Passchendaele is the tale of Michael Dunne during the war.  It starts when he’s in Europe on a battlefield. He’s quickly shipped back home to Calgary where he is declared a hero and a deserter. During his stay in Calgary he meets and falls in love with Sarah a nurse who is addicted to morphine tablets. He helps her kick the habit before returning to the front where he fights for our freedom. It’s during the battle in Passchendaele that Michael looses his life in order to save Sarah’s brother David.

This book is the first book from Paul Gross, more known for his acting. I didn’t quite know what to expect from the book. Although there are romantic elements to this book it is in no way a pure romance. The war scenes are well described without being too graphic. As the reader you get to feel how they might have felt or what they might have smelled on the battlefields. I am so glad I picked up and read this book. Mr Gross might be most known for his portrayal of a hot Mounty on the show Due South, but I believe he has a strong talent to be a novel writer as well. I can’t wait to read his next book.

Is there anything I would have changed about this book? Not much. I would have made a slight change to the end. I would have loved to see Sarah have Michael’s child. I know that would have been very taboo for the time, but I also believe this war hero should have a legacy long after he died and a child would have been the perfect one.

So if you like a book that is well written, filled with great characters and events that will keep you reading then Passchendaele is the book for you.

Do I plan to go and see the movie adaptation of the book? You bet I do!