Title: Return to the Lion’s Den
Author: Gregory S. Treakle
Publisher: GT Writer
ISBN: 979-8-9858078-0-6
Pages: 250 pages
Genre: Historical Fiction & Family Life
Reviewed by: Subhrajit Saha
Pacific Book Review
It’s cinematic! This is the word a reader will utter when they finish author Gregory S. Treakle’s historical fiction, Return to the Lion’s Den. The novel has plenty of turn-arounds, completing numerous circles of life, and features fantastic character illustrations blended with emotion, dilemmas, a sneak peek at dark and nonsensical politics, and many more elements. The core of the setting is family dynamics, set against the backdrop of the longstanding US-Vietnam war. The novel has the power to awe you and will have a long-lasting impact on you.
Return to the Lion’s Den follows Daniel MacRae, a teenager with a hellish childhood that is unimaginable to most. He gets bullied and beaten every other day by his father, Jerome MacRae, a war veteran. Meanwhile, the bully is like an angel to his sister, Nina MacRae, and mother Willa MacRae. Amidst this turmoil, Daniel, also known as Danny, manages to escape his town, Kohler Mill, vowing never to return. However, destiny has other plans for him. Despite achieving a successful professional career, he must return to his hometown and confront his abusive father, who once threatened to kill him if he ever showed his face again. In his return to Kohler Mill, the protagonist faces challenges even more daunting than those of his childhood, which becomes thought-provoking for both Daniel and the reader. The novel transcends mere fiction by offering a profound insider’s perspective on the darkest aspects of war, presenting them in a unique way that leaves a lasting impact on the reader’s mind.
Let’s start with the best part of the narrative: the character writing. The novel primarily focuses on the father-son relationship between Daniel and Jerome. Throughout the story, the way the characters are depicted makes the reader become deeply attached to Daniel and pray to the Almighty that nothing bad happens to him. Despite Daniel’s lack of a traditional character arc, he still manages to win hearts and leave a lasting impact on the narrative. Conversely, Jerome starts as the most hated character with many dark traits, but as the story progresses, he is revealed to have more gray areas. This is where the author, Gregory Treakle, excels. The bond between the duo never intersects, yet destiny imprints some part of Jerome onto his son Daniel. As the reader approaches the climax, they become increasingly attached to the MacRae father-and-son duo.
Furthermore, the novel will make you reconsider how a feud between two countries not only affects the involved nations immediately but also harms future generations. This impact extends to health, finances, and various other issues, as evidenced by the world’s experience with the atomic explosions in Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Along with the politics, the novel sheds light on history as well. It echoes studies that mention how the World Wars played an important role in shaping the concept and culture of ragging, a notion that is evident in the initial moments of the story.
Additionally, Gregory Treakle’s story balances the dark truths of politics and war with a strong emotional depth that immerses readers in Danny’s world. This blend of history and fiction, action and romance, laughter and sorrow, and more, breaks the monotony and enriches the storytelling. Overall, for cinephiles, this historical fiction offers abundant material that could be seamlessly adapted for the screen, adding another accolade to Return to the Lion’s Den.
