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Dead Man's Hand: Crime Fiction at the Poker Table Audiobook
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Publisher Description
Hit the jackpot with stories from Michael Connelly, Laura Lippman, Walter Mosley, Alexander McCall Smith, and more superstars of mystery.
In "One Dollar Jackpot," Michael Connelly's curmudgeonly Harry Bosch finds himself going toe-to-toe with a professional poker player. Jeffery Deaver offers up "Bump," a tale of a has-been actor trying to make it big by hustling cards. "Hardly Knew Her" by Laura Lippmann showcases a young woman learning about bluffing the hard way, while "In the Eyes of Children" by Alexander McCall Smith features a scam at a poker table on the high seas.
With these, and more offerings from mystery greats such as Joyce Carol Oates, John Lescroart, Walter Mosley, Peter Robinson, and Eric Van Lustbader, Dead Man's Hand is a suspenseful anthology that's a big winner for any fan of crime fiction.
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“This trio of narrators hits the mark. Poker and crime play a role in these short stories, which come to life with their deft narrations…For the characters at a party in “Pitch Black,” narrator Keith Sellon–Wright creates an exceptional range of voices, alternating mostly between an unlikable, gruff-voiced guitar player and a teen coming of age. Gail Shalan puts appropriate emotion into the frantic girl and teen boys in “Strip Poker.” And Leon Nixon’s deep, serious voice perfectly fits the main character in “Mr. In-Between.” Thankfully, this collection doesn’t get into the weeds of poker, so even listeners who don’t play will enjoy it.”
— AudioFile
Dead Man's Hand Listener Reviews
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" This is the first book by Michael Connelly I didn’t like. I have read over 10 of his books and loved them all. Got halfway through it and just stopped. I didn’t know it was a bunch of small stories about poker. He is still my favorite author, but this one got the thumbs down. "
— Karen , 2/11/2026
About the Authors
Michael Connelly, author of suspense thriller and detective mysteries, was named a Grand Master by the Mystery Writers of America in 2023. He has written several #1 New York Times bestsellers and numerous titles that made the New York Times and USA Today bestseller lists. He has won most every award given in the mystery and thriller genres, including the Anthony Award for Best Novel and the Barry Award for Best Novel. He is a former newspaper reporter who also won numerous awards for his journalism.
Laura Lippman is the award–winning author of mystery novels, including twelve in the Tess Monaghan series, fourteen stand-alone novels, and sixteen novellas and short story collections. Her books have won many awards, including the Edgar, Agatha, Shamus, Anthony, Nero, Barry Macavity, and Crime-Fest awards. In 2025, she was named a Grand Master by the Mystery Writers of America. Her books have been translated into more than twenty-five languages.
Walter Mosley is one of America’s most celebrated writers. He was given the 2020 National Book Award’s Medal for Distinguished Contribution to American Letters, named a Grand Master of the Mystery Writers of America, and honored with the Anisfield-Wolf Award, a Grammy Award, a PEN USA Lifetime Achievement Award, the Robert Kirsch Award, numerous Edgar Awards, and several NAACP Image Awards. His work has been translated into twenty-five languages. He has published fiction and nonfiction in the New Yorker, Playboy, and The Nation. As an executive producer, he adapted his novel The Last Days of Ptolemy Grey for AppleTV+. He co-wrote the adaptation of his novel The Man in My Basement to stream on Hulu, and he served as a writer and executive producer for FX’s Snowfall.
Cary Hite has performed in several theaters across the country as a cast member in the longest-running African American play in history, The Diary of Black Men. He also appeared in Edward II, Fences, Macbeth, Good Boys, Side Effects May Vary, and the indie feature The City Is Mine. He has voiced several projects for AudibleKids, including Souls Look Back in Wonder, From Slave Ship to Freedom Road, and Papa, Do You Love Me?
About the Narrators
Leon Nixon is a professional actor, playwright, and filmmaker. A Los Angeles native, he has performed in short films, web series, and on stage in dramatic and comedic roles. He is also an improviser and part of the group that appears in the Guinness Book of World Records for Longest Continuous Improv Show.
Keith Sellon-Wright is an audiobook narrator and an actor with more than thirty years of experience in Hollywood. His television roles have included Frasier, Seinfeld, The West Wing, Mad Men, Parks and Recreation, Grey’s Anatomy, and Scandal. He also serves as a “voice of the New York Times,” narrating selected articles for their daily audio edition.
Kevin R. Free is an audiobook narrator and the winner of numerous AudioFile Earphones Awards and several AudioFile best narrations of the year selections. Known for his work with young-adult novels, he has read titles by Rick Riordan, Walter Dean Myers, and Joe Haldeman. In 2011 he was named a Best Voice in Young Adult and Fantasy from AudioFile magazine for his narration of Myers’ The Cruisers: Checkmate.