First published 2000
Kostas Volakis stands with his new bride Katerina on the rocky shores of Crete, preparing to leave their harsh island life behind. They sail to America carrying dreams of prosperity and peace. The couple builds a new existence in their adopted country, weathering poverty and celebrating the arrival of children and grandchildren. But one child becomes a source of torment for Kostas. His love transforms into something darker and more destructive. The hatred grows until it consumes him completely. Father Marlas, their parish priest, reminds them that every person's life becomes a journey, regardless of where their body settles. The heart and spirit must find their own path to Ithaca. For Kostas, this journey leads through an unthinkable act of violence. Murder tears apart everything he and Katerina built together. Prison walls now surround him, but within this confinement, Kostas discovers something unexpected. His path toward redemption begins in the most unlikely place.
Genres: american-fiction, historical-fiction, 20th-century, family-drama
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: redemption, second-chance
Setting: America, Crete
Period: 20th-century
292 pages · Paperback · iUniverse
Content warnings: murder, violence