Pearson became the first American to receive the Raymond Chandler-Fulbright Fellowship[2] at Oxford University in 1991. He received the Quill Award from the Missouri Writers Hall of Fame,[3] its highest honor. This award serves as a reminder of the importance of writing and encourages young people to develop their own joy for writing.
Pearson's novels for adults include:
novels featuring characters John Knox & Grace Chu--The Red Room (2014);Choke Point (2013);The Risk Agent (2012);
novels featuring the character Walt Fleming--In Harm's Way (2010), Killer Summer (2009), Killer View (2008), and Killer Weekend (2007);
novels featuring the character Lou Boldt and Daphne Matthews--The Body of David Hayes (2004), The Art of Deception (2002), Middle of Nowhere (2000), The First Victim (1999), The Pied Piper (1998), Beyond Recognition (1997), No Witnesses (1994), The Angel Maker (1993), and Undercurrents (1988).
Standalone novels include: Cut and Run (2005), The Diary of Ellen Rimbauer (2001)--(under the nom-de-plume of Joyce Readon, Ph.D.), Parallel Lies (2001), Chain of Evidence (1995), Hard Fall (1992), Probable Cause (1990), The Seizing of Yankee Green Mall (1987), Blood of the Albatross (1986), and Never Look Back (1985). Ridley also wrote three Chris Klick mysteries under the pseudonym of Wendell McCall.
Also for Disney, Pearson has written a series of novels set inside Disney theme parks, called The Kingdom Keepers, in which five teenagers battle the Overtakers—the evil Disney villains—to keep the parks safe.
Pearson has also written Steel Trapp: The Challenge (2008) and Steel Trapp: The Academy (2010).
Also with Dave Barry, Ridley Pearson has written Science Fair (2008) and three Never Land books: Escape from the Carnivale (2006), Cave of the Dark Wind (2007), and Blood Tide (2008).
Hard Listening. Palo Alto: Coliloquy. (July 2013). An interactive e-book about his participation in a writer/musician band, the Rock Bottom Remainders.[5]