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Dead Man's Hand
Zombies, werewolves, vampires, rival Bowie tribute bands, and conjoined twin mobsters…it’s all in a day’s work for Ace Stubble, a gritty lawyer whose clients are the undead and paranormal. Feeling a bit worn out, Ace just wants a vacation. But when a cute hacker with a big problem talks Ace into helping her out, he decides to call in some favors and be the good guy. It’s not long before he’s in deep trouble, and it’s going to take more than smooth talk and quick wits if he wants to get out of this bind in one piece.
72 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 12, 2012
14 people are currently reading
61 people want to read
About the author
Richard Levesque
45 books46 followersRichard Levesque was born near Montreal,Canada and grew up in Southern California.
He began writing while in college, publishing several pieces in college journals while working on his undergraduate degree at Cal Poly Pomona. After finishing his Master's Degree in 1990, he focused more on teaching than writing for a few years, eventually completing his Ph.D. at UC Riverside in 2000. His dissertation was on Hollywood novelists of the 1920s and 1930s.
Since 1999, he has been part of the English Department at Fullerton College and turned again to writing a few years ago. He primarily writes science fiction but continues to have a strong interest in early Hollywood and Los Angeles history and culture and often works those themes into his writing.
When not writing or grading papers, he spends time with his wife and daughter, works on his collection of old science fiction pulps and tries to be better than a mediocre guitar player.
He began writing while in college, publishing several pieces in college journals while working on his undergraduate degree at Cal Poly Pomona. After finishing his Master's Degree in 1990, he focused more on teaching than writing for a few years, eventually completing his Ph.D. at UC Riverside in 2000. His dissertation was on Hollywood novelists of the 1920s and 1930s.
Since 1999, he has been part of the English Department at Fullerton College and turned again to writing a few years ago. He primarily writes science fiction but continues to have a strong interest in early Hollywood and Los Angeles history and culture and often works those themes into his writing.
When not writing or grading papers, he spends time with his wife and daughter, works on his collection of old science fiction pulps and tries to be better than a mediocre guitar player.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
November 16, 2022
Great Read! you can read the review in full on my website:
http://alligatorsandaneurysms.wordpre...
But here's a snippet to get you started
"Ah yes. Not your average case. Well in the case of Richard Levesque’s Dead Man’s Hand (Ace Stubble), imitators need not apply. When I say Ace isn't your average detective, I mean it. He’s actually not a detective at all. He’s a lawyer who defends less than normal clientele . . . Oh and did I mention zombies? That should give you at least a hint as to what’s going on here. Should at least give an idea of the world we’re inhabiting.
Basically, Ace Stubble defends vampires, werewolves and any other sort of paranormal crook who ends up on the wrong side of the law. He’s going about his business, drinking (ah yes the true staple of a hard boiled detective) and needing a vacation, when he’s attacked by a werewolf on a full moon. He’s able to walk away with his neck (mostly intact) because of a young, seductive hacker (possibly a vampire?) who happens to have some silver. Ace does the gentlemanly thing to do and accompanies her back to her flat. Turns out she has an abundance of problems and when Ace offers a helping hand, our vixen (name pixel) pulls one (a hand) out of the refrigerator. You’ll have to read the rest yourself, and I recommend that you do."
(via Alligators & Aneurysms!)
http://alligatorsandaneurysms.wordpre...
But here's a snippet to get you started
"Ah yes. Not your average case. Well in the case of Richard Levesque’s Dead Man’s Hand (Ace Stubble), imitators need not apply. When I say Ace isn't your average detective, I mean it. He’s actually not a detective at all. He’s a lawyer who defends less than normal clientele . . . Oh and did I mention zombies? That should give you at least a hint as to what’s going on here. Should at least give an idea of the world we’re inhabiting.
Basically, Ace Stubble defends vampires, werewolves and any other sort of paranormal crook who ends up on the wrong side of the law. He’s going about his business, drinking (ah yes the true staple of a hard boiled detective) and needing a vacation, when he’s attacked by a werewolf on a full moon. He’s able to walk away with his neck (mostly intact) because of a young, seductive hacker (possibly a vampire?) who happens to have some silver. Ace does the gentlemanly thing to do and accompanies her back to her flat. Turns out she has an abundance of problems and when Ace offers a helping hand, our vixen (name pixel) pulls one (a hand) out of the refrigerator. You’ll have to read the rest yourself, and I recommend that you do."
(via Alligators & Aneurysms!)
February 27, 2013
Entertaining but lightweight. Rather short, there are some interesting things but nothing really gets developed. This would have made an excellent bit of filler back in the old pulp magazine days.
December 30, 2017
A truly great, fun to read, little book. Horror/Monster fans will really love it, because it's full of all types of wonderful monsters and interesting unusual characters, but the book also has a great mystery/neo-noir feel to it. Richard Leveseque's unique writing style uses economy of words that results in efficient yet vivid descriptions of the people, places, and action in his books. I highly recommend this novel, and am looking forward to more books to come in this "Ace Stubble" series. By the way, this would also make for an outstanding original television series adaptation.
April 17, 2015
Another freebie short story/novelette, and a fun read, if not exactly groundbreaking. The plotting is clever and the author obviously loves the hardboiled style. The prose and dialog might feel a bit anachronistic - but then again, the story is not exactly set in the here and now as we know it. This is yet another urban fantasy/paranormal thing featuring the stock menagerie of werewolves, zombies, (presumably) vampires, and whatnot - with some tweaks by the author. Definitely worth the price, this one.
The garish cover art emulates the pulps of days gone by, and while it is still annoyingly childish, it works better than the one for "Walk a Mile".
Nitpick: Okay, if the Grommet twins (the character names in this story are pretty ridiculous; how about a protagonist named Ace Stubble) are conjoined with "the left side of one's bulbous, bald head fused with the right side of the other's", then by geometric necessity they would be facing the same direction, not opposite, as stated in the story.
The garish cover art emulates the pulps of days gone by, and while it is still annoyingly childish, it works better than the one for "Walk a Mile".
Nitpick: Okay, if the Grommet twins (the character names in this story are pretty ridiculous; how about a protagonist named Ace Stubble) are conjoined with "the left side of one's bulbous, bald head fused with the right side of the other's", then by geometric necessity they would be facing the same direction, not opposite, as stated in the story.
November 3, 2013
I'm afraid I usually don't give novellas more than three stars. The form is too short to build the richness and depth that I look for in a book. This one is no exception. There's not anything really wrong with it, but for me it also wasn't amazing.
It's a mashup of noir and urban fantasy, which is fine, but it's so strongly noir that I kept being surprised when someone would pull out a smartphone. The main character and narrator is a lawyer for paranormal clients rather than a private eye, but that makes very little difference in practice. Because of the genre conventions, I saw one of the reveals coming a long, long way away.
Come to think of it, I usually don't rate noir more than three stars either. I probably should stop reading noir novellas.
It's a mashup of noir and urban fantasy, which is fine, but it's so strongly noir that I kept being surprised when someone would pull out a smartphone. The main character and narrator is a lawyer for paranormal clients rather than a private eye, but that makes very little difference in practice. Because of the genre conventions, I saw one of the reveals coming a long, long way away.
Come to think of it, I usually don't rate noir more than three stars either. I probably should stop reading noir novellas.
October 5, 2013
Dead Man's Hand is a fun, short paranormal. I'm glad it's a series since Ace Stubble, a lawyer "Representing the Undead and Paranormal Communities," is a Sam Spade type with a big helping of Dresden on the side.
The various troubles of the non-human (or human with talents) populace almost make Ace one of the undead himself. But, being the sharp shyster he is, Ace Stubble can usually pull off a miracle even if it's by accident.
I liked the concept, the writing, and Ace Stubble enough to want to read more.
The various troubles of the non-human (or human with talents) populace almost make Ace one of the undead himself. But, being the sharp shyster he is, Ace Stubble can usually pull off a miracle even if it's by accident.
I liked the concept, the writing, and Ace Stubble enough to want to read more.
February 9, 2015
Dead Man's Hand was a short, fast read that was hard to put down. The author captured the noir gumshoe vibe well, and injecting the urban paranormal (the protagonist is a lawyer for the differently alive) kept the whole thing fresh and amusing. The story stayed true to the genre all the way through, which I appreciated and found satisfying. The twist on the warring crime-lord siblings was particularly inspired.
September 11, 2014
HUMOROUS AND LIGHTHEARTED
The lawyer has clients that most folks would consider Halloween nightmares. As situations pileup, the action becomes more complicated and questionable as to what's the best path to follow?
The lawyer has clients that most folks would consider Halloween nightmares. As situations pileup, the action becomes more complicated and questionable as to what's the best path to follow?
April 14, 2015
Weak compared to other stories he has written.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews