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Dumb Luck and Dead Heroes #9

The Worst Admiral in the Star Cluster

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Being responsible is terrible…

Brad Mendoza always wanted to be an admiral, but now that he’s been promoted, it’s not all it’s cracked up to be. In fact, it’s downright stressful. So when he flees his responsibilities to go chase down some slavers, he’s hoping for a nice, relaxing mission with his new wife and their ragtag crew.

But the man they’re chasing isn’t who they think he is, and Brad and Jessica soon learn that they’re the prey, not the hunters. Now, Brad has to defeat an enemy who’s better armed, better funded, and deadset on killing him and the love of his life.

The only sure thing is that he’ll find a way to mess it all up.

The exciting ninth book in the Dumb Luck and Dead Heroes series, The Worst Admiral in the Star Cluster will have you on the edge of your seat, biting your nails and laughing along with our dead heroes as they once again unwittingly save the galaxy. Equal parts military science fiction, space opera, and comedy, you'll love this new entry in the fan-favorite series!

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498 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 10, 2025

161 people are currently reading
15 people want to read

About the author

Skyler Ramirez

83 books132 followers
Skyler grew up in Southern California, under the best weather that state has to offer. So, he's shown a little of his insanity over the years in moving to colder, wetter places: New York City; Provo, Utah; Bainbridge Island, WA. He now resides with his family in Texas, which (apart from the humidity) gives him that great weather once again.

Skyler has been and continues to be a leader and executive with multiple Fortune 500 and Fortune 1000 companies, working across a variety of functions, both technical and non-technical. In other words, he's very much a jack-of-all-trades but master of none. Maybe that's why he has now decided to be an author as well. In it, he’s finally found the thing he loves to do most.

Mr. Ramirez currently resides in Texas with his wife, Lindsey, and their four children.

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Community Reviews

5 stars
239 (66%)
4 stars
100 (27%)
3 stars
21 (5%)
2 stars
1 (<1%)
1 star
1 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
Profile Image for Sean.
111 reviews3 followers
December 13, 2025
Holy Crap

Well I have enjoyed every book in the series, none have made me laugh out loud or my heart race with excitement quite like this one. This is the best Mendoza story yet. There are one or two spots in the beginning where an editor wouldn't go amiss, but once the story starts it flows and races along quite well. Highly recommended.
118 reviews
January 8, 2026
A wonderful fun series.

It’s a pity the editing isn’t slightly better, particularly the proofreading. With a few language tweaks that don’t change the author’s voice, this is a James Webber quality, space opera. The author should be earning millions. The fact that he’s not allows those of us with fewer resources to more affordably read and enjoy the series.

For any who complain about clumsy pros and a few proofreading lapses, get over yourselves and enjoy the ride. It’s a wonderful series. Very, very highly recommended.
27 reviews
December 30, 2025
Love this series!

I enjoy it when an author can develop and grow the characters in a series while maintaining the essence of the characters themselves.
One character goes from a broken drunk to a reluctant vice admiral. The other goes from an abuse survivor to a powerful woman.
They may be the “worst”, but their luck and adventures are the best!
I look forward to the next book in this series!
Profile Image for Chuck Woodbury.
379 reviews
December 23, 2025
Loved it!

Another great installment but make sure have read all they earlier books or you will be lost. Impossible situations and brilliant solutions seem to be par for Jess and Brad. Patiently awaiting 10!
Profile Image for Paul Maddocks.
5 reviews
December 25, 2025
Fun

Like all the other books to date this is just a fun romp through space. It won't change your life but will simultaneously tickle your humour and "pop a little space dust" in your eyes.
4 reviews
December 30, 2025
Best yet!

What a wild ride. Love story, reluctant heroes, dastardly villains, epic space battles, what more can a reader want. Assassin's, secret agents make it all the more fun.
37 reviews2 followers
December 16, 2025
worst?

Brad and Jessica figure it out……Again. Another tight fun story. The only issue I have is that I have to wait for the next one!
2 reviews
December 17, 2025
The fun continues

These series will never be 'literature', but the are fun, entertaining, outlandish, good reading.
Book 9 as good as book 1,2,3.....

Enjoy!
21 reviews
December 18, 2025
Better and better

Wow, this was the best book in the series and cannot wait to read the next! Not sure how I came
To see and read this series but sure glad I did!!
9 reviews
December 19, 2025
The best sci-fi I've ever read

I've been a devoted sci-fi fan for more than 50 years. Skyler has combined character and plot better than any other author I've read.
11 reviews
December 23, 2025
These books just keep getting better.

The space battles are good. The characters get more developed, and "more real" in every book. I eagerly await the next one.
74 reviews
December 23, 2025
One of the best, if not the best book in this series. There is action, growth and hilarious insults that make this series and characters great.
Profile Image for Trevor.
1,449 reviews2 followers
December 23, 2025
Brad, Jess and the team are back and again chasing the bad guys across space. These books are all about the characters and their interactions, again this is on top form.
1 review
December 27, 2025
excellent as always

Excellent book. Excellent series. Always entertaining. I will be looking forward to the next installment. Hopefully it won’t be as long a wait as the last one.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews

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