The Unstable One

Markus Murphy #1

by Mike McCrary

Forced into a mind that isn’t his own.

Devoted family man Noah Alderson struggles to support his wife and kids. Tragically dying in a car crash, he wakes up alone in a cheap motel room with no memory, and a note naming him simply -- Murphy. When he’s attacked by two thugs, he’s shocked to discover he’s not what he used to be. He’s developed a new set of skills.

Caught in a deadly race to hunt down the truth, he slips in and out of consciousness, never knowing where he’ll end up or what he has become. After he comes in contact with a pair of mysterious strangers, he learns of a sinister project that could cost him his life… again.

Can he expose the mind-bending plot that controls his world before he ends up permanently erased?

Will he find out who – or what – he’s become before it’s too late?

The Unstable One is the first book in this breathtaking near-future thriller series. If you like action-packed twists and turns you won't be able to put down the addictive Markus Murphy series.

Genres: Thriller, Mystery Thriller

358 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 3, 2020

About the author

Mike McCrary is the bestselling author of Someone Savage, Relentless, and the Remo Cobb series. He's been a waiter, a dishwasher, investment analyst, and an unpaid Hollywood intern. He's quit corporate America, come back, been fired, been promoted, been fired again. Currently, he writes stories about questionable people who make questionable decisions. Keep up with Mike at www.mikemccrary.com.

"Mike McCrary is definitely a writer to watch." - John Rector, Wall Street Journal Bestselling Author of The Ridge, Already Gone, and The Cold Kiss.

"It's almost inhuman how frequently and effectively this book ups the ante on the reader." - Rob Hart, author of The Warehouse

“… a Hollywood action film in print form.” – Austin Statesman

Reviews

[Kathi Defranc · Rating 5 out of 5]

A thrilling story that at times will shock you, chill you to the bone, then you feel warm,a little love slipping through...As a potentially exciting new event that could help so many folks with disease or diagnosis with severe changes to the body...But...If used in the Wrong Way It Could be a WEAPON...
Noah is a hard working man, totally in love with his wife and young twins...Murphy is a hardened warrior, working for the military destroying enemies...And soon feels nothing when he ends a life...Both men are used in this experiment...Together...In one body..They learn about each other and those who are 'in charge' of them..
With plenty of action, thrills and realization of a few horrors, this story from near in the future, will capture your mind from the start...You feel as if You are living through the discoveries and feelings of the two men attempting to meld together..For the good of all..And the removal of a few!!
I received an ARC from the author and I offer You my honest thoughts and feelings in this review. Something different, but once you start into the story,you Have to continue until the end!!

[Clive Willcocks · Rating 5 out of 5]

A thoroughly enjoyable read, which I would not hesitate to recommend. Give it a read, you won't be disappointed.

[Brian Donald William Norman · Rating 2 out of 5]

I enjoy suspense thrillers and science fiction and particularly when they are presented in one novel. This book tries, I don't want to give anything away, but it has to do with the mind of a killer being inserted into the minds of ordinary people. The author stays well away from the particulars, as well he should, but in doing so it makes for an obviously half idea rather than a whole. Lots of bloody antics as our sociopath, sharing a brain with an ordinary man, gets in lots of licks just like the movies were a single person destroys groups of multiple numbers of bad guys when the single press of a trigger by just one bad guy... well, I guess they're not fast enough. There's an interesting subplot as the protagonist discovers his ordinary wife, or at least the other guy in his head's ordinary wife, becomes his arch enemy. As time went on I found myself in speed reading mode just to get through some of the more tortured elements of the novel.

[Judy Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Completely gripping, grabs and keeps your attention throughout! A spellbinding read that will have you swiping the pages of your Kindle non-stop. I found it difficult to find a place to stop and put it down, so I only did when I HAD to sleep. The characters are great, a different type of hero, which makes this book all the better for it! Never a spoiler in my reviews, you will just have to take my word and pick up this newest action-packed, edge of your seat thriller with twists and turns that you just don't see coming. Excellent writing by Mike McCrary, I have never picked up a book of his I didn't thoroughly enjoy and this one is certainly no exception. I received an ARC of this book and am providing my honest, unsolicited opinion. One-click NOW.

[Allison · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a psychological thriller of the effects of mind research in the not so distant future. It was a fast and action-packed read focusing on a government effort to create killers by merging the minds of sociopaths with more tractable subjects.
The story is told from the perspective of a deadly criminal who has been released from prison to participate in this experiment. The story is fractured in many directions as he wakes up and tries to understand what has been done to him.
Throughout the story the reader is kept as confused as the narrator. Sometimes it becomes tiresome as we view everything through the eyes of this self-pitying psycho.
There are two more books in the series but I think my brain has taken just about all it can handle of this research project.

[Timothy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Start with a loving couple at work, add a man with no memory of who he is or anything else, stir in a city on the verge of meltdown, and have it all shaken together by Kevin Partner. The result is this impossible to put down near a future thriller.
Markus Murphy wakes up not knowing anything about himself, not even his name. Slowly he is told a little and figures out more on his own. Things like: He is good with guns, knives, and fighting; he has no qualms about hurting or killing others; and somebody is literally messing with his mind.
Mike McCrary has proven before that he knows how to tell a story. Let him prove it to you by buying The Unstable One.

[Eric Cousineau · Rating 5 out of 5]

An outstanding start to this new series! It is a wonderfully crafted story with twists and turns that keep you on the edge of your seat right to the last page. His well-developed characters and wonderful writing style, full of twists and turns, will keep you on the edge of your seat from the first page, trying to anticipate where this story would go. This is a definite page-turner that I couldn’t put down until the very last page.

Thank you to the author who provided me with a copy of this book. I am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

[Texas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Intense read.

The Unstable One - Hard to get into since I did not know what this book was about but it got interesting rather quickly. Intense story lines. A gamut of characters. Plenty of vulgar language. Hard to put down until the last page. With the liberals today, this could be a possibility instead of a lethal injection. But your Honor, he didn't need killing, he's just misguided. And the good guy must die to help our poor misguided person. Not! 4*

[Sammye · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book kicks off a new series by McCrary and it’s a great start. This book is action packed to the end. There are so many twists and turns throughout. It definitely kept my interest. A thriller you won’t want to miss. This looks to be an awesome series. This review is based on a complimentary pre-release copy from the author

[Jacqueline M · Rating 4 out of 5]

Markus.

I read this book through the night, i felt like i had read this book before ,like a thousand books ago. It has a strong character in Markus! And with Noah in there with him he will fully become a full bodied and rounded guy with added feelings i want to see how far the Author takes him . Looking forward to the next .

[Martin N Lawrence · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not sure why I continued reading

Did not like much with this book. Like my title, I kept reading, not knowing really why. At First interesting concept, but it did not work for me. Did not like the ending.

[R Ricalde · Rating 2 out of 5]

Interesting concept but its characters did not create any feelings for this reader. Did not care about any of them and the author couldn't really identify who or if you should root for. Ending was totally unsatisfactory.

[Patrick · Rating 4 out of 5]

interesting

A very interesting start to a series with an intriguing and thought provoking storyline and plenty of twists and turns along the way. Looking forward to where Murphy goes from here.

[Brand Meyer · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Mind Bender

For me, this story took a while to develop. I actually considered giving up on the book for awhile. But then everything kicked in and it took off. A very creative work!

[Sonia Santos · Rating 5 out of 5]

Entertaining

This book was engaging and enjoyable to read. It was truly a breath of fresh air with how the book entwined the lives of two people into one. Can't wait to read what's next.

[Garry Thompson · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was surprised by the plot - it wasn't what I expected. It is the first book in a series and needed to lay a lot of groundwork. It's different...

I don't plan to read the other books in the series.

[June · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you for the free Arc
Totally enjoyed it

[Ann Keeran · Rating 5 out of 5]

1+1=1?

Two personalities joined into one, an imaginative and thrilling tale. Four people, two good and two bad, are joined together in a way that's totally different. Excellent novel.

[Mr David Bevan · Rating 1 out of 5]

Given up, can't get into this at all.

[Barry Cook · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fast moving book

McCray moves so fast that you want to call time out so you can collect your thoughts. First book I have read that has four main characters. Great read.

[John Roach, · Rating 4 out of 5]

Different but very readable

[Sheryl · Rating 2 out of 5]

Futuristic book, read it and wanted to finish it but not interested in the sequels. Technology mixes personalities together…a killer with a nice guy.

[Trena · Rating 5 out of 5]

Attention Getting

It's like reading an adventure movie. Keeps you wondering what will happen next. The most different (in a good way) book that I've read in a long time.