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

The most unique and engaging mystery - it's not just a book, it's an audio drama and I LOVED IT

I''M BLOWN AWAY BY THIS DEBUT NOVEL 🤩🤩🤩Obviously, Dead Flowers is an audiobook, but it's not JUST an audiobook. The narration and audio production are top notch, and make this such an engaging and entertaining listen. I've been an Audible member since ~2006 and have listened to hundreds of audiobooks, so I consider myself an expert/connoisseur of the format, so when I say this is one of the best audiobook experiences I've ever had you should probably take my word for it 😂. This is Project Hail Mary quality (IYKYK) and the mystery kept me wanting to listen. I can't wait to see what J.M. Petrick comes up with next. Instant follow!!

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).

Authetic

As a kid growing up in Los Angeles I was the child of an actor. Scuffice it to say, I saw the dark side of Hollywood and how it operated. My father was a successful character actor but he had his own experience with a tyrannical director ( a famous one). It broke his spirit and his love for acting and he ended his career.
Dead Flowers is so accurate in it's descriptions of these people it's chilling. Petrick's writing is like a scalpel in it's dissection of Hollywood. It takes you on a journey that has surprises at ever chapter.
I've never done audio books and this was really a trip with the added sound effects. Kier O'Donnell is amazing in his voice and taking on not only women but foreign languages. He's able to put me inside the head of Will without it sounding like straight narration.
All I can say is this book is authentic, chilling to the bone and gives the listener/reader a look behind the curtain that most people will never see or experience. Look out Hollywood.

This felt like a film, in the best possible way,

This was such a well written and descriptive book, and an equally great audio performance. The details of this audiobook (music, sound effects) really made me feel like I was watching it unfold in front of me. The storyline was full of twists and turns and somehow captured the perfect balance of grit and compassion for flawed characters.

Hooked 'til the very end!

Dead Flowers was an "all-in-one-day" kind of audiobook for me. The story was the perfect mix of action, humor, and subtle cultural references against the landscape of Hollywood's underbelly. The noir style mystery kept me guessing until the very end and each unexpected twist was captivating. The sound design and performance were excellent. I listen to a lot of audiobooks and this one was elevated to a whole other level. I loved the moody edits of music and soundbites that created the backdrop behind Keir O'Donnell's skilled performance of a whole cast of characters. Having the sound throughout the entire book rather than just the intro/outro created a suspenseful feeling that kept me absolutely hooked. But above all the action packed surface, J.M. Petrick has created a narrative full of introspection and emotional complexity. I will definitely be giving this another listen!

It felt as though I was watching it!

I really enjoyed the audio drama style. It gave life to the characters and scenes that I don’t get from flat narration. The storyline was good and had some unexpected twists and turns. I didn’t want to turn it off.

Dead Flowers Blooms in Audio

Listening to Dead Flowers was an unforgettable experience. I loved how the audio production completely immersed me in the world of the story—it felt less like a traditional audiobook and more like a full-blown audio drama. The layered sound design, atmospheric effects, and carefully crafted pacing brought every scene to life in a way that pulled me right in.

The author’s unique voice and storytelling style stood out from the very beginning. There’s a rhythm and originality to the narration that makes the book feel fresh, even within familiar themes. You can really hear the personality of the author woven through every page, which makes the journey all the more engaging.

Most importantly, the story itself hooked me from the very first chapter. The suspense, the characters, and the emotional depth made it nearly impossible to press pause—I could hardly put it down. Dead Flowers is the kind of audiobook that lingers with you long after it ends, and I can’t recommend it enough to anyone looking for an immersive, captivating listen.