Dead Man’s Hand by James J. Butcher -a Review

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Description:
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.

Review:

Dead Man’s Hand by James J. Butcher is his debut novel, which is the first book in his new series, The Unorthodox Chronicles.  The Unorthodox Chronicles is a magic world, with human Usuals and paranormal Unorthodox; the Department of Unorthodox Affairs and Auditors are government magical elites, with witches who use spells to control their power.  There are two main characters who lead in this story.

Grimshaw Griswald Grimsby failed in his attempt to be an Auditor, and with his mentor now dead, Grimsby has become the prime suspect.  He works at a restaurant to make some money, using his witch abilities, until he is approached by The Huntsman (a retired assassin for the Unorthodox), who at first plans to kill him; but then Mayflower (the huntsman) realizes that Grimsby is innocent.  Despite their obvious differences, they partner to find the real culprit.

Where Mayflower, is considered a legend, who has been around forever, and is an expert in all Unorthodox and Auditor affairs; even though he is now retired, he needs to find out who killed his former mentor.  It is Grimsby who Mayflower needs to help him, with his witch abilities.  Grimsby was in many ways a coward, bumbling up many things, while Mayflower would usually save him.  I found that both main characters were not totally likeable, with Mayflower being hard and sarcastic throughout, and Grimsby totally off the wall for the most part.  Closer to the end, they managed to work well together. 

Dead Man’s Hand is a unique urban fantasy adventure, at times suspenseful; with witches that enforce the Unorthodox.  Grimsby and Mayflower are constantly thrown into chaos and danger; with Grimsby a reluctant witch, Mayflower a grumpy veteran, and mystery that has many twists and turns.   Will they survive?  Dead Man’s Hand was well written by James J. Butcher, though I did think there was too many details and redundancy.  If you like Urban Fantasy, I do suggest you give this book a try.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher