AGAINST ALL ODDS

About the Book

Steven Donleavy, a highly-decorated helicopter pilot, returns from the Vietnam War broken in both body and spirit. Yearning to redeem himself for what he alone considers a cowardly act, his quest takes him from San Francisco to Central America, where he hopes to save his wartime buddy, Artie Casillas.

Amidst an explosive mixture of revolutionaries, drug lords, CIA and DEA agents, Steve discovers that his patriotism is being ruthlessly exploited by top-level officials of his own country. Vietnam all over again. Friend turns into foe, foe into friend, as the country becomes a huge hall of mirrors. But bolstered by the love of a young socialist, Marlena, this time he does not break. With treachery raging like wildfire, Steve, Marlena, Artie and a boy Artie brought back from Vietnam, escape to the Cayman Islands, where they hope to create a new life.

The lesson they have learned is that the only thing worth fighting and dying for is not a political principle, but rather because of the love of a friend.

About the Author

Alejandro Grattan is a former screenwriter/film director, and the author of five critically-acclaimed novels, including The Dark Side of the Dream, which has been optioned as a TV mini-series. Grattan's film Only Once in a Lifetime won official status at the Deauville Festival in France. Two of his scripts won top awards at the Ajijic Film Festival. He is the editor of the most widely-read English-language monthly publication in Mexico.