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Hook Runyon Mystery #1
The Yard Dog: A Mystery
The Yard Dog takes place near the close of World War II, when a large number of Nazi POWs were incarcerated in camps scattered across the prairies of the United States. At Waynoka Divisional Point, near POW Camp Alva, the disillusioned Hook Runyon is assigned by the railroad to run off hobos and arrest pickpockets. Left behind in the war because of the loss of his arm in a car accident, Hook lives in a caboose, collects rare books, and drinks busthead liquor. When a coal picker by the name of Spark Dugan is found run over by a reefer car, Hook and his sidekick, Runt, the local moonshiner, suspect foul play and are drawn into a scheme far greater than either could have imagined. This conspiracy reaches the highest echelons of the camp and beyond and will push Hook and Runt to their physical and mental limits. Hook is a complex character, equal parts rough and vulnerable, an unlikely and unwilling hero. He is more than matched by Dr. Reina Kaplan, a Jewish big-city transplant to Camp Alva who is battling her own demons and has been put in charge of educating the Nazi inmates in the basics of democracy before their eventual return to Germany. Vivid descriptions of period detail, stark landscapes, and unique characters make this first book in the Hook Runyon series a fascinating mystery full of tension and deep insight.
308 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 12, 2009
8 people are currently reading
203 people want to read
About the author
Sheldon Russell
18 books73 followersMy biography is available on my website: http://www.sheldonrussell.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 52 reviews
May 2, 2020
A mystery set during WWII in a small town in Kansas. If you are looking for a quick read this would work. It's typical of the genre, a bit more violent than I prefer.
September 21, 2018
In the game industry, particularly that tiny subset of “wargamers,” there was once an observation that big sales usually flocked under the banner of the three Ns: Nazis, Nukes, and Napoleon. And, while one might not expect a period mystery set in rural Oklahoma to feature Napoleon and unlikely to feature nuclear intrigue, The Yard Dog’s one-out-of-three “ain’t bad.” A “yard dog,” it might be observed, is a railroad “cop,” also called a “bull” by the hoboes of one-half dozen decades ago. And, since my younger brother knows that I have a fascination with trains (he does, too), he not only introduced me to this series, but gave me three volumes.
As the title might suggest, the protagonist of The Yard Dog is a “bull” named Walter “Hook” Runyon. He obtained the nickname, “Hook,” because of a prosthesis he needs to wear following an accident which took place prior to the events in the book. “Hook” lost his true love (no spoiler, an event prior to the novel’s events) due to her discomfort with the hook, and “Hook” just manages to get by, often with a little self-medication from Runt Wallace’s moonshine. Runt is not a nickname, just a moniker hung onto him by a simple mother with too many kids in simple circumstances. Naturally, his name was well-earned, his height being of noticeable diminutive stature, and his appearance rarely going unnoticed because of the combination of bright, red, curly hair to go with his stature. And, naturally, one would expect two characters with such colorful names to end up working together to solve the mystery or mysteries involved in the story.
As a “bull,” Runyon was expected to ride the passenger lines to arrest and remove pickpockets (and though not mentioned in the book, presumably gamblers, as we note from history), as well as keep the aforementioned hoboes from hopping freights or stealing from the various freight yards along the line. “Hook,” his prosthesis notwithstanding, seems to have a very light touch regarding law enforcement. He allows a certain mentally challenged indigent to glean (and sometimes, steal) coal from the yard, as long as Runyon’s own coal box, under the caboose where he lives, is filled regularly with Spark Dugan’s overflow.
And that’s what the reader understands prior to the opening events, the murder which (in typical mystery fashion) everyone else wants to write off as an accident, but “Hook” can’t square with the idea of an accident. He suspects that something isn’t right from the position and shape of the body, as well as the singular hostility he receives whenever trying to interrogate potential witnesses.
Author Sheldon Russell spreads clues generously in his foreshadowing of future discoveries and connections; yet is rather parsimonious in allowing “Hook” to start putting things together. Indeed, Russell cleverly brings in a female supporting character who almost becomes a co-protagonist by the end of the story. I haven’t read the next two books I’ve been given, but I’m already suspecting that she will become even more of a co-protagonist in future books. And, duh, she is a potential love interest, too.
This female character has a Ph.D. in literature. Her name is Reina Kaplan, and she is of Jewish descent. So, one probably suspects right away that her future is going to be intertwined with the afore-mentioned Nazis. She is sent to the prisoner-of-war camp near Hook’s home railroad yards, Camp Alva, where Nazi prisoners act as though the Reich will never surrender. This is somewhat ironic, events taking place near the end of the war where Germany’s defeat had attained more than a degree of certainty. And yes, her presence in the camp as part of a re-education program does allow for an exploration of anti-Semitism.
My only frustration with the book was similar to some other railroad detective novels I’ve read. In this case, as in others, it just doesn’t seem like the detective is being pro-active enough. The events may play out along the timeline one would expect, but I personally became impatient with his lackadaisical manner, despite his obvious feelings concerning the case. I also felt that there was a bit of a “B” movie aspect to the Nazis not being depicted as quite bloodthirsty enough at various points in the narrative. Still, The Yard Dog made for fast and entertaining reading, and I’m expecting my quibbles about Russell’s handling of the story to be smoothed out in future installments.
As the title might suggest, the protagonist of The Yard Dog is a “bull” named Walter “Hook” Runyon. He obtained the nickname, “Hook,” because of a prosthesis he needs to wear following an accident which took place prior to the events in the book. “Hook” lost his true love (no spoiler, an event prior to the novel’s events) due to her discomfort with the hook, and “Hook” just manages to get by, often with a little self-medication from Runt Wallace’s moonshine. Runt is not a nickname, just a moniker hung onto him by a simple mother with too many kids in simple circumstances. Naturally, his name was well-earned, his height being of noticeable diminutive stature, and his appearance rarely going unnoticed because of the combination of bright, red, curly hair to go with his stature. And, naturally, one would expect two characters with such colorful names to end up working together to solve the mystery or mysteries involved in the story.
As a “bull,” Runyon was expected to ride the passenger lines to arrest and remove pickpockets (and though not mentioned in the book, presumably gamblers, as we note from history), as well as keep the aforementioned hoboes from hopping freights or stealing from the various freight yards along the line. “Hook,” his prosthesis notwithstanding, seems to have a very light touch regarding law enforcement. He allows a certain mentally challenged indigent to glean (and sometimes, steal) coal from the yard, as long as Runyon’s own coal box, under the caboose where he lives, is filled regularly with Spark Dugan’s overflow.
And that’s what the reader understands prior to the opening events, the murder which (in typical mystery fashion) everyone else wants to write off as an accident, but “Hook” can’t square with the idea of an accident. He suspects that something isn’t right from the position and shape of the body, as well as the singular hostility he receives whenever trying to interrogate potential witnesses.
Author Sheldon Russell spreads clues generously in his foreshadowing of future discoveries and connections; yet is rather parsimonious in allowing “Hook” to start putting things together. Indeed, Russell cleverly brings in a female supporting character who almost becomes a co-protagonist by the end of the story. I haven’t read the next two books I’ve been given, but I’m already suspecting that she will become even more of a co-protagonist in future books. And, duh, she is a potential love interest, too.
This female character has a Ph.D. in literature. Her name is Reina Kaplan, and she is of Jewish descent. So, one probably suspects right away that her future is going to be intertwined with the afore-mentioned Nazis. She is sent to the prisoner-of-war camp near Hook’s home railroad yards, Camp Alva, where Nazi prisoners act as though the Reich will never surrender. This is somewhat ironic, events taking place near the end of the war where Germany’s defeat had attained more than a degree of certainty. And yes, her presence in the camp as part of a re-education program does allow for an exploration of anti-Semitism.
My only frustration with the book was similar to some other railroad detective novels I’ve read. In this case, as in others, it just doesn’t seem like the detective is being pro-active enough. The events may play out along the timeline one would expect, but I personally became impatient with his lackadaisical manner, despite his obvious feelings concerning the case. I also felt that there was a bit of a “B” movie aspect to the Nazis not being depicted as quite bloodthirsty enough at various points in the narrative. Still, The Yard Dog made for fast and entertaining reading, and I’m expecting my quibbles about Russell’s handling of the story to be smoothed out in future installments.
February 24, 2010
I like crime novels with unusual settings or protagonists, and thus was drawn to this one featuring a one-armed railway "bull" (cop/detective) based in a small town in WWII-era Oklahoma. When a local indigent winds up dead under the wheels of a freight car in an ice house (a facility for adding ice to freight cars to keep perishable produce fresh), it piques his interest and his sense of justice. "Hook" Runyon senses there was more to the death than a mere accident, and his ensuing investigation leads him in the direction of both the local POW camp and a filthy rich local oil baron.
The various threads don't seem to point toward any obvious motive for the murder (if that's what it was), and even with the help of his friendly local moonshiner and a Jewish literature professor, it's not until the very end that all the loose ends start to come together. The crime story isn't that great -- the plot being carried out is pretty wildly over the top, there are a few coincidences too many, a really lame crucial clue, and the classic groaner of the villain capturing the hero and inexplicably failing to kill him despite there being no reason not to.
Still, the book manages to succeed on pure atmosphere. The author does a great job of bringing the railyard, town, and POW camp to life through fine use of small day-to-day details and landscape. It's a great reminder of the fact that during World War II, there were almost two-hundred POW camps scattered across the US (including seventeen in Oklahoma) housing 425,000 Axis prisoners. There has been plenty of fiction based on this history (for example Summer of My German Soldier, The Turkey War, Up In Honey's Room, A Memory of War, Desert War, Pursuit, The Side of the Sky, and Prisoners of War), and this is a decent, if not outstanding, addition.
The various threads don't seem to point toward any obvious motive for the murder (if that's what it was), and even with the help of his friendly local moonshiner and a Jewish literature professor, it's not until the very end that all the loose ends start to come together. The crime story isn't that great -- the plot being carried out is pretty wildly over the top, there are a few coincidences too many, a really lame crucial clue, and the classic groaner of the villain capturing the hero and inexplicably failing to kill him despite there being no reason not to.
Still, the book manages to succeed on pure atmosphere. The author does a great job of bringing the railyard, town, and POW camp to life through fine use of small day-to-day details and landscape. It's a great reminder of the fact that during World War II, there were almost two-hundred POW camps scattered across the US (including seventeen in Oklahoma) housing 425,000 Axis prisoners. There has been plenty of fiction based on this history (for example Summer of My German Soldier, The Turkey War, Up In Honey's Room, A Memory of War, Desert War, Pursuit, The Side of the Sky, and Prisoners of War), and this is a decent, if not outstanding, addition.
April 13, 2016
This is a really good book. Structurally sound with well developed (and very endearing) characters. The smooth,descriptive prose had me either sighing or smiling. It's beautiful. There is a sadness to the story and yet I found myself continually drawn away from it, which I thought was brilliantly done because it's *pure* atmosphere. But... if you lack a sense of humor that embraces subtleties or need to read books that continually state the obvious then you might find that this book/writer isn't for you; you might find it (and I really hate this word) ... boring.
Also, I must add a hail to the main character, Hook Runyon. He is one of the finest characters I've come across in years. He is funny, he is loyal, he is well read and it just melts my (jaded) heart whenever I think about him pursuing the murderer of Spark Dugan chiefly because the old drunk always made sure that Hook stayed warm. Seriously, Hook's determination is noble and in a sense sums up this precisely written yet eloquent novel.
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Also, I must add a hail to the main character, Hook Runyon. He is one of the finest characters I've come across in years. He is funny, he is loyal, he is well read and it just melts my (jaded) heart whenever I think about him pursuing the murderer of Spark Dugan chiefly because the old drunk always made sure that Hook stayed warm. Seriously, Hook's determination is noble and in a sense sums up this precisely written yet eloquent novel.
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July 3, 2017
Slow to start, last few chapters were page turners....
August 6, 2012
Review of The Yard Dog by Sheldon Russell
Hook Runyon #1
I loved this book every bit as much as I loved Robert Jackson Bennett’s “Mr. Shivers,” which is not to take away from either novel-just the opposite. “Mr. Shivers” takes place, in large part, in the hobo jungle of the railroads during the Great Depression in the U.S., in the 1930’s. “The Yard Dog” is the first of the Hook Runyon series, and begins during World War II, in Oklahoma. Hook is a one-armed “yard dog,” or “railroad bull,” a detective employed by the Santa Fe Railroad, in Oklahoma. He keeps an eye out for bums, pickpockets, and thievery of railroad property. His home is a caboose, which is neatly available for moving from one location to another via switch engine, and in his solitude and loneliness Hook is not only an avid reader but a collector of rare editions.
At the commencement of the novel Hook is dismayed and distraught to discover that Spark Durgan, a rather low-intellect man who lived in a shack under a railroad trestle and made his minor living picking up coal fallen from freight cars, has died-ostensibly by falling asleep under a line of refrigerated boxcars and subsequently being run over. But Hook won’t believe it, and he perseveres in discovering the true cause, despite various attempts-including both his railroad employers and colleagues, and the U.S. Army Major who is Commanding Officer of the nearby P.O.W. camp-to halt the investigation and label it an accident while under intoxication.
Literate, clever, with deeply delineated characters and a delightfully twisty plot, “The Yard Dog” captured my attention immediately and by the end I had determined to continue with the series, enjoying Hook’s character and his loyalty and determination (not to mention his fascinating reading tastes).
My review is based on a Library edition.
Hook Runyon #1
I loved this book every bit as much as I loved Robert Jackson Bennett’s “Mr. Shivers,” which is not to take away from either novel-just the opposite. “Mr. Shivers” takes place, in large part, in the hobo jungle of the railroads during the Great Depression in the U.S., in the 1930’s. “The Yard Dog” is the first of the Hook Runyon series, and begins during World War II, in Oklahoma. Hook is a one-armed “yard dog,” or “railroad bull,” a detective employed by the Santa Fe Railroad, in Oklahoma. He keeps an eye out for bums, pickpockets, and thievery of railroad property. His home is a caboose, which is neatly available for moving from one location to another via switch engine, and in his solitude and loneliness Hook is not only an avid reader but a collector of rare editions.
At the commencement of the novel Hook is dismayed and distraught to discover that Spark Durgan, a rather low-intellect man who lived in a shack under a railroad trestle and made his minor living picking up coal fallen from freight cars, has died-ostensibly by falling asleep under a line of refrigerated boxcars and subsequently being run over. But Hook won’t believe it, and he perseveres in discovering the true cause, despite various attempts-including both his railroad employers and colleagues, and the U.S. Army Major who is Commanding Officer of the nearby P.O.W. camp-to halt the investigation and label it an accident while under intoxication.
Literate, clever, with deeply delineated characters and a delightfully twisty plot, “The Yard Dog” captured my attention immediately and by the end I had determined to continue with the series, enjoying Hook’s character and his loyalty and determination (not to mention his fascinating reading tastes).
My review is based on a Library edition.
October 4, 2009
Hook Runyon is a detective. He is in charge of managing the railroad yards near the Nazi POW camp. Hook is called out to a horrific scene. A good friend of Hook’s has been run over by a train. His name was Spark Dugan and he was just a harmless person who made his home at the railroad yards. Spark’s death looks like an accident but Hook suspects it was deliberate. The question now is who would want to hurt Spark?
I like the slow, easy pace of this book. Hook Runyon is the under dog in this book. People don’t expect much from him but watch out as he will surprise you. He is smarter than people give him credit for. As much as I liked Hook, he was the only one I liked. The rest of the characters didn’t do a thing for me. In addition to the fact that there were some parts of the story were I would skim over it. The time period and location helped. Overall, The Yard Dog was more bark than bite. Unfortunately, though I was middle of the road with this book, I would still try another of Mr. Russell’s books.
I like the slow, easy pace of this book. Hook Runyon is the under dog in this book. People don’t expect much from him but watch out as he will surprise you. He is smarter than people give him credit for. As much as I liked Hook, he was the only one I liked. The rest of the characters didn’t do a thing for me. In addition to the fact that there were some parts of the story were I would skim over it. The time period and location helped. Overall, The Yard Dog was more bark than bite. Unfortunately, though I was middle of the road with this book, I would still try another of Mr. Russell’s books.
January 23, 2018
I picked up this one because I am always a fan of Nazi POW stuff, and the WWII era trainyard setting was a plus too. The back ground and setting does not disappoint. Not having lived in the Oklahoma panhandle circa 1942 I can't vouch for the authenticity, but it sure sounds convincing enough for me to be glad I can't. Unfortunately, the story's pleasingly dark beginning is gradually done in by distressing positive tone that has the 4Fs solving a plot straight out of Hogan's Heroes and bagging the hot chicks.
February 26, 2010
I really liked this book.....right until the end. Takes place during WWII in OK near a German POW camp. The characters were good and the Yard Dog (RR police) lives in a caboose which was fun. My main complaint about the end was that it seemed as if the author jumped out of the '40s and into the 2000s. Still give it 4 stars, though.
August 9, 2010
Would give 3.75 stars - Liked the protagonist - Hook who was balanced with Runt and Dr Kaplan to draw you into this railroad,coal-crusted and depression mystery. The pace was slower than my usual reading fare however the detail & background was luxurious and a deliberate glance into times long forgotten. Would I read another? Yes!
September 4, 2011
Set in Oklahoma during World War 2 this book, the first in a series, had a great sense of time and place. I also liked the lead character, Hook Runyon, a railway detective who could not join the war effort because he only has one arm. The plot and writing were a bit uneven though but overall an enjoyable read.
May 23, 2017
I knew that I would love this book before I bought it. I loved the second book in this series, The Insane Tunnel so I backtracked to read this, The Yard Dog the first in this series. I would have loved for my father to read both of them but he died over 40 years ago. My father told me about riding the trains, looking work during the Depression. This story is set during WWII and is out in the middle of nowhere in Oklahoma with a big POW camp of Nazis. Hook Runyon, my favorite character, lives in a caboose, works as a Yard Dog, a sort of local railroad detective. He has a great love for reading so his caboose is stuffed with books that he has collected. Recently, he seeks out First Editions. It is so great to have a character who loves to read!
One of Hook Runyon's friends is found dead but Hook know that it must not have been an accident, the clues add up murder instead. This mystery is great for anyone who loves quirky characters, historical detail, and dry sense of humor. The characters are drawn with a master's touch and after the first 100 pages, I had to stop and do nothing but read this book until the story ended.
One of Hook Runyon's friends is found dead but Hook know that it must not have been an accident, the clues add up murder instead. This mystery is great for anyone who loves quirky characters, historical detail, and dry sense of humor. The characters are drawn with a master's touch and after the first 100 pages, I had to stop and do nothing but read this book until the story ended.
September 8, 2018
I've always wondered why we don't have more stories / information about this aspect of WWII. Really enjoyed the first 3/4 of the book, but the rest just became too predictable. Didn't even finish the last 20 pages. I'm also not a fan of the pretty woman falling in love with the ugly-duck-tough-good-guy type of story.
July 26, 2020
A fast-paced yarn with a set of stock characters and a fair plot. This is the first of a series so a lot of the book is about introducing character who, no doubt, will come back. Decent book to read when the “to read” list is a bit light.
Russell uses “what with” to start sentences about a dozen times.
Russell uses “what with” to start sentences about a dozen times.
March 17, 2021
Not sn
Not sure what I expected, but the story was good and the characters were interesting.
I could recommend this book to any old railroader and I'm sure they would really enjoy it.
Not sure what I expected, but the story was good and the characters were interesting.
I could recommend this book to any old railroader and I'm sure they would really enjoy it.
February 17, 2018
I thought I was going to like this book more than I did. I felt like the plot was a little jumpy.
March 27, 2018
Some of the railroad stuff is less than 100% accurate but otherwise it's a great story with amazing characters
January 14, 2019
"Some passions just can't be satisfied between the covers of a book." Hook Runyon, yard dog
October 18, 2019
I could not even finish this book.
May 8, 2020
A mystery based in a railyard and a war prison. Not a bad read.
February 25, 2022
In the vein of Clive Cussler, just not as polished.
October 28, 2021
A large part of my family lived in Waynoka, Alva, and Woods county which is what lead me to this book. The plot was predictable, the writing fair, the characters were mostly one-dimensional.
September 5, 2013
Set in 1940s Oklahoma, this debut mystery is centered on Hook Runyon, a railroad detective – a/k/a yard dog. Unable to enlist in the war effort for WW2 because he lost an arm in an auto accident, he is nevertheless fit enough to nab pickpockets and run off hoboes. He lives in a caboose filled with the antique books he collects, and drinks local moonshine made by his friend Runt. When the body of local itinerant Spark Dugan is found under a reefer (refrigerated car) Hook is naturally called to investigate. But he’s immediately suspicious when he is pushed to close the case quickly. The reefer had arrived at the icing station, manned by crews of German prisoners from the nearby Alva POW camp, yet no one saw anything. As he investigates further, Hook suspects a black market ring is being run from the POW camp, but it becomes clear that the conspiracy has larger international implications.
I really like Hook and Runt, who are multi-layered characters with interesting back stories. However, Russell really stumbled in writing the two women characters –Amanda Roswell and Dr Reina Kaplan. They are two-dimensional cutouts, and the well-educated Reina behaves so stupidly as to be completely unbelievable. The bad guys are also pretty thinly drawn and we get little more than villain “types” straight out of central casting. On the other hand, the plot was interesting and drew me in although Russell spends quite a lot of time setting things up and introducing us to the various characters. While he was doing this I had figured out the central issue, but had to wade through the second half of the book for the characters to catch up. Then, after spending all those pages setting up the conspiracy plot, Russell rushes the ending.
This all sounds very negative, but I did enjoy the book, and because of Hook and Runt I’d be willing to read another in the series. I want to get to know them better.
I really like Hook and Runt, who are multi-layered characters with interesting back stories. However, Russell really stumbled in writing the two women characters –Amanda Roswell and Dr Reina Kaplan. They are two-dimensional cutouts, and the well-educated Reina behaves so stupidly as to be completely unbelievable. The bad guys are also pretty thinly drawn and we get little more than villain “types” straight out of central casting. On the other hand, the plot was interesting and drew me in although Russell spends quite a lot of time setting things up and introducing us to the various characters. While he was doing this I had figured out the central issue, but had to wade through the second half of the book for the characters to catch up. Then, after spending all those pages setting up the conspiracy plot, Russell rushes the ending.
This all sounds very negative, but I did enjoy the book, and because of Hook and Runt I’d be willing to read another in the series. I want to get to know them better.
November 3, 2013
I was given this book by a work colleague who really rated it so decided to give it a go as the concept seemed an interesting one.
This is basically a whodunit set in a railway yard in rural Oklahoma during WWII with the main protagonist being a one armed railway detective, hence Yard Dog, called Hook Runyon. When a local tramp,Spark Duggan, is seemingly killed by a railway locomotive no one seems to care, the authorities just want it written up as an accident. Hook is convinced it was murder and believes Spark may have been involved in something bigger so sets out to prove it. The plot is added spice by the fact that there is a German POW camp nearby and some of it's occupants do work details in the rail yard.
As a whodunnit I felt that the plot was a little thin with too many coincidences for my taste and the I pretty well worked out what the real crime was from a very early stage. Then when the main villain captures the hero he decides to kill him later rather when he has the opportunity and then there is the mandatory love affair between the hero and a new arrival in the area. Pretty formulaic.
That said I found it an enjoyable read. I liked the author's writing style, the characters were well drawn, the plot flowed at a reasonable pace but not too quickly but mainly I felt the setting was very atmospheric and that I got a real impression of rural America during WWII.
This is the first book in a series by this author and as such felt that it was a reasonable start and I hope to read more of them sooner rather than later.
This is basically a whodunit set in a railway yard in rural Oklahoma during WWII with the main protagonist being a one armed railway detective, hence Yard Dog, called Hook Runyon. When a local tramp,Spark Duggan, is seemingly killed by a railway locomotive no one seems to care, the authorities just want it written up as an accident. Hook is convinced it was murder and believes Spark may have been involved in something bigger so sets out to prove it. The plot is added spice by the fact that there is a German POW camp nearby and some of it's occupants do work details in the rail yard.
As a whodunnit I felt that the plot was a little thin with too many coincidences for my taste and the I pretty well worked out what the real crime was from a very early stage. Then when the main villain captures the hero he decides to kill him later rather when he has the opportunity and then there is the mandatory love affair between the hero and a new arrival in the area. Pretty formulaic.
That said I found it an enjoyable read. I liked the author's writing style, the characters were well drawn, the plot flowed at a reasonable pace but not too quickly but mainly I felt the setting was very atmospheric and that I got a real impression of rural America during WWII.
This is the first book in a series by this author and as such felt that it was a reasonable start and I hope to read more of them sooner rather than later.
October 15, 2014
I found this book to be a very enjoyable read reminiscent of the works of E.S. Dellinger and Harry Bedwell that could be found in the pages of the old "Railroad" magazine back in the 1930-1950's. The story line itself was similar to that found in "Whispering Smith" by Frank H. Spearman in which the main character is a railroad detective or "bull" as they were often referred to.
Walter "Hook" Runyon is the railroad bull assigned to the Santa Fe Railroad yards in Waynoka, Oklahoma, during the waning days of World War II. The suspicious death of a local indigent "coal picker" just doesn't add up for Hook and his search for the killer(s) eventually involves the staff and inmates at a nearby prisoner of war camp, a friend and local bootlegger named Runt Wallace, other railroad employees, and a wealthy oil baron.
The story is fast-paced and the characters are both likeable and believable. I thought the descriptions of what life and working conditions were like during that time period were accurate and thought provoking. As I read the book, I thought how it could have easily been adapted into a screen play for one of the old-time movie serials as Hook and friends kept ending up in seemingly inescapable predicaments.
Back then, railroaders had their own lexicon and I found that the author didn't always use the correct term in a particular situation; or didn't accurately describe the operation of a specific piece of railroad equipment. This is a minor criticism which most readers probably wouldn't even notice.
Walter "Hook" Runyon is the railroad bull assigned to the Santa Fe Railroad yards in Waynoka, Oklahoma, during the waning days of World War II. The suspicious death of a local indigent "coal picker" just doesn't add up for Hook and his search for the killer(s) eventually involves the staff and inmates at a nearby prisoner of war camp, a friend and local bootlegger named Runt Wallace, other railroad employees, and a wealthy oil baron.
The story is fast-paced and the characters are both likeable and believable. I thought the descriptions of what life and working conditions were like during that time period were accurate and thought provoking. As I read the book, I thought how it could have easily been adapted into a screen play for one of the old-time movie serials as Hook and friends kept ending up in seemingly inescapable predicaments.
Back then, railroaders had their own lexicon and I found that the author didn't always use the correct term in a particular situation; or didn't accurately describe the operation of a specific piece of railroad equipment. This is a minor criticism which most readers probably wouldn't even notice.
Read
July 22, 2010The Yard Dog by Sheldon Russell is also a mystery set during World War II, but it is very different from Billy Boyle. This story is set in Oklahoma, in a railroad yard where the railroad detective (the “yard dog”), Hook Runyan,(so named because he has a hook where he lost his right hand which has kept him out of the military) investigates the death by train of his indigent friend Spark Dugan. Central to the plot is a nearby German POW camp whose residents sometimes work icing the produce cars that are travelling from California to the East Coast. Hook is a grim, determined character. He lives in a caboose, surrounded by the books that he collects and reads. Other characters include a young man who’s trying to support his mother and siblings while his older brothers are off fighting the war in the family tradition of making and selling moonshine, and a Jewish woman assigned to the POW camp to teach English and American ways to the prisoners. You get a good feel for those on the homefront, still struggling their way out of the Great Depression. The author lives in Oklahoma and knows it’s land and history. If you enjoy historical fiction and mysteries you’ll like this book. --Susan
From ICPL Staff Picks Blog
From ICPL Staff Picks Blog
September 17, 2012
Easy-to-read historial fiction.
I received the third Hook Runyan book as an ARC, and liked it so much I bought this one to read, and read it "second" even though it is the first book in the series.
Set in the early 1940's, Walter "Hook" Runyon, a former hobo who still likes to drink his moonshine, is the railroad "detective" (called a "yard dog"). He lives in his own caboose, and has no car of his own.
This book begins with the discovery of the body of a local indigent on the railroad tracks in Oklahoma where Hook is stationed. Something about the death doesn't sit right with Hook, and he spends most of the book investigating what might have happened.
A little slow in places, but generally a well-constructed plot with excellent writing. A touch of romance and a few fistfights, as well.
A great book for reading aloud with the spouse.
I received the third Hook Runyan book as an ARC, and liked it so much I bought this one to read, and read it "second" even though it is the first book in the series.
Set in the early 1940's, Walter "Hook" Runyon, a former hobo who still likes to drink his moonshine, is the railroad "detective" (called a "yard dog"). He lives in his own caboose, and has no car of his own.
This book begins with the discovery of the body of a local indigent on the railroad tracks in Oklahoma where Hook is stationed. Something about the death doesn't sit right with Hook, and he spends most of the book investigating what might have happened.
A little slow in places, but generally a well-constructed plot with excellent writing. A touch of romance and a few fistfights, as well.
A great book for reading aloud with the spouse.
July 20, 2013
Sheldon Russell writes with an authority about his topic and a care for his characters that is a welcome change from so many novelists.
In The Yard Dog, Book 1 in his Hook Runyon Mysteries series, Mr. Russell builds his story on the backs of a wonderful main character and a fascinating, relatively unknown bit of history: that half a million German POWs were housed in prison camps in the United States during World War II, including in rural southwest Oklahoma where The Yard Dog is set.
This book is a must-read for WWII history buffs who love mysteries, railroad enthusiasts who love mysteries, and anyone else who enjoys a classic mystery in which you get strong characters and learn a little world history along the way.
I might also note that in Hook Runyon, Mr. Russell has created a most original character, one you will happily follow as long as the pages turn.
In The Yard Dog, Book 1 in his Hook Runyon Mysteries series, Mr. Russell builds his story on the backs of a wonderful main character and a fascinating, relatively unknown bit of history: that half a million German POWs were housed in prison camps in the United States during World War II, including in rural southwest Oklahoma where The Yard Dog is set.
This book is a must-read for WWII history buffs who love mysteries, railroad enthusiasts who love mysteries, and anyone else who enjoys a classic mystery in which you get strong characters and learn a little world history along the way.
I might also note that in Hook Runyon, Mr. Russell has created a most original character, one you will happily follow as long as the pages turn.
July 21, 2016
Maybe it's because of my ignorance of time and location in this setting but the book was boring. Foul language inserted here and there to try and give it color. The story line itself was very appealing, and one I wanted to read with a love of trains, but trying to get into the book and finish it was too much trouble. The story begins when a man who lives very modest means without many friends or a lot of intelligence is killed by a train. It for all purposes looks like an accident. But the Yard Dog (the railroad detective with a hook for one arm) who was one of the deceased only friends finds there are too many things that do not fit. This is as far as I was able to make it before putting the book down. Perhaps if the author toned down the language and offered more clues and excitement he could take a great story line and make it into a great book.
December 12, 2013
Smart, soulful literary mystery. The titular "yard dog" is a one-armed railroad detective in rural northern Oklahoma, in the waning years of WWII, who refuses to accept that the death of an impoverished man on the tracks was an accident. His investigation leads him to the POW camp down the road. Great characters in Hook, the detective, and his young dwarf moonshine supplier, Runt. Nice writing, poetic at times.
I liked it well enough that, despite that I finally got my hands on the newest book by my favorite author, I finished this first instead. Based on the ratings numbers here, I'll guess the publisher didn't do a great deal to promote this series, and that's a shame...it deserves a wider audience.
I liked it well enough that, despite that I finally got my hands on the newest book by my favorite author, I finished this first instead. Based on the ratings numbers here, I'll guess the publisher didn't do a great deal to promote this series, and that's a shame...it deserves a wider audience.
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