Gripping Modern Thrillers Where Power, Money and Security Hide
From author Jon Richards — realistic suspense drawn from the worlds of finance, technology, and organized crime
Hard Gray Eyes
What Jack Murphy thought was the career move of a lifetime turned into a humiliating arrest, a brutal prison term and a Texas Hill Country shoot out with a drug cartel.
With the help of unlikely alliances forged behind bars, a reclusive Hill Country ally and a wizened FBI agent willing to push limits, Murphy recovers millions in hidden cartel money and orchestrates the downfall of those who engineered the false claims that sent him to prison.
Played out in a cloak-and-dagger chess match against corrupt bankers and cartel assassins, Hard Gray Eyes is the story of a man who refuse to be broken – and fights to restore a life built on integrity.
Reviews
Hard Gray Eyes Is A Hit…If you’re looking for an exciting story line involving corruption in the world of high finance, deceit and treachery at the highest executive level of the banking industry and a fast paced thriller that leads to a surprising finale, you’ll find it in this masterfully crafted novel from the pen of Jon Richards. Top notch!! — Dave W.
Engaging Read…Big’n and Caleb are a hoot. Jack and Pamela will tug at the heart strings. The prison fight and the hill country gun fight will get your blood pressure going. A mix of emotion, intrigue, humor and action.— Vic M.
Good Read…Couldn’t put it down. — Greg M.
Coming Soon
Ghost Players continues the Jack Murphy saga into the explosive world of college athletics, NIL money, and organized crime.
When payments intended for real student-athletes begin disappearing into accounts tied to players that don’t exist, charter pilot Caleb Ransom overhears a conversation that should never have happened. What starts as a financial irregularity quickly spirals into a high-stakes investigation involving mob money laundering, corrupted athletic programs, and a network designed to silence anyone who asks questions.
As Jack Murphy, Alfred “Big’n” Winslow III, and FBI Agent Warren Pike begin pulling threads, they discover a system built to operate in plain sight — and protected by fear.
In a world where fortunes are made on performance, the most dangerous players may be the ones who never step onto the field.
Currently in development. Join our mailing list for release announcements.
About the Author
Jon Richards spent more than forty years working inside the financial industry as a banking executive and consultant to senior leadership. His career placed him in back offices, executive suites, and boardrooms across the country—experiences that now bring authenticity and real-world plausibility to his financial-thriller fiction.
After retiring, Jon and his wife, Victoria, settled into a quiet life in the Smokey Mountains of western North Carolina. Surrounded by mountain views, frequent wildlife visitors, and a large and growing family that includes six children, sixteen grandchildren, and a soon-to-arrive great-grandchild, Jon finally pursued a long-held ambition to write fiction.
His debut novel, Hard Gray Eyes, reflects his fascination with believable characters navigating complex moral choices within powerful financial institutions. The novel launched a continuing series focused on character-driven suspense grounded in realistic settings and relationships readers can invest in.
When not writing, Jon enjoys skiing, plays golf with more enthusiasm than precision, and appreciates fine wine and good bourbon.
Jon Richards writes under a pen name derived from his given name, John Richard Matheny