
Read and enjoy.
A client shows up that has just lost his father and thinks it ha something to do with his grandfather who died mysteriously in the 50's.
Read and enjoy.
March 2, 2019
Captivating
An interesting storyline the present day that mingled with a crime or crimes from the war. Keeps the reader engrossed as they get to know the characters in the plot and those from long ago who are looking for justice to be served.
An interesting storyline the present day that mingled with a crime or crimes from the war. Keeps the reader engrossed as they get to know the characters in the plot and those from long ago who are looking for justice to be served.
November 22, 2019
This book moves at a good clip
There is a good chance that you'll stay up late to keep reading this mystery. It's a great read. It has all the traditional gumshoe lore that endears the genre to its readers.
There is a good chance that you'll stay up late to keep reading this mystery. It's a great read. It has all the traditional gumshoe lore that endears the genre to its readers.
March 7, 2021
Back Story was a good read
I think what made good for me was the intertwining of the two stories.
The overall plot was more entertaining than the past couple.
Looking forward to #11 Night of the Hunted, a play on one of my fair film noir Night of the Hunter.
I think what made good for me was the intertwining of the two stories.
The overall plot was more entertaining than the past couple.
Looking forward to #11 Night of the Hunted, a play on one of my fair film noir Night of the Hunter.
April 9, 2022
Great Read!
Honestly, every book gets better and better! I love the characters!
This book was particularly interesting because of the 1950s journal. I really loved this storyline. Thanks, Renee Pawlish for another enjoyable read!!
Honestly, every book gets better and better! I love the characters!
This book was particularly interesting because of the 1950s journal. I really loved this storyline. Thanks, Renee Pawlish for another enjoyable read!!
November 3, 2023
Entertaining page turner!
This book had well developed characters and the story was fun, sweet, and had a great mystery to solve. This It was fun going back in time to the 50s and then back to 2015.
This book had well developed characters and the story was fun, sweet, and had a great mystery to solve. This It was fun going back in time to the 50s and then back to 2015.
June 26, 2017
This is a good mystery
I recommend this book to everyone who loves mysteries.
I will be looking for more from this of and more from this series y
I recommend this book to everyone who loves mysteries.
I will be looking for more from this of and more from this series y
Read
September 26, 2017Mindless, but entertaining. Probably enjoyed this the most of all the ones I've read.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 7, 2017
Super good
Could not put it down I felt as I was alongside Reed all the way. This was my first book by Renee Pawlish and I cannot wait to read all her books!
Could not put it down I felt as I was alongside Reed all the way. This was my first book by Renee Pawlish and I cannot wait to read all her books!
December 27, 2018
I liked the plot in this one, cleverly crafted and well-written. The main character is awesome, a man's man with a sense of humor. I hope Renee keeps writing this series for years to come.
February 19, 2019
A really good mystery.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 122 reviews