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Bycatch
A fisherman's murder in Mississippi unwinds the dark truth from Vietnam and exposes unfathomable guilt.
Rex Thompson has not spoken of the felony he committed in Vietnam for over two decades. When his ne'er-do-well sons scuttle a shrimp boat in the Biloxi Bay and drown an immigrant fisherman who had witnessed this crime, Rex is flooded with remorse but remains silent.
His secrets seem to wash away in the muddy tide until the fisherman's daughter, Anh Truong, stumbles upon a wartime journal and confronts Rex with a tale her murdered father never told. As a dragnet encircles his sons, Rex's life of poor choices unravels, and he must decide to continue his charade or seek mercy from those he harmed.
Bycatch is a story soaked with greed and forgiveness while Southern and Vietnamese cultures tangle on the Mississippi Gulf Coast.
PRAISE FOR BYCATCH
"With empathy, an eye for detail, and a fascinating cast of characters—not to mention a helluva story—Alexander Blevens has delivered a suspenseful debut novel reaching deep into a community few of us know." —Robert Lindsey, author of the National Bestseller The Falcon and the Snowman: A True Story of Friendship and Espionage.
"With Bycatch, Alexander Blevens joins the ranks of outstanding Mississippi writers." —Cecil George Brown, author of D'Leaux, Mississippi-From Moss to Tuckertown.
"Bycatch by Alexander Blevens is a big, entertaining story that speaks to universal themes of family, honor, culture, faith, and history. The narrative is supported by numerous realistic characters and an impeccably researched plot that is flawlessly structured and presented."—San Francisco Book Review.
"Weaved into the breakneck pace is a very human story of guilt and redemption. Experience Bycatch today." —Tom McGraw, author of The Starving Detectives Series.
Rex Thompson has not spoken of the felony he committed in Vietnam for over two decades. When his ne'er-do-well sons scuttle a shrimp boat in the Biloxi Bay and drown an immigrant fisherman who had witnessed this crime, Rex is flooded with remorse but remains silent.
His secrets seem to wash away in the muddy tide until the fisherman's daughter, Anh Truong, stumbles upon a wartime journal and confronts Rex with a tale her murdered father never told. As a dragnet encircles his sons, Rex's life of poor choices unravels, and he must decide to continue his charade or seek mercy from those he harmed.
Bycatch is a story soaked with greed and forgiveness while Southern and Vietnamese cultures tangle on the Mississippi Gulf Coast.
PRAISE FOR BYCATCH
"With empathy, an eye for detail, and a fascinating cast of characters—not to mention a helluva story—Alexander Blevens has delivered a suspenseful debut novel reaching deep into a community few of us know." —Robert Lindsey, author of the National Bestseller The Falcon and the Snowman: A True Story of Friendship and Espionage.
"With Bycatch, Alexander Blevens joins the ranks of outstanding Mississippi writers." —Cecil George Brown, author of D'Leaux, Mississippi-From Moss to Tuckertown.
"Bycatch by Alexander Blevens is a big, entertaining story that speaks to universal themes of family, honor, culture, faith, and history. The narrative is supported by numerous realistic characters and an impeccably researched plot that is flawlessly structured and presented."—San Francisco Book Review.
"Weaved into the breakneck pace is a very human story of guilt and redemption. Experience Bycatch today." —Tom McGraw, author of The Starving Detectives Series.
233 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 30, 2022
26 people are currently reading
3195 people want to read
About the author
Alexander Blevens
2 books64 followersAlexander Blevens is an Air Force veteran and a retired orthopaedic surgeon who lives and writes in Mississippi. Originally from California, he married a “New Orleans belle” and developed a keen eye for all things Southern.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 55 reviews
October 2, 2022
When I received Bycatch as a prize, I immediately thought “oh no, a southern crime thriller is not for this avid reader” but I’m glad I gave this debut novel a go!
I adore fictional history blended with an interesting dysfunctional family drama, especially a sibling related story that is set in a new location to me! I read through the night, totally entertained & can highly recommend ..
Bravo to excellent author, Alexander Blevens
🦐 🦐🦐🦐🦐
I adore fictional history blended with an interesting dysfunctional family drama, especially a sibling related story that is set in a new location to me! I read through the night, totally entertained & can highly recommend ..
Bravo to excellent author, Alexander Blevens
🦐 🦐🦐🦐🦐
November 9, 2024
I penned this novel to be entertaining and thought-provoking, to remind us of the challenges faced by war, forced immigration, and assimilation into a new and sometimes unwelcoming country. Bycatch is a big story of human frailty, guilt, and forgiveness that starts during the Vietnam War and ends on the shrimp-rich waters of the Mississippi Sound. I hope you enjoy it.
May 7, 2022
Rex Thomson is a tortured soul who can’t do what’s right no matter how hard he tries. While an airman stationed in Da Nang, in 1970, he steals money the U.S. government has earmarked for South Vietnam. Unknown to him, Captain Nguyen Duc Dung, a man of honor and principle, is blamed for the crime.
This simple theft ripples through time with devastating impacts to all involved—including future generations. Twenty-four years later, this cast of characters from across the globe reunite in the shrimping industry in Biloxi, Mississippi—with cataclysmic consequences that destroys two families.
A story woven with unique insight into individual motives and contrasting cultures, and told with rich and descriptive imagery, Bycatch is a riveting tale of transformation, a journey to forgiveness and redemption, that all who explore are sure to enjoy.
This simple theft ripples through time with devastating impacts to all involved—including future generations. Twenty-four years later, this cast of characters from across the globe reunite in the shrimping industry in Biloxi, Mississippi—with cataclysmic consequences that destroys two families.
A story woven with unique insight into individual motives and contrasting cultures, and told with rich and descriptive imagery, Bycatch is a riveting tale of transformation, a journey to forgiveness and redemption, that all who explore are sure to enjoy.
May 6, 2022
From Christmas-like images in chapter one to an Easter celebration in its final paragraphs, Bycatch delivers characters, dialogue, and plot in scenes that reveal a crime and explore not only who but also why and how. So grateful I got an advance reader's copy! In his debut novel, Alexander Blevens time-travels with culture-crossed characters from the Vietnam War in 1968 to reveal two soldiers’ lives twenty-five years later, on the other side of the world, near the shrimp-rich waters along Mississippi’s Gulf Coast. Expressing voices from a huge cast to unravel the book’s complex plots, Blevens moves the reader through that time and space to examine the true nature of veterans Rex Thompson and Nguyen Dung and their families. Poor choices, grief, alcoholism, remorse, and reconciliation show the protagonist’s path in seeking his ultimate desire, to be a good man, a good father. Exceptionally well-written, this novel is a magnificent and worthy read.
June 18, 2022
A moving and suspenseful tale that explores clashing cultures, guilt, and forgiveness, Bycatch in an unforgettable and epic read.
Blevins paints haunting portrait of war and its ramifications in his outstanding debut. The vivid narrative spans decades with an expansive (but never overwhelming) cast of characters and intricate plot. Blevins research really shines through every page.
In short, this novel made me feel and made me think. Bycatch is an entertaining and haunting read that you should add to your summer reading list.
June 24, 2022
Kudos to Alexander Blevens for crafting this beautifully written tale, which realistically captures and portrays diverse characters who make both good and bad choices. Bycatch takes the reader from the war in Vietnam to the shrimping industry of Biloxi, Mississippi, while intertwining the lives and secrets of the characters. Blevens brilliantly tells a story of war and prejudice, greed, revenge, and forgiveness. I couldn’t stop thinking about this story, which is a sign of a great read and I highly recommend this book.
May 6, 2022
Bycatch unwinds Vietnam through the lives of two soldiers-Rex Thompson and Nguyen Dung. They survive, but the war doesn’t end. Two men, two crimes, one story. Alexander Blevens weaves the strands of each man’s life into a powerful tale fueled by cruelty and greed. Opposing cultures of the Mississippi Gulf Coast combined with excellent storytelling make Bycatch a must read. It’s a good haul in a strong net. I look forward to more.
October 16, 2022
What an amazing book! I was intrigued from the moment I read the synopsis. One action, seemingly innocuous, can have ripple effects that last decades and impact generations. The two main characters experience tremendous growth and development throughout the timeline, while others do not. Readers experience the power of forgiveness, and witness the devastating results of generational poor parenting.
October 2, 2022
4 Stars
Bycatch by Alexander Blevens took me by surprise. When I initially chose this book I thought it would be a ‘good’ story, something I could use as a bit of a ‘palate cleanse’ between some of my ‘heavier’ reads. But this took me by surprise- in a great way. It grabbed me right from the get-go and didn’t release me till I had read every word. I was so engrossed in the story that I ended up reading it in one sitting. Sleep is overrated, after all lol.
It is an entertaining and suspenseful thriller with historical details, crime (and investigation), family dynamics, tortured souls, human frailty, tension, intrigue, challenges, complexity, secrets, interconnected details, moving moments, guilt, murder, greed, culture, and more.
This is a well-written, detailed, and descriptive story with skillfully crafted characters who all had their own unique personalities, quirks, and flaws.
I have been debating how to review this story ever since I finished reading it, not because there was anything wrong…. but because I don’t want to give too much away. I think I will let the blurb speak for the story and recommend going into the story a little blind and let the author, plot, and characters surprise you with a riveting read.
If you love a bit of a twisty thriller, with tortured souls, secrets, murder, mystery, historical details, and gripping tension- then you will definitely want to snap up a copy for yourself to explore- asap.
As this is his debut novel, I eagerly await more from Mr. Blevens.
Happy Reading!
Thank you, Alexander Blevens!
Bycatch by Alexander Blevens took me by surprise. When I initially chose this book I thought it would be a ‘good’ story, something I could use as a bit of a ‘palate cleanse’ between some of my ‘heavier’ reads. But this took me by surprise- in a great way. It grabbed me right from the get-go and didn’t release me till I had read every word. I was so engrossed in the story that I ended up reading it in one sitting. Sleep is overrated, after all lol.
It is an entertaining and suspenseful thriller with historical details, crime (and investigation), family dynamics, tortured souls, human frailty, tension, intrigue, challenges, complexity, secrets, interconnected details, moving moments, guilt, murder, greed, culture, and more.
This is a well-written, detailed, and descriptive story with skillfully crafted characters who all had their own unique personalities, quirks, and flaws.
I have been debating how to review this story ever since I finished reading it, not because there was anything wrong…. but because I don’t want to give too much away. I think I will let the blurb speak for the story and recommend going into the story a little blind and let the author, plot, and characters surprise you with a riveting read.
If you love a bit of a twisty thriller, with tortured souls, secrets, murder, mystery, historical details, and gripping tension- then you will definitely want to snap up a copy for yourself to explore- asap.
As this is his debut novel, I eagerly await more from Mr. Blevens.
Happy Reading!
Thank you, Alexander Blevens!
October 11, 2022
This one really pulled at my heart strings for so many reasons and part of me thinks it’s because where I live and my country’s history ….
People run from their homes to escape their country and it’s evil , they look for greener grass but it’s not always greener on the other side is it , you’re on a new country with it’s own rules and ways , you’re an alien for lack of a better word and people see that desperation and take advantage of it …..war is not kind , mankind is not always kind🥲
My attention was kept by the characters , their personal demons and struggles and how they deal with it , they’re human , they’re real , they’re relatable 🤗
People run from their homes to escape their country and it’s evil , they look for greener grass but it’s not always greener on the other side is it , you’re on a new country with it’s own rules and ways , you’re an alien for lack of a better word and people see that desperation and take advantage of it …..war is not kind , mankind is not always kind🥲
My attention was kept by the characters , their personal demons and struggles and how they deal with it , they’re human , they’re real , they’re relatable 🤗
September 29, 2022
Bycatch by Alexander Blevens. I absolutely loved this book. Its a very different story but it was so good. Its about Rex Thompson who is a Vietnam Veteran and when he commits a crime in Vietnam years ago he never expect to have it come back on him years later on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. Rex has regretted this act for years and when it comes back to haunt him it brings it all back. His sons thinking they are protecting their father, commit another crime to cover up their dads. This story brings to light a lot about the Vietnamese people who have made the Mississippi Coast their home. Will Rex be able to protect his sons from their crime or will it uncover the ugly truth. Read this amazing story to find out!
September 26, 2022
This novel was definitely outside of my normal everyday read but it was well worth it. Full of suspense, guilt, family hardships and more this book will definitely make you think. The plot was original, the characters were well thought out and put together perfectly, and the story as a whole was haunting, suspenseful, and enough to keep you on the edge of your seat as you read it. So if your looking for a well thought out story with amazing characters and more then look no further and pick up this one today.
July 6, 2022
Redemption that comes too easy may seem like no redemption at all.
In the novel Bycatch an engaging tale spanning decades is well told, linking events of turpitude to personal honor without self-exaltation leading to unfathomable forgiveness. For this reader the bycatch is that this touching story comes wrapped along with a quite plausible crime-suspense plot. Not usually much of a fiction reader, I immensely enjoyed my journey through these pages and would assure any fellow reader that the time spent reading it pays dividends of exaltation. It will especially intrigue those who, as did I, grew up in any way changed by the war in Viet Nam a half century ago, but also all who value fine writing about the "human heart in conflict with itself" (generous nod to Nobelist William Faulkner).
In the novel Bycatch an engaging tale spanning decades is well told, linking events of turpitude to personal honor without self-exaltation leading to unfathomable forgiveness. For this reader the bycatch is that this touching story comes wrapped along with a quite plausible crime-suspense plot. Not usually much of a fiction reader, I immensely enjoyed my journey through these pages and would assure any fellow reader that the time spent reading it pays dividends of exaltation. It will especially intrigue those who, as did I, grew up in any way changed by the war in Viet Nam a half century ago, but also all who value fine writing about the "human heart in conflict with itself" (generous nod to Nobelist William Faulkner).
June 16, 2022
Bycatch is a compelling story traversing the cultural conflict of a migrant infusion into the Gulf of Mexico’s shrimping industry post Vietnam War. A series of unintended consequences unfolds amid this backdrop, shaping life for each of the characters while continually presenting opportunities for grace and redemption. Alexander Blevens writes a beautiful story of a unique time and place with a narrative that’s eternal.
May 31, 2022
An exciting, twisting tale of two families in Biloxi Mississippi. The sins of one man ripple to many others in the small shrimping community of Vietnamese immigrants and local southern fishermen. Themes of redemption, forgiveness and an unfavorable war criss cross the water, sand and green wild vegetation that makes the Mississippi Gulf Coast a tantalizing backdrop. A great summer beach read.
July 7, 2022
I really enjoyed reading this story set in Biloxi aloong the Gulf Coast. Having lived there in the 1990's, this really took me back in time. I also appreciated the details about the Vietnam War that were woven into the story. The book also shows detailed research about the Vietnamese who have settled along the Gulf Coast.
Highly enjoyable read!
Highly enjoyable read!
July 14, 2022
Captures the essence of two lands and cultures
Alex Blevins has crafted a novel rich in characterization and overflowing with atmosphere. The crimes that drive the plot are not mysteries, so Bycatch is not a whodunit. The novel is better for not implicating numerous suspects but instead investigating causes and effects.
Alex Blevins has crafted a novel rich in characterization and overflowing with atmosphere. The crimes that drive the plot are not mysteries, so Bycatch is not a whodunit. The novel is better for not implicating numerous suspects but instead investigating causes and effects.
June 30, 2022
Exciting, engaging characters, good theme about forgiveness and hardships of families from two different cultures. Thoroughly enjoyed this new writer.
October 24, 2022
A man’s choice years ago will ripple through the years and has embedded into the soul of Rex, when something happens with his son’s his past in the Air Force comes rushing back with a visitor, he was not expecting to confront him.
Can Rex try and help his son’s and right a wrong from the past, you will need to delve into this wonderful book.
This is the first book I have read from this author and to be honest I was not sure what to expect, this is not normally a book I would gravitate to, but I was recommended to take a chance on it, and I was not disappointed. The story is quite a heavy subject matter but the way the author weaves you through the past to the future is refreshing and quite easy to read. I love a good, flawed character and Rex is one who has tried to recover from his past but as hard he works, he never seems to catch a break. The story has an added depth with the mystery of his sons and the accident of the fisherman which just brings more memories to the front for Rex.
Overall, the story is well written, with the twists and turns and anticipation will have you glued to the book until the last page. The story is full of angst and what if’s which ends up making me think about decisions in life and how they affect people in my life. I recommend this book and can’t wait to read more by this wonderfully discovered author.
Can Rex try and help his son’s and right a wrong from the past, you will need to delve into this wonderful book.
This is the first book I have read from this author and to be honest I was not sure what to expect, this is not normally a book I would gravitate to, but I was recommended to take a chance on it, and I was not disappointed. The story is quite a heavy subject matter but the way the author weaves you through the past to the future is refreshing and quite easy to read. I love a good, flawed character and Rex is one who has tried to recover from his past but as hard he works, he never seems to catch a break. The story has an added depth with the mystery of his sons and the accident of the fisherman which just brings more memories to the front for Rex.
Overall, the story is well written, with the twists and turns and anticipation will have you glued to the book until the last page. The story is full of angst and what if’s which ends up making me think about decisions in life and how they affect people in my life. I recommend this book and can’t wait to read more by this wonderfully discovered author.
November 4, 2022
Bycatch
By: Alexander Blevens
This book is a fantastic story about soldiers in the Vietnam war. Rex and Nguyen both fought in the Vietnam war and they both survived. However when they returned they were not the same. It is now 25 years after the war and this story focuses on the cultural conflict they face back in the south. There are crimes committed and they both are involved in a different battle back home. These men crossed paths back in Vietnam, and the secrets that they hold follow them back home. When they cross paths later in life the secret they hold begins to bubble over. And it ends in one man’s death.
I cannot explain adequately how good this book was. It was a great look at a story of soldiers in the Vietnam war and the cultural conflict that continued back home. It also is a good look at the culture in the gulf and the lives of fisherman.
The author vividly describes life in the Mississippi region and made me feel as if I was there. This was a wonderfully crafted tale that kept me wanting more. This is such a beautiful story that depicted multiple sides of humanity, but the good and the bad.
By: Alexander Blevens
This book is a fantastic story about soldiers in the Vietnam war. Rex and Nguyen both fought in the Vietnam war and they both survived. However when they returned they were not the same. It is now 25 years after the war and this story focuses on the cultural conflict they face back in the south. There are crimes committed and they both are involved in a different battle back home. These men crossed paths back in Vietnam, and the secrets that they hold follow them back home. When they cross paths later in life the secret they hold begins to bubble over. And it ends in one man’s death.
I cannot explain adequately how good this book was. It was a great look at a story of soldiers in the Vietnam war and the cultural conflict that continued back home. It also is a good look at the culture in the gulf and the lives of fisherman.
The author vividly describes life in the Mississippi region and made me feel as if I was there. This was a wonderfully crafted tale that kept me wanting more. This is such a beautiful story that depicted multiple sides of humanity, but the good and the bad.
October 17, 2022
Bycatch is Alexander’s well-crafted debut book. If this is his first book then I can’t wait to see what he does next because this was soooo good. This suspenseful historical thriller is one that you will not put down because you just have to know what is coming next so the pages keep turning.
This beautifully and cleverly written tale is an historical thriller takes us from one extreme to the next. From war to shrimp, from one continent to another and two men from completely different backgrounds and cultures but are forced together. Greed, secrets and lies, revenge and crimes, grief and remorse, guilt and forgiveness.
Alexander’s descriptive narrative and raw and flawed characters made this story come alive and showing how humanity is unforgiving in some ways and redeeming in others but life is a frail thing.
Aleander Blevens is one author for you to watch closely and savour his stories. I know I will.
This beautifully and cleverly written tale is an historical thriller takes us from one extreme to the next. From war to shrimp, from one continent to another and two men from completely different backgrounds and cultures but are forced together. Greed, secrets and lies, revenge and crimes, grief and remorse, guilt and forgiveness.
Alexander’s descriptive narrative and raw and flawed characters made this story come alive and showing how humanity is unforgiving in some ways and redeeming in others but life is a frail thing.
Aleander Blevens is one author for you to watch closely and savour his stories. I know I will.
October 13, 2022
This book is so well written and vividly captures the era and location that the author has chosen. The characters and their complexities completely make this book and create a depth and intensity I wasn’t quite expecting. The story really drew me in and I think the author has done an amazing job at writing something that makes you think like this one does.
For me what really made this book so good was the setting the author chose for the story. I think it added an extra layer to story. I thought the overall pacing of the book was just right and the author knew exactly what to do to keep you engaged. This is one of those books that caught me by surprised but I enjoyed rom start to finish.
For me what really made this book so good was the setting the author chose for the story. I think it added an extra layer to story. I thought the overall pacing of the book was just right and the author knew exactly what to do to keep you engaged. This is one of those books that caught me by surprised but I enjoyed rom start to finish.
October 2, 2022
This book is a well written story that dives into culture, greed, and profound grief. The characters you encounter are crafted in such a way that what they are feeling or suffering from feels like you are the one with those experiences. The trauma of war with the repercussions that come from it are exposed in a light that is normally shadowed over. The lives of two different cultures living in one area is well written. Following along with the characters as time moves on and their personal journeys to healing keeps you wanting to turn the page. War related reads are not something I normally choose when picking up a story and I do not regret picking up this book. It hit me in the feelers while being an interesting read. I would highly recommend this book.
October 1, 2022
Wow what a story. The intricate details that this author put in to was...wow...superb. Although this book is different than what I normally read..I am so glad I picked this book up and the cover itself intrigued me. The author captures you in different time lines, but the story really comes together. This book is about what happens when poor choices full of greed come full circle and forgiveness between a man and a community of Vietnamese immigrants.
Fantastic and Highly Recommended....so well done!!
Fantastic and Highly Recommended....so well done!!
May 6, 2022
The novel is readable and artfully plotted with captivating prose and no wasted words. It’s a story about a Vietnamese refugee, Don Nuygen, and his family, who escaped to Biloxi, MS, after the Vietnam War ended. Nguyen and an American soldier, Rex Thompson, cross paths by chance in Vietnam and on the Gulf Coast in unexpected and tragic ways. Bycatch is a sensitive, realistic treatment of the struggle to bring forgiveness into the lives of all concerned and is well worth the read. I received an advance copy of Bycatch for review.
February 6, 2024
Mr. Blevins has written a sharp and poignant study of place and different cultures clashing on the Mississippi Gulf coast. A thoroughly enjoyable read from a gifted writer.
November 4, 2022
Rex Thompson has had an interesting life, he has made many a mistake and ultimately made the wrong choices both personally and professionally, but the one he regrets the most is while he was a young man serving his country in the Vietnam War, where he committed a felony before he finished his last tour, he has never spoken about it since, especially since moving to Biloxi Bay and becoming a shrimp fisherman. Anh Truong is the daughter of a Vietnamese immigrant living in the small town of Biloxi Bay with her parents, they have a well off family thanks to the hard work of her parents growing their shrimping business from scratch when they arrived into the country.
Rex has tried to do the best he can for his family, but between working and sinking into his vices, he struggles to stay close to his sons, that is until they come to visit one summer and stayed, but it has not been smooth sailing for these three, as Rex struggled against his vices again and his sons ending up paying for it when they had to look after themselves from a young age, however, without a good role model, they have grown into a couple of ne’er do wells, filled with resentment. One day they are left to their own devices and caught in a strong belief that a particular fisherman had done them wrong, they decide to scuttle his boat, what they do not know is that he was not able to escape and drowned.
As Anh and her family try to come to terms with their loss, she finds a journal her father had kept hidden, it is not east reading for her as it is filled with his experiences during the Vietnam War and the depth of the feelings associated with it. Meanwhile, Rex finds out about the drowned fisherman and realises that it was the man who caught him committing his felony and whom he has avoided while living in the same town, he also works out that it was his two sons who committed the crime, so as the repercussions of his life choices become clear, he has another choice to make, but will it be the right one this time? This is a tale of greed, guilt, lies and forgiveness as the pasts of two men entangle with the present, amid cultural clashes in a small town on the Mississipi Gulf Ciast and as you untangle this web of intrigue, you will be pulled into a history lesson, as well as a lesson in choices and consequences which keeps you hooked throughout.
Rex has tried to do the best he can for his family, but between working and sinking into his vices, he struggles to stay close to his sons, that is until they come to visit one summer and stayed, but it has not been smooth sailing for these three, as Rex struggled against his vices again and his sons ending up paying for it when they had to look after themselves from a young age, however, without a good role model, they have grown into a couple of ne’er do wells, filled with resentment. One day they are left to their own devices and caught in a strong belief that a particular fisherman had done them wrong, they decide to scuttle his boat, what they do not know is that he was not able to escape and drowned.
As Anh and her family try to come to terms with their loss, she finds a journal her father had kept hidden, it is not east reading for her as it is filled with his experiences during the Vietnam War and the depth of the feelings associated with it. Meanwhile, Rex finds out about the drowned fisherman and realises that it was the man who caught him committing his felony and whom he has avoided while living in the same town, he also works out that it was his two sons who committed the crime, so as the repercussions of his life choices become clear, he has another choice to make, but will it be the right one this time? This is a tale of greed, guilt, lies and forgiveness as the pasts of two men entangle with the present, amid cultural clashes in a small town on the Mississipi Gulf Ciast and as you untangle this web of intrigue, you will be pulled into a history lesson, as well as a lesson in choices and consequences which keeps you hooked throughout.
October 29, 2022
Rex Thompson is a man that just can't seem to make good choices and stick with them. He is a soldier that can't seem to get behind the war he is fighting in, and so takes an opportunity that is presented to steal money. He's caught by a Vietnamese officer that is conflicted in how he should handle the situation. When it isn't reported, Rex thinks he gets away with it. Fast forward years later and he's now a fisherman hoping to do right by his two sons. However, as his bad choices catch up with him, he can't seem to find his way out of the bottom of a bottle long enough to teach his sons how to live life the right way. When he loses his boat, he disappears for 8 months. His sons try to make sense of their purpose of life without the boat they've basically grown-up working. When Rex shows back up in town a changed, sober man, he finds out that his old boat was scuttled, and a man was killed on it because of it. That man is none other than the Vietnamese Officer that didn't report him all those years ago. As the murder investigation progresses, his family comes forward with past information that could show motive for the murder. Can Rex come to terms with his past offense and how it affected the officer? Can his family forgive Rex for his past? Will his sons be able to make better choices than their father?
This was such an enthralling book to read. I have read about the Vietnam war in history, but this gave a whole other insight as to how it was over there. What caught my attention was their struggle in getting here and starting over. The story was well written, and the characters were down to earth and believable.
This was such an enthralling book to read. I have read about the Vietnam war in history, but this gave a whole other insight as to how it was over there. What caught my attention was their struggle in getting here and starting over. The story was well written, and the characters were down to earth and believable.
November 4, 2022
Rex is a man that has been running from the crimes he committed in Vietnam over twenty years ago. When his sons drown an immigrant fisherman that witnessed their crime after scuttling a shrimp boat, Rex feels remorse but keeps quiet. When the fisherman’s daughter discovers her late father’s wartime journal, she approaches Rex with secrets her father never told anyone. Now that his sons are being forced to face their crimes, Rex is also forced to face his past. Rex must decide if he should continue living his life of lies or beg for mercy from those that he hurt.
Bycatch is a haunting tale of one man who is forced to come face to face with his past and the harm it caused. With multiple timelines the reader can see into the past as the Vietnam war is taking place, while reading about the shrimping industry and the characters in present day Biloxi, Mississippi. When a theft is committed in Vietnam during the war, the parties involved go their separate ways and think that they will never see the other again. Until one fateful day when they run into each other decades later in Biloxi, Mississippi. Things start to unravel as one man dies and the other is forced to face the consequences of his past actions. A beautiful and haunting tale of war, greed, and the consequences of bad choices.
Bycatch is a haunting tale of one man who is forced to come face to face with his past and the harm it caused. With multiple timelines the reader can see into the past as the Vietnam war is taking place, while reading about the shrimping industry and the characters in present day Biloxi, Mississippi. When a theft is committed in Vietnam during the war, the parties involved go their separate ways and think that they will never see the other again. Until one fateful day when they run into each other decades later in Biloxi, Mississippi. Things start to unravel as one man dies and the other is forced to face the consequences of his past actions. A beautiful and haunting tale of war, greed, and the consequences of bad choices.
November 5, 2022
I really enjoyed this historical Thriller. The author does and amazing job of transporting the reader back to a time of war and desperation and takes you right up to the present day. This is definately a story that makes you think and contemplate your actions in life as this story shows that your actions have consequences further down the line and not just for you but for other people.
This story is gripping, with secrets, lies, revenge and greed. You also feel the after affects of one person's actions as they suffer either guilt and remorse for what happened but can't seem to find a way to make amends for the past.
It is a moving story about war and how it affects people. When a crime is committed by Rex Thompson during war in Vietnam he is plagued by the guilt for years however he thinks his secret is safe. Until the daughter of an immigrant fisherman comes knocking. Rex's sons are responsible for her father's death and after uncovering his journal Anh comes to Rex looking for answers not only for her father's death but also the past.
Now Rex has a tough decision to make, does he tell the truth about what happened all those years before or does he remain quiet and try and protect his sons?
It's a gripping and emotional read as there are so many lives that are affected by one mistake in time.
This story is gripping, with secrets, lies, revenge and greed. You also feel the after affects of one person's actions as they suffer either guilt and remorse for what happened but can't seem to find a way to make amends for the past.
It is a moving story about war and how it affects people. When a crime is committed by Rex Thompson during war in Vietnam he is plagued by the guilt for years however he thinks his secret is safe. Until the daughter of an immigrant fisherman comes knocking. Rex's sons are responsible for her father's death and after uncovering his journal Anh comes to Rex looking for answers not only for her father's death but also the past.
Now Rex has a tough decision to make, does he tell the truth about what happened all those years before or does he remain quiet and try and protect his sons?
It's a gripping and emotional read as there are so many lives that are affected by one mistake in time.
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