Get Busy Dying

Roy Ballard Mysteries, Book 2

By: Ben Rehder

Narrated by: Johnny Peppers

Length: 8 hrs and 11 mins

Publisher's Summary

Everyone thinks Boz Gentry died in a fiery traffic accident, but Roy Ballard and Mia Madison aren't convinced. As legal videographers, it's their job to provide evidence of insurance fraud - and the more they dig into the Gentry case, the more they realize this might be the most elaborate scheme they've ever encountered. Of course, when millions of dollars are at stake, con men will take drastic steps to protect their scam - including arson, assault, or even murder. Can Roy and Mia unravel the conspiracy before the criminals get desperate enough to kill?

Edgar Award finalist Ben Rehder's novels have made best-of-the-year lists in Publishers Weekly, Library Journal, Kirkus Reviews, and Field & Stream.

©2014 Ben Rehder (P)2014 Ben Rehder

Light, witty, and fun suspense mystery!

Roy Ballard and Mia Madison are licensed insurance fraud photographers in Austin, Texas. This novel is rather unusual because they are neither police or private investigators. Most of their cases are suspected injury fraud cases. Yet, they always seem to run into other cases that are more complicated and dangerous. Get Busy Dying in book 2 in author Ben Rehder's four novel Roy Ballard series. I have already reviewed book 3 of the series and have just finished listening to book 1. Johnny Peppers' narration is excellent.

Get Busy Dying

This was good.I found it a bit more boring than book 1.Narration by Johnny Peppers was good.I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.

twisted greed

What an eye opener to possible money fraud schemes, and a look at those willing to commit crimes for ill gotten gains. I liked following along and their thinking out loud and reasoningthings out for possible people and situations. Intriguing. I voluntarily listened to a free copy of this and am giving an honest review. The narrator did a great job with voices and expressions.

Even better

I greatly enjoyed the first in the Roy Ballard series, but Get Busy Dying hooked me even harder. The range of already-good protagonists begin to take on little quirks that help define them even further, and I feel like Rehder settles into a more firm tone overall. The plot is great too, with a simple insurance fraud scheme billowing out into a pretty great series of smoke shows. The side characters, particularly some of the people sucked into the antagonist’s scheme, are also well fleshed out, even when only given a few moments to shine.

One note - I listened to this on Audibl, and was almost turned off by the heavy-handedness of the first chapter’s voicework. Once the actor settled into the protagonist’s point of view, he was fantastic. But that chapter was somewhat jarring.

Apart from that, this was a superb mystery, well plotted and full of great characters. Looking forward to jumping into the third.

Captures Central Texas Perfectly!

This is my second Roy Ballard listen, but it won't be the last. Having been a Texan all my life, and a Central Texan for the last 40 years, I am delighted with the author's observations that I know to be true but wouldn't have thought to comment on. (Still smiling trying to picture a Texas motel without a swimming pool.) The characters are real and likeable; I particularly enjoy the ongoing relationship between Roy and Mia, the promise of Hannah's development as a character, and Roy's spiritual doppelganger Detective Rueles. I ennjoyed the techie stuff and the clever wordplay. Narrator is very clear and his voice draws a great picture of Roy Ballard. Only minor quibble is in a couple of pronunciations. I have no idea how to pronounce, say, Wilkes-Barre, but. I would ask before trying it. Wish the same have been true of New Braunfels - it hurt to hear the accent on the "fels". And then there was the word chilaquiles. But very minor quibbles in a delightful listen about how much trouble a Texas viideographer can get into (and how much fun he can have) doing fraud investigations. Great story, great listen, ready to start my next one already. Fun!

Another great story by Ben Rehder!

I enjoyed this Roy Ballard tale. very good characters and the plot moved quickly.

GET BUSY DYING

Great listen. I do enjoy a good mystery and this one had a few twists and turns.

Meh. Not very funy and certainly not exciting.

This is the first book I've read by Ben Rehder, but I was impressed by the high ratings. I love humorous mysteries, but I didn't find this story particularly exciting or funny. The prose is sound and the dialog realistic but it was pretty clear from the outset where things were headed. For those who like mysteries with a touch of romance, the personal connection between Roy and Mia is minimal in this book but promises to blossom in future. The denouement was slapstick.

Johnny Peppers does a credible job of narration, with a kind of Texas drawl.

I don't know why this series is rated so highly; I won't be rushing out to read more.

Get busy listening

I enjoyed this book. I loved the humour of the authors Blanco County Mystery Series so thought I would give this series ago too. This is more of a grown up series, where the characters aren't quite so hopeless or funny but I still enjoyed it. There is the familiar banter and teasing between the main characters, which worked so well in the other series and I loved. Add in some great characters and I am sure this series is going to be around for a while.The story is balanced out with the main investigation and a few side stories, which kept the story running along nicely and kept it interesting. The story also held a number of twists as suspects and motives got eliminated. The insurance fraud investigator and videographer is a nice change for a profession and I liked the high Tec gadgets used to help solve the case, which also included just your basic computer, the author seems to do his homework or just had a good knowledge base. Off to start the next book.
Roy and Mia are videographers hired to catcher people trying to cheat the system. They have two cases on the go. The first is a group of four friends that claim to be unable to work after a car accident and is a simple case of following them I too one slips up. The second case is to prove that Boz didn't die in a car crash before the insurance company page out on his life insurance. Simple, right. Wrong, both cases prove to be challenging. Especially when someone tries to burn down Mia's house and witnesses start to get killed off. Can they find the proof they need to close both cases? Or will the police and one particularly annoying detective get the capture and all the credit?
I liked the narrator he used a variety of voices to bring the characters to life.
I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.

enjoyed

I so loved listening to Johnny Peppers

A great mystery with enough twists and turns to keep wanting to know who and what. A good paced plot.
Loved the interaction and humour between the main characters Mia and Roy.

Recommend.

It's a great surprise!

At the beginning I was a bit hesitant! It was a bit confusing! But as the story goes... It's not just another boring book.
Congrats to the writer! And the narrator! Well done boys!

Great 2nd book

The 2nd in the Roy Ballard series, which takes Roy and Mia on another adventure into insurance fraud with a few twists and turns on the way. Investigating whether Boz Gentry faked his own death, Roy and Mia aren't convinced, but proving it is a challenge. I love listening to these books, the story is easy to follow and at just the right pace to move the story on. The narrator is good and suits the books. Developing Roy and Mia's relationship as they investigate it was a great next story in the series. Looking forward to book 3.

Great book

The 2nd book in and it’s a great series already.
The characters are great & definitely feel an attachment coming on. As you do!
The dialogue between them is great, funny, fast & leading you into the story.
Narrator is great too. All fits together great.

Compelling

This is the 2nd novel starring Roy Ballard and Mia Madison, this time their work is cut out for them. Roy works for an Insurance Agency as a videographer, and the pair make sure that whoever makes a claim against the insurance agency it's a valid claim. Boz Gentry died in a fire traffic accident or did he? as Roy and Mia feel sure that they have seen him in the flesh and with a big insurance payable to the wife they have to make sure and be on their toes and certain and the need to get it on video, but when bad things start to happen to the pair on investigating it's looking like the pair are right and is indeed still living. Many dangerous twists and turns with this pair and they get on really well in the last novel Roy met Mia who was serving in a bar and took her on, as a one-man band was not working for Roy as he can't be in two places at once, so the beginnings of beautiful friendships started. Mia is very bright and she has a very sharp mind and they have a general fondness for each other nothing sexual at this time but who knows perhaps it will blossom.
Ray being a videographer and very upfront with all the gadgets and Mia with brains make for a compelling pair, not P I's not police so no badges guns blazing, etc but sharp witty, and entertaining the author Ben Rehder has written 6 novels with Roy and Mia but they can still be read as standalone novels but better if read in order as you get to grow with the characters it's well written and the narrator Jonny Preppers has done another grand job with the novel a joy to listen to.

Get Busy Dying

This is the second book in the Roy Ballard series by Ben Redher and I really enjoyed the Roy and Mia partnership, they work so well together. This second book is about a 3 million dollar insurance fraud....it is a simple story nothing sensational about it but is is very well written it keeps you entertained all the way through and being such an easy relaxing read it makes me look forward to starting the next book in the series asap. Why? Because the main characters are so likeable that I need to know more about them.....

Does not disappoint

Book 2 in the Roy Ballard series and this time Roy and Mia are on the trail of someone who has possibly faked his own death for the life insurance. As Roy and Mia track down a possible suspect they are putting themselves in danger yet again and this time it’s Mia who Roy is concerned about. Along with the case Roy is also dealing with his ex wife and trying to arrange a visit for his daughter. This series already feels like coming back to an old friend and I love it.

A good mystery, told with wit.

I did enjoy this 2nd outing for Mr Ballard and his investigative partner Mia. The wit and humour is was full flowing and the investigation had enough twists and turns to keep me guessing and getting it wrong.
The relationship between the 2 main characters zings with chemistry, and I am keen to find out how things progress in this respect in the following books.
The story starts as an insurance fraud investigation but it becomes more and I loved the interactions with the police, the neighbours, the suspects and even the odd pet.
This book would stand alone but I recommend reading the first in series first (Doh!) as this story does follow on from the first.

Get Busy Listening!!

As soon as I finished book 1, I started book 2.
Great story with many twists. I didn't guess outcomes at any stages. Don't you love that in a book!.
Loving the Roy and Mia chemistry. Great listen and story.