Dead Hand Control

Rating:
Summary: Marvelous, marvelous, marvelous!
Review: This is the first thriller I've read whose main character has a deforming disability. Bravo! Although the protagonist is a lawyer named Russell White, it is his son Graham who carries the story -- and captures the imagination. Graham is born with a condition called symbrachydactyly, which leaves him with only a couple tiny, deformed fingers. Those who know children with this condition will understand the enormity of it. But the author doesn't treat Graham as some mere object of pity or curiosity. I don't want to give it away, but Graham is a truly heroic figure who leaves you laughing and crying at the same time (even if you're not a teacher like me).
The beautiful prose and intricate plot of this exceptionally well-written novel left me wondering when it will become a movie -- and when we can expect the next book!
Well done, Tim Stutler!

Rating:
Summary: captivating
Review: This legal thriller was captivating from the first page. I was hooked from the start. The novel was a refreshing approach to the usual fiction novel in how it described the life experiences of a young lawyer. The drive for success had its price for the main character in the book when the trappings of wealth and power made him compromise his integrity and morals. Although just the right length, it made you wish for more.

Rating:
Summary: Couldn't put it down!
Review: Tim Stutler draws you into the story so completely that you forget you are reading. He drops you into tense law school classrooms and later the lavish lifestyle of big firm lawyers, reminiscent of the way Tom Wolfe creates the universe around his novels. The precisely honed prose suggests more Scott Turow than John Grisham. Mr. Stutler uses his military background and Harvard / Berkeley pedigree to paint a world not accessible to most of us, while quickly marching you toward the stunning concluding chapter. Though satisfying, when the book is read, you are left eagerly awaiting the next effort from Mr. Stutler.