The Harder They Come

Sten Stenson, a Vietnam veteran and retired school principal, and his wife Carolee find themselves in a harrowing situation when their cruise excursion in Costa Rica is hijacked. Sten's military training kicks in, leading to a violent confrontation that leaves one attacker dead and Sten hailed as a hero. Meanwhile, in the redwood forests north of San Francisco, Sara, a farrier with anarchist leanings, meets Adam, Sten and Carolee's unstable son. Their mutual hatred of authority sparks a passionate but dangerous relationship. As Adam's obsession with nineteenth-century mountain man John Colter grows, so does his descent into violent extremism, challenging his family and Sara to their limits./n/nT. C. Boyle's novel delves into the complexities of heroism and savagery, and the accountability of parents for their children's actions. It's a timely and provocative exploration of American gun violence and the fine line between patriotism and fanaticism.