Al Dawson

This is one good book - one great work. Mr. Dawson has made quite good friends with words. His characters, his phrasing, his transitions between scenes make it easy for the reader to follow the extraordinarily good panoramic plot. An additional plus about this book is the knowledge and grace in which he handles the subject matter. He understands the emotional texture of history, the people who lived through it and with it, the roller coaster turns and twists, and the nagging tensions left in it's wake. Reading this book will help you become a deeper, more compassionate human being.

Hard to believe it's the author's first work. Dawson does a great job of weaving an intricate plot that all readers are likely to enjoy . You're constantly torn about wanting to read quickly to see what happens next versus slowing down and appreciating the author's nuanced use of language and rich character development. Dawson needs to be commended for the research he's done to provide more depth for his story, a trait I really appreciated as one who enjoys reading historical novels. I'm eager to read more from this wonderful new writer. Five stars --no questions asked--for this novel.

Al Dawson’s story of a WWII soldier who attempts to revisit his past and right a wrong is told with such attention to detail that the storyline is full and engaging. The writing is fluid and colorful. Frankie, the protagonist, returns from war to the place he grew up in. He settles there but part of him straddles two worlds, two cultures; while he thought the past was the past, he realizes he can’t let it go. Family and friends are portrayed as full characters in their own right. This is a tale that reads like a love story and a detective novel within a historical context — all the elements that offer a story worth reading. Diane S.