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Last of the Third
"A little mystery, a little romance, and a hint of magical realism . . . Like most great sports novels, this book is about much more than baseball--it's about relationships and the importance of forgiveness (especially forgiving yourself)." -from a 5-star review 22-year old Shawn McMaster must return to his hometown of Quail, Pennsylvania to save his family's home and business. However, he's been in hiding for four years, unable to forgive himself for what he did the last time he stepped on a baseball field. But a chance encounter with Larry Schneider, the town eccentric, drags Shawn back to a Quail Township that is being swallowed by the suburban sprawl owned by the ruthless housing tycoon Albert Muldoon. CeCe Easter, Shawn's girlfriend, was one of those people. She had learned to trust again, through Shawn, and his disappearance had dire repercussions for CeCe--- not to mention Quail, the McMaster Restaurant and Field, and Shawn's friends and family. Shawn expects to return home and pick up his relationships right where they left off but is not sure he will ever be able to step foot on a baseball field again. The people of Quail expect Shawn to sprint back onto the field and return the McMaster Restaurant baseball team to its past glory, but aren't sure if they can trust him anymore. And it isn't until it is almost too late that the McMaster family realizes that they are up against a deadline that threatens the comfortable, small-town existence of the people Quail. Told in style using short journal entry chapters, rich with mystery-quenching flashbacks, the story arcs in "Last of the Third" charge to their conclusions with all the twists and turns of Game 7 of a playoff series and remind us how important forgiveness is. ***10% of proceeds benefit the YWCA of Greater Harrisburg***
352 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 8, 2016
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
January 31, 2025
4.1
Good mystery within
Great job with characterization
A few things out of place, but overall, a fun way to spend 352 pages,
Good mystery within
Great job with characterization
A few things out of place, but overall, a fun way to spend 352 pages,
September 11, 2018
Mysteries abound in the book Last of the Third by John Lindholm. Why is Shawn McMaster hiding? Why didn't DJ McMaster have a will? What is the Last of the Third? Will the baseball be replaced?
In Quail Township, Pennsylvania there is a baseball field adjacent to a ballpark. The McMasters family has operated the field and restaurant for as long as Shawn McMaster can remember. Something happened which caused Shawn to leave his hometown and go into hiding. While is he away his family frantically searches for him and for his grandfather’s will. The mystery is finding both. Neither mystery resolves as the reader expects and that makes this book so enticing.
John Lindholm has created a family, town and additional characters that ring true to life. When he describes the panic that Shawn feels as an old friend recognizes him, the insight helps the reader understand Shawn’s feelings. By bits and pieces, we learn of Shawn’s actions leading to his disappearance. In his mind, he fled to protect his family but his actions left hurt and confusion behind.
For sports fans, players, and parents the playing field is the place of hopes and dreams. As John Lindholm describes the baseball field, there is a lyrical quality to his words. There is no doubt that he loves the game of baseball. He creates scenes that only one ”who has been there” can do. Underlying all of the difficulties in Quail Township there is a healing that comes from baseball and the field. The field is the heart of this town.
There are many other elements in this book that you should explore. Whether you have played the game or not, Last of the Third is a book honoring the redemption and healing found on a baseball field.
In Quail Township, Pennsylvania there is a baseball field adjacent to a ballpark. The McMasters family has operated the field and restaurant for as long as Shawn McMaster can remember. Something happened which caused Shawn to leave his hometown and go into hiding. While is he away his family frantically searches for him and for his grandfather’s will. The mystery is finding both. Neither mystery resolves as the reader expects and that makes this book so enticing.
John Lindholm has created a family, town and additional characters that ring true to life. When he describes the panic that Shawn feels as an old friend recognizes him, the insight helps the reader understand Shawn’s feelings. By bits and pieces, we learn of Shawn’s actions leading to his disappearance. In his mind, he fled to protect his family but his actions left hurt and confusion behind.
For sports fans, players, and parents the playing field is the place of hopes and dreams. As John Lindholm describes the baseball field, there is a lyrical quality to his words. There is no doubt that he loves the game of baseball. He creates scenes that only one ”who has been there” can do. Underlying all of the difficulties in Quail Township there is a healing that comes from baseball and the field. The field is the heart of this town.
There are many other elements in this book that you should explore. Whether you have played the game or not, Last of the Third is a book honoring the redemption and healing found on a baseball field.
June 9, 2017
It all started with the love of baseball . . . It's been four years since that fateful day that sent Shawn running away. The infamous event of that Final Exam drove a wedge between him and his entire future. Now all that is left of the once outfield genius is a job as a software analysis, hiding away in his small apartment, making late night grocery store runs to avoid being found. Shawn can’t help but think it's time to go back to the life he once loved so much. But will his family and Quail want him back? Does CeCe want him back? Shawn has to make the choice and soon. There is more at stake than a baseball game.
Even if you aren’t a fan of baseball you will love this story of self-doubt, drama, choices, and redemption. John Lindholm captures the feeling of small town love with ease and gives us characters to both love and hate.
What Didn’t Work: I want to make sure I give you this review with minimum spoilers so I will refer to the catalyst of this book as the “oops.” The “oops” is that thing that if you could go back and change it would change the course of everything else in that story. In the case of Last of the Third, the “oops” is what forces Shawn to run away and hide for four years. The “oops” is buried deep in the book. I didn't come to it until over 200 pages into the reading of the 351 pages. By that point I was so on edge to learn what the “oops” was I was a little disappointed at its reveal. It wasn’t something intentional and it didn’t cost anything but a disruption and a bat and yet it drove this character to an extreme response. When I read it I decided to put the story away for the night. That’s how small it was. It was a great build up to a small climax. Next, this story gives extra details about two characters that added nothing to the story. I apologize if this counts as a spoiler but again it didn’t add to the story: Larry’s wife leaving, and Shawn having a little brother who died before Shawn was born. With those two points out of the story, the tale would read the exact same way. I was hoping the other characters would comment on how these event affected other parts of the story or even be the source of some apologies or two but that never came. It is always interesting when the reader knows something the characters don’t know, but I am hoping that by the end of the book the characters will know it or at the least, it will explain some flaw of the character. That is not the case here. Lastly, the timing of things in the present setting of the story seemed off. The story flashback between three significant events or moments in time. The events that take place in the present seem unrealistic; for example how long Shawn waits to show the solution to everyone or how long before CeCe says anything to Shawn at the end of the story despite they should be seeing each other every day.
Enough of that. Let’s talk about why this story was so great and why I highly recommend this book.
What Did Work: I really enjoyed this story. Let me say here I don’t know anything about baseball. My experience with the sport is watching my two younger children play year after year. Despite this lack of knowledge of the sport, the book was so good that the baseball was just another part of the setting, and some places another character. I didn’t feel like I was missing anything simply because I don’t make baseball metaphors in my everyday life or look forward to a Phillies game. Secondly, there was so much emotion in this book. You want to yell at Shawn, hold CeCe, help Larry, laugh with Chuck and Dusty. This story has it all! You fall for these characters and you will care about them. I dare say you may cry, but you will definitely sacrifice some time just to read one more chapter. While I didn’t think Shawn “oops” was big enough I do appreciate how the author betrayed CeCe, her experience and her response to things. It was very real and genuine.
Despite the few small parts that didn’t connect back to the story, this is definitely in the running for one of my favorite books for 2017.
Even if you aren’t a fan of baseball you will love this story of self-doubt, drama, choices, and redemption. John Lindholm captures the feeling of small town love with ease and gives us characters to both love and hate.
What Didn’t Work: I want to make sure I give you this review with minimum spoilers so I will refer to the catalyst of this book as the “oops.” The “oops” is that thing that if you could go back and change it would change the course of everything else in that story. In the case of Last of the Third, the “oops” is what forces Shawn to run away and hide for four years. The “oops” is buried deep in the book. I didn't come to it until over 200 pages into the reading of the 351 pages. By that point I was so on edge to learn what the “oops” was I was a little disappointed at its reveal. It wasn’t something intentional and it didn’t cost anything but a disruption and a bat and yet it drove this character to an extreme response. When I read it I decided to put the story away for the night. That’s how small it was. It was a great build up to a small climax. Next, this story gives extra details about two characters that added nothing to the story. I apologize if this counts as a spoiler but again it didn’t add to the story: Larry’s wife leaving, and Shawn having a little brother who died before Shawn was born. With those two points out of the story, the tale would read the exact same way. I was hoping the other characters would comment on how these event affected other parts of the story or even be the source of some apologies or two but that never came. It is always interesting when the reader knows something the characters don’t know, but I am hoping that by the end of the book the characters will know it or at the least, it will explain some flaw of the character. That is not the case here. Lastly, the timing of things in the present setting of the story seemed off. The story flashback between three significant events or moments in time. The events that take place in the present seem unrealistic; for example how long Shawn waits to show the solution to everyone or how long before CeCe says anything to Shawn at the end of the story despite they should be seeing each other every day.
Enough of that. Let’s talk about why this story was so great and why I highly recommend this book.
What Did Work: I really enjoyed this story. Let me say here I don’t know anything about baseball. My experience with the sport is watching my two younger children play year after year. Despite this lack of knowledge of the sport, the book was so good that the baseball was just another part of the setting, and some places another character. I didn’t feel like I was missing anything simply because I don’t make baseball metaphors in my everyday life or look forward to a Phillies game. Secondly, there was so much emotion in this book. You want to yell at Shawn, hold CeCe, help Larry, laugh with Chuck and Dusty. This story has it all! You fall for these characters and you will care about them. I dare say you may cry, but you will definitely sacrifice some time just to read one more chapter. While I didn’t think Shawn “oops” was big enough I do appreciate how the author betrayed CeCe, her experience and her response to things. It was very real and genuine.
Despite the few small parts that didn’t connect back to the story, this is definitely in the running for one of my favorite books for 2017.
May 19, 2017
Last of the Third -John Lindholm
Title: Last of the third
Author: John Lindholm
First Published in the UK: 2016
Pages: 352
Price on Amazon: Paperback £11.75 Kindle: £3.21
ISBN:1539435601
Last of the third tells the story of Shawn McMaster, growing up Shawn always loved baseball, he grew up with a baseball field in his backyard how could he not love it. During the final exam game four years ago something happened, something that made Shawn run away from his family, his friends and his home. For four years Shawn hid himself away shopping in the middle of the night, working at night sleeping during the day so nobody would find him. Then one night he sees someone from his past. Can Shawn return after four years? What about the people he left behind, can they forgive him? But more than that can Shawn save his family home and the baseball field he grew up playing on?
I must admit i'm not the most knowledgeable when it comes to sports however, i wanted to read this book because it caught my attention and sounded quiet interesting. So i agreed to read the book in return for an honest review.
At first i found it quiet confusing how the book would jump back and fourth in time but once i got into the swing of it i was alright. I found myself reading on more and more really wanting to find out what Shawn had done to run away for four years, when the time came to discover what had happened i must admit i felt a little disappointed, i was hoping for something a bit more dramatic, i don't know if this is just because I'm not very knowledgeable about baseball and maybe what happened was more dramatic then i perceived but i was disappointed.
Without wanting to give away any spoilers throughout the book there were many mentions about the fuse box, this got me thinking as to weather this could have something to do with where the information they needed could be, so in a sense you were lead right into that.
I found the story between Cece and Shawn heartbreaking, i felt so bad for Cece that Shawn had run away right after such in intimate moment between the two of them and her past. I was really rooting for the two of them to make things up and get back together. Little disappointed with the ending, didn't really conclude the story of the two young lovers.
All in all, not a bad book. I did enjoy it. I have given this book 3*
Title: Last of the third
Author: John Lindholm
First Published in the UK: 2016
Pages: 352
Price on Amazon: Paperback £11.75 Kindle: £3.21
ISBN:1539435601
Last of the third tells the story of Shawn McMaster, growing up Shawn always loved baseball, he grew up with a baseball field in his backyard how could he not love it. During the final exam game four years ago something happened, something that made Shawn run away from his family, his friends and his home. For four years Shawn hid himself away shopping in the middle of the night, working at night sleeping during the day so nobody would find him. Then one night he sees someone from his past. Can Shawn return after four years? What about the people he left behind, can they forgive him? But more than that can Shawn save his family home and the baseball field he grew up playing on?
I must admit i'm not the most knowledgeable when it comes to sports however, i wanted to read this book because it caught my attention and sounded quiet interesting. So i agreed to read the book in return for an honest review.
At first i found it quiet confusing how the book would jump back and fourth in time but once i got into the swing of it i was alright. I found myself reading on more and more really wanting to find out what Shawn had done to run away for four years, when the time came to discover what had happened i must admit i felt a little disappointed, i was hoping for something a bit more dramatic, i don't know if this is just because I'm not very knowledgeable about baseball and maybe what happened was more dramatic then i perceived but i was disappointed.
Without wanting to give away any spoilers throughout the book there were many mentions about the fuse box, this got me thinking as to weather this could have something to do with where the information they needed could be, so in a sense you were lead right into that.
I found the story between Cece and Shawn heartbreaking, i felt so bad for Cece that Shawn had run away right after such in intimate moment between the two of them and her past. I was really rooting for the two of them to make things up and get back together. Little disappointed with the ending, didn't really conclude the story of the two young lovers.
All in all, not a bad book. I did enjoy it. I have given this book 3*
June 14, 2017
The Last of the Third by John Lindholm is the story about a high school baseball player, Shawn McMaster who loves baseball but the pressure from his father to keep trying to be a better player begins to take an emotional toll on Shawn. During one of the games Shawn does something he never thought he would do, an accident that causes him to leave his town, his family, friends and his girlfriend CeCe.
After four years Shawn returns to his small town named Quail. He is anxious and uncomfortable as he tries to settle back into his life before he left. Although happy to be back, he is worried that no one will welcome his return, or forgive him for the accident during the game four years ago.
Now Shawn must mend his relationships with his parents, friends and his girlfriend. Again, feeling the pressure to play baseball from his father, Shawn does not know if he will ever be ready to walk out on the field.
Shawn slowly starts to realize that the town of Quail has more interesting matters to worry about. Shawn must help his family's business, their home and the baseball field from being sold.
The book was a little longer than I expected. I felt frustrated at times when Shawn's accident took quite a few chapters to be revealed. There were a few flashbacks that the book did not need. The story was not just about baseball, but those that love the sport will appreciate the book. It was also about family, friendships, secrets, and a community sticking together to keep their town from losing its small town feel.
I received this book in exchange for an honest review.
After four years Shawn returns to his small town named Quail. He is anxious and uncomfortable as he tries to settle back into his life before he left. Although happy to be back, he is worried that no one will welcome his return, or forgive him for the accident during the game four years ago.
Now Shawn must mend his relationships with his parents, friends and his girlfriend. Again, feeling the pressure to play baseball from his father, Shawn does not know if he will ever be ready to walk out on the field.
Shawn slowly starts to realize that the town of Quail has more interesting matters to worry about. Shawn must help his family's business, their home and the baseball field from being sold.
The book was a little longer than I expected. I felt frustrated at times when Shawn's accident took quite a few chapters to be revealed. There were a few flashbacks that the book did not need. The story was not just about baseball, but those that love the sport will appreciate the book. It was also about family, friendships, secrets, and a community sticking together to keep their town from losing its small town feel.
I received this book in exchange for an honest review.
January 21, 2018
After having hidden for for years from his hometown, family, Frieda andas girl-friend, because of having dinner something he blames himself for, ex-baseball player Shawn Mc Master returns home. Slowly, he begins to notice that what he did those years ago is forgiven and forgotten and begins to ease in tho the idea of being part of his people's lives again. And, at the same time, time runs out to find his grandfather's last will stating that he inherited the family's property to his son's family.
This is a very interesting story about this young man making peace with the past and moving on, at the same time beginning to understand that a person's actions, even though he thinks it's for the best of his loved ones, have a negative impact on them instead. The plot and the are characters are well developed, the story also shows the bigger picture including past events that lead to the current situation regarding Shawns felt necessity of housing and the possible loss of the family property. It has lots of tension loaded moments.
This is a very interesting story about this young man making peace with the past and moving on, at the same time beginning to understand that a person's actions, even though he thinks it's for the best of his loved ones, have a negative impact on them instead. The plot and the are characters are well developed, the story also shows the bigger picture including past events that lead to the current situation regarding Shawns felt necessity of housing and the possible loss of the family property. It has lots of tension loaded moments.
July 2, 2017
Great story, not too baseball-focused
Disclaimer: The author was my coworker for about a year in 2011-2012. He does not know that I read the book, or that I'm reviewing it.
I started reading this on my train ride home, and didn't stop until I was finished! I wasn't sure what to expect, since some sports-related books are just an excuse to talk about the sport. However, Last of the Third's story stands on its own. The plot is enjoyable, and the characters are believable (although I did get frustrated with how think Larry is!).
Read this if you like: Baseball, coming of age stories, light mysteries, introverts
Disclaimer: The author was my coworker for about a year in 2011-2012. He does not know that I read the book, or that I'm reviewing it.
I started reading this on my train ride home, and didn't stop until I was finished! I wasn't sure what to expect, since some sports-related books are just an excuse to talk about the sport. However, Last of the Third's story stands on its own. The plot is enjoyable, and the characters are believable (although I did get frustrated with how think Larry is!).
Read this if you like: Baseball, coming of age stories, light mysteries, introverts
August 4, 2017
A good book brings you into the story, welcomes you in as a silent character to stand by and watch the story unfold right before your eyes. A good book makes you feel. Makes you feel love, hate, jealousy, confusion and sympathy at every page turn. It takes you on a roller coaster ride and makes you question your initial gut reactions and forces you to reexamine your thoughts. This book did all of those things for me. I would absolutely recommend reading this book. And don't worry, you don't need to know a lot about baseball to enjoy it.
May 26, 2017
I found the flashbacks of this novel nice, though with the jargon in this book, those that don't follow baseball will be a little bit confused with scenes that feature games. I got a copy in exchange for an honest review.
July 6, 2017
Great read. Couldn't put it down.☺
Loved the Central PA references and I am a big baseball fan. So much more than a novel about baseball. Great read for all. Can't wait for John's next novel.😉
Loved the Central PA references and I am a big baseball fan. So much more than a novel about baseball. Great read for all. Can't wait for John's next novel.😉
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews