Dead Man's Rule

By Rick Acker

Book Overview

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 confesses: 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 edition: This edition of Dead Man's Rule includes editorial revisions.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1503934802
• ISBN13: 9781503934801
• Release Date: June 2016
• Publisher: Amazon Publishing
• Length: 366 Pages
• Weight: 0.90 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 5.4" x 8.2"

Customer Reviews

A Legal Thriller With Bullets

I've read a lot of thrillers, and this one was truly excellent. It's a nice blend of Grisham and early Clancy--a legal thriller with bullets. The courtroom scenes are compelling without getting into tedious legal detail, and the fight scenes have plenty of zip. As a novelist myself, I had to admire Acker's use of the written word. He really does a terrific job of creating a strong storyworld (the Chicago legal scene and Russian mafiya) with solid characters (loved the Russian ex-FBI agent) and a plot that moves. I don't often read a book a second time, but I'm rereading this one. I give this book an A+, which is rare in my grade-book.

Dead Man's Rule - a winner!

I got hooked on this book right from the beginning and finished it in just a few days. The characters are interesting, real people, and the plot alternates between a couple of well-written story lines that kept my attention throughout the book. You won't be disappointed!

A lawyer's vacation book

This is a great story. It will be particularly enjoyable for lawyers for its faithfulness to the actual practice of law and for its depiction of the frustration and thrill some clients can provide. It would make a great movie, particularly with its timely topic. A great vacation book.

Gripping Combination of Grisham and Clancy

An effective combination of John Grisham and Tom Clancy make this a compelling read. Well developed characters and a believable modern plot involving legal drama and bio terrorism keep you needing to know what will happen next and to whom. There is an underlying religious message to this story that will appeal to some readers more than others, but definitely doesn't get in the way if you just want an exciting read. Suspenseful throughout, this book is very difficult to put down.

Hard to put book down!

Up-and-coming lawyer Ben Corbin battles a prominent Chicago litigator in a seemingly simple case over the ownership of a safe deposit box. After the person who sold the contents of the box to Corbin's client turns up dead, the case takes a new twist as "Dead Man's Rule" comes into play. I found the book extremely suspenseful and hard to put down. There is action and adventure, and the story is an excellent read for anyone who likes a nail-biting legal thriller. The book also makes a person think about the possibilities of biological weapons programs. As the author states, "Not nearly enough of this book is fiction." At the signing ceremony for the Project BioShield Act, President Bush acknowledged the catastrophic danger posed by biological weapons in the hands of terrorists. He called it "the greatest threat of our time."