Dead Man's Hand

An action-packed historical western for fans of William Johnstone and Louis L'Amour.

Condemned to die, he's about to find a reason to live.

Jake Paynter is a doomed man. Haunted by an abusive childhood and his participation in atrocities of the Civil War, he seeks the isolation of the Plains Cavalry as a white officer for an all-Black buffalo soldier troop. Now, he is in irons and certain to be hanged for killing his captain after refusing an inhumane order. Despite his best efforts to maintain isolation, he starts to make friends on his journey to trial. The people of the wagon train begin looking to Paynter for leadership, and he reluctantly falls into the role.

The opportunity to escape arises when the wagon train is attacked by bandits, but Paynter's growing ties to the travelers compel him to stay. As his trial approaches, Paynter must lean on his friends for salvation, but the laws of the west are swift and harsh, and a grueling confrontation with his past is on the horizon.

About the Author

David Nix grew up in a Wyoming mountain town at the border of the Wind River reservation. His time in town taught him that often the greatest stories have been either forgotten or were never told. Through his historical westerns, he now has the opportunity to share these stories with readers. He previously wrote in the historical romance space for ten years.