The Brave by Nicholas Evans

About the book: There's little love in eight-year-old Tom Bedford's life. His parents are old and remote and the boarding school they've sent him to bristles with bullies and sadistic staff. The only comfort he gets is from his fantasy world of Cowboys and Indians. But when his sister Diane, a rising star of stage and screen, falls in love with one of his idols, the suave TV cowboy Ray Montane, Tom's life is transformed. They move to Hollywood and all his dreams seem to have come true. Soon, however, the sinister side of Tinseltown casts its shadow and a shocking act of violence changes their lives forever.


What happened all those years ago remains a secret that corrodes Tom's life and wrecks his marriage. Only when his estranged son, a US Marine, is charged with murder do the events resurface, forcing him to confront his demons. As he struggles to save his son's life, he will learn the true meaning of bravery.

First line: The boy followed the guard along the corridor watching the sway of his wide backside and the belt with the handcuffs and baton and the big bunch of keys that jangled as he walked. 

My Thoughts: This story consisted of several subplots wound around to form the whole. As the book took me back and forth in time, from one character's back stort to another, I found myself wondering at times where I was. It seemed rather disjointed to me. The characters were well written, well fleshed out and I found myself caring about them. I enjoyed the look into 60s Hollywood.  There was much violence and heart break here, in all time lines so it might not be for the feint hearted. All in all it was a good read that I enjoyed and would recommend.