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Night Novels
Decisions: A Night Novel
“His life is not a vacuum. The things he says and does, decisions he makes, reverberate in ways he can’t begin to fathom.”
In the year since his tenure as Governor of Montana came to an end, Carson Wirth’s life has been little more than a victory lap with time spent back in his hometown of Helena, free to make the perfunctory rounds as something of a minor celebrity. Someone to give the occasional guest lecture at the local college or to offer a sound bite on the evening news.
His existence isn’t without its benefits, but when an opportunity presents itself to insert himself into a newly vacated United States Representative seat, Wirth jumps at it, envisioning an entirely new act for his career.
An act that many others aren’t nearly as excited to see come to pass.
Hours after stepping off the stage to receive his endorsement from the outgoing representative, Wirth wakes up alone in an old farm outbuilding. Handcuffed to a steel chair bolted to the floor, he embarks on a night painstakingly put together by his captors, each moment meant to impart the full repercussions of every decision he made overseeing the state.
Some with consequences reaching far beyond anything he ever intended…or even imagined.
In the year since his tenure as Governor of Montana came to an end, Carson Wirth’s life has been little more than a victory lap with time spent back in his hometown of Helena, free to make the perfunctory rounds as something of a minor celebrity. Someone to give the occasional guest lecture at the local college or to offer a sound bite on the evening news.
His existence isn’t without its benefits, but when an opportunity presents itself to insert himself into a newly vacated United States Representative seat, Wirth jumps at it, envisioning an entirely new act for his career.
An act that many others aren’t nearly as excited to see come to pass.
Hours after stepping off the stage to receive his endorsement from the outgoing representative, Wirth wakes up alone in an old farm outbuilding. Handcuffed to a steel chair bolted to the floor, he embarks on a night painstakingly put together by his captors, each moment meant to impart the full repercussions of every decision he made overseeing the state.
Some with consequences reaching far beyond anything he ever intended…or even imagined.
433 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 19, 2020
651 people are currently reading
43 people want to read
About the author
Dustin Stevens
86 books313 followersI originally hail from the midwest, growing up in the heart of farm country, and still consider it, along with West Tennessee, my co-home. Between the two, I have a firm belief that football is the greatest of all past-times, sweet tea is really the only acceptable beverage for any occasion, there is not an event on earth that either gym shorts or boots can't be worn to, and that Dairy Queen is the best restaurant on the planet. Further, southern accents are a highly likeable feature on most everybody, English bulldogs sit atop the critter hierarchy, and there is absolutely nothing wrong with a Saturday night spent catfishing at the lake.
Since leaving the midwest I've been to college in New England, grad school in the Rockies, and lived in over a dozen different cities ranging from DC to Honolulu along the way. Each and every one of these experiences has shaped who I am at this point, a fact I hope is expressed in my writing. I have developed enormous affinity for locales and people of every size and shape, and even if I never figure out a way to properly convey them on paper, I am very much grateful for their presence in my life.
To sum it up, I asked a very good friend recently how they would describe me for something like this. Their response: "Plagued by realism and trained by experiences/education to be a pessimist, you somehow remain above all else an active dreamer." While I can't say those are the exact words I would choose, I can't say they're wrong. I travel, live in different places, try new foods, meet all kinds of different people, and above all else stay curious to a fault.
Here's hoping it continues to provide us all with some pretty good stories...
Since leaving the midwest I've been to college in New England, grad school in the Rockies, and lived in over a dozen different cities ranging from DC to Honolulu along the way. Each and every one of these experiences has shaped who I am at this point, a fact I hope is expressed in my writing. I have developed enormous affinity for locales and people of every size and shape, and even if I never figure out a way to properly convey them on paper, I am very much grateful for their presence in my life.
To sum it up, I asked a very good friend recently how they would describe me for something like this. Their response: "Plagued by realism and trained by experiences/education to be a pessimist, you somehow remain above all else an active dreamer." While I can't say those are the exact words I would choose, I can't say they're wrong. I travel, live in different places, try new foods, meet all kinds of different people, and above all else stay curious to a fault.
Here's hoping it continues to provide us all with some pretty good stories...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews
March 20, 2020
Decisions is a tightly written, full throttle thriller. A Prolog dumps you in the middle of something horrible - an opening adrenaline jolt. Is it real or a cold sweat nightmare?
Decisions unfolds in the small town of Helena, Montana - where the pace is slow and, for all appearances, changes a bit slower.
The reader is introduced to a small cadre of characters that have spent their lives maintaining Helena’s equilibrium. House of Representatives member Willis Reeves, losing to cancer, looks to pass the baton to a steady hand. Carson Wirth, retired former Governor, is the steady hand. Dalton Perry, retired Montana State Police Detective and former head of security for Carson Wirth, is launching a private investigator business. Shea O’Rourke, a former colleague of Perry’s, counts the days to retirement along with his accumulation of unwanted pounds. Amber Biles, local TV station KHLN reporter, longs for a lifeline into a bigger city and career. As a counterpoint to all of the good folks we confront ex-con Greyson Bevel - full of swirling hatred.
Reeves let’s Wirth know that he wants him to assume his role and a press conference is scheduled for the following day. There are good feelings that things will continue without drama or speed bumps. Wirth and his wife celebrate the transition back to public life. Amber feels an opportunity and pulls in favors to get a meeting with Wirth for a possible story or ticket out of town. She gets lucky and Wirth commits to come to the TV station for an interview after the press conference. Dalton Perry is catching heat from his wife about his PI gig that has him out all night following a philandering husband.
The press briefing plays to an overflow crowd wishing well to the retiring Representative and a warm welcome for the popular former governor. Reeves introduces Wirth using the governor’s signature campaign slogan: the man who makes tough decisions. The crowd cheers but Greyson Bevel is seething. The cobra in the garden.
The briefing ends and Wirth hangs back to savor the moment before he heads to the back parking lot where the unreserved spaces are located. Wirth calls his wife and they make quick dinner plans and he promises to be home shortly. And then he disappears without a trace. Everything changes.
When Wirth is a ‘no show’ Amber Biles thinks he stiffed her interview. She waits, fuming, for over two hours. Wirth’s wife panics when she can’t get him on the phone. He is always responsible. The local police are dismissive because it’s ‘only a couple of hours’. She calls Dalton Perry, who kept the family safe for 10 years as head of security. Perry responds immediately as he grew close to the family during their years together. He agrees - this is not good. Amber arrives complaining about the brush off - confirming their worst fears. Perry corrals his former colleague Shea O’Rourke and they decide immediate action is needed. Amber, sensing a career making story, follows them.
A shift to Wirth finds him as the Prolog described - but far worse. Ex-con Bevel, with two former inmates, rages about Wirth’s “tough decisions”. Bevel says he will be tested. Two kidnapped innocents are shown on closed circuit TV and Wirth is told that he must “decide” which one lives and which one will die. If he does not they will both be killed. Wirth does not believe Bevel and tries to reason. Both are killed. Wirth’s fear is overwhelmed by guilt and then by horror as two more innocents are put in front of the camera and Bevel demands his “decision”. Struck dumb by terror he can only scream, “NO!”. They both die. After a few hours Wirth is forced awake to confront two potential victims. This time the two people on camera, subject to his decision, are his own children.
Outside in a race against time, and unaware of how high the stakes have become, Perry and O’Rourke (shadowed by Amber) get people out of bed at 2:00am, pull in favors, do detective work and catch a break through a groggy prison warden and Bevel’s parole officer. Knowing who sets off the scramble to find the where. Driven by friendship and duty Perry and O’Rourke push fatigue aside, intent on rescue. Arriving at the site simultaneously with Amber they make a valiant effort - hoping friendship, loyalty, duty, and ambition will overcome all odds.
Decisions unfolds in the small town of Helena, Montana - where the pace is slow and, for all appearances, changes a bit slower.
The reader is introduced to a small cadre of characters that have spent their lives maintaining Helena’s equilibrium. House of Representatives member Willis Reeves, losing to cancer, looks to pass the baton to a steady hand. Carson Wirth, retired former Governor, is the steady hand. Dalton Perry, retired Montana State Police Detective and former head of security for Carson Wirth, is launching a private investigator business. Shea O’Rourke, a former colleague of Perry’s, counts the days to retirement along with his accumulation of unwanted pounds. Amber Biles, local TV station KHLN reporter, longs for a lifeline into a bigger city and career. As a counterpoint to all of the good folks we confront ex-con Greyson Bevel - full of swirling hatred.
Reeves let’s Wirth know that he wants him to assume his role and a press conference is scheduled for the following day. There are good feelings that things will continue without drama or speed bumps. Wirth and his wife celebrate the transition back to public life. Amber feels an opportunity and pulls in favors to get a meeting with Wirth for a possible story or ticket out of town. She gets lucky and Wirth commits to come to the TV station for an interview after the press conference. Dalton Perry is catching heat from his wife about his PI gig that has him out all night following a philandering husband.
The press briefing plays to an overflow crowd wishing well to the retiring Representative and a warm welcome for the popular former governor. Reeves introduces Wirth using the governor’s signature campaign slogan: the man who makes tough decisions. The crowd cheers but Greyson Bevel is seething. The cobra in the garden.
The briefing ends and Wirth hangs back to savor the moment before he heads to the back parking lot where the unreserved spaces are located. Wirth calls his wife and they make quick dinner plans and he promises to be home shortly. And then he disappears without a trace. Everything changes.
When Wirth is a ‘no show’ Amber Biles thinks he stiffed her interview. She waits, fuming, for over two hours. Wirth’s wife panics when she can’t get him on the phone. He is always responsible. The local police are dismissive because it’s ‘only a couple of hours’. She calls Dalton Perry, who kept the family safe for 10 years as head of security. Perry responds immediately as he grew close to the family during their years together. He agrees - this is not good. Amber arrives complaining about the brush off - confirming their worst fears. Perry corrals his former colleague Shea O’Rourke and they decide immediate action is needed. Amber, sensing a career making story, follows them.
A shift to Wirth finds him as the Prolog described - but far worse. Ex-con Bevel, with two former inmates, rages about Wirth’s “tough decisions”. Bevel says he will be tested. Two kidnapped innocents are shown on closed circuit TV and Wirth is told that he must “decide” which one lives and which one will die. If he does not they will both be killed. Wirth does not believe Bevel and tries to reason. Both are killed. Wirth’s fear is overwhelmed by guilt and then by horror as two more innocents are put in front of the camera and Bevel demands his “decision”. Struck dumb by terror he can only scream, “NO!”. They both die. After a few hours Wirth is forced awake to confront two potential victims. This time the two people on camera, subject to his decision, are his own children.
Outside in a race against time, and unaware of how high the stakes have become, Perry and O’Rourke (shadowed by Amber) get people out of bed at 2:00am, pull in favors, do detective work and catch a break through a groggy prison warden and Bevel’s parole officer. Knowing who sets off the scramble to find the where. Driven by friendship and duty Perry and O’Rourke push fatigue aside, intent on rescue. Arriving at the site simultaneously with Amber they make a valiant effort - hoping friendship, loyalty, duty, and ambition will overcome all odds.
March 20, 2020
Author Dustin Stevens steps out of his comfort zone of series books with recognizable characters and into a completely different standalone. When a former governor is kidnapped and tortured in ways beyond description, his captor blames it on decisions he made as governor. Gradually the torture escalates, and decisions must be made. Methodically, the author reveals the reason the kidnapper has unleashed his plan. Meanwhile the governor’s former security chief is busy searching for clues as to his boss’s whereabouts. Step by step the story unfolds with excellent character development and plot design.
March 19, 2020
Carson Wirth, former governor, had a campaign slogan, I will make the tough decisions.When he was governor, he had seen many requests from prisoners to ask for a pardon. Someone took offense to the fact his brother was not pardoned, even though he killed a police officer. The governor gets kidnapped by Greyson Bevel, brother of the prisoner, and two others. The plan is to make him pay. This is a page turning thriller.
March 28, 2020
Wow! Edge of my seat. One of those books that makes you want to cheat and read ahead so you can find out why events are happening. Really enjoyed it.
March 21, 2020
Carson Wirth is on a roller coaster. From the high of being named the next State Legislator from Montana to the low of being kidnapped and tortured. Amber Biles is the cub reporter who just wants to get out of Helena to something bigger. Dalton Perry is retired from the Montana State Police, but retirement doesn’t agree with him. The story titled “ Decisions “ takes place in less than 24 hours, most of it on a cold, windy Montana night. The above described characters are brought together by a diabolical ex-con, bent on revenge. The characters are well developed and believable, the plot pulls you along. The cliche “ I couldn’t put it down” fits. This is another winner from Dustin Stevens.
March 19, 2020
I did discover Dustin Stevens relatively recently (some 5-6 months ago) and already have read quite some books by this author, one of my favorites at the moment. Well this was quite an intense thriller. Descriptions of places, feelings, smells really make you immerse in the story. I do think author has very well succeeded in making emotions real. Story is quite a roller coaster, it builds up rather slowly, providing good description of characters and the setting and then it begins..well without adding any spoilers can only say it left me guessing all the way to the end, however I did really enjoy the suspense, great read.
March 20, 2020
Dustin Stevens has written a masterful book of anger, hatred and revenge.
Set in the great state of Montana, we find a Congressman dying of cancer selecting the former
governor of Montana to be his choice to fill that soon to be empty Congressional seat.
What should be a night of celebration, we instead find the former governor kidnapped and set
to spend a night of fear, terror and the most horrific evil man can imagine.
Terrific characters woven into a story that will keep you riveted page after page.
Mr. Stevens has written a library of wonderful books but this just might be his most powerful
yet.
Set in the great state of Montana, we find a Congressman dying of cancer selecting the former
governor of Montana to be his choice to fill that soon to be empty Congressional seat.
What should be a night of celebration, we instead find the former governor kidnapped and set
to spend a night of fear, terror and the most horrific evil man can imagine.
Terrific characters woven into a story that will keep you riveted page after page.
Mr. Stevens has written a library of wonderful books but this just might be his most powerful
yet.
March 21, 2020
Once again, Dustin has taken us a roller coaster ride of emotions. An ex governor who has been selected by a retiring senator to be his replacement becomes the revenge target of a demented family member of a convict who he refused a stay of execution. You will be taken from happiness to terror and everything in between. Awesome cast of characters, non stop action/mystery along with an awesome storyline will keep you wanting more.
June 5, 2020
Promising beginning but flat
Pretty good to start with but by about the middle it lost me. Pretty much first and last sentence of each chapter and you skip the rest. Too much artificial anger and make believe. Waste of time, unfortunately. Two stars are for beach reads like in Mexico where you can't easily get English books in hard cover or through Amazon - nothing else to read so this will do.
Pretty good to start with but by about the middle it lost me. Pretty much first and last sentence of each chapter and you skip the rest. Too much artificial anger and make believe. Waste of time, unfortunately. Two stars are for beach reads like in Mexico where you can't easily get English books in hard cover or through Amazon - nothing else to read so this will do.
December 19, 2021
Decisions
Powerful story! Most of the time while reading this story I tried to wage how so much of our time is spent not really realizing the importance of decisions we make. We don’t knowing say or do things to make others despise us. However, unwittingly, we do or say or proclaim something that we don’t mean to hurt anyone else. In reality everything we say could somehow hurt someone else now or in the future!!!
Powerful story! Most of the time while reading this story I tried to wage how so much of our time is spent not really realizing the importance of decisions we make. We don’t knowing say or do things to make others despise us. However, unwittingly, we do or say or proclaim something that we don’t mean to hurt anyone else. In reality everything we say could somehow hurt someone else now or in the future!!!
Read
March 21, 2020From page one you are drawn in to the different characters, their lives and stories. I will give no spoilers as that would ruin it for you, suffice it to say that the twists and turns build to a satisfying conclusion. I received a complementary copy of this book as an ARC reader, but having read it I bought my wife a copy!, it is that good.
March 21, 2020
What A Book!
Dustin Steven's has managed to write a book that has the characters so real you feel like you are personally feeling the fear, excitement and suspense the characters are experiencing.
Rarely do I feel so "into" a book. I have read most of Steven's books, but he has taken the characterization to a new level! I would highly recommend this book.
Dustin Steven's has managed to write a book that has the characters so real you feel like you are personally feeling the fear, excitement and suspense the characters are experiencing.
Rarely do I feel so "into" a book. I have read most of Steven's books, but he has taken the characterization to a new level! I would highly recommend this book.
August 18, 2020
Gripping
I love the plot of this book. How many of us wouldn't love to see our politicians are the human result of their actions. They live in a world of ideas, removed from the actual results. This didn't exactly get there but I still love the idea. It is suspenseful and gripping. Definitely worth a read!
I love the plot of this book. How many of us wouldn't love to see our politicians are the human result of their actions. They live in a world of ideas, removed from the actual results. This didn't exactly get there but I still love the idea. It is suspenseful and gripping. Definitely worth a read!
September 10, 2020
I got to the 60% point and had to quit.
I've only done this once before. It was too (pointlessly) violent for me. There was no "suspense", just psychosis and mayhem. Never got to know the main characters. We're they good or bad? Why were the bad guys going after Carson, if they didn't even know him m?
It was a strange and confusing book. I hope it all works out for them.
I've only done this once before. It was too (pointlessly) violent for me. There was no "suspense", just psychosis and mayhem. Never got to know the main characters. We're they good or bad? Why were the bad guys going after Carson, if they didn't even know him m?
It was a strange and confusing book. I hope it all works out for them.
March 22, 2020
Another Great one by Dustin Steven's. I Actually received this as an arc in exchange for my honest review. It was great from the moment I downloaded my copy I couldn't stop reading just trying to to see what happens next. It was such a roller coaster ride but a great book.
March 23, 2020
Completely different from other Dustin Books I’ve read in my opinion. A page turner like no other. Instantly draws you in and I found myself fighting to skip to end just to get answer... boy are they worth the wait. Happy reading highly recommended
October 1, 2020
"Decisions" is a fast paced, super-charged, nail biter! The depth of the characters and the electric atmosphere keeps the reader interested from the first page to the last. Dustin Stevens, once again, knocks it out of the park.
October 11, 2020
Truly riveting!!
This book held me in my chair reading until I would fall asleep. A true suspense thriller all the way to the end. Thank you once again for the entertainment your books bring me.
This book held me in my chair reading until I would fall asleep. A true suspense thriller all the way to the end. Thank you once again for the entertainment your books bring me.
November 3, 2020
Decisions.
Wow! Where to start. A fast moving read, a bit gruesome at times with just enough details not to be "over the top". Well written and extremely hard to put down, especially late at night! Will definitely recommend it.
Wow! Where to start. A fast moving read, a bit gruesome at times with just enough details not to be "over the top". Well written and extremely hard to put down, especially late at night! Will definitely recommend it.
May 18, 2021
I really, really enjoyed this book. It had a lot of tension throughout the book, and made it hard for me to put it down. I really liked that it was a standalone thriller, and so happy with how it ended. I would recommend this book.
June 25, 2021
Excellent read
This book had plenty of tension and suspense. The characters are interesting. This book grabs you by the collar and forces you to read it until the explosive ending. Definitely put it on your list
This book had plenty of tension and suspense. The characters are interesting. This book grabs you by the collar and forces you to read it until the explosive ending. Definitely put it on your list
July 28, 2021
Review
I’m not going to review the book, you will all have to read it yourselves. It’s great reading, suspenseful, kept my attention to the last sentence. Having read most of the Reed and Billie books, the My Mira books and several others, I think this is the best of them all!
I’m not going to review the book, you will all have to read it yourselves. It’s great reading, suspenseful, kept my attention to the last sentence. Having read most of the Reed and Billie books, the My Mira books and several others, I think this is the best of them all!
December 24, 2024
Rather drawn out
Slow moving start. Some confusion about what was actually going on. Unreal that the story with so much violence all takes place in 12 hours. Rather different than the usual Dustin Steven’s books which I think are more hopeful.
Slow moving start. Some confusion about what was actually going on. Unreal that the story with so much violence all takes place in 12 hours. Rather different than the usual Dustin Steven’s books which I think are more hopeful.
March 31, 2020
Having lived in Helena it was an interesting read. The bad guys were sociopaths and lot of collateral damage to innocent people.
April 4, 2020
Awful!
October 14, 2020
Riviting
Once I got into this book I could not put it down. I was caught up in every bit of this book at I was there in person. What a great book!
Once I got into this book I could not put it down. I was caught up in every bit of this book at I was there in person. What a great book!
November 18, 2020
Getting g back in the groove.
December 20, 2020
Pretty good
This was a decent story. Good when you don't have any pressing want to read books available. I wish there were more Reed and Billie books.
This was a decent story. Good when you don't have any pressing want to read books available. I wish there were more Reed and Billie books.
July 1, 2021
A real paging turning drama
One of the most gut wrenching stories I have ever read! Filled with so many emotions I could not read fast enough. The ending did not disappoint!
One of the most gut wrenching stories I have ever read! Filled with so many emotions I could not read fast enough. The ending did not disappoint!
March 23, 2022
I didn't like this book. Too gruesome for me. First book by this author I haven't liked though.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews