Stephen Grace

Walter in his youth was handsome, adventurous and a promising athlete, but that all changed when he fell while climbing, an accident which took is looks and damaged his brain. Mike lost both his parents while he was still in his teens, spent his last years of childhood in a foster home, and is now in a marriage that has its ups and downs.

What brings these two young men together in the first place is their love of fishing, and initially it is Mike who takes the lead introducing Walter to fly fishing, but as their friendship grows is becomes clear that Mike too is in need of help, and Walter is the one too proved it. Along the way Mike's concern for Walter will cause him to intercede many times on Walter's behalf with his case worker, and possible open the way for a reconciliation between Walter and his father; and maybe Walter can help Mike repair his floundering marriage.

While the story centres around the fishing activities of the two main characters, you do not need to be a lover of fishing to appreciate the story. Stephen Grace has created two fascinating and very different characters in Mike and Walter. Mike is compassionate, and wise enough not to tell Walter what to do, and Walter while limited and forgetful, is determined and resourceful. The writing is rich in description with the many adventures into the wilds in search of fish, but the story is really about the two damaged young men and their concern for each other.

This is an involving and moving novel, one which deals with a sensitive subject yet manages to avoid falling into mawkishness, and is never patronising; it is heartbreaking, often funny, but always positive.… (meer)