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A Novel
by Dane Bahr
This haunting Western story features a man brought back from the dead to exact revenge upon those who have wronged him, only to discover that the world is capable of good — from the author of The Houseboat and Stag.
Montana, 1935. Bludgeoned and buried alive by his bank-robbing partner and half brother, Benjamin Kilt should have been a corpse. But now very much on this side of heaven, Kilt's quest for revenge will be unlike anything the West has ever seen.
Kilt is joined on his journey by Bonnie, a thirteen-year-old Indigenous girl he somewhat reluctantly rescues from her abusive "keeper." It is through Bonnie's recollections in old age of Kilt's thorny quest for justice that Dane Bahr's masterful tale unwinds, showcasing the tragic, complicated history of the two brothers and leading to a showdown at the very ranch where they were raised.
For readers of Charles Portis, Elmore Leonard, and Annie Proulx, The Dead Ringer explores the slippery justification of questionable deeds done for honorable ends, a bold and haunting novel featuring a man brought back from the dead to exact revenge, only to discover that the world is capable of good no matter how tragic the end may be.
"[T]his is a raw, biblically heated tale about generational trauma, the possibilities of redemption, and predetermined fate. With its parade of blood-spattered victims, its philosophical ponderings, and fiercely lyrical depictions of the American West, this is country noir at its grimmest while at the same time channeling hope. Its intensity never lets up. The best novel yet by a powerfully original artist." —Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
"Bahr delivers a bold, propulsive tale of violence and vengeance in the early-20th-century American West ... Thriller fans seeking something off the beaten path should check this out." —Publishers Weekly
"Bahr has a knack for dialogue—the short, terse sentences wary people utter to ensnare each other and then pounce ... The pages spring to life." —Booklist
"The Dead Ringer is as fast as a bullet. I can't remember the last time a book took me on such a wild non-stop breathtaking ride. Kilt and Bonnie are two classic orphans on the road in a world of violence, madness, and surprising kindness." —Willy Vlautin, author of The Horse
"Henry Miller said that in art, if you start with the drums, you have to end with the dynamite. In The Dead Ringer, Dane Bahr's opening percussion leads masterfully to the inevitable explosion. An immensely satisfying, powderkeg of a novel." —Callan Wink author of Beartooth: A Novel
This information about The Dead Ringer was first featured
in "The BookBrowse Review" - BookBrowse's membership magazine, and in our weekly "Publishing This Week" newsletter. Publication information is for the USA, and (unless stated otherwise) represents the first print edition. The reviews are necessarily limited to those that were available to us ahead of publication. If you are the publisher or author and feel that they do not properly reflect the range of media opinion now available, send us a message with the mainstream reviews that you would like to see added.
Any "Author Information" displayed below reflects the author's biography at the time this particular book was published.
Dane Bahr was born in Minnesota. He is the author of The Houseboat and Stag. He lives in Washington state with his wife and sons.
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