Denver police detective Sarah Spillman investigates an apparent suicide at a college party, but one glance at the party invitation signals this may not be a run-of-the-mill investigation:

Act out your favorite suicide...

It was supposed to be a joke, but someone didn't get the humor. And Sarah must find out if it was a suicide, or murder...

Praise for the acclaimed first novel in the Reed Ferguson mystery series, THIS DOESN'T HAPPEN IN THE MOVIES:

Kirkus Reviews:
The promising kickoff to Pawlish's comic mystery series, starring far-from-perfect PI Reed Ferguson. Pawlish earns high marks for plot construction, with twists and turns naturally unfolding as Ferguson, inexperienced but not incapable, feels his way through the case. A good-humored mystery series worth following.

Readers' Favorite:
This is one witty, hilarious private detective story that will keep the reader glued to the pages until the very end.

5 Star Review
There is little doubt that Renée Pawlish is a promising new voice to the comic murder/mystery genre. Quite noticeable...is Pawlish's adept development of the plot coupled with her ability to contrive clear, concise and playful prose with almost perfect pacing.

Norman Goldman, Bookpleasures Publisher and Editor


The Reed Ferguson mystery series:

• Book 1: This Doesn't Happen In The Movies (Free eBook)
• Book 2: Reel Estate Rip-off
• Book 3: The Maltese Felon
• Book 4: Farewell, My Deuce
• Book 5: Out Of The Past
• Book 6: Torch Scene
• Book 7: The Lady Who Sang High
• Book 8: Sweet Smell of Success
• short story: Elvis And The Sports Card Cheat 

Keywords: mystery, police procedural, police, mysteries, suspense, cop, thriller, detective, crime, crime series, hard-boiled, comic, fiction, fiction mystery, female protagonist, short story, short stories, female sleuth, mystery series, murder