What do you think?
Cal Murphy #5
Dead Man's Curve
Fans of Nelson DeMille, John Sanford, Stieg Larsson and Lee Child will enjoy this new book from best-selling author Jack Patterson.
Sometimes the rumors are true ….
In the hills of Kentucky, the people of Millersville lead a charmed life thanks to the city’s biggest employer Lee Creek Distilleries and its sly CEO Wilfred Lee. But when things go sideways one night, the town’s favorite son, Kentucky basketball recruit Josh Hood, becomes a prime murder suspect.
When Atlanta reporter Cal Murphy and his wife Kelly make a stop in Millersville as a favor to a family friend to find out what’s really going on, the powers that be frown on the attention. It doesn’t take long before Cal and Kelly rile up the town and its corrupt law enforcement — and they find themselves fighting for their lives and livelihood in the pursuit of not only the truth but also justice.
Sometimes the rumors are true ….
In the hills of Kentucky, the people of Millersville lead a charmed life thanks to the city’s biggest employer Lee Creek Distilleries and its sly CEO Wilfred Lee. But when things go sideways one night, the town’s favorite son, Kentucky basketball recruit Josh Hood, becomes a prime murder suspect.
When Atlanta reporter Cal Murphy and his wife Kelly make a stop in Millersville as a favor to a family friend to find out what’s really going on, the powers that be frown on the attention. It doesn’t take long before Cal and Kelly rile up the town and its corrupt law enforcement — and they find themselves fighting for their lives and livelihood in the pursuit of not only the truth but also justice.
248 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 20, 2014
About the author
Jack Patterson
41 books43 followersThis is the Profile that Author R.J. Patterson originally released under.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 65 reviews
May 28, 2022
A good read, but the editing is poor. A lot of run-on words.
October 22, 2022
Got straight into the story which yet again was easy to listen to and a great plot. Got swept away with it.
I dont do plot summaries as the publishers do it better than me and I want to be careful of spoilers as there were so many twists and turns.
All in all a great listen
I dont do plot summaries as the publishers do it better than me and I want to be careful of spoilers as there were so many twists and turns.
All in all a great listen
May 4, 2016
Deadman
This is the first book I've read in the Cal Murphy series, but I had no difficulty with getting right into the story. Cal, a sportswriter, and his wife Kelly, a photographer, are headed to Chicago for a job interview, but stop along the way in Millersville, KY as a favor to a friend to look into a suspicious death. They soon find they are in over their head in a town full of deadly secrets and men who will stop at nothing to protect them. And even calling for backup in the form of a friend with the FBI may not be enough to keep them safe from these southern "gentleman".
This is the first book I've read in the Cal Murphy series, but I had no difficulty with getting right into the story. Cal, a sportswriter, and his wife Kelly, a photographer, are headed to Chicago for a job interview, but stop along the way in Millersville, KY as a favor to a friend to look into a suspicious death. They soon find they are in over their head in a town full of deadly secrets and men who will stop at nothing to protect them. And even calling for backup in the form of a friend with the FBI may not be enough to keep them safe from these southern "gentleman".
May 4, 2016
A journalist and his wife the photographer as some pseudo rambo in a little town of 4500 with a world class basketball player whos uncle /father is a monster who is the king of the town and pays everybody to rape and kill and lie and ...... even tries to push the FBI out of his way ? A bit, maybe a great bit to much for a good story to be believable. What ever ..........there is always another time to try.
May 18, 2016
Basketball, Murder and exploitation
Small town and extreme wealth can make a man feel all powerful. When you take everything from someone, however, it tends to make them dig in and fight. Will people in the town cower in fear or join the fight and at what cost.
A young teen dies and the coroner trying to work the case has a fishing accident. Can the coroner's friend get his photographer cousin and her sports reporter husband to solve the case?
Small town and extreme wealth can make a man feel all powerful. When you take everything from someone, however, it tends to make them dig in and fight. Will people in the town cower in fear or join the fight and at what cost.
A young teen dies and the coroner trying to work the case has a fishing accident. Can the coroner's friend get his photographer cousin and her sports reporter husband to solve the case?
May 11, 2016
Mesmerising story
Anything other than five stars wouldn't be doing this author justice.
This book has everything all rolled into a story that Will have you on the edge of your seat from the first page right through to the last.
This book is Destin for the million seller list for sure, I can wait to read the Cal Murphy thriller book 6.
Anything other than five stars wouldn't be doing this author justice.
This book has everything all rolled into a story that Will have you on the edge of your seat from the first page right through to the last.
This book is Destin for the million seller list for sure, I can wait to read the Cal Murphy thriller book 6.
July 1, 2016
Small towns in Idaho experienced two recent deaths. Cal Murphy's wife asked him to investigate since they were on vacation. Cal is a reporter & begins uncovering corruption and coverups. He & his wife are threatened & Cal is fired from his newspaper. Couldn't put this down. Great characters and fast read. I rate this a 4.9
July 11, 2016
I liked this story. When Cal and his wife go to a small town to check on a friend's strange death and to also interview a basketball star said to be related to another death, things start going very wrong very fast. Soon, they need to call in a friend from the FBI to back them up. But will it be enough, or are they going to pay dearly for prying into small town secrets?
April 28, 2016
Dead man's curve
Jack Patterson's characters are well developed. This book was hard to put down especially toward the end. I think it was well written and I intend to read more of his work.
Jack Patterson's characters are well developed. This book was hard to put down especially toward the end. I think it was well written and I intend to read more of his work.
May 4, 2016
I enjoyed this one; the main characters were likeable (even if they were reporters) and there was a lot of fast-paced action. I think the capture/escape/capture/escape, etc. got to be a little annoying, but in spite of that, I rated this one 4.7 stars.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 7, 2016
Gut wrenching
Story kept me on my toes. Couldn't put it down. Quick easy read. Enjoyed this writer's story.
First time reading this author. Glad I tried Indochina. Looks.
Story kept me on my toes. Couldn't put it down. Quick easy read. Enjoyed this writer's story.
First time reading this author. Glad I tried Indochina. Looks.
May 15, 2016
I love this author's ability to weave a story that keeps me engrossed throughout. This story was no exception! He had me from the first page and I had a hard time setting the book aside, even to go to sleep. There were some twists that I just didn't see coming and others I suspected.
July 4, 2016
Cal Murphy book 5
Another fast paced storyline this time in a small town.
What starts out as a simple stop in a small town as a favor to Kelly turns into lies and suspicious activities that Cal and Kelly find themselves deep in the middle.
Another fast paced storyline this time in a small town.
What starts out as a simple stop in a small town as a favor to Kelly turns into lies and suspicious activities that Cal and Kelly find themselves deep in the middle.
July 11, 2016
This book kept me on the edge of my seat with suspense for a while. Smooth reading, with minimal subplots. Sometimes the reader likes not having the characters & events change with each chapter. Loved the ending.
July 20, 2016
Enjoyable.
Do like all the books Jack Patterson writes, Cal Murphy character always persisting and gets what she wants. Her photographer Kelly and Cal in small town investigating murders. But this town has many secrets and they don't want them exposed.
Do like all the books Jack Patterson writes, Cal Murphy character always persisting and gets what she wants. Her photographer Kelly and Cal in small town investigating murders. But this town has many secrets and they don't want them exposed.
October 29, 2015
Dynamite story!
James Patterson does it again. I just love the way he weaves the story and the characters. I will continue though the rest of Cal Murphy series.
James Patterson does it again. I just love the way he weaves the story and the characters. I will continue though the rest of Cal Murphy series.
May 3, 2016
An Intriguing Novel
Dead Man's Curve was a mostly written thriller. I don't think I have read the first four Cal Murphy thrillers but the fifth one was good.
Dead Man's Curve was a mostly written thriller. I don't think I have read the first four Cal Murphy thrillers but the fifth one was good.
May 10, 2016
Fantastic read
This book was a very well written read. It kept my attention and was very difficult to put down. The ending was terrific for all the good.
This book was a very well written read. It kept my attention and was very difficult to put down. The ending was terrific for all the good.
June 6, 2016
Great read. I was entertained the entire time. The story line was good am
I really liked this book. It hooked me in and I could not stop reading it. The climax was a good scene
I really liked this book. It hooked me in and I could not stop reading it. The climax was a good scene
October 15, 2016
Well written
Loved the book . Good story line, unexpected twist, easy to read. The book is very well written and the author demonstrate a penchant for a twist.
Loved the book . Good story line, unexpected twist, easy to read. The book is very well written and the author demonstrate a penchant for a twist.
November 24, 2016
Great book!
For a book that was free on Amazon, I was completely impressed. It was a fast paced read with a great story line.
For a book that was free on Amazon, I was completely impressed. It was a fast paced read with a great story line.
June 6, 2025
This is the fifth book in the Cal Murphy Thriller series by R.J. Patterson. Atlanta reporter Cal Murphy and his photographer wife, Kelly, were en route to Chicago when they took a detour to the small town of Millersville, Kentucky, following a family friend's request to investigate a suspicious death. The town is controlled by Wilfred Lee the CEO of Lee Creek Distilleries who harbors dark secrets. Josh Hood the local basketball star becomes the prime suspect in the death of Emily Palmer. As Cal and Kelly delve further into their investigation, they uncover a web of corruption and deceit, prompting them to enlist the help of FBI agent Tom Corliss in their search for the murderer. Their search for the truth puts them in danger as they clash with the town’s law enforcement and influential figures. This story delivers a gripping investigative storyline with elements of crime, corruption, and high-stakes danger. I really enjoyed this fascinating mystery thriller suspense novel.
April 22, 2020
Cal and Kelly stop in Millersville, a small Kentucky town, to look into the mysterious death of Kelly’s cousin. Little did they know what they were getting into, especially when they learn that Emily Palmer, a young high school girl, appears to have also been murdered. In comes Josh Hood, a high school basketball super star, whose uncle, Wilfred Lee, owns and runs the Lee Creek Distillery and also owns and runs this town. When Josh is framed for Emily’s murder the whole town turns against him, but Cal is certain Josh is innocent. What they learn is the town is full of corruption, secrets and unspeakable things which threaten their lives. This was such a great story! Several twists and turns which kept me reading into the wee hours—I literally could not put this book down. Highly recommended!
July 9, 2017
Shocking
Patterson writes a fictional story, that unfortunately has roots of the truth in it. When you get to the end, which I won't give away, remember that this sort of thing really happens all across the USA.
"“True valor is less about restraint and more about doing the right thing even when it hurts." -a quote from the book.
Patterson writes a fictional story, that unfortunately has roots of the truth in it. When you get to the end, which I won't give away, remember that this sort of thing really happens all across the USA.
"“True valor is less about restraint and more about doing the right thing even when it hurts." -a quote from the book.
November 12, 2018
Thriller until the end
Another great book in this series. Cal and Kelly get themselves into a life and death situation, when all they were going to do was a quick check into the death of a friend on the way to a job interview for Cal. I could not put this one down until I finished!!!
Another great book in this series. Cal and Kelly get themselves into a life and death situation, when all they were going to do was a quick check into the death of a friend on the way to a job interview for Cal. I could not put this one down until I finished!!!
April 14, 2023
Riverting story
Another exceptional story by this author Once you start reading get your natural words going to go but then you start to see that it revolves around and injustice And a small town that takes advantage of young people and others in the area Very enjoyable story to read if you like mystery and it's true like this is the author
Another exceptional story by this author Once you start reading get your natural words going to go but then you start to see that it revolves around and injustice And a small town that takes advantage of young people and others in the area Very enjoyable story to read if you like mystery and it's true like this is the author
September 13, 2017
I can't believe I read the whole thing!
As stories go, this one wasn't all bad. But as dialog goes, this one was painful. Real people simply do not talk like the characters in this book.
As stories go, this one wasn't all bad. But as dialog goes, this one was painful. Real people simply do not talk like the characters in this book.
October 23, 2019
Great book
Great book it will keep you posted the best way it was written and it will keep you that you can get to the bottom of this article appeared to have been in the best possible way to make it work
Great book it will keep you posted the best way it was written and it will keep you that you can get to the bottom of this article appeared to have been in the best possible way to make it work
June 15, 2020
Excellent
What a superb book this was. From the get go we are swept up and carried along at a terrific pace. This was another book that went in one sitting, a great read that dud not always go the way I expected.
What a superb book this was. From the get go we are swept up and carried along at a terrific pace. This was another book that went in one sitting, a great read that dud not always go the way I expected.
April 4, 2021
Cal Murphy and his wife as a favor stop at this small town that is corrupt beyond words. He gets more than a story and seeing what is going on and being run by a monster. Given audio for my voluntary review
Displaying 1 - 30 of 65 reviews