Nine Lives and Counting: A Bounty Hunter’s Journey to Faith, Hope, and Redemption

by Duane "Dog" Chapman

Go behind-the-scenes with Duane "Dog" Chapman, star of the hit reality show Dog the Bounty Hunter and two-time New York Times bestselling author, as he shares new stories about his faith in Jesus, family, and the discovery of God's grace at work throughout his life.

From being in a motorcycle gang, to being incarcerated, and then becoming a widely-know TV personality, Duane's life has been anything but ordinary. But, through every success and failure, the one constant has been his faith in God. For the first time, Daune is sharing how his faith has brought him through life's greatest difficulties, giving him renewed purpose and meaning.

In Nine Lives and Counting Duane offers fresh insight into some of his well-known life events, and he also gives you access to previously untold stories. You will hear

memories of the painful events that shaped Duane's childhood,the impact of his relationship with his praying mother,the surprising hope he found in prison,triumphs and failures from his days as a single dad,new previously untold stories of bounty hunting,the tragic loss of his beloved wife Beth to cancer,the unexpected blessing of finding his new wife Francie,the work he and Francie are doing to preach and share about Jesus,his relationship with his kids and family,and much more. 

With all the plot twists of a page-turning novel, Nine Lives and Counting is a real-life chronicle of God's amazing grace and restoration that have marked Duane's journey of faith. You will be inspired.

Genres: Nonfiction, Audiobook, Faith, Biography Memoir, Biography, Autobiography, Memoir

252 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 16, 2024

About the author

Duane Lee "Dog" Chapman I. (born February 2, 1953) is an American bounty hunter and a former bail bondsman. He starred in a weekly reality television program called Dog the Bounty Hunter, which ran for 8 seasons until 2012.

He was born on February 2, 1953 to Wesley and Barbara Chapman. He is the oldest of four children, with two younger sisters and one brother; however, according to Chapman, everyone is his 'brother'. He is German on his mother's side and English on his father's side. His mother was a minister for the Assembly of God church and passed her Christian faith onto her son.

In 1976, Chapman was convicted of first degree murder and sentenced to five years in a Texas prison. He had been waiting in a car when his friend accidentally shot and killed alleged pimp and drug dealer Jerry Oliver (aged 69) in a struggle during a deal to buy cannabis.

Chapman served 18 months at Texas State Penitentiary in Huntsville, Texas. While he was in prison, his first wife LaFonda divorced him and married his best friend. During his incarceration, he did field work and acted as the warden's barber. In a 2007 interview for Fox News Chapman claimed that while serving his sentence he tackled an inmate about to be shot for attempting to escape, and a congratulatory remark by a prison guard inspired him to become a bounty hunter later. Chapman was paroled in January 1979.

Due to his felony conviction, Chapman is not allowed to own a firearm. He has been barred from entering the UK.

Reviews

[♥Milica♥ · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've never seen any of Dog's shows, but I sure will after this book! I'd heard about him, but he really came to my attention during the Gabby Petito case, so when I saw this book was coming out I knew I had to read it. And now I'll have to read his other books too, because I want to know even more about him.

We're immediately hit with the sad, because the book begins with Dog's wife Beth's battle with cancer that she unfortunately lost. You can really tell how much he loved her and how much it affected him. I'm glad he and Francie (who also lost her husband) managed to find each other and find a new purpose together.

In Nine Lives and Counting we follow Dog's journey from childhood to adulthood, through a biker gang, prison, door to door salesmanship, bounty hunting and ministering, Dog's done it all.

The most compelling parts to me, were Dog's testimony and all the ways he glorified God in this book. He's one of the best examples of answered prayers. I love how precise God was, like the 60 dollars or the horse, ask and ye shall receive indeed.

I loved learning about his past too, I'd imagine even people who've seen the shows don't know all of that about him.

The majority of the book is from his PoV, but we had a surprising appearance by Francie who wrote about their meeting from hers. It was so sweet. I'd love to listen to her talk sometime.

And yes, this read is full of Bible quotes and stories, but if you ask me the more the merrier!! They fit in well with the theme of the book and I truly hope that people's lives will be changed by that prayer at the end.

Now if you'll excuse me, I saw Dog's first show is on Hoopla so, I'll catch y'all later.

[Natalie all_books_great_and_small · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an advance reader copy of this book to read in exchange for an honest review via netgalley and the publishers.

Nine Lives and Counting is a memoir by Duane "the dog" Chapman aka Dog the Bounty Hunter from TV.
I used to love watching Dog and Beth's bounty hunting show, so when I saw he had written a book, I jumped at the chance of reading and reviewing it.
The book starts off at a sad point in his life - where he lost his larger than life, love of his life, Beth. This was quite an emotional part of the book as you can feel his love and loss through the pages. He then goes on to discuss his life from childhood, joining a biker gang, his time in jail, and his careers from salesman to bounty hunter to minister of the Church. To look at Duane, you wouldn't think he'd be a religious man, but this book proves that looks can be deceiving and not to judge others by appearance. I enjoyed the short account from his new wife's POV; Francie, about how they met and were drawn to one another through their shared experience of loss. This was a beautiful memoir and I'm so grateful for the opportunity to read it.

[Tara Marie · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐️

Thank you NetGalley and Nelson Books for sending this early copy for review consideration!

Reading Nine Lives and Counting felt like you were having a conversation or listening to Dog speak directly. He goes through many of his major life events and experiences in a way that you can really see and feel all the emotions. The way they are broken up made it easy to follow and stay engaged.

Whether you are on your spiritual journey and/or a Christian already you will probably appreciate the Bible references and stories. If you are not an overly spiritual or religious person, I feel you can still get a lot out of the book, especially if you are a fan of Dog’s shows.

The only reason I didn’t give it a 4 was a few of the last chapters felt out of place for me. The entire book I felt like Dog spoke humbly of his experiences and was very transparent, raw and intentional with his sharing. Towards the end when he shared about his part in the Laundrie search, it felt forced and out of place. It really didn’t sit with me right even with my interest in true crime.

Overall if you grew up watching Dog the Bounty Hunter and following Beth and the family like me, you’ll enjoy this book and learning where he’s come from as an adult! Dog’s lived a full life and has a lot to share from his experiences.

[Bonnie DeMoss · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a heartfelt memoir by Duane Chapman, or Dog the Bounty Hunter. This is a loving tribute to his late wife Beth, who died after a fight with cancer. It's also about grief, moving, on, and starting over. Highly recommend.

[Zuzu · Rating 3 out of 5]

I watched Dog the Bounty Hunter a little bit back in the day but I knew nothing about his life. 6 wives and 13 children was news to me. The book gave an overview of the different stages of his life and I wanted to like it more than I actually did. I didn’t know he had several previous books. He made reference to these books rather than go into detail about some of his life experiences so that was disappointing as I didn’t get the full story in this book. I may check out his previous books to get a fuller picture of his life.

I found it intriguing how he was raised by a very religious mother. He didn’t always follow his religious training but now his calling is spreading the Word.

Thank you NetGalley and Nelson Books for this ARC.

[Siobhan · Rating 2 out of 5]

I don't believe or trust him. He quotes the Bible a lot in this book. I got one for him. Ye shall know them by their fruits.

[Jess · Rating 2 out of 5]

The review I want to write feels too mean :(

[Megan | _The.Brunette.Bookworm_ · Rating 4 out of 5]

ʙ ᴏ ᴏ ᴋ • ʀ ᴇ ᴠ ɪ ᴇ ᴡ

📖 Nine Lives and Counting
✍🏻 @duanedogchapman
ARC #22 of 2024
📚40/100

Releasing on April 16th, 2024 - Nine Lives and Counting: A Bounty Hunter’s Journey to Faith, Hope, and Redemption!

This was a very hard and heavy book to read.
Memoirs usually are.

I used to watch Dog the Bounty Hunter and loved Dog and Beth. They always made me laugh and he was (is) such a badass.

But I didn’t know his past was filled with so much pain, hurt and violence. My heart broke learning everything he went through; the abuse, the struggle, the addiction, the jail time, his loss and heartbreak. He did a great job sharing his journey from where he was; a gang member and vacuum salesmen to where he is now; an author and star in many of our eyes! It was raw and real, and I really enjoyed it (as much as you can enjoy reading someone’s hard ships!) 🫶🏻

It was a breath of fresh air to read a book so based on being spiritual and he constantly explained how Hod got him through it all and throughout his life he constantly remembered his faith and

TW: there are references to abuse, gangs, violence, drugs/addition, murder, cancer, and prison.

[Stacey E. · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's always hard to rate memoirs because how do you rate someone's life? This one was easy as it was pretty good. Like most of America, I, too, loved Dog , the Champman family, and their exotic lives chasing criminals. You think because you watch someone on TV for years that you get to know them, until you read their life story.
This was an emotional and inspirational story of Dog's life I never knew existed. It was sad learning about his childhood, addictions, prison time, and his many losses, BUT GOD! 🙌🏻 It was so refreshing to see his faithfulness and obedience to the Lord, and also the Lord's hand working throughout his life. This wasn't great writing, but it was REAL and honest. I annotated in a few places and especially loved his call to salvation at the end. I pray the Lord sends this book to touch the hearts of every reader who finds it in their hands. ♥️ Thank you, NetGalley, Thomas Nelson, and Nelsom Books, for the opportunity to read and review this advanced copy.

[Kristen Davids · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dog the Bounty Hunter, also known as Duane Lee Chapman, tells the story of his life from the start to where he is today. The book was very well written, and easy to relate to. I am a huge fan of Dog's and enjoyed watching his show when it was on the air.

Dog has been pretty quiet since Beth's passing except when he was hunting Brian Laundrie and when he married his new wife, Francie, who was also mourning the loss of her husband. I knew very little about Dog aside from what was aired on the tv show, and the ocassional interview - however, after reading this book, I feel that I have a better understanding of who Dog is as a person. I have to admit that I was not aware of some of the bigger things that had gone on in Dog's life as a child and teenager - Dog has faced many trials and tribulations that he has had to overcome in his lifetime. Dog provides an outlook on his faith and how he has been born again, and how he uses his career to witness to others about his Lord and Savior.

Thank you to Netgalley and Nelson Books for the opportunity to read and review this ARC before it's published date!

4/5 Stars: I loved the flow of the book, and the book is very well written with next to none grammatical errors. It was not my top read of the year so far, but, it definitely is a book that I would recommend to my fellow readers who are fans of biographies and autobiographies. This book is highly anticipated, and will no doubt make the best selling charts. I was able to read this book before it's published date. Thank you again to Netgalley and Nelson books! When selected for the ARC, I downloaded the ARC to my Kindle Paperwhite, however, the formatting was a little out of sorts, which I am sure will be corrected before the publishing date. The only thing I would have liked to see as a reader who frequently reads biographies and autobiographies would be some photos of Dog throughout the novel that correspond with Dog's story. I think having photos makes the reading experience a little more personal.

[Jacqueline Kelley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ll always love Dog. Such a personality. Dog is real and loves Jesus, I think that’s all you should know before reading this book.
When you are finished you will probably want Dog to be your dad and you may also want to go to church ❤️

[Jenn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC. Dog is such an amazing storyteller and if this is your first of his books, you will be pulled right into his past and come alive in his present with the same thrilling storytelling as his Bounty Hunter shows. This book is specifically directed toward the outcasts, the brokenhearted and anyone needing to be reborn, not just the outlaws and criminals of his shows. You don't have to be Christian to read this book, or religious in any way. But Dog will make you understand that the devil and evil are real, but God is also real and infinitely more powerful. Dog himself is living proof of that! Afterall, Dog is G-O-D spelled backward. I'm happy for him that he has found love and peace along his difficult road.

[Gracie Schlabach]

This reads as a memoir so I will not rate it. Seems like he had a very rough life right from the start. However he does seem saved in that he truly asked Jesus into his heart and ask forgiveness of his sins. The most important part of anyone's life.

[Michael Perry · Rating 4 out of 5]

If Goodreads had 1/2 stars (hint hint) I’d do 3.5 for this one. It’s a super easy read. I knew nothing about Dog the Bounty Hunter coming into it so it was fun to learn about him. He has wild story’s, an up and down relationship with Jesus (which he is very real about), and an overall very interesting life.

Fun chill read 👍

[Aftan · Rating 4 out of 5]

As someone familiar with Dog the Bounty Hunter this was a fun books and reads as though Dog is speaking directly to you. I had not read any of his previous books, or honestly, watching his last couple of TV shows so it was enjoyable to remind myself of what I enjoyed about watching him on TV. Getting a bit of a backstory of Dog and reading about what has lead up to where he is currently at was also great.

The book is heavy on religion, which is made clear in reading the back cover. This did result in me skimming through large sentence blocks and the very last chapter. The content between the preaching was enjoyable. The preaching itself was to be expected, and did not deter from readability.

[Hannah Turley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dog is back with another memoir, his third. It may seem weird that a person has that much to say about their life, but Dog’s past has been nothing if not colorful. And if you think his latest memoir was used as an opportunity to polish his image after some pretty public missteps and a lot of mistakes, I’d like to say that, for the most part, if that was the intent, he did a terrible job. He did not hold back when it came to sharing the lowest of his life’s lows, especially when it would have been easier and less painful to gloss over them. So I see Nine Lives and Counting as a way for Dog to reflect on his past with renewed vision and a commitment to spending the rest of his time on earth leading as many people as he can to Christ.

I won’t pretend that I agree with all of Dog’s ideology or viewpoints, and while some of his theology was a little shallow, he did make some fairly profound points that will stick with me. He did not try to explain away his past crimes, including his felony murder conviction, and instead of playing the victim game, he wanted to use his tribulations and struggles as a springboard to helping others going through similar trials. As he pointed out, Joseph of the Bible would not have led the life he did had he not been forced to serve time in prison. We can take our circumstances and, with God’s guidance, allow ourselves to be used for His purpose. Also, Dog repeatedly pointed out that even the most egregious sin can be forgiven “as far as the east is to the west.” Dog reminded us about the criminal who was remembered and saved by Jesus on the cross. This is bound to be a comforting thought for those who maybe don’t believe their sins can be forgiven or that they cannot be redeemed. Dog told how, no matter how many times he stumbled in life, when he cried out to God asking for forgiveness, He forgave Dog and cleansed him of all his unrighteousness.

The only part where I thought Dog was dodging his responsibility to own up for a mistake was when he was talking about the phone call with his son that was leaked (by his son) and caused a public outcry. Dog claimed the phone call was edited and “taken out of context.” I’m not sure in what context racist language is ever appropriate, and making no excuses for that kind of behavior is going to be the best course of action in virtually every scenario. I will say that an imperfect apology is better than none at all, Dog seemed contrite (and not just because he was caught), and when he was writing about the situation he seemed to tread lightly regarding stories that weren’t necessarily his to tell. Telling his side of the story by divulging salacious details about other people would not have been the right maneuver either. It also gave me a lot to think about in terms of cancel culture that I don’t have properly sorted as I’m writing this so I won’t ramble about that right now.

Who is this book for? Dog’s fans, certainly, but also those who walked similar journeys as Dog and are searching for mercy and redemption. It also serves as a good reminder that we ALL sin and fall short of God’s glory, which is a message no Christian can hear too frequently. Some people might be put off by Dog’s alpha male persona, but truly, the heroes of his life were Jesus, his mom, and Beth…and while he didn’t use those exact words, he illustrated over and over again how weak he is and how much he relied on the strength of Christ and the fierce women in his life.

My rating is probably more like a 3.5 but I’m rounding up. Dog seems to have gained a lot of perspective as he’s aged and especially after Beth’s death, and he wants to spend the rest of his life fully devoted to Christ and sharing the gospel. My father-in-law died of cancer last year and he was the same age as Dog, and I’ve spent the better part of a year contemplating how finite life is and how to spend my time and energy on things that truly matter. So I can’t help but root for Dog, and I’ve always been a fan of the unconventional way he’s shared his faith with “the least of these.”

Wow, I did not expect to go this deep in a review for a book written by Dog the Bounty Hunter.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!

[RICK "SHAQ" GOLDSTEIN · Rating 3 out of 5]

RICK “SHAQ” GOLDSTEIN SAYS: “DOG” CHAPMAN’S… ON… AND OFF… AND ON… AND OFF… AND ON… AND OFF… AND ON…. RELATIONSHIP WITH THE L-RD… AND SIX WIVES… AND THIRTEEN CHILDREN!
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TV’s favorite bounty hunter “Dog” Chapman’s autobiography… while having heartfelt spiritual moments… is an extremely short (more on that at the end of this review!) story… that while constantly… approaching a literary goal line… never really scores with precise impact. From a sports analogy perspective… he kicks some field goals… but never scores a touchdown.

From the beginning “Dog” Duane Chapman… makes a point of the strong religious beliefs of his beloved mother… and his involvement in the church at a young age. He constantly reports that he always got signals… or images… or explanations from G-d… before events even transpired. Innumerable times… different individuals would state from the time he was extremely young… that he would have a million followers. The author then attempts to prove that true in the remaining short pages.

In addition… and in a totally contrasting humanity… he tells how his father… would constantly beat the hell out of him… and then he would find out that the man he thought was his father… was not his biological father.

Chapman drops out of school after the seventh grade… and joins a motorcycle club… where not surprisingly… all they enjoy doing is breaking the law. He eventually gets convicted of first degree murder… (he didn’t commit it… he was outside a house while his friend went inside and shot someone.) and was shown mercy by the judge… who could have sentenced him to ninety-nine years… but sentenced him to five-years at Huntsville… Texas State Prison… and that’s where he started reading the bible in depth and spreading the gospel and trying to help other prisoners.

When he got out of prison… the seemingly eternal… M.O of Chapman… was to dedicate himself to the L-rd… then ignore all faith and true dedication… come back to G-d… leave the righteous path… go back down the dark alleys of non-spiritual life… and come back yet again… with his claims of G-d answering all his prayers… and giving him… unbelievable prescience advice. (These claims continue till the very end of the story.) Where the writing is the weakest… are at the numerous points… where the author talks of serious drinking problems… causing issues… drug addiction causes problems… and yet… they’re written (much like I just have here) with absolutely no detailed stories chronicling any “CAUSE AND EFFECT”!

Additionally… he starts going through wives… (SIX)… like Chris Christie goes through jelly donuts. The rising total of how many biological children he has… would probably short-circuit the electronic scoreboard at Madison Square Garden. The number reaches THIRTEEN… as he finds out about number thirteen almost fifty years later! This does not alter the fact as to how much joy he has… in being a father… and some of the children he fought legal battles to try to be more in their lives… others like the aforementioned alcohol and drug problems… the reader is given more of a quick summary… rather than incisive detail.

In the midst of marriages… divorces… children… here-there-and-everywhere… he mentions a couple of his famous bounty cases… the author states there is more detailed info regarding them in two previous books… which doesn’t do too much to help a current reader of this book… who never read… nor heard of… the prior books.

He now… wholeheartedly tries to take advantage of any and all opportunities to spread the gospel,

Note: this is an extremely short book. Much shorter than it is marketed as. The publisher uses many of the less than savory tricks that experienced readers can smell out quite easily. This book is 217 pages not counting 5 pages of source notes. There are 12 chapters… and most chapters end with a page with only a few lines on it… and then the next page is TOTALLY BLANK… AND THEN THE NEXT PAGE IS THE NEXT CHAPTERS TITLE PAGE… WHICH HAS ONLY 10-15 WORDS ON IT… AND THEN THE NEXT PAGE IS **TOTALLY-BLANK**!

[Josephine Sorrell · Rating 5 out of 5]

In the bookstore where I work, I learn that the owner and manager wanted to contact an author by the name of Duane Chapman to come in for a book signing, one of my favorite parts of working in a bookstore. I didn’t know that name but they said you know Dog the Bounty Hunter. I’d heard that name, but didn’t know he was a Christian author. He doesn’t look so much the part of what the public views as a Christian. So I requested Nine Lives and Counting, and after completing this book, I certainly know this prolific author and certainly hope he says yes to coming to the the store.

This is his newly published book about his life, his family experiences, being a reality TV star and how he discovered and rediscovered Christ.
The book gets off to a sad start as he relays meeting his wife, Beth, and what they went through when he lost her to stage 2 throat cancer. She fought until the end and after her death he considered ending his life to join her in Heaven but God instructed him not to end the life that He gave him. He goes on to candidly share his many loves and wives, and he’s had a bunch of them.

I really enjoyed his telling of his relationship with his staunchly steadfast Christian mother who was an Assemblies of God minister and Sunday school teacher. He was brought up to believe in Jesus and to act as such. But he didn’t always reflect his maker.

He quotes much scripture and Bible character references which enhance his life so vividly and presents a challenge to readers. When he came to know Christ and was reborn and he explains how it excites him to witness people lives being changed. He accepted Jesus as his savior when he was around 5 years old. He revealed his take on demon possession and speaking in tongues, practices foreign to more main line denominations. I have witnessed both in my life and found both experiences quite uncomfortable.

Chapman explains how he studied the nine manifestations of the Holy Spirit. He was gifted with the gift of knowledge and God would assist him in his quests in his bounty hunting. He relates examples of this throughout the book. I’ve never watched the show, but plan to very soon.


He’d bern hanging out with the criminal gang, the Devil’s Disciples trying to get patched in even though he knew this wasn’t God’s will for him. One night they invite him to go coyote hunting and he’s all in. Then wife, LaFonda strongly warns him he must not go. Her intuition told her something very bad was going to happen that night.:He refused to listen and proceeded to go out with these rough fellows. One of them wanted to go get a joint before coyote hunting. They decided to go see their other friend, Jerry Lee who would have a stash. The other friend shot Jerry Lee in the shoulder. Later it was confirmed that Jerry Lee was killed and they arrested Dog too even though he was in the car during the entire encounter. He clarified how Texas law found him guilty just because he was present at the time. He was sentenced to five years. He opened up about his different experiences he went through during his imprisonment and made a name there for himself in a positive manner. He was out in 18 months, but unfortunately LaFonda fell in love with his best friend, divorced Duane, married the best friend and took his two boys. 


I could go on and on about learning and sharing who Dog the Bounty Hunter really is, but I couldn’t do him justice in a few words. I highly recommend you read his books. I plan to read his previous offerings.

His candid and honest revelations of his life can be pretty raw and maybe uncomfortable. The placement of the scriptures in every chapter perfectly define this Duane Chapman. Even though he is a hardened and rough around the edges child, God was able to reach down and change his life. He didn’t sugar coat any aspect of his life.

He hope for anyone regardless of past to become a Christian. The book ends with a very practical and understandable plan of salvation for anyone ready to receive Him.

Come to Boone, NC, Mr. Chapman, you have a new and admiring fan.

[Andrew · Rating 5 out of 5]

In Nine Lives and Counting, Duane Chapman has written a brand-new book about his life and his experiences in being a reality TV star and how he discovered Christ. He was the star on Dog the Bounty Hunter and Dog and Beth: On the Hunt. In the book, he shared about meeting his wife, Beth. He explained what he went through when he lost her to cancer. She was diagnosed with stage 2 throat cancer. He admitted to how he refused to believe anything negative regarding the diagnose. He believes in the power of life and death is found in the tongue so he would watch his words. He shared how he even would make minister change his vows and take out til death do us part because he didn’t want to speak death at all. She was given the cancer free clear when only a year later it returned to stage 4 and spread to her lungs. She fought until the end. He admitted to how after her death he considered ending his life to join her in Heaven but God instructed him not to end the life that He gave him. In the book, he explained how he met his new wife Francie who also lost her own spouse. He also covered his past relationships and marriages and kids.


He revealed how he come to know Christ and was reborn and how it excites him to witness people lives being changed. He grew up as a Christian kid in the Assemblies of God and he grew up Pentecostal church. He accepted Jesus as his savior when he was around 5 years old. He revealed his take on demon possession and how very real this is. He witnessed people being delivered and in turn has seen it firsthand through his encounters with criminals and addicts. Satan is the author of the oppression and confusion and he tempts to torment people. He explained how he studied the nine manifestations of the Holy Spirit. He was gifted with the gift of knowledge and God would assist him in his quests in his bounty hunting. He shared a few examples of this throughout the book.


One of my favorite parts of the book was about him being warned about how he didn’t need to go out one night. He refused to listen and proceed to go out with his friends. They went coyote hunting. One of them wanted to go get a joint before going. They decided to go see their other friend, Jerry Lee who would have a stash. The other friend shot Jerry Lee in the shoulder. Later it was confirmed that Jerry Lee was killed and they arrested Dog. He clarified how Texas law found him guilty just because he was present at the time. He was sentenced to five years. He opened up about his different experiences he went through during this time.


I would recommend this awesome book about the life of Dog and his faith in Christ. It was very eye opening to read about his experiences and how he was at time rough around the edges and God was able to reach down and change his life. It’s interesting to read about how he was in a motorcycle gang, to being sentenced in prison to, being a bounty hunter on TV. I haven’t watched a lot of his TV series but I was curious to learn about him and reading about his faith was inspiring and to see how it has changed his entire life.




I received this book free from Thomas Nelson for my honest review.”

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dog the Bounty Hunter has lived an interesting professional life that started with selling vacuum cleaners and now includes chasing bad guys. He also grew up in church with a preacher mom and an abusive stepdad. This book shares highlights and lowlights from his story and details his faith journey. Dog talks about his childhood, quitting school in seventh grade, joining a motorcycle gang, being incarcerated, chasing women, raising children, losing his beloved wife Beth, and now finding a new love.
The preaching is strong in this book, so folks who are not into God may skim parts.
Readers may also feel differently about Dog after reading this memoir. Dog is fairly honest about his failures and shortcomings. Some readers may decide to judge him and see him as less than. But other readers may connect more with a man who seems bigger than life but really is just a human trying to navigate pain, trauma and everyday life like the rest of us.
I enjoyed this book. It's a quick but thoughtful read. Some of my favorite quotes:
"So for every biker, every convict, every addict and alcoholic, for every person who has been abused, every neglected child, and every broken, grieving, or hurting human, my prayer is that reading this book will touch your heart so much that you will be ready to call on God."
"What I had learned as a child: 'Death and life are in the power of the tongue.'” - this quote is a powerful reminder to take care with my words
About his mom: "Even when she knew I wasn’t living right, and even when she didn’t approve, she never withheld her affection or acceptance from me, and she prayed for me every day of her life." That's the kind of mom I want to be!
About the power of God available to all through the Holy Spirit: "When I was scared to death that someone had a gun, I would stand in front of the door and say, 'In the name of Jesus, all I need is within me now!' Boom! I would kick the door down and go in after my guy!"

[Alex Lynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

For me, it’s hard to rate someone’s memoir, because it’s literally an account of someone’s life. However, with that being said, Dog, aka Duane Lee Chapman, nailed this book. I couldn’t have loved it more if I tried & wish I could even give it more than just 5 stars!
I remember watching Dog the Bounty Hunter whenever I was younger & aside from obviously tracking down fugitives with his wife, Beth, I was always intrigued by his long hair. I’m sure it had a lot to do with the time period he grew up in, but it always made me laugh.
This was an emotional and inspirational story of Dog's life from pretty much his growing up years to recent. It was sad learning about his childhood & how he was treated, along with the many different addictions he had & the time he spent in prison, as well as the losses he had in life. It was so beautiful to see his faithfulness and obedience to the Lord, even though he fell away many, many times. The Lord showed up for Him, as He ALWAYS does & kept calling him back home to Him.
“Forgiveness does not always mean reconciliation.”
“The way God orchestrates things is amazing, and sometimes you need to get multiple perspectives before you can see the big picture.”
“God has forgiven me so much that I hesitate to stand in judgment of who and what He forgives for others.”
“God is a God of justice, and eternity is a long, long time. God will settle the books. He is the only One who knows the whole story. The righteous will reap their rewards, and the wicked will reap their whirlwind. When all is said and done, I have to trust in God's justice.”
Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, & the author for this amazing read!!

[Erin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was very excited to read this book and it didn’t disappoint. I was a fan of Dog the Bounty Hunter reality show when it initially aired. I hadn’t kept up with the Chapman family after the original show and wondered what became of them. Having said that, I don’t often read celebrity memoirs and was dubious about the reading experience. I needn’t have worried. Although he is a man of simple words, Duane Chapman packs a punch with his message.

Dog shares the gospel in such a raw, down to earth way. His love for Jesus is infectious. I will admit, I was turned off at first when he discussed Assemblies of God churches and speaking in tongues. That’s not my ‘style’ of church but I believe that his first hand experiences with God working in his life are real. He communicates them well, they are truly encouraging. Through stories about God showing up at various times in his life, Duane gives a message of hope, of trust in God, of picking up the pieces after everything goes wrong.

I happened to read the whole book in a hospital waiting area going through a very difficult time myself. I will not ever forget this book, this was a case of “right book, right time” for me. The title is a bit cliche and I’m sure there are probably critiques I could make on writing style or organization but they are ultimately not important. This book was a joy to read in one of the most trying times of my life.

Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson for providing this ebook for review.

[L.M. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Dog. I started watching Dog the Bounty Hunter the first season it was on (I saw the Take This Job episode before that) and I was hooked. He's such an interesting dichotomy of rough and brazen exterior covering up an unusual innocence. He uses instinct and grit and violence to stir up and capture fugitives and then pops them in a car and wants to know all about their hopes and dreams and help them become their best self. Who else would have the guts to scream and yell and start fights and attack people to take them down like Dog does? And who else could sit beside that person and show them a level of care and concern that many of those fugitives have never gotten from anyone before in their entire lives? There are a limited number of people in this world who could do one of those things or the other, but I don't know if there's anyone else who could do both the way he does. He's not a perfect person, but that only makes him a better example because he's got flaws, he's made mistakes, but he goes out every day and tries to help people and make his community a safer and better place. He's never given up, no matter how hard things have gotten for him, and he's always serving others. I respect that. This book focuses more on Dog's spiritual journey, something touched upon but not specifically addressed in his other books.

[Melissa · Rating 2 out of 5]

⭐️ 2/5 Stars ⭐️ to “Nine Lives and Counting” by Duane “Dog” Chapman.
I watched a lot of Dog’s A&E show growing up, so I was interested when this book was advertised on my Hoopla account. I went into this book, anticipating insight into things that were shown on TV, as well as insight into his family and life events. After reading, I am a little disappointed in the content of the book and realized that maybe one of his other books would’ve been better suited for what I was hoping for. Dog mentions no less than four times in this book to go check out his other published works that reference more about his personal life and things seen on the television show. This book, however, more focused on events in his life that led to confirmation of his faith and attempting to convince others to believe in God. I don’t think that that is a bad thing. I was just hoping for more of an in-depth look at some of his life events. I will likely check out his other published book for this concept.
As for this one, I felt that it was a quick read, and I did still enjoy it despite the timeline being a bit jumpy. I found myself confused at some places as he talked about events out of order, and it was hard to follow the time that things happened. If you watched the show growing up or are or a fan of Dog, you would probably still enjoy this book.

[DV K · Rating 5 out of 5]

“I don’t feel a calling to preach to churches. I feel a calling to preach in the streets. My life is my message. I want I share God’s light and love with people who won’t go inside a church. My life as Dog the Bounty Hunter has been spoofed on the Simpsons, South Park, Family Guy and more than a dozen other shows that are not remotely Christian. Yet even in South Park, one of the most crass cartoons out there, the guy spoofing my character says, “Go with Christ, brah.” p.186

I couldn’t stop reading this book.

Years ago, I stumbled across his show, Dog the Bounty Hunter, on A&E. There he was, mullet, tattoos and lots of expletives thrown in for good measure. Every episode before he and his crew went out in search of a fugitive, they always joined hands and prayed for God’s guidance and protection. I was hooked. A believer/bounty hunter!!

The book shares some of his amazing testimony! What a love for God. Dog doesn’t gloss over his failures, rather, he provides them to us an encouragement that God can use any of us, as long as we are willing.

I think the highlight of the book for me was learning how the Lord brought Francie to him. That could only have been God that made that match. And of course, the story of how he went after Andrew Luster, and captured him.

I highly recommend!

[Scott Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved watching Dog the Bounty Hunter when I was in high school, so when I saw he had written a book I was intrigued. I am not usually attracted to biographies/memoirs but because I liked Dog and always respected his public display of faith I decided to give it a try.

Little did I know that he has written a couple of other books. I haven’t read any of his other books but he indicates this one is more about his faith.

I didn’t want to put this book down but I can’t just ignore my responsibilities so I read when I could over the course of two days and then when the weekend came I wanted to read the rest so badly that I ended up finding the audiobook and pretty much finished it when I was on the road or doing chores.

This is one of the best books I’ve read. Even though I haven’t struggled with some of the things he’s dealt with in life, I do understand pain, loss, grief, and addiction. This book made me smile, cry and laugh. I’m so grateful Dog wrote this and I will likely pick it up to read in the future, which I don’t really like to do for whatever weird reason.

Dog is a great storyteller and an even better light to the world who is not ashamed of his faith in Jesus.

Thank you, Dog!

[David Wangberg · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wasn't too familiar with Dog the Bounty Hunter, outside of his name appearing in various headlines and seeing ads for his show on television and other places. But I felt intrigued to read his book, as I was curious to learn more about him. Thanks to NetGalley for the advance copy for review.
This is a powerfully written memoir about the hardships that Duane "Dog" Chapman has faced in his life. His time behind bars, growing up in an abusive household, and the numerous marriages he's gone through. While most people may not have experienced what Dog has in his life, there's a lot to which one can connect if they've experienced divorce, loss of faith, and financial struggles. You can feel the emotion in Chapman's words, as he recounts his stories and shares what he has learned.
I am more curious to watch "Dog the Bounty Hunter" series and other series he has done after reading this book, and I am curious to read other books Chapman has written. This is a definite recommendation for those who like terrifically-written memoirs, whether or not they are familiar with Chapman's work. It's filled with humor, strong emotions, and is well-written.

[Tex · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book. I remember watching Dog the Bounty Hunter on tv several years ago, so I felt an urge to read Nine Lives and Counting. I enjoyed the book more than I thought I would. DOG doesn’t filter out events about his life; he is forthcoming which brings authenticity to his writing. You can hear him speak through the writing of this book, as he talks about how religion has helped guide him through thick and thin. The chapter I found the most fascinating was about a case he hasn’t yet found closure to. He discusses the case where a man allegedly murdered his girlfriend out West then traveled back home to Florida and allegedly committed suicide in the Myakka park area of Florida. Dog raises several points that are worth investigating into and makes the reader think about what they have heard from media.

If you have been interested in Dog, his show, and his family, then this read will not leave you disappointed.

[Christina O’Keefe · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I usually give memoirs a 5 ⭐️ rating because it is not my job to judge another person’s life story, so this one is no different 🤪
I have absolutely loved Dog the Bounty Hunter for years and years growing up, and I always wished they would have given us more information on his life before the show; but now I finally can! I always knew he had quite the life, and let me just tell you… he had quite the life 🤪🤪
I really appreciated the extra details included about the Bryan Laundries/Gabby Petito case… I remember being glued to my seat along with the rest of America, waiting for that scumbag to be found.
I also remember Dog meeting a new woman after Beth passed, and again along with the rest of America 🤪 I remember being very sad he would just move on from Beth so quickly. After reading this book though, my mind is completely changed and I’m so glad everything worked out for Dog exactly how it did. I cannot wait to see new shows/works that he has coming out soon ❤️

[Megan Yelland-Gilmartin · Rating 3 out of 5]

🎧 Read on audiobook & Kindle
⭐️ 3

🎵 Dog the bountttyyy hunnnter 🎵

As somebody who grew up watching far too much shit telly, I was quite excited about this one. Dog the Bounty Hunter is such an interesting figure whilst being really controversial.

Dog starts right from his early life right up to the present day, including discussing the loss of his wife Beth. I liked the chapter titles such as ‘Puppy Pains’, ‘Dogs New Day’. There is definitely some interesting stories within this book, the man takes time to reflect on his mistakes and is surprisingly frank in some places.

However what let this book down massively is the structure of it. It feels all over the place so bouncing around different times in his life, different thought processes, different stories. It’s somewhat chronological but really chaotic. I felt a little bit also like this book was almost designed as an explanation to his children as to why he got married so quickly after his wife’s death. he writes about his mistakes with his children without necessarily taking for accountability or going into any sort of detail as to why they might feel differently to what he does.

I’ve seen some criticism of this book as being quite religious and preaching. I have to say that I don’t agree with that. I feel that his additions of certain Christian verses and stories actually lends this book the only sort of structure it has.

The audiobook was pacy, he felt that you were having a you were having a conversation With someone about their life.

Thank you to NetGalley & the publisher for my advanced reader copy.