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From author, Jack Adams – ‘Cult’ – a psychological thriller series featuring childhood friends – psychologist, Adam Murphy and private investigator, Nate Delaney who learn that the mysteries of childhood can have wider impacts than ever imagined.
Eleven-year-old Nate wasn’t happy. There was a new kid on the block named Griffin Maxwell and he wanted Adam to be his best friend. That was Nate’s job, they had sworn they were blood brothers forever. Two days after Adam’s birthday party when Adam received a strange birthday present from Griffin, the Maxwell family was gone.
They were two boys from opposite sides of the track and firm friends. Nate lived in a modest house in the new Riverlink Estate and went to the public school. His dad worked in sales; his mother baked cakes for the school fete and Nate was the centre of their world. Adam Murphy lived on the rich side of the estate with a jetty and water access, and went to the private college. Adam’s media mogul father also managed the career of Adam’s model mother, Winsome – the IT girl, and they spent their days interstate, leaving Adam in the care of his eccentric widow grandmother, Audrey, who lived on the property.
Outside of school hours, the two boys spent their days at the creek, climbing trees, fishing, and riding on their bikes; Griffin Maxwell’s friendship was not needed according to Nate.
Now… Twenty years later, Nate’s new client is concerned their daughter is being held against her will in a Wellness Studio, making content that was not what she signed up for at the time. Nate enlists Adam’s help to understand the psychology of the “cult”. That’s when they discover Griffin Maxwell is back. And he wants Adam to come out and play.
Eleven-year-old Nate wasn’t happy. There was a new kid on the block named Griffin Maxwell and he wanted Adam to be his best friend. That was Nate’s job, they had sworn they were blood brothers forever. Two days after Adam’s birthday party when Adam received a strange birthday present from Griffin, the Maxwell family was gone.
They were two boys from opposite sides of the track and firm friends. Nate lived in a modest house in the new Riverlink Estate and went to the public school. His dad worked in sales; his mother baked cakes for the school fete and Nate was the centre of their world. Adam Murphy lived on the rich side of the estate with a jetty and water access, and went to the private college. Adam’s media mogul father also managed the career of Adam’s model mother, Winsome – the IT girl, and they spent their days interstate, leaving Adam in the care of his eccentric widow grandmother, Audrey, who lived on the property.
Outside of school hours, the two boys spent their days at the creek, climbing trees, fishing, and riding on their bikes; Griffin Maxwell’s friendship was not needed according to Nate.
Now… Twenty years later, Nate’s new client is concerned their daughter is being held against her will in a Wellness Studio, making content that was not what she signed up for at the time. Nate enlists Adam’s help to understand the psychology of the “cult”. That’s when they discover Griffin Maxwell is back. And he wants Adam to come out and play.
316 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 18, 2023
63 people are currently reading
89 people want to read
About the author
Jack Adams
6 books15 followersJack Adams is a Brisbane-based writer. He grew up in Toowoomba, Queensland, and has lived and worked in London, Melbourne and Sydney. He is married, shares the house with a range of pets, most who have wandered in and stayed, and hopes to have kids when he grows up.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
July 15, 2025
This is the third book in the Delaney and Murphy series.
As in book two the action moves between 'then' and 'now'. Then when Adam and Nate were eleven years old a child called Griffin Maxwell caused a great deal of trouble. Now he seems to be back and doing the same again. I very much enjoyed the way the action played out in this manner except for the relationship between Tom and Adam. I really wish the author would move on from this as it does seem rather juvenile for two grown men.
There is a lot of action, suspense and good investigative work. Adam finds out how dangerous a therapy session can be. In the current day chapters the characters are moving on with their lives and there seem to be some changes ahead. I am looking forward to reading book four, Hitched, very soon.
As in book two the action moves between 'then' and 'now'. Then when Adam and Nate were eleven years old a child called Griffin Maxwell caused a great deal of trouble. Now he seems to be back and doing the same again. I very much enjoyed the way the action played out in this manner except for the relationship between Tom and Adam. I really wish the author would move on from this as it does seem rather juvenile for two grown men.
There is a lot of action, suspense and good investigative work. Adam finds out how dangerous a therapy session can be. In the current day chapters the characters are moving on with their lives and there seem to be some changes ahead. I am looking forward to reading book four, Hitched, very soon.
July 20, 2024
Nate Delaney - private investigator - and Adam Murphy - psychologist - had been best friends since they were eleven years old, and were still the best of friends. Adam's family was wealthy and well known, while Nate, although well off now, was originally from the poor side of the tracks. They worked well together, in the building that also housed Rob, Adam's mentor, Jessica and Dan. When a distraught couple arrived to meet Nate, they told of their daughter Sarah, who'd signed a three year contract at a Wellness Centre on Tamborine Mountain, not far from Brisbane. But after two years, and unable to contact their daughter, their worry consumed them. Was the Wellness Centre actually a cult? What was going on there? Nate and Adam, with the help of Burnsy, a police friend, got to work with the investigation. And what they discovered horrified them...
Cult is the 3rd in the Delaney & Murphy series by Aussie author Jack Adams (pseudonym of Helen Goltz) and it was intense, chilling and fast paced. I had my heart in my throat on occasion, as I raced through the event which put it there! I enjoyed the first two in the series and this one was no exception. My only "issue" is the editing errors which would be easily fixed. Recommended.
Cult is the 3rd in the Delaney & Murphy series by Aussie author Jack Adams (pseudonym of Helen Goltz) and it was intense, chilling and fast paced. I had my heart in my throat on occasion, as I raced through the event which put it there! I enjoyed the first two in the series and this one was no exception. My only "issue" is the editing errors which would be easily fixed. Recommended.
January 5, 2026
Cult by Jack Adams
Synopsis /
Eleven-year-old Nate wasn’t happy. There was a new kid on the block named Griffin Maxwell and he wanted Adam to be his best friend. That was Nate’s job, they had sworn they were blood brothers forever. Two days after Adam’s birthday party when Adam received a strange birthday present from Griffin, the Maxwell family was gone.
Now… Twenty years later, Nate’s new client is concerned their daughter is being held against her will in a Wellness Studio, making content that was not what she signed up for at the time. Nate enlists Adam’s help to understand the psychology of the “cult”. That’s when they discover Griffin Maxwell is back. And he wants Adam to come out and play.
My Thoughts /
Cult is the third book in the series, Delaney & Murphy by Australian author, Jack Adams.
Psychologist, Adam Murphy and private investigator, Nathanial (Nate) Delany have been best friends since early childhood. Fast forward twenty years and both boys, now men in their thirties, are still very much best friends and in fact, have formed a working partnership - Delaney & Murphy PI Agency.
Adam wasn't sure whether a private investigator and a psychologist sharing office space was a good idea, but their business is booming and about to celebrate its first anniversary.
This dual timeline narrative switches between now (present day) and then (twenty years earlier).
The Now: This particular morning, Nate was seeing new clients, Robin and John Lyons. The couple wanted to discuss their daughter, Sarah, who they thought was in trouble. Both parents thought Sarah was trapped in a cult and wasn't able to come home. The cult is being run under the guise of a 'wellness' centre known as the Fidelium Wellness Studio and run by a charismatic person by the name of Griffin Maxwell.
The Then: Griffin Maxwell. When Nate heard that name, it instantly brought back some bad memories from his childhood. Griffin Maxwell went to the same private school as his best friend Adam. He came from a wealthy family and was always trying to recruit Adam into his inner circle of friends; while excluding Nate. Although Griffin was very charismatic, Nate always got the feeling there was something ugly lurking underneath this pleasant persona.
Nate enlists the help of Adam to understand the psychological manipulation techniques used by Griffin when he grooms young pretty girls to enter the wellness retreat on the (mis)understanding that they will be attending sessions on modelling and acting lessons.
This is very much a series to read in order as Adams builds upon his characters with each new book. I've loved reading about the boys journey to get where they are today.
The investigation into the missing girl, Sarah, takes the whole 'team' and I'm always here for that! This is not a headline duo – everyone who works for Delaney & Murphy PI Agency plays a part in resolving the case. For this reader, it's what makes a brilliant procedural story. There's no one 'star'; but everyone in the 'team' contributing.
A solid addition to the series and I'm going to be reaching for the next instalment soon.
Synopsis /
Eleven-year-old Nate wasn’t happy. There was a new kid on the block named Griffin Maxwell and he wanted Adam to be his best friend. That was Nate’s job, they had sworn they were blood brothers forever. Two days after Adam’s birthday party when Adam received a strange birthday present from Griffin, the Maxwell family was gone.
Now… Twenty years later, Nate’s new client is concerned their daughter is being held against her will in a Wellness Studio, making content that was not what she signed up for at the time. Nate enlists Adam’s help to understand the psychology of the “cult”. That’s when they discover Griffin Maxwell is back. And he wants Adam to come out and play.
My Thoughts /
Cult is the third book in the series, Delaney & Murphy by Australian author, Jack Adams.
Psychologist, Adam Murphy and private investigator, Nathanial (Nate) Delany have been best friends since early childhood. Fast forward twenty years and both boys, now men in their thirties, are still very much best friends and in fact, have formed a working partnership - Delaney & Murphy PI Agency.
Adam wasn't sure whether a private investigator and a psychologist sharing office space was a good idea, but their business is booming and about to celebrate its first anniversary.
This dual timeline narrative switches between now (present day) and then (twenty years earlier).
The Now: This particular morning, Nate was seeing new clients, Robin and John Lyons. The couple wanted to discuss their daughter, Sarah, who they thought was in trouble. Both parents thought Sarah was trapped in a cult and wasn't able to come home. The cult is being run under the guise of a 'wellness' centre known as the Fidelium Wellness Studio and run by a charismatic person by the name of Griffin Maxwell.
The Then: Griffin Maxwell. When Nate heard that name, it instantly brought back some bad memories from his childhood. Griffin Maxwell went to the same private school as his best friend Adam. He came from a wealthy family and was always trying to recruit Adam into his inner circle of friends; while excluding Nate. Although Griffin was very charismatic, Nate always got the feeling there was something ugly lurking underneath this pleasant persona.
Nate enlists the help of Adam to understand the psychological manipulation techniques used by Griffin when he grooms young pretty girls to enter the wellness retreat on the (mis)understanding that they will be attending sessions on modelling and acting lessons.
This is very much a series to read in order as Adams builds upon his characters with each new book. I've loved reading about the boys journey to get where they are today.
The investigation into the missing girl, Sarah, takes the whole 'team' and I'm always here for that! This is not a headline duo – everyone who works for Delaney & Murphy PI Agency plays a part in resolving the case. For this reader, it's what makes a brilliant procedural story. There's no one 'star'; but everyone in the 'team' contributing.
A solid addition to the series and I'm going to be reaching for the next instalment soon.
March 12, 2023
Cult (Delaney and Murphy 4)
This is the fourth book in this series by this author. This is a thrilling psychological story about childhood friends uncovering mysteries they never thought would. This story is written from different character perspectives, and I enjoyed getting an insight into the other characters. I liked how the story was from the present day and the character's childhood. This helped to understand the feeling better. This is a good thriller that will keep you reading long into the night and keep you hooked until the very last page. This story has suspense, action and thriller within the pages. This is the first book from this author that I've read, and I can’t wait to read more.
I was given a copy of this book for a proofreading project, and this is my honest review
Page length - 320 pages
Release date - 18 Feb 2023
www.obsessedbookreviews.com
April 8, 2024
I appreciated how this one touched on the fickle nature of social media/media and the pervasiveness of porn in society. Why can't we just leave famous people to their own devices? Do their lives actually impact ours at all? Why do we care?
I almost lost sight of the main plot line in the drama between one of the boys and his old bodyguard, which still seems a little forced, especially given who they are and what they do. A little compartmentalization there would go a long way.
Can't wait for the next book!
I almost lost sight of the main plot line in the drama between one of the boys and his old bodyguard, which still seems a little forced, especially given who they are and what they do. A little compartmentalization there would go a long way.
Can't wait for the next book!
February 19, 2024
Riveting story but suffers from poor proofreading
I've read the first three of the series on Kindle. I love the characters, and the author does a fabulous job of storytelling. I noticed, particularly in book 3, many typographical errors. Books would benefit from a professional proofreading job. Tightly written and compelling otherwise.
I've read the first three of the series on Kindle. I love the characters, and the author does a fabulous job of storytelling. I noticed, particularly in book 3, many typographical errors. Books would benefit from a professional proofreading job. Tightly written and compelling otherwise.
December 21, 2025
This is a good series except for one thing which I posted before. I do not like the nosy busy body Jessica always eavesdropping or pushing to get with the celebrity parents knowing full well the son is not comfortable with that. That's just my opinion on her. Maybe it doesn't bother other readers. I do recommend the series though.
July 6, 2024
Great stories!
I really enjoy all of the stories in this series so far. But something that bothers me in any book is mistakes in continuity. Contritions. If you establish a fact that you later contradict then it takes away from my enjoyment. I still gave it 5 stars.
I really enjoy all of the stories in this series so far. But something that bothers me in any book is mistakes in continuity. Contritions. If you establish a fact that you later contradict then it takes away from my enjoyment. I still gave it 5 stars.
September 4, 2024
I really enjoy this series. The story and banter is great.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews