Set in small town America, this is the story of two families from the 2nd world war to Vietnam and everything that goes on in between.

Cal and Becky and Margaret and Felix, one couple native to Bonhomie and one newly arrived but both settling down to married life. Cal has one leg shorter than the other and so is not called up for war and Felix, who it turns out is colour-blind, goes to war but on the supply ships, carrying goods in large convoys.

But there are secrets between these four characters, including their children and the book explores the lies that are told in an effort to protect the children but is really about protecting the adults. And of course, these have far-reaching consequences.

Whilst war is one of the strands carried throughout the book, so too is love in all its forms. For some it is freeing and for others it stifles and is misunderstood, but what really drives the book is the longing for a mother who abandonned her baby to explain why she did so, but no anwer is given.

The writing moves smoothly from the world events linking to those of the individuals without feeling that you have entered a historic tour.

“Que sera, Sera” was all over the radio in early 1956, and when it came on, Becky tried to assume its attitude. But when “Heartbreak Hotel” came on , she felt the rawest, loneliest parts of her oozing out of her pores.

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Music is often used as a way of letting us know where we are on a timeline and linking to the emotions of the characters. The other device I enjoyed was the letters Cal’s father wrote to the presidents letting them know what he thought of them. It’s a great way to tell us a president has changed and what the public think about their policies and actions.

Whilst long, this book does carry us with it, moving forwards and revealing secrets as it does so.

Well worth a read.