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Cal Murphy #3

Triple Cross

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Fans of James Patterson, Nelson DeMille, Stieg Larsson and Gillian Flynn will love this exciting new thriller from bestselling author Jack Patterson!

When NFL star running back Aaron Banks winds up dead in an abandoned warehouse, San Francisco newspaper reporter Cal Murphy begins an investigation that unearths secrets that are best left alone. Joined by fellow journalist Kelly Mendoza, Cal ventures into a world rife with conspiracies, butting heads with powerful people and putting a bulls-eye on his own chest. But with time running out to expose the truth, Cal must weigh if the story is worth his life -- and if he has what it takes to topple the most powerful man in Southern California.

226 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 25, 2013

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182 people want to read

About the author

Jack Patterson

41 books42 followers
This is the Profile that Author R.J. Patterson originally released under.

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5 stars
149 (43%)
4 stars
131 (38%)
3 stars
46 (13%)
2 stars
9 (2%)
1 star
6 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
Profile Image for Teri.
33 reviews1 follower
March 9, 2014
Really enjoyable read. Jack Patterson is definitely on my must read authors list!
Profile Image for Ruth.
341 reviews
September 17, 2015
Won't be reading any more books by this author. Disappointed with plot and very predictable.
Profile Image for Page Turner .
120 reviews
March 18, 2024
Very poor editing. Story interesting, but some similar parts to other books in this series. All in all, this is a good read. 👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼
Profile Image for Julie Howard.
Author 2 books32 followers
October 9, 2021
This is an interesting listen full of twists and not to many football references. I liked the characters, especially the dead man and what he stood or tried to do. I also like the two main characters and it was nice to see to them develop from the last book.There is a lot of characters as there seems to be two plot lines running throughout the book, which kept you guessing over the motive behind the murder but in the end it comes together nicely and the killer gets his comeuppance.
When a NFL super star Aaron Banks is found dead nobody is sure why? Drug overdose? Suicide over the fact he was going to be cut from the team and game he loved? Or murder because he wouldn't stay quite any long? His mother and the children in the hospital he visits every week can't believe he was involved in drugs. A whistle blower who works for a hi-tec company developing head gear for the sport comes up with another reason and will only talk to sports reporter Cal Murphy. The problem is someone rich and in charge wants the story brushed under the rug and will stop at nothing to make sure the story and murder stayed buried. Will the whistle blower do the right thing when pressure is applied? And what about Cal how far will be to to get his story back on the front page and find a killer?
I liked the narrator he helped to build the tension and make the story come alive.
I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review
4,417 reviews43 followers
July 18, 2018
It’s about time, Cal!!! This is the third book in the boxed set and I can’t tell you which one is the roughest. The one thing that I am sure of is that I don’t want to be a reporter. There’s a lot of ‘who do you trust?’. Or, should I say, who do you not trust??? In spite of everything, I enjoyed the story and recommend the book.
Profile Image for taffykathiegmail.com.
591 reviews
July 23, 2023
Fame is your for a few minutes. Death is forever.

A fast paved story of business dealings that are far from up and up. Football heroes dying because of autopsies paid for by the big guys.
4,416 reviews28 followers
August 28, 2019
Better Off Dead review

Better Off Dead is the third fast paced action book in the "A Cal Murphy Thriller" series written by author R. J. Patterson.
Profile Image for Debbie Mcnally.
980 reviews1 follower
July 22, 2021
I was lucky enough to have gotten a free audio book code from the author. I am volunteering to leave this review. Awesome audio book plenty of action and suspense.
Profile Image for Steve.
Author 2 books15 followers
October 21, 2016
A fast paced thriller that kept me turning pages wondering what was going to happen next and to whom. Jack Patterson pours it on from the first chapter and keeps cranking it up to the very end. I really like the growing relationship between Cal and Kelly and am eager to see how it goes in the next book in the series. Jack Patterson is on my list of go-to authors when I want a book I know I will enjoy.
Profile Image for Melody.
733 reviews12 followers
October 2, 2015
AS USUAL, CAL PREVAILS

Once again, a football story, but I guess since he's a sports reporter, it makes sense. It starts out with a good guy who happens to play the game, on a team owned by a ruthless man.

Once things start going down, Cal is caught up in a number of businesses this Robinson has a hand in. Of course, he and Kelly begin getting too close for comfort, but, in the end the good guys come out on top

Worth reading. On to Book 4.
7,785 reviews50 followers
July 15, 2022
NFL Aaron Banks has died. Cal Murphy is a reporter and wants the story and questions answered. The secrets of why in a warehouse. As with the power that is in football he is butting heads with the powers behind it. Good series and good narration. Given audio for my voluntary review
2 reviews
November 23, 2015
Cal Murphy does it again

Edge of your seat adventure with Cal Murphy and his beautiful side kick, Kelly. It's always the rich and famous people who are the most evil!
Profile Image for Judith.
77 reviews1 follower
July 12, 2016
Better Off Dead: Good story. I like the twists and turns. I was having a hard time trying to figure out if they were in SF or LA. Football seems to play in the background storyline.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews

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