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David J. Nix
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Dead Man's Hand (Jake Paynter, 1) Library Binding – Large Print, July 1, 2022

by David Nix (Author)
4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 41 ratings
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Jake Paynter is a doomed man. Haunted by an abusive childhood and his participation in atrocities of the Civil War, he seeks the isolation of the Plains Cavalry as a white officer for an all-Black buffalo soldier troop. Now, he is in irons and certain to be hanged for killing his captain after refusing an inhumane order. Despite his best efforts to maintain isolation, he starts to make friends on his journey to trial. The people of the wagon train begin looking to Paynter for leadership, and he reluctantly falls into the role.
Previous page
  1. Book 1 of 3
    Jake Paynter
  2. Print length
    423 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Publisher
    Center Point Pub
  5. Publication date
    July 1, 2022
  6. Dimensions
    5.7 x 1.2 x 8.88 inches
  7. ISBN-10
    1638083916
  8. ISBN-13
    978-1638083917
  9. See all details
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The Amazon Book Review
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Editorial Reviews

Review

"Nix deftly pulls together interesting farmers, outlaws and other characters. His often-lyrical prose fits the wide-open landscapes, storms and floods. The preparations for battle by worried travelers, their wives and children, with only a handful of gunmen on their side, are compelling. The core question—whether Jake helping others will save him—builds to a can't-put-down ending. Highly recommended." -Historical Novel Society

"I'M AMAZED! I read and review dozens of books each year and can usually find several flaws in each one, but not this time. Dead Man's Hand is a breathtaking masterpiece of western fiction, right up there with my all-time favorite, Lonesome Dove. ... This engrossing story easily earns five stars and MY HIGHEST RECOMMENDATION!" -Sue's Reviews

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Center Point Pub; Large type / Large print edition (July 1, 2022)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Library Binding ‏ : ‎ 423 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1638083916
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1638083917
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.58 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.7 x 1.2 x 8.88 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 41 ratings

About the author

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David J. Nix

David J. Nix

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When I was eight, my adventurous parents hauled our young family from the west coast to a Wyoming mountain town perched in the foothills of the Wind River mountains. That magical landscape infused my formative years with a wonder of promise and possibility.

We are all wired for story, and I'm a reader first. Whether speculating about worlds that were, worlds that are, or worlds that could be, I look for stories that explore the limits of the human spirit recognizable to all readers.

I’ve called Austin home since 1998 with my wife and three children. The kids are grown now, but remain in and around the heart of Texas and consider themselves honorary Wyomingites. I’ve been away from that mountain town for a long time now, but never really left the place.

My author sites can be found at http://davidjnix.com (sci-fi and westerns) and http://sawyernorth.com (romance).

Customer reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars
4.5 out of 5
41 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Sue's Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars This flawless, unforgettable story is a masterpiece of western fiction! FIVE BRILLIANT STARS!
Reviewed in the United States on May 24, 2022
Verified Purchase
I'M AMAZED! I read and review dozens of books each year and can usually find several flaws in each one, but not this time. Dead Man's Hand is a breathtaking masterpiece of western fiction, right up there with my all-time favorite, Lonesome Dove. The author's skillful prose--liberally sprinkled with delightful similes and metaphors--paints a vivid picture of life in the Old West shortly after the Civil War, when pioneers, soldiers, Native Americans and outlaws frequently engaged in bloody conflict.

This story grabbed me on page one and never let go. Our hero, Jake Paynter, is a tormented soul, haunted by atrocities he was ordered to commit as a Confederate soldier before he "turned coat" to fight for the Union. His troubles multiply after the war, when--as a lieutenant in the Plains Cavalry--he kills his captain when the man orders the slaughter of two hundred defenseless Arapaho women and children in the Green River basin.

Traveling in shackles with a wagon train on his journey to Fort Bridger for trial and certain hanging, Paynter makes tentative friendships with some of his fellow travelers, who look to him for protection and leadership when the train is attacked by a gang of ex-Confederate raiders who want the bars of Confederate gold hidden in the wagon belonging to Lucien Ashley, the train's leader. But the raiders want more than gold. Led by a bloodthirsty fellow named Sally, they have no qualms about killing everyone on the wagon train, unless Paynter can find a way to stop them. (The ensuing life-or-death battles are heart-stopping!)

Paynter has opportunities to escape to freedom, but the needs of his fellow travelers--along with his own need for absolution--compel him to remain with the train until it reaches Fort Bridger, where he faces a hostile court-martial panel and the testimony of Blackburn--a truly evil fellow who lies about the events at Green River. (Blackburn is the former Confederate officer who ordered Paynter to commit atrocities during the war and hates Paynter for defecting to the North.) How does it end? I'm not saying. But this exciting tale continues in Book 2, and I can't wait to read it!

You'll find compelling prose, authentic western settings, and memorable characters, including Gus Rivers, Jake's captor and friend; Stacy Blue, the feisty half-Shoshone daughter of the wagon master; the Emshoff family, immigrants from Germany; and Rosalyn Ashley, Lucien's lovely sister, who finds goodness in the heart of our tormented hero. You'll find no sex scenes, no f-bombs, and very limited profanity. Kudos for flawless proofreading and for the author's extensive knowledge of the locations and history of the time period. This engrossing story easily earns five stars and MY HIGHEST RECOMMENDATION!
2 people found this helpful
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Jess
4.0 out of 5 stars Action packed with likable characters…
Reviewed in the United States on March 1, 2022
Dead Man’s Hand is a fast paced historical western whose hero is a complex man with many demons. At seventeen, Jake joined up with a band of civil war raiders where he committed atrocities that have stained his soul.. When his commanding officer issued an order that broke the camel’s back, Jake put a bullet in his head. Jake finds himself in manacles on his way to hang. An I’ll fated wagon train under attack proves the kind of character Jake really is. Like any good western, the story contains the prerequisite tortured soul of a hero, a love interest who is way out of league, a few good friends, and the murderous villains out for their souls. Action packed with likable characters, the story is a must read for western fans. Here’s hoping Jake gets a long lived series! My voluntary, unbiased review is based upon a review copy from NetGalley.
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JACKSON
5.0 out of 5 stars An Excellent Read
Reviewed in the United States on June 25, 2023
Verified Purchase
I’ve been wanting to get into reading some westerns and this is the first book I picked up because I liked the cover. Well every western I read from now on has some high standards to live up to. I enjoyed this book so much. It has action and drama and suspense and also likable characters and also does a fine job at tugging at your heartstrings. I have already bought the other books in the series and now this author is on my auto buy list. Buy it, read it. You’ll enjoy it!
One person found this helpful
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J.K
4.0 out of 5 stars Good
Reviewed in the United States on February 22, 2022
This book is outside my normal purview, but when I received an email with the widget, I couldn’t say no. Jake is a wanted man and is also responsible for guiding a wagon train across the broad midsection of the country.
What I loved the best about this book is all the descriptions of the landscape along the trail. I could see myself in all the places the author mentions. The action was decent and the dialogue fair. What kept pulling back into the story, repeatedly, was the land, trail, trials.
My heart belongs out west. Until I can be there, I’ll Have this to satiate my western quests with books like this.
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Dusty Davidson
5.0 out of 5 stars Worth the read
Reviewed in the United States on April 4, 2022
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This was completely outside of my normal reading material, and I am so glad I took a chance and read it. Wonderful, well-written characters in a solid story not convoluted with gratuitous foul language and sex as you’ve come to expect in westerns. Highly recommend it.
One person found this helpful
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M Jeanne Gibson
5.0 out of 5 stars Exciting historical fiction
Reviewed in the United States on March 7, 2022
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This is a book that brought forth strong emotional responses as it depicted the life of one particular man after the Civil War. The consequences of war on a young soldier are depicted in his flashbacks as he is being returned to stand trial for the one selfless act he had committed. All the while his innate nobility shows through as he helps the people of a wagon train on which he is being transported for trial as they are being pursued by ruthless soldiers of fortune. Lovers of historical westerns will appreciate the realism.
2 people found this helpful
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MJWR
5.0 out of 5 stars Great Read
Reviewed in the United States on March 27, 2022
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A very well written western. A good guy you immediately like and he has a past - as we all do. The historical input is a bonus. I anxiously await Jake’s next adventure.
2 people found this helpful
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Bon
5.0 out of 5 stars Outstanding! Remember this is a trilogy.
Reviewed in the United States on April 29, 2022
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High action and drama.
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