Gone the Next

By: Ben Rehder

Narrated by: Johnny Peppers

Length: 7 hrs and 29 mins

Publisher's Summary

Meet Roy Ballard, freelance videographer with a knack for catching insurance cheats. He's working a routine case, complete with hours of tedious surveillance, when he sees something that shakes him to the core. There, with the subject, is a little blond girl wearing a pink top and denim shorts - the same outfit worn by Tracy Turner, a six-year-old abducted the day before. When the police are skeptical of Ballard's report - and with his history, who can blame them? - it's the beginning of the most important case of his life.

©2012 Ben Rehder (P)2013 Ben Rehder

Nice start to a series!

Insurance fraud photographer Roy Ballard had his young daughter kidnapped when she was with him years ago, so although it is not a part of his business he becomes interested when another young girl is kidnapped. He works on the case despite police telling him to stop. Along the way he convinces waitress Mia Madison to join him in his business. Author Ben Rehder uses a lot of witty dialog in his fast paced novels. Narration is excellent.

Here One Minute...

What made the experience of listening to Gone the Next the most enjoyable?

The protagonist was awesome. Very engaging main character.

What about Johnny Peppers’s performance did you like?

It didn't sound like a performance. His reading blended so well with the story it was like a movie in my head.

Any additional comments?

Just a note that there are two story lines going on here. Past and present. I think Mr. Rehder does a good job signaling but just be aware.

Creepy Fun right from the start!

If you could sum up Gone the Next in three words, what would they be?

Suspenseful, unpredictable, sarcastic

What was one of the most memorable moments of Gone the Next?

Learning about Roy's background - how his lost child gave him a personal stake in finding the little girl.

What about Johnny Peppers’s performance did you like?

I liked the pacing of the narration.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

I laughed at times at some of Roy's comebacks. He obviously has a need waiting to be fulfilled.

Not for me

It's not fair for me to give this book a review. I simply can't read books about vulnerable children.

Narration makes all the difference

Story often difficult to follow because of the narrator's lack of pauses between key events, and the use of only one voice throughout. It would also have been a lot less tedious a listen if narrator would have used different voices.

Must listen to this book!

Downright fantastic! Not my usual style but I could say more but I don’t want to soul anything... YOU GOTTA LISTEN THIS BOOK!

Sometimes you just luck out; this was a winner.

After a big disappointment in my previous book, I was ecstatic to find this listen to this exciting psychological thriller. A sincere thank you to author Ben Rehder for a promo code to allow me to enjoy this suspenseful first in the Roy Ballard series. With so many twists and turns, I found it hard to take a break. Already familiar with my favorite narrator Johnny Peppers, I was not surprised at his quality of vocal perfection. Peppered with both humor and heartbreak at the same time, I found “Gone the Next,” an intriguing and addicting listen. Rehder intricately interweaves subplots, surprises and jaw-dropping moments throughout. Again, thank you to Rehder and Peppers for introducing me to the Roy Ballard series. I will be back for more. Highly recommended. Epic, I say, EPIC!!! 👏✍🏻⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✍🏻👏

Roy Ballard, videographer, investigator

This was a "don't want to put it down" book. Roy Ballard is a professional videographer. Mainly he is hired by insurance companies when they have a claim they think might be a fraud. This is a minor plot line as his investigative skills gets him neck deep in a child kidnapping case. This hits home big time, because his daughter, Hannah, was abducted 6 years earlier. While working on a fraud case he is sure he sees the little girl that news stations is saying was abducted. He goes to the police and they think he is a bit of a nut case. What you see real soon, is that he has a sarcastic wit when dealing certain types, of which Detective Ruela is apparently one. Lots of action and plenty of humor!

Great book

Really enjoyed the book. Well written, well told. Would like to read more Ben Rehder books

The First Of The Roy Ballard Novels.

This is the first in the Roy Ballard mystery series. Don’t miss this series. Great plotting repeat with twists and surprises. This series is set in Central Texas with all the beauty and characters who inhabit this area. Yes, I live in Central Texas near the state Capitol of Austin. So, I know Ben Rehder (a native to the area) nails it. This book is a fun read and well narrated. It comes highly recommended.

Great !!

I loved this book , I couldn’t stop listening to it, I I instantly warmed to the main protagonist, he was real and had his faults like all of us , but he had a relentless attitude to follow his gut , even when he was at risk of losing everything himself. I liked his sidekick also as she brought even more depth to the story . The writing was superb and I look forward to more from this author , the narrator was fantastic too .

Great audible. long story!

Great story and easy to listen to. interesting all the way through and one you don't want to put down! You just want to know who did it. Ejoyed this!

The Perfect Listen

Gone the Next is sad but humourous, Roy Ballard a videographer works insurance claims, but it starts with his daughter being abducted and the marriage falls apart understandably so, as his daughter was taken in his watch. His job at the moment is best described watching people that have put in an insurance claim because they can't work etc so he checks them out against fraudelent claims, and while on a stake out he spots a approx 6yrs old little girl that was abducted or did he? is his mind playing tricks because sometimes his stake out goes well beyond the call of duty and as he did not photograph her so he can't be certain, The little girls mother an alcholic has tried to dry out a few times and a husband who plays around so was poor little Tracey really abducted or taken to spite the mother. Roy also takes on a new partner female and they seem to work great together and she is quite bright at working as a detective would and is charming and witty although Roy has a lot of one liners. The character are well defined the descriptions of the area Austin Texas good as I'm British will have to take the author's word that it's correct but bear in mind were listening/reading fiction.a story well put together praise for Ben Rehder for a great listen as he got a good narrator in Johnny Peppers.

Enjoyable, well paced and interesting book

This is the first book in the Roy Ballard series and I must say it is a very good start. As a professional videographer hired mainly by insurance companies when they think they have a fraudulent claim he soon turns out to be quite the detective when a little girl is kidnapped. The story is well paced and takes place over a short period of time - you really do not want to stop listening to the story, you just have to get to find out what is happening asap. Although I did not immediately like the narrator’s tone I soon got to like it as it sort of fits Roy’s character. I only wish he changed his voice a bit when doing the other male characters in the story. Yes I am glad I started this series and look forward to starting the next book!

A very good start to the series.

Roy Ballard is a witty, clever, sincere, irritating and likeable character and this tale which gives back story to his character and deals with his life as it is, was a great introduction. The other characters were also mostly well defined, and the tale is fast paced with enough clues and suspects to keep you guessing. I really enjoyed it and thought the narration by Johnny Peppers was very good, getting the right amount of wit and pathos, seriousness and humour and clearly defining the characters. The whole thing had the feel of an old fashioned gumshoe tale or play that I used to enjoy on a Sunday afternoon. with a modern take and gave me a few very enjoyable hours. I am really looking forward to the next one in the series. 4.5 stars overall.

Great Start to New Series

Don't you love when you get a recommendation of a real gem of a series. Ben Rehder has written rounded characters who you really engage with and become vested in. There is wit, suspense and a great story. Recommend if you love to get stuck into a series that you can't wait to get to the next book. And Johnny Peppers is a great narrator.

Perfection

My first date not just with Roy Ballard, but with his creator, Ben Rehder as well. I'm so thrilled I swiped right because Roy Ballard is very, very funny and ergo, Ben Rehder must be a good laugh too. The story, the abduction of a little girl, could be awful, but as listeners we are gently reassured the whole way through. This meant I could laugh out loud at Roy Ballard's one liners without feeling guilty. The mystery around Tracy Turner is slowly and carefully unpicked, and proves to be clever, thoughtful and intricate. The addition of Mia to Roy's team provides a fabulous foil for his dry wit and acerbic comments. Is there anything more exciting then finding a new author who's work you absolutely love? This is the first book in a series, and I'm looking forward to a long and fulfilling relationship with Roy and Ben. I may have fallen in love at first listen, but this is a love that's going to last. A book that kept my brain engaged and my heart full - practically perfect in every way.

Gone the next

Roy Ballard is a videographer who makes his living catching out insurance cheats, this case however sees Roy involved in more than he expected especially as it’s a situation that hits close to home. Roy is a very likeable character, his flirting and witty remarks give the story humour which helps keep things interesting and enjoyable. Mia’s character is intelligent and a perfect partner for Roy. There are a few twists/surprises which keep the book flowing nicely. The narrator does a good job and I liked his portrayal of Roy Ballard. All in all a good mystery and I look forward to listening to the next one.

Great story really keeps you guessing!

Wonderful start to a series looking forward to the next. Engaging characters and well narrated.

Roy Ballard.

I found this a very enjoyable, easy to listen to book, very well read by Johnny Peppers it is fast moving and a great story about the mystery of a missing girl. This is the second of Bens books i've read this last couple of days and i am currently halfway through the second book in this series, really looking forward to listening to the rest. No hesitation in giving the 5 stars.