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
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.
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What the critics say
“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 comrades-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
"Hits all the right notes for an entertaining urban fantasy series. Readers will want to see what happens next."—Library Journal
"A fun twist on hard-boiled urban fantasy thrills . . . . sure to capture genre fans."—Publishers Weekly
"Butcher manages to create relatable, believable characters with real flaws, real needs and wants, fleshing them out with tongue-in-cheek humor. . . . A roller-coaster fun book that will have the reader waiting impatiently for the next Grimsby tale.”—New York Journal of Books
Continue the series
Very good start, looking forward to see more
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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 👍
Apple... Tree... Etc in all the best ways
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excellent!
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Fun and exciting underdog story, looking forward to the continuation of the series.
Fun listen
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Good first entry in urban fantasy
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