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Dan Deadman Space Detective #1
Dial D for Deadman, A Space Team Universe Novel:
The Space Team Universe just got a whole lot darker.
In an alien city torn apart by crooked cops and ruthless criminals, private detective, Dan Deadman, specializes in cases unusual and bizarre.
Sure, he doesn't smell great, and he's technically been dead for quite some time, but if you've got a rampaging Hell-beast tearing up your street, or a portal to another dimension appearing in your bathroom, Dan's your man.
After saving a mysterious young woman named Ollie from the clutches of something big, slimy, and unpleasant, Dan gets entangled in a missing child case, a string of grisly murders, and a severed woman's arm that just won't leave him alone.
And then there's the demonic entity who'll stop at nothing to get its tentacles on Ollie, even if it means destroying the whole damn planet.
Times like these, Dan would give his right nut to be a real detective.
If he still had nuts.
From the pages of Space Team: The Guns of Nana Joan, "Dial D for Deadman" is the first darkly comedic action adventure novel starring Dan Deadman, Space Detective.
In an alien city torn apart by crooked cops and ruthless criminals, private detective, Dan Deadman, specializes in cases unusual and bizarre.
Sure, he doesn't smell great, and he's technically been dead for quite some time, but if you've got a rampaging Hell-beast tearing up your street, or a portal to another dimension appearing in your bathroom, Dan's your man.
After saving a mysterious young woman named Ollie from the clutches of something big, slimy, and unpleasant, Dan gets entangled in a missing child case, a string of grisly murders, and a severed woman's arm that just won't leave him alone.
And then there's the demonic entity who'll stop at nothing to get its tentacles on Ollie, even if it means destroying the whole damn planet.
Times like these, Dan would give his right nut to be a real detective.
If he still had nuts.
From the pages of Space Team: The Guns of Nana Joan, "Dial D for Deadman" is the first darkly comedic action adventure novel starring Dan Deadman, Space Detective.
9 pages, Audible Audio
First published July 30, 2017
262 people are currently reading
307 people want to read
About the author
Barry J. Hutchison
50 books732 followersBarry J. Hutchison is an award-winning author, screenwriter and writer of comics. Having written over 70 books for children and teenagers, Barry is now writing books for adults. Space Team is his first grown-up novel.
Barry lives in the Highlands of Scotland with his wife, two children, and irritatingly upbeat dog.
Barry lives in the Highlands of Scotland with his wife, two children, and irritatingly upbeat dog.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 86 reviews
August 20, 2018
🚀 Nutty Sarcastic Space BR with the MacHalos, meaning I am reading this alone cause I am awesome, have sarcasm but no nuts 🚀
Dry & Black humour, Sarcasm, a short tempered corpse with a big fucking gun, a monster girl with the personality of a puppy and daddy issues and a foot tall Irishman who wears cocktail dresses with yellow clogs, among other things. All that makes for a daymn good time peoples! Simply fabulous! 👽
Dry & Black humour, Sarcasm, a short tempered corpse with a big fucking gun, a monster girl with the personality of a puppy and daddy issues and a foot tall Irishman who wears cocktail dresses with yellow clogs, among other things. All that makes for a daymn good time peoples! Simply fabulous! 👽
November 17, 2020
Notes:
Don't expect the story to be like Space Team. There are some similarities but this one has a darker tone, more gross descriptions, a ton of action and a lot of sarcastic humor. I thought it was rough around the edges but I enjoyed the way the story wrapped up.
Don't expect the story to be like Space Team. There are some similarities but this one has a darker tone, more gross descriptions, a ton of action and a lot of sarcastic humor. I thought it was rough around the edges but I enjoyed the way the story wrapped up.
August 11, 2021
I gave up about a quarter of the way into this. I just didn't find it to be very funny.
November 27, 2021
You should only read this book if you want to read a hilariously suspenseful horror mystery detective book. Or if you just want to laugh yourself silly, which I did several times.
This isn’t as over the top nutty as Hutchison’s Space Team series, although it features a reanimated dead guy with a heart of gold as the protagonist, a lurid leprechaun and a ditzy brunette whom you can’t help but love. Oh and a ray gun with multiple settings like “Kill,” “Stun,” and “Brown Noise.” Theres really a lot going on, in other words. Definitely worth a read!
This isn’t as over the top nutty as Hutchison’s Space Team series, although it features a reanimated dead guy with a heart of gold as the protagonist, a lurid leprechaun and a ditzy brunette whom you can’t help but love. Oh and a ray gun with multiple settings like “Kill,” “Stun,” and “Brown Noise.” Theres really a lot going on, in other words. Definitely worth a read!
August 11, 2019
It was decent. I started the Deadman series because I've listened to all 11 available audiobooks in the Space Team series, so I am a bit biased. This book def didn't have the humor or team element like Space Team does, but of course it wouldn't.
I'll give book 2 a go, and hopefully I can enjoy it for what it is and not as a substitute for something else.
I'll give book 2 a go, and hopefully I can enjoy it for what it is and not as a substitute for something else.
February 15, 2021
When I found this wasn't a Space Team book I felt some reluctance to start it. Didn't get very far before I was completely hooked.
Strong story, interesting characters, lots of slightly dark humour.
Strong story, interesting characters, lots of slightly dark humour.
November 26, 2025
0 stars. I wish Goodreads let us actually rate something zero stars, or at the very least 1/2 stars.
It starts promising as a send-up of hardboiled detective fiction with narrator Phil Thron doing a spectacular job, but just after the halfway point the missing child case takes a turn that is way too goddamned dark. Other little girls who have been kidnapped were brutally murdered and dismembered. I had to stop there.
I don’t know how anyone can continue on with a story that is supposed to be humorous after that. Are people so desensitized to this shit that it just doesn’t bother them? Are people so lacking in basic decency and taste that they can gloss over that? And how can you even conceive writing shit like that? It’s a fucking sickness.
It starts promising as a send-up of hardboiled detective fiction with narrator Phil Thron doing a spectacular job, but just after the halfway point the missing child case takes a turn that is way too goddamned dark. Other little girls who have been kidnapped were brutally murdered and dismembered. I had to stop there.
I don’t know how anyone can continue on with a story that is supposed to be humorous after that. Are people so desensitized to this shit that it just doesn’t bother them? Are people so lacking in basic decency and taste that they can gloss over that? And how can you even conceive writing shit like that? It’s a fucking sickness.
October 29, 2022
Love these books so much!!
May 11, 2019
So, a spin-off from the Space Team series written by Barry Hutchison and narrated by Phil Thron? You bet I am going to try this and I was not disappointed.
Dan Deadman is exactly that, a dead man, but he can walk and talk and think. Despite being able to think he has no idea why he can actually still do all of those things. But, when you live Down Here, everyone has to work so he sets up shop as a detective, a space detective. (My description, well, maybe Cal Carver’s description, not Dan’s.)
In this novel, we are introduced to Ollie and Artur? Arter? The first being a girl from another dimension with unusual powers and the second being a man 6 inches tall with an Irish accent. All of them are swept up in a case to find a missing girl while they are also trying to dodge the big, scary, demon thing that wants Ollie back.
A good start to a new series.
Dan Deadman is exactly that, a dead man, but he can walk and talk and think. Despite being able to think he has no idea why he can actually still do all of those things. But, when you live Down Here, everyone has to work so he sets up shop as a detective, a space detective. (My description, well, maybe Cal Carver’s description, not Dan’s.)
In this novel, we are introduced to Ollie and Artur? Arter? The first being a girl from another dimension with unusual powers and the second being a man 6 inches tall with an Irish accent. All of them are swept up in a case to find a missing girl while they are also trying to dodge the big, scary, demon thing that wants Ollie back.
A good start to a new series.
July 16, 2019
I wasn't too sure about this one at first, but give it a chapter or two. The leprechaun is the BEST sidekick, EVER. Read it for the leprechaun if nothing else. If you're reading hardcopy, make sure you give the leprechaun a thick Irish accent and you won't go wrong.
Deadman - cuz he's literally a dead guy - is tracking down a man who is trying to open a portal to the Malware and leaving a trail of dead bodies behind him as he does it. Dan doesn't quite get there in time, but he handles the situation. Not sure how he's going to handle the woman who came out of the malware, but he'll figure that out later. Apparently this is a spinoff of another series, Space Team, that's even funnier. I can't wait.
Deadman - cuz he's literally a dead guy - is tracking down a man who is trying to open a portal to the Malware and leaving a trail of dead bodies behind him as he does it. Dan doesn't quite get there in time, but he handles the situation. Not sure how he's going to handle the woman who came out of the malware, but he'll figure that out later. Apparently this is a spinoff of another series, Space Team, that's even funnier. I can't wait.
August 6, 2017
I knew I'd love reading this detective work, coming from Barry, it's the least I expect! " Deadly "! Based in the same universe of Space Team, this series has got its own original plot, fun and inverosímil characters and unexpected scenes. Looking forward to more of this and of course, Space Team!
June 29, 2020
First spin off from the Space Team Universe (STU) not to be confused with Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). This was a fun shizz filled story with Dan and his "Dead Team".
January 1, 2023
Several months before reading this I encountered the works of J.D. Kirk I also discovered that Kirk publishes children’s books as Barry Hutchison, and other adult fiction as Barry J. Hutchison. I have read 20 stories published under the Kirk Name and am now branching out to the ones under the Hutchinson names, this is the 5 under that name. He is coming up on 175 books across the three pen names. If I had known that or I might not have picked up this first one. Friends call me a ‘completionist’ in that when I find an author I like, I try to read everything they have published. I have enjoyed all I have read from his pen and this one was no different.
The description of this novel is:
“The Space Team Universe just got a whole lot darker.
In an alien city torn apart by crooked cops and ruthless criminals, private detective, Dan Deadman, specializes in cases unusual and bizarre.
Sure, he doesn't smell great, and he's technically been dead for quite some time, but if you've got a rampaging Hell-beast tearing up your street, or a portal to another dimension appearing in your bathroom, Dan's your man.
After saving a mysterious young woman named Ollie from the clutches of something big, slimy, and unpleasant, Dan gets entangled in a missing child case, a string of grisly murders, and a severed woman's arm that just won't leave him alone.
And then there's the demonic entity who'll stop at nothing to get its tentacles on Ollie, even if it means destroying the whole damn planet.
Times like these, Dan would give his right nut to be a real detective.
If he still had nuts.
From the pages of Space Team: The Guns of Nana Joan, "Dial D for Deadman" is the first darkly comedic action adventure novel starring Dan Deadman, Space Detective."
When doing research for this review I found on Barry’s site a reading order for the Space Team Universe Books and Short Stories:
1. Space Team
2. Space Team: The Wrath of Vajazzle
2a. Space Team: The Holiday Special
(found in Space Team: A Lot of Weird Space Shizz)
3. Space Team: The Search for Splurt
4. Space Team: Song of the Space Siren
5. Space Team: The Guns of Nana Joan
6. Space Team: Return of the Dead Guy
7. “Dial D for Deadman”
7a. “Dead Men Don’t Get Paid”
(found in Space Team: A Lot of Weird Space Shizz)
8. Space Team: Planet of the Japes
9. “Dead Inside”
10. Space Team: Time Titan of Tomorrow
11. “Dead in the Water”
12. Space Team: The King of Space Must Die!
13. Space Team: Sting of the Mustard Mines
14. Space Team: Sentienced to Death
15. Space Team: The Hunt for Reduk Topa
16. Konto Garr: Bounty Hunter and Occasional Babysitter
I was intentionally jumping around Barry’s middle grade, young adult, and adult series and did not know this was a space team novel when I picked it up as my next read. But this was only a half jump, maybe even a tiny hop. But that is ok for this was an excellent story. I could hardly put it down.
This was such a fun read. A whole lot of slap stick humour. Over the top antics. And at times laugh out loud funny. It reminds me of several series and authors, most of whom, I read when I was much younger. In a way it was like a jump back in time for me. The first to come to mind was Harry Harrison’s Bill the Galactic Hero series and also his Stainless Steal Rat series, the next was Robert Asprin’s Phule’s Company Series. But for all the sense of a mash up of these other series there is something different about this offering. And I think that has to do with Hutchinson’s characters and sense of humour. Some of the antics are over the top. And the universal translator that blocks swearing is very easy to decipher. As is obvious by the title Dan is dead, yea literally dead. He is trying to make a living as a Private Eye. Think Mickey Spillane's Mike Hammer, except he is dead, not a zombie. And has a conscience even though he fights it often. Ollie (Oledol), is a woman he rescued while closing a portal to the malwhere a place of nightmares. She says she cannot remember anything and becomes a bit of a side kick. And man does she have some kick. And Artur his pint size leprechaunish friend. The characters are great. The humour is maybe a bit juvenal. Think Deadpool with an automatic filter to clean up the language.
This book marks the 25th offering from Hutchison I have read in the last 10 months, under the three names he publishes under. They have all been entertaining reads. Some have been excellent. Reading this as mentioned was like a throw back to stuff I read in my late teens and early twenties. It was a very fun read. I love the character of Dan Deadman and look forward to reading more of his stories in the standalone trilogy and in the larger Space Team Universe. A highly entertaining read!
The description of this novel is:
“The Space Team Universe just got a whole lot darker.
In an alien city torn apart by crooked cops and ruthless criminals, private detective, Dan Deadman, specializes in cases unusual and bizarre.
Sure, he doesn't smell great, and he's technically been dead for quite some time, but if you've got a rampaging Hell-beast tearing up your street, or a portal to another dimension appearing in your bathroom, Dan's your man.
After saving a mysterious young woman named Ollie from the clutches of something big, slimy, and unpleasant, Dan gets entangled in a missing child case, a string of grisly murders, and a severed woman's arm that just won't leave him alone.
And then there's the demonic entity who'll stop at nothing to get its tentacles on Ollie, even if it means destroying the whole damn planet.
Times like these, Dan would give his right nut to be a real detective.
If he still had nuts.
From the pages of Space Team: The Guns of Nana Joan, "Dial D for Deadman" is the first darkly comedic action adventure novel starring Dan Deadman, Space Detective."
When doing research for this review I found on Barry’s site a reading order for the Space Team Universe Books and Short Stories:
1. Space Team
2. Space Team: The Wrath of Vajazzle
2a. Space Team: The Holiday Special
(found in Space Team: A Lot of Weird Space Shizz)
3. Space Team: The Search for Splurt
4. Space Team: Song of the Space Siren
5. Space Team: The Guns of Nana Joan
6. Space Team: Return of the Dead Guy
7. “Dial D for Deadman”
7a. “Dead Men Don’t Get Paid”
(found in Space Team: A Lot of Weird Space Shizz)
8. Space Team: Planet of the Japes
9. “Dead Inside”
10. Space Team: Time Titan of Tomorrow
11. “Dead in the Water”
12. Space Team: The King of Space Must Die!
13. Space Team: Sting of the Mustard Mines
14. Space Team: Sentienced to Death
15. Space Team: The Hunt for Reduk Topa
16. Konto Garr: Bounty Hunter and Occasional Babysitter
I was intentionally jumping around Barry’s middle grade, young adult, and adult series and did not know this was a space team novel when I picked it up as my next read. But this was only a half jump, maybe even a tiny hop. But that is ok for this was an excellent story. I could hardly put it down.
This was such a fun read. A whole lot of slap stick humour. Over the top antics. And at times laugh out loud funny. It reminds me of several series and authors, most of whom, I read when I was much younger. In a way it was like a jump back in time for me. The first to come to mind was Harry Harrison’s Bill the Galactic Hero series and also his Stainless Steal Rat series, the next was Robert Asprin’s Phule’s Company Series. But for all the sense of a mash up of these other series there is something different about this offering. And I think that has to do with Hutchinson’s characters and sense of humour. Some of the antics are over the top. And the universal translator that blocks swearing is very easy to decipher. As is obvious by the title Dan is dead, yea literally dead. He is trying to make a living as a Private Eye. Think Mickey Spillane's Mike Hammer, except he is dead, not a zombie. And has a conscience even though he fights it often. Ollie (Oledol), is a woman he rescued while closing a portal to the malwhere a place of nightmares. She says she cannot remember anything and becomes a bit of a side kick. And man does she have some kick. And Artur his pint size leprechaunish friend. The characters are great. The humour is maybe a bit juvenal. Think Deadpool with an automatic filter to clean up the language.
This book marks the 25th offering from Hutchison I have read in the last 10 months, under the three names he publishes under. They have all been entertaining reads. Some have been excellent. Reading this as mentioned was like a throw back to stuff I read in my late teens and early twenties. It was a very fun read. I love the character of Dan Deadman and look forward to reading more of his stories in the standalone trilogy and in the larger Space Team Universe. A highly entertaining read!
December 3, 2018
Dial D for Deadman is a superbly executed hybrid: part noir detective novel, part paranormal mystery, part comedy. The action takes place on a popular interstellar crossroads called Parloo, in the gritty, downtrodden surface city known to its inhabitants as Down Here.
Our hero is Dan Deadman, deceased detective at large. Between ne’er-do-wells opening portals to the Malwhere, interdimensional amnesiacs, and a missing-persons case with an exceptionally gory twist, Dan quickly finds himself up to his eyeballs in trouble.
At times like this, he’d give his left nut to be a real detective. If he still had nuts.
There’s also the matter of Dan’s outstanding debts, and the fact that due to his line of work he’s losing bits and pieces almost faster than his surgeon friend, Nedran, can patch him back together. How Dan found himself among the undead, and the fact that this is not normal occurrence Down Here, is never fully explained. While I’m curious about the circumstances surrounding his demise (and I’m hoping they’ll be visited later in the series,) Dan has a succinct explanation for his state:
“Death is normal. Coming back from it, not so much. I stopped thinking about the why, and started taking it for what it was.”
Which is a pretty good life philosophy when you think about it, especially if you happen to be a badass pain-immune tank of an undead detective.
Deadman offers all the seedy grimness of a classic noir detective novel, right down to the narration, but with a science fiction twist and plenty of well-placed dark humor. Amidst the ugliness of Down Here, Dan’s an easy guy to root for. No one else seems to be trying make the world a better place, and his dogged pursuit of justice– not to mention his willingness to put himself in harm’s way– make him a natural hero. Or perhaps an antihero, since our protagonist isn’t above resorting to physical persuasion when the situation calls for it– which is often.
It’s been a long time since a book made me laugh, cheer, and wince in sympathy as hard or as often as this one did. Dial D for Deadman isn’t just funny– it’s drop-dead hilarious. Humor and vigilante justice are two things my world is always in need of, and this scifi noir comedy absolutely delivers!
Our hero is Dan Deadman, deceased detective at large. Between ne’er-do-wells opening portals to the Malwhere, interdimensional amnesiacs, and a missing-persons case with an exceptionally gory twist, Dan quickly finds himself up to his eyeballs in trouble.
At times like this, he’d give his left nut to be a real detective. If he still had nuts.
There’s also the matter of Dan’s outstanding debts, and the fact that due to his line of work he’s losing bits and pieces almost faster than his surgeon friend, Nedran, can patch him back together. How Dan found himself among the undead, and the fact that this is not normal occurrence Down Here, is never fully explained. While I’m curious about the circumstances surrounding his demise (and I’m hoping they’ll be visited later in the series,) Dan has a succinct explanation for his state:
“Death is normal. Coming back from it, not so much. I stopped thinking about the why, and started taking it for what it was.”
Which is a pretty good life philosophy when you think about it, especially if you happen to be a badass pain-immune tank of an undead detective.
Deadman offers all the seedy grimness of a classic noir detective novel, right down to the narration, but with a science fiction twist and plenty of well-placed dark humor. Amidst the ugliness of Down Here, Dan’s an easy guy to root for. No one else seems to be trying make the world a better place, and his dogged pursuit of justice– not to mention his willingness to put himself in harm’s way– make him a natural hero. Or perhaps an antihero, since our protagonist isn’t above resorting to physical persuasion when the situation calls for it– which is often.
It’s been a long time since a book made me laugh, cheer, and wince in sympathy as hard or as often as this one did. Dial D for Deadman isn’t just funny– it’s drop-dead hilarious. Humor and vigilante justice are two things my world is always in need of, and this scifi noir comedy absolutely delivers!
August 3, 2017
Kindle Unlimited, wondering what Space Team is up to, missing them, need extra crazy in your coffee, here's something just a little bit different
The Space Team Universe just got a whole lot darker.In an alien city torn apart by crooked cops and ruthless criminals, private detective, Dan Deadman, specializes in cases unusual and bizarre.Sure, he doesn't smell great, and he's technically been dead for quite some time, but if you've got a rampaging Hell-beast tearing up your street, or a portal to another dimension appearing in your bathroom, Dan's your man. After saving a mysterious young woman named Ollie from the clutches of something big, slimy, and unpleasant, Dan gets entangled in a missing child case, a string of grisly murders, and a severed woman's arm that just won't leave him alone.And then there's the demonic entity who'll stop at nothing to get its tentacles on Ollie, even if it means destroying the whole damn planet.Times like these, Dan would give his right nut to be a real detective.If he still had nuts.
Space Team
Space Team: The Holiday Special
Space Team: The Wrath of Vajazzle
Space Team: The Search for Splurt
Space Team: Song of the Space Siren
Space Team: Return of the Dead Guy
Space Team: The Collected Adventures: Volume 1
Space Team - Space Team: The Wrath of Vajazzle - Space Team: The Search for Splurt
NOW Dial D for Deadman: A Space Team Universe Novel (Dan Deadman Space Detective Book 1) coming to amazons, bookstores, and all finer truck stops near you, VAT at Restaurant at End of the Universe Book Store Emporium
The Space Team Universe just got a whole lot darker.In an alien city torn apart by crooked cops and ruthless criminals, private detective, Dan Deadman, specializes in cases unusual and bizarre.Sure, he doesn't smell great, and he's technically been dead for quite some time, but if you've got a rampaging Hell-beast tearing up your street, or a portal to another dimension appearing in your bathroom, Dan's your man. After saving a mysterious young woman named Ollie from the clutches of something big, slimy, and unpleasant, Dan gets entangled in a missing child case, a string of grisly murders, and a severed woman's arm that just won't leave him alone.And then there's the demonic entity who'll stop at nothing to get its tentacles on Ollie, even if it means destroying the whole damn planet.Times like these, Dan would give his right nut to be a real detective.If he still had nuts.
Space Team
Space Team: The Holiday Special
Space Team: The Wrath of Vajazzle
Space Team: The Search for Splurt
Space Team: Song of the Space Siren
Space Team: Return of the Dead Guy
Space Team: The Collected Adventures: Volume 1
Space Team - Space Team: The Wrath of Vajazzle - Space Team: The Search for Splurt
NOW Dial D for Deadman: A Space Team Universe Novel (Dan Deadman Space Detective Book 1) coming to amazons, bookstores, and all finer truck stops near you, VAT at Restaurant at End of the Universe Book Store Emporium
April 20, 2019
The main plot was really good, but the side story dragged a bit.
Dan Deadman, the plucky detective from Space Team The Guns of Nanna Joan, has his own story in this first book.
The primary plot of the missing 6 year old girl was interesting. Having small children of my own, I was particularly interested in Dan finding and saving the little kid. It wasn't a full story on its own, the way it was written, but it was interesting. A mystery book this is not, but the mystery was enough to keep me guessing.
The subplot of Ollie showing up and integrating into Dan's life, or not, was much less interesting. Not because Ollie wasn't interesting, or because I had already read "The King of Space Must Die" so I knew how it would turn out. But because a full book of people pretending to not like each other gets old. Either Ollie should have been introduced later in the book, or her status should have been decided sooner, and gotten back to the main plot.
Good book, all in all, but not of the same quality as the Space Team books, not as funny and a little too disjointed. But I look forward to book 2, to see what comes next, especially from Arthr.
Dan Deadman, the plucky detective from Space Team The Guns of Nanna Joan, has his own story in this first book.
The primary plot of the missing 6 year old girl was interesting. Having small children of my own, I was particularly interested in Dan finding and saving the little kid. It wasn't a full story on its own, the way it was written, but it was interesting. A mystery book this is not, but the mystery was enough to keep me guessing.
The subplot of Ollie showing up and integrating into Dan's life, or not, was much less interesting. Not because Ollie wasn't interesting, or because I had already read "The King of Space Must Die" so I knew how it would turn out. But because a full book of people pretending to not like each other gets old. Either Ollie should have been introduced later in the book, or her status should have been decided sooner, and gotten back to the main plot.
Good book, all in all, but not of the same quality as the Space Team books, not as funny and a little too disjointed. But I look forward to book 2, to see what comes next, especially from Arthr.
July 20, 2018
Interesting enough but just so
It deserves a 3.5 but...
I did finish the book, albeit slower than my usual.
There were many times where I seriously contemplated quitting. Definitely some nice twists. Loved Mindy. I don't recall Deadman really stating that he wasn't a detective in the early part of the novel. It was hinted at with some of the run-ins with his old workplace. It should have been more developed. There was the one scene with the agent and the sniffer that could have definitely added more than an interlude. Ollie's situation at the "pleasure palace" and subsequent discovery of Deadman's dire dilemma were too forced.
Definitely could have used another hundred pages or so to truly develop it
Will try the Space Team series to compare
It deserves a 3.5 but...
I did finish the book, albeit slower than my usual.
There were many times where I seriously contemplated quitting. Definitely some nice twists. Loved Mindy. I don't recall Deadman really stating that he wasn't a detective in the early part of the novel. It was hinted at with some of the run-ins with his old workplace. It should have been more developed. There was the one scene with the agent and the sniffer that could have definitely added more than an interlude. Ollie's situation at the "pleasure palace" and subsequent discovery of Deadman's dire dilemma were too forced.
Definitely could have used another hundred pages or so to truly develop it
Will try the Space Team series to compare
October 18, 2021
Dan Deadman has a peculiar name, but very appropriate since he is dead. On the bright side, he can stitch his body back together and will not die in a fight, but he is dead... and stinks. As a private detective, Dan focus on weird monsters and it's during an assignment that he meets Ollie and then things get weirder - even for Dan.
I enjoyed this story, even though part of the Space Team catalogue it is hugely different. It is set in a darker scenery and is less silly, but equally funny and adventurous. Dan is trying to finding a missing girl and realising he is not much of a detective. Ollie is my favourite and I am pleased to see her staying as a main character. Phil Thron does a tremendous job voicing this one, well done!
I enjoyed this story, even though part of the Space Team catalogue it is hugely different. It is set in a darker scenery and is less silly, but equally funny and adventurous. Dan is trying to finding a missing girl and realising he is not much of a detective. Ollie is my favourite and I am pleased to see her staying as a main character. Phil Thron does a tremendous job voicing this one, well done!
July 24, 2018
Dan the Man, through and through! He might be dead but he is alive and kicking in this book and with a heart of gold to boot. Will be keeping in touch with him and all his enterage over the next few reads. I trust he keeps the 'baddies' on their toes......nail varnish included for good measure. Well done Barry keep up the good work
Dan the Man, through and through! He might be dead but he is alive and kicking in this book and with a heart of gold to boot. Will be keeping in touch with him and all his enterage over the next few reads. I trust he keeps the 'baddies' on their toes......nail varnish included for good measure. Well done Barry keep up the good work
Dan the Man, through and through! He might be dead but he is alive and kicking in this book and with a heart of gold to boot. Will be keeping in touch with him and all his enterage over the next few reads. I trust he keeps the 'baddies' on their toes......nail varnish included for good measure. Well done Barry keep up the good work
August 6, 2017
If you are in the mood for a hilarious story, this one is a great one to sit and read. It's a spin off from the Space Team series that is just as horribly funny. I laughed from beginning to end as the characters were too funny. The one-liners and crazy scenes were a hoot. I was hooked as usual from the beginning and read it all at once as I could not put it down. I had to see who Ollie was and what crazy thing would come out of her mouth next. Plus Dan and Author were a hoot. I wrote this honest review once I quit giggling.
September 16, 2018
I have avoided the Deadman series because dead people freak me out.
But this book has opened a door for me. When I meet a new male character, that I like, I tend to want to marry him. In Dan Deadman's case I may be open to a drink. It should be illegal to make your readers hold their breath while laughing out loud. I may have lawsuit here! Which I would be willing to settle over a drink. But Artur can't come! (My original review was actually funny, but the Amazonian gods made it disappear.)
But this book has opened a door for me. When I meet a new male character, that I like, I tend to want to marry him. In Dan Deadman's case I may be open to a drink. It should be illegal to make your readers hold their breath while laughing out loud. I may have lawsuit here! Which I would be willing to settle over a drink. But Artur can't come! (My original review was actually funny, but the Amazonian gods made it disappear.)
April 29, 2018
Another great start to a series!!
Where to begin. Dan Deadman is a dead detective. He may not be breathing but he has a heart of gold under the dead exterior.
I loved the characters and definitely a great beginning for a series.
If you are a Space Team fan. I recommend it. It's a little darker than Space Team but to be honest it would be odd if it wasn't considering that the main character is dead.
Awesome job. Mr. Hutchison! A great book!
Where to begin. Dan Deadman is a dead detective. He may not be breathing but he has a heart of gold under the dead exterior.
I loved the characters and definitely a great beginning for a series.
If you are a Space Team fan. I recommend it. It's a little darker than Space Team but to be honest it would be odd if it wasn't considering that the main character is dead.
Awesome job. Mr. Hutchison! A great book!
July 26, 2018
That the Funk! Listen to the Audio book for the best experience.
Wow what a ride, I don't think I've laughed this much before while reading a book.
From the beginning to the end was hilarious.
This is my first Barry Hutchinson book and I'm most definitely getting more.
Dead was a great character, but the star of the book is Arthur in my opinion. How can something small incredibly small in size cause so more damage.
I'm so listening it to this book again.
Wow what a ride, I don't think I've laughed this much before while reading a book.
From the beginning to the end was hilarious.
This is my first Barry Hutchinson book and I'm most definitely getting more.
Dead was a great character, but the star of the book is Arthur in my opinion. How can something small incredibly small in size cause so more damage.
I'm so listening it to this book again.
June 30, 2019
While I prefer the crew from Space Team, this is a solid new series from Barry Hutchison. Dan Deadman is a fun character and the author puts his unusual circumstances to good use repeatedly throughout the book. While the humor in this book isn't quite as widespread as the humor in Space Team, there were a few genuinely laugh-out-loud, tears in my eyes funny lines of dialogue and situations that made this book well worth the read. I'm excited to read the next two!
August 5, 2017
Another awesome read from Barry J. Hutchinson
A well "fleshed out" story about an undead detective trying to locate a young girl and bring her back to her mother.
The story is an offshoot of a character from one of the author's Space Team books and I recommend reading them if you enjoyed reading this book.I
Looking forward to the upcoming sequel in this series.
A well "fleshed out" story about an undead detective trying to locate a young girl and bring her back to her mother.
The story is an offshoot of a character from one of the author's Space Team books and I recommend reading them if you enjoyed reading this book.I
Looking forward to the upcoming sequel in this series.
September 3, 2017
Spin off from the Space Team series, see's Dan Deadman get his own series. Dan played a cameo role in book five and is a private detective, well that's what is says on the door!! This is a good book, bit darker then the Space Team series, but has potential with some good characters supporting Dan, in Artur and Ollie, not forgetting Mindy!
September 5, 2017
I'm a Barry J. Hutchinson fanboy, but if you like humorous science fiction you will enjoy this. A spin-off of sorts from his "Space Team" series, this features Dan Deadman, a re-animated detective in a seedy city on a seedy planet. Deadman's no-nonsense attitude and deadpan demeanor make the funny bits even funnier.
September 20, 2017
Good fun detective novel with humor
Really like this book. It had a good plot that kept me engaged throughout. The humor was more toned down than the normal Space Team books, but that was because the case was serious with a kid napped girl. Dan's crew were well constructed and the author made me hate the villain - and it ended with good closure. Can't wait for more!
Really like this book. It had a good plot that kept me engaged throughout. The humor was more toned down than the normal Space Team books, but that was because the case was serious with a kid napped girl. Dan's crew were well constructed and the author made me hate the villain - and it ended with good closure. Can't wait for more!
September 27, 2017
Glorious mix of hardboiled noir and snark
Hardboiled life-challenged detective. Snarky and foul-mouthed 6"-tall (possibly Irish) friend (more or less). Client with missing child. Woman with amnesia. Demolition derby. Lovecraftian extra-dimensional horrors. Mobsters. This book isn't missing anything. More, please!
Hardboiled life-challenged detective. Snarky and foul-mouthed 6"-tall (possibly Irish) friend (more or less). Client with missing child. Woman with amnesia. Demolition derby. Lovecraftian extra-dimensional horrors. Mobsters. This book isn't missing anything. More, please!
October 6, 2017
Interesting characters and great dialog from Hutchinson as always. The plot was solid and the story moved at a nice steady pace. The only weak point was the resolution of the climax, which I felt was a bit cheesed, but this book was still a very satisfying read. Looking forward to more from stories from Down Here!
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