Murdock Tackles Taos is an any-time summer read, a murder mystery fueled with action: a missing woman and a corpse, good guys and bad guys, love and sex, all flavored with evil I will not reveal. Also, Murdock Tackles Taos examines privilege and the extremes that mega-wealth can afford. When you can buy anything or anyone you want, what more is there? What games do humans play when the thrill is gone? When human life loses all meaning or value?

Through it all, Murdock makes me smile. He’s not a suave, sophisticated James Bond. He’s not a disheveled, bumbling Colombo either. He’s real. He’s kind. He’s somebody to share a good adventure with. Helene Steinbeck, retired town marshal turned successful author, is Murdock’s new sidekick and lover. She makes me just a tiny bit jealous.

Robert Ray’s novel tossed me back and forth between the feel of a summer read and a study in human nature – either way Murdock Tackles Taos is a read you won’t want to miss. ( )

This book was an early reviewer copy that I had received quite awhile ago. I had tried to read it then, but I just couldn't get into it, so put it aside. I decided to persevere and read the book so that I have a review on file for the publisher. I didn't like the book at all. It is far too graphic for my taste, and it seems like the author has tried to cram a whole bunch of different kinds of depraved behaviour into one book. We have kidnapping, white slavery, murder and many other unsavoury things going on in this book. Some I don't even care to mention in a review because it pushes the book past entertainment into something totally macabre. This is supposedly book 6 in the Matt Murdock series, but I don't think reading any of the earlier books before this one would have made the book more enjoyable for me. If you don't like your mysteries graphic, frenetic and with a totally off-the-wall villain, give this book a pass. ( )

Private-eye Murdock, gritty and unforgettable, practices running over rocks in bare feet. Helene, policeman's daughter, very good with a gun, is a struggling writer with her first novel out. They meet in the woods when she stumbles over a dead body followed by deadly arrows whizzing in her direction. Murdock is in Taos on a job and Helene is in Taos at a writer's conference and their fates become entangled as they begin studying the situation and as both become a killer's quarry. Helene is a fantastic character and this is a great romance embedded in a great mystery novel. ( )

"Murdock Tackles Taos" by Robert J.Ray, had me spellbound by the first couple of pages. Just think you go for a hike, see a dead body; The, someone jump on top of you, ask you to be quiet. All of sudden, someone shooting arrows at the you. That what happen, to Helen Steinbeck, a known writer, father cop, she use to be one. Murdock, the man that got on top of Helen, has been in the woods for couple of days, trying to located a missing daughter (Barbi Bellini) of a friend. In, this story you get who-done it, romance, adventure and action. It was hard for me to put the book, down. So, do Murdock finds the missing girl, do they figure out who & why someone is shooting arrows, at the both of them.
In "Murdock Tackles Taos", is so intriguing. Got numerous twists and turns in it; So, it keep you guessing, who is behind everything, go in on Angel mountain. Ray, had the plot well written, the characters come to life, as you read the story. Giving "Murdock Tackles Taos" five stars. Will, be reading this book, again.
So, go get you a copy of "Murdock Tackles Taos", today. I promise, you will not be disappointed in this Great Mystery. ( )

I found this to be thought provoking but It was not one of those that hooked and pulled me in to not put down. A decent fill in read till the next James Patterson, etc. book is released. I had the reason why humans were hunted figured out early on but not so much what caused the reason. The book gave a glimpse into a very dark side of human nature but the depth of the characters seemed lacking and never deeply touch on their thoughts or the way of their thinking. I understand there are more Murdock books ,he was a great character but learn very little about him ( )