Pocketful of Names

“Coomer creates characters as rough and as changing as the Maine coast itself in this novel of solitude interrupted, unexpected emotions, and intrigue. The ups and downs of the inhabitants and visitors to this island off the coast of Maine will keep the reader riveted until the last page. Perfect literary summer reading!” —Meganne Fabrega, RiverRun Bookstore

“Coomer is a graceful writer…conveying natural beauty and emotional turmoil with equal polish.” —Publishers Weekly

“The rhythms of coastal life weave in and out of the family relationships and personal dramas in this enjoyable tale.”—Library Journal

In Pocketful of Names, Joe Coomer weaves an engaging story around a seemingly ordinary world. Mystery, suspense, and laugh-out-loud humor keep the pages turning.

Inhabiting an island off the coast of Maine, left to her by her great-uncle Arno, Hannah finds her life as a dedicated and solitary artist rudely interrupted one summer when a dog, matted with feathers and seaweed, arrives with the tide. The dog quickly endears himself and easily adapts to Hannah’s schedule, but he is only the first of a series of unexpected visitors. He is soon followed by a teenager running from an abusive father, a half sister in trouble, a mainland family in need, and a trapped whale. Now in the midst of a community that depends on her for support and love, Hannah faces new emotional challenges as a series of family secrets are uncovered, each one more alarming than the last.

In this latest novel, available in paperback for the first time, Coomer offers the rugged yet stunning beauty of Maine and the lobstermen and their families who are dependent on the sea for survival. Pocketful of Names is a deeply human tale about the unpredictability of nature, art, family, and whatever else washes up on the shore.