George P. Pelecanos

Drawn together by themes of strife, violence and humanity, this searing collection of four stories introduces characters who defy the mold of heroes and villains, victims and perpetrators, good and evil as they grapple with consequence, random chance and the many paths a life can take.

The extraordinary experiences of three men and their fellow Marines take them from the first clash with the Japanese in the haunted jungles of Guadalcanal, through the impenetrable rain forests of Cape Gloucester, across the blasted coral strongholds of Peleliu, up the black sand terraces of Iwo Jima, through the killing fields of Okinawa, to the triumphant, yet uneasy, return home after V-J Day.