Redemption by James Gregory Maynard is a painful story of a war hero, a story of many war heroes. Jon Marzetti has seen and experienced the horrors of war as a marine, fighting clandestinely in Cambodia and Laos. He has lost friends, and his parents have been murdered while he was away. It's the story of a broken man in search of redemption from what haunts his mind. Apart from the trauma of war, Jon has to fight unseen enemies at home. Being mistaken for someone else is enough to make him look over his shoulder every time he walks outside. But war has almost destroyed him, so could there be any hope of redemption, of living a normal life once again?

James Gregory Maynard has crafted a story that can be read as a psychological thriller and a war novel at the same time. The language is impeccable, crisp, and almost musical. Readers will love the stream of consciousness that powerfully portrays the psychological conflict taking place in the protagonist. The theme of friendship is well developed and it shows to what extent it can be part of a healing therapy. The story of Jon Marzetti could be a sad one, but it has many lessons for contemporary readers, and in the heart of this story lies a strong condemnation of war. The characters are highly relatable and the story is fast-paced and surprisingly enjoyable. The author must have done a lot of research in writing this novel as military jargon punctuates the writing and makes it very relevant.

Redemption by James Gregory Maynard is a fascinating story of a man's search for himself and for meaning after going through the gruelling experience of war and losing almost everything dear to him. will he also lose himself?

Jon Marzetti is a brilliant student, an athlete, a young man with a very promising future. When he decides to follow in his father's footsteps by joining the Marines, he thinks it's the most honorable thing to do for his country. Over a period of two years, he engages in a clandestine war in Cambodia and Laos, regions where the US troops aren't even supposed to be present. During his absence, his parents are murdered and he returns home only to bury them. But does he return home as a war hero? That is the intriguing part. With the devastation the war has caused his body and mind, this Marine who should be considered a hero comes home broken by war and bereaved, but he also comes home as a criminal. What answer can he give to the gruesome reality that faces him? That's what this novel is all about.

Redemption is a book you can't put down. You can't ignore it for one fleeting moment. It has you enthralled and you learn about the reality, gory and sad, of war. The story opens with steamy action and very intelligent dialogue. The dialogue offers a lot of clarity to the plot and helps readers to understand the characters even better. The language is beautiful, at times very poetic, but overall, it succinctly reflects the protagonist's state of mind and the rhythm of war. James Gregory Maynard has written a very captivating and heart wrenching story, a powerful protest against war, and an indictment of a foreign policy that promotes violence in less developed regions of the world. The story will haunt you in your sleep and follow you in your waking thoughts.

Redemption by James Gregory Maynard is a poignant story about how one man tries to redeem himself and rediscover himself after surviving the brutal Vietnam war. Jon Marzetti is back in Mt. Hope. The war has left him scarred, both inside and out. With the help of his close friends, Jon seeks to redeem himself, start a new life, and put his bloody past behind him.

War never changes and the challenges experienced by veterans of the Vietnam war are still similar to those felt by those who survived the wars of the modern age. Jon Marzetti's journey is one traversed by millions of veterans all over the world. James Gregory Maynard explores the emotions and challenges felt by veterans upon returning home. Fresh from an environment where death is a constant companion and violence is a way of life, veterans have difficulty adjusting to life in a society that holds them in both awe and fear. Navigating the complex emotions felt not just by Jon, but by the people close to him, is no easy task yet Maynard pulls it off with expository dialogue and marvelous scene-setting.

The switch between the events of the Vietnam war and the circumstances at home were pulled off with both subtlety and empathy. This is a generation that seeks to understand war and its effects on those who were involved in it. Redemption is a brilliantly crafted novel that can aid readers in fully grasping how coming home can be a far more difficult battle than the war itself.

Redemption by James Gregory Maynard revolves around the controversial U.S. secret war in Laos. The war is long over but the battle is far from being won, not by anyone, as the danger of unexploded bombs is still claiming innocent lives in the impoverished country today. Maynard dedicated this novel to his parents, who were both veterans of WWII, and others who have served in the defense of the U.S., as well as a special recognition to his late editor, Karlyn Thayer.

Having served in the army himself, Maynard tells us an insightful and powerful story through the eyes of Jon Marzetti, a young Marine who returns to his hometown, Mt. Hope, trying to regain his old life back as best as he could. Although he is blessed with great traits but also possessing flaws, the war definitely has left a deep scar in Jon, and life after the war is filled with unexpected difficulties. However, perseverance and the help of his family and friends allow the protagonist to continue to grow and make him a better man.

With Maynard’s clear cut and engaging prose it’s easy to root for Jon, a well-written character with substantial depth, which makes him genuine and alive. Marzetti gives a voice to the returned soldiers from the secret war, to let us hear their side of the story. In the end, the story also poses a question; are we doing enough for ex-soldiers with PTSD? For their families? Excellently written and littered with powerful reminders from the past, Redemption is a book that needs to be read.

Redemption: A Novel by James Gregory Maynard is the story of Jon Marzetti. Right from the beginning, I was thrilled and immersed in Jon’s life. He is an ex-Marine, a son who followed the path his father had walked before him. From the very beginning, life in the army had not been easy for him. Sent to Cambodia and Laos to fight a war, he saw his friends dying terrible deaths. During his assignment, he was called home to bury his mother and father who died in a car accident, and soon after that his girlfriend told him that she was starting a new life, this time without him.

When he comes back from the war with scars inside and out, he believes that falling back into his old life would be easy. But it isn’t, it never is, and no one knows it better than Jon. With a new enemy and his past on his tail, can he survive all alone or will he perish? In a world where you don’t know who you can trust, can you clear your name and live a better life?

This is a heartbreaking story which feels very true, maybe because it is. How many soldiers suffer from PTSD in silence and never share it with anyone? Our hero Jon has the same issue, but he has a support group of friends. I was rooting for Jon right from the beginning. You feel a kinship with him, you feel like you know him. You will cheer him on and cry for him. He seems real because we have seen and met many real Jons in life. Great work and a job well done by the author! It was really, really good.