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During the escalation of the Vietnam War, Miles Curtin was a law student at Columbia University. Using his position as an editor for the Columbia Law Review to establish a platform for political dissent, Miles caught the attention of Primus, a major conglomerate in Canada. Recruited for his fighting spirit, boundless energy, fearless leadership, and charisma, Miles was able to use Primus’ resources to blaze a trail of activism. From anti-war protests to researching air pollution and acid rain, he was determined to help save the world. But some fifteen years later, the idealistic young activist has been replaced by a land developer who sold his soul to the highest bidder somewhere along the way. When he embarks on a new project in Woodstock, New York, he is met with staunch resistance from the community that negatively impacts his family. More importantly, the project unearths long-buried secrets that endanger everyone involved and have far-reaching implications for the entire nation.
Silver provides a fictional account of the Vietnam War from a variety of perspectives. He contrasts military leaders’ emphasis on strict adherence to the chain of command versus soldiers who had “the courage to resist following an illegal order.” The author also portrays contrasting coping mechanisms for dealing with loss while exposing the prevalence of predators looking to capitalize on others’ grief. Recurrent themes include war crimes, military coverups, corporate corruption, greed, and the abuse of power. Initially, the first two chapters seem to be a complete short story unrelated to the rest of the book. But as the plot unfolds, the author cleverly weaves the storylines, culminating in a compelling tapestry that will keep readers engaged until the very end. Overall, Silver delivers an entertaining read.