Blog Tour: Excerpt of Murphy Murphy and the Case of Serious Crisis by Keith Hirshland

Publisher:  Beacon Publishing Group (May 1, 2020)
Category: Mystery, Humor
Tour Dates June and July, 2020
ISBN: 978-1949472124
Available in Print and ebook, 308 pages

Murphy Murphy comes from a long line of male Murphys. All were named Murphy and all were cops. This Murphy heads the Department of Redundancy Department and his superior officer, Captain David “Dud” Hill has found him a case. The Captain’s niece is in a rock ‘n roll band called Serious Crisis, and it seems items belonging to members of the band have started to disappear.

Were these items stolen? Were they simply lost? As Murphy Murphy works the case, he must chase down the clues all the while dealing with grammatical anomalies that drive him crazy.  As Murphy gets closer to the answers he seeks, one more “thing” goes missing; the Captain’s niece. Suddenly, in an instant, the stakes in the case of Serious Crisis become a lot more dire.

Part Jasper Fforde, part Michael Connelly; Murphy Murphy and the Case of Serious Crisis combines humor, mystery, and grammar goofs as the detective pursues clues and suspects from coast to coast. It’s an entertaining and educational read for all ages.

Buy Lnks:Amazon   Barnes&Noble  IndieBound

Enjoy this excerpt:

Murphy Murphy and the Case of Serious Crisis Excerpt

KNOWING HE WASN’T IN GRAVE PERIL, MURPHY MURPHY DID WHAT HE ALWAYS DID AND WALKED HOME FROM THE BAR

 On the way home Murphy crossed the deserted street and popped into the convenience store on the block. It was called The Triangle and, because it was actually a rectangle, Murphy Murphy always wondered why whoever named it named it so. Once upon a time he thought to ask, but these days he no longer cared. A small bell rang, announcing his presence as he opened the door. He headed to the back of the store where the cold beverages were on display. He’d had his fill of alcohol for the evening, since two Jamesons was his limit on most nights and he wasn’t looking for more. What he wanted, needed, because he was out of it, was water. But not just any water. He was after The Mountain Valley Spring Water.

Murphy had stumbled upon the Arkansas sourced H20 a few years back and now found it difficult to drink any other brand. He convinced Pratik, the Triangle’s owner, to stock the beverage with the promise that he would make it worth his while. A five hundred dollar cash advance sealed the deal. It wasn’t that the tap water in town was bad, it was awful. Most importantly, Murphy Murphy discovered that The Mountain Valley Spring Water, at forty bucks per twenty-four bottles, made an absolutely exquisite cup of Darjeeling.

“Evening Mr. Double M squared,” Pratik’s son Pravit addressed Murphy from behind the counter.

“That’s too many M’s,” Murphy said out of repetition more than anything. The teaching moment had long since passed.

“Out of water?” Pravit asked, despite having to have already known the answer. It was basically the only thing Murphy ever purchased from the Triangle.

“Astute,” Murphy Murphy deadpanned. He liked the kid, but not all that much.

“We just received a fresh supply so the refrigerator is full. I know because I filled it myself, manually by hand,” Pravit smiled proudly and Murphy suddenly liked him even less.

“Good to know,” he quipped and headed for the cooler. He pulled three cases, the most, thanks to experience, he knew he could manage to carry home. Murphy made his way back to the cash register and hoisted the cases on to the counter. Pravit scanned the barcodes.

“That will be one hundred and twenty-four dollars and twenty-four cents,” he announced. Murphy Murphy reached into his back pocket for his wallet.

“Good news Mr. Double M squared,” Pravit was beaming, “We are pleased to offer our very best customers a new opportunity.” The young man had clearly practiced his pitch.

“And what might that be?” Murphy asked. He didn’t really care.

“Well Mr. Double M squared,”

“That’s too many M’s,” Murphy corrected in vain. Pravit continued unfazed. 

“You see if you spend more than one hundred and twenty-five dollars on a single transaction, we are happily prepared to give you a free gift.” He smiled proudly.

Murphy fumed because he was well aware that a gift, by definition, is free. But what disturbed him nearly as much was the fact that he’d have to spend an additional seventy-six cents for his “gift” so it was anything but “free”.

“Just think,” Pravit was sure he was setting the hook, “another seventy-six cents worth of merchandise would afford you this added bonus.” He truly believed he had set the hook.

“For the love of God.” Murphy Murphy couldn’t contain his annoyance. He didn’t want or need anything else and he was also pretty sure there wasn’t anything in the store that cost only seventysix cents. “Just the water, if you please.” He counted out exactly one hundred and twenty four dollars and twenty-four cents. 

“As you wish Mr. Double M squared.” A clearly disappointed Pravit took the money and completed the transaction.

Back in the comfort of his home, Murphy settled into his favorite chair. A steaming mug of Darjeeling tea on the side table sat next to his mobile phone. Mozart’s Eine Kleine Nachtmusik: Allegro seeped from his home stereo speakers. He had looked up Serious Crisis on the internet again and didn’t enjoy the band’s work anymore than he had the first time. He did, however, appreciate the art of music and held most musicians, even some rappers, in high esteem. He picked up the phone and punched in the numbers on the card Captain Hill had given him. After a handful of rings, the call went to voicemail.   

“Hello. You’ve reached Jeffery Giucigiu, manager for New Beginning recording artists Serious Crisis. If you’re inquiring about the band please leave a message. If this is personal, don’t bother with a message. If I recognize the number, I’ll hit you back.” When he heard the beep, Murphy spoke.

“Mr. Giucigiu, my name is Detective Murphy Murphy and I am reaching out to you at the request of my superior officer Captain David Hill. He’s led me to believe that he is related to one of the members of your troupe.” Anticipating running out of his allotted message time he left a return number and disconnected. The tea was now at the perfect temperature and Mozart was on a roll. Murphy took a sip of one and then closed his eyes and drank in the other. He was hopeful his phone wouldn’t ring for many minutes. Much to his chagrin his hopes were dashed.

“Murphy,” the detective answered after turning down the music, setting down the mug, and picking up the phone.

“Is this the police gendarme Murphy?” a voice, Murphy correctly determined belonging to Jeff Giucigiu, asked. 

“Is that supposed to be funny?” the detective had a question of his own.

“Maybe?” Giucigiu replied.

“Or maybe not,” Murphy answered, then waited.

 “Okay then,” the manager decided to tread more lightly, “Is this Detective Murphy?”

“It is.”

“This is Jeffery Giucigiu, from Serious Crisis”

“I know,” Murphy Murphy interrupted.

“Returning your call,” Giucigiu finished.

“Are you in a position to require my services?” Murphy got to the point.

“I’m not entirely sure,” he started to answer.

“Well then I suggest that when you get to the point of being entirely sure, you give me a call then.” Murphy started to hang up.

“Wait! Okay. Yes. I, uh we, need your help,” the manager sputtered.

“With what?”

“Well, it appears possessions belonging to various members of the band have disappeared.”

“It appears these possessions have disappeared or they have disappeared?” Murphy needed clarification.

“They have.”

“How many?”

“Six so far.”

“Band members or possessions,” Murphy expanded his inquiry.

“Both,” Giucigiu answered.

“And everyone has been affected?”

“That’s correct.”

“And you suspect all of the items, from each of the band members, have been stolen?”

“Seems the most logical explanation.”

“Logical to whom?” Murphy Murphy wondered aloud.

“Well I guess to me, uh to us.” Giucigiu answered. Murphy took a moment and the manager took advantage of the dead air. “We’re headed your way for two shows. Can we meet in person?”

“Is there another way to meet?” Murphy asked, then added, “You have my number.” He ended the call.

“What an ass.” Giucigiu said into a disconnected line.

The tea was now too cold to drink, but Murphy turned up the Mozart believing he had his first suspect.  

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About the author:

Keith Hirshland is an Emmy Award–winning sports television producer with more than three decades of experience producing live and pre-recorded programs that aired on ESPN and ESPN2. Among the first forty people to be hired by the Golf Channel in 1994, Hirshland was in the middle of the action when that network debuted in 1995. He provided his talents for Golf Channel, as its live tournament producer, for two decades.

Cover Me Boys, I’m Going In: Tales of the Tube from a Broadcast Brat is a memoir about his experiences in the television industry. Published by Beacon Publishing Group, Cover Me Boys was recognized as the Book Talk Radio Club Memoir of the Year. Hirshland’s second book, and first work of fiction, Big Flies, was published in 2016 and is the recipient of the New Apple Awards “Solo Medalist” in the True Crime Category. Hirshland followed that success with his third book, The Flower Girl Murder. In 2020 Beacon Publishing Group will release Murphy Murphy and the Case of Serious Crisis, Hirshland’s third mystery novel. All four books are available at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and other bookstores.

Keith Hirshland lives in Colorado with his wife and two dogs.Website:  https://www.keithhirshland.com/  Twitter: https://twitter.com/khhauthor  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KeithHirshlandAuthor/  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/khhauthor/?hl=en