Edgar Award finalist Ben Rehder’s novels have made best-of-the-year lists in Publishers Weekly, Library Journal, Kirkus Reviews, and Field & Stream. GONE THE NEXT is the first novel in the Roy Ballard mystery series. About GONE THE NEXT:Meet Roy Ballard, freelance videographer with a knack for catching insurance cheats. He’s working a routine case, complete with hours of tedious surveillance, … complete with hours of tedious surveillance, when he sees something that shakes him to the core. There, with the subject, is a little blond girl wearing a pink top and denim shorts—the same outfit worn by Tracy Turner, a six-year-old abducted the day before. When the police are skeptical of Ballard’s report—and with his history, who can blame them?—it’s the beginning of the most important case of his life.
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Good read. The story line was easy to follow and therefore somewhat predictable but it was still a good read over all. Enjoyed it.
What happens when someone who watches people sees more than expected. Good interactions, characters seem to be living in today’s world. It hard to guess the ending, yet it works. I’m looking for the next in the series.
A page turner….excellent read!
Excellent character development, clever dialogue.
Surprisingly original and realistic. Loved the little twists that made it so. I plan to try another book by this author.
A well written, witty, and engrossing whodunit. Good character development, a likeable protagonist, realistic and often humorous dialogue, and an engaging plot kept me turning the pages. Any foul language (which is minimal) is apropos of the characters’ situation, and there’s no gratuitous sex. Didn’t realize it was the first book in a series when …
Best of ones I have read. It seems the books
that are “free” are not so great.
Good mystery read. Keeps you guessing thru the whole book. You don’t want to miss any clues.
Ended too soon! Can’t wait to see what happens next.
My second book by this writer. Just a great book, couldn’t put it down.
This book was a page turner! It was a kidnapping mystery, and I kept wondering who did it? The main character was very determined to find out and to risk his life doing that! While doing his search he used Facebook and the author actually gave some great tips on Facebook privacy settings! I liked the book lots and I am sure anyone who enjoys …
Just finished this book. Couldn’t put it down, but it was very predicable. Loved the main character Roy Ballard very witty.
I just wasn’t able to click with the characters in this book. And I didn’t like some of the things took place in the story. But it did have a happy ending. I am sure other people will like this book just fine. Not me. Sorry.
This review is for the audio book.
I did enjoy this book but it wasn’t what I was expecting. I have listened to all the authors Blanco County series and was expecting this series to be similar but it is a more grown up mystery in the fact that it lacks the humour. Not to say there isn’t some comic relief, it is more in the from one liners and …
A great story about Roy Ballard who is an Insurance Investigator who uses photography. One of his jobs led to a missing girl investigation. I couldn’t stop reading.
Roy Ballard has an interesting history, making him a character I want to know better. Being an insurance videographer by profession- he catches insurance cheaters – makes for an interesting take on crime solving.
The mystery part of this book, however, was not so great. I felt the story often dragged because it was directionless. Links were made …
The scary part of this book, is that things like that happens in life and does not always turn out like to story. I did not put this one down till it was done!
great story. interesting unexpected developments occur along the way. Did not fall apart at the end as so many books do.
I really enjoyed reading this book.
I thought it was OK, but not really good