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Roscoe Hammer
In 1948, in Mitchell, Missouri, a small town of ornate garden gates, bearded iris and harmless gossip, bad things shouldn’t happen. But too soon and too painfully, eight-year-old Roscoe Hammer learns that they do.
His baby sister is stricken with a sudden, life-altering illness and as her condition worsens, his family is overcome with despair. While his mother drifts into depression, his father struggles to fill the void. When Roscoe embarks on a plan to help the family heal, he finds himself in the middle of a series of interconnected mysteries. Who killed Crazy George Mabry’s little dog? Who beat George with a tree branch and left him for dead in Harmony Park? Who — or what — lives in the abandoned shed behind Gertie Paulson’s grocery store? And who shot and killed the town’s bully?
Roscoe’s search for the answers — often in the companionship of his best friend, Fatty Gilchrist — is at times frightening, laughable, heart-rending and heart-warming. When all the “facts” are in, when he fears that he alone is in possession of the whole truth, he runs headlong into a lesson that will affect his life There is no such thing as the whole truth and the part of realty we cannot see is often more important than that which we can.
Walk the streets of Mitchell, Missouri with Roscoe and his dog Ranger and his friend Fatty, and make their hometown your own. Listen as they try to decide what is right and just and then reflect on your own sense of the same. And then learn again — because you have always known it but have only forgotten — nothing shapes us like the things that happen to us, the people we meet, and the secrets we keep when we are children.
His baby sister is stricken with a sudden, life-altering illness and as her condition worsens, his family is overcome with despair. While his mother drifts into depression, his father struggles to fill the void. When Roscoe embarks on a plan to help the family heal, he finds himself in the middle of a series of interconnected mysteries. Who killed Crazy George Mabry’s little dog? Who beat George with a tree branch and left him for dead in Harmony Park? Who — or what — lives in the abandoned shed behind Gertie Paulson’s grocery store? And who shot and killed the town’s bully?
Roscoe’s search for the answers — often in the companionship of his best friend, Fatty Gilchrist — is at times frightening, laughable, heart-rending and heart-warming. When all the “facts” are in, when he fears that he alone is in possession of the whole truth, he runs headlong into a lesson that will affect his life There is no such thing as the whole truth and the part of realty we cannot see is often more important than that which we can.
Walk the streets of Mitchell, Missouri with Roscoe and his dog Ranger and his friend Fatty, and make their hometown your own. Listen as they try to decide what is right and just and then reflect on your own sense of the same. And then learn again — because you have always known it but have only forgotten — nothing shapes us like the things that happen to us, the people we meet, and the secrets we keep when we are children.
240 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 24, 2016
6 people are currently reading
22 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
October 14, 2017
I really enjoyed this book and would highly recommend it! Roscoe was a wonderful character, in a story filled with characters and relationships that were rich and interesting. I was drawn in by the theme of carrying secrets to protect others, it created such great discussions in my book group.
I delighted in reading about the many differing relationships in this sweet story. I especially loved the relationship between Roscoe and his dad.
I loved the writing style and highlighted many lines in the book that touched me.
I read this with my book group and we all enjoyed it very much, good topics for discussion, humor, family, friendships, and what's really important in life.
A word of warning, there's a sad scene with a dog (not Roscoe's Ranger), it's a bit disturbing for sensitive readers.
I delighted in reading about the many differing relationships in this sweet story. I especially loved the relationship between Roscoe and his dad.
I loved the writing style and highlighted many lines in the book that touched me.
I read this with my book group and we all enjoyed it very much, good topics for discussion, humor, family, friendships, and what's really important in life.
A word of warning, there's a sad scene with a dog (not Roscoe's Ranger), it's a bit disturbing for sensitive readers.
October 11, 2017
Having grown up in a small town similar to Mitchell, I was drawn in by the story of the life and young times of 8-year old Roscoe. The author paints a vivid picture of how family and community life are so very formative during one's early years.
The characters in the first part of the novel are endearing, believable and, fortunately, often eccentric. The plot is intriguing, moreso than one might imagine coming out of a sleepy little town in the mid-century Midwest. Advancing Roscoe's story nearly 50 years is a device that works particularly well. We are able to see the results and effects of Roscoe's upbringing and experiences when he has advanced well into middle age.
Gallemore's debut book publication contains much beautiful writing, evincing a solid command of language and a penchant for very effectively conveying a story from his observations, experiences and imaginings. Reading occupies a lot of my time and I can tell this author loves to write. Kirkus Reviews gave Roscoe Hammer high marks and so do I.
The characters in the first part of the novel are endearing, believable and, fortunately, often eccentric. The plot is intriguing, moreso than one might imagine coming out of a sleepy little town in the mid-century Midwest. Advancing Roscoe's story nearly 50 years is a device that works particularly well. We are able to see the results and effects of Roscoe's upbringing and experiences when he has advanced well into middle age.
Gallemore's debut book publication contains much beautiful writing, evincing a solid command of language and a penchant for very effectively conveying a story from his observations, experiences and imaginings. Reading occupies a lot of my time and I can tell this author loves to write. Kirkus Reviews gave Roscoe Hammer high marks and so do I.
October 17, 2017
I was really impressed with this debut move by Dave Gallemore. It is a great story told from the voice of eight year old Roscoe Hammer. The characters and setting were depicted so well. I felt like I was back in small town America. It is then picked up with Roscoe as an adult 46 years later. Great book. I can't wait to see what Dave Gallemore does next.
October 12, 2016
Roscoe Hammer is an eight-year old boy growing up in the small town of Mitchell, Missouri. He spends his days wandering about with his dog, Ranger and his best friend, Fatty Gilchrist. Nothing much happens and life seems idyllic until his younger sister gets sick andthe dynamics of his family utterly change. His mother drifts into depresion and his father struggles to cope.
Roscoe decides he needs to help, but them finds himself embroiled in adult problems he really doesn't understand. Who killed Mr. Marbry's dog and then beat him half to death? And who shot and killed the town bully? As Roscoe searches for answers, he learns valuable lessons about life and that things are not always black and white.
These lessons carry him through life when he becomes a county judge in St. Louis and has to make decisions about right and wrong and life and death.
However, this story is really about the young Roscoe and the way life molds character. Gallemore has created an unforgettable group of characters who will tug at your heartstrings as you turn each page.
Roscoe decides he needs to help, but them finds himself embroiled in adult problems he really doesn't understand. Who killed Mr. Marbry's dog and then beat him half to death? And who shot and killed the town bully? As Roscoe searches for answers, he learns valuable lessons about life and that things are not always black and white.
These lessons carry him through life when he becomes a county judge in St. Louis and has to make decisions about right and wrong and life and death.
However, this story is really about the young Roscoe and the way life molds character. Gallemore has created an unforgettable group of characters who will tug at your heartstrings as you turn each page.
April 11, 2018
Very good book indeed.
This novel has brains and mostly it has a heart, a big heart. All characters are likable and since page one you care deeply about what happen to them. There are no heroes here doing amazing things, just regular people living and suffering and laughing and loving and trying to get by. There's a lot of things that the main character, Roscoe, a boy of 8, don't quite get, but as the saying goes, it takes a village to raise a child. And indeed there's a lot to learn from every person living in this little town in Missouri.
Very well written, moving, funny, I would have given it an extra star if it wasn't for the fact that, about two thirds of the book author makes a jump 45 years ahead and even though what follows is interesting, it is not as interesting and mesmerizing as the life and learnings of Roscoe when he was a boy.
Still a very good reading, hard to pull down. Highly recommended.
This novel has brains and mostly it has a heart, a big heart. All characters are likable and since page one you care deeply about what happen to them. There are no heroes here doing amazing things, just regular people living and suffering and laughing and loving and trying to get by. There's a lot of things that the main character, Roscoe, a boy of 8, don't quite get, but as the saying goes, it takes a village to raise a child. And indeed there's a lot to learn from every person living in this little town in Missouri.
Very well written, moving, funny, I would have given it an extra star if it wasn't for the fact that, about two thirds of the book author makes a jump 45 years ahead and even though what follows is interesting, it is not as interesting and mesmerizing as the life and learnings of Roscoe when he was a boy.
Still a very good reading, hard to pull down. Highly recommended.
September 5, 2020
A wonderful story of Roscoe and his life in Mitchell, MO. The town setting and the family and friends all play an important part in Roscoe life. The secrets Roscoe learned about and the decisions he made bout those secrets. Follow Roscoe, his dog Ranger and friend Fatty to see what they learn and do with the information thy find. Roscoe Hammer is a heart felt heart warming story!! One you would enjoy.
March 29, 2019
Good read
Really good story line. Just wish it had a better ending. But over all a decent read. Wasn’t a total waste of time.
Really good story line. Just wish it had a better ending. But over all a decent read. Wasn’t a total waste of time.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews