The Dead Ringer

Cowboys & Indians Magazine, A Most Anticipated Book of the Year

“Full of suspense and action, this captivating Montana Western, set largely in 1935, will have readers’ hearts pumping.” —Alta

“Dane Bahr always delivers explosive and thrilling novels, and The Dead Ringer looks to be no different.” —Michael Welch, Chicago Review of Books

“[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

“Dane Bahr has poured lines of gasoline to a single point of ignition, struck a match, and sent fires racing down trails of past, present, and future. The Dead Ringer is an epic of the American West.” —David Joy, author of Those We Thought We Knew

“The Dead Ringer offers a fresh take on the classic western genre. Dane Bahr’s prose is damn near biblical. Same goes for his Lazarus-like protagonist, but the story is all True Grit. It’s good to know there are books like this still out there.” —Eli Cranor, Edgar Award winning author of Mississippi Blue 42