by Pat Wray (Author)
Gift of the Grenadier
A Synopsis
Jared McCauley had everything going for him. After a near perfect childhood in a small Idaho town, he was married to the love of his life and on his way to a successful career in the United States Marine Corps. But an horrific, emasculating war injury destroyed Jared's confidence and shattered the foundation of his marriage, leaving him vulnerable to doubts and uncertainty previously alien to him. When his own weakness results in the tragic death of the young grandson of a New York crime family boss, grief and sadness are overwhelmed by rage and reprisal. The cascading effects of the child's death involve friends and family and lay bare the essence of human frailties, as betrayal, revenge and depravity hold sway. But human strengths are present too, in the form of courage, loyalty and sacrifice, as longtime friends come to help...and one comes to kill.
At its core, Gift of the Grenadier is an exploration of the cost of our actions and our universal need and hope for redemption. It asks the questions: how can I make up for the harm I've done? How can I balance the scale?