The Dead Ringer

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 listeners 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.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Westerns, Mystery Thriller, Thriller, Suspense

320 pages, Hardcover

Published April 21, 2026

About the author

Dane Bahr was born in Minnesota. He lives in Washington state with his wife and sons. He is the author of The Houseboat.

Reviews

[Janalyn, the blind reviewer · Rating 2 out of 5]

Dead Ringer by Dane Bar, I requested this book because it said it was a western and I thought 1935 was a typo because Cowboys didn’t drive cars the road horses westerns are usually set before the 1900s and so to say I was sadly disappointed is an understatement. I still thought I would read the book but found it violent for violence sake and although the writing was good it was descriptive it definitely painted a picture and thought Bosco would’ve been so likable having not been so murderous. I did like the end with the showdown but would’ve enjoyed it much better had it been a real western setting in the old West which ended in the first decade of the1900s. I just don’t like a book where there’s no character to root for because why root for killed when right at the beginning with a man helps him get out of the grave he was buried in he kills the guy and steals his belongings. Either way you may like this book but don’t get it because you think it’s a western because it isn’t it set during the Great Depression in Montana and as long as you’re not looking for someone to redeem their self or to root for you may very well enjoy this book. #NetGalley, #TheBlindReviewer, #MyHonestReview,

[Michael]

Couldn’t get in to it. Not using quotes for people speaking was a choice.

[Mrs. Bert · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the most exciting thrillers I’ve read lately. “The Dead Ringer” delivers suspense, shock, and powerful storytelling in perfect balance. The author creates a world full of danger and uncertainty, keeping the reader engaged from page one. The twists are smart and unexpected, and the characters are memorable and well-developed. I loved the pacing—it’s fast but steady, never overwhelming. The writing style is vivid, making it easy to picture every scene. This is more than just a mystery; it’s a compelling journey filled with tension and emotional stakes. A strong five-star recommendation.

[Bookaholic__Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

Let me preface my review by saying I don't typically read westerns. However even with that in mind this didn't feel like a western to me. I would consider it more of a historical crime thriller.

The story is set in Rural Montana and Minnesota in the 1930s and following two half brothers, Benjamin Kilt and Sidney Bosco. Neither men are great people and I struggled to really connect with either of them.

There are some portions of the story told from the perspective of a young Indian girl named Bonnie Grace who recollects on her time with Kilt. Some of their interactions do redeem Kilt's character a little bit.

There is a lot of violence in this story, its definitely gritty and bloody and won't be the right match for every reader. If you typically enjoy noir, I think you will like this story. If you go in expecting a western, you are probably going to end up disappointed.

I personally really enjoyed the story and Bahrs style and can see myself reading more from him in the future.

I received a copy in exchange for my honest review.

[Greg · Rating 3 out of 5]

“The Dead Ringer” is an unflinching, deeply unsettling work that leans hard into the question of whether absolute good and evil truly exist. Bahr arrives at a grim, uncompromising conclusion that seems less interested in ambiguity than in confrontation. In this novel, evil is not abstract or philosophical but embodied, visceral, and deserving of brutal reckoning.

At the center of the narrative is Kilt, a character who manages to be both repellent and strangely compelling. He is the novel’s most fully realized figure, drawn with a psychological depth that stands in stark contrast to the many secondary characters who drift in and out of the story. Their motivations are often opaque and their histories largely unexplored making their actions seem arbitrary rather than inevitable.

Kilt exists in a liminal moral space. Notwithstanding his actions often aligning with monstrousness, Bahr leaves open the faintest possibility that something human and redeemable flickers within Kilt. This tension is encapsulated in the novel’s central metaphor: the “dead ringer.” Drawn from a macabre folk practice in which a buried person might signal their accidental interment by ringing a bell tied to their finger. Kilt, who appears spiritually dead, is metaphorically buried under his own violence. The question that lingers is whether he will “ring the bell.” Bahr asks whether redemption, however unlikely, remains within Kilt’s reach.

The moral framework of the novel also carries biblical echoes, most notably the story of Cain and Abel. Bahr channels that primal act of fratricide into a broader meditation on guilt, punishment, and divine justice. Yet unlike traditional biblical narratives, where the possibility of grace remains, Bahr’s vision seems harsher. Evil is not merely judged; it is annihilated, often in ways that mirror or exceed the cruelty that spawned it. This insistence on retributive violence is both the novel’s driving force and its most disturbing feature.

Indeed, the book’s relentless brutality can feel overwhelming. Scenes of extreme violence recur with such frequency and intensity that they risk numbing the reader. At times, this violence seems less thematically necessary than gratuitous, as though Bahr is testing the limits of what his audience can stand. While reflecting a world stripped of mercy, this may be a deliberate artistic choice. Yet its excess risks undermining the philosophical weight of the narrative.

Structurally, the novel adopts a fragmented, non-linear timeline that enhances its atmosphere of dread and uncertainty. Events unfold in a disjointed fashion, gradually coalescing into a broader picture, though not always with complete clarity. This approach sustains suspense but can also lead to confusion.

Set in the economically strained years between the world wars, the novel gestures toward the hardships of the Great Depression, but this context remains largely in the background. The upper Midwest and western settings are sketched rather than fully realized, serving more as a stage for Bahr’s moral drama than as integral components of it.

Ultimately, “The Dead Ringer” is a stark, polarizing novel. Its strengths lie in its haunting central metaphor and the complex portrayal of Kilt, while its weaknesses stem from narrative opacity and an overwhelming reliance on violence. It is a book that challenges, disturbs, and provokes—but rarely comforts.

[Elaine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sadly, this was a miss for me.

Although I enjoyed the writing, there was far too much violence in this one for me. And, I really didn’t care for any of the characters…

This takes place in the 1920’s-1930’s and we follow one guy, Ben Kilt, from the time he was just a little kid… right up to adulthood… and what a terrible childhood he had. From the Mom who was a call girl, to the half brother who was just a BAD guy all around… to the MANY, MANY people he met along the way…

He was trained to drive a car when he was ten… but, not for a good reason at all.
And then, the one person he had looked up to was gone…again. And he was on his own, again.

He travels across the country, and meets many people along the way… but tends to get caught up with the WRONG ONES all the time…

When we fast forward to him as an adult, he finally does ONE THING that was correct… if all too gory… and I’m not even sure what the reasoning in his head was for that…

To me it seems like his life was just one big sh*t show… and we went along for the ride…

And the ending… even more gory than the entire rest of the book.

If you’re looking for some type of a fairytale, don’t look this way… it is all evil and gore…

If you’re into gory, and mean characters, and lots of death along the way… this might be the book you need!

#DeadRinger by @DaneBahr and narrated nicely by @ChristopherRyanGrant and @JackieOldCoyote.

3 solid stars for me. ⭐️⭐️⭐️

THIS ONE HAS NOT BEEN RELEASED YET, BUT IT IS COMING OUT TOMORROW! 5/19/26!! So, please look for it then!!

Thanks so much to #NetGalley, @BrilliancePublishing and @BrillianceAudio for an ALC of the audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

You can also find my reviews on: Goodreads,
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My Facebook Book Club: Book Reviews With Elaine

Thanks so much for reading! And if you ‘liked’ my review, please share with your friends, & click ‘LIKE’ below… And, let me know YOUR thoughts if you read it!!

And as always, thanks for reading along with me! 📚⭐️📖🩷

[Hannah The Cajun Bookworm · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The Dead Ringer caught my attention purely off the cover — I know, don’t judge a book by its cover, but what can I say? Guilty! 🤠

I had no idea it was a western until I got into it, and it immediately gave me major True Grit vibes. I went in expecting lots of “shoot ‘em up” western action, but this turned out to be much more of a coming-of-age story.

It was very well written and such a fast read — or in my case, a fast listen! The audiobook narration was fantastic. Easy, soothing voice with great pacing and tone that fit the story perfectly.

I really enjoyed the author’s writing style and would absolutely pick up another book by them in the future.

Recommend for fans of Broken Country, True Grit, and coming-of-age stories with a western feel!

Huge thank you to Brilliance Audio Publishing, NetGalley, and the author for the advance listener copy and opportunity to share my thoughts!

[Logan Seybold · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a 1 day read. Not because I am bored and have no life, simply because this book is a gripping read you can not put down.

I am a sucker for the adventure story where the cynical character meets someone in need and remembers their humanity. The flashbacks of Kilt, his quest to find an unknown savior and this savior becoming his very undoing...remarkable. The writing quality is top notch.

[Sharon Corner · Rating 4 out of 5]

I rarely read westerns, never been my thing, but I saw the title and description and decided to try it out. I have never read a Dane Bahr book narrated by Jackie Old Coyote and Christopher Ryan Grant.
The Dead Ringer refers to a bell that is attached to a string inside a coffin. If the person is actually alive, they can pull the string, and the ringing bell will alert people that the person needs to be dug up. So that's how this novel starts: a man is walking with his donkey and suddenly hears a bell. Things don't go well with him, and we are introduced to Kilt, who was buried alive by his brother, Benjamin Kilt. Kilt sets out to find his brother and, along the way, rescues Bonnie, an Indigenous girl, a 16-year-old woman being held by an abusive man. She accompanies him in his quest to find his brother and kill him.
The book bounces between the current time, which is 1935, and Kilt's past, to a ranch where both Kilt boys were raised, to the showdown at the same ranch. Bonnie adds a nice touch to the story. Kilt is a rough man, but he protects her from others who believe American Indians are less than human and can be used and abused.
The story is fast-paced, and the narration is clear and appropriate for the story. I'm not sure 'suspenseful" is the word I would use for this book, also not a thriller, but a well-told tale about revenge. Anyone who likes westerns will like this book, and for anyone just wanting a good book to read this summer, "The Dead Ringer" fills the bill.

[Jamie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another tough one to review. There was so much I liked about this novel. The story was fascinating, the plot propulsive, and some of the writing was beautiful, but it was an odd mix. Some of the spare passages are so lovely and understated they sing, but others felt wildly, oddly overwritten, verging on purple prose. Bahr has a gift for believable dialogue and stark imagery that invokes vivid pictures of what is unfolding.

I would encourage him to rein in the similes. Much as Dorothy Parker thought the use of exclamation points should be severely curtailed, I think metaphors and similes need to be used sparingly. If everything is "like" something else, at some point it ceases to be itself. There was one two-page spread where I counted 11 similes. Even these are a mixed bag: some are absolutely apt, while others are inept, inapt, and clumsy.

I'm pondering the violence, which normally doesn't bother me, but here I find myself wondering about the end. It felt excessive, unnecessary, and gratuitous. Simple jealousy doesn't explain or account for that kind of rampage. We needed to know more about Bosco to contextualize what drives him to do what he does.

I think Bahr is a very talented writer.

[Julianne · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Dead Ringer is a mix of Johnny Depp's Public Enemies and "Blood Meridian". Set in the almost wild west of 1935 Montana, Benjamin (Ben) Kilt faces a quintessential question: are we born with intrinsic goodness or evil within our hearts or is our behavior shaped by our environment? Do humans have any hope of changing? And if so, does that hope give us anything worthwhile this side of heaven?

Told in three parts with a prolonged flashback in the middle, readers learn what's going on with Ben, how he got there, and what he's going to do about it now. This story is bloody and ugly, when you fight against easy answers and rewards for good behavior, what other outcome could there be? Readers face their own moral question: can we be the judge of another man's life, is that his sole right, or are there higher powers at work?

Troupes: naive, broken child, protective hero, troubled childhood, second chances, revenge, shoot out finale
Spice: 4/5 🌶️
Gore: 4/5 🩸
Language: 3/5 👀
Triggers: blood, prostitution, assault and battery, rape, murder, arson

Thank you to Brilliance Publishing and NetGalley for this ARC!

[Rachel Combs · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book had SO much potential for me because the premise is incredible. A revenge western with a man who was buried alive and survives? Instantly hooked.

The dialogue was honestly the strongest part of the book. I really enjoyed the interactions between Kilt and Bonnie, and there were several scenes that genuinely pulled me in emotionally. Bonnie especially became the heart of the story for me.

Unfortunately, the audiobook narration for older Bonnie just did not work for me at all and made parts of the listening experience difficult. There were also sections that felt overly descriptive to the point where the pacing dragged. Still, I’m not a DNF reader, and I stayed invested enough to finish because the core story itself was compelling.

Overall: great concept, strong dialogue, memorable characters, but the execution didn’t fully land for me personally.

[Jenny · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Dead Ringer is a suspenseful, beautifully but accessibly written, historical thriller. The storytelling was superb and Bahr's portrayal made the characters feel real, causing the reader to be fully invested in their lives. The book starts with bank robber Benjamin Kilt rising from a shallow grave after being put there by his brother, Sid Bosco. On his quest to get revenge on Bosco, Kilt encounters dangerous wildlife and a young girl in need of help. At the same time, the reader is treated to flashbacks of Kilt's early life and upbringing that help give understanding to his motivations and character.

The Dead Ringer was a quick read, as it was impossible to put down. The plot, scenery descriptions, and characters were cinematic and leapt off the page. A treat to experience!

[Jessica · Rating 3 out of 5]

Unfortunately, this title was a miss for me. I made it to about a quarter of the audiobook before deciding to DNF.

The story never fully grabbed my attention, and I found myself struggling to stay engaged. The writing style felt somewhat disconnected, making it difficult for me to connect with the characters or become invested in what was happening. Additionally, the narration wasn't a good fit for me. The voices and delivery were distracting enough that they pulled me out of the story rather than drawing me in.

As always, this is purely a matter of personal preference, and other readers may have a very different experience. Unfortunately, this one just wasn't the right fit for me, and I chose not to continue.

[Myprivatebookclub · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had some doubts about this book, but those doubts were to the ground within the first pages of the book. The book smelled and sounded like the Two Towers book of Stephen King, and somehow Benjamin Kilt, was so much Stephen King's character that I had goosebumps while reading the book. So Benjamin was a nicely built character. I enjoyed his adventures. I enjoyed his actions, his attitude toward people, his way of speaking, his way of doing things, his way of thinking. I enjoyed following Benjamin through his journey. And then, yes, I was a little bit surprised by the ending, but I didn't expect anything less.

[Devonte Spinka · Rating 5 out of 5]

A brilliant, edge-of-your-seat thriller that delivers on every promise. “The Dead Ringer” combines emotional weight with a fast-paced plot full of shocks and reveals. The author creates a gripping sense of mystery from the start, and each chapter deepens the intrigue. The characters are believable and deeply engaging, and the twists are genuinely surprising. I loved how the story unfolds piece by piece, keeping you constantly guessing. The writing is strong and atmospheric, making the entire experience feel cinematic. This is a must-read for thriller fans. Five stars without hesitation.

[Susan Ovans · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gripping tale of two brothers who grow up apart in 1920s Minnesota and Montana and whose reunion is anything but serendipitous. Although the novel is set in the West and there's lots of talk of ranches and guns, Benjamin and his brother are not cowboys and this is not a traditional Western. Home on the range can be a bleak place to live, it turns out. The Dead Ringer is not for the faint of heart. Lots of violence of several sorts, not gratuitous, but nerve-rattling.
(Dane Bahr's writing is masterful, though.)

[Drew McCoy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is hard to say but I think this is Dane's best book, and the reason it's hard to say is because all of Dane's books are great. I've loved every single one of them. He's one of the best writers doing it today. Propulsive stories. Well-rounded characters. And prose that are next level. Dane's sentences sing. Come for the stories, for the plot, for the colorful characters, but stay for the prose. Dane Bahr knows how to do it.

[Hayley_book_corner · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting read/listen if you like Historical Thrillers & Western Fictions and novels about discovering revenge isn't everything.

The descriptions in the story really help you imagine what's going on as you listen. The flashbacks help you feel for and understand the main character Kilt.

The narrators are brilliant and really grip you into the story.

Definitely recommend if you like Historical thrillers.

Thank you Netgallery and Brilliance Publishing for the ALC.

[KDV · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read this while not feeling well because it's mostly dialog and very straight forward, so I could fall asleep and pick back up and it didn't matter. I love a lot dialog! But all the conversations are the same and every character is SO OBTUSE. Rude, broken men answer to no one and die for no reason at all. Boring. Bonnie is the best part and she's barely in it!! For fans of Annie Proulx, my ass!

[Katie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley and Brilliance Publishing | Brilliance Audio for the ARC of this audiobook, The Dead Ringer.

2.5 ⭐
First, the female narrator was not very good. She was very mouthy and idk if it was just because I listen to my audiobooks at 2x, but her mouth noises were irritating.

Secondly, this book was very graphic and was a bit repetitive in the middle.

Other than those things, this book was alright. It definitely read as a historical fiction/western.

[April · Rating 2 out of 5]

Was anyone else aggravated by the dialogue? Kilt constantly repeated what people said to him in the form of a question!
"Do you pray?"
Kilt: "Pray?"
Yes or no dude, you're not a parrot, just answer the damn question! This goes on during the whole book & I was so over it.
I didn't mind the violence but that dialogue really got me.

[Lizenbyl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quick but interesting read. Two brothers became outlaws and they both tried to kill each other off at various points in their lives. Insight into a western dysfunctional family.

[T.J. · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a different book not a western fan anymore but this had a different twist to it with someone return to get their unfinished business fixed!

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an interesting read. Very dark at times but the story flowed well. It kept me engaged and curious how it all played out.

[Mel {The Emerald Reader} · Rating 5 out of 5]

A huge thank you to NetGalley for this ARC audiobook. This is one of my favorite reads of 2026 so far. I've never read this author before and I was thoroughly impressed with this novel.
I was hooked from the first few pages and blew through this audiobook. The narrator was great and the story was gritty and raw. I love westerns and thrillers, this is a bit of both. I would recommend this to anyone who likes westerns or thrillers with a fair bit of violence mixed in. The family dynamic was so interesting and twisty. Loved it.