Dead Flowers

De: J.M. Petrick

Narrado por: Keir O'Donnell

“J.M. Petrick is a soulful, inventive storyteller. I can’t wait to see what he does next.” - Taylor Jenkins Reid

A washed-up child actor. A missing twin. Some stars burn out. Others vanish without a trace.

Identical twins Will and Billy Benson were once the beloved child-stars of a hit '90s sitcom. One abrupt cancellation, and thirty years later, they've been relegated to "Where Are They Now?" status. Will walked away from the spotlight and settled into obscurity as a security guard. Billy, unable to accept the end of his glory days, spent the intervening decades chasing a comeback, and spiraling further and further into addiction.

One night, Billy shows up at Will’s apartment—panicked, bloodied, and mumbling cryptically. Something happened. Something bad, but by morning, he's gone. Now it’s up to Will to chase down clues and find his wayward twin. As he follows a trail of half-truths and faded memories, Will crosses paths with a cast of suspects pulled straight from Hollywood’s underbelly: a seedy agent, a shifty pornstar, a misogynistic online influencer, and a stalker from their fan club days. Piece by piece, Will unravels the mystery of his brother’s disappearance—only to discover that the truth is darker, and far more dangerous, than he ever imagined. Now, he’s running out of time—but the closer he gets to the truth, the closer he gets to being the next to disappear.

A unique and immersive auditory experience, this audiobook blends evocative music, cinematic sound design, and a riveting performance by Keir O'Donnell that will plunge listeners deep into a thrilling narrative that delivers a powerful emotional punch.

©2025 J.M. Petrick (P)2025 J.M. Petrick

Well-crafted, Imaginative

Identical twins Will and Billy Benson were once the adored child stars of a hit ’90s sitcom, but after a sudden cancellation, their lives drifted in opposite directions—Will into quiet obscurity and Billy into a desperate chase for fame that ended in addiction. When Billy appears at Will’s apartment one night, terrified and covered in blood, it’s clear something terrible has happened—yet by morning, Billy has vanished. Determined to find his missing brother, Will follows a trail of cryptic clues through Hollywood’s seedy underbelly, encountering shady agents, unstable fans, and figures from their past who may know more than they’re saying. As Will pieces together the truth, he uncovers a dangerous mystery far darker than he imagined—and realizes he may be the next one to disappear.

Author J.M. Petrick crafts a compelling and unflinching narrative about child actors and the darker paths many face as fame fades—obscurity, addiction, emotional turmoil, and the dangerous spiral that can follow. His character development is strong and purposeful, each plot twist carefully shaped to deepen the story’s impact. With vivid dialogue, precise detail, and richly drawn descriptions, he offers readers an insider’s view of a shadowed world, immersing them in the characters’ emotions, thoughts, and fears. The opening carries a surreal, almost disorienting tone, and his meticulous attention to detail keeps the experience powerful and memorable.

The narrator, Keir O’Donnell, delivers an exceptional performance that elevates the material. His pacing is intentional, his pauses perfectly placed, and his cadence both controlled and inviting. He channels the emotional weight, fear, and tension of the story with striking authenticity, drawing listeners in with a resonant voice and finely tuned inflection. His ability to amplify key moments makes the experience gripping from start to finish.

This was a well-crafted, imaginative story, performed with remarkable skill.

There were no issues with the quality or production of this audiobook.

Highly recommend. Fantastic listen.

I loved the twists and turns. All the descriptions are amazing. The writing is outstanding and the execution of the entertaining movie like vibe is very well done.

Dark, humorous, wonderfully executed!

Dead Flowers was a great, cinematic treat. It's a well-paced crime thriller with just enough humor from our jaded protagonist to lighten the otherwise dreadful circumstances. Set in the strange land of Los Angeles When It Rains, our hero's adventure takes us through familiar landscapes that really showcase the variety of lives contained within its borders. The plot smoothly develops into a surprisingly large web of conspiracy without ever losing the claustrophobic, manic mood of a man down on his luck and in over his head. Also, I was very impressed with the production quality of the recording! The narrator's affectations added a real element of noir that pushed the cinematic writing to a cool, cravable level. Very excited to see what's next!

If you think you know what’s going on. You don’t.

Fire story. Always on the engage of my seat. The twists got me twisted. Idk how I could have actually read the book when the audio was so good! It’s a must read (Listen).

Immersive storytelling and audio, gripping neo-noir story

Loved the ambience, the narrative and immersive storytelling that captured my attention throughout the novel.