Ballard Redoubt

by John M. Hamilton

Ballard Redoubt is a novel about neighborhood, friendship and love. Three ex-fishermen navigate the moralities of life on shore in mid-nineties Seattle. One young man is drawn away from his family’s fishing business by the lures of the city. Another, a shop steward in a Teamster strike, grapples with duties to family, coworkers and even to his boss. And the third, a towboat captain, is at once the defender of tradition and the embodiment of chaos itself. Fast and readable, it will leave you smelling of diesel and tasting of saltwater.

214 pages, Paperback

Published June 5, 2022

About the author

A New Orleans based novelist, John Hamilton was born and raised in the industrial mid-west. He graduated from Michigan State with a Humanities degree focused on history, philosophy and religion. He lived in Seattle for twenty-five years working in trucking, commercial fishing, and construction. As a US Navy Seabee he served in the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. He lives with his wife, the painter, Kellie Talbot and their cat and pet duck.  

Reviews

[Dan Barnett · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great read about a dynamic trio of blue collar friends in what used to be a blue collar neighborhood prior to gentrification. Real characters that I can imagine I've hung out with in a dirty bar or at a punk rock show. The descriptions of their lives and the neighborhood aren't pretty but they are vibrant and ring true to life. This was a thoroughly enjoyable read for those that appreciate reading about the lives of the people catching your fish dinner, driving your concrete truck, or any myriad of real workers just getting through life. The author clearly knows the ins and outs of the world he writes about.

[Ian Fels · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read!

Characters felt very real and familiar. Their life struggles and decisions good or bad made me think about life and people.

“The ship is foundering. What then have I to do?”

Thanks John Hamilton

[Willard Brickey · Rating 5 out of 5]

The ending made me cry. A few other books have done that. But not many.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s hard to find men’s fiction with relatable real world characters like in Ballard Redoubt. Hamilton builds a complex and compelling story with a suspense filled ending.