Dead Man's Hand

Dead Man’s Hand by David Nix Jack Paynter #1 Stayed up in the dark to finish this book. Living in Lebanon. I usually make sure I know what time it is so I can be in bed before the electricity cut happens. Not last night…nope…no way…I had to find out what would happen so I sat here in the dark, used the flashlight on my phone when I realized the electricity was gone for the night, headed upstairs to read in bed, and hoped the battery on my little laptop would not disappear before I finished the story. What I liked: * The writing and eking out of tidbits about the main character that fleshed him out into a real person who became the man I admired and hoped to read more about…and hoped would live a long and prosperous life * The descriptions of place and time * Jake Paynter: complex, conflicted, conscientious, careful, cunning, cultivated, lethal, and a man with so much potential… * The time period and memories of books read previously * How Jake grew and changed eventually seeming to come into his own * The glimpse into what I fear was the truth of that time period…cringeworthy at times * Jake’s reason for leaving home and his reason for leaving the side he fought on during the American Civil War…and I felt sorry for him after reading what he endured * Feeling a part of the narrative as is took place…though I am not sure WHO I was in the story * Gus: comrade in arms of Jake’s who had a tough row to hoe in more ways than one * Stacy Blue: a young woman who has seen more miles than most but on the trail leading others to their promised land * Wondering if Stacy and Gus will end up together * The forging of a brotherhood created by Paynter within the people on the way west that Paynter rode with * That just enough but not too much of Jake’s past experiences were shared in the story…horrific but not eviscerating Knowing that there are more books in the series to look forward to. What I didn’t like: * All that I was meant not to like…and there were quite a few people and events that were unlikable… Did I enjoy this book? Yes Would I read more in this series? Definitely Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks-Casablanca for the ARC – This is my honest review 5 Stars