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Hank the Cowdog #64
The Case of the Three Rings
It's New Years Eve day on the ranch, and Slim and Miss Viola are both having second thoughts about their engagement-but for what reasons?
Viola returns the lock-washer ring Slim had given her a week before, but before Slim can fix things with Viola, Uncle Johnny asks for his help with a "little job."
Like all of Uncle Johnny's "little jobs," this one ends up being a lot more than Slim signed-up for and the day's events put him in a race
against the clock. Will he make it to dinner at Viola's house in time to straighten things out, or will Hank and Drover live the rest of their doggy lives without ever seeing Miss Viola again?
Viola returns the lock-washer ring Slim had given her a week before, but before Slim can fix things with Viola, Uncle Johnny asks for his help with a "little job."
Like all of Uncle Johnny's "little jobs," this one ends up being a lot more than Slim signed-up for and the day's events put him in a race
against the clock. Will he make it to dinner at Viola's house in time to straighten things out, or will Hank and Drover live the rest of their doggy lives without ever seeing Miss Viola again?
124 pages, Paperback
First published September 29, 2014
About the author
John R. Erickson
216 books348 followersJohn R. Erickson, a former cowboy and ranch manager, is gifted with a storyteller's knack for spinning a yarn. Through the eyes of Hank the Cowdog, a smelly, smart-aleck Head of Ranch Security, Erickson gives readers a glimpse of daily life on a ranch in the West Texas Panhandle. This series of books and tapes is in school libraries across the country, has sold more than 7.6 million copies, is a Book-of-the-Month Club selection, and is the winner of the 1993 Audie for Outstanding Children's Series from the Audio Publisher's Association. Publishers Weekly calls Hank a "grassroots publishing phenomena," and USA Today says this is "the best family entertainment in years."
Hank the Cowdog made his debut in the pages of The Cattleman, a magazine for adults, and when Erickson started getting "Dear Hank" letters, he knew he was onto something. So in 1983, he self-published 2,000 copies of The Original Adventures of Hank the Cowdog, and they sold out in 6 weeks.
When teachers began inviting Erickson to their schools, Hank found his most eager fans. Teachers, librarians, and students alike love Hank. According to some Texas Library Association surveys, the Hank the Cowdog books are the most popular selections in many libraries' children's sections. The lively characters make excellent material for reading and writing lessons, and turn even the most reluctant readers into avid Hank-fans.
Erickson was born in Midland, Texas, but by the age of 3, he had moved with his family to Perryton, Texas, where he and his wife live today on their working cattle ranch. They have 3 grown children and 4 grandchildren. His advice to young writers is, "Write about something you know. Try to leave your readers better off than they were before."
Hank the Cowdog made his debut in the pages of The Cattleman, a magazine for adults, and when Erickson started getting "Dear Hank" letters, he knew he was onto something. So in 1983, he self-published 2,000 copies of The Original Adventures of Hank the Cowdog, and they sold out in 6 weeks.
When teachers began inviting Erickson to their schools, Hank found his most eager fans. Teachers, librarians, and students alike love Hank. According to some Texas Library Association surveys, the Hank the Cowdog books are the most popular selections in many libraries' children's sections. The lively characters make excellent material for reading and writing lessons, and turn even the most reluctant readers into avid Hank-fans.
Erickson was born in Midland, Texas, but by the age of 3, he had moved with his family to Perryton, Texas, where he and his wife live today on their working cattle ranch. They have 3 grown children and 4 grandchildren. His advice to young writers is, "Write about something you know. Try to leave your readers better off than they were before."
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
February 23, 2015
Side-splitting hilarious and surprisingly sweet, The Case of the Three Rings proves that Hank the Cowdog, unlike other long-standing book series, is as fresh and winsome as ever (if not a little more).
November 7, 2018
Awesome book!
I loved this book!great plot,funny characters,and a crazy cowboy.one of the best books i've ever read,even with all the other books about the crazy cowboy and his crazier dogs!
I loved this book!great plot,funny characters,and a crazy cowboy.one of the best books i've ever read,even with all the other books about the crazy cowboy and his crazier dogs!
February 21, 2018
An above average "Hank."
November 9, 2018
this book was grrrreat!!!! one of the best yet!!!
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May 1, 2025Nothing hits quite like a Hank the Cowdog audiobook (though I always add the caveat: skip the first 4-5 books)
June 25, 2026
A week after
The Big Question
, Slim is having second thoughts about his engagement to Miss Viola, and it turns out that Viola is having second thoughts as well. They agree to think about it and for Slim to arrive at Viola’s house for dinner if he decides to go on with the engagement. Later, Slim gets a call from Loper: Sally May’s uncle needs help with a strayed calf. What could possibly go wrong?
In this installment of the Hank series, Erickson focuses more on the human characters than on the dogs. After a slightly slow first chapter (half-asleep Hank and Drover thinking Slim is a vampire), the plot moves smoothly all the way to the end. The climax is full of tension while being hilarious, and it’s resolved in a way that is not too predictable and makes sense. Slim’s character is developed, showing a deep determination and love for Viola. The book has a genuinely happy ending, which is rare in the series.
All in all, this is definitely my favorite volume of Hank.
Update (6/25/26): The Big Question is my favorite book in the series now, but this one is still one of the best. And it's a continuation of that book anyway, so...
In this installment of the Hank series, Erickson focuses more on the human characters than on the dogs. After a slightly slow first chapter (half-asleep Hank and Drover thinking Slim is a vampire), the plot moves smoothly all the way to the end. The climax is full of tension while being hilarious, and it’s resolved in a way that is not too predictable and makes sense. Slim’s character is developed, showing a deep determination and love for Viola. The book has a genuinely happy ending, which is rare in the series.
All in all, this is definitely my favorite volume of Hank.
Update (6/25/26): The Big Question is my favorite book in the series now, but this one is still one of the best. And it's a continuation of that book anyway, so...
July 28, 2021
One of his best.
December 8, 2014
One of the the best Hank books. Lots of laughs.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews