Sgt. Ford's Widow by Paul A Barra

 It's been a crazy year, and it's been almost a year since I broke my wrist and stopped being able to write or type. I could still read, of course, but holding a book in my hand and turning pages was... a pain. So... a crazy year.

Anyway, somewhat earlier this year I received an intriguing book through the post. The title, Sgt. Ford's Widow, and the cover image, dark clouds, a man on a horse, and almost a face looking out, certainly caught my interest. And the story, once I started reading, kept me truly enthralled.

It's a curious blend of history, culture, mystery, and romance. Sgt. Ford was stationed in Vietnam. The widow was a married woman with a husband, a life, a home. And the war turned both their lives around.

Now widowed, the woman has been rescued from abuse by both sides and brought back to Wyoming's very different land. She keeps house  for her rescuer because... what else could she do? Though soon it's clear, she can "do" very much more than this. She learns the language and culture of her new world. And most importantly, she learns to observe.

Meanwhile Sgt. Ford is a private investigator helping a widowed neighbor recover some stolen jewels. So there are two widows, both of them fascinating, captivating characters in their own rights. And there are kidnappers, criminals both violent and lowkey, and mystery.

The land is another great character in this character-driven novel, and it truly comes to life in the author's vivid descriptions. Altogether it makes for a truly captivating read, and keeps even a broken wrist turning the pages.

Then there's the long delay between reading and writing a review. The wrist is better - still hurts, but moves and does it's job okay. And the book is great. Highly recommended.