A Jack Murphy Thriller Series

When a killer plays mind games with a cop, there are no rules…“As authentic and scary as thrillers get.”—Nelson DeMille   The first victim is attacked in her home. Tied to her bed. Forced to watch every unspeakable act of cruelty—but unable to scream. The second murder is even more twisted. Signed, sealed, and delivered with a message for the police, stuffed in the victim’s throat. A fractured nursery rhyme that ends with a warning: “There will be more.” For detective Jack Murphy, it’s more than a threat. It’s a personal invitation to play. And no one plays rougher than Jack. Especially when the killer’s pawns are the people he loves…   “A jaw-dropping thriller.”--Gregg Olsen, New York Times-bestselling author of Lying Next to Me   “A tornado of drama.”—Shane Gericke, author of The Fury   “Put this on your must-read list.”—John Lutz, New York Times-bestselling author of Darker Than Night

One deranged killer. One determined cop. One deadly obsession…“Readers will definitely want to see more of Reed’s character Jack Murphy.”—John Lutz, New York Times-bestselling author of Darker Than Night From the moment he sees the young woman’s body in her hotel bathtub, homicide detective Jack Murphy knows he’s looking at a truly demented but brilliantly designed puzzle. She’s been drained of blood. She’s missing her left hand. And the killer left a special message just for him. Hours later, he sees her severed hand arranged on a second victim’s body. The newspaper has the gruesome details. The FBI has a theory. But only Murphy knows how hard he’ll have to push—and how much he’ll have to risk—to thwart the killer’s twisted game.   “Reed writes as only a cop can.”—Nelson DeMille

"Reed Writes As Only A Cop Can…. Impressive And Dramatic." --Nelson DeMille Killing Has Become A Team Sport. To Win The Game, Detective Jack Murphy Will Have To Identify All The Players--Whatever The Cost. The body parts of a young woman have shown up in the town landfill and homicide detective Jack Murphy is on the case. But when the victim's identity is revealed, the horrific crime takes an even darker and far more personal turn. Nina Parsons was not only a deputy prosecutor, but the rumored lover of the man Jack's ex-wife is about to marry: the Chief Deputy Prosecutor. Now Jack must battle not just his own fears and demons, but the political interference that ensues as he fights with all he has to expose the greed and power that can drive even good men to commit evil acts. Praise for Rick Reed and his novels "Det. Jack Murphy tracks killers through a political maze of lies, deception and dishonor that leads to a violent, pulse-pounding climax." –Robert S. Levinson "Everything you want in a thriller: strong characters, plenty of gory story, witty dialogue, and a narrative that demands you keep turning those pages." --Book Reporter "Like The Cruelest Cut, The Coldest Fear is Reed at his thriller best! Reed thrusts the boundaries of his story forward to bring us along on a ride we won't soon forget!" -- Suspense Magazine "As authentic and scary as crime thrillers get."--Nelson DeMille "Put this on your must-read list."--John Lutz "A jaw-dropping thriller."--Gregg Olsen "A tornado of drama."--Shane Gericke Previously published as Final Justice

IT TAKES A COP LIKE JACK MURPHY TO FIND JUSTICE . . .   Jack Murphy knows a setup when he sees one. Proving it makes his day. Especially when it involves his own partner. Lured into a trap, Evansville P.D. Detective Liddell Blanchard is accused of murdering a cop who was investigating a shadowy voodoo cult. Justice is murky  enough in the swamplands of Louisiana, but when a purported descendent of Marie Leveaux menaces a murder investigation, the gumbo really hits the fan. Corruption comes with the territory. But there are darker forces at play—and only Murphy can see the light . . .   Praise for Rick Reed and his novels   “A jaw-dropping thriller.”—Gregg Olsen “As authentic and scary as crime thrillers get.”—Nelson DeMille   “Rick Reed knows the dark side as only a real-life cop can, and his writing crackles with authenticity.”—Shane Gericke “Put this on your must-read list.”—John Lutz “Det. Jack Murphy tracks killers through a political maze of lies, deception and dishonor that leads to a violent, pulse-pounding climax.”—Robert S. Levinson “Reed thrusts the boundaries of his story forward to bring us along on a ride we won’t soon forget!”—Suspense Magazine “Reed gives the reader a genre story worth every minute and every penny spent.”—Book Reporter

“Reed writes as only a cop can.” —Nelson DeMille DETECTIVE JACK MURPHY IS BACK—on the trail of a criminal mastermind who kills for profit and tortures for pleasure.   In Jack Murphy’s experience, the killers who blend in are the hardest to catch. But none are as elusive—or efficient—as Mr. Smith. A man of average height, weight and build, Mr. Smith is as ordinary as his name. Which makes it easy for him to get close to his targets. To kill without conscience. To use every weapon at his disposal to raise the stakes in a global game of terror and death. Mr. Smith is no ordinary killer. But Jack Murphy is no ordinary cop . . .   Praise for Rick Reed and his novels   “As authentic and scary as crime thrillers get.”—Nelson DeMille   “Det. Jack Murphy tracks killers through a political maze of lies, deception and dishonor that leads to a violent, pulse-pounding climax.”—Robert S. Levinson   “Everything you want in a thriller: strong characters, plenty of gory story, witty dialogue, and a narrative that demands you keep turning those pages.”—Book Reporter   “Reed thrusts the boundaries of his story forward to bring us along on a ride we won’t soon forget!”—Suspense Magazine   “Put this on your must-read list.”—John Lutz   “A jaw-dropping thriller.”—Gregg Olsen

JACK MURPHY DELIVERS JUSTICE   Detective Jack Murphy can read a crime scene like a book. When the naked, brutalized corpse of a narcotics cop is found, it’s not the body that tells him a sick killer is on the loose, but the monkey figurine—of the “see no evil” kind—shoved down his throat. It’s a message, not a clue. Then a high-profile judge is set on fire. Another figurine left behind. Murphy has a guess what’s next. But it’s not what he expects. The torture-killer taking out Evansville’s defenders of law and order isn’t the only one with secrets. The victims might have a few, too . . .   Praise for Rick Reed and his novels   “A jaw-dropping thriller.”—Gregg Olsen   “Leaves you wondering whether you really did lock the doors before you went to bed.”—Mystery Scene    “Put this on your must-read list.”—John Lutz   “The things Reed has seen as a police officer make for a great book.” —Suspense Magazine   “Rick Reed knows the dark side as only a real-life cop can, and his writing crackles with authenticity.” —Shane Gericke

JACK MURPHY WON’T BACK DOWN   The headlines scream the ghastly news of an abandoned truck filled with murdered immigrants. Detective Jack Murphy and his partner Liddell Blanchard are on the case. They’ve got a lone survivor, rumors of a witness, and the feds getting in their way. Jack’s gut tells him there’s a connection with a local killing—and the bloodshed is far from over. He’s going up against a butcher who commits the unspeakable in the name of protecting America. Some say the worst crime is to look the other way. Jack Murphy only looks for justice . . .   Praise for Rick Reed and his novels   “Rick Reed knows the dark side as only a real-life cop can, and his writing crackles with authenticity.” —Shane Gericke “Reed thrusts his story forward to bring us along on a ride we won’t soon forget!”—Suspense Magazine   “Reed gives the reader a story worth every minute and every penny spent.”—Book Reporter    “A jaw-dropping thriller.”—Gregg Olsen

In rural Indiana, the underground mines that once held coal and iron ore have become killing grounds. In two counties, five corpses have been discovered. Their deaths appear accidental, from drowning or suffocating in flooded and abandoned mines. But local authorities, including Chief Shaunda Lynch, have uncovered evidence suggesting they’ve all been murdered.   Assigned to the case as Federal Agents, Detectives Jack Murphy and Liddell Blanchard take charge of the investigation. Shaunda’s proven herself more than capable of policing her jurisdiction and resents the intrusion of male authority figures. As Jack digs deep into the case, he discovers the victims have checkered pasts. But no matter who believes the killings are justified, someone still has to pay for the crime . . .   Praise for Rick Reed and his novels   "Rick Reed’s books have an edge that only a man in law enforcement, working in the field, can bring to life." - Tierney James, author of the Enigma series   “Reed thrusts his story forward to bring us along on a ride we won’t soon forget!” —Suspense Magazine   “Reed gives the reader a genre story worth every minute and every penny spent.” —Book Reporter   “A jaw-dropping thriller.”—Gregg Olsen     Visit us at www.kensingtonbooks.com  

Cop vs. Killer   Detective Jack Murphy never met a cold case he couldn’t crack. This one’s been on ice for 37 years. The prime suspect in a decades-old unsolved murder is about to be named Evansville’s next Chief of Police. The Mayor wants the top cop’s name cleared—and that’s why Murphy and his partner, Liddell Blanchard, are ordered to re-open the investigation. But when the victim’s sister and mother are targeted for violence, troubling new questions arise. Is this the work of the same killer, or is someone else playing a deadly game? The answers lie buried in the past. But no one digs through the dirt like Jack Murphy . . .   Praise for Rick Reed and his novels   “Reed gives the reader a story worth every minute and every penny spent.” —Book Reporter   “Rick Reed knows the dark side as only a real-life cop can, and his writing crackles with authenticity.” —Shane Gericke   “A jaw-dropping thriller.”—Gregg Olsen   “Reed thrusts his story forward to bring us along on a ride we won’t soon forget!” —Suspense Magazine