MWSA Review

Secrets of Ash: A Novel of War, Brotherhood, and Going Home Again by Josh Green is a captivating and intense novel that delves into profound themes of trauma, guilt, and fragile relationships. The novel centers on two brothers, Chase and Jack Lumpkin, who take different paths in life. Jack, the older brother, becomes a nationally syndicated sports radio host, while Chase joins the Army and experiences combat in Afghanistan.

After sustaining wounds and receiving a Purple Heart, Chase returns to Georgia, haunted by PTSD and guilt over a wartime murder. Meanwhile, Jack’s excesses lead him to reevaluate his life. When Jack follows Chase to the rugged mountains of Ash County, their flawed realities collide. They grapple with their shared past, seeking redemption and healing.

The novel is narrated in alternating points of view, allowing readers to explore the brothers’ current struggles and dark memories as they come to terms with themselves and each other.

The characters are authentic and deeply flawed. This is not just another story about war and PTSD. Secrets of Ash is a well written, deeper examination of love and the impacts of war on society.

Review by Bob Ritchie (May 2024)
 

Author's Synopsis

Josh Green is an award-winning journalist, fiction author, and editor whose work has appeared in Garden & Gun, Indianapolis Monthly, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, The Los Angeles Review, The Baltimore Review, and several anthologies. Secrets of Ash, his first novel, was inspired by two decades of reporting on U.S. military. His book of short stories, Dirtyville Rhapsodies, was hailed by Men’s Health as a “Best Book for the Beach” and was named a top 10 book of the year by Atlanta magazine. He lives with his wife and daughters in Atlanta.

Format(s) for review: Paper and Kindle

Review Genre: Fiction—Literary Fiction

Number of Pages: 287

Word Count: 83,000