Reed Ferguson Mystery Books in Order
Part ofRenee Pawlish Books in OrderSee the Reed Ferguson Mystery books by Renee Pawlish in order, with quick summaries, series background, and tips on where to start with this witty PI series.
Last updated: July 1, 2026
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Publication Order
30 books
Reel Estate Rip-Off
by Renee Pawlish
2011
A real estate agent dies after riding off a cliff, and the police call it suicide. Reed Ferguson is hired to look closer, and soon finds a crowded suspect list and a killer with something to hide.
This Doesn't Happen In The Movies
by Renee Pawlish
2011
Denver PI Reed Ferguson takes his first real case when a glamorous client asks him to find her missing husband. The deeper Reed digs, the more lies, danger, and double-crosses he uncovers.
Elvis And The Sports Card Cheat
by Renee Pawlish
2012
In this quick Reed Ferguson short, a case tied to sports card collecting pulls him into cheating, suspicion, and more trouble than he expected. It is a light, fast mystery with Reed's usual offbeat charm.
The Maltese Felon
by Renee Pawlish
2012
What starts as a search for a stolen show dog turns into a much riskier case for Reed Ferguson. Dog shows, ransom drops, and dangerous criminals make this one anything but a simple pet recovery.
Farewell, My Deuce
by Renee Pawlish
2013
When Reed's neighbor Deuce vanishes after a mysterious phone call, Reed starts digging. The search leads into shady construction dealings, buried secrets, and a race to find his friend before it is too late.
Out of the Past
by Renee Pawlish
2014
Reed takes an unusual job as bodyguard to a wealthy young woman with plenty of attitude and plenty of danger around her. As deaths mount, he realizes the past is driving the case more than anyone admits.
The Lady Who Sang High
by Renee Pawlish
2014
A marijuana-store owner hires Reed to find out whether someone is trying to steal her growing process. Going undercover sounds simple, until secrets, lies, and murder turn the case dangerous.
Torch Scene
by Renee Pawlish
2014
A deadly house fire leaves Reed's girlfriend Willie under suspicion for arson and murder. Reed has to clear her name while staying one step ahead of whoever wants the truth buried.
Back Story
by Renee Pawlish
2015
A decades-old murder sends Reed looking into the life and death of private investigator Dewey Webb. As past and present collide, Reed learns some old secrets are still worth killing over.
Night of the Hunted
by Renee Pawlish
2015
A frightened woman asks Reed for help escaping her abusive husband, then disappears before he can protect her. Reed follows the trail into political ambition, hidden scandals, and a race against time.
Sweet Smell of Sucrets
by Renee Pawlish
2015
Reed becomes the prime suspect in the murder of another private investigator. With no solid alibi and a killer closing in, he has to clear his name before the case kills him too.
The Postman Always Brings Dice
by Renee Pawlish
2015
Days before his wedding, Reed agrees to investigate suspected cheating at a poker tournament. Then a death turns the event into a murder case, and Reed ends up on a suspect list of his own.
The Third Fan
by Renee Pawlish
2015
When a Colorado Rockies player is accused of killing his best friend, Reed agrees to help. The investigation pulls him into steroids, secrets, and a case that puts both Reed and Willie at risk.
A Gun for Hire
by Renee Pawlish
2016
This brisk Reed Ferguson short starts with a hired-gun angle and quickly turns dangerous. Reed follows the clues into a compact mystery where a small job carries bigger risks than expected.
Ace in the Hole
by Renee Pawlish
2016
This Reed Ferguson novella brings Christmas-season complications and a fresh mystery to solve. Reed has to balance holiday pressure with a case that proves even a short job can go very wrong.
Road Blocked
by Renee Pawlish
2016
Reed's honeymoon in Tahiti goes sideways when he and Willie find a body on the beach. Back in Denver, the case expands into a Medicare scam, hired killers, and a relentless hunt for answers.
Small Town Focus
by Renee Pawlish
2016
A young woman tells Reed she thinks her father may have killed her mother. Reed's search leads him to a rural Colorado town, a decades-old kidnapping, and an unsolved murder someone still wants hidden.
Cool Alibi
by Renee Pawlish
2017
A suspicious alibi puts Reed on the trail in this short mystery. The case moves fast, and one small inconsistency is enough to suggest someone is lying about much more than timing.
Nightmare Sally
by Renee Pawlish
2017
What should have been a simple errand, delivering a message to an estranged daughter, becomes a murder case. Reed finds Sally at the center of danger and has to decide whether he can prove she is innocent.
The Big Steal
by Renee Pawlish
2017
This short Reed Ferguson tale revolves around theft, suspicion, and one messy trail of clues. Reed expects a quick investigation, but the case keeps widening every time he gets close to the truth.
The Damned Don't Die
by Renee Pawlish
2017
After Reed's difficult neighbor is murdered following a tense homeowners association meeting, the woman's granddaughter hires him for help. Family friction, neighborhood grudges, and buried secrets give Reed plenty to untangle.
The Wrong Woman
by Renee Pawlish
2017
Natalie Bowman, a friend of Reed's, is accused of trying to buy exam answers just before Christmas. Reed has little time to clear her name before the scandal wrecks her future.
Double Iniquity
by Renee Pawlish
2018
Finding a bag full of money should be simple, but nothing is simple for Reed Ferguson. Stolen cash, a murdered call girl, and threats against Willie turn one odd discovery into a deadly case.
The Lady Rambles
by Renee Pawlish
2019
Reed's mother calls for help after being accused of stealing a valuable ring, and then things get worse. With murder added to the mess, Reed has to investigate with his determined mother by his side.
A Killing
by Renee Pawlish
2020
Reed expects a strange inheritance hunt, not murder. When a wealthy father dies and another body turns up, Reed has to solve both the treasure puzzle and the killing before the clues go cold.
Walk Softly, Danger
by Renee Pawlish
2020
This Reed Ferguson novella throws Reed into a case where justice is not as clear-cut as it looks. The closer he gets to the truth, the more danger he brings down on himself.
Dangers on a Train
by Renee Pawlish
2021
A student drops an envelope on a Denver light-rail train, and Reed picks it up. Inside is a photo that may show a murder victim, and Reed's curiosity puts both him and the student in danger.
In a Lowly Place
by Renee Pawlish
2022
A trucking family wants Reed to find out what has been haunting one troubled brother. Blackmail, missing money, and family tension make this case one Reed is reluctant to take, and unable to drop.
Shadow of a Snout
by Renee Pawlish
2023
When Cal asks Reed to look into his uncle's shady dealings, Reed enters the odd world of vintage toys. Murder soon follows, and Reed learns the stakes are much higher than the collectibles suggest.
Scene of the Lie
by Renee Pawlish
2024
A disgraced former detective needs Reed to clear his name in a five-year-old marijuana-shop murder. Digging into the cold case exposes layers of lies and a killer who wants the past untouched.
Series background & context
Reed Ferguson is the kind of private investigator who learned as much from old movies as from real life. He lives in Denver, loves film noir, and starts the series with more nerve than experience. That is a big part of the charm.
The first books lean into that setup. Reed opens a detective agency, takes cases that look manageable on the surface, and then finds himself in way over his head. Missing husbands, suspicious deaths, stolen dogs, old secrets, cheating scandals, and murder all land on his desk. He wants to be the cool, capable detective from the black-and-white movies he adores, but the reality is messier, funnier, and usually more dangerous.
He is not alone for long.
A lot of the series' appeal comes from the people around him. Willie becomes a steady, smart presence in both his work and his life. His best friend Cal brings the tech help Reed often needs. The Goofball Brothers add comic energy, but they are not just there for laughs. Over time, Reed's world fills out in a way that makes the books feel warm as well as suspenseful.
Even when the stakes rise, these mysteries keep an inviting tone. The books mix private eye fiction with a cleaner, cozier approach, so readers get twists, suspects, danger, and a good detective puzzle without a heavy emphasis on gore or explicit content. Pawlish also has fun with the old noir references. Reed may picture himself as a hard-boiled hero, but he is often improvising, getting things wrong, and learning as he goes.
Denver matters a lot here. Reed's cases move through neighborhoods, businesses, small towns, mountain roads, and the wider Colorado scene in a way that helps ground the series. Now and then the books travel farther afield, but the home base remains a big part of the identity. The setting gives the stories a modern feel, while Reed's movie-fed inner voice keeps them tied to older detective traditions.
As the series continues, Reed grows up without losing what makes him Reed. He gets better at the work. His personal life deepens. The cases become more layered, sometimes touching cold cases, family secrets, sports scandals, gambling, and crimes that reach far beyond what he expected when he first hung out his shingle. Through all of that, the books keep their balance of humor, danger, and likable character work.
If you want a mystery series with a playful noir streak, a memorable Denver setting, and a lead who is earnest, self-aware, and easy to root for, Reed Ferguson is a very good place to start. The books work because Reed is never the slickest man in the room, but he keeps showing up anyway.
Edited by
Software engineer whose passion for tracking book recommendations from podcasts inspired the creation of MRB.
Lead investor at 3one4 Capital whose startup expertise and love for books helped shaped MRB and its growth.













































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