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Silver or Lead
"What would you do if you found out that the person you were trying to save might have to kill you?"
Teddy Dabrowski is a man harboring a dark secret until one fateful day a horrific crime at his favorite coffee house forces him to confront his past.
As the authorities search for suspects, Teddy and his best friend are propelled into a world of bizarre characters, some real and some not of this earth, but all, inextricably leading him to a former life that might best be left buried.
James Cox, most recently known for creating his critically acclaimed solo show, Love Madness, and Somewhere in Between at the Hudson Guild in Hollywood has crafted a debut novel that recalls the best of Elmore Leonard and indeed a bit of Stephen King. Silver or Lead takes the reader on a journey filled with so many twists that we are at once madly turning pages while at the same time wishing the story would never end.
Teddy Dabrowski is a man harboring a dark secret until one fateful day a horrific crime at his favorite coffee house forces him to confront his past.
As the authorities search for suspects, Teddy and his best friend are propelled into a world of bizarre characters, some real and some not of this earth, but all, inextricably leading him to a former life that might best be left buried.
James Cox, most recently known for creating his critically acclaimed solo show, Love Madness, and Somewhere in Between at the Hudson Guild in Hollywood has crafted a debut novel that recalls the best of Elmore Leonard and indeed a bit of Stephen King. Silver or Lead takes the reader on a journey filled with so many twists that we are at once madly turning pages while at the same time wishing the story would never end.
- GenresFiction
289 pages, Paperback
Published April 14, 2022
25 people are currently reading
2134 people want to read
About the author
James Cox
2 books36 followersJAMES COX is a writer, an actor and a twenty year veteran of the United States Navy. SILVER OR LEAD is his first novel.James has written several plays which have been presented at various Los Angeles area theatres.”Love, Madness and Somewhere in Between” a solo show that James wrote and performed in at the Hudson Theatre won the Ovation Award at the 2019 Hollywood Fringe Festival. His second novel, ROPPONGI, a thriller set in Japan will be published by Black Rose Writing and released in January 2023. He dedicates SILVER OR LEAD to his late mother, Lucille. James just moved to Phuket, Thailand where he is researching his next novel.
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
October 15, 2022
From the moment you pick up this book You keep wanting to turn the page to find out what is going to happen. It’s intriguing, mysterious a definite page turner. The author has an uncanny way of pulling you in. You will find yourself in the book as if you were a fly on the wall. Bravo!
June 8, 2022
A fun, fast-paced, shocking, sometimes funny, sometimes harrowing Tarentinoesque thrill ride. The plot has many shocking twists and turns, but I think what makes this novel work so well are the characters. Every single character, even the minor characters, are distinct and surprising and kind of loveable. Even the evil characters. There's magical realism and Vonnegut-style absurdity...but nothing so absurd that it's unbelievable. And that's because the characters are grounded and vivid and detailed. Can't wait to read Mr. Cox's next book.
June 9, 2022
Cox invites us to an energetic danse macabre that is by turns chilling, violent, grotesque, and hilarious, with just a dash of magical realism. This is a compelling and complex tale about love, madness, and, finally, redemptive friendship that should keep the reader engaged and amused.
February 21, 2022
A gritty, fast-paced story of complex characters with deep, hidden motivations. The twists and turns will captivate you and keep you reading until the heart-pounding ending.
June 7, 2022
First off, I must confess, I am NOT a book reader!! lol!! I think maybe it's my wandering mind, but I don't read a lot of books. Articles, short stories, etc. I like those. Anyway, I received a copy of "Silver or Lead" and I was immediately taken in by the cover art and the short synopsis. Hmmm, interesting premise, let's see where this goes. Well, I must say, I couldn't wait to get to the next chapter! I love the writing style and the characters are completely relatable. How all these story lines connect at the end of the day is truly a work of art! Whenever I am watching a good movie or TV series, I know I'm hooked when I'm trying to figure out "How are they gonna get out of this one?!!" Well, it's the same feeling with "Silver of Lead". Pay attention, it's a twisty and dangerous road, but like most rides at Disneyland...Worth the wait!! Congratulations James Cox on a terrific first novel!!
October 21, 2022
An intriguing first novel by James Cox. It kept me guessing throughout. James' style indeed reminds us of those Elmore Leonard films, shocking one moment and laughing the next. I enjoyed Silver or Lead very much and I look forward to reading James' next novel!
Want to Read
May 15, 2022This has an interesting premise, and the author executed it quite well. I stayed mostly engaged and the characters, the pacing, and that it included some humor along the way.
Thanks very much for the free review copy!!
Thanks very much for the free review copy!!
June 4, 2022
Words in this book fire like a machine gun, in staccato bursts they create and destroy characters, shred the safe and normal, and lay waste to the line between good and evil. Upon a tableau crossing thousands of miles and many lands, love, hatred, and lust secretly inbreeds and propels all across a battleground of struggling lives often cut short. People die sudden, quiet, and hard. People are vile and savage. People seek and find redemption. Some are angelic innocents. There are surprises and magic, but the writer’s delightful secret sauce is perfectly honed and restrained gallows humor. Seat belts required, but Silver or Lead is one fun ride.
July 3, 2022
Loved the book. Many twists and turns. Very good read.
July 4, 2022
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It usually takes me 50 to 100 pages before I'm really engaged in a book, however, with this one I was hooked immediately. Definitely a page turner! Looking forward to more from this author!
October 19, 2022
Liked it a lot. I believe it’s the author’s first book!!
We will hear morel
We will hear morel
April 20, 2022
“Silver or Lead” gets the Gold in my book! It hooked me from page one, and is a real page turner. Just when I thought I knew where the story was leading, there was a new twist I had to navigate. It is an effortless read, with short chapters that allow for the integrating of the subplots that tie together as the story builds. James Cox’s first novel has me anxiously awaiting his next!
March 13, 2022
Overall Rating = 4.17
Storyline & Concept = 4
Writing and Delivery = 4
Editorial = 4.5
Silver or Lead by James Cox is a fast-paced thriller involving two men and a twist of fate after a tough decision is made: to kill someone by not saving them, or to risk being killed yourself. The story begins when a coffee shop meeting between close friends Ben and Teddy in Old Town Pasadena turns into a police investigation following a deadly explosion. This book weaves a web of stories that are connected to a fateful night in Juarez, Mexico and ultimately leads them into mortal trouble with an unpredictable cartel head. Silver or Lead is an original story combining vivid descriptions, intriguing characters, and some supernatural elements that have readers both chuckling and wincing at the wild events that occur.
The writing is very conversational and reads like a diary at times. The time and place are noted at every chapter, which sets the reader up for the full experience and is helpful due to the fast-paced storytelling. However, it can be confusing at times since some details get lost in the story when there are so many interactions and several characters with distinct personalities. Ben’s narration reads quite informally, which felt choppy at times at the beginning of the novel when you are developing a feel for the characters. However, as the story unfolds, you begin to feel closer to the narrators since they add vividness to the novel as well as some dark humor and mild obscenities brought on by their adventures. Each of the characters are unique and colorful, and their animated language brings the story to life for the reading audience. There are no dull moments in this book. I would recommend Silver or Lead to anyone who enjoys an adventurous mystery with a touch of dark humor.
Sublime Line: “Silver or Lead, written by James Cox, is an exciting thriller fueled with humor, secrets, and revenge.”
Storyline & Concept = 4
Writing and Delivery = 4
Editorial = 4.5
Silver or Lead by James Cox is a fast-paced thriller involving two men and a twist of fate after a tough decision is made: to kill someone by not saving them, or to risk being killed yourself. The story begins when a coffee shop meeting between close friends Ben and Teddy in Old Town Pasadena turns into a police investigation following a deadly explosion. This book weaves a web of stories that are connected to a fateful night in Juarez, Mexico and ultimately leads them into mortal trouble with an unpredictable cartel head. Silver or Lead is an original story combining vivid descriptions, intriguing characters, and some supernatural elements that have readers both chuckling and wincing at the wild events that occur.
The writing is very conversational and reads like a diary at times. The time and place are noted at every chapter, which sets the reader up for the full experience and is helpful due to the fast-paced storytelling. However, it can be confusing at times since some details get lost in the story when there are so many interactions and several characters with distinct personalities. Ben’s narration reads quite informally, which felt choppy at times at the beginning of the novel when you are developing a feel for the characters. However, as the story unfolds, you begin to feel closer to the narrators since they add vividness to the novel as well as some dark humor and mild obscenities brought on by their adventures. Each of the characters are unique and colorful, and their animated language brings the story to life for the reading audience. There are no dull moments in this book. I would recommend Silver or Lead to anyone who enjoys an adventurous mystery with a touch of dark humor.
Sublime Line: “Silver or Lead, written by James Cox, is an exciting thriller fueled with humor, secrets, and revenge.”
July 8, 2022
Just finished SILVER OR LEAD and was very entertained! A terrific first novel with strong character voices (I wouldn’t expect less of actor James Cox turned author); engaging plot twists with lots of interesting digressions of information strewn happily about; and satisfying supernatural threads woven throughout (actually, my favorite element of the book). Cox handles humor and all the elements of this genre well, but the brutality makes some of Stephen King’s stuff almost lightweight in comparison. Ouch! This little-old-lady no longer from Pasadena had to go “Eeew!” a number of times—not the least being the flaming tire necklaces. But, all in all, a satisfying read and a definite page-turner! Looking forward to Cox's next offering.
June 5, 2022
I made it 45% through, and was really sorry to have wasted that much time on this nonsense. Heck, I could be pulling weeds in the yard, or pressure washing the patio. My recommendation is Why Bother!
The book is not professionally written, and obviously wasn’t edited by a professional either. The quality of the writing improved somewhat about 40 percent through, but never enough so that it was an enjoyable read. Very amateurish overall.
Then, it became a blather of racist commentary. I returned it at that point. My thought was that I didn’t need to suffer this racist garbage. Like North America will always be racist. If this writer (and I use the term loosely) was looking for “I’m really with it” points, he needs to take writing lessons, or better yet to meet his skill set, cut grass for a living. Garbage, claptrap, and I could go on. I will comment that he mixed in his hipness with it racism regularly through 45%, but he lost me when he decided it appropriate to begin preaching to the reader. My guess is this jerk is actually the only racist he knows.
My only question is: why can’t I rate this nonsense a zero, which would be charitable? When is the next book burning? I have a candidate.
Skip it, forget it, leave it. Try professionals in the future. Thank goodness I didn’t have to spend money on this garbage, or I would be really upset.
SKIP IT!
The book is not professionally written, and obviously wasn’t edited by a professional either. The quality of the writing improved somewhat about 40 percent through, but never enough so that it was an enjoyable read. Very amateurish overall.
Then, it became a blather of racist commentary. I returned it at that point. My thought was that I didn’t need to suffer this racist garbage. Like North America will always be racist. If this writer (and I use the term loosely) was looking for “I’m really with it” points, he needs to take writing lessons, or better yet to meet his skill set, cut grass for a living. Garbage, claptrap, and I could go on. I will comment that he mixed in his hipness with it racism regularly through 45%, but he lost me when he decided it appropriate to begin preaching to the reader. My guess is this jerk is actually the only racist he knows.
My only question is: why can’t I rate this nonsense a zero, which would be charitable? When is the next book burning? I have a candidate.
Skip it, forget it, leave it. Try professionals in the future. Thank goodness I didn’t have to spend money on this garbage, or I would be really upset.
SKIP IT!
December 11, 2025
James Cox’s debut reads like a cinematic thriller with a haunting edge. The moment Teddy steps into the aftermath of the crime at the coffee house, the narrative tightens its hold. The strange figures who enter his life blur the line between reality and the unknown, and this uncertainty fuels the story with a constant sense of dread. Fans of moody atmospheric fiction will find this book irresistible.
December 11, 2025
Silver or Lead is a clever and absorbing exploration of guilt, identity, and fate. Teddy’s journey feels both personal and epic as he is drawn into a realm of twisted truths and unforgettable characters. Cox writes with a flair that recalls classic crime authors while still injecting something fresh and unpredictable. This is a novel that surprises at every turn and lingers long after the final chapter.
January 28, 2026
Cox masterfully weaves crime, suspense, and the surreal, introducing a cast of unforgettable characters some grounded in reality, others unsettlingly not that blur the line between what’s real and what’s imagined. The relationship between Teddy and his best friend adds emotional depth, grounding the chaos with loyalty, fear, and dark humor.
December 9, 2025
Silver or Lead surprised me in the best way. I expected a crime thriller, but the psychological and otherworldly twists took the story somewhere deeper. Teddy is such a complex character that I found myself rooting for him, even when the truth began to look dangerous.
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews