What happens when the deck is stacked against you…

From NFL rising-star prospect to wanted fugitive, Calvin Watters is an African-American Las Vegas debt-collector framed by a murderer who, like the Vegas Police, finds him to be the perfect fall-guy.

…and the cards don't fall your way? 

When the brutal slaying of a prominent casino owner is followed by the murder of a well-known bookie, Detective Dale Dayton is thrown into the middle of a highly political case and leads the largest homicide investigation in Vegas in the last twelve years.

What if you're dealt a Dead Man's Hand?

Against his superiors and better judgement, Dayton is willing to give Calvin one last chance. To redeem himself, Calvin must prove his innocence by finding the real killer, while avoiding the LVMPD, as well as protect the woman he loves from a professional assassin hired to silence them. 

Reviews for Dead Man's Hand 

"You may want to give it the whole night, just to see how it turns out."—William Martin, New York Times bestselling author The Lincoln Letter 

"Dead Man's Hand is a pleasure, a debut novel that doesn't read like one, but still presents original characters and a fresh new voice."—Thomas Perry, New York Times bestselling author of Poison Flower 

"Part police procedural, part crime fiction, Dead Man's Hand is a fast, gritty ride."—Anne Frasier, USA Today bestselling author of Hush 

"Murphy writes in a clean, mean style, as compelling as a switchblade to your throat…the real deal."—Rick Mofina, award-winning author of They Disappeared

"A pedal-to-the-metal thriller…Vivid characters and wire-taut plotting…a five star read."—James Thayer, author of White Star

"For a tight taut thriller, bet on a Dead Man's Hand."—Anthony Bidulka, award-winning author of the Russell Quant Mysteries 

"Calvin Watters is an anti-hero you will cheer in this solid debut."—Julie Kramer, award-winning author of Shunning Sarah 

"Luke Murphy is a great mood-builder on the order of Dean Koontz!"—Betty Dravis, award-winning author of Six-Pack of Blood

The prodigal son…

Calvin Watters hasn't been back to USC since the day his scholarship and humility were stripped from the former running back. Calvin had cut all ties to the school, but now finds himself pulled back, when a woman's dead body is found on the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum football field.

…returns home

Detective Charlene Taylor's new homicide case, a freshman cheerleader’s murder at USC, is complicated. Charlene knows that the USC football team is a close knit family, and getting inside the trusted circle, as a cop, is unlikely.

Calvin Watters is a game-changer…

When Calvin and Charlene meet up on the Coliseum turf, Charlene sees an opportunity to use Calvin to penetrate the Trojan family circle. Little does the detective know, Calvin is now an outsider at USC, no longer welcomed—with many who will go a long way to see the former football star fail.

Can Calvin and Charlene work together to uncover the truth, or will their egos interfere with what could be a powerful partnership?

REVIEW BLURB FOR RED ZONE

"Luke Murphy ramps up the thrill factor with RED ZONE—an awesome, gotta-know-what-happens-next novel. Murphy knows how to entertain. I tore through RED ZONE in a single sitting, and didn’t want the book to end. This should be on your Do-Not-Miss list to read this fall."—Linda Castillo, NYT & USA Today bestselling author of the Kate Burkholder series

"Well-drawn characters and an interesting premise—Luke Murphy is a mystery writer to watch."—DV Berkom, USA Today bestselling author of the Leine Basso series

"Red Zone is another winner for Murphy! Thrilling...riveting...a stay-up-all-night-read."--Kim Cresswell, bestselling author of Deadly Shadow

“Luke Murphy creates a gritty and compelling murder mystery with ‘Red Zone’. Calvin Watters and Charlene Taylor are the complex and real characters we search for in our stories, and their lives add the perfect amount of seasoning to the soup. Watching them move through the mystery is just as entertaining as trying to figure out who did the heinous deed…which you won’t, but it’s fun to try. Great story and I hope to see more from this talented author.”—S.L. Shelton, bestselling author of the Scott Wolfe series

"In The Red Zone, Luke Murphy gives us a thoroughly enjoyable read. As authoritative about forensics, college football, cheerleaders and murder in LA as he is in creating richly developed characters, snappy dialogue, and a plot to keep the reader guessing, he takes this story into the end zone for a touchdown."--Peter Clement, bestselling author of the Earl Garnet Series

An aunt’s worst nightmare…

In the city of Denver, a series of baby kidnappings has the town devastated.  With no ransom demands and no contact from the perpetrators, local law enforcement is at a dead end. No motive equals no answers.

A cop’s personal obsession…

Charlene Taylor’s niece becomes a victim, and the LAPD detective is thrown headfirst into a whirlwind case with similarities to one from seven years earlier. Out of her jurisdiction, and with no friends or leads, Charlene must walk-the-line between cop and sister.

Who can she trust?

Charlene has to decide who’s an ally, and when an unlikely partner steps forward, they must race against the clock: because that critical 48 hour window has come and gone.

Reviews For Rock-A-Bye Baby

“Rock a Bye Baby has everything—a haunted protagonist, heartfelt emotion, and a twisty, thrilling plot.  A scorcher of a follow-up in a promising series.”—David Ellis, NYT bestselling author of The Last Alibi

"Murphy has cleverly crafted a riveting crime thriller, with a hefty dose of white-knuckle suspense. Entertaining and enticing to the very last page."—Cheryl Kaye Tardif, bestselling author of Submerged 

“Rock a Bye Baby is an exquisitely told thriller, full of surprises and terrifying moments. Murphy is a gifted storyteller who keeps the tension crackling throughout the heart-stopping journey. The protagonist Charlene Taylor drives the story to a very satisfying and unexpected ending.”—Kristina Stanley, bestselling author of the Stone Mountain series.

With the death of her father…

Officer Charlene Taylor has received her dream promotion—working Homicide with the LAPD. Her first case is the high-profile murder of Ken Anderson, a playboy UCLA professor with a haunted past. A mafia kingpin, billionaire tycoon, cheated wife and jaded lover are only a few on a long list of suspects, all with motive and opportunity. 

…all hope of reconciliation is lost. 

Not only does she feel the pressure from media and her boss to solve her first case, but Charlene must also deal with her father’s murderer, the “Celebrity Slayer,” a serial killer who enjoys baiting her with his knowledge of her life and routines. 

Can a rookie detective work two high-profile cases and still keep her sanity?

Reviews for Kiss & Tell

“Luke Murphy scores big with this deep psychological thriller.” —Tim Green, New York Times bestselling author of Unstoppable 

“An intricately detailed and clever mystery featuring a tough minded but vulnerable protagonist with more than a few demons of her own.”—Christy Reece, New York Times bestselling author of Nothing To Lose

“A character driven page-turner with an interesting plot.”—Dianna T. Benson, bestselling author of The Hidden Son

“A first-rate police procedural. Hang on. You’ll have fun.”—James Thayer, author of The House of Eight Orchids

This time, it’s not a job.

After proving his innocence as a murder suspect, taking down an assassin, and being an instrumental part in solving a high profile murder, Calvin Watters believes he can finally move on—until Ace Sanders’ prison escape catapults him into action.

This time, it’s personal!

Something has always bothered Detective Dale Dayton about the arrest of Ace Sanders. Call it police intuition, but his inner ‘cop alarm’ keeps twitching. When Dale reopens the case, he’s introduced to new evidence that leads him into a political nightmare.

Who will play the Wild Card to survive?

While Calvin tracks Sanders across continents and into unknown, unfriendly surroundings, Dale remains in Vegas to uncover the truth behind police corruption, prison escapes, and hired assassins. But Calvin and Dale must be vigilant, because there’s a deadly, new player in town.   

Reviews for Wild Card

"Luke Murphy has the touch.”—Steve Berry, New York Times bestselling author of The Lost Order

“Hold on for a wild ride that doesn’t end until the last page.”—Jordan Dane, bestselling author of the Sweet Justice series

“Murder, sex, hackers…an elaborate criminal chess game: Luke Murphy delivers.”—Bryan Gruley, author of the Starvation Lake trilogy

“A wild ride! Exciting characters. An adventurous read. Loved it!”—Jonas Saul, author of the Sarah Roberts Series

“A highly addictive read.”—Nadine Doolittle, author of Iced Under

“From the glitter and grunge of the Vegas strip to the steamy depths of the Amazon rainforest, Wild Card takes the reader on an unforgettable trip.”—Jeff Buick, author of Bloodline

What happens when the deck is stacked against you…

From NFL rising-star prospect to wanted fugitive, Calvin Watters is an African-American Las Vegas debt-collector framed by a murderer who, like the Vegas Police, finds him to be the perfect fall-guy.

…and the cards don't fall your way? 

When the brutal slaying of a prominent casino owner is followed by the murder of a well-known bookie, Detective Dale Dayton is thrown into the middle of a highly political case and leads the largest homicide investigation in Vegas in the last twelve years.

What if you're dealt a Dead Man's Hand?

Against his superiors and better judgement, Dayton is willing to give Calvin one last chance. To redeem himself, Calvin must prove his innocence by finding the real killer, while avoiding the LVMPD, as well as protect the woman he loves from a professional assassin hired to silence them. 

Reviews for Dead Man's Hand 

"You may want to give it the whole night, just to see how it turns out."—William Martin, New York Times bestselling author The Lincoln Letter 

"Dead Man's Hand is a pleasure, a debut novel that doesn't read like one, but still presents original characters and a fresh new voice."—Thomas Perry, New York Times bestselling author of Poison Flower 

"Part police procedural, part crime fiction, Dead Man's Hand is a fast, gritty ride."—Anne Frasier, USA Today bestselling author of Hush 

"Murphy writes in a clean, mean style, as compelling as a switchblade to your throat…the real deal."—Rick Mofina, award-winning author of They Disappeared

"A pedal-to-the-metal thriller…Vivid characters and wire-taut plotting…a five star read."—James Thayer, author of White Star

"For a tight taut thriller, bet on a Dead Man's Hand."—Anthony Bidulka, award-winning author of the Russell Quant Mysteries 

"Calvin Watters is an anti-hero you will cheer in this solid debut."—Julie Kramer, award-winning author of Shunning Sarah 

"Luke Murphy is a great mood-builder on the order of Dean Koontz!"—Betty Dravis, award-winning author of Six-Pack of Blood