Dead Man's Hand
The Unorthodox Chronicles, Book 1
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Narrated by:
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James Patrick Cronin
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Written by:
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James J. Butcher
About this listen
In the tradition of his renowned father, James J. Butcher’s debut novel is a brilliant urban fantasy about a young man who must throw out the magical rule book to solve the murder of his former mentor.
On the streets of Boston, the world is divided into the ordinary Usuals, and the paranormal Unorthodox. And in the Department of Unorthodox Affairs, the Auditors are the magical elite, government-sanctioned witches with spells at their command and all the power and prestige that comes with it. Grimshaw Griswald Grimsby is…not one of those witches.
After flunking out of the Auditor training program and being dismissed as “not Department material,” Grimsby tried to resign himself to life as a mediocre witch. But he can’t help hoping he’ll somehow, someway, get another chance to prove his skill. That opportunity comes with a price when his former mentor, aka the most dangerous witch alive, is murdered down the street from where he works, and Grimsby is the Auditors’ number one suspect.
Proving his innocence will require more than a little legwork, and after forming a strange alliance with the retired legend known as the Huntsman and a mysterious being from Elsewhere, Grimsby is abruptly thrown into a life of adventure, whether he wants it or not. Now all he has to do is find the real killer, avoid the Auditors on his trail, and most importantly, stay alive.
©2022 James J. Butcher (P)2022 Penguin AudioYou may also enjoy...
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What the critics say
“Woot! Get set for a wild ride! Debut author James J. Butcher hits one out of the ballpark. Nonstop action in this character-driven urban fantasy that is both laugh-out-loud and terrifying—sometimes at the same time.”—Patricia Briggs, #1 New York Times bestselling author
“Clear your schedule. You won’t want to put this down. With awkward heroes, convincing villains, and reluctant deadly mentors, James J Butcher’s Dead Man’s Hand is a gem. Uneven alliances evolving into comrade-in-arms, personal growth, and, most important to me, inventive world building all make Dead Man’s Hand an entirely enjoyable read that proves once more that snark is indeed a deadly weapon. Read it. You will not be disappointed. I eagerly await the sequel.”—Kim Harrison, #1 New York Times bestselling author
“Dead Man's Hand is splendid, a spectacular debut novel and the best book I’ve read in years. James J. Butcher is an outstanding storyteller and I can’t wait to read what he comes up with next.”—Faith Hunter, New York Times bestselling author
What listeners say about Dead Man's Hand
Average Customer RatingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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- Anonymous User
- 2022-10-27
Apple... Tree... Etc in all the best ways
Great first novel, James! Congratulations and well done.
Similar vibe to the Dresden Files, if you're a fan (which I am 😁), but very much distinct and James clearly has his own voice as a writer. Pacing was great and I found I couldn't put it down nearing the last 10 chapters.
Highly recommend and I can't wait for more from James 👍
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- Anonymous User
- 2022-11-25
Very good start, looking forward to see more
A promising start, interesting characters and a magic system I'm curious to see expanded upon. Finished in two days easy to binge. Definitely getting the next one if the series continues.
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- Anonymous User
- 2022-11-29
excellent!
A fantastic story by James J. Butcher! I can't wait for the next book. The story telling is so similar yet different from Jim's, his father. I expect great stories from James!
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- Anonymous User
- 2022-12-19
Fun listen
Good debut
Fun and exciting underdog story, looking forward to the continuation of the series.
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- Anonymous User
- 2023-05-24
Good first entry in urban fantasy
Fast paced, decent introduction and world building. Supernatural partner/detective story. Similar to his Dads work which is not a bad thing. Looking forward to the next entry
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- Anonymous User
- 2022-12-13
Entertaining and sarcastic 🤣
A great adventurous humorous book of entertainment. Similar writing as his father, but I ain't mad about that! Excited for the next boss of this series.
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- Anonymous User
- 2024-10-22
Not his daddy's story
Had very high hopes as there is a critical shortage of Dresden Files species story telling in the world. Reviews that rank the son with his father are well-meaning but misguided. I really, really tried to like this story but it is so incredibly boring that it's impossible to get into.
The narration is also pedestrian and dirs nothing to lift the novel out of its morass.
I feel I'm being overly generous in giving both a 3.
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- Anonymous User
- 2023-01-04
Great debut
Ok, first book of the year and I'm out to a great start
Great debut novel, especially considering the legacy he is trying to live up to. It was extremely hard to not compare this storyline to the Dresden novels, it may have not been a great idea to write in the same genre as dad, but you write what you know. Characters are not as likable as those in the Dresden files, but that could be years and years of brainwashing. There is something just off about the universe, and I haven't quite figured out what it is, but overall, I would say jr has a much better sense of humour and I look forward to seeing where things go. I see huge potential for James Butcher and would definitely continue the series...especially with how long it's taking dad to put out another book.
Favourite quote
"A year here? I'd kill my self" "well we are always hiring"
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- Anonymous User
- 2023-01-10
Fast paced and fun!
This was a great start to what I hope is a long series. I can see the authors dad's influence but he made his own way into the genre. Grimbsby is a relatable and funny guy. The narrator did a fantastic job as well. Can't wait for the next one!
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- Anonymous User
- 2023-01-26
A Rather Good Read
The latest offering in the genre of urban fantasy was an enjoyable read/listen. The author sets himself apart from his father’s body of work and style but you can see little glimmers peak through. A worthy first story to introduce himself and the world he has created.
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