A well-written character-driven yarn with a good hard look at what war does to the soldiers who fight it and to the families they have left behind. The time frame is the Great War,and the setting shifts between Nova Scotia and war-time France. The story revolves around Angus McGrath, a dreamer and merchant ship's captain with the soul of an artist. Angus' beloved, spirited brother-in-law Ebbin Hant is off to war overseas, and eventually disappears without a trace. Angus' wife Hettie,very close to her brother, is inconsolable over the uncertainty of Ebbin's welfare. Angus joins the Canadian troops in France to search for Ebbin when he is assured he will be placed as a cartographer and not see action on the front. Angus' father Duncan McGrath, a life-long pacifist is outraged.

The reader visits this world through the eyes of those left behind in Mahone Bay, Nova Scotia, especially those of Angus and Hettie's 13-year-old son Simon Peter and his proud, angry grandfather Duncan. We are also immersed with Angus in the war and all its anguish when he is told there is no need for additional cartographers and is sent to the front as a lieutenant.

It doesn't take long to get sucked into the characters and the action. Side characters are interesting as well. The beauty of Nova Scotia offers a respite from the ugliness of battle. A fine read.