Edges First

by Jay W Murphy

Overview

Tony James has just arrived back home in Portland, Oregon after a life altering encounter with the Central Intelligence Agency. At an early age and out of sheer necessity, Tony began developing an incredible and reliable ability to instantaneously sense dominant core character traits. While in D.C. he is cast into the Petri dish of government chaos. Tony is poked, prodded and mentally tested to exhaustion. Now, Tony is a new secret weapon of a covert division that the CIA has been looking for. However, in the dark recesses of the underworld, a surprising group emerges and targets Tony. He becomes the missing piece to the decades long puzzle of personal and government conspiracies. Does Tony have what it takes to navigate the two worlds AND SURVIVE?

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780989507646
Publisher:	Five Stars Publishing, LLC
Publication date:	07/18/2015
Series:	Tony James , #2
Pages:	526
Product dimensions:	5.98(w) x 9.02(h) x 1.17(d)

About the Author

Jay W. Murphy burst on the scene in a big way with his fictional debut of the thrilling novel, TAG DAY. He continues the series with book #2 EDGES FIRST. His entertaining style of writing carries an imperceptible undercurrent of a deeper significance. Many describe his writing technique to be found at the intersection of Flynn and Grisham. His attention to detail and depth of characters breathe life into every page. A simple "JWM" on his books at signings reveal his proclivity for the simple pleasures in life. Quiet conversations with his wife, a long mountainous hike, exhaustive kayaking and the enjoyment of everything sports seem to keep him linked to the world in a distinctive manner.

Editorial Reviews

2015-11-23
In Murphy's (Tag Day, 2013) thriller, the CIA recruits a man with a unique talent, but an internal struggle for power within the agency may put him and his family in danger. Computer Information Technologies employee Tony James' ability to sense a person's dominant personality trait piques the interest of the CIA's Savant Syndrome Division. Almost immediately after the SSD drafts him, Tony receives a cryptic text: "REMEMBER, NOTHING IS REALLY AS IT SEEMS." Sure enough, his very first mission, to gauge a potential SSD asset, goes awry when he narrowly escapes an explosion. Tony suspects his house is bugged and covertly checks out his handler, Audrey Shelton. It seems he's caught in the midst of many potentially lethal secrets surrounding Audrey, starting back in 1995 when she succeeded her late hubby, Andrew, as CIT's CEO. The novel, with chapters that alternate between present day and 1995, is a gleefully convoluted plot full of twists, suspense, and the occasional gunfight. The story thrives on its seemingly endless revelations: among the SSD agents, for example, is someone with a twin whose parents are a surprise Murphy saves for later in the novel. Tony's sharing of the spotlight with Audrey does lessen his role in his own series, but Audrey is a worthy co-lead, both smart and resourceful. One of Tony's most engrossing qualities is his Tourette's syndrome, which played a significant role in the preceding book as he tried to hide his physical and verbal tics. This time around, unfortunately, his symptoms are no longer an obstacle and all but disappear. Murphy, however, loads his novel with intrigue, particularly in Tony's ability to immediately glean someone's nature. Missing the nuance from Tony's last adventure, but an exhilarating and complex story more than make up for it.

Kirkus Reviews