November 2025

I had the pleasure of meeting Patrick Ryan at a publisher lunch where he talked about his debut novel, BUCKEYE. I was intrigued by the storyline and his extensive research in writing the book, which moves from World War II right up until the Vietnam War. I listened to the audiobook; the narrator, Michael Crouch, did a wonderful job of bringing the story to life for me. The characters were so well drawn, and I felt invested in what was happening to each of them.

The book opens against the backdrop of V-E Day, and there is lots of celebrating going on in Bonhomie, Ohio. Cal Jenkins, who has a disability, works in the local hardware store as he has been unable to go to war. He is married to Becky, a spiritualist who can connect people with the dead. She keeps this gift a secret at first, but as time goes on, many trek to her home to get readings. I don’t have a love for anything supernatural like this, but somehow I felt that Becky was truly helping those who needed closure.

Margaret Salt and her husband, Felix, came to Bonhomie because of Felix’s job. Felix is fighting in the Pacific, and for a while Margaret is not sure if he has survived the conflict there, but eventually he returns home. Each couple has a son. The boys are very close in age and grow up as friends. These families are connected by a deep secret that has consequences for all of them. The Vietnam War figures into the later chapters, and I was picturing families watching television to see if their sons’ numbers have come up to head to war.

BUCKEYE is a book about American life --- what happens to us day to day, how our lives shift and move, and how they are intertwined. I do not want to share more lest I spoil the read for you. I loved it and still am thinking about the characters. I feel like I want to know more about them, though Ryan brings them to a perfect close.