Dead Mans Hand, James J. Butcher
Dead Mans Hand, James J. Butcher
6 Rating(s)
List: $22.50 | Sale: $15.75
Club: $11.25

Dead Man's Hand

Author: James J. Butcher

Narrator: James Patrick Cronin

Unabridged: 11 hr 10 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Publisher: Penguin Audio

Published: 10/11/2022


Synopsis

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.

About James J. Butcher

James J. Butcher is an emerging urban fantasy author known for his inventive storytelling and dynamic characters. As the son of #1 New York Times bestselling author Jim Butcher, creator of The Dresden Files, James was introduced early to the realms of books, movies, and games, which sparked his fascination with speculative fiction.

Residing in Denver, Colorado, James dedicates much of his time to crafting fictional worlds, including the universe of his debut series, The Unorthodox Chronicles. The series introduces readers to Grimshaw Griswald Grimsby, a fledgling witch navigating the complexities of a world where the ordinary and the paranormal coexist.

James's writing reflects his desire to explore character relationships, moving beyond solitary protagonists to delve into the bonds and conflicts that drive engaging narratives.


Reviews

Goodreads review by PamG on September 26, 2023

Dead Man’s Hand is the debut novel of James J. Butcher. The author gives readers imaginative world-building and diverse characters in this urban fantasy set in and around Boston, Massachusetts. The world is divided into those without any magical or paranormal capabilities and those that have the......more

Goodreads review by Jenna on April 05, 2023

2 stars. Yikes. That was...not good. The world-building is way too shallow. The humor is super juvenile. The protagonist is pathetic and wallows in self-pity. And the plot is on the clunky side. Don't think I'm going to continue with this series, sadly.......more

Goodreads review by Oliver on October 29, 2022

Didn't know what to expect from this considering the circumstances, but Dead Man's Hand was an enjoyable read and a solid debut. It's certainly not easy to live up to a legacy like that and I felt like this was a fairly good try. The comparisons with the authors father will happen anyways so in rega......more

Goodreads review by Sarah on October 04, 2024

An I-don't-wanna-be-the-Chosen-One quest-type story might appeal to readers who liked Kill the Farm Boy, especially as there is a moderate amount of silliness used to temper the darker action. This first in a series sets up an interesting new witching world with an odd-couple team. A few side charac......more

Goodreads review by The Fantasy Review on October 25, 2022

Dead Man's Hand by James J. Butcher is a fantastic debut for the son of Jim Butcher. I have seen a few Dead Man's Hand book reviews that have compared The Dresden Files with this first entry into The Unorthodox Chronicles, and I have decided not to do that. This book and its author should be rated an......more


Quotes

“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 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