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C.T. Ferguson #4
Already Guilty
A murdered police officer. The thin blue line.
One PI will take on the system to get justice.
For someone who never got along well with the cops, C.T. Ferguson finds himself in a good place.
His relationship with the Baltimore police is as solid as it's been. He and his detective cousin Rich are almost friends.
Then the news comes in: Officer down.
The police quickly arrest a suspect. C.T. wants nothing to do with the case.
You can't always get what you want.
When a vicious assault threatens his life, C.T. must figure out who really killed the murdered officer. It may cost him his life, not to mention his improved relationship with Rich, to find out.
Already Guilty is the fourth novel in the riveting C.T. Ferguson mystery series. You'll love this book because it shows even a wisecracking PI can have conviction, and its price can be high.
Get it today.
One PI will take on the system to get justice.
For someone who never got along well with the cops, C.T. Ferguson finds himself in a good place.
His relationship with the Baltimore police is as solid as it's been. He and his detective cousin Rich are almost friends.
Then the news comes in: Officer down.
The police quickly arrest a suspect. C.T. wants nothing to do with the case.
You can't always get what you want.
When a vicious assault threatens his life, C.T. must figure out who really killed the murdered officer. It may cost him his life, not to mention his improved relationship with Rich, to find out.
Already Guilty is the fourth novel in the riveting C.T. Ferguson mystery series. You'll love this book because it shows even a wisecracking PI can have conviction, and its price can be high.
Get it today.
274 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 3, 2018
756 people are currently reading
292 people want to read
About the author
Tom Fowler
35 books101 followersTom Fowler was born and raised in Baltimore and still resides in Maryland. He is an unabashed homer for Baltimore sports teams. His full-time job is in the field of computer security.
At about age seven, polite young Tom wrote a "murder mystery" in which no one died. The story gave him the writing bug, however, and he's been putting pen to paper and fingers to keys ever since.
When not working or writing, Tom enjoys spending time with his family and friends, reading, sports, movies, and writing brief bios in the third person.
At about age seven, polite young Tom wrote a "murder mystery" in which no one died. The story gave him the writing bug, however, and he's been putting pen to paper and fingers to keys ever since.
When not working or writing, Tom enjoys spending time with his family and friends, reading, sports, movies, and writing brief bios in the third person.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 80 reviews
January 4, 2020
A Police Officer Is Killed, A Private Investigator Thinks They Have The Wrong Person..They Don't
Fantastic story of P.I. C.T.Ferguson up against family and the Police Force when he works for the defendant, a man arrested for the death of a Cop!! The emotion,violence and interesting investigation carries you page to page, unable to close the book until the very end.
This is a new to me author, but with this very well written, amazing characters and intense plots book I am Definitely going to be reading more from him!!
Fantastic story of P.I. C.T.Ferguson up against family and the Police Force when he works for the defendant, a man arrested for the death of a Cop!! The emotion,violence and interesting investigation carries you page to page, unable to close the book until the very end.
This is a new to me author, but with this very well written, amazing characters and intense plots book I am Definitely going to be reading more from him!!
August 20, 2020
Enjoyable action/mystery
C.T. Ferguson’s character was built very well in the story. That was a great plus point while reading the book.
A cop is found dead while working on his car and the apparent culprit is also caught.
C.T. Ferguson decides to help the culprit because he is convinced that the man is innocent. His actions make him go against the cops and his own cousin, but he still does it.
The twists and the turns of the story were perfect and enjoyable and it was unpredictable till the very end. Liked it.
C.T. Ferguson’s character was built very well in the story. That was a great plus point while reading the book.
A cop is found dead while working on his car and the apparent culprit is also caught.
C.T. Ferguson decides to help the culprit because he is convinced that the man is innocent. His actions make him go against the cops and his own cousin, but he still does it.
The twists and the turns of the story were perfect and enjoyable and it was unpredictable till the very end. Liked it.
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September 13, 2025TheFussyLibrarian
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December 4, 2018
This story pits C.T. against his cousin Rich and just about everyone in the Baltimore Police force. When a cop is killed while off duty and working on cars, the police think they have arrested the right guy, after all he was running away from the scene and had gun residue on his hands and worse....a record already. This does cause a lot of problems for C.T. but he can't help but think they have the wrong guy after the defense attorney convinces him that her client couldn't have done it. This causes more than a little rift between C.T. and Rich, it also causes problems for his parents. Can he prove them wrong and get the right guy? The answer will make you shake your head!
December 31, 2019
C.T. Ferguson is as smart assed as Spencer! A police Officer is murdered in his home garage. A man is soon arrested and charge with his murder and C.T. is asked by the Public Defender to look into the situation. Despite the fact that the police would not assist him in any way (and why would they for a cop killer?), he takes the case. His investigation takes him in a number of directions not all of which are particularly safe for him. The novel is well written, engrossing and fun reading. C.T.’s sense of humor alone will carry the reader! I will be reading more of Fowler’s books. Thanks to the author and publisher for an ARC for an honest review.
June 15, 2019
C.T. Ferguson returns in another investigation that sets him at odds with the Baltimore Police Department. I enjoy the series because I have spent just enough time in Baltimore to appreciate the locations and descriptions. The ongoing bickering between C.T. and his cousin Rick continues through most of the book. The process C.T. uses to find the killer demonstrates both imagination and determination. The book captured my attention from the beginning and held it through the story. I had to finish the book before I could do anything else.
August 26, 2020
"The jury's out"
OK, this is a fun read. However, the further I read the more often my attention drifted. There were too many extraneous details for me. What's the fascination with food and drink anyway? We all do it to live, I need something I don't do every day to keep me turning the pages - like solving a murder.
OK, this is a fun read. However, the further I read the more often my attention drifted. There were too many extraneous details for me. What's the fascination with food and drink anyway? We all do it to live, I need something I don't do every day to keep me turning the pages - like solving a murder.
May 7, 2023
The C.T. Ferguson Series:
The Reluctant Detective #1 – This is my first read by this author and I like it. This story fits into one of my all-time favorite genres with plenty of humor, action and investigations. The storylines are good and realistic, and I like that the PI is a privileged person instead of a Mickey Spillane stereotype. C.T. also has an interesting past that plays a large part in this introduction. Add in his parents, his older police Detective cousin and a good supporting cast, which all make it difficult to put the book down. The pace is steady without any boring bits. This is one of the better edited books I’ve seen from an Indie author. 4*
The Unknown Devil #2 - Another difficult to put down fast paced pages full of intrigue, suspense and action. Unfortunately, this is my fourth read, instead of my second, but that did not detract from the meshing of previous storylines with the current lines. This book is well thought out in plot and character development along with realistic dialogues, realistic fight scenes and a smart mouthed character full of himself with plenty of good humor. There is infrequent use of vulgar language considering the criminal elements involved. Interesting information about the hacking of cellphones and other electronics. There is a bit too much detailing of insignificant information: clothing; cooking; etc., but still a worthy read. 4*
The Workers of Iniquity #3 - Even with the relaxed pace, this is another hard to put down book. There are multiple storylines happening and if that is not enough to hold your interest, here are a few more added. The characters are interesting and they have good dialogues and work in their roles. C. T. has been a PI for almost a year at this point. The solutions and the way problems are handled are entertaining; some have a good revenge edge and others bring rewards. The crime topics are more than loan sharking. 4*
Already Guilty #4 – I could not put this book down. Well written, fasted paced, and intriguing with great storylines and characters, a real page-turner. Bits reminded me of Lithgow and Denzel’s revenge movie, but the author does well making this his work. There are plenty of good characters, old and new, and the storylines merge well with the story’s plot and the past books. Of course, there is always something or someone to mess up the flow, but that is what makes the series interesting. C.T. is C.T. and you cannot help but respect him and his efforts, and he has a hard row to hoe this time with his special case. I do not know how the previous books flowed since I have only read the first of this series. 5*
Daughters and Sons #5 - I enjoy reading this series. Even though I have not read all of them, I have not missed anything due to the author's talent for storytelling. The past is not thrown at the reader to figure out or reminisce over. C.T. continues to develop as more of his personality appears. He has good supporting characters, which is perfect to go along with the intriguing and interesting storylines. There is enough detail to make the reader a fly on the wall without the Hollywood dramatics or the usual stupidity found in this genre. Realistic with storylines, dialog and actions while immersed with good humor and quite a bit of smart mouth from C.T. 5*
A March From Innocence #6 - This story picks up a couple of weeks after Daughters ended. Well thought out storylines; good action scenes; intelligent dialogues; well developed characters on both sides of the law; and good humor with some romance. Clean but the topic is disgusting. Young children. Older men. Add some interesting ways that C. T. handles things makes this a difficult book to put down. 5*
Inside Cut #7 - Oh, dear. My first C. T. book that did not work for me. It felt incomplete, like not everything was there, no enthusiasm on Mr. Fowler's end. True, I do not care much for college sports so the topic was not my cup of tea. I did like a past method coming to play; never think if something (or someone) is outdated that it cannot work in the present or future. Lack of education and experience is easy to beat. The storylines dragged a bit for me but the characters were good, like always. I disagree with the outcome on Eddie, the old family friend should have his due. Although, the way the storyline went on involving Bruno in the first place did not work for me. C. T. came through and did his usual good work helping others and correcting the outcome of an uncovered crime. While this story is not on par with the others in this series, it is still an OK read. 3*
The Next Girl #8 - C. T. is back again with new storylines that move at a fast pace through the frustrations, the investigations and the pain of his newest case. Well thought out and vividly told, this is a difficult story to put down. The new characters run the gamut while the old do their jobs. It is easy to figure out the who and the why, but it is still an interesting, intriguing read. 5*
Dead Cat Bounce #11 - I missed a few books in this series but it was easy to get back in the groove. While I think some of the previous books were better, which may be due to the missing books gap, this story is still a good read. Interesting. Good storylines and good characters. TJ is a good addition to the mix. It was easy to finish the book without interruptions. 4*
Don't Say Her Name, C.T. Ferguson #12 - This is one of my favorite characters and series. There is plenty of interesting characters, an interesting writing style and interesting story lines. It is best to start with the first book since there is a continuous building of new onto the old, BUT it is not necessary. Fortunately, Fowler does not rehash the past in great detail in his books, he keeps the present book interesting. There is action, romance and humor. Language is mostly clean; a very minimum on the vulgar, which is character-related. The romance is clean without the stupid arguments and ridiculous mind sets that other authors add for drama, but mischievous and adult dialog between the two lovers. There is the mysterious disappearance of a client's father but C.T. has to figure out the who of why he and his family are targets. Another in one sitting read. 5*
Night Comes Down, C.T. Ferguson #13 - Interesting. I like that this book is about hacking and revenge. Well written with interesting story lines, a good blending of old and new, along with some intense bits made this another hard to put down read. 5*
Concrete Angels, #14 - Pretty interesting with a bigger role in the narration and duties for TJ. The good story lines kept me involved in the book and some of the characters are doozies. 5*
Novellas:
Hong Kong Dangerous, prequel - This is an interesting introduction to C.T. and his cousin Rick. The events in this short, quickly read novella lays the path to C. T. becoming PI. C.T. is in HK hacking and being a nuisance to the Chinese government. He and his cohorts are arrested and C.T. finds himself in prison. Rick is a sergeant in the Bmore police force working hard to become a detective. A few of the other repeat characters are mentioned but not in detail. 4*
3.5 Red City Blues - This is an interesting read perfect for quick getaway. The timeline is a year after he starts his PI business. A basic well told story with none of the usual detailed cooking or running scenes. 4*
The C.T. Ferguson Series end.
The Reluctant Detective #1 – This is my first read by this author and I like it. This story fits into one of my all-time favorite genres with plenty of humor, action and investigations. The storylines are good and realistic, and I like that the PI is a privileged person instead of a Mickey Spillane stereotype. C.T. also has an interesting past that plays a large part in this introduction. Add in his parents, his older police Detective cousin and a good supporting cast, which all make it difficult to put the book down. The pace is steady without any boring bits. This is one of the better edited books I’ve seen from an Indie author. 4*
The Unknown Devil #2 - Another difficult to put down fast paced pages full of intrigue, suspense and action. Unfortunately, this is my fourth read, instead of my second, but that did not detract from the meshing of previous storylines with the current lines. This book is well thought out in plot and character development along with realistic dialogues, realistic fight scenes and a smart mouthed character full of himself with plenty of good humor. There is infrequent use of vulgar language considering the criminal elements involved. Interesting information about the hacking of cellphones and other electronics. There is a bit too much detailing of insignificant information: clothing; cooking; etc., but still a worthy read. 4*
The Workers of Iniquity #3 - Even with the relaxed pace, this is another hard to put down book. There are multiple storylines happening and if that is not enough to hold your interest, here are a few more added. The characters are interesting and they have good dialogues and work in their roles. C. T. has been a PI for almost a year at this point. The solutions and the way problems are handled are entertaining; some have a good revenge edge and others bring rewards. The crime topics are more than loan sharking. 4*
Already Guilty #4 – I could not put this book down. Well written, fasted paced, and intriguing with great storylines and characters, a real page-turner. Bits reminded me of Lithgow and Denzel’s revenge movie, but the author does well making this his work. There are plenty of good characters, old and new, and the storylines merge well with the story’s plot and the past books. Of course, there is always something or someone to mess up the flow, but that is what makes the series interesting. C.T. is C.T. and you cannot help but respect him and his efforts, and he has a hard row to hoe this time with his special case. I do not know how the previous books flowed since I have only read the first of this series. 5*
Daughters and Sons #5 - I enjoy reading this series. Even though I have not read all of them, I have not missed anything due to the author's talent for storytelling. The past is not thrown at the reader to figure out or reminisce over. C.T. continues to develop as more of his personality appears. He has good supporting characters, which is perfect to go along with the intriguing and interesting storylines. There is enough detail to make the reader a fly on the wall without the Hollywood dramatics or the usual stupidity found in this genre. Realistic with storylines, dialog and actions while immersed with good humor and quite a bit of smart mouth from C.T. 5*
A March From Innocence #6 - This story picks up a couple of weeks after Daughters ended. Well thought out storylines; good action scenes; intelligent dialogues; well developed characters on both sides of the law; and good humor with some romance. Clean but the topic is disgusting. Young children. Older men. Add some interesting ways that C. T. handles things makes this a difficult book to put down. 5*
Inside Cut #7 - Oh, dear. My first C. T. book that did not work for me. It felt incomplete, like not everything was there, no enthusiasm on Mr. Fowler's end. True, I do not care much for college sports so the topic was not my cup of tea. I did like a past method coming to play; never think if something (or someone) is outdated that it cannot work in the present or future. Lack of education and experience is easy to beat. The storylines dragged a bit for me but the characters were good, like always. I disagree with the outcome on Eddie, the old family friend should have his due. Although, the way the storyline went on involving Bruno in the first place did not work for me. C. T. came through and did his usual good work helping others and correcting the outcome of an uncovered crime. While this story is not on par with the others in this series, it is still an OK read. 3*
The Next Girl #8 - C. T. is back again with new storylines that move at a fast pace through the frustrations, the investigations and the pain of his newest case. Well thought out and vividly told, this is a difficult story to put down. The new characters run the gamut while the old do their jobs. It is easy to figure out the who and the why, but it is still an interesting, intriguing read. 5*
Dead Cat Bounce #11 - I missed a few books in this series but it was easy to get back in the groove. While I think some of the previous books were better, which may be due to the missing books gap, this story is still a good read. Interesting. Good storylines and good characters. TJ is a good addition to the mix. It was easy to finish the book without interruptions. 4*
Don't Say Her Name, C.T. Ferguson #12 - This is one of my favorite characters and series. There is plenty of interesting characters, an interesting writing style and interesting story lines. It is best to start with the first book since there is a continuous building of new onto the old, BUT it is not necessary. Fortunately, Fowler does not rehash the past in great detail in his books, he keeps the present book interesting. There is action, romance and humor. Language is mostly clean; a very minimum on the vulgar, which is character-related. The romance is clean without the stupid arguments and ridiculous mind sets that other authors add for drama, but mischievous and adult dialog between the two lovers. There is the mysterious disappearance of a client's father but C.T. has to figure out the who of why he and his family are targets. Another in one sitting read. 5*
Night Comes Down, C.T. Ferguson #13 - Interesting. I like that this book is about hacking and revenge. Well written with interesting story lines, a good blending of old and new, along with some intense bits made this another hard to put down read. 5*
Concrete Angels, #14 - Pretty interesting with a bigger role in the narration and duties for TJ. The good story lines kept me involved in the book and some of the characters are doozies. 5*
Novellas:
Hong Kong Dangerous, prequel - This is an interesting introduction to C.T. and his cousin Rick. The events in this short, quickly read novella lays the path to C. T. becoming PI. C.T. is in HK hacking and being a nuisance to the Chinese government. He and his cohorts are arrested and C.T. finds himself in prison. Rick is a sergeant in the Bmore police force working hard to become a detective. A few of the other repeat characters are mentioned but not in detail. 4*
3.5 Red City Blues - This is an interesting read perfect for quick getaway. The timeline is a year after he starts his PI business. A basic well told story with none of the usual detailed cooking or running scenes. 4*
The C.T. Ferguson Series end.
November 23, 2018
Already Guilty is the fourth book in the C.T. Ferguson Private Investigator Mystery Novels series. This time, C.T. is asked by a female he knows, and used to fancy, in the Public Defender’s office to help him with a case. She only gives him the bare bones to lure him in. If he wasn’t in some sort of undefined relationship with Gloria, he might have fallen for her subtle hints of interest. She invites him to visit her defendant, in person, in prison. Only then does he find out who her defendant is!
C.T. is finally getting on fairly well with his cousin Rich and the rest of the Baltimore police, but this changes as soon as he is linked to the defence case of a cop killer. The officer gunned down is called Ben Harrison, a cops cop and altogether nice guy and family man. The person caught for the crime is the man his friend, Liz, asked him to help and took him to see in prison. His name is Jack Bennett and his face is all over the news and social media outlets. If C.T. had known who Liz wanted to help investigate, he would never have agreed. It would ruin his relationship with the police, which had taken a long time to get even this far.
But, he agrees to speak to the suspect, Jack, and listen to his version of events. He agrees with Liz that he may not be guilty and someone else could have been responsible, but first he needs to investigate his story and see what he can find out. Unfortunately, he has made enemies of the police and even his cousin Rich won’t speak to him. The police believe they have their man and have no interest in anything C.T. has to say. He is warned off his investigations in numerous ways and times.
After a vicious physical attack that could have killed him, he is even more determined to find out who the actual killer is and bring him to justice. He may get killed on this job and risk any friendship with his cousin, but he has to do what he thinks is right! His parents are worried he is in too much danger, but Gloria believes he has to do what he believes in and supports him in this case. The police have said the suspect is already guilty but C.T. has to go with his own convictions and follow his own path.
Another great read from this author, the books are full of C.T’s usual wisecracks and the other characters you may have met in reading any of his other books. But, you don’t need to have read any of the other books to find out how C.T. came to be where he was and doing the job he does. It is explained, as needed, but without having to repeat large parts of any previous books.
The character of C.T. is very believable, a former hacker, imprisoned in China for his hacking and finally freed with the help of his parents. He had to come up with a job that could help others, as part of his parents’ wishes on his release, and he thought being a P.I. would allow him to sit at his computer and hack into other computers to solve his cases. As he has now found out, the job is a lot more physical and means going out of the office and doing the legwork needed to find evidence.
Really enjoyed reading this one, made more difficult for C.T. as he is alienated from his police contacts and even his cousin. Bring in the threats and physical violence and this makes it even more intense a read and leaves you wondering if he will manage to find another suspect before the suspect already in prison is attacked or killed. I can’t wait to read some more C.T. Ferguson P.I. cases. They are always well written, with a great pace to the storyline, interesting characters and full descriptions of scenery and places involved.
I received an ARC copy of this book from the author, but had already pre-ordered it, as this author has been added to my list of favourites. I have freely given my own opinion of the book above.
C.T. is finally getting on fairly well with his cousin Rich and the rest of the Baltimore police, but this changes as soon as he is linked to the defence case of a cop killer. The officer gunned down is called Ben Harrison, a cops cop and altogether nice guy and family man. The person caught for the crime is the man his friend, Liz, asked him to help and took him to see in prison. His name is Jack Bennett and his face is all over the news and social media outlets. If C.T. had known who Liz wanted to help investigate, he would never have agreed. It would ruin his relationship with the police, which had taken a long time to get even this far.
But, he agrees to speak to the suspect, Jack, and listen to his version of events. He agrees with Liz that he may not be guilty and someone else could have been responsible, but first he needs to investigate his story and see what he can find out. Unfortunately, he has made enemies of the police and even his cousin Rich won’t speak to him. The police believe they have their man and have no interest in anything C.T. has to say. He is warned off his investigations in numerous ways and times.
After a vicious physical attack that could have killed him, he is even more determined to find out who the actual killer is and bring him to justice. He may get killed on this job and risk any friendship with his cousin, but he has to do what he thinks is right! His parents are worried he is in too much danger, but Gloria believes he has to do what he believes in and supports him in this case. The police have said the suspect is already guilty but C.T. has to go with his own convictions and follow his own path.
Another great read from this author, the books are full of C.T’s usual wisecracks and the other characters you may have met in reading any of his other books. But, you don’t need to have read any of the other books to find out how C.T. came to be where he was and doing the job he does. It is explained, as needed, but without having to repeat large parts of any previous books.
The character of C.T. is very believable, a former hacker, imprisoned in China for his hacking and finally freed with the help of his parents. He had to come up with a job that could help others, as part of his parents’ wishes on his release, and he thought being a P.I. would allow him to sit at his computer and hack into other computers to solve his cases. As he has now found out, the job is a lot more physical and means going out of the office and doing the legwork needed to find evidence.
Really enjoyed reading this one, made more difficult for C.T. as he is alienated from his police contacts and even his cousin. Bring in the threats and physical violence and this makes it even more intense a read and leaves you wondering if he will manage to find another suspect before the suspect already in prison is attacked or killed. I can’t wait to read some more C.T. Ferguson P.I. cases. They are always well written, with a great pace to the storyline, interesting characters and full descriptions of scenery and places involved.
I received an ARC copy of this book from the author, but had already pre-ordered it, as this author has been added to my list of favourites. I have freely given my own opinion of the book above.
October 5, 2021
Baltimore, MD. Federal Hill. St. Patrick’s Day. Murphy’s bar/restaurant. PI Coningsby “C.T.” Ferguson (licensed, hacker) invited Rich (36, cousin), Officer Jeanne Corsetti (Rich’s GF, Baltimore PD), & Gloria Reading (CT’s GF) out for Rich’s birthday party.
The Sun headlines: cop killer Jack Bennett has been arrested.
Liz Fleming (Public Defender) called PI Ferguson & wanted to see him.
She took him to see her newest client, Jack.
Officer Ben Harrison (Baltimore PD) had been shot/killed.
PI Ferguson agreed to help her with the case.
Ben’s house had been broken into.
Julie Harrison (widow, Altdorf Corp office mgr., nee Dickinson, BS; liberal arts) & the kids had vanished.
Chiaparelli’s Italian bar/restaurant Little Italy. Detective Paul King (BPD Vice) met with PI Ferguson.
I did not receive any type of compensation for reading & reviewing this book. While I receive free books from publishers & authors, I am under no obligation to write a positive review. Only an honest one.
An awesome book cover, great font & writing style. A very professionally written PI thriller book. It was amazingly easy for me to read/follow from start/finish & never a dull moment. There were no grammar/typo errors, nor any repetitive or out of line sequence sentences. Lots of exciting scenarios, with several twists/turns & a great set of unique characters to keep track of. This could also make another great PI thriller movie, or better yet a mini-TV series. There is no doubt in my mind this is a quite easy rating of 5 stars.
Thank you for the free author; eBooksDaily; Amazon Digital Services LLC.; book
Tony Parsons MSW (Washburn)
The Sun headlines: cop killer Jack Bennett has been arrested.
Liz Fleming (Public Defender) called PI Ferguson & wanted to see him.
She took him to see her newest client, Jack.
Officer Ben Harrison (Baltimore PD) had been shot/killed.
PI Ferguson agreed to help her with the case.
Ben’s house had been broken into.
Julie Harrison (widow, Altdorf Corp office mgr., nee Dickinson, BS; liberal arts) & the kids had vanished.
Chiaparelli’s Italian bar/restaurant Little Italy. Detective Paul King (BPD Vice) met with PI Ferguson.
I did not receive any type of compensation for reading & reviewing this book. While I receive free books from publishers & authors, I am under no obligation to write a positive review. Only an honest one.
An awesome book cover, great font & writing style. A very professionally written PI thriller book. It was amazingly easy for me to read/follow from start/finish & never a dull moment. There were no grammar/typo errors, nor any repetitive or out of line sequence sentences. Lots of exciting scenarios, with several twists/turns & a great set of unique characters to keep track of. This could also make another great PI thriller movie, or better yet a mini-TV series. There is no doubt in my mind this is a quite easy rating of 5 stars.
Thank you for the free author; eBooksDaily; Amazon Digital Services LLC.; book
Tony Parsons MSW (Washburn)
August 5, 2019
Already Guilty – I could not put this book down. Well written, fasted paced, and intriguing with great storylines and characters, a real page-turner. Bits reminded me of Lithgow and Denzel’s revenge movie, but the author does well making this his work.
There are plenty of good characters, old and new, and the storylines merge well with the story’s plot and the past books. Of course, there is always something or someone to mess up the flow, but that is what makes the series interesting. C.T. is C.T. and you cannot help but respect him and his efforts, and he has a hard row to hoe this time with his special case.
I do not know how the previous books flowed since I have only read the first of this series, but I want to read all the books, including anything else this author has written past or future. 5*
The Reluctant Detective #1 – This is my first read by this author and I like it. This story fits into one of my all-time favorite genres with plenty of humor, action and investigations. The storylines are good and realistic, and I like that the PI is a privileged person instead of a Mickey Spillane stereotype.
C.T. also has an interesting past that plays a large part in this introduction. Add in his parents, his older police Detective cousin and a good supporting cast, which all make it difficult to put the book down. I read it in one sitting and then went on to another book in this series. The pace is steady without any boring bits. This is one of the better edited books I’ve seen from an Indie author. 4*
There are plenty of good characters, old and new, and the storylines merge well with the story’s plot and the past books. Of course, there is always something or someone to mess up the flow, but that is what makes the series interesting. C.T. is C.T. and you cannot help but respect him and his efforts, and he has a hard row to hoe this time with his special case.
I do not know how the previous books flowed since I have only read the first of this series, but I want to read all the books, including anything else this author has written past or future. 5*
The Reluctant Detective #1 – This is my first read by this author and I like it. This story fits into one of my all-time favorite genres with plenty of humor, action and investigations. The storylines are good and realistic, and I like that the PI is a privileged person instead of a Mickey Spillane stereotype.
C.T. also has an interesting past that plays a large part in this introduction. Add in his parents, his older police Detective cousin and a good supporting cast, which all make it difficult to put the book down. I read it in one sitting and then went on to another book in this series. The pace is steady without any boring bits. This is one of the better edited books I’ve seen from an Indie author. 4*
February 16, 2025
Thank goodness this is a work of fiction. Even so it was disturbing to read about a police department with so much corruption among the rank and file. It definitely made private investigator C.T. Ferguson's job much more difficult and nearly impossible. It doesn't matter if you are right about a case if you are not "politically correct".
It all begins when C.T. is asked by the public defender to help her defend a man who has been unjustly accused, arrested and jailed for a crime he witnessed, but did not commit. The murder victim was a police officer. Get it?
C.T. perseveres in spite of all the road blocks, lack of cooperation, warnings, threats and physical abuse. Thank goodness he has a few friends who somewhat reluctantly finally decide to help him and a girlfriend who helps him keep up his spirits in spite of everything. He also has amazing tech skills that enable him to get access to information that legitimate sources will not provide.
This book was hard to put down as it constantly intrigued me with the way the story was developed and the excellent description of the characters. Definitely a 5-Star!
It all begins when C.T. is asked by the public defender to help her defend a man who has been unjustly accused, arrested and jailed for a crime he witnessed, but did not commit. The murder victim was a police officer. Get it?
C.T. perseveres in spite of all the road blocks, lack of cooperation, warnings, threats and physical abuse. Thank goodness he has a few friends who somewhat reluctantly finally decide to help him and a girlfriend who helps him keep up his spirits in spite of everything. He also has amazing tech skills that enable him to get access to information that legitimate sources will not provide.
This book was hard to put down as it constantly intrigued me with the way the story was developed and the excellent description of the characters. Definitely a 5-Star!
December 3, 2018
This book deals with the reactions of cops to one of their own being killed, and this presented me with a problem as the way that a cop killing is dealt with in the UK is completely different to the way that it is portrayed in this book. I had a rather hard time deciding how to rate the book as a result. So although I did enjoy the book, and thought that it was extremely well written, I just found the whole scenario rather baffling, as UK police would never behave or react in the way that the US police do.
However, there are a lot of positives, the characters from the previous books are just as enjoyable and well written, the plot, once the initial reactions are over is very clever and involved, and CT uses his rather unique computer talents again.
I received an advance copy of the book but have voluntarily written this review.
However, there are a lot of positives, the characters from the previous books are just as enjoyable and well written, the plot, once the initial reactions are over is very clever and involved, and CT uses his rather unique computer talents again.
I received an advance copy of the book but have voluntarily written this review.
December 3, 2018
I'm already guilty of loving this book
C.T. Ferguson, a PI with a surprise, gets involved in yet another doozy of a case when called upon by is favorite public defender. As the case progresses he is dealing with disbelieving police, turning to his shadier friends for help and information, mining the data trenches of gray hacking and getting ever closer to the dangerous truth behind the case while also getting closer to becoming "adult" about his relationship with Gloria. This time around Tom Fowler proves that C.T., his reluctant detective, has grown even more into the shoes he was tasked with filling. Taking this book in a direction I did not see coming, Mr. Fowler has given me yet another book I'm already guilty of loving. What will he think of next for C.T.?
I received a free copy of the book from the author. I had the opportunity to review or not.
C.T. Ferguson, a PI with a surprise, gets involved in yet another doozy of a case when called upon by is favorite public defender. As the case progresses he is dealing with disbelieving police, turning to his shadier friends for help and information, mining the data trenches of gray hacking and getting ever closer to the dangerous truth behind the case while also getting closer to becoming "adult" about his relationship with Gloria. This time around Tom Fowler proves that C.T., his reluctant detective, has grown even more into the shoes he was tasked with filling. Taking this book in a direction I did not see coming, Mr. Fowler has given me yet another book I'm already guilty of loving. What will he think of next for C.T.?
I received a free copy of the book from the author. I had the opportunity to review or not.
December 4, 2018
Any C. T. Ferguson novel or novella is going to be wildly entertaining. ALREADY GUILTY not only is that, but it is also deeper, because it focuses on an issue that is riling the nation: police and violence, in this case the killing of a well-thought-of police officer at his home. The Baltimore Police Department have an immediate suspect, and no one but the man's Public Defender's Office-assigned attorney and pro bono private investigator C. T. Ferguson acknowledge that his bizarre story might just be factual.
If he jumps into the investigation, C. T.'s hard won alliance with the Police Department will go south all the way. His cousin Rich, a detective, warns there might be actual repercussions. But C.T. is an individual who is always going to be guided by his own moral compass, not by groupthink; and he's in this one all the way.
If he jumps into the investigation, C. T.'s hard won alliance with the Police Department will go south all the way. His cousin Rich, a detective, warns there might be actual repercussions. But C.T. is an individual who is always going to be guided by his own moral compass, not by groupthink; and he's in this one all the way.
December 4, 2018
Another good book from Tom Fowler.This is the fourth book in The C.T. Ferguson Mystery Novel Series. If you haven't read any of Mr. Fowler's books, you are missing some of the best mysteries written in the past couple of years. C.T. Ferguson is a computer hacker turned Private Investigator. He is usual in the fact that he doesn't charge his clients for his services. In Already Guilty, he takes the case of a man convicted of being a cop killer. Needless to say, all does not go well for C.T. As he continues the investigation,he runs into trouble with law enforcement. Mr. Fowler writes believable characters and books that are relevant to current events. Already Guilty grabbed my attention from the first page and keep me invested the whole time. Anyone who enjoys reading mysteries should read this book.
December 4, 2018
Another great story from Tom Fowler focusing on private investigator CT Ferguson. This time CT finds himself 'between and rock and hard place' as he goes up against the BPD risking his tentative relationship with them and so much more besides. As always I'll not give away any spoilers but rest assured CT is back investigating with his usual flair and sometimes questionable computing skills. Tom Fowler writes with an easy flowing style that gently pulls you along even if the subject matter is less than savory. If you've read CT Ferguson books before then this is just as good as the others but I felt this one more 'hard hitting' given that a cop has been murdered and CT is at odds with the police department. Tom Fowler books are always immensely entertaining and well worth a read and this is no exception.
February 27, 2020
The C.T. Ferguson Series:
The Reluctant Detective #1 – This is my first read by this author and I like it. This story fits into one of my all-time favorite genres with plenty of humor, action and investigations. The storylines are good and realistic, and I like that the PI is a privileged person instead of a Mickey Spillane stereotype. C.T. also has an interesting past that plays a large part in this introduction. Add in his parents, his older police Detective cousin and a good supporting cast, which all make it difficult to put the book down. The pace is steady without any boring bits. This is one of the better edited books I’ve seen from an Indie author. 4*
The Unknown Devil #2 - Another difficult to put down fast paced pages full of intrigue, suspense and action. Unfortunately, this is my fourth read, instead of my second, but that did not detract from the meshing of previous storylines with the current lines. This book is well thought out in plot and character development along with realistic dialogues, realistic fight scenes and a smart mouthed character full of himself with plenty of good humor. There is infrequent use of vulgar language considering the criminal elements involved. Interesting information about the hacking of cellphones and other electronics. There is a bit too much detailing of insignificant information: clothing; cooking; etc., but still a worthy read. 4*
The Workers of Iniquity #3 - Even with the relaxed pace, this is another hard to put down book. There are multiple storylines happening and if that is not enough to hold your interest, here are a few more added. The characters are interesting and they have good dialogues and work in their roles. C. T. has been a PI for almost a year at this point. The solutions and the way problems are handled are entertaining; some have a good revenge edge and others bring rewards. The crime topics are more than loan sharking. 4*
Already Guilty #4 – I could not put this book down. Well written, fasted paced, and intriguing with great storylines and characters, a real page-turner. Bits reminded me of Lithgow and Denzel’s revenge movie, but the author does well making this his work. There are plenty of good characters, old and new, and the storylines merge well with the story’s plot and the past books. Of course, there is always something or someone to mess up the flow, but that is what makes the series interesting. C.T. is C.T. and you cannot help but respect him and his efforts, and he has a hard row to hoe this time with his special case. I do not know how the previous books flowed since I have only read the first of this series. 5*
Daughters and Sons #5 - I enjoy reading this series. Even though I have not read all of them, I have not missed anything due to the author's talent for storytelling. The past is not thrown at the reader to figure out or reminisce over. C.T. continues to develop as more of his personality appears. He has good supporting characters, which is perfect to go along with the intriguing and interesting storylines. There is enough detail to make the reader a fly on the wall without the Hollywood dramatics or the usual stupidity found in this genre. Realistic with storylines, dialog and actions while immersed with good humor and quite a bit of smart mouth from C.T. 5*
A March From Innocence #6 - This story picks up a couple of weeks after Daughters ended. Well thought out storylines; good action scenes; intelligent dialogues; well developed characters on both sides of the law; and good humor with some romance. Clean but the topic is disgusting. Young children. Older men. Add some interesting ways that C. T. handles things makes this a difficult book to put down. 5*
Inside Cut #7 - Oh, dear. My first C. T. book that did not work for me. It felt incomplete, like not everything was there, no enthusiasm on Mr. Fowler's end. True, I do not care much for college sports so the topic was not my cup of tea. I did like a past method coming to play; never think if something (or someone) is outdated that it cannot work in the present or future. Lack of education and experience is easy to beat. The storylines dragged a bit for me but the characters were good, like always. I disagree with the outcome on Eddie, the old family friend should have his due. Although, the way the storyline went on involving Bruno in the first place did not work for me. C. T. came through and did his usual good work helping others and correcting the outcome of an uncovered crime. While this story is not on par with the others in this series, it is still an OK read. 3*
The Next Girl #8 - C. T. is back again with new storylines that move at a fast pace through the frustrations, the investigations and the pain of his newest case. Well thought out and vividly told, this is a difficult story to put down. The new characters run the gamut while the old do their jobs. It is easy to figure out the who and the why, but it is still an interesting, intriguing read. 5*
Novellas:
Hong Kong Dangerous, prequel - This is an interesting introduction to C.T. and his cousin Rick. The events in this short, quickly read novella lays the path to C. T. becoming PI. C.T. is in HK hacking and being a nuisance to the Chinese government. He and his cohorts are arrested and C.T. finds himself in prison. Rick is a sergeant in the Bmore police force working hard to become a detective. A few of the other repeat characters are mentioned but not in detail. 4*
3.5 Red City Blues - This is an interesting read perfect for quick getaway. The timeline is a year after he starts his PI business. A basic well told story with none of the usual detailed cooking or running scenes. 4*
The C.T. Ferguson Series end.
The Reluctant Detective #1 – This is my first read by this author and I like it. This story fits into one of my all-time favorite genres with plenty of humor, action and investigations. The storylines are good and realistic, and I like that the PI is a privileged person instead of a Mickey Spillane stereotype. C.T. also has an interesting past that plays a large part in this introduction. Add in his parents, his older police Detective cousin and a good supporting cast, which all make it difficult to put the book down. The pace is steady without any boring bits. This is one of the better edited books I’ve seen from an Indie author. 4*
The Unknown Devil #2 - Another difficult to put down fast paced pages full of intrigue, suspense and action. Unfortunately, this is my fourth read, instead of my second, but that did not detract from the meshing of previous storylines with the current lines. This book is well thought out in plot and character development along with realistic dialogues, realistic fight scenes and a smart mouthed character full of himself with plenty of good humor. There is infrequent use of vulgar language considering the criminal elements involved. Interesting information about the hacking of cellphones and other electronics. There is a bit too much detailing of insignificant information: clothing; cooking; etc., but still a worthy read. 4*
The Workers of Iniquity #3 - Even with the relaxed pace, this is another hard to put down book. There are multiple storylines happening and if that is not enough to hold your interest, here are a few more added. The characters are interesting and they have good dialogues and work in their roles. C. T. has been a PI for almost a year at this point. The solutions and the way problems are handled are entertaining; some have a good revenge edge and others bring rewards. The crime topics are more than loan sharking. 4*
Already Guilty #4 – I could not put this book down. Well written, fasted paced, and intriguing with great storylines and characters, a real page-turner. Bits reminded me of Lithgow and Denzel’s revenge movie, but the author does well making this his work. There are plenty of good characters, old and new, and the storylines merge well with the story’s plot and the past books. Of course, there is always something or someone to mess up the flow, but that is what makes the series interesting. C.T. is C.T. and you cannot help but respect him and his efforts, and he has a hard row to hoe this time with his special case. I do not know how the previous books flowed since I have only read the first of this series. 5*
Daughters and Sons #5 - I enjoy reading this series. Even though I have not read all of them, I have not missed anything due to the author's talent for storytelling. The past is not thrown at the reader to figure out or reminisce over. C.T. continues to develop as more of his personality appears. He has good supporting characters, which is perfect to go along with the intriguing and interesting storylines. There is enough detail to make the reader a fly on the wall without the Hollywood dramatics or the usual stupidity found in this genre. Realistic with storylines, dialog and actions while immersed with good humor and quite a bit of smart mouth from C.T. 5*
A March From Innocence #6 - This story picks up a couple of weeks after Daughters ended. Well thought out storylines; good action scenes; intelligent dialogues; well developed characters on both sides of the law; and good humor with some romance. Clean but the topic is disgusting. Young children. Older men. Add some interesting ways that C. T. handles things makes this a difficult book to put down. 5*
Inside Cut #7 - Oh, dear. My first C. T. book that did not work for me. It felt incomplete, like not everything was there, no enthusiasm on Mr. Fowler's end. True, I do not care much for college sports so the topic was not my cup of tea. I did like a past method coming to play; never think if something (or someone) is outdated that it cannot work in the present or future. Lack of education and experience is easy to beat. The storylines dragged a bit for me but the characters were good, like always. I disagree with the outcome on Eddie, the old family friend should have his due. Although, the way the storyline went on involving Bruno in the first place did not work for me. C. T. came through and did his usual good work helping others and correcting the outcome of an uncovered crime. While this story is not on par with the others in this series, it is still an OK read. 3*
The Next Girl #8 - C. T. is back again with new storylines that move at a fast pace through the frustrations, the investigations and the pain of his newest case. Well thought out and vividly told, this is a difficult story to put down. The new characters run the gamut while the old do their jobs. It is easy to figure out the who and the why, but it is still an interesting, intriguing read. 5*
Novellas:
Hong Kong Dangerous, prequel - This is an interesting introduction to C.T. and his cousin Rick. The events in this short, quickly read novella lays the path to C. T. becoming PI. C.T. is in HK hacking and being a nuisance to the Chinese government. He and his cohorts are arrested and C.T. finds himself in prison. Rick is a sergeant in the Bmore police force working hard to become a detective. A few of the other repeat characters are mentioned but not in detail. 4*
3.5 Red City Blues - This is an interesting read perfect for quick getaway. The timeline is a year after he starts his PI business. A basic well told story with none of the usual detailed cooking or running scenes. 4*
The C.T. Ferguson Series end.
August 31, 2020
Read this book out of order, which was ok, but did feel like I missed getting to know C.T.
Great private investigator book starring C.T Ferguson. A policeman has been shot dead in his garage and the police manage to capture there suspect fleeing the scene. C.T is asked to help interview the suspect without getting all the facts. Once he realises the suspect is s police killer he understands why. He will not be a popular guy if he helps & going against the Baltimore pd won’t help cooperation for future cases but he sees in the suspect truth that he didn’t do it and takes the case. Really enjoyable book, going back to read from the start of the series.
Great private investigator book starring C.T Ferguson. A policeman has been shot dead in his garage and the police manage to capture there suspect fleeing the scene. C.T is asked to help interview the suspect without getting all the facts. Once he realises the suspect is s police killer he understands why. He will not be a popular guy if he helps & going against the Baltimore pd won’t help cooperation for future cases but he sees in the suspect truth that he didn’t do it and takes the case. Really enjoyable book, going back to read from the start of the series.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 20, 2021
I liked the book and the characters. It was a bit fastidious all the police protecting police thing and I felt it still was unfair with the accused. I took me several days to finish the book but, I read another one while reading this. To me, books over 60 chapters are in need of an editor and a mandatory cut. This one has 28 chapters and it all gets solved in the last chapters, as usual. One thing got solved before and the last one in the last pages but this was secondary to the main plot. I'm thankful for that because I don't like books where there's a lot of buildup only to end it all in the last couple of pages.
I'd read the following books in the series.
I'd read the following books in the series.
October 9, 2020
Love C T Ferguson and his group of friends. He's on the wrong side of the police this time as he's sure they have the wrong suspect in a cop killing. He endures all kinds of hardship from the police but he doesn't give up til he finds the real killer and why. There's secrets to unfold and justice for the fallen cop. All this brings CT and his girlfriend a little closer. Well written, very engaging, fast paced and tense. This is the kind of story you are drawn into and can't put down to you know all the answers.
December 4, 2018
I love this series because in each book C.T. seems to grow a little more. While C. T. has the luxury to pick and choose his cases, he has a keen sense of right and wrong and is talked into investigating an "open and shut" case. Needless to say, C. T.'s snooping ends in some severe beating, something he's not used to. This was probably the best of the series so Tom Fowler's going to have to work hard to beat this one.
February 11, 2019
Already Guilty, fourth in the series, is well-written with well-developed characters. C. T. Ferguson is my favorite PI and I love these stories. I'm also delighted in the current state of his personal life so that is like a bonus in each book. I highly recommend it and hope you enjoy it as much as I did.
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this ebook from the author and this is my honest and freely given opinion.
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this ebook from the author and this is my honest and freely given opinion.
September 24, 2019
Another great book!
I am dreading getting to the last of this series that have been written. I read many books each week, and this series is one of the best I've read. I like everything about them. The stories are interesting, keep moving, and are well-written. The protagonist and other characters are likeable, but not perfect people. The plots are contemporary, not out-dated. Looking forward to more.
I am dreading getting to the last of this series that have been written. I read many books each week, and this series is one of the best I've read. I like everything about them. The stories are interesting, keep moving, and are well-written. The protagonist and other characters are likeable, but not perfect people. The plots are contemporary, not out-dated. Looking forward to more.
February 11, 2020
He is not Guilty
C.T. is a Private detective and his cousin is a policeman. C.T gets called into a case by a public defender for a man accused of murdering a police officer. After reviewing the case, he is convinced the man, Jack Bennett, is innocent. The police officers are convinced Jack is guilty and warn CT to get off the case. When he refuses his life becomes a living hell. This book is well written and highly entertaining!
C.T. is a Private detective and his cousin is a policeman. C.T gets called into a case by a public defender for a man accused of murdering a police officer. After reviewing the case, he is convinced the man, Jack Bennett, is innocent. The police officers are convinced Jack is guilty and warn CT to get off the case. When he refuses his life becomes a living hell. This book is well written and highly entertaining!
March 22, 2020
PI CT Ferguson takes on an explosive new case! When a cop is killed he’s up against the Baltimore Police Department, his cousin, Rich and many more. Even after a severe beat down he stays on the case to find the “real” killer. This book is action packed! It was hard to put down as the story got more and more complex with little progress until he busted it wide open. This is the most heart pounding of all the books I’ve read so far! I highly recommend this book and this author!
February 10, 2021
Very enjoyable read.
C.T. Ferguson isn't your everyday private investigator. His station in life allows him to only take on cases where he can make a real difference in someone's life. In Already Guilty Tom Fowler tells a story that is believable and keeps your interest. As you turn the pages you become immersed in not only the story being told but the lives and personalities of all the main characters. I am looking forward to reading more of Mr. Fowler's work.
C.T. Ferguson isn't your everyday private investigator. His station in life allows him to only take on cases where he can make a real difference in someone's life. In Already Guilty Tom Fowler tells a story that is believable and keeps your interest. As you turn the pages you become immersed in not only the story being told but the lives and personalities of all the main characters. I am looking forward to reading more of Mr. Fowler's work.
January 28, 2019
Fowler is the real deal!
Tom Fowler’s C.T. Ferguson novels get better with each new installment. The fourth book is no exception. Of all the authors I regularly read, Mr. Fowler and the C.T. Ferguson franchise just jumped to the top of the list. I can’t recommend any series more highly! Read these books!
Tom Fowler’s C.T. Ferguson novels get better with each new installment. The fourth book is no exception. Of all the authors I regularly read, Mr. Fowler and the C.T. Ferguson franchise just jumped to the top of the list. I can’t recommend any series more highly! Read these books!
February 26, 2019
The best of a great serious
I really have enjoyed the adventures of C. T.. Ferguson, some stories more than others. First book in the series, The Reluctant Detective, was fun and entertaining. The other stories were all enjoyable. This book was an excellent detective story and in my view the best of all C. T. Ferguson stories written so far. I highly recommend the series.
I really have enjoyed the adventures of C. T.. Ferguson, some stories more than others. First book in the series, The Reluctant Detective, was fun and entertaining. The other stories were all enjoyable. This book was an excellent detective story and in my view the best of all C. T. Ferguson stories written so far. I highly recommend the series.
June 9, 2019
All the trademarks of this authors writing are in this book. Page turning action, strong storyline, pithy dialogue, and characters you would love to have coffee with are all part of this new addition to the series.
CT is at his most tenacious but can he stay safe until he solves this case? Don’t miss this book!
CT is at his most tenacious but can he stay safe until he solves this case? Don’t miss this book!
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