Dead Man's Rule

Ben Corbin, Book 1

By: Rick Acker

Narrated by: Christopher Lane

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.

©2016 Rick Acker (P)2016 Brilliance Audio, all rights reserved.

Christian Medical and Legal Thriller

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.

Fantastic Book

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. Get this book.

Christopher Lane was excellent with the delivery of the story

John Grisham like

a really really good book. you understand the characters and can jump straight in. very well written. like a clean John Grisham with a few Christian characters

Book 2 in this legal thriller series is better

Dead Man's Rule has a Chicago lawyer dealing with biological weapons and terrorism in Russia; the effort is too ambitious. Audible rating 3.3 stars; Amazon rating 4.7 stars - I do not understand why. Christopher Lane's narration is superb. Some listeners will object to the strong religious content of this novel. Novel 2 has much less religious content.

Excellent!

I began reading this book on Kindle Unlimited. I liked it but then started the audio version which KU also allowed me to access. I loved the audio version because the reader performed the accents and characters so well.

Acker is an excellent author who goes beyond the plot and Bible quotations to bring meaning to story. His characters act out of recognizable pathos, in this case, the reality of death and courage in its face. There is no sermonizing, just agonizing thoughtfulness in circumstances we all might face.

Great book. I want to read / listen to #2 in the series.