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