Book Review: Tug of War

Reviewed By: Pat Reid - RAM

Tug of War     Amazon US HC Amazon Canada HC
Barbara Cleverly
Class/Genre:   Mystery   Historical
Series: Joe Sandilands # 6
Carroll & Graf Publishers, 2007, 256 pgs.

A shell-shocked soldier, held in a hospital in France, is the reason for the delay in Joe Sandilands holiday. He had agreed to take Dorcas, his sister’s foster child, along with him on holiday and deliver her to her father in the south of France. Then he intended to spend a couple of weeks just enjoying his vacation. Joe allows himself to be convinced to take a side trip to visit the soldier and investigate the claims that a number of people have made as to the soldier’s identity. Joe’s office is called in because although the soldier has not spoken. Then the doctor observed a nightmare where the soldier spoke English. Joe was to prove whether or not the patient was an English soldier.

The doctor in charge had advertised in the paper searching for anyone who recognized this man and was surprised at the answers he received. One woman claimed that the soldier was her long lost lover. Another mother swore that he was her child. And still another claimed that he was her husband.

Joe and Dorcas proceed to visit the soldier as well as each claimant and try to come arrive at a solution as to the soldier’s identity.

Dorcas proves to be more a help than a hindrance and soon they both begin to uncover a number of revealing facts about the soldier as well as the people claiming him.

The book takes the reader back to the early days of World War I and the horrors that were endured by both the army and the countries involved in the War.

This book started slow for me but soon I was fascinated with the story and soon caught up in the puzzle of the soldier’s true identity. The final outcome came as a surprise to me.

Pat Reid - RAM

Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, Pat Reid - RAM