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Night Novels

Overlook: A Suspense Thriller: A Night Novel

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“You remember that game we used to play when I was a kid? The one where you would let me pick out a code word, and if ever anything was wrong, all I had to do was call and say it, or yell it out when you came to pick me up?”

“Well, this morning I woke up to find this.”

Turning the phone my way, she thrust it out at arm’s length before her. Two words, totaling just nine letters.

Mom! Hungry!

Twenty-five years ago, Rand “Bear” Bryant’s worst nightmares came true when his work with the FBI’s Fugitive Task Force followed him home. One of the suspects he and his team were pursuing showed up at his home in the middle of the night. A crew of armed men descended on the Bryant house, intent on snuffing out any interest in them, no matter the cost.

Bear and his family survived the bloody, brutal affair, though not without scars. Wounds his wife and daughter couldn’t overcome sent them fleeing to the Pacific Northwest. A place as far removed from him and the associated trauma as possible, while still remaining in the continental United States.

A distant location Bear spent decades visiting before ultimately relocating for retirement as well. He maintained a constant vigil, a state of overwatch ,to ensure nothing like what took place that night ever happened to his family again.
A self-appointed post he maintained until told not to by his daughter exactly five hundred days ago.
A firm directive rescinded after receiving a text message in the middle of the night from her own teenaged daughter, in dire need of help.

Fearing the worst, Bear’s daughter shows up at his doorstep seeking help in a way only he can provide. The start of a whirlwind stretch that sees the two of them plunge back into a life he had left behind, while at the same time trying to navigate their own rocky history.

Another bloody, brutal affair they can only hope to survive again…

448 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 20, 2023

494 people are currently reading
76 people want to read

About the author

Dustin Stevens

84 books313 followers
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...

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5 stars
423 (57%)
4 stars
208 (28%)
3 stars
73 (9%)
2 stars
24 (3%)
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4 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 51 reviews
82 reviews2 followers
March 21, 2023
I received this as an ARC copy and it is so appropriately named….once I started reading I simply Overlook(ed) all the chores that needed to be done. A grandfather with a specific skill set, an estranged daughter and a special code to indicate danger. The sound of boot heels on a wooden pier and a begrudging request for help. The trails and leads they follow, their interactions, and the twist at the end. Yet again Dustin has hit the mark with another great book.
24 reviews1 follower
March 15, 2023
“Overlook” is yet another amazing, edge-of-your-seat thriller from the prolific master, Dustin Stevens.

Retired FBI Fugitive Task Force leader Rand “Bear” Bryant gets a surprise visit from his estranged daughter, Quinn. She holds out her cell phone to show him a text from her college student daughter, Cailee, with the cryptic message, “Mom! Hungry!”.

Bear immediately recognizes the text for what it is: despite the decades-long estrangement, Quinn has clearly adopted the same method her father taught her: create a code phrase that only you know for an emergency situation. Meaning: Code Red Emergency; I’m in serious big-time trouble; need help. Right. Freaking. Now.

Thus kicks off the action as father-daughter pursue missing granddaughter/daughter, dealing with decades of guilt, recriminations, fear, and potentially blame from the old incident from Bears professional past that was visited upon his family. The precipitating event that tore it apart in the first place, and has potentially returned to do the unthinkable—repeat itself on the next generation.
Unless Bear and Quinn can figure out how to work together to solve this puzzle and rescue Cailee from an unknown, unseen, and merciless menace.

Think of any Liam Neeson movie from “Taken” onward. Only way better.

And if you are a Dustin Steven’s fan, and you should be, and you are familiar with the totally fantastic Hawk Tate series, then Overlook, Bear Bryant, and this scenario may feel a little like going back in time to Hawk’s origin story, in a way. And that is a very good thing indeed.

Although this is a stand alone novel, as with many of Mr. Steven’s work, it feels ready-made to be expanded into a series. I, for one, vote yes in that poll, as all of the characters are compelling, fascinating, interesting, flawed, and of course, full of heart, which is the hallmark of all DS characters. More, please!
49 reviews2 followers
March 20, 2023
Dustin Stevens is a prolific author known primarily for his many action and thriller series and genre bending Hunter Multiverse. That said, when he releases a standalone novel it is noteworthy. Overlook is that.

Strong, multi-dimensional characters and ‘I didn’t see that coming’ plots are Steven’s stock in trade. Overlook is all that. You begin by reading but quickly you are in the story - and it’s not always comfortable. There are 81 short chapters so the temptation to read ‘just one more’ is always there - and even with heavy eyelids it’s going to be 2:00 am before you know it.

Protagonist Rand “Bear” Bryant, a former FBI agent, has been estranged from his family for 25 years. When the bad guys came for him and almost killed the family the danger and fear trumped family bond - mother and daughter left. Daughter Quinn has a child that is not part of Bear’s life. It is painful. Quinn seeks Bear out when her now grown child is kidnapped. Bear is ready. He has kept an eye out - at a distance for years.

The tale of father and estranged daughter’s alliance in the rescue mission is filled with as much emotion as action - family drama on steroids. Blind alleys and false starts abound. In kidnappings the first 48 hours are key. Overlook unfolds in near real time - hence the gripping tension. There emerges a deeper crime and betrayal and an odd ally in the search. Quinn shows Bear a dormant aggression that becomes ever so helpful.

Stevens doesn’t shy away from developing truly evil characters or dealing with them when it’s time. No quarter given or taken. Overlook is a tightly crafted and absorbing read. I highly recommend it.
171 reviews2 followers
March 20, 2023
Dustin Stevens provides us with Overlook, another exciting and hard-to-put-down book

Rand "Bear" Bryant, a former member of FBI's Fugitive Task Force, has been living away from his family due to a previous incident involving his wife and daughter. This distance between the two was reduced to zero when his daughter shows up at his place telling Bear that she needs his help, something only he can provide her.

From then on, the two of them are tracking down the culprits who have committed an atrocity on his family. As such, Stevens provides the reader with two things that few authors are able to properly do:

One, Stevens provides alternating stories of the past and present to the end where those two stories are combined to an exciting finish. And two, Stevens writes his book with enough text to provide the reader with the ability to visualize a movie in their minds as they are reading the book.

These two facets makes it one book you need to read!
Profile Image for Sheila.
103 reviews2 followers
March 20, 2023
An action packed thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat! This book had my heart racing. When Bear's long estranged daughter Quinn shows up on his doorstep looking for help, he knows something terrible must have happened for her to seek out his help. She shows him a text from her daughter, Cailee. As soon as he sees the the cryptic message memories of his past come back to haunt him. Retired FBI Fugitive Task Force leader Rand “Bear” Bryant knows that he needs to act fast to avoid a repeat of the horrific event that fell on his family many years ago.

The story sucks you, I couldn't put it down. I had to know what happens next. I found myself reading faster and faster. Fantastic story, it would make a great movie! Highly recommend this book if you love suspenseful, action packed thrillers.
275 reviews4 followers
March 20, 2023
Rand "Bear" Bryant, a former member of FBI's Fugitive Task Force now lives alone in a secluded area. He is estranged from his family. It came as a surprise when his daughter showed up asking for his help. His granddaughter is in trouble and he must find her.

The story bounces back and forth between what leads up to the hair raising part trying to get her back and the very beginning where they are trying to piece together where she is. It all comes together into a fantastic finish.

This is quite the ride that will keep you on the edge of your seat and have you reading well past your bedtime. This is a stand alone book but it has the potential to be turned into a series. If you want action and adventure I recommend this one!
8 reviews1 follower
March 23, 2023


Do you ever really leave your past beind?
Rand "Bear" Bryant has tried but it looks like his past has cone back, with a vengeance.

20 years ago he lost it all. His career and his family, gone in an instant. His wife and daughter ran from the horror his career brought into their lives and never looked back.
Bear thought he'd never be a part of his daughter Quinn's life again but when his granddaughter is kidnapped, Quinn has no choice. Her father is the only one she can turn to for help.
An exciting ride through the Pacific Northwest that will keep you guessing the whole way through. Dustin Stevens is a masterful storyteller who just keeps feeding my addiction to action and adventure and characters who stay in my mind well after the nook is finished.
90 reviews
August 4, 2023
I almost didn't

Usually books written in the first person are sent packing before I'm through the first chapter but something about the writing in this one kept me reading on. I'm so glad I did! There are so many different elements in this story that made it draw me in. Bears' fractured relationship with his daughter, the criminal element snatching innocent young ladies, and action! LOTS OF ACTION!

Usually I read the creepy psycho girl killer stories, but I gotta say, this was a great change of pace! I liked the writing style of this author and will read more from him. Even if you are like me and don't like books written in the first person, I really recommend giving this one a chance!
1,331 reviews44 followers
March 11, 2023
The author writes some amazing books with recurring characters, but in this book he shows his ability to create a new character in a standalone story. His new protagonist is a grandfather who hasn’t seen his daughter in five hundred days—her choice. He’s even been exiled to the farthest point in the country when she come begging for him to put to work the special skills he developed in the life that cost him a relationship with his family. Once the action starts, hold on as Grandpa shows he’s still got it. I received an advanced copy of this book from the author and voluntarily provided an honest review.
83 reviews2 followers
March 20, 2023
Must Read!

Dustin Stevens has , once again, written a suspense novel that keeps the reader totally involved in the storyline. 
Along with the search for his kidnapped granddaughter whom he has never met, the story has you gripped with the relationship of the main character, Rand "Bear" Bryant and his estranged daughter that came to him for help. 
The experiences these 2 characters have, and the dialog between them keeps you entertained while also keeping you intrigued for the ending. 
I recommend this book and hope it becomes another series, since this left me wanting more Bear Bryant adventures. 
127 reviews
March 4, 2023
Another suspenseful and well-written standalone novel by Dustin Stevens! While I for one enjoy the familiar characters of his many book series, I feel like he's really coming into his own with his latest standalone thrillers.

The numerous tensions Dustin builds through plot twists and turns, along with the two timelines that eventually come together kept me riveted throughout. The vivid descriptions and climax with the big reveal made for an excellent finish. Question is - did he leave the door open to turn this into a new series? Time will tell...
7,766 reviews50 followers
March 20, 2023
An FBI agent known as Bear, life and a family, till a suspect followed him home.
It separated them, he kept an eye over them from a distance, for 25 years..
Until his daughter pleads for his help, when her daughter texted her "hungry" code word for help. Dinner was to be with her father, no, not till Sunday.
Gripping story of needing help and he was trained, and what they encounter in trying to find her. Would it build a bond of love and trust after all this time.
A story that draws you in, as you read, that readers will enjoy.
Given ARC for my voluntary review and my honest opinion.
26 reviews1 follower
March 21, 2023
Bear Bryant spends a lot of time fishing since he was released from the FBI and is surprised by his estranged daughter asking for help finding the granddaughter he hasn’t met. Although he’s too old to be out in the field, he’s retained his former skills and equipment to allow him back into action, and a lot of action it is. Starting with no clues he approaches many scenarios to get to the end result in just a couple of days, creating havoc along the way. It’s a fast-paced novel that keeps the reader guessing what the end result will be.
47 reviews1 follower
March 21, 2023
Retired FBI agent is trying to find his missing granddaughter, working together with his daughter after being apart for 25 years. The story alternates between past and present and keeps the reader engaged in finding out "what happens next".
What I usually like about this author's books is how easy is to visualize the actions and reactions, just like watching a movie (but so much better!).
I also liked the fact that the main male character was more mature than what one is used to find in a thriller action packed book.
This is definitely a book to read.
Profile Image for Rosemary Dreyer.
1,533 reviews5 followers
April 16, 2025
4 1/2 Stars: I have been a fan of Dustin Stevens and have really enjoyed the Reed and Billie series. This book was different in a lot of ways, a standalone novel. What I liked: the complexity of the relationships between Bear and his daughter and granddaughter; FBI skills that are never far; revenge and avenged; a solid look into the weather in Washington state and how it impacts the plot; the ending; the writing. What I didn’t like: the former FBI friend and relationship with Bear; some plot holes. Overall, I recommend this book.
4 reviews
April 30, 2023
Impossible to put down

Steven’s is a master at details that paint a livid picture of events, without burdening the reader with excess. He flips from past to present and back to past seamlessly, building to an unexpected climax.
The subject is definitely “adult” for violence, but it is not crude in any way. The story is told very realistically, but one I hope is never a reality.
Profile Image for Bonnye Reed.
4,705 reviews110 followers
July 27, 2025
Kindle Unlimited
Dustin Stevens writes a complex tale, told with great enthusiasm and lots of detail. This Night Tale series is extra special, and #2 Overlook is served with ice cream on the side. This one will keep you reading well into the night, and yearning for the next one before it's available. from the shouted "Mom! Hungry!" until the end, it's one quick fade into the next scene and you will have trouble keeping up, so be prepared with snacks at your fingertips and turn off the phone. This is one fine ride.
REVIEWED on July 26, 2025, at Goodreads, AmazonSmile, and BookBub. Not available for review at B&N or Kobo.
Profile Image for Gena Wood.
112 reviews3 followers
March 1, 2023
A code was all she needed to grasp at anything or anyone to find her daughter....even her Dad. The pair go on a mission together to find his granddaughter. And maybe even find their way back to each other. Page turning action throughout! Characters come to life and make this book so hard to put down.
As with all Dustin Stevens books, it's another must read!
1,821 reviews13 followers
March 17, 2023
A former FBI agent, Bear Bryant, is estranged from his family because of an attack. His family moved away for safety. He gets a visit from his estranged daughter to inform him his granddaughter has gone missing. A usual page turning thriller as Bear hunts for his granddaughter. He stops at nothing to find her.
151 reviews3 followers
March 20, 2023
Overlook, innocuous sounding, reminds you of a scenic outlook? Not this meaning, a Father/Grandfather who seems to be estranged is quickly proven to be anything but. His past and now his present collide and result in a fast paced book you will not want to put down. I believe this would make a great addition to Dustin's book series, even though it is a standalone at present.
512 reviews2 followers
April 3, 2023
Captured

Taking a.daughter from FBI former agent is about as stupid as it gets, but taking his granddaughter causes him to turn everything in his path to hate. The book was interesting but to much self absorbing meaning nothing could be said with trying to make himself Look like his vocabulary is making a lasting impression on someone. Keep it simple sweety!
Profile Image for Becky .
599 reviews16 followers
March 2, 2023
A thrilling story filled with intrigue, anger, gunfights, and explosions.
A missing granddaughter, an angry daughter, a retired Gman, and a mysterious, resurrected Council make for an interesting read.
314 reviews3 followers
March 5, 2023
Rand Bryant and his daughter Quinn are trying to find his granddaughter Cailee who has been kidnapped, Together, against all odds, they look for clues on where she is being held captive. This book is full of twists and turns. Great Book!
12.7k reviews189 followers
March 9, 2023
Another amazing book. An ex soldier living by himself. A surprise visit from his daughter who tells him his granddaughter is missing. Plenty of danger, action to keep you gripped. Will she be found in time. Well written, impossible to stop reading.
4 reviews1 follower
March 20, 2023
I couldn’t put it down. Awesome book, Dustin Stevens has hit another home run. This is definitely a book to read. “Bear” Bryant is an incredible hero. I give this book 5 Stars because I could not put it down.
Thank you Dustin Steven’s!!!
Profile Image for bibiana  Perdomo .
107 reviews1 follower
March 20, 2023
Dustin Steven's does it again with this stand alone book. A mother's worst nightmare when she receives a text from her daughter. Mom I'm hungry from there it's a race against time as now she must seek her father's help.
Profile Image for Lee Brothers.
1,377 reviews14 followers
March 20, 2023
Wow!!! This is a high intensity roller coaster ride of a book!! I couldn't put it down it was so thrilling and also very disturbing. That kinda hate only destroys everything it touches and there are no survivors. Cannot wait until the next brilliant book comes out!!
14 reviews1 follower
March 22, 2023
Once again Dustin writes a story that takes you through so many adventures and emotions. This is a book that keeps you engaged and not wanting to put it down. No spoilers here just grab this book and get to reading, you won’t regret it.
36 reviews
March 23, 2023
After the author set the stage with the storyline and characters, I found that I could not put the book down. The hero is flawed and does what needs done, but shows emotions and human reactions and actions to protect loved ones. Plenty of twists and turns. Enjoy!
Profile Image for Ian Murray.
97 reviews
March 26, 2023
I've enjoyed Dustin Stevens' books in the past, but I got half way through this one then abandoned it - at 82yo I no longer have time to waste. The action was continually interspersed with what seemed to be endless and repetitive soliloquising by the main character.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 51 reviews

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