Praise for Middle of Nowhere :
"Excitement quotient: high; technology details: intriguing." —USA Today
"Master plotter, reliable thrills from a pro." —Kirkus Reviews
"Fast-paced read from beginning to end. Pearson is able to effortlessly intertwine several detailed plot lines while still keeping his story firmly robed in reality." —New York Post
"Pearson uses clear, forthright prose that perfectly exposes the psychological doubts and fears of his characters and keeps the plot racing from scene to scene. Craftily, Pearson weaves his web."
—Providence Sunday Journal
Praise for The First Victim:
"Razor sharp plotting and timing."—Seattle Times
"There is no one writing police novels with the precise touch of Pearson. His stories are thoroughly researched, heartbreaking and full of escalating suspense." —Denver Rocky Mountain News
Praise for The Pied Piper :
"Pearson proves once again that he can put together a big-scale, big-time police manhunt better than anybody else in the business."—Kirkus Reviews
"A master of this genre. We all should thank Ridley Pearson for the gift of good characters and great plots." —Washington Times
"Pearson is a first-rate writer, and The Pied Piper won't disappoint his growing number of fans." —Knight Ridder News Service
Praise for Beyond Recognition:
"Pearson's dazzling forensics will hook his usual fans. But it's the richness of incident and the control of pace that'll keep them dangling as he switches gears each time you think the story's got to be winding down in this exhilarating entertainment." —Kirkus Reviews
"Pearson has all the sharps and flats he needs to keep his roller-coaster rhythm rising and falling, speeding and slowing, yet somehow always building, winding us tighter." —Booklist
"Pearson has the details of a murder investigation down cold." —San Francisco Chronicle Praise for Chain of Evidence :
"This is an impeccable, high-speed thriller." —Boston Sunday Globe
"Pearson handles the complex plot with grace and speed, packing a potent blend of action and procedural information into his work. A must-read for thriller fans." —Chicago Tribune
"The gadget man is back with a bag of new toys. You don't have to be a techno-nerd to get wired on this scary stuff." —New York Times Book Review
"Pearson weaves psychology and suspense into this tale of high-tech clues and complex motives." —Playboy
"Ridley Pearson is an unequivocal success. I'm hooked again." —Entertainment Weekly
Praise for No Witnesses:
"Tough and intelligent." —Fort Worth Star Telegram
"Up-to-the-nanosecond techno-thriller."—New York Times
"Infused with astonishingly effective overtones." —Boston Globe
"Good old-fashioned storytelling."—Washington Post Book World
"A serious, well-researched, complex thriller." —Los Angeles Times
Praise for The Angel Maker :
"Exceptionally gripping and full of amazing forensic lore: a top-flight offering from an author who has clearly found his groove." —Kirkus Reviews
"A chilling thriller." —Dell Publishing
Praise for Hard Falclass="underline"
"Pearson excels at novels that grip the imagination. Hard Fall is an adventure with all engines churning." —People magazine
"Mesmerizing urgency."—Los Angeles Times Book Review
"Nifty cat-and-mouse caper. Crisply written tale." —Chicago Tribune
Praise for Undercurrents:
"Neatly constructed plot. Hair-raising denouement. Remarkable insight and understanding of the motivations of the criminal mind."—Publishers Weekly
"Undercurrents is a roller-coaster ride in the dark." —Book of the Month
Praise for Probable Cause :
"Filled with clues, both planted and missed, fancy forensic footwork, and intriguing snares. A whole lot of suspense. A satisfying, gripping police procedural." —Booklist
"A sleek, cleverly plotted part-psychological thriller, part-courtroom drama." —Los Angeles Times
Praise for Never Look Back:
"A masterly debut. Powerful yet poignant suspense story." —Booklist
"A breakneck-action first novel." —Kirkus Reviews
ALSO BY RIDLEY PEARSON
Parallel Lies
The First Victim *
The Pied Piper *
Beyond Recognition *
Chain of Evidence
No Witnesses *
The Angel Maker *
Hard Fall
Probable Cause
Undercurrents *
Hidden Charges
Blood of the Albatross
Never Look Back
*features Lou Boldt
WRITING AS WENDELL MCCALL
Dead Aim
Aim for the Heart
Concerto in Dead Flat
SHORT STORIES
"All Over but the Dying"
in Diagnosis: Terminal,
edited by F. Paul Wilson
COLLECTIONS
The Putt at the End
of the World,
a serial novel
RIDLEY PEARSON
MIDDLE OF NOWHERE
I'm honored to dedicate this book to my father, Robert G. Pearson, who not only brings to these pages an editorial pen, but enriches my life by demonstrating that a daily joy for living and a very real spiritual grounding can and does elevate one's experience. You are a trusted friend to your wife, and a mentor to all three of your children—and that makes us a very special family indeed.
A C K N O W L E D G M E N T S