The Dummy Line [Hardcover]

Bobby Cole (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 11, 2008

Jake Crosby, a troubled stockbroker, has planned a weekend escape at his hunting camp with his nine-year-old daughter, Katy. In the middle of the night, a gang of redneck drug dealers attempts to break into the remote camp. The gang's display of heinous intentions toward Jake and Katy causes Jake to make gut-wrenching decisions.

Running for their lives, Jake and Katy take the only escape route available, which leads them deep into Alabama's Noxubee River swamp. Crazed with blood lust and demanding immediate vengeance for their own, the frenzied gang anticipates Jake's desperate moves as they stalk them throughout the night.

Jake's choices put into motion a sequence of events that threatens everyone associated with him, and an unwitting young couple who happen to be in the wrong place at the worst possible time. The Dummy Line is an action-packed suspenseful novel that will keep readers on the edges of their seats and quite possibly out of the woods at night.
ADVANCE PRAISE:
Good novels grow out of a writer's rich imagination and love for his subject, and Bobby Cole shows both in The Dummy Line. A walk through the woods will never be the same again.--Randall Wallace, New York Times Bestseller and award-winning writer-director-producer (Braveheart, Pearl Harbor, We Were Soldiers, Man in the Iron Mask

The Dummy Line is a fresh, original thriller. Like all truly good ones, once you re in, you're in and you WON'T be able to put it down as it takes you through the full gamut of emotions. It's not just a good read, it's a great escape!--Toxey D. Haas, Founder Mossy Oak Brand Camo

Bobby Cole weaves just the right amount of humor into a thrilling story that otherwise would be way too scary for me to read. The Dummy Line single-handedly eliminates the threat of hunting camps being taken over by women and children.--Jill Conner Browne, Multiple #1 New York Times Bestseller

Wow! What a book. I couldn't put it down. My heart raced and every emotion ran through me as the main character dealt with one crisis after another situations we all hope never happen. Don't read this book in a tree stand in an effort to pass the time. You'll be so involved in the story that you won't notice that big deer of a lifetime.--Will Primos, President and Founder of Primos Hunting Calls

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

“In Cole’s first novel, a father-daughter hunting trip turns into a violent game of cat and mouse in the manner of Deliverance. Jake Crosby, an avid turkey hunter, and his tomboy daughter, Katy, must fight for their lives in the swampy backwoods of Alabama when a revenge-crazed gang of ruffians hunt Jake down for killing one of their own in self-defense. Meanwhile, high-school sweethearts Elizabeth and Tanner, oblivious to the manhunt, unwittingly become involved when the gang stumbles upon them stargazing in the same backwoods area. The lives of these innocent strangers converge while a bumbling police force makes inept attempts to piece together the various crime scenes and slowly determines the chain of events. Cole is a strong writer, whose fast-paced narrative moves with ease between characters and scenes. The novel is largely plot-driven, but as in Wayne Johnson’s The Devil You Know (2004), a generational focus may give it crossover appeal to thriller and general-fiction readers.” — Heather Paulson --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Review

A weekend turkey hunt turns into a terrifying chase when a father and his daughter attempt to escape a gang of blood-crazed ruffians thought the Alabama swamps. Bobby Cole, a Mossy Oak executive, has poured his hunting passion and writing skills into a thrilling suspense novel that will keep you on the edge of your seat. Written by a hunter about a hunter, The Dummy Line is a story you won't be able to put down until you finish the last page.
-- Todd Smith, Outdoor Life

Bobby Cole is well known in the hunting industry as the food-plot guru behind Mossy Oak Biologic. Turns out he has a fertile imagination and considerable storytelling skills, too, as graphically displayed in his debut novel, The Dummy Line.

Protagonist Jake Crosby could be any one of us a hard-working family man who cherishes his time in the woods. He sets out for a heartfelt turkey hunt with his young daughter, but soon finds them both sucked into a whirlpool of psychotic decision-making. After rightfully defending their lives, Jake and Katy are literally forced to run for it, fleeing relentless criminals hell-bent on revenge. Before the night is over, a good man must summon courage and resourcefulness he likely didn't know he possessed. That's the only chance for justice to prevail in what clearly will be a deadly conclusion.

For first-timer, Cole has admirably handled all the facets that make good novels work. The plot and pacing grab the reader, the characters and their dialogue ring true and the dramatic tension never eases. Be forewarned, this is really dark stuff, stuff that that regrettably happens all too often in today's world. More importantly,The Dummy Line breaths life into the principle of our right to self-preservation and our responsibility to protect loved ones and ourselves. If you believe in those principles and enjoy reading a tense thriller, this book is for you.
-- John Zent, Editorial Director, American Hunter, NRA publication

Today, most action novels are predictably dedicated to spy thrillers, cops and gangsters, weird Sci-Fi stuff or monster versus monster with enough raw sex to make the average person forget the story line if there ever was one. However, I just read The Dummy Line by Bobby Cole and deem it the best outdoor thriller since Deliverance.

The Dummy Line is such a riveting story that you don't dare start it at bedtime or you will definitely miss a night's sleep. I know because that's what I did, and I didn't put the book down until it was finished. Even then, I was sad to see it end. I had been fully drawn into Cole's web of accidentally interconnected characters.

While this book will be especially entertaining to hunters and woodsmen because of the woodsmanship and hunting expertise used by the good guys as well as the villains, it is a book that will be equally thrilling even if you're never been out of the city.

This is a perfect Christmas gift for your outdoorsman friend or relative, or anyone who treasures a great story. Kudos to Bobby Cole.
-- Russell Thorneberry, Editor in Chief, Buckmasters

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 311 pages
• Publisher: Context Publishing Company, LLC. (February 11, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0980017106
• ISBN-13: 978-0980017106
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (137 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #540,508 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Bobby Cole, a Montgomery, Alabama, native, is President of Mossy Oak BioLogic. He is an avid wildlife manager, hunter, and supporter of the Catch-A-Dream Foundation, who loves writing in his free time. Bobby lives with his wife and daughter in West Point, Mississippi.

Check out Bobby Cole on Facebook to learn more about what he is up to!

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

57 of 63 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A wild life...mystery, thriller, April 28, 2008

By 

Bear "DHG" (Northwoods MN) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Dummy Line (Hardcover)

I just finished The Dummy Line (for the second time) and really enjoyed it. Great first novel. The charters and the various scenes were built with reality and suspense. I hated the bad guys and cheered for the good ones.

I did wonder how Bobby Cole knew how to fight so dirty. Knocking out the football stars' teeth on the bumper of the Jeep was rough. He also knew about "cut shells" and I always thought only poachers knew that trick (often used during bird season, before deer season). As a former game warden I knew that method. The authors' worldly knowledge of the "wild" shows up well in his writing and story.

Mr. Cole has a formula for success. Like the mystery thrillers from Harlan Coben and William Tapply, he has developed a character that has staying power. I also enjoy John Sandford and William Kent Krueger because of the state theme and location. Michael McGarrity has the SW theme and character, Kevin Kerney. Cole has all those elements with Jake and the south (West Point, MS). Plus he have woods wisdom and hunting knowledge.

I will be on the lookout for the next Jake Crosby novel. Good job!

20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Read!!!!!, February 15, 2008

By 

Allen Hughes - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Dummy Line (Hardcover)

What a great read! This book gripped me in the first chapter and would not let go until I finished it....I simply did not want to put it down. The action is fast paced and the vivid descriptions make you feel like you are right there fighting along side of Jake, Katy and the rest of the characters! I highly recommend this book!!!!!

23 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars wow!, March 20, 2008

By 

Bruce D. Bennett "Faye Bennett" - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Dummy Line (Hardcover)

Wow! Fantastic read . A great book for the entire family . Bobby Cole has brought as much excitement to the hunting camp as John Grisham brings to the courtroom . Before I finished reading Dummy Line, my 14 year old daughter had taken over the book and prolonged my suspense . Within a week our entire family had read it . 5 stars and 6 thumbs to Bobby Coles Dummy Line . Faye Bennett Pine Apple Alabama