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Pepper Ryan Mystery Thriller #1
Beach Body Boogie
BEACH BODY BOOGIE is a destination thriller set in Cape Cod, Massachusetts, USA.Cape Cod in the summer.
Tan lines, ice cream cones and...assassins?
A beach town goes nuts when a Secret Service agent is found dead in a clambake pit with a red starfish and a threat to kill the President before his beach vacation ends. The trouble gets worse when local cop Pepper Ryan is drafted to help the Secret Service foil the assassination. No one knows his town like Pepper. But he's failed before-spectacularly-and his fellow cops are taking bets on when he'll flame out again. Dead bodies with red starfish start piling up. It doesn't help that Pepper's ex-police chief dad is trying to solve the case first. Or that a jet-set heiress (Pepper's high school sweetheart) needs him to save her inheritance. Or that his boss's daughter wants to handle more than his research. Then the threat gets personal when a mismatched pair of contract killers start gunning for him... Pepper's local knowledge may make him the only one who can save the President. But will a riptide of murder and mayhem—and his own troubled history—pull him under first?
This raucous thriller is perfect for readers on vacation....or readers with vacation on their minds.
Tan lines, ice cream cones and...assassins?
A beach town goes nuts when a Secret Service agent is found dead in a clambake pit with a red starfish and a threat to kill the President before his beach vacation ends. The trouble gets worse when local cop Pepper Ryan is drafted to help the Secret Service foil the assassination. No one knows his town like Pepper. But he's failed before-spectacularly-and his fellow cops are taking bets on when he'll flame out again. Dead bodies with red starfish start piling up. It doesn't help that Pepper's ex-police chief dad is trying to solve the case first. Or that a jet-set heiress (Pepper's high school sweetheart) needs him to save her inheritance. Or that his boss's daughter wants to handle more than his research. Then the threat gets personal when a mismatched pair of contract killers start gunning for him... Pepper's local knowledge may make him the only one who can save the President. But will a riptide of murder and mayhem—and his own troubled history—pull him under first?
This raucous thriller is perfect for readers on vacation....or readers with vacation on their minds.
383 pages, Paperback
First published June 28, 2018
About the author
Timothy Fagan
10 books10 followersTimothy Fagan has always loved to read suspenseful books that make you laugh out loud in public. Now he loves to write them.
He previously spent twenty years as an attorney and executive in the financial services industry, focusing on securities regulatory matters across North America, Europe and Asia-Pacific. He was born in Los Angeles, California, grew up in British Columbia, Canada and currently lives near Boston, Massachusetts.
Although his focus is full-length fiction, he also publishes poetry and song lyrics. Beach Body Boogie is his first novel.
For more information about Timothy Fagan, his upcoming books and other projects, please visit his website: www.timothyfagan.com
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
January 31, 2021
I’m not sure what I’ve missed, but clearly I missed something....
The title of the book I have in my Kindle library is titled “Killing Shore,” not “Beach Body Boogie.” It is this book, but the title is different 🤷🏼♀️. Same book cover, but two different titles. Either name, it’s a great book! I look forward to book 2 in the Pepper Ryan story.
The title of the book I have in my Kindle library is titled “Killing Shore,” not “Beach Body Boogie.” It is this book, but the title is different 🤷🏼♀️. Same book cover, but two different titles. Either name, it’s a great book! I look forward to book 2 in the Pepper Ryan story.
May 11, 2019
The oddly named Pepper Ryan, real first name Peter, comes from a family of cops. His father was the Chief of Police until he had to retire under bad conduct caught on camera, and his older brother was an officer who did everything right until he died after walking into a shop robbery, after hearing a call as he passed. Pepper blames himself for his brother’s death and believes his father also blames him. He left town shortly after his brother’s death and his questionable stop of a van.
He returns three years later, to join the local force on a temporary basis, whilst a very rich sponsor and the town hosts the President of the USA on his summer holiday with his family. There have been death threats against POTUS, but he needs his sponsor to help in his next race for re-election. Lots of different protest groups have also come to the town to make the presidents holiday hell. Just before his arrival one of the advance team of Secret Service agents is found dead in a clambake pit, with a note threatening the president’s life.
Pepper tries to force his way into the investigation, due to his local knowledge, and also his previous, childhood relationship with the daughter of the president’s sponsor. She has her own ideas and behaves like a spoilt, rich, millionaires’ daughter with her city friends and the president’s daughters. Coming across mob hitmen and threats to his life and home, add to the hunt. The Secret Service agent paired with Pepper doesn’t exactly think much of his past policing skills and behaviour. Pepper likes to do his own thing and isn’t the sort to keep others in touch with his actions, preferring to follow his own ideas and clues.
Pepper has somehow been targeted in this backlash against the president, maybe he is too close to the truth or the real suspects, but he has to keep going. The possible re-sparking of his relationship with his high school sweetheart or a new relationship with a colleague, places him into dodgy situations. Some parts are quite amusing, the president is definitely not one you would want to re-elect by his behaviour. The millionaire’s assistant brings a completely new twist to the storyline and her actions make for some great surprises.
The ending gives you a few more surprises and you get to find out a lot of information you may never have realised as you read. It is a fun and easy read. You may be surprised at times by Pepper’s behaviour, but that seems to be explained by his past and yet you aren’t being told everything. Not a bad start to the Pepper Ryan thriller series and I look forward to seeing where he goes next. I received an ARC copy of the book from Hidden Gems and I have freely given my own opinion of the book above.
He returns three years later, to join the local force on a temporary basis, whilst a very rich sponsor and the town hosts the President of the USA on his summer holiday with his family. There have been death threats against POTUS, but he needs his sponsor to help in his next race for re-election. Lots of different protest groups have also come to the town to make the presidents holiday hell. Just before his arrival one of the advance team of Secret Service agents is found dead in a clambake pit, with a note threatening the president’s life.
Pepper tries to force his way into the investigation, due to his local knowledge, and also his previous, childhood relationship with the daughter of the president’s sponsor. She has her own ideas and behaves like a spoilt, rich, millionaires’ daughter with her city friends and the president’s daughters. Coming across mob hitmen and threats to his life and home, add to the hunt. The Secret Service agent paired with Pepper doesn’t exactly think much of his past policing skills and behaviour. Pepper likes to do his own thing and isn’t the sort to keep others in touch with his actions, preferring to follow his own ideas and clues.
Pepper has somehow been targeted in this backlash against the president, maybe he is too close to the truth or the real suspects, but he has to keep going. The possible re-sparking of his relationship with his high school sweetheart or a new relationship with a colleague, places him into dodgy situations. Some parts are quite amusing, the president is definitely not one you would want to re-elect by his behaviour. The millionaire’s assistant brings a completely new twist to the storyline and her actions make for some great surprises.
The ending gives you a few more surprises and you get to find out a lot of information you may never have realised as you read. It is a fun and easy read. You may be surprised at times by Pepper’s behaviour, but that seems to be explained by his past and yet you aren’t being told everything. Not a bad start to the Pepper Ryan thriller series and I look forward to seeing where he goes next. I received an ARC copy of the book from Hidden Gems and I have freely given my own opinion of the book above.
May 10, 2019
This Pepper Ryan Thriller by Timothy Fagan was a non-stop thrill ride of action and adventure as his characters attempt to solve multiple murders while trying to stay alive themselves. Of course, there is also a strong hint about a presidential assassination attempt trying to be prevented along the way. The characters were both likeable and not so likeable depending on whether they were the good or the bad guys, with some confusion on whose side some of them truly were. It was also a story about the importance of family, even with old memories haunting them, like ghosts. The story line itself flowed smoothly from start to finish, where it revealed a surprising motive for the deaths. I would definitely add further books in this series to my TBR. This is a voluntary review of an Advanced Reader Copy of this book from Hidden Gems Books.
December 19, 2018
This book was delightfully engaging. Pepper Ryan is a character you just can't not like. I loved the backdrop, the interesting sidebars and the fact that it was a classy upbeat rendition of a good cop - not a perfect cop - with challenges like the rest of us. Great sense of humour, 'keep going" attitude and fun characters. Tim Fagan is able to pull off a suspense balanced with humour thriller. This is a great start to a series. Bought copies for my husband and son and my brother has 4 copies. Loved it, Tim. We wait with inspired anticipation for the next read. Very impressed!!! C. O'Keefe, White Rock, BC
February 4, 2026
Police officer Pepper Ryan heads back to Cape Cod hoping for redemption, forever overshadowed by his late brother’s reputation as a hero cop. But when a dead Secret Service agent is discovered in a clambake pit alongside a threat against the President, Pepper is pulled into a high-stakes race to stop an assassination.
As he digs deeper, he clashes with mobsters, extremist groups, and powerful elites, uncovering a tangled conspiracy that puts both his future and the President’s life on the line. Fast paced and suspenseful, Killing Shore delivers a classic thriller mix of political danger, personal stakes, and nonstop tension.
As he digs deeper, he clashes with mobsters, extremist groups, and powerful elites, uncovering a tangled conspiracy that puts both his future and the President’s life on the line. Fast paced and suspenseful, Killing Shore delivers a classic thriller mix of political danger, personal stakes, and nonstop tension.
May 4, 2019
The title of this book set me wondering, but I can say it is a great thriller with lots of twists and turns and more surprises along the way. The book has many interesting and unique characters, and the most entertaining aspect of the book is the exploration of the relationship between the characters as Pepper returns to his old stomping grounds. The plot is very imaginative, leaving the identity of the evil person creating the problems to near the end. The richness of the characters and the realism of their interactions make this a very special book.
July 25, 2018
I loved this book and finished in just a few days. I couldn't put it down … for me that is the sign of a great story. It has everything. Tim Fagan is the next James Patterson … look out Jack Ryan, Pepper Ryan is on the case. thoroughly enjoyed the story and can't wait for the future installments in the Pepper Ryan series. Having grown up in the Northeast I spent many a chlldhood vacation on the Cape and had fun with all the Cape references. Great summer reading !!
July 5, 2018
Tons to like with this debut thriller. Pepper Ryan is a funny, take-no-prisoners hero who relies on charm as much as police skills. The setting with the rich and famous on Cape Cod provides some glamour, not to mention lots of humorous digs, especially since the President is so fond of himself. Good suspense, good villains propel the story forward. I highly recommend this beach read.
December 18, 2018
Impressive debut by Timothy Fagan. There were a lot of characters, and sometimes it was hard to remember who was who. The main characters (including Pepper Ryan, his dad, and the police chief’s daughter Zula) were both fun and believable. Some of the plot twists toward the end were a bit much, but the book was quite entertaining. Good for some escapism, and I would read more of Fagan’s work.
June 30, 2018
This book is a really great read! It is comprehensible to the average reader, but has a deep intellect and humor, with even more complex characters to boot. I would give it a 10/10, and even higher if possible. I recommend it to any reader with a little free time and an itch for thrill!
July 8, 2020
Good Mystery
This is a very good mystery thriller with numerous characters and multiple twists and turns. The interaction of the characters was interesting and kept the readers turning pages to see what the next would bring!
This is a very good mystery thriller with numerous characters and multiple twists and turns. The interaction of the characters was interesting and kept the readers turning pages to see what the next would bring!
September 22, 2020
Looking For a New Series? Found One!
Great 1st book of the Pepper Ryan Series. Great story, characters, action, and suspense! There we so many shady and bad people that each chapter became an adventure.
Moving on to 📚 2.
Great 1st book of the Pepper Ryan Series. Great story, characters, action, and suspense! There we so many shady and bad people that each chapter became an adventure.
Moving on to 📚 2.
September 25, 2018
Great book!
I could not put it down, and I am really looking forward to the next book in the series. Highly recommended!
I could not put it down, and I am really looking forward to the next book in the series. Highly recommended!
December 1, 2018
Enjoyed it
Good book! I will read the next one.
Nice twists and turns. Well done for a first effort. Pepper is a good character.
Good book! I will read the next one.
Nice twists and turns. Well done for a first effort. Pepper is a good character.
December 19, 2018
Very good inexpensive book.
Very well written and thought out. Lots of twists and turns that were believable and neatly tied together. A fun read.
Very well written and thought out. Lots of twists and turns that were believable and neatly tied together. A fun read.
July 4, 2020
Surprises
Great book. Lot s of twist and turns in the plot to keep you guessing. Surprise ending . Looking forward to his n.ext book.
Great book. Lot s of twist and turns in the plot to keep you guessing. Surprise ending . Looking forward to his n.ext book.
August 26, 2020
Enjoyed this. Fast moving and an excellent plot. The ending was a big surprise.
February 8, 2022
red starfish
Took a while to get up to speed but once it gets going it’s not too bad. There are a lot of red herrings in the case but that’s what makes it a fun read.
Took a while to get up to speed but once it gets going it’s not too bad. There are a lot of red herrings in the case but that’s what makes it a fun read.
August 4, 2023
A great story that you must read if you live near the cape. Fun characters with hilarious & creative writing.
September 15, 2023
I liked all the twists and turns this book offered. Quite the thriller that kept me on my toes.
July 26, 2024
Classic story line with plenty of action and hints of romance. Maybe Pepper is the Bruce Wayne type that never gets the girl; but I am definitely going to continue with the series to find out!
July 15, 2025
Really enjoyed this book and the humor! Great little bombshell at the end!!
August 2, 2025
Captured my attention
Captivating ventures of a likable do-good LEO. This "hard to set down" thriller kept me guessing and the bad guys were really "BAD"!
Captivating ventures of a likable do-good LEO. This "hard to set down" thriller kept me guessing and the bad guys were really "BAD"!
July 25, 2018
I loved this book. It is a fantastic summer read, funny and smart! I loved the character development, local references were fun but not excessive. All the details were well researched. Read this if you enjoy Carl Hiaasen.
December 14, 2020
An enjoyable quick read detective story
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews