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Dead Man's Rule #1
Dead Man's Rule
Chicago lawyer Ben Corbin has just launched his private practice when Dr. Mikhail Ivanovsky, a mysterious Russian scientist, hires him to sue for possession of a safe deposit box. But when the box’s owner enlists the city’s highest-powered lawyer―and then turns up dead―the Russian inside the box is an old Soviet biowarfare formula for the deadliest disease known to humankind. To make matters worse, a technicality called the Dead Man’s Rule now forbids the scientist from taking the stand. With no one to testify―and therefore no evidence―the odds against Ben seem insurmountable. As the threat of a massive bioterrorist attack looms large, Ben and his team race to rebuild their case and rescue the box. To succeed, he’ll need all his wits and resources and Dr. Ivanovsky’s specialized knowledge―and both men will need to trust in a higher power. Revised This edition of Dead Man's Rule includes editorial revisions.
366 pages, Paperback
First published June 28, 2016
51 people are currently reading
388 people want to read
About the author
Rick Acker
18 books180 followersRick Acker writes high-octane suspense novels during breaks from his “real job” as a Supervising Deputy Attorney General in the California Department of Justice, which provides inspiration for his acclaimed legal thrillers.
Rick has also teamed with award-winning romantic suspense author Colleen Coble to pen bestsellers such as I Think I Was Murdered and their Tupelo Grove series. Library Journal praises their “dynamic author partnership,” and predicts they “will continue to produce hits.”
When Rick isn't writing or lawyering, you can usually find him with his wife Anette exploring in the hills east of San Francisco, watching a good movie together, or, of course, reading. You can visit him on the web at www.rickacker.com.
Rick has also teamed with award-winning romantic suspense author Colleen Coble to pen bestsellers such as I Think I Was Murdered and their Tupelo Grove series. Library Journal praises their “dynamic author partnership,” and predicts they “will continue to produce hits.”
When Rick isn't writing or lawyering, you can usually find him with his wife Anette exploring in the hills east of San Francisco, watching a good movie together, or, of course, reading. You can visit him on the web at www.rickacker.com.
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
July 17, 2019
Rick Acker has an enjoyable writing style. His legal suspense novels are filled with wonderful characters. In Dead Man's Rule, a quirky Russian-American hires a former big firm lawyer making his own way to represent him. The case takes them into interesting territory and it was a fun ride.
March 31, 2018
I love Rick Acker’s writing. His courtroom cases always have you hanging on by the seat of your pants. The bad guys in this one were some of the worst. This would make a wonderful movie. I really liked the main character. I would like to see another book with him. And the mad scientist dr was good also. I loved the ending with him. I like how the author always weaves some Christian values into his books. It’s very uplifting to find that. The bioterrorism part interested me because of working as a microbiologist. This part of the book scared me more than the bad guys. Just the thought of a bad virus or bacterium let loose in the world makes me cringe. It’s hard to believe that something that can only be seen under a microscope could wipe out all the living.
If you like audiobooks, the narrator for this one is amazing. He can do accents so well. He really brings the story to life. It was like watching a movie.
If you like audiobooks, the narrator for this one is amazing. He can do accents so well. He really brings the story to life. It was like watching a movie.
January 17, 2018
Audible Review-
Hmmm this was a bit hard to follow along and there were a lot of characters popping in. I thought some of the story was good but kind of got lost in "translation" as so many people had accents from either Germany, Russia, Czechoslovakian and English. A lot of terrorist action going on with a lot of God talk.
There was some interesting court room action and some torture action going on. I did finish the book but only because I had time invested in it and wanted to see how it ended. But it was confusing and hard to follow.
Doubt I will move on with this series.
As for the narration, it was good, especially since there were so many accents going on. Christopher Lane did a good job on the female voices too. He has a nice reading voice.
Glad this was a free read and free listen with my KU.
Hmmm this was a bit hard to follow along and there were a lot of characters popping in. I thought some of the story was good but kind of got lost in "translation" as so many people had accents from either Germany, Russia, Czechoslovakian and English. A lot of terrorist action going on with a lot of God talk.
There was some interesting court room action and some torture action going on. I did finish the book but only because I had time invested in it and wanted to see how it ended. But it was confusing and hard to follow.
Doubt I will move on with this series.
As for the narration, it was good, especially since there were so many accents going on. Christopher Lane did a good job on the female voices too. He has a nice reading voice.
Glad this was a free read and free listen with my KU.
December 27, 2017
I had never read any books by this author Rick Acker, but I will definitely read more of his books. The Dead Man's Rule was a great first read, I did not want the book to end. I want to read more books with these characters. Ben Corbin was a great lawyer, but if I say anymore I will surely give away some details that I don't want to. Just please get the book and read this great story. Even though it is fiction this could actually happen.
July 13, 2016
Dead Man’s Rule
by Rick Acker
Some of the first comments I read about Rick Acker’s legal thrillers compared his work to that of John Grisham. I, along with many other more qualified critics, consider Grisham to be in the top in his genre. I snickered a little at this appraisal of Acker and said to myself, “Well, that’s a little overblown.” I am currently chewing away at my naysaying words. Grisham and Ackers both write legal thrillers with interesting characters, exciting action, strong plot lines, and details arising from effective background research. The legal situations are integral to the plot, not inserted as an afterthought because the author is also a lawyer. Acker is not an imitator of Grisham; in fact, Acker is an excellent writer in his own right. There is always room for another good suspense writer!
Dead Man’s Rule had my attention right from the prologue, “A Relic of War,” which is not a typical background piece. It pushes the reader into the story, ready or not. The setting changes in the first chapter to Ben Corbin’s legal offices but the interest level doesn’t change, and immediately the reader begins mentally searching for the connection.
I like it when the main character is human (flawed but trying) and likable, and Ben Corbin fits into that category. If there is a weak character as far as the writing goes, it is found in the depiction of Ben’s wife, Noelle. She is two-dimensional in a world of three-dimensional characters, but her role in the novel is fairly small.
The archvillain, General Elbek Shishani, is fleshed out by Acker so that he is not just some “bad guy” to be dealt with by the hero and his CIA and FBI associates. The reader will probably not approve of Shishani’s actions, but the author does share how he became who he is.
Reader, be prepared to learn about legal procedures and an arcane law that becomes critical to one of Corbin’s cases. Acker avoids getting too technical so the read remains exciting, but the reader can understand all of the legal complications and how they affect both the innocent and the guilty. He also takes us into the world of bioterrorism and Russian and Chechen politics as well as the sometimes competing interests of the various law enforcement and investigative agencies in the U.S.
Dead Man’s Rule is my first experience with Rick Acker’s writing, but he has published four more suspenseful books. I can’t wait to try another. If it is like Dead Man’s Rule, I’ll have trouble putting it down.
I extend thanks to netgalley.com and to Waterfall Press for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an unbiased review.
by Rick Acker
Some of the first comments I read about Rick Acker’s legal thrillers compared his work to that of John Grisham. I, along with many other more qualified critics, consider Grisham to be in the top in his genre. I snickered a little at this appraisal of Acker and said to myself, “Well, that’s a little overblown.” I am currently chewing away at my naysaying words. Grisham and Ackers both write legal thrillers with interesting characters, exciting action, strong plot lines, and details arising from effective background research. The legal situations are integral to the plot, not inserted as an afterthought because the author is also a lawyer. Acker is not an imitator of Grisham; in fact, Acker is an excellent writer in his own right. There is always room for another good suspense writer!
Dead Man’s Rule had my attention right from the prologue, “A Relic of War,” which is not a typical background piece. It pushes the reader into the story, ready or not. The setting changes in the first chapter to Ben Corbin’s legal offices but the interest level doesn’t change, and immediately the reader begins mentally searching for the connection.
I like it when the main character is human (flawed but trying) and likable, and Ben Corbin fits into that category. If there is a weak character as far as the writing goes, it is found in the depiction of Ben’s wife, Noelle. She is two-dimensional in a world of three-dimensional characters, but her role in the novel is fairly small.
The archvillain, General Elbek Shishani, is fleshed out by Acker so that he is not just some “bad guy” to be dealt with by the hero and his CIA and FBI associates. The reader will probably not approve of Shishani’s actions, but the author does share how he became who he is.
Reader, be prepared to learn about legal procedures and an arcane law that becomes critical to one of Corbin’s cases. Acker avoids getting too technical so the read remains exciting, but the reader can understand all of the legal complications and how they affect both the innocent and the guilty. He also takes us into the world of bioterrorism and Russian and Chechen politics as well as the sometimes competing interests of the various law enforcement and investigative agencies in the U.S.
Dead Man’s Rule is my first experience with Rick Acker’s writing, but he has published four more suspenseful books. I can’t wait to try another. If it is like Dead Man’s Rule, I’ll have trouble putting it down.
I extend thanks to netgalley.com and to Waterfall Press for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an unbiased review.
April 10, 2016
It's easy to think a novel like this one might bury you with legal language and dry jurisprudence. But don't be fooled by this novel's start. Rick Acker's Dead Man's Rule begins as the story of a litigation lawyer, Ben Corbin, taking on a somewhat hapless property dispute case involving a retired, eccentric Russian scientist, Dr. Mikhail Ivanovsky, and some other Russian ex-pats. But Dead Man's Rule is one legal thriller that packs a serious concealed-carry punch. As the story unfolds, Corbin finds himself dragged into a drama of international intrigue involving the Russian Mafiya, Chechen Islamo-terrorists and one of the Cold War's most dangerous bio-terror creations, the fabled Soviet Ebolapox Virus. It's a fantastic read. The Chicago Russian immigrant community setting is unique and well done. The Russian-American private detective, Sergei Spassky, is a great character. I liked all the characters, although I hope Ben Corbin is a little more developed in the sequel. I just finished Sharon Gilbert's new book, Ebola and the Fourth Horseman of the Apocalypse, which goes into considerable detail about Ebolapox, a lab created virus combining the DNA of Ebola and Smallpox. I had no idea Dead Man's Rule was about the same virus. While Dead Man's Rule is a work of fiction, it's based on scenarios developed by the DOD and Homeland Security. Frightening scenarios. Read this book.
July 13, 2016
I won this book through GoodReads First Read program.
Acker tells a great tale that sadly enough could in the future come true. Ben Corbin is an attorney in Chicago running his own law practice when he gets approached by a Russian doctor about obtaining the contents from a safe in a bank that he claims was sold to him by another Russian for $5,000. This is denied by the alleged seller of the property. No written contract is involved.
The case is heading to trial when the alleged seller of the property is killed. An Illinois law called the Dead Man's Rule prevents the living party from testifying about what an oral contract involved if the other party dies. Ben's client is insistent that the case proceed because of the contents of the contains a biohazard that if released in the atmosphere would kill millions-kind of an ebola/small pox mix.
As an attorney I enjoyed the courtroom battles. As a Christian I enjoyed how Acker weaved God into the story. I also enjoy books that involve the potential for devastation of the world or at least large sections of the United States.
This was a great story with a great ending. It just didn't flow smoothly at times. That is a very minor critique however. I recommend this book and I am looking forward to reading Ben's next adventure.
Acker tells a great tale that sadly enough could in the future come true. Ben Corbin is an attorney in Chicago running his own law practice when he gets approached by a Russian doctor about obtaining the contents from a safe in a bank that he claims was sold to him by another Russian for $5,000. This is denied by the alleged seller of the property. No written contract is involved.
The case is heading to trial when the alleged seller of the property is killed. An Illinois law called the Dead Man's Rule prevents the living party from testifying about what an oral contract involved if the other party dies. Ben's client is insistent that the case proceed because of the contents of the contains a biohazard that if released in the atmosphere would kill millions-kind of an ebola/small pox mix.
As an attorney I enjoyed the courtroom battles. As a Christian I enjoyed how Acker weaved God into the story. I also enjoy books that involve the potential for devastation of the world or at least large sections of the United States.
This was a great story with a great ending. It just didn't flow smoothly at times. That is a very minor critique however. I recommend this book and I am looking forward to reading Ben's next adventure.
July 6, 2016
Great read!
Rick Acker's "Dead Man's Rule" was an exciting, terrifying page-turner. It's also timely considering all the plots and threats against society. Glad it was republished and available again. Everyone should read it this time.
Rick Acker's "Dead Man's Rule" was an exciting, terrifying page-turner. It's also timely considering all the plots and threats against society. Glad it was republished and available again. Everyone should read it this time.
December 19, 2014
This book was fascinating. It is a mystery about bio terrorism. It has no swearing and no thing inappropriate in it. I thought is was very interesting.
November 23, 2018
Rick Acker knows his law, and this is a clever and well-written book. I read Acker's YA book first, so I started this one with some trepidation, but was very pleasantly surprised.
December 29, 2016
Excellent
I could hardly put the book down. It was well worth the read and very believable considering the crazy world we live in today.
I could hardly put the book down. It was well worth the read and very believable considering the crazy world we live in today.
December 26, 2018
Great page turner at the end, and skillful writing to get out of situations with no good endings! And excellent narration. A bit more killing and violence than I like to read, but well-done. Highly recommend to suspense readers, and worth reading even if that is not your genre. Rick Acker is becoming on of my "got to read" authors.
November 11, 2019
A good legal thriller for a Christian reader. The book itself is not Christian but makes reference to Christian themes. There is no lewd language or explicit sexual references. A good first read from this author. Since finishing this book a few days ago, I have completed another of his books and started a third.
July 9, 2018
Well written Legal thriller written from a Christian worldview that deals with terrorism and bioweapons. My husband listened to it together and enjoyed it
August 16, 2016
I won this novel in a goodreads drawing.
A lawyer that just left a high powered firm to strike out on his own is hired by a Russian. It seems this Russian bought a safety deposit box. The contents of this box are unknown. However, it seems that the seller changed his mind.
Then all of a sudden the FBI wants to get involved.
The lawyer has to find out what is in the box, and who all wants the contents.
Very suspenseful.
A lawyer that just left a high powered firm to strike out on his own is hired by a Russian. It seems this Russian bought a safety deposit box. The contents of this box are unknown. However, it seems that the seller changed his mind.
Then all of a sudden the FBI wants to get involved.
The lawyer has to find out what is in the box, and who all wants the contents.
Very suspenseful.
March 6, 2009
Fast pace. It was a good read.
December 8, 2012
This book was OK. Kept you reading till the end, unlike some books I've tried recently.
August 21, 2016
Very entertaining from start to finish. Great characters and the story was excellent. I highly recommend this book. I won it in a GoodReadsGiveaway.
September 10, 2016
3.5 stars
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews