John Jones, known as Bones, is a history teacher and former paratrooper. He and Clair, his partner, have two children. But memories of Rhian, a woman from his past, keep seeping into his thoughts.

Bones' story begins on vacation with his family, where he finds himself wanting space and questioning whether fate or free will has led him to this path. The author deftly uses this internal contemplation to share details from the protagonist's journey and paints a complex picture of a seemingly simple family. And Bones' past is definitely unique, with events and situations that both haunt and guide him to a very different path than he begins on.

Bones wonders if he's made the right choices. He thinks about his time in Sierra Leone where he saved the lives of two comrades with whom he later joined forces in a secret war against drug lords and their henchmen.

With complex, diverse characters and an intriguing mix of danger and savagery, the story also has its tender moments.