Calumet Editions

Beneath the Rock

Author:

Tommy Birk’s novel captures how veterans leave war behind, yet carry it home—and how that pain seeps into the people who love them. WWII foes Ernie and Gunny Balbach hide out at Piankashaw Rock with Ernie’s son Timmy, a broken Vietnam vet. Sustained by devoted women, Timmy’s love for conflicted Maria, and guided by a mystic priest with secrets, they confront the evil haunting them to break history’s vicious cycle and find redemption.

I wish I could give more than five stars

—Adam, verified review on Amazon

Description

In this unique novel, Tommy Birk evokes the anguish of combat veterans who leave their wars but whose wars don’t leave them. He explores their helplessness to stop the strange osmotic process by which their pain passes on to their families. In this passionate and powerful story, Ernie and Gunny Balbach, who had fought on opposite sides during WW2, are now joined by Ernie’s son, Timmy-an equally damaged veteran of the still-in-progress Vietnam War-and live as outcasts at Piankashaw Rock, where they feel safe in the company of other misfits. Ernie and Gunny, sustained by the women who love them, and Timmy, in love with the beautiful but conflicted Maria, all prodded by a mystic priest with his own dark secrets, come to realize they and their families will escape the vicious circles of history and find redemption only when they take on and defeat the evil that haunts them.

Product Details

PublishedJanuary 2, 2023
ImprintCalumet Editions
LanguageEnglish
Print length344
ISBN-139781959770978
Dimensions6 x 0.77 x 9 inches

This is one of those books that I wish I could give more than five stars. It is well written, and moves along at a good pace. The character development is outstanding. The first 6 chapters were very intense. I was worried that there is no way the rest of the book could keep up this pace. I was wrong. The way this book pulls you into the characters’ story lines is amazing. The plot had a number of twists and turns.

—Adam, verified review on Amazon

Intriguing and thought provoking. I, my parents in their eighties, and my college student nieces can all gain from this read.

—jhs65, verified review on Amazon

This book is a great read. Starts out exciting from the get go. It will probably hit home with a lot of former vets and their families. Definitely recommend it.

—Patrick M. Phelan, verified review on Amazon

Thought provoking and meaningful introspection and lessons within a story of action and suspense. In other words, the reader is compelled by an unpredictable plot, while experiencing the raw emotions and life-changing choices of characters battered by war and overwhelming odds.

—M. A. Fitch, verified review on Amazon

<em>Beneath the Rock</em> is a story of generations of men going to war. It is the story of the secrets held from times at war, and the serpentine route it takes, with its demonic secrets that destroy lives even when the wars have ended. And at its center it is a vastly moving story of guilt, love &amp; redemption.

—Mary Beaulieu, verified review on Amazon