Jump to ratings and reviews
Rate this book
Rate this book
My latest case is a nightmare.When Brenda Evans asks me to deliver a message to her estranged daughter, Sally, I think this will be the simplest case I've solved. Unfortunately, Sally moved without leaving a forwarding address. 

When I find her, she is the prime suspect in a murder. Sally claims she’s innocent, and Brenda wants me to prove it. My investigation leads me through the seedy side of Denver, involving ex-cons, a masked social media personality, and back to Sally.

This case is anything but easy, and one thing is danger lurks at every turn.

248 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 8, 2017

343 people are currently reading
165 people want to read

About the author

Renee Pawlish

114 books347 followers
From 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

Ratings & Reviews

What do you think?
Rate this book

Friends & Following

Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!

Community Reviews

5 stars
442 (58%)
4 stars
231 (30%)
3 stars
76 (10%)
2 stars
4 (<1%)
1 star
3 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 44 reviews
Profile Image for Tulay.
1,202 reviews2 followers
February 7, 2017
Another good mystery by Renee Pawlish.

Denver based PI again started this investigation thinking it was going to be easy.
Mother recommended Reed to her friend, she was looking for her daughter. He found her in her boyfriend's apartment. Now he has to find who killed her boyfriend. Ace and Deuce, he calls them goofballs, computer wiz Cal also helping him. Twists and turns in every corner. Reed should have sit down at least ate couple bits of lasagna, his wife lovingly prepared. Now he can really talk and ask "what to do" to his idle Humphrey, but only answer he gets might be "meow, meow."
Profile Image for Barbara Hackel.
2,886 reviews44 followers
March 12, 2017
Reed Ferguson is back, and he is doing a favor for a friend of his mother. Never too busy to be a good son, Reed agrees to try and locate an estranged daughter, which he does after a little more work than expected. Unfortunately, locating her comes complete with a boyfriend with a bullet hole in the middle of his forehead! At this point, the mother decides to hire Reed to clear her daughter of murder charges. What happens next is an interesting case connected to social media and youtube. As always, Reed is thorough and resourceful. Supported by a cast that includes his wife, best friend, and the goofballs, Reed stakes out-pounds the pavement-and talks to everyone involved (uncovering yet more crime!) as he approaches this mystery without missing any angles or connections.

This series is always a delight to read, and the current selection is no exception. Reed is an excellent PI, and persistent until he gets his man! I recommend not only this book, but all the books in the series that lead up to it. It is a series that is best read in order, so you can appreciate Reed's abilities and growth as an investigator. However, this mystery stands on it's own, and can be read and enjoyed even if you haven't read the others.

Do yourself a favor! Grab a copy today and enjoy another fun Reed.
Profile Image for Kathy Maganza.
181 reviews1 follower
November 18, 2019
Always like to read the Reed Ferguson series. Used to live in Denver and still visit. I look up all the restaurants etc that are mentioned in the books and try to visit them. A lot are closed though!!
I'm glad he got a kitten!!!
Profile Image for Donna Thompson.
665 reviews47 followers
February 28, 2017
So many series can get stale book after book. Happily, this is not the case with Renee Pawlish's Reed Ferguson series. Each book manages to be fresh and exciting, and each case Reed gets involved in is unique and interesting. Reading this series is like meeting up with old friends. You just can't wait to get together again and find out what's been happening with them. There's a lot of detective fiction out there to choose from, but Reed is in a category of his own. This book has humor, suspense, a touch of romance and of course, mystery. But the characters are what keep me coming back time after time. Renee has come up with a winner in Reed and if you read one of these books, they're like potato chips, you can't read just one.
Profile Image for Bev.
3,275 reviews98 followers
January 10, 2017
Brenda Evans is a friend of Reed's parents. She has asked him to look for her daughter, Sally. Sally wants to be a singer, but she really can't sing. She moved out of her parent's house into a tiny apartment. That was eight years ago. Now Brenda has a health issue and would like to talk to her daughter again. No one can locate her. Finally Reed has located Sally, in an apartment with a dead body lying on the floor. Brenda asks Reed to prove her daughter innocent of murder, well that is easier said than done. Sally doesn't exactly follow instructions well. Then there is this Maga Dog videos that has some of Sally's "songs" in them. Who is Maga Dog? No one knows. Who killed Gabe, Sally's boyfriend? How is Gabe mixed up with Maga Dog? Read the book to find the answers, and why they call her Nightmare Sally. I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book
Profile Image for Betty.
161 reviews
January 13, 2017
Once again Renee Pawlish has created a grand mystery for Denver PI Reed Ferguson.  Reed's mother actually refers a friend as the newest client. The assignment sounds like such a piece of cake that Reed says yes immediately.  But as usual for Reed, things are never as they seem. All of the usual characters are involved but Renee adds her unexpected twists and turns to keep you guessing until the very end. Add this Nightmare Sally to your TBR list.

Profile Image for Bob.
148 reviews2 followers
September 26, 2024
Develops nicely

I've now read 14 in this series. It's not quite what it aims at - an updated version of Chandler, but it's getting closer, book by book.The plots are good and varied, and, along the way, we're introduced to some interesting characters. My major reservation about the settings is the protagonist's car: it's a $43,000 dollar gas guzzler (19 mpg - and that's the smaller American gallons). Yet, hardly anyone notices they're being tailed by this monster that, even by American standards, must cost a fortune to run - and we're constantly told he's not got a lot left of his trust fund. The other thing is his love of The Smiths, one of the world's most ndismal bands - but that's just me, I guess! The team is the usual one: girlfriend, IT expert, comic buddies, cop who gives inside info. That said, tbeir presence is given a more credible explanation than usual, and everyone in the team is a good fit. Length-wise, the books are all long-ish novella length, which means an avid reader like myself powers through them pretty quickly. Their length and the plotting would make them a good fit for a TV or streaming series. Maybe someone out in TV-Land should check these out? They're a fun read.
Profile Image for Colin Rochford.
120 reviews
December 6, 2018
Nightmare Sally by Renee Pawlish
The Reed Ferguson Mystery Series Book #15
Nightmare Sally – really?
However, I very much enjoyed this story it rollicked along at a breakneck pace. The main characters were interesting and vulnerable at the same time.

There seemed to be less laid back, laconic bogey style dialogue, but I guess after 15 books you start running out of things to say in that style. Also I would like to have seen more development in some of the also ran characters such as Ace and Deuce, who have been there for some time, but haven't changed over that period. Not much anyway. 

But, that being said this was another good book in this series which met all the requirements; and one that was hard to put down
Profile Image for Jo-Ellen Sharpe.
9 reviews
October 10, 2017
Thoroughly enjoyable.

The Reed Ferguson series is one of my favorites. First, he is a legitimate private detective, so you don’t have any of the nonsense authors make up to justify the snoop’s actions. Second, he’s likable, which means he doesn’t have the annoying habit of antagonizing everyone he meets during an investigation. He even gets along with a police detective! Finally, Pawlish still manages to come up with plots that I haven’t seen already in a dozen previous books. These are all fun reads.
Profile Image for Subhajit Das.
368 reviews113 followers
December 4, 2018
The front cover is simple yet eye catching. The title is unique and justified as per the story of the book. The compact story line and gripping plot made this book a much enjoyable and unputdownable read. The fast pace narrating style and captivating description of the scenes can be easily considered as the base strength of the book. I liked reading this and would definitely recommend to avid readers. Thank you.
Profile Image for K.T..
Author 39 books66 followers
December 25, 2018
This was a great read for a lazy Saturday and kept me hanging right until the end. I liked reading from the male perspective and appreciated the rarity of the MC not leaping into bed with every female he encountered. Reed is happily tied to a very understanding woman and it left the drama with the murder mystery which was refreshing. Liked it heaps.
110 reviews2 followers
May 15, 2017
Another winner!!

As with the previous 14 books this was a good book. I especially liked that although the case was fairly straight forward it still had a few twists to keeps the mind wondering.
1 review
July 24, 2017
Was a good story

I enjoyed this book but was disappointed with the language and coarse words. I haven't read a book by Renee with the language that is in Nightmare Sally. Hoping the next one will be more mild, because I love the Reed Ferguson books.
22 reviews1 follower
September 2, 2017
From the first book in the series to the last book(1-15) was worth every minute I spent enjoying my favorite pastime, and now one of my favorite authors!

Please take a little time to read this series! Time well spent...I'm now starting the rest of Sarah Pawlish books!
795 reviews5 followers
September 5, 2018
Another fun and interesting read

Reed Ferguson finds the missing girl who ends up accused of murder. Then Reed feels the need to follow through and find the real killer. Add a dose of Deuce and Ace and Cal, it makes for great entertainment
1 review
December 9, 2018
Another great Reed Ferguson story

Well written and tightly woven plot. Characters were believable and while at times a bit obvious that Reed would find out what was happening, still well scripted.
47 reviews2 followers
December 27, 2018
Another reviewer had it right when they said this series keeps getting better and better. I think that's because like any writer, you get better with practice. The more she writes, the better the characters and the story get. Loved the title on this one and the storyline.
35 reviews
December 31, 2018
My first Reef Ferguson mystery but not my lsst

Well written kept my interest and tied up nicely in the end. Dragged a bit in the middle but altogether a good read! Left me ready to start with number1 and read on.
141 reviews2 followers
April 19, 2019
Good character development and carefully plotted to seamlessly build to a happy ending. A nice yarn, maybe acceptable for YAs if parental guidance is a little lenient (not nearly 'R-rated'), long on feelings and very short on evidence and police procedure.
Profile Image for Susan.
7,320 reviews69 followers
May 3, 2019
As a favour Reed Ferguson agrees to take a message to Sally Evans. A message from her mother. An easy case, but when he finally discovers her she is in the same room as a recently killed male. He is employed by Brenda to find the guilty party.
An enjoyable mystery
Profile Image for Sandra Sanders.
68 reviews
June 5, 2020
Well Written Mystery

I enjoy reading these mysteries, partly because I'm familiar with Denver in this era. The stories are well plotted with engaging characters. The author tells a good story
Profile Image for Jeff Benham.
1,738 reviews13 followers
March 20, 2021
Reed is hired to find a woman's daughter. When he finds her, she is immediately arrested as a prime suspect in the murder of her boyfriend. The investigation then shifts focus to finding the killer of the boyfriend. Another really enjoyable read.
40 reviews
June 4, 2021
Another fantastic tale!

I thoroughly enjoy reading the books in this series. I usually will read another book in between and coming back to Reed and "family" is just like coming home to familiar surroundings.
28 reviews1 follower
September 20, 2017
Good read

This book like all the Reed books are entertaining and nice to read. Thanks to the author for the enjoyment.
Profile Image for Cindy B. .
3,899 reviews219 followers
December 5, 2018
Like this series and main character, clean, some romance and usually a good plot - this one stays in form. Recommended.
Profile Image for Michael King.
Author 21 books47 followers
December 10, 2018
A fun read. A well plotted mystery more to the cosy side. If that's your read, you'll love this series.
Profile Image for Bob.
Author 3 books7 followers
December 29, 2018
It's never good when you've figured out the crime half way through the book and you have to wait for the characters to catch up with you. Makes you want to scream at the characters. and the author.
891 reviews4 followers
January 3, 2019
Amusing

A pleasant little mystery. The plot is a bit thin, although the main characters are fairly well developed and the locations accurate
Displaying 1 - 30 of 44 reviews

Can't find what you're looking for?

Get help and learn more about the design.