Author Name: Luke Murphy

Book Title: Wild Card

Book Genre: Mystery, Thriller, Suspense, Crime-Fiction, Police Procedural

Release Date: October 14, 2017

Synopsis: Calvin Watters believes he can finally move on—until Ace Sanders’ prison escape. When Detective Dale Dayton reopens the Sanders’ case, he’s introduced to new evidence that leads him into a political nightmare.

While Calvin tracks Sanders across continents, 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.

Excerpt: Detective Dale Dayton sat at his desk in the Robbery/Homicide division office of the new LVMPD Headquarters on four hundred South Martin L. King Boulevard.

He tapped his pen unproductively on the desk, where a ubiquitous stack of papers awaited. His jacket was off, sleeves rolled up, as Dale stared at the cold case files wondering how his life had come unglued.

He looked around the empty office, the only glow coming from his desktop lamp. He was alone. His long-time partner, Detective Jimmy Mason, had long ago surrendered to the friendly surroundings of his home, wife and children.

The newly built, four-hundred thousand square-foot headquarters, which opened in 2011, seemed almost haunting in its emptiness. The building consolidated twenty-seven bureaus, including his Robbery/Homicide division, previously located in various buildings around Las Vegas. It also housed the Southern Nevada Counter Terrorism Center, Police Records, and a Fingerprint Bureau annex.

But tonight, silence reigned, almost a peaceful isolation from the everyday hustle and bustle of a police station in full-running mode.

His phone rang. He unclipped it from his waist and answered, “Detective Dayton.”

“Detective, this is Colonel John Hughes of the United States Marine Corps.”

Dale’s skin prickled and his heart caught in his throat. A chill ran through his body from hearing a voice he’d never forget.

It had been over a year since the city’s debacle that had brought Hughes to Vegas, stirring the colonel from the cozy confines of his military base. Dale had hoped he’d never hear from the man again. What a fiasco that had been. But a call from the colonel could only mean one thing, Dale’s priority case-list just shifted.

Baxter, said a shaky voice inside Dale.

A man as cold-blooded as killers came. It was a national pastime for him. Baxter had been an instrumental part in one of the most vicious crime-sprees in the city’s history.

“We need to talk,” Hughes said.

About the author: Luke Murphy is the bestselling author of Dead Man’s Hand (2012), Kiss & Tell (2015), and Wild Card (2017).

Murphy played six years of professional hockey before retiring in 2006. His sports column, “Overtime” (Pontiac Equity), was nominated for the 2007 Best Sports Page in Quebec, and won the award in 2009. He has also worked as a radio journalist (CHIPFM 101.7).

Murphy lives in Shawville, Quebec,  with his wife, three daughters and pug. He is a teacher who holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Marketing, and a Bachelor of Education (Magna Cum Laude).

For more information on Luke and his books, visit: www.authorlukemurphy.com.

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