Dead Man's Hand

By Ronald Kirk Goulding

No Synopsis Available.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1563153807
• ISBN13: 9781563153808
• Release Date: November 2006
• Publisher: Pemberton Mysteries
• Length: 220 Pages
• Weight: 0.55 lbs.
• Dimensions: 7.8" x 0.5" x 5.0"

Customer Reviews

The Gouldings scare us all almost to death.

Two brothers sit pool side, sharing stories and analyzing what goes on in the psychopath's mind. Ronald Kirk Goulding and Richard Evan Goulding, with a lifetime of criminal defense and medicine between them, took up writing mysteries after their chats turned into ideas. Coincidently Sterling House Publishing began its Pemberton Mysteries imprint, looking for the most "chilling" writing out there. A partnership was born, and another product of the Goulding brothers, the film "All In," starring Lou Gossett, Jr. will be hitting theaters soon. The Gouldings' love of poker, particularly "Texas Hold 'Em." also figures in their first mystery. Michael Corso is a defense attorney who was used to winning every case, until someone mowed his family down while they were at a Chicago park. The death of their daughter, Dianna, and the resulting paralysis of his beloved wife, Evelyn, send Michael into a downward spiral with the bottle. The tale opens with Michael sitting in jail after a night of drunk and disorderly conduct, then dashing to trial to win the case for his client, who may or may not be guilty. The next case that walks through his door, Drs. Pederson and Carnes, will engage him and change his life forever in the murder case of Max Keiffer: "Pederson gave Carnes a sharp look and took over the conversation. 'We'd like to retain your services,' he said pleasantly. 'Both of you?' 'Actually, it's for our partner, Blane Gordon. He's been arrested.' Pederson paused, looking for a reaction, but Michael's face remained impassive as he sat patiently waiting for an explanation. 'He's being held for murder,' Pederson continued. 'The murder of our other partner, Dr. Max Keiffer.' Michael's eyes asked the unspoken question. 'We know he didn't do it, Mr. Corso. We were with Blane at the time Max was killed." The Gouldings' combined experience brings realism to this character-driven, psychological drama about perfidy in both law and medicine. Using an impressive, measured plot, courtroom antics, and violation of the Hippocratic Oath, the Gouldings scare us all almost to death. Shelley Glodowski Senior Reviewer