Hellhound, Take Me Home
by Stu Lane
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Pub Date Jun 25 2019 | Archive Date Apr 21 2021
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Description
Singapore,1942. Ken Hazel, an Australian soldier, is captured during the Japanese invasion and sent to a prisoner of war camp in Japan where years of hard labour, torture and hardship await.
Australia, 1944. Ken's wife, Ann, a young nurse and mother, encounters an escaped Japanese prisoner of war, Hito Egami, hiding out in the Australian bush. Against all her instincts, Ann takes in Hito and shelters him from the authorities.
Soon, an opportunity presents itself to both of them. For Ann, it is a chance to free Ken from captivity. For Hito, it is to return home and be reunited with his family. This leads to a dangerous journey over thousands of miles against the cataclysmic backdrop of World War Two, with Hito hated by the Allies as an enemy soldier, and by his fellow countrymen for being a coward.
For both Ann and Hito, a perilous and nail-biting adventure lies ahead...
Advance Praise
Emotional, Conflicting, Plot-Driven. Hellhound, Take Me Home by Stu Lane narrates the tale of two families set across Japan and Australia and how the path of their lives hits an unthinkable crossroads during the second world war.
Ken Hazel, a young Australian soldier, is taken as a war prisoner to a camp in Japan where along with his comrades, they are subjected to extreme hardships and torture.
Back in Australia, Ken’s wife, Ann, and their 6-year-old son, Eddie is heartbroken to learn this news and they eagerly look forward to the day the war ends.
In a similar war prison in Australia, Japanese prisoners of war are plotting a revolt to escape from their captivity. At the stipulated time, the prisoners stage a fight and manage to escape into the Australian wilderness. One of the escapees, Hito Egami, gets seriously injured and only regains consciousness the next day where he encounters Ann and little Eddie.
Being a nurse, Ann (though fully aware of the consequences of providing even the slightest assistance to the enemy) can’t leave this man behind after witnessing his plight. Against all her instincts, she decides to treat and shelter Hito.
Stumbling upon a crucial piece of information that Hito shares, Ann sees this opportunity as a chance to free her husband from the war prison in Japan. Together with Hito, Ann embarks on a nail-biting, precarious mission fighting against all the odds to grab that last chance to save her husband and reunite their family.
Hellhound, Take me Home is a remarkable read, with many wonderful characters sprinkled throughout the story. Each of these characters plays their part very well, especially the characterization of Ann which reminds the readers that ordinary people can display incredible strength when the opportunity presents.
Though the narrative commenced with a slightly slow start, the story gradually gains momentum and several unrelated incidents begin to finally fall into place. Another enjoyable aspect is the location settings in the lesser-known geographies of the naval base in Guam and the smaller towns in Australia and Japan which are beautifully described.
Overall, the book is well written and easy to read. If only the ending was not so abrupt and showed the readers a little more insight into Ken’s perspective, it would’ve been a perfect read. Hellhound, Take Me Home is nonetheless a wonderful story about family, friendship, hope, and sacrifice.
If you enjoy historical fiction novels set against the backdrop of World War 2, then you would certainly enjoy this book.
Editorial Review from Many Books
Available Editions
| ISBN | 9781789725629 |
| PRICE | $0.99 (USD) |
Links
Available on NetGalley
Featured Reviews
Siobhan R, Reviewer
This book is really quite something extraordinary. Very rarely do I come across a story that has the view point of the Japanese as well as a commonwealth soldier. It was really nice to see the author paint the Japanese man in such a refreshing light.
This is a story about love, bravery and above all else kindness during those very dark days of World War Two. Fantastic read, I highly recommend it. Well done Stu!
Louise G, Reviewer
As both an Australian and a history buff, I was delighted the author resisted the often used trope of glorifying war and painting the “enemy” completely without sympathy. The author handles our emotional past respectfully but without shying away from what happened. The characters were immensely engaging and their personal story was just as important as the wider plot. The author clearly cares about the subject matter - it shows in every sentence.
Virginia W, Reviewer
No matter what side you are on, war and propaganda indoctrination are the same. The enemy is ruthless and will show no mercy.
Ken Hazel and his platoon are part of the military divisions assigned with the task of defending New Guinea at all costs. The Japanese juggernaut was taking the peninsula and the Australian platoon were tasked with stopping them but is over-run and taken hostage. They are shipped to prisoner of war camps in Japan.
Hitoshi Egami (Hito) is a Japanese soldier who is captured by the Aussies during one of the battles and sent to a prisoner of war camp in Australia. As a Japanese soldier he is required to attempt to escape.
During a prison escape, Hito is discovered by an Australian woman who helps him. She discovers that her husband Ken is in a POW camp called Naoetsu POW camp in Japan. She decides to devise a plan to get Hito back to Japan to help her husband. Hito’s brother Noriaki is the camp commandant. Hito did not die for the Emperor nor did he commit harikari. He is a discredit to his family and his brother has no use for him.
I highly recommend this WW II saga. It is well written and entertaining. The ends to which Ann works with the military and smuggles Hito back to Japan is astounding. 5 stars - CE Williams
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