IN HIS STEAD

In this novel, an honorable military man tries to protect his son from the horrors of war.

Tom Lane, a former Army Ranger, is more familiar with the Army than most Americans. His eldest son, Tommy, died in Afghanistan while serving his country. But Tom is shocked when his middle son, Donnie, who joined the National Guard to avoid jail time and earn some money for college, announces that he’s being deployed for Afghanistan. Tom knows his family can’t survive losing another son, particularly in a pointless war. He confides in his best friend and Army buddy, Frank, about Donnie’s news, and Frank begins searching for an alternative, which he finds in an unlikely place: a two-hour History Channel special called In My Son’s Stead, “a reenactment [regarding] a common law widely used during the Civil War.” The next day, Frank tells Tom his idea—someone else can go in Donnie’s place. Frank and Tom do a little research and discover that under Pennsylvania law, Frank’s plan just might work—if Tom can convince Donnie and the Army to let him try. Sanders (Crescent Veil, 2006) has a knack for capturing and maintaining a reader’s interest with compelling plot developments.  But the writing can be clichéd. Both Tom’s wife and daughter have hair of “spun gold”; when Tom becomes emotionally drained, his “well of sorrow is bone dry”; and dead soldiers are always either “fallen heroes” or “fallen warriors.” When Tom talks about his wife, his sons or the military, he often delivers long-winded speeches, which don’t fit with his somewhat taciturn character.  Other moments strain credulity, as when a military doctor exchanges his own blood and urine with Tom’s so that the Army won’t learn about Tom’s diabetes.

A compelling look at service, family and tradition, weakened by awkward writing and an occasionally preachy tone.