Body of David Hayes        The Art of Deception        Middle of Nowhere        The First Victim        Pied Piper        Beyond Recognition        No Witnesses        The Angel Maker        Undercurrents

THE BODY OF DAVID HAYES REVIEWS "Pearson found a perfect groove early on for his much-acclaimed Lou Boldt-Daphne Matthews series, and it has been running flawlessly through eight installments. He changes focus this time, moving forensic psychologist Matthews to the background and elevating the wife of Seattle police Lieutenant Boldt to center stage. Give Pearson credit for turning away, albeit temporarily, from the edgy relationship between Boldt and Matthews and tackling instead a much trickier topic: the sinews that hold together a long-term marriage. No easy task for any writer, especially one who must simultaneously face the plot-driven demands of the high-octane thriller."    —Bill Ott, Booklist (all rights reserved) "Pearson in The Body of David Hayes has once again worked his unique magic, creating a plausible high-tech tale that never gets bogged down in the minutiae of computer jargon while playing his characters' emotions off of each other. The ultimate effects on Lou and Liz Boldt of the events that take place in The Body of David Hayes are left ambiguous at the end of the novel and will undoubtedly unfold in later installments of this series, providing both an expectation for the future and a realistic touch upon the personal lives of the characters. One is left truly caring about what will happen to these people; the ability to instill this emotion in his readers is, perhaps, Pearson's greatest strength in his formidable literary arsenal."    —Joe Hartlaub, BookReporter.com (full review) "Ridley Pearson once again proves he's the leader in the thriller business with the ninth novel in the wonderful Lou Boldt series, The Body of David Hayes. This is suspense as only a master can provide, a mystery that will not only keep you guessing, but with an emotional edge rarely seen in current genre fiction. Pearson makes us care about his characters, and their fates, while giving us a plot with enough twists and turns to keep you reading all through the night. The Body of David Hayes is Ridley at his best."    —J.A. Konrath, author of Whiskey Sour "...The Body of David Hayes is an engrossing, richly rewarding read, one of the best novels Pearson has written. Though it does not as actively utilize the characters of John LaMoia and Daphne Matthews as previous books, it closely examines the dynamics of a marriage rife with fault lines, divisions that have never completely healed from a six-year-old betrayal. The novel is definitely a page-turner, which is the least we expect from Pearson. But he delivers so much more, all of it fabulous."    —Mark Terry, The Oakland Press (Michigan) "...The Body of David Hayes is a terrific novel of suspense that will leave you putting finger grooves on the book's cover from holding it so tight.... it is a great book and probably the best of the series. It's been a while since reading has been so much fun."    —Angel L. Soto, ReviewingTheEvidence.com (full review) "Centered on Seattle PD's Lieutenant Lou Boldt and his banker wife Liz, Hayes is an artful page-turner careening from high-tech embezzlement to cancer survival guilt, the Russian mob, child musical prodigies, "counterfeit" caviar, the nefarious uses to which traffic cams can be put, and the heart-rending repercussions of infidelity. And despite the technical razzle-dazzle – the quick costume changes, the layered nuance of the computer hacking, the wheels within wheels within wheels – what has stayed with me from this novel is the delicacy of Pearson's "portrait of a marriage." Down to the last scene, he nails this perfectly."    —Cornelia Read, epinions.com (full review) "A word to the wise: Blank out some time, starting early, to finish it before you stop reading. It's a nail biter, and you won't want to lose your train of thought."    —Molly Weston, Meritorious Mysteries "Pearson possesses an uncanny eye for picking subjects that seem to jump from his novels to the headlines, with the latest offering focusing on the white-collar crime of bank fraud.... Pearson... is a superb craftsman whose popular crime novels deserve even wider readership."    —John Marshall, seattlepi.com "The Body of David Hayes [is] his tightest writing and most emotionally involving story in years... [and] has all the elements of classic Pearson: a complicated scheme involving cutting-edge technology but made understandable for the layman, Boldt matching wits with a truly scary criminal, an intricate nail-biter of a climax and the raw emotions that even old infidelities arouse in good people."    —David Forsmark, The Flint Journal (Michigan) "It's Pearson's incredible sense of timing and pace that bring this non-stop action thriller to life. Racing from scenes of electrifying tension to scenes of marital intimacy and discord, Pearson presents a heady balance that makes the most of this rousing plot and these convincing characters. Now we just need to wait for the movie..."    —Stephanie Padilla, NewMysteryReader.com "Pearson's new novel continues the story of Seattle police Lt. Lou Boldt. While it includes enough tension, action and inside techniques to satisfy the most hard-core mystery fan, it moves beyond genre fiction. Boldt and his relationship with his wife, Liz, and his colleagues provide a richly textured story of people, not just procedure... Pearson... is at the top of his form."    —Dale Singer, St. Louis Today (full review) "With his usual ability to combine incredible story-telling with meticulous attention to the details of crime fighting, Pearson has brought us another exciting adventure that will grab our attention and imagination until the very last exciting page. Bringing to light new aspects of Boldt's personality and what makes him tick, this is his best book to date in this series."    —Kathy Thomason, Murder and Mayhem Bookclub (full review) "If there is a theme for Pearson's new Lou Boldt mystery, The Body of David Hayes, it might be 'Oh what a tangled web we weave, when first we practise to deceive.' This is Pearson at his best. Sit down, put your feet up, and enjoy the long and bumpy ride."    —Shirley Wetzel, OverMyDeadBody.com (full review) "Pearson grabs the reader from page one in The Body of David Hayes, the ninth in the Lou Boldt/Daphne Matthews series. Forensic psychologist Matthews takes a back seat Boldt's wife, Liz in this installment. This brings to the mix the unexplored emotional complexity of Boldt's long-term marriage and the impact of an affair that nearly destroyed it. The scenes between the couple are fraught with tension and long buried hurt as they deal with the ramifications of an event neither has gotten over."    —Jennifer Jordan, MysteryOne.com (full review) "Pearson shows his usual mastery of the intricacies of structure and the subtleties of suspenseful pacing. He is clearly fascinated by the kinds of ironies that keep character and situation connected even as events accelerate and the characters' understanding of those events seems always a day late and a dollar short. The situation he presents is pretty close to absolute misery for the Boldts, but this gripping thriller is a terrific diversion for Pearson's readers."    —Martin Kich, BookPage.com (full review) "The action flows smoothly and keeps the reader guessing from page one. The research that must have gone into this book is awesome. The knowledge Pearson has of the computer world provides insights into what an extremely technical world it is in which we live. His meticulous rendering of police work reeks of realism. Pearson writes with the flow of a professional, the understanding of the relationship between a man and wife whose marriage is in jeopardy, with the expertise it takes to maintain the element of suspense throughout a whole book, and, I believe, with a love of his craft."    —Mary Ann Smyth, BookLoons.com (full review) "Written in Pearson's typical fast-paced style, this mystery will pull readers in from the very first page.... the mystery is excellently constructed; the procedural details ring perfectly true; and the rest of the characters, good and bad, are all realistic. Be prepared to finish this exciting novel in one sitting."    —Deborah Hern, TheRomanceReadersConnection.com (full review) "A gripping story with a complex and intricate plot this gives an intense picture of the conflicts and emotions with the pain of betrayal in Liz and Lou in their efforts to resolve their problems and save their marriage. The story is fast paced with the characters developed in depth with their conflicting priorities."    —Barbara Buhrer, MyShelf.com "In addition to being an incredibly complex police procedural thriller, The Body of David Hayes turns a compelling spotlight on the complexities of a marriage when it is threatened from the outside and on the levels of trust that can exist between people both inside and outside that bond.... I'm ashamed to admit that this is my first Boldt novel. Now it seems I have an incredible backlist to read. While it could easily be read as a stand-alone, I for one will be looking to catch up with a very gifted writer and all of his series!"    —Vicki Ball, BooksNBytes.com (full review) Ridley Pearson has written a real thriller. This is a great police procedural book and at the same time it looks at the personal aspects of a marriage in trouble. This is a real page-turner - be prepared to stay up late. Ridley Pearson is a creative, talented writer. Be sure to add this one to your reading list!"    —Nancy Eaton, BestSellersWorld.com (full review) "Conflict grips the reader from the first page of Ridley Pearson's latest novel, The Body of David Hayes.... I was riveted by this relentless page turner and complex police procedural well past my bedtime, anxious to discover how the respectable and charismatic Lou Boldt could untangle the web of deception around his wife. Ridley Pearson has written another captivating thriller."    —Debby Atkinson, author of Primitive Secrets "Once again Ridley Pearson writes a wonderful crime thriller that is so mesmerizing the audience will read it in one sitting. The readers obtain an up front and personal look into the lives of the Boldts as they deal with guilty consciences and a crisis that could destroy their marriage. The Body of David Hayes is a tremendous tale that deserves best seller status."    —Harriet Klausner, allreaders.com (full review) "Ridley Pearson presents us with one more spellbinder that taxes the heart and mind of Lou Boldt. A gripping tale from start to finish. "    —Gail Cooke, mystery-thriller.com (full review) Romantic Times called The Body of David Hayes "phenomenal" and gave it 4.5 stars out of 5... the review will be online soon! "I stayed up half the night trying to finish this page turner. The final scenes had me chewing my nails, and there's an interesting twist at the end. I'm ready anytime for the next Lou Boldt novel."    —Pat Browning, DorothyL "This is a complex and very suspenseful book that puts Boldt and his family in grave danger and yet resolves some questions, from their past. I highly recommend this book as one of the top books for 2004!"    —Joan Huston, DorothyL "Ridley Pearson does a masterful job of leading us into the lives of Liz and Lou Boldt as the bomb of David Hayes release, and Liz's long-ago infidelity, drops on their heads. Only if they work together can they hope to escape the fall out. From personal to professional crisis, both Boldts are stretched to their physical and emotional limits. This is nail-biting tension at it's best. Pearson's intricate plotting of smart moves and countermoves will keep you up all night. You don't want to miss this one!"    —Louise Crawford, Eppie finalist "The Body of David Hayes reads like all Pearson books – fast paced, with plenty of action. Boldt is a familiar character to those who have read the series, and readers will be pleased to learn even more about Lou. Enough back story is given that readers new to the series won't be left behind. Two of my favorite characters, John LaMoia and Daphne Matthews are back, but not in as large as roles as in other books. I missed having them around more, but getting to know Boldt better made up for it. All in all, a very good book."    —Beth Tindall, Rec Arts Mystery "Ridley Pearson is a consummate wordsmith, plotter, characterizer, and artist. I read suspense only now and then, but I must say that this book had my palms sweating..."    —Lynn Dielman, DorothyL REAL COPS READ RIDLEY! "The Body of David Hayes is a taut and intense thriller. The plot is intricate and compelling, driven by characters that seem to be made of flesh and blood. Ridley Pearson is at the top of his game."    —D C. Police Officer Quintin Peterson, author of Sin and The Wages of Sin "Seldom are crime scenes more realistically portrayed, nor analyzed with a skilled investigators sixth sense. I'd partner with Boldt any time."    —Terry Gainer, U.S. Capitol Police Chief "This is another of Ridley's spellbinders, keeping me anchored to it until I finished it in two sittings. The Body of David Hayes is one more bell ringer, most timely in today's computer-oriented world."    —Paul B. Kincade, diplomat in psychotherapy, detective, Washoe County Sheriff's Office "If you are a first-time Pearson reader, start with The Body of David Hayes and you'll be hooked for life. Nobody combines gripping police drama and sensitive character development like Pearson. The Body of David Hayes enshrines the character of 'Lou Boldt' in the "Cop Hall of Fame."    —Jan Lane / Community Relations, San Diego Police Officers Association "The latest Ridley Pearson book about Detective Lou Boldt is a fast-paced and exciting tale. Pearson has obviously done thorough and meticulous research into crime scenes and forensic science, creating a story any professional in the field would enjoy."    —Donna J. Meade, Forensic Scientist II, Idaho State Police Forensic Services "The story in David Hayes is, as usual, complex and interesting and like all of Ridley's books leaves me in awe of his ability to keep the details straight and intertwine the complexities while still keeping it all able to be followed and understood."    —Officer Amy King, Olympia Police Dept., Olympia, WA Buy the book from an independent bookstore or Amazon.