Steve Hockensmith

from James:

I have no idea how the cowboys of 1890's Montana talked, but I'd like to imagine it's exactly like the ones in this book. Hockensmith pushes out some snappy dialogue and clever images, like: it was raining hard enough to wash off a tan off a man's hands.

The detective pair in this first book of a series are the Amlingmeyer brothers, Big Red and Old Red. One's illiterate and other is his Dr. Watson. Equal parts mystery and western, I'd recommend it to anyone who enjoys either.

This was a fun book to read even though I am a wee bit outside the target audience. Some stories, let alone mysteries, for young people can be a bit condescending, but this one is on point for young and not-so-young readers.Tesla and Nick are imaginative, quick-witted, smart and funny as they set out to find out who is sabotaging the museum where their uncle works.
The reader also gets instructions to build a pretty groovy gadget glove of their very own. Can't wait to share this book with my show more 11-year-old daughter.
FUN! show less

It's always a pleasure to immerse myself in Steve Hockensmith's Old West with the Amlingmeyer brothers. In Hunters of the Dead, there are characters going incognito, bad guys with guns, the lucrative nut butter business, an Apache named Eskaminzim who reminded me a bit of Inspector Clouseau's valet, Kato, and Old Red (Gustav) Amlingmeyer teaching himself to read.

For me, the icing on the Hockensmith cake is the fact that there's always something to learn while I'm enjoying the story; in show more this case, the cutthroat early days of paleontology. And as for Eskaminzim, he has one of my favorite lines in the book: "You whites have so many words for stupid. I guess you need them."

There seems to be a trip to Texas in the Amlingmeyer brothers' future, and I'm looking forward to that. Get your hands on this series if you're in the mood for some lighthearted (yet educational) fun set in the Old West. It's a treat. show less

Old Red Amlingmeyer and his younger brother, Big Red, have just been hired at the Bar VR Ranch. It's not a very pleasant place, but a job's a job. One day, though, the boys come across the aftermath of a cattle stampede---complete with the aftermath of a man. How did this fellow meet his demise? Old Red is itching to employ his detective skills, as adopted from the tales of Sherlock Holmes. With Big Red as his Watson, "Holmes" is on the range!

Overall the book met my expectations. The show more narrator, Big Red, is an amusing enough type, and he definitely fits the Watson mould, while Old Red is the archetypal Holmes: laconic, pensive, but capable of quick action when necessary. The mystery and setting kept my interest, and it was very charming to see cowboys faithfully following the precepts of Watson and Holmes. However, the book is just over 300 pages and the pacing felt a bit slow. It may have worked better if it were slightly shorter (maybe 250 pages).

This is the first in a series and I think I'd probably pick up another one if I saw it at the library. show less