Although this story by the new-to-me George Seaton is over 400 pages long, it’s one that I could not stop thinking about regardless of how long it took me to get back to it—real life and all does have a way of interfering with my reading sometimes.  But even so, I could not get Big Diehl—the book or the character—out of my mind… not that I wanted to, oh heck no! And once I got back to Big and his journey home the pages flew by. This is not an action-packed thriller it’s mostly an introspective retrospective of Big Diehl’s return to civilian life. But don’t let that fool you because Big Diehl: The Road Home is overwhelmingly addictive, and I use that in the best sense of the word

In Big Diehl, George Seaton has created a character who is, in many ways, larger-than-life. Even from the pages of the book I was captured by Diehl’s charisma. He sees himself as nobody special, yet his special-ness leaps off the page to tempt any reader. There may not be a lot of action, but that doesn’t mean that this is a slow tale.  On the contrary, for much of the book I was on tenterhooks and I needed to know… everything and now.

Diehl’s adventures, and there’s much more adventure than I had expected, kept me riveted to the pages. There’s loss and pain, sadness and joy, rediscovery and new discoveries, self examination and a story that won’t quit giving.

Mr. Seaton’s characters take on a life and personality of their own. Diehl himself is, on the surface, slow and deliberate. But underneath he’s a man of fortitude, instinct, integrity and raw intelligence. He’s also got the biggest heart of anyone I’ve ever met. One of the characters early on tells Diehl that ‘you can’t love them all.’ But Diehl can and does; everyone with whom he develops an intimate connection ends up being someone that Diehl loves… and it’s forever.  I still marvel at the depth of character, the emotional connection that George Seaton has imbued Big Diehl.  He’s someone that will live long in my imagination and memory; he’s the kind of person that no one forgets and I only wish that instead of 400+ pages, we had double that so that the time spent with Diehl was extended.

Big Diehl is the kind of person that, once you find, you hold onto. And George Seaton is an author who has rocketed onto my list of favourite authors and one whose stories are now auto-buys and immediate-reads.  Amazingly life-like and sure to capture the hearts of the most discerning reader, Big Diehl is more than a character in a story. He is someone whose story should be a must-read and for me, is a re-read.

Kathy K.

Book Description:  Diehl’s return to Wyoming from six years of service to his country—including combat in Iraq—is colored with a dark intent to even the score with his father. But before he can once again embrace that family, including Tony, a ranch hand with a military history of his own, Diehl’s single-minded purpose of revenge against his father precipitates events that turn his life in a direction never envisioned. His comfort through it all, is Jack, a Border Collie who Diehl rescues from certain death; a dog who, perhaps, rescues Diehl from himself.

Read an Excerpt

Buy at MLR Press

Buy at 1 Place For Romance

Source: Author

3 Responses to “Big Diehl: The Road Home by George Seaton
Reviewed by Kathy K.”