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Mike Murphey
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Section Roads Kindle Edition

by Mike Murphey (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.5 out of 5 stars 113 ratings
When attorney Cullen Molloy attends his fortieth high school reunion, he doesn’t expect to be defending childhood friends against charges of murder…

In a small town on the high plains of Eastern New Mexico, life and culture are shaped by the farm roads defining the 640-acre sections of land homesteaders claimed at the turn of the Twentieth Century. Cullen and Shelby Blaine explore first love along these section roads during the 1960’s, forging a life-long emotional bond.

As junior high school band nerds, Cullen and Shelby fall under the protection of football player and loner, Buddy Boyd. During their sophomore year of high school, Buddy is charged with killing a classmate and is confined to a youth correctional facility. When he returns to town facing the prospect of imprisonment as an adult, Cullen becomes Buddy’s protector.

The unsolved case haunts the three friends into adulthood, and it isn’t until their fortieth reunion, that they’re forced to revisit that horrible night. When a new killing takes place, Cullen, Shelby and Buddy find themselves reliving the nightmare.

Murder is an easy thing to hide along old country section roads.
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  1. Print length
    361 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publication date
    May 27, 2019
  4. Grade level
    12 and up
  5. File size
    510 KB
  6. Page Flip
    Enabled
  7. Word Wise
    Enabled
  8. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
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Editorial Reviews

Review

"Mike Murphy is a true wordsmith with a keen sense of humor and deep insight. If you like Stand By Me (Stephen King's The Body), you'll fall in love with Section Roads." -Steve Quade, Five Star Amazon Indies Review

"I highly recommend Section Roads by Mike Murphey for its intriguing cast of characters and the author's ability to intertwine past and present events smoothly into a story that keeps it compelling and exciting." -Carol Hoyer for Reader Views

"...a viscerally satisfying roller coaster ride of a novel. A five-star achievement by the author. Highly recommend!" -Laura Taylor, Six-Time Romantic Times Award Winner

"... a funny and fast read that will keep readers guessing until the surprising twists and turns of its clever conclusion." -Alicia Rudnicki for Indie Reader

From the Back Cover

"An ambitious and evocative small-town tale landing somewhere between Peyton Place and The Last Picture Show." -Kirkus Reviews

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B07RSLSFKS
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Acorn Publishing; 1st edition (May 27, 2019)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ May 27, 2019
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 510 KB
  • Simultaneous device usage ‏ : ‎ Unlimited
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 361 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.5 out of 5 stars 113 ratings

About the authors

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  1. Mike Murphey

    Mike Murphey

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    Michael Murphey grew up in Eastern New Mexico, and spent nearly thirty years as a newspaper journalist in the Southwest and Pacific Northwest. Following his retirement from journalism in 1998, Murphey began his second career in baseball, where he is one of three partners in a company called Dave Henderson Baseball Adventures, which produces the Oakland Athletics and Seattle Mariners fantasy camps as well as other adult amateur baseball events throughout the country. His life as an old man baseball player has also afforded him time in recent years to resume writing. He has been an avid lover of the written word all his life. He divides his time among Spokane, Washington, Phoenix, Arizona, and Fort Myers, Florida.

    See more on the author's page
  2. Mike Murphey

    Mike Murphey

    Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.
    Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

    A native of eastern New Mexico, Mike Murphey spent nearly thirty years as an award-winning newspaper journalist in the Southwest and Pacific Northwest. Following his retirement from news journalism, he and his wife Nancy entered in a seventeen-year partnership with the late Dave Henderson, all-star centerfielder for the Oakland Athletics, Boston Red Sox and Seattle Mariners.

    Our company, Dave Henderson Baseball, produced the Oakland A’s and Seattle Mariners Fantasy Camps for twenty years. The Murpheys have also partnered with the Roy Hobbs adult baseball organization in Fort Myers, Florida. Mike’s love of fiction, cats, baseball and sailing affords him to split his time between Spokane, Washington, and Phoenix, Arizona, where he enjoys life as a writer and old-man baseball player.

    To receive a free Short Story - OLD MAN BASEBALL here .... https://www.mikemurpheybooks.com/freebies

    or visit my website ....https://www.mikemurpheybooks.com/

    See more on the author's page
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Customer reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars
113 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book engaging, with one review noting its well-constructed mystery with corresponding twists and turns. Moreover, they appreciate the well-developed characters and find it an enjoyable read, with one customer highlighting how it accurately captures the drama of small town high school life. Additionally, the romance receives positive feedback, with one review describing it as smoldering.

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7 customers mention "Pacing"7 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the pacing of the book, with one review noting its well-constructed mystery with corresponding twists and turns, while another describes it as very complex and relatable.

"...Within the framework of a typical small town the author weaves an extraordinary tale that spans 4 decades...." Read more

"...Had to try it on the Kindle. It was a good read, very complex, and well thought out. I'm not sure if the issues I had were with Cullen or the setup...." Read more

"...captured the drama of small town high school and also wove a well constructed mystery that held my attention to the very end. Well done!" Read more

"...It has the corresponding twists and turns and the author does a great job of bringing the reader along...." Read more

5 customers mention "Enjoyment"5 positive0 negative

Customers find the book entertaining, with one mentioning how it accurately captures the drama of small town high school life and another noting how it held their attention to the very end.

"...Had to try it on the Kindle. It was a good read, very complex, and well thought out. I'm not sure if the issues I had were with Cullen or the setup...." Read more

"...This was an enjoyable read. Lighthearted, good flavor of the times. It was not very realistic." Read more

"...Mr. Murphey accurately captured the drama of small town high school and also wove a well constructed mystery that held my attention to the very end...." Read more

"I really enjoyed reading this book. Murphey used masterful characterizations woven back and forth into different time frames to create a page turner...." Read more

5 customers mention "Readability"5 positive0 negative

Customers find the book easy to read and well written, with one customer noting that the author does a great job of engaging the reader.

"...Rich with murder, lies and sex this is a well crafted book that I highly recommend." Read more

"...Had to try it on the Kindle. It was a good read, very complex, and well thought out. I'm not sure if the issues I had were with Cullen or the setup...." Read more

"...has the corresponding twists and turns and the author does a great job of bringing the reader along...." Read more

"It was an easy read and for someone who lived at the same time and in a small town was at times just a little to believable." Read more

4 customers mention "Character development"4 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the character development in the book.

"...The characters were much more fun than my high school classmates. This was an enjoyable read. Lighthearted, good flavor of the times...." Read more

"...Well-drawn characters make the whole story move along at a good pace." Read more

"Well developed characters, being from a small town in New Mexico, I totally related to the section roads and what kids did for fun in the 60's...." Read more

"Loved the characters in this book, who are very relatable. I especially like the example that a girl and boy can love each other and be great friends." Read more

3 customers mention "Romance"3 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the romance in the book, with one describing it as smoldering, while another appreciates how the girl and boy can love each other.

"...Rich with murder, lies and sex this is a well crafted book that I highly recommend." Read more

"...his additions of a rural setting, wrongful accusation, and a smoldering romance. Well-drawn characters make the whole story move along at a good pace." Read more

"...I especially like the example that a girl and boy can love each other and be great friends." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • SailorDude
    5.0 out of 5 stars Engrossing story
    Reviewed in the United States on September 12, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    I picked up this book because I’ve lived the small town experiences and I have been to Desolation Sound, one of the most beautiful places on earth. It turns out that this book is not what I expected. It was better.
    Within the framework of a typical small town the author weaves an extraordinary tale that spans 4 decades. Rich with murder, lies and sex this is a well crafted book that I highly recommend.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Charles D.
    4.0 out of 5 stars So close
    Reviewed in the United States on December 31, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    I was given this book to read by a friend, then lost it. Had to try it on the Kindle. It was a good read, very complex, and well thought out. I'm not sure if the issues I had were with Cullen or the setup. I know people felt often times it was "unbelievable," but I feel it only has to be believed by one to be true.

    It was a bit "too" much for me. I'm not sure if it was any fault of the story or the reader. Worth a look.
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  • San Diego Reader
    5.0 out of 5 stars Sultry
    Reviewed in the United States on August 21, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    The fictional detective, Sherlock Holmes, is famous for his belief that the smiling countryside holds more sins than do the “lowest and vilest alleys of London.” The scattered homes and rolling fields may look idyllic to some. To Holmes, they create a sense of dread because “of their isolation and the impunity with which crimes may be committed there.” (“The Adventure of the Copper Beeches”)

    Mike Murphey has set Section Roads, his intense story of treachery, in the rural town of Arthur in Eastern New Mexico. Holmes would shiver at the sight of the farm roads—called section roads—that were formed when the 640-acre sections of land were claimed by homesteaders over 100 years ago. “Brown, withering corn stalks filled fields to either side of the narrow drive . . . creating a sense of encroaching walls, and a cold breeze rustled their dry leaves, as if something crept through the corn.” This is crime’s dwelling place.

    Readers will be mesmerized by Murphey’s descriptive language throughout the book as they meet Cullen Molloy, Shelby Blaine, and Hezekiah “Buddy” Boyd, three friends in and out of various emotional states, who return to Arthur in 2009 for their fortieth high school reunion. Events from the ‘60s still haunt the three, and reckoning time has come.

    The author skillfully weaves the story back and forth from the ‘60s to the present in 2009. The juxtaposition serves to reveal the startling similarities in characters and events over forty years.

    In his sophomore year in 1966, Buddy was convicted of killing a young girl and sent to a youth correctional facility. The details of his crime are baffling. He was ordered, as part of his punishment, to return to Arthur as a senior and deal with the community, including the girl’s vengeful uncle.

    Then, another murder. This time, during the reunion weekend. Cullen, now an attorney, finds himself at the center of a complex mystery when some of his friends, including Buddy, are arrested for the crime.

    Section Roads will surprise you as murder weapons and fingerprints appear and disappear, suspects are arrested, then unarrested, emotions flame, then turn to embers—or do they? If Holmes were in Arthur, New Mexico, he’d probably say, “Run for your lives to the nearest big city!”
    One person found this helpful
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  • The Reader
    4.0 out of 5 stars Inventive & a fun read.
    Reviewed in the United States on July 25, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    One friend of mine wonders after reading a book, which character is the author. If the author wrote himself in as Cullen, he is too good to be true. The characters were much more fun than my high school classmates. This was an enjoyable read. Lighthearted, good flavor of the times. It was not very realistic.
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  • LindsVan
    5.0 out of 5 stars Well-drawn characters make the whole story move along at a good pace.
    Reviewed in the United States on February 27, 2021
    Verified Purchase
    The *decades-old unsolved crime* and *return of the serial killer* are ancient tropes in murder, but Murphey makes it work to great advantage with his additions of a rural setting, wrongful accusation, and a smoldering romance. Well-drawn characters make the whole story move along at a good pace.
    Helpful
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  • Gail Roberts
    5.0 out of 5 stars Great story and fun read!
    Reviewed in the United States on July 22, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    Having grown up around “Arthur, New Mexico”, I thoroughly enjoyed this story. Mr. Murphey accurately captured the drama of small town high school and also wove a well constructed mystery that held my attention to the very end. Well done!
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  • TA-MT
    4.0 out of 5 stars Coming of Age + Murder Mystery
    Reviewed in the United States on February 8, 2022
    Verified Purchase
    In our day of social media, this added an extra element of interest to me. From a very broad perspective the book is a who-dun-it in a small town. It has the corresponding twists and turns and the author does a great job of bringing the reader along.

    However, the aspect that stood out to me was the journey of friendship and what became of the town and people and relationships after so many years away. To me this added the extra ummph that made it enjoyable!
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  • Linda
    5.0 out of 5 stars Well written.
    Reviewed in the United States on July 21, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    Well developed characters, being from a small town in New Mexico, I totally related to the section roads and what kids did for fun in the 60's. Great humor is added to suspense.
    One person found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

  • Emily Quinn
    4.0 out of 5 stars A well plotted book, addictive from start to finish!
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 22, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    My first read from Mike Murphey was a hit; a solid blend of mystery meets romance meets crime thriller, with a brilliant cast of characters and a plot to keep you guessing.

    Section Roads is the perfect example of a multi-genre book that just works. It’s an easy read but still has all the elements a great mystery/romance crossover should have. Even though the timelines messed me up a bit by the end, I loved visiting two very different times in these characters’ lives, and in doing so, it felt as though I’d known them forever. There are surprises around every corner which kept things fresh and exciting, the truth about two different murders so satisfying by the end. A well plotted book which felt addictive from start to finish. A great read!
    Customer image
    Emily Quinn
    4.0 out of 5 stars
    A well plotted book, addictive from start to finish!

    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 22, 2024
    My first read from Mike Murphey was a hit; a solid blend of mystery meets romance meets crime thriller, with a brilliant cast of characters and a plot to keep you guessing.

    Section Roads is the perfect example of a multi-genre book that just works. It’s an easy read but still has all the elements a great mystery/romance crossover should have. Even though the timelines messed me up a bit by the end, I loved visiting two very different times in these characters’ lives, and in doing so, it felt as though I’d known them forever. There are surprises around every corner which kept things fresh and exciting, the truth about two different murders so satisfying by the end. A well plotted book which felt addictive from start to finish. A great read!
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