Quantum Consequence ... Physics, Lust and Greed Series

by Mike Murphey

After foiling the political ambitions of a would-be American dictator, time-traveling lovers Marta Hamilton and Marshall Grissom return to their life in the Caribbean only to confront the murder of a friend and inherit responsibility for a gutsy 10-year old boy. Throughout their unlikely and tumultuous relationship, Marta has harbored suspicions that her time-traveling companion is not being honest with her. Is Marshall really the bumbling, good-hearted klutz she has come to love and trust? Or is he the cunning, cold-blooded assassin Gillis Kerg suspects him to be? In this fifth tale of physics, lust and greed, a bizarre parallel universe and a monstrous product of artificial intelligence will impose a costly consequence requiring both Marta and Marshall to face the truth of her most haunting “Who are you, Marshall Grissom?”

Genres: Science Fiction

371 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 6, 2024

About the author

Mike Murphey is a native of eastern New Mexico and spent almost thirty years as an award-winning newspaper journalist in the Southwest and Pacific Northwest.
Following his retirement from the newspaper business, he and his wife Nancy entered in a seventeen-year partnership with the late Dave Henderson, all-star centerfielder for the Oakland Athletics, Boston Red Sox and Seattle Mariners. Their company produced the A’s and Mariners adult baseball Fantasy Camps. They also have a partnership with the Roy Hobbs adult baseball organization in Fort Myers, Florida.
At the age of 60, Mike stopped procrastinating and revived his life-long ambition to write a novel. His debut novel, a coming-of-age story called Section Roads—a coming of Age story set in the small town where he grew up—has been recognized by Indie Reader Discovery Awards, Reader Views Reviewers Choice Awards, The IAN Book of the Year Awards, the Somerset Contemporary Fiction Awards, and the Independent Publishers Book Awards. His novel, The Conman … A Baseball Odyssey, has been recognized by the International Book Awards, the eLit Awards and the Manhattan Book Awards. He has also published his humorous science fiction Physics, Lust and Greed series, which includes Taking Time … a Tale of Physics, Lust and Greed, Wasting Time and Killing Time. “We Never Knew Just What It Was… The Story of the Chad Mitchell Trio” is his first work of non-fiction. Mike loves fiction, cats, baseball and sailing. He splits his time between Spokane, Washington, and Phoenix, Arizona where he enjoys life as a writer and old-man baseball player.

Reviews

[Ukaegbu Confidence · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Quantum Consequence: a Tale of Physics, Lust, and Greed Book 5" by Mike Murphey is a thought-engaging, fast-paced read filled with intellectual explorations and vibrant scenarios. The book masterfully blends science fiction and political intrigue and has a sharp humor blend with a focus on character-driven drama.

In a quest to avenge their friend's death, Martha, Marshall, and their team begin investigating. There is a suspect in mind, and emotions are on the high, but there are a few missing pieces. On the other hand, there is 10-year-old Baptiste getting abused at the hands of his mum's boyfriend, who sought to kill him over an estate inheritance left for him by his late temporary guardian. The book also talks about time travel, where Kendra was thrust into a unique situation when she had to operate a time travel machine to help John Dexter discover what happened to Humphollar, and the rest of the story can only be known once you read the book.


I admit that the storyline had content, and the author carefully drafted the book, which led to my awesome experience while reading the book. I loved Kendra's wisdom in the book, especially when she was asked to train other people on how to control the time machine. Indeed, we should always ensure that we are irreplaceable wherever we find ourselves. The book has various entertaining contents and even mentions of assassination attempts. What happened to Humphollar? Why did they suddenly need Kendra to operate the time projector? What would have happened to the other person who handled the machine since she had suddenly been needed? Finding out the details of all this, along with the rest of the story, made the book worthwhile. Overall, I had an awesome time reading this book; the explanations when I read about the physics part were fairly easy to understand and would be easy to read for people with basic physics knowledge. This book reads well for the fifth book in a series, like a standalone, and its content will be fully understood without having read the other books in the series. However, I will read them because of how good this book was.

I will give this book a rating of five out of five stars for its excellent character building and extraordinary blend between the unique topics discussed in the book. I did not find an aspect of it to criticize. I commend the author's professionalism, flawlessness in editing the book, and dedication to producing a book worth reading. This book is a must-read for all who are science-inclined, lovers of fantasy, and those who enjoy time travel narratives, as it will feed your
desires.

[Yvonne Oloo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quantum Consequence: A Tale of Physics, Lust and Greed Series by Mike Murphey throws readers into a world of physics, multi-universe, and supercomputers. Marta, Baptiste, and Marshall go snorkeling, leaving Cecil, Baptiste's grandfather and current legal custodian, on his boat. They return late and not wanting to wake Cecil, retire to bed. The next day, they realize that Cecil is dead, and Marta strongly believes that this is not a natural death, though the forensics team believes otherwise due to lack of evidence. Marta needs to find out who killed Cecil, and Marshal joins her. This quest leads them to a place where the diversion of the future and past are set in motion, uncovering an intricate web of lust, greed, and power struggle that threatens to upset destinies.

Murphey's plot is a strong point in Quantum Consequence. You will appreciate how the subplots featuring sub-characters, scenes, and quirky but humorous conversations advance the main plot. Though multiple perspectives - specifically on topics like physics, Artificial Intelligence, evolution, and supercomputers - are present in the subplots, these bring a sense of cohesion to the narrative. These perspectives take the reader through the key concept of time travel and explore the nuances introduced by time travelers.

The pacing starts fast in the first chapters, then slows to a steady pace in the subsequent chapters but picks up again in the final chapters. This pacing style keeps the reader engaged throughout the book, in addition to the humor and quirky conversations in the subplots. There are emotional moments in the narrative, especially regarding the character Baptiste's predicament, which heighten the stakes in the plot.
The book contains some sexual content that is unsuitable for readers below 19. Overall, Quantum Consequence is entertaining while enlightening the reader about time travel.

I highly recommend this book to lovers of science fiction and time travel narratives.

[Dianna Paap · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this!

I haven’t had this much fun reading a book in a long time! It’s fun quirky and keeps you on your toes. It made me laugh out loud!

[Jason Crawford · Rating 4 out of 5]

Today, I am reviewing the science-fiction novel Quantum Consequence, Book 5 of the Physics, Lust, and Greed series by Mike Murphey. An unconventional novel, Quantum Consequence sees us move through several different perspectives, timelines, and alternate realities as our protagonists attempt to pin down the forces behind a friend's death...and discover much more than they anticipated.

Note: This is book 5 of a series, and I have NOT read the first four. When Mr. Murphey sent this book for my review, I expressed concerns about that, and he told me that others found it understandable as a stand-alone. Reading it, I found this to be correct, as I wasn't really lost or finding myself in need of information that Murphey didn't provide. However, you should be aware of this fact.

I give this book a 4/5. Here is my breakdown.

Characters: 4.5/5. Murphey is obviously comfortable with these characters, and even though I haven't read the books previous, I became so as well. Each has a distinct personality, humorous moments, and clear motivations. I enjoyed the interactions between the various factions, as well as the dynamic of "past-future" self that Murphey implements through his time-travel mechanics. There were a lot of them, though, probably because of the accumulated momentum of four prior novels, and a few got lost in the shuffle toward the middle-end. Still, a strong point of the book for sure.

Plot/Storyline: 4.5/5.The storyline for Quantum Consequence works because Murphey has well-established rules and characters, and that holds the verisimilitude together very effectively. The plot is engaging and fun to interact with, keeping the reader guessing with good twists that Murphey sets up well ahead of time. I had a lot of fun reading this book overall. My one issue is the humor; the humor isn't bad by any means, but it gets a little thick in certain places and became just a bit much for me. I also didn't like Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, so take that for what it's worth.

Flow: 3.5/5. Above-average, but the above-mentioned humor and some of the convoluted time-travel mechanics made me need to back up and reread a few times, causing a little turbulence in my literary ride. The punches and punchlines came a little too fast and heavy about a hundred pages in, but it smoothed out later.

Spelling/Grammar: 3.5/5. There are a few more typos and misspellings than I'm used to in work of this quality. Some missing punctuation, s's left off words, that kind of thing. Not problematic, but noticed.

Overall: 4/5. Quantum Consequences is a fun, energetic, character-driven science-fiction story that hits almost all the right notes. I do think it would have been even better if I'd been more familiar with the world, but it certainly works as a stand-alone read. I would recommend Murphey's writing to anyone who's a fan of this kind of story and enjoys a little bit of irreverent, tongue-in-cheek humor...especially if you're good with social commentary and references to a certain character's...equipment.

If you liked my review, check out my other reviews over at my main site: www.curtainofreality.blogspot.com.

Thanks as always, and keep reading!

[Mike Murphey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reviewed by Sheri Hoyte for Reader Views--
I never expected to laugh as much as I did with a science fiction novel, but “Quantum
Consequence,” the fifth title in Mike Murphey’s Physics, Lust and Greed series, had me in
stitches. The unique blend of time travel, physics, and satire creates an experience that is
refreshingly distinct in the genre, proving science fiction can be as humorous as it is
intellectually stimulating...
My first thought after finishing the book was WOW—how is this the first book I’ve read in this
series? Ok, honestly, it’s the snark that kept me glued to the pages—not sure what that says
about me, other than I totally get the author’s humor, but it has got to be among the funniest sci
fi novels I’ve ever read. Of course, there are other sci-fi’s with humor. No doubt. But this isn’t a
sci-fi with satirical elements, it is a satirical sci-fi novel.
And there is more to love than just the humor in this adventure. There’s plenty of high-stakes
action and the science, with the enigma surrounding parallel dimensions, adds another layer of
complexity. Murphey masterfully navigates these elaborate concepts, reminding readers that our
actions, however small, can have far-reaching and unpredictable effects. When you throw in
political agendas, an awkward-at-best romance, and out-of-this-world characters, it’s a well
rounded read for a diverse audience.
The characters, as with most of my favorite books, take center stage in this story, each with their
own distinct voice and flair for clever banter. My favorite character is a secondary character that
is actually an elevator located at the Historical Research Initiative Complex where the time
travel action takes place. Yes, you heard me right—an elevator—named Otis, naturally. Otis
wants to be sure everyone who rides in him is pure of heart and they must pass a quiz before
Providing book by book publicity for Indie Authors since 2005.
entering. A little clue—the answer is always Hillary Clinton. For example, “Who was
responsible for the Covid pandemic outbreak of 2020?” and “What is the real cause of bad
weather?” There are also a couple of AIs who think Amazon is “the keeper of Heaven, referred
to in scripture as the Fulfillment Center.”
Seriously, the human characters almost take backstage to the shenanigans of these other
characters, but only as far as the spotlight goes. All the players give readers a clear sense of their
strengths and weaknesses, their individuality, depth, attitudes, and the dynamics between each
other. The interactions among them reveal a wide range of emotions and motivations, from
loyalty and love to suspicion and conflict, adding layers of realism to the narrative.
For me, “Quantum Consequence” is a delightful discovery, a book combining the complexity of
science fiction with the levity of satire in such a way that it’s a rare and refreshing contribution to
both genres. As the fifth installment in Mike Murphey’s Physics, Lust and Greed universe, it
works well as a standalone, but don’t be like me—start with book one, “Taking Time” and work
your way through the series. I know I have some catching up to do! Highly recommended
reading.

[Angie Mangino · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quantum Consequence
By Mike Murphey
2025
Reviewed by Angie Mangino
Rating: 4 stars


The introduction pulls readers in, even if new starting with book five in the "Physics, Lust and Greed" series.

“Ignoring the aches and pains of his recent beating, ten-year-old Baptiste Bedeau crept aboard a sailboat berthed near the far end of a dock in Grenada’s Prickly Bay. Swelling had nearly closed his left eye- the spot were Aquillar’s angry fist had landed.”

Readers find themselves in the "I Love Lucy Universe" on a Wednesday in May 2047, where young Baptiste is at the bow of Somewhere Over China. He overhears Marshall Grissom and Marta Hamilton having an odd conversation.

“He tried not to eavesdrop. But then he heard Marshall say, ‘Really, Marta, I don’t mean to kill them. It just … happens. You know?’ Baptiste had to learn more.”

With this intriguing hook, readers, too, want to learn more.

The author continues sharing a bit about Marshall Grissom and Marta Hamilton, time travelers from previous books. Yet coming into the story at book five has its disadvantages. It takes time to enter the world built and to get to know the characters. Yet the strong appeal of Baptiste makes readers want to read on.

Readers discover that they returned to their Caribbean life only to face the suspicious death of their friend Cecil. They find themselves protecting Cecil's young charge, Baptiste, from his mother's abusive boyfriend, Ignace Aguillard.

What starts as investigating the death grows to involve parallel universes, evolving artificial intelligence, a secret time travel facility beneath the Arizona desert, and a looming dystopian future called the "Christian Fundamentalist States of America.”

This satirical science fiction uses absurdity to deliver social commentary. Even though it involves quantum physics and time travel, the character relationships keep readers grounded.

As Marta and Marshall protect Baptiste, they simultaneously work to prevent larger catastrophes across multiple realities. It’s Baptiste who adds the emotional pull of the story about timeline manipulation and parallel universes.

The Chanticleer 2023 Humor and Satire Grand Prize awarded to this novel recognizes that science fiction can be both humorous and intellectually stimulating.

While occasional technical jargon might pull readers out of the story, the human relationships and satirical observations keep them reading.

Angie Mangino currently works as a freelance journalist and book reviewer, as well as author of 17th Century Tottenville History Comes Alive, first in a series of Tottenville History books. www.AngieMangino.com

[Favour · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Quantum Consequence" is the fifth book in Mike Murphey's "Physics, Lust, and Greed" series. The book is a blend of science fiction, satire, and humor that takes readers on a journey through the complexities of time travel. Marshall Grissom and Marta Hamilton are the main characters of the story, in which they are caught up in a web of quantum physics, personal relationships, and the results of their deeds.


What struck me the most in this book is how the author developed the characters exceptionally. The character of Marshall Grissom captivated me the most. The journey of his self-discovery was relatable. Marshall starts out as a clumsy person, but over time he shows hidden depths and unexpected skills that make the reader question what they thought they knew about him. Also, the book contains engaging storylines, especially with the relationship between Martha and Marshall. Together with the science and psychological parts of the story, the author skillfully weaves the characters' emotional journey into the whole, making a rich tapestry that explores how the rational and the emotional interact. The author's use of satire and humor is another standout feature of the book. I loved it.

However, I think the pacing of this book is uneven. Some parts were fast, while some seemed to drag. While this is being stated, it does not detract from the overall quality of the book. The book is highly recommended for everyone who appreciates a decent science fiction narrative with a fair dosage of humor because of its overall excellence.

[Eseosa Ize-Iyamu · Rating 5 out of 5]

The fifth book in Mike Murphey's Physics, Lust, and Greed Series, "Quantum Consequence," skillfully talks about exploring the intersections of science, identity, humor, and unity. It is an exciting journey with surprising turns between parallel universes.

The story begins with Marshall and Marta, who discover their elderly friend Cecil dead aboard his boat. Despite Cecil’s advanced age, they believe it’s murder, and they suspect they know the culprit. Before long, the action moves to a fascist future in which time travel is a reality and parallel dimensions have names derived from beloved television shows.

Readers will come across sentient bears, shape-shifting interplanar entities, and robot conspiracy theorists as the investigation into Cecil's murderer progresses. What begins as a manhunt turns into a political prank that could affect the US government, a conflict with Amazon—yes, the company—and a massive scheme to advance humanity to the next level of evolution.

This book embraces tonal dissonance, blending serious conversations with humorous moments. The book neatly wraps up loose ends by combining several storylines that, at first glance, do not seem to go together with a rich blend of character building. I give this book a 5 out of 5 rating. Even if you have not read the first four books in the series, "Quantum Consequence" is still worth making your way through the strange situations.

[Anthony · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Review

This perfectly complex, driven narrative immediately thrusts readers into the action. The immense world-building that the author brings to life on the page gives readers a brilliant look at the scope of the universe this series inhabits, and the detail that goes into each setting gives the story an almost cinematic quality. The heavy use of sci-fi elements like time travel and parallel worlds adds depth and fantastic imagery to the narrative.

The balance of humor and heart defined the book itself. For a rich sci-fi narrative, the author did an incredible job of constantly infusing humor into the dialogue and situations the protagonists found themselves in, adding fresh air and levity to the dangers they found themselves in. Yet amongst the humor, the characters also exhibited heart, showcasing a depth of emotions and feelings between themselves and for themselves, as both Marshall and Marta grew and evolved to new levels in this story.

The Verdict

Memorable, heartfelt, and entertaining author Mike Murphey’s “Quantum Consequence” is a fantastic humorous sci-fi narrative that readers will happily get lost in. The twists and turns in the story and the shocking and emotional final chapters will keep readers on the edge of their seats, eager for more from this incredible author.

[Kristina Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

From the cover, I expected a serious sci-fi tale. While it has quite a bit of tech /science info, its seriousness is on the lower side. Neither the cover nor the description on Goodreads let me know or that this was the 5th book in the series. That said, the author did a great job at harkening back to previous events where I felt like I understood most of what was going on. The POV shifts quite a bit between different characters, some which only have a chapter or two in the entire work. So prepare for some jumping of your own mind. I was intrigued by the way time travel worked, more like Quantum Leap than Doctor Who. The plot often wanders into humorous tangents, not unlike Douglas Adams or Terry Pratchett. And like the latter, the characters and entities referenced within weave themselves into a satirical caricature of modern USA living from capitalism to politics and a future with AI bots. I found that my favorite characters were actually the AI robots. If you go in expecting humorous sci-fi and exaggerative irony I think you’ll enjoy this book. 3.5 stars rounded up to 4.

[JONATHAN ALEMEDE · Rating 4 out of 5]

Marshall saves a boy named Baptiste and launches into time-travel adventures with young Marta. They fight off goons, attempt to right the wrong of a murdered friend, and expose actions that have wrapped both government and corporate players in a conspiracy related to time-travel technology. This novel will track Marshall's growth from a milquetoast man to a brave one, while his love story with Marta is actually realistic and emotional. It has great characters and everything, but one of the values,the bad guy, Aguillard seemed to be just sort of flat. Technical jargon can be really a bit distracting, too. Otherwise, it's an extremely engaging science fiction drama worthy of 4 stars.

[Binum Devon · Rating 5 out of 5]

*Quantum Consequence: A Tale of Physics, Lust, and Greed* by Mike Murphey is an engaging mix of time travel, humor, and adventure. The story begins with Baptiste, a ten-year-old boy suffering abuse, who is taken in by Cecil. The plot thickens when Cecil is found dead, and the narrative shifts to 2056, where a power struggle emerges after the President dies in a time travel incident. Murphey skillfully blends these storylines, creating strong character development and intriguing relationships. The book is well-edited, offering readers a unique and entertaining experience perfect for relaxation.

[Max · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I picked up this book, I never thought the story would turn out this way. Who would have thought about Mike Murphey's awesome writing in mixing elements of science fiction and satire, creating a narrative that is both intellectually stimulating and entertaining?

This is a story I think is original in terms of its unique perspective and personality to scientific fiction so I recommend it to fans of this genre who also want a spice of humor in narratives and a unique perspective and personality to scientific fiction.

[IsrealWinsEVERYTIME · Rating 5 out of 5]

Murphey comes up with really good ideas of redemption, moral time traveling, and seeking justice. The characters are really well done; Marta's fierce loyalty and Marshall's introspective nature drive much of the narrative. Their interactions are not too scripted and i loved how the dialogues showed their close relationships and personal growth. It was up to my expectations by its special mixture of humor and science—giving both enjoyment and understanding. This book is great for anyone who wants an interesting and fun story about time travel and what it means to be human.

[Gina Stamper · Rating 5 out of 5]

Admirable characters, riveting plot and entertainment from start to finish... And I do mean throughout the series.

Mike Murphey is wonderful at building on characters and issues and the world he has built. We get new issues and new characters along the way, but he manages to stay true to where it all began.

The stakes are HIGH and the author does a great job of taking us along for every part of the ride.

[Eni Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

I give the book a rating of 5 out of 5 stars. The author's ability to merge complex concepts with compelling characters and ethical dilemmas makes this book stand out. It is consistent and thought-provoking. I loved the experience.
I recommend this book to those interested in science fiction thrills with a touch of human attributes in interaction.

[C. Gonzales · Rating 5 out of 5]

This series has everything! Action, character, heart, and mystery woven masterfully together in Murphey's fascinating universe where science and magic stand on equal footing.

I love it! This one is no exception and continues the journey!

[Mike · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just reviewed "Quantum Consequence ... Physics, Lust and Greed Series" by Mike Murphey and gave it 5 stars! Check it out: https://www.ebookfairs.com/Book/Title...

[R.K. Emery · Rating 5 out of 5]

Over and over again Murphey grippingly conjures a time-travel scenario that’s unusually believable.

As the main characters carry out their exciting mission, readers will find it intensely satisfying.
This is an amazing series!

[Jeff Parsons · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a first for me – a humorous time travel book. Great narrative, vivid world building, engaging characters, and lively dialogue are there aplenty as well. A good read!

[Cheryl Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wholesome and professionally written work. I would like to know when the author is releasing their next book.