A review by ladilira
Broken-Down Heroes of the Western Night by Stephen Kozeniewski

4.0

I'm not familiar with military speak or rank or any of that business, but I found myself drawn into this quiet, reflective story of two men (and occasionally a woman) sharing their memories.

It was the story about a buffoon that kept me laughing, but I was always aware of the edges continually fading into a dark vignette. Something somber swam underneath the hilarity that was MAJ Brannigan, and I felt it the entire duration of the book, just waiting to come up for a bite.

Real or not, truth or fiction, it doesn't matter. Somewhere there is a MAJ Brannigan, a Lieutenant Deth and a Sergeant Packs sharing their stories or being the story. It was tragic and funny all in the same breath.

If you are a reader of Kozeniewski, this story shows another side to him as a writer. A side I was pleased to be introduced to. Read it and feel it, for there are layers to this tale.

May I request as a reader the consideration of including an acronym military guide, for those like me who had to Google everything and still came up short sometimes.