The Ring

by Dustin Stevens, Dustin Stevens

More than twenty years ago, a bomb ravaged the federal courthouse in Missoula, Montana, leaving behind only a pair of fingerprints in the rubble.One belonged to Maryline Harper, a woman incarcerated for the crime since. The other? A man named Glen Whisenhunt that hasn’t been seen or heard from since.

Now more than two decades later, a case of domestic violence turns up a connection to the heinous act from so long ago, one that immediately embroils many of the key players in the Missoula legal community. Among them are the original prosecutor of the case, a man facing an impending election in dire need of a win. An FBI agent that feels his time in Montana has reached an end. The local police officer that made the original arrest, her personal and professional life becoming entangling in a way she never thought possible. And most of all, the young attorney that is hired to defend the man now standing accused of the bombing from long before.

Working through and around one another, each of these people must fight to unravel something that has been more than twenty years in the making…

414 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 1, 2020

About the author

I 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...

Reviews

[Tulay · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good story.

Like reading Dustin Stevens books, but not this one. Detailed information and description of characters, in places wanted to skip couple pages. Two decades old bombing and all the people involved in this bombing. Ending was disappointing. 2.5 stars.

[Janice A Barratt · Rating 3 out of 5]

So so

I didn't really care for the story. It was too vague for too long. It was obvious we were not aware of the real story behind the story and that approach can work to build suspense. However in this case it built to the point of being annoying. Then, everything was revealed and finalized in just a few pages. It was very irritating and made the reader feel used.

[Linda Metz]

My Kindle acted up and cut me off after I swiped and only ended up with a one star rating. This was a much better read and I was trying to rated it a five star. It drug thru the first half of the book but the ending was extremely enjoyable and unpredictable. I would not fault anyone if they rated it a five star.

[Dixie Petersen · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting read!

I enjoy this author's work very much! I liked this unique story line as well. While I think it dragged along here and there, it was still very entertaining!

[Robbie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don't know if I was just distracted by outside events when I read this one or not, but it took me a long time to read it. And then I was disappointed. It was definitely not a typical Dustin Stevens book, which are always fast-paced and exciting. I rate it 4.3 stars.

[Kenny · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun fast paced book. Great characters. I'm guessing a book two is coming since this didn't really end. Kind of just left you up in the air..