New eBook Version Now Available!
I'm happy to announce that the ebook (EPUB) version of Tex Murphy and the Steakhouse Stakeout: An Interactive Adventure is now available!
For everyone who has already ordered paperbacks, my shipment of books is now scheduled to arrive on September 15. Sorry for the delay! I'll get them sent out as soon as possible.
If you've missed any of my previous posts, this new story involves the "small job" Tex had the night before he and Chelsee went to the Golden Pagoda. Unlike the previous five books (which were traditional novels), this "Interactive Adventure" is similar to a Choose Your Own Adventure book and allows you to decided what Tex does. There are 70 possible outcomes, only one of which is the "perfect ending".
To order paperbacks or ebooks, scroll down to the bottom of the page for details.
If you're curious about what's on tap, I'm already deep into the next full-length novel, which will chronicle Tex's adventures in the Martian Colonies. It takes place a few years before Under a Killing Moon, and will be the official "first book" in the series, introducing Tex and his world to new readers. For long-time fans, it will fill a big void in Tex's timeline and lay the groundwork for everything that comes after, leading up to Tex Murphy: Trance, the grand finale of the series.
Speaking of which, it's time to announce the winner of the contest to describe the Tex Murphy book series. It wasn't easy to choose just one, so I narrowed it down to my four favorites...and then had my wife pick her favorite. :)
And the winner is...
(submitted by EVAN VAN DYKE)
"The Tex Murphy series is a genre-bending diamond in the rough. One part post-apocalyptic San Francisco, two parts mystery, a dash of noir, and a light dusting of the supernatural. If you haven't played the games before, get ready to meet the only sleuth who saves the world...by accident. If you HAVE played the games, get ready for the other 90% of the story that couldn't fit. Either way, pour yourself a bourbon, kick back, and light up the fire - it's time to pick up the Fedora."
Congratulations, Evan! And here are the three runners-up:
(submitted by WALTER MULLER)
"Tex Murphy is the last honest detective in a world that stopped believing in honesty. Living in a crumbling, neon-lit San Francisco after World War III, he works out of a shabby office on Chandler Avenue, taking whatever cases that keep the lights on. Tex is a paradox: a hopeless romantic with a sharp wit, a technophobe in a world of gadgets, a gumshoe who still believes in doing the right thing, even if it gets him punched in the face. He drinks cheap bourbon and always falls for the wrong women. Armed with nothing but an old trench coat, a stubborn moral compass, and a smart mouth that can't help but get him into trouble, he works himself through mysteries bigger than he bargained for. And, somehow, against all odds, he always get to the truth."
(submitted by BRIAN SALTZMANN)
"The Tex Murphy books immerse readers in a gritty, post-apocalyptic world, blending the hard-boiled detective genre with a rich, dystopian future. Tex Murphy, a down-on-his-luck private investigator, navigates this neon-lit, often dangerous world with a sharp wit and a penchant for sarcastic humor. His trademark combination of hard-edged noir detective work and dry, often self-deprecating commentary makes him a unique protagonist. As he unravels complex mysteries, Tex's interactions with a colorful cast of characters - ranging from femme fatales to quirky informants - brings the world to life, each encounter revealing layers of the narrative and challenging his puzzle-solving skills. Whether he's deciphering cryptic clues or outsmarting dangerous foes, Tex's cleverness and tenacity keep readers engaged as they follow his journey through a labyrinth of intrigue, suspense, and dark humor."
(submitted by STEVEN MAURER)
"You haven't read the Tex Murphy series? It's noir detective at heart but futuristic and hilarious. Hidden in the series' layers are all the classic tropes but the stories are fresh and bursting with character. Mystery, action, drama, sci-fi, comedy are all masterfully blended like a bourbon enjoyed neat."
Thanks again to everyone who participated!
Also, for anyone who may have missed it, my friend Troels Pleimert has a delightful website (https://spacequesthistorian.com/) where he vlogs about classic videogames. He's a long-time fan of both the games and books in the Tex Murphy series, so we met up to discuss them. Joining us was Richard Cobbett, a videogame journalist/writer/developer and also a Tex Murphy fan. We did two interviews, one spoiler-free (for people who haven't read all the books) and one packed with spoilers. You can watch the spoiler-free interview on Troels' website. The spoiled rotten interview can be seen here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fTNgyNvDzJ8
As always, you can email me at [email protected] with any questions or comments about past and future books (or anything else Tex-related), as well as to order paperbacks, ebooks, or audiobooks (details at the bottom of the page).
All the best,
Aaron
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The Tex Murphy Novels: Synopses & Review Quotes
Tex Murphy: Under a Killing Moon (2014 Edition)
Evil awakens. One man stumbles into its headlights.
It’s December 2042 and Tex Murphy, the last of the old-style PIs, has hit rock bottom. A run of tough luck forced him to relocate to the seedy side of town. Then his wife ran off with the guy Tex hired to reupholster his furniture. Now he’s left with no money, no prospects and no dignity…just some nicely-reupholstered office chairs and one last bottle of cheap bourbon.
When Tex is hired out of the blue by a rich dowager, it seems too good to be true. A priceless statuette has been stolen from her. Getting paid to recover it may be just what Tex needs to get back on his feet. And it does…until the rug gets pulled out from under him. Tex’s search for the missing statuette leads him through the shadowy back streets of post-apocalyptic San Francisco and into a labyrinth of deceit, manipulation and murder.
The world needs a hero. Unfortunately, it will have to make do with Tex Murphy. And he’ll need all his P.I. instincts and every ounce of Murphy savoir faire to stop the forces of evil before their dark visions become a terrifying reality…and rob him of his next unemployment check.
"Another excellent piece of work from Conners...most of all, it is his sense of atmosphere that impressed me; I felt like I could hear, smell and even taste each richly-described location. Anyone who reads this will agree; Aaron Conners deserves far wider recognition for his work than he currently receives." --GoodReads
"Probably the best book ever written about a science fiction post-apocalyptic hard-boiled sarcastic noir detective." --LibraryThing
This is a new edition of the original novel, featuring new artwork, expanded story content, author's notes and a foreword by Chris Jones.
Evil awakens. One man stumbles into its headlights.
It’s December 2042 and Tex Murphy, the last of the old-style PIs, has hit rock bottom. A run of tough luck forced him to relocate to the seedy side of town. Then his wife ran off with the guy Tex hired to reupholster his furniture. Now he’s left with no money, no prospects and no dignity…just some nicely-reupholstered office chairs and one last bottle of cheap bourbon.
When Tex is hired out of the blue by a rich dowager, it seems too good to be true. A priceless statuette has been stolen from her. Getting paid to recover it may be just what Tex needs to get back on his feet. And it does…until the rug gets pulled out from under him. Tex’s search for the missing statuette leads him through the shadowy back streets of post-apocalyptic San Francisco and into a labyrinth of deceit, manipulation and murder.
The world needs a hero. Unfortunately, it will have to make do with Tex Murphy. And he’ll need all his P.I. instincts and every ounce of Murphy savoir faire to stop the forces of evil before their dark visions become a terrifying reality…and rob him of his next unemployment check.
"Another excellent piece of work from Conners...most of all, it is his sense of atmosphere that impressed me; I felt like I could hear, smell and even taste each richly-described location. Anyone who reads this will agree; Aaron Conners deserves far wider recognition for his work than he currently receives." --GoodReads
"Probably the best book ever written about a science fiction post-apocalyptic hard-boiled sarcastic noir detective." --LibraryThing
This is a new edition of the original novel, featuring new artwork, expanded story content, author's notes and a foreword by Chris Jones.
Tex Murphy and the Pandora Directive (2014 Edition)
Danger is like jello...there's always room for a little more.
It’s April 2043 and the seedy side of post-World War III San Francisco is a radioactive dive, but P.I. Tex Murphy calls it home. With business slow, money tight and the women in Tex’s life shipping out, this private dick is singing the lonesome gumshoe blues. Until one night at the Brew & Stew diner…
A mysterious old gent hires Tex to find a friend who’s gone missing. It doesn’t seem like much of a case at first, but with a generous retainer of cash and Cubana cigars, that’s fine by Tex. Unfortunately, he’s never been very good at staying out of trouble and it doesn’t take long for him to find some. There’s a drop-dead gorgeous nightclub singer who may end up just plain dead…a serial killer who supposedly committed suicide a year earlier…and a package sent from the missing man, containing a Chinese puzzle box that no one can seem to open.
Tex finds himself in the middle of one of history’s greatest conspiracies. Secrets that have been locked away for almost a century are about to be revealed. Why now, after so many years? What does the puzzle box contain? Why is the most powerful agency in the U.S. government hunting down the missing man? And can Tex find him before they do?
The stakes are high, the deck is stacked and, as always, Tex Murphy is low on chips. But with his excellent bluffing skills and occasional lucky streaks, he just might have a fighting chance. Pandora’s Box has been reopened. Can Tex close it before it’s too late?
"A superb throwback to the PI noir genre. It's funny, dramatic, witty and engaging and the characters truly shine. The mix of laconic wit and all-out sarcasm make Tex a humorous character, yet his sense of honor and loyalty also makes him surprisingly heroic. Conners' style makes the story flow superbly, and really is a treat. Highly recommended reading." --GoodReads
This is a new edition of the original novel, featuring new artwork, expanded story content, author's notes and a foreword by Chris Jones.
Danger is like jello...there's always room for a little more.
It’s April 2043 and the seedy side of post-World War III San Francisco is a radioactive dive, but P.I. Tex Murphy calls it home. With business slow, money tight and the women in Tex’s life shipping out, this private dick is singing the lonesome gumshoe blues. Until one night at the Brew & Stew diner…
A mysterious old gent hires Tex to find a friend who’s gone missing. It doesn’t seem like much of a case at first, but with a generous retainer of cash and Cubana cigars, that’s fine by Tex. Unfortunately, he’s never been very good at staying out of trouble and it doesn’t take long for him to find some. There’s a drop-dead gorgeous nightclub singer who may end up just plain dead…a serial killer who supposedly committed suicide a year earlier…and a package sent from the missing man, containing a Chinese puzzle box that no one can seem to open.
Tex finds himself in the middle of one of history’s greatest conspiracies. Secrets that have been locked away for almost a century are about to be revealed. Why now, after so many years? What does the puzzle box contain? Why is the most powerful agency in the U.S. government hunting down the missing man? And can Tex find him before they do?
The stakes are high, the deck is stacked and, as always, Tex Murphy is low on chips. But with his excellent bluffing skills and occasional lucky streaks, he just might have a fighting chance. Pandora’s Box has been reopened. Can Tex close it before it’s too late?
"A superb throwback to the PI noir genre. It's funny, dramatic, witty and engaging and the characters truly shine. The mix of laconic wit and all-out sarcasm make Tex a humorous character, yet his sense of honor and loyalty also makes him surprisingly heroic. Conners' style makes the story flow superbly, and really is a treat. Highly recommended reading." --GoodReads
This is a new edition of the original novel, featuring new artwork, expanded story content, author's notes and a foreword by Chris Jones.
Tex Murphy and the Romanov Enigma
Trouble's like glitter...I keep finding it everywhere.
It's June 2043 and almost two months have gone by since Tex Murphy, P.I. wrapped up his last job. The search for Thomas Malloy and the Pandora Device had nearly gotten him killed. Now he's dying of boredom.
Lonely, too.
During the Malloy case, following a poorly-executed first date, Tex's dream girl, Chelsee Bando, left town to get some space, think things over, and decide what she wanted to do with her life. Or something like that. When she returned, Chelsee had decided to move on...and into the virtual arms of a Cary Grant hologram.
When she shows up unexpectedly at Tex's door - along with a new prospective client - Tex can hardly believe his luck. Not only is he gainfully employed, he gets one last chance to impress Chelsee with his amazing P.I. skills, win her affection, get paid, and then live happily ever. All he has to do is solve the biggest, most dangerous case of his career.
Two Russian siblings have disappeared with newly-discovered Enigma Machine documents that may lead to a lost Romanov treasure. Where there's treasure, there's pirates, and it's not long before they're trying to put Tex in Davy Jones' locker. He'll have to navigate treacherous waters in a race to find a fortune...and a world-changing secret that's been buried for over a hundred years.
Trouble's like glitter...I keep finding it everywhere.
It's June 2043 and almost two months have gone by since Tex Murphy, P.I. wrapped up his last job. The search for Thomas Malloy and the Pandora Device had nearly gotten him killed. Now he's dying of boredom.
Lonely, too.
During the Malloy case, following a poorly-executed first date, Tex's dream girl, Chelsee Bando, left town to get some space, think things over, and decide what she wanted to do with her life. Or something like that. When she returned, Chelsee had decided to move on...and into the virtual arms of a Cary Grant hologram.
When she shows up unexpectedly at Tex's door - along with a new prospective client - Tex can hardly believe his luck. Not only is he gainfully employed, he gets one last chance to impress Chelsee with his amazing P.I. skills, win her affection, get paid, and then live happily ever. All he has to do is solve the biggest, most dangerous case of his career.
Two Russian siblings have disappeared with newly-discovered Enigma Machine documents that may lead to a lost Romanov treasure. Where there's treasure, there's pirates, and it's not long before they're trying to put Tex in Davy Jones' locker. He'll have to navigate treacherous waters in a race to find a fortune...and a world-changing secret that's been buried for over a hundred years.
Tex Murphy and the Tesla Effect
The future isn't what it used to be.
It’s June 2043 and things are finally looking up for Tex Murphy, P.I. He just solved the biggest case of his life (so far) and actually got paid for it. After a romantic dinner with the lovely Chelsee Bando, Tex is in love, out of debt and on top of the world. What could possibly go wrong?
Then Tex wakes up, disoriented and head pounding, on the fire escape outside his office/apartment at the Ritz Hotel. Soon after, he discovers that all his memories since that night with Chelsee have been erased. Years have passed and everything in Tex’s life has changed. Old friends are hostile. Former enemies are now allies. And Chelsee is gone…maybe forever.
Whoever did this could have given Tex a one-way ticket to zombie land by wiping his memory completely…but they didn’t. There was something specific they wanted him to forget. But what? And who was behind it? The rival P.I. who was doing surveillance on Tex’s office and turns up murdered? One of the mysterious characters racing to find a priceless collection of Nikola Tesla’s documents and lost inventions? Or the shadowy organization that’s made a fortune in cryonics – freezing (and, rumor has it, reanimating) dead bodies?
Tex Murphy, the last of the old-school gumshoes, is on the case for himself this time. Motivated by lost love, revenge and the world’s strongest coffee blend, Tex will need every bit of his questionable social skills, relatively quick thinking, blind luck and the ol’ Murphy charm. Only by investigating his own past can Tex hope to regain his memory in time to solve the mysteries of the past and present and prevent a devastating future.
"The novel's story is continually inviting and beguiling. Just when you think you've figured something out, Conners throws another twist at you that's guaranteed to send you reeling. The book combines this old-school detective mystery style with a science fiction element that makes for an atmosphere genuinely unlike anything I've ever read before. Fans of either genre will find something to love here." --Amazon Review
The future isn't what it used to be.
It’s June 2043 and things are finally looking up for Tex Murphy, P.I. He just solved the biggest case of his life (so far) and actually got paid for it. After a romantic dinner with the lovely Chelsee Bando, Tex is in love, out of debt and on top of the world. What could possibly go wrong?
Then Tex wakes up, disoriented and head pounding, on the fire escape outside his office/apartment at the Ritz Hotel. Soon after, he discovers that all his memories since that night with Chelsee have been erased. Years have passed and everything in Tex’s life has changed. Old friends are hostile. Former enemies are now allies. And Chelsee is gone…maybe forever.
Whoever did this could have given Tex a one-way ticket to zombie land by wiping his memory completely…but they didn’t. There was something specific they wanted him to forget. But what? And who was behind it? The rival P.I. who was doing surveillance on Tex’s office and turns up murdered? One of the mysterious characters racing to find a priceless collection of Nikola Tesla’s documents and lost inventions? Or the shadowy organization that’s made a fortune in cryonics – freezing (and, rumor has it, reanimating) dead bodies?
Tex Murphy, the last of the old-school gumshoes, is on the case for himself this time. Motivated by lost love, revenge and the world’s strongest coffee blend, Tex will need every bit of his questionable social skills, relatively quick thinking, blind luck and the ol’ Murphy charm. Only by investigating his own past can Tex hope to regain his memory in time to solve the mysteries of the past and present and prevent a devastating future.
"The novel's story is continually inviting and beguiling. Just when you think you've figured something out, Conners throws another twist at you that's guaranteed to send you reeling. The book combines this old-school detective mystery style with a science fiction element that makes for an atmosphere genuinely unlike anything I've ever read before. Fans of either genre will find something to love here." --Amazon Review
Tex Murphy and the Poisoned Pawn
There are no heroes anymore...only villains of varying degrees.
It’s November 2050 and Tex Murphy has just returned to New San Francisco after wrapping up his previous case, Tex Murphy and the Tesla Effect, where he gets a rude welcome. Apparently, someone wants him dead...for no apparent reason. The question is who? Count St. Germain, a mysterious traveler who Tex met in his previous case, is certain it’s someone from Tex’s past.
Over Tex’s thirteen-year career, this low-profile, perpetually-destitute detective has played a crucial role in several potentially world-changing events. St. Germain suspects that this hasn’t happened by accident; a “Man Behind the Curtain” has made Tex an unwitting pawn in an unknown game. And it all goes back to his very first case.
Together, they return to the events of 2037: Carl Linsky had just taken a dive off the Golden Gate Bridge…an apparent suicide. His daughter was sure he’d been murdered and would do anything to prove it. Tex would do anything to make rent. At first, the case seems like a literal dead end. But it soon leads Tex into the heart of a dark secret, created by a shadowy group of people who are all turning up dead under mysterious circumstances.
With St. Germain’s unique assistance, Tex digs deep into his past, recounting the story of his first case, remembering details that were forgotten or seemed unimportant at the time, and searching for the thread that connects all his cases, in hopes of revealing the identity of his most dangerous adversary.
A shocking discovery awaits about what happened all those years ago…and how those events are about to change Tex’s future.
There are no heroes anymore...only villains of varying degrees.
It’s November 2050 and Tex Murphy has just returned to New San Francisco after wrapping up his previous case, Tex Murphy and the Tesla Effect, where he gets a rude welcome. Apparently, someone wants him dead...for no apparent reason. The question is who? Count St. Germain, a mysterious traveler who Tex met in his previous case, is certain it’s someone from Tex’s past.
Over Tex’s thirteen-year career, this low-profile, perpetually-destitute detective has played a crucial role in several potentially world-changing events. St. Germain suspects that this hasn’t happened by accident; a “Man Behind the Curtain” has made Tex an unwitting pawn in an unknown game. And it all goes back to his very first case.
Together, they return to the events of 2037: Carl Linsky had just taken a dive off the Golden Gate Bridge…an apparent suicide. His daughter was sure he’d been murdered and would do anything to prove it. Tex would do anything to make rent. At first, the case seems like a literal dead end. But it soon leads Tex into the heart of a dark secret, created by a shadowy group of people who are all turning up dead under mysterious circumstances.
With St. Germain’s unique assistance, Tex digs deep into his past, recounting the story of his first case, remembering details that were forgotten or seemed unimportant at the time, and searching for the thread that connects all his cases, in hopes of revealing the identity of his most dangerous adversary.
A shocking discovery awaits about what happened all those years ago…and how those events are about to change Tex’s future.
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