Bycatch by Alexander Blevens
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
What a great read, I was hooked instantly and couldn’t put it down. I feel like I learned a lot from this book, and I need to learn more! This author had me feeling like I was in his world watching everything happening for myself. It was excellently done, and I can’t wait to see what else he may have in store for us.
Bycatch by Alexander Blevens
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This book is not one I would have originally chosen to read, but the narrative peaked my interest as did the book the entire way through. It starts during a stent in Vietnamese years ago, where Rex did a wrong doing and leaves Don getting the punishment for it. Rex goes back to the States, not knowing what transpired after he left until years later when Don and his family had relocated to Mississippi. Don held a grudge for years and wanted to speak with Rex about it, but never gets the chance before his death. Rex finds out after Don’s death what transpired years ago, which brings them to the current day. However, Don’s death was thought to be a murder, but was it? Rex’s sons are being blamed for Don’s death. Don’s daughter, Anh, finds a journal that her dad had written in years ago that explains everything that happened. It’s a great story of how we cannot assume we know what other’s have gone through in life as everyone has a past. I highly recommend this book to readers!
Bycatch by Alexander Blevens
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Bycatch took me by complete surprise! There is so much depth and thought in the story that I am absolutely amazed! Alexander Blevens delivers with substantial, realistic, multi-level characters. I could almost hear the accent of Jake and Pigeon, feel the anger and confusion of Rex and Dung, and feel the tension between the Mississippi and Vietnamese fishermen. Blevens also uses amazing storytelling in the back and forth accounts of two men unwillingly thrown across each other’s paths in the midst of the war in Vietnam, and how their pasts collide later in life in the shrimping community in Mississippi. I could hear the bombs exploding in Vietnam, I could smell the strong seafood odor of the coast, and hear the rumbling motors of the shrimping boats.
Bycatch and Alexander Blevens are two new favorites on my list!
Bycatch by Alexander Blevens
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
When your past catches up to you in the form of your biggest mistake you think you’ve made. WOW… this book is so well written and will make you think about what all our military went thru in various wars. What burdens some soldiers carry home with them.
Rex committed a crime he carried with him for so long. Arriving in Biloxi years after the war he never thought he would run into his “enemy” from his military time in Vietnam.
The burden that “Don” carried with him all those years. I loved the full circle that the author gave us in those last few can’t stop reading chapters. Seriously can be read in one sitting because you are going to want to know what happens to Rex, his 2 sons and the whole Nguyen family.
This book also is great at showing that no matter what the truth will come out. Lose mouths sink ships right? Well crimes catch up to you and the wrong will be made right.
Bycatch by Alexander Blevens
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
It’s hard to believe that this is Alexander Blevens’ debut novel because this knocked me off my feet! The flow of the story is flawless and full of forgiveness and culture. I have already recommended to a few friends right after I finished!
Rex and Nguyen are both soldiers in the Vietnam war, and while they both survive those indescribable battles, they head home with their own secrets. Rex tries to raise his sons to the best of his ability, but he can see that his guilt is affecting them subconsciously. Will he be able to clean up his act and confess to his atrocities, or will his family inevitably pay his karmic dues?
I was at the edge of my seat for nearly this entire story. Full of suspense, redemption, and family, this book paints a picture of humanity at its heart. Pick up Bycatch today and settle in for the most captivating story from this marvelous author!
Reviewed by @shannlynn
Bycatch by Alexander Blevens
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
“Bycatch”: the portion of a commercial fishing catch that consists of marine animals caught unintentionally. -Webster’s Third New International Dictionary, Unabridged.
Rex Thompson made a huge mistake while serving in Vietnam and Nguyen Duc Dung not only witnessed the mistake but paid a huge price for it. Many years later and a world apart, their lives would come together again.
Rex wasn’t the best husband, father, employee, or friend and he’s trying to change that. Or at least he thought he was. Ruled by the bottle, Rex ends up making even more mistakes and one day escapes his two teenage sons to try to make amends. Little does he know that Jake and Pigeon are going to follow in his footsteps in an even worse manner.
Dung ends up dead one day and everyone is pointing the finger at Rex, except that he’s nowhere around. The only other logical conclusion is that his son’s have sunk the boat that they fell in love with, but lost, when their dad ran away.
Rex finally returns home to learn of Dung’s death and this stirs up many thoughts of the past. Did this have something to do with him afterall or is he just the bycatch?
This was an enjoyable novel full of mystery and intrigue. I found myself liking Rex from the beginning even though I knew he was not the most reputable person. This is a story of hatred and love, forgiveness and abandonment, of redemption and saving.
Bycatch by Alexander Blevens
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I really enjoyed this historical Thriller. The author does and amazing job of transporting the reader back to a time of war and desperation and takes you right up to the present day. This is definately a story that makes you think and contemplate your actions in life as this story shows that your actions have consequences further down the line and not just for you but for other people.
This story is gripping, with secrets, lies, revenge and greed. You also feel the after affects of one person’s actions as they suffer either guilt and remorse for what happened but can’t seem to find a way to make amends for the past.
It is a moving story about war and how it affects people. When a crime is committed by Rex Thompson during war in Vietnam he is plagued by the guilt for years however he thinks his secret is safe. Until the daughter of an immigrant fisherman comes knocking. Rex’s sons are responsible for her father’s death and after uncovering his journal Anh comes to Rex looking for answers not only for her father’s death but also the past.
Now Rex has a tough decision to make, does he tell the truth about what happened all those years before or does he remain quiet and try and protect his sons?
It’s a gripping and emotional read as there are so many lives that are affected by one mistake in time.
Bycatch by Alexander Blevens
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Rex is a man that has been running from the crimes he committed in Vietnam over twenty years ago. When his sons drown an immigrant fisherman that witnessed their crime after scuttling a shrimp boat, Rex feels remorse but keeps quiet. When the fisherman’s daughter discovers her late father’s wartime journal, she approaches Rex with secrets her father never told anyone. Now that his sons are being forced to face their crimes, Rex is also forced to face his past. Rex must decide if he should continue living his life of lies or beg for mercy from those that he hurt.
Bycatch is a haunting tale of one man who is forced to come face to face with his past and the harm it caused. With multiple timelines the reader can see into the past as the Vietnam war is taking place, while reading about the shrimping industry and the characters in present day Biloxi, Mississippi. When a theft is committed in Vietnam during the war, the parties involved go their separate ways and think that they will never see the other again. Until one fateful day when they run into each other decades later in Biloxi, Mississippi. Things start to unravel as one man dies and the other is forced to face the consequences of his past actions. A beautiful and haunting tale of war, greed, and the consequences of bad choices.
Bycatch by Alexander Blevens
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Rex Thompson has had an interesting life, he has made many a mistake and ultimately made the wrong choices both personally and professionally, but the one he regrets the most is while he was a young man serving his country in the Vietnam War, where he committed a felony before he finished his last tour, he has never spoken about it since, especially since moving to Biloxi Bay and becoming a shrimp fisherman. Anh Truong is the daughter of a Vietnamese immigrant living in the small town of Biloxi Bay with her parents, they have a well off family thanks to the hard work of her parents growing their shrimping business from scratch when they arrived into the country.
Rex has tried to do the best he can for his family, but between working and sinking into his vices, he struggles to stay close to his sons, that is until they come to visit one summer and stayed, but it has not been smooth sailing for these three, as Rex struggled against his vices again and his sons ending up paying for it when they had to look after themselves from a young age, however, without a good role model, they have grown into a couple of ne’er do wells, filled with resentment. One day they are left to their own devices and caught in a strong belief that a particular fisherman had done them wrong, they decide to scuttle his boat, what they do not know is that he was not able to escape and drowned.
As Anh and her family try to come to terms with their loss, she finds a journal her father had kept hidden, it is not east reading for her as it is filled with his experiences during the Vietnam War and the depth of the feelings associated with it. Meanwhile, Rex finds out about the drowned fisherman and realises that it was the man who caught him committing his felony and whom he has avoided while living in the same town, he also works out that it was his two sons who committed the crime, so as the repercussions of his life choices become clear, he has another choice to make, but will it be the right one this time? This is a tale of greed, guilt, lies and forgiveness as the pasts of two men entangle with the present, amid cultural clashes in a small town on the Mississipi Gulf Ciast and as you untangle this web of intrigue, you will be pulled into a history lesson, as well as a lesson in choices and consequences which keeps you hooked throughout.
Reviewed by @roxsannel
Bycatch by Alexander Blevens
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Bycatch
By: Alexander Blevens
This book is a fantastic story about soldiers in the Vietnam war. Rex and Nguyen both fought in the Vietnam war and they both survived. However when they returned they were not the same. It is now 25 years after the war and this story focuses on the cultural conflict they face back in the south. There are crimes committed and they both are involved in a different battle back home. These men crossed paths back in Vietnam, and the secrets that they hold follow them back home. When they cross paths later in life the secret they hold begins to bubble over. And it ends in one man’s death.
I cannot explain adequately how good this book was. It was a great look at a story of soldiers in the Vietnam war and the cultural conflict that continued back home. It also is a good look at the culture in the gulf and the lives of fisherman.
The author vividly describes life in the Mississippi region and made me feel as if I was there. This was a wonderfully crafted tale that kept me wanting more. This is such a beautiful story that depicted multiple sides of humanity, but the good and the bad.
Bycatch by Alexander Blevens
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This book surprised me. I am not into books based in the south really. But I enjoyed this one. It made me remember my time spent in Mississippi. The author kept you wanting more. The close attention to detail and the feelings expressed through words painted a picture in my mind. I highly recommend this book.
Bycatch by Alexander Blevens
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This book is a riveting tale of justice, forgiveness, and how old wounds affect us more than we know. As someone who loves history, sometimes it’s easy to forget that people were part of making that history and that their lives were impacted so deeply from it. This book follows the story of two Vietnam vets and their children, and does a great job of showing the cost of generational wounds. I absolutely loved this book, it sucked me in and pulled me under and I just couldn’t put it down. I look forward to reading more books by this author!
Bycatch by Alexander Blevens
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Rex though he had escaped his past, until he ran into the man whose life was forever changed by Rex’s actions in Vietnam. Over the course of a few decades, Rex has every chance to make amends with Captain Nguyen. Rex is a Mississippi shrimper, an absent father, and a drunk. Only when Rex’s sons are caught up in sinking a shrimp boat and drowning a man is Rex confronted with his past. Rex can’t change the past, but can he make amends with his past in hopes of a brighter future?
Blevens catches the reader from the very beginning and never quits reeling them in. Bycatch gives the reader a glimpse into the Gulf Coast shrimping industry after the Vietnam War. It’s a story of family, forgiveness, and growth.
Bycatch by Alexander Blevens
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Bycatch follows the paths of many people following the Vietnam War. Some are Vietnam Veterans, others are shrimpers, while others are Vietnam Veterans turned into shrimpers. Mystery after mystery and tragedy after tragedy unfold and with a tough relationship between Americans and Vietnamese, who is to blame? Especially when one of the tragedies involves a South Vietnamese Veteran? Alexander Blevens takes you through the minds and eyes of each of his characters, while answers are sought.
Bycatch is an amazing read full of relatable characters and feelings. It did get a little confusing at times jumping from one person’s viewpoint to another, but it is still a 5-star read. I could not put it down.
If you are looking for a post-Vietnam War story that focuses on the tensions between the Vietnamese and Americans after the war, but is mixed with action and mystery, look no further. Bycatch is a quick read that will leave you on the edge of your seat.
Bycatch by Alexander Blevens
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
A debut novel about two soldiers who met when they were fighting in the war against the Veit cong. Captain Nguyen Duc Dong happened to catch Airman Rex Thompson stealing money provided to the South Vietnamese Army but didn’t press charges against Airman Thompson. Captain Dong felt he had a good reason to let the Airman go. What effect this decision has on the two men over the years was intriguing
The story is well written and I could understand the point of view of the two main characters. The descriptions of Vietnam and Mississippi add to the backdrop of this story both in beautiful and tragic points.
Bycatch by Alexander Blevens
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Rex Thompson is a man that just can’t seem to make good choices and stick with them. He is a soldier that can’t seem to get behind the war he is fighting in, and so takes an opportunity that is presented to steal money. He’s caught by a Vietnamese officer that is conflicted in how he should handle the situation. When it isn’t reported, Rex thinks he gets away with it. Fast forward years later and he’s now a fisherman hoping to do right by his two sons. However, as his bad choices catch up with him, he can’t seem to find his way out of the bottom of a bottle long enough to teach his sons how to live life the right way. When he loses his boat, he disappears for 8 months. His sons try to make sense of their purpose of life without the boat they’ve basically grown-up working. When Rex shows back up in town a changed, sober man, he finds out that his old boat was scuttled, and a man was killed on it because of it. That man is none other than the Vietnamese Officer that didn’t report him all those years ago. As the murder investigation progresses, his family comes forward with past information that could show motive for the murder. Can Rex come to terms with his past offense and how it affected the officer? Can his family forgive Rex for his past? Will his sons be able to make better choices than their father?
This was such an enthralling book to read. I have read about the Vietnam war in history, but this gave a whole other insight as to how it was over there. What caught my attention was their struggle in getting here and starting over. The story was well written, and the characters were down to earth and believable.
Bycatch by Alexander Blevens
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Wow! This was such a ride. It took a minute for me to get into the story, but once I did I was lost. I hate how much hate there was and still is for different races, I know the times were different back during the Vietnam war, but we still see it today. I could feel through the story that Rex had regrets from him time in the war, and the things he did, especially when it concerns Dung. Meeting each other again years later in Biloxi but never speaking to each other, I just know they left many things unsaid between them. If Rex maybe had been a more attentive father, Jake and Pigeon may not have ended up the way they did. My mind was blown at finding out what they do, and then also in the end when Jake is being chased. I can’t say I feel bad for how him and Pigeon end up, karma sucks, and that’s what you get and all that. Dung did not deserve anything that happened to him, and his family didn’t deserve the months of grieving trying to figure out how he passed. Excellent read!
Bycatch by Alexander Blevens
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
A man’s choice years ago will ripple through the years and has embedded into the soul of Rex, when something happens with his son’s his past in the Air Force comes rushing back with a visitor, he was not expecting to confront him.
Can Rex try and help his son’s and right a wrong from the past, you will need to delve into this wonderful book.
This is the first book I have read from this author and to be honest I was not sure what to expect, this is not normally a book I would gravitate to, but I was recommended to take a chance on it, and I was not disappointed. The story is quite a heavy subject matter but the way the author weaves you through the past to the future is refreshing and quite easy to read. I love a good, flawed character and Rex is one who has tried to recover from his past but as hard he works, he never seems to catch a break. The story has an added depth with the mystery of his sons and the accident of the fisherman which just brings more memories to the front for Rex.
Overall, the story is well written, with the twists and turns and anticipation will have you glued to the book until the last page. The story is full of angst and what if’s which ends up making me think about decisions in life and how they affect people in my life. I recommend this book and can’t wait to read more by this wonderfully discovered author.
Bycatch by Alexander Blevens
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Bycatch is Alexander’s well-crafted debut book. If this is his first book then I can’t wait to see what he does next because this was soooo good. This suspenseful historical thriller is one that you will not put down because you just have to know what is coming next so the pages keep turning.
This beautifully and cleverly written tale is an historical thriller takes us from one extreme to the next. From war to shrimp, from one continent to another and two men from completely different backgrounds and cultures but are forced together. Greed, secrets and lies, revenge and crimes, grief and remorse, guilt and forgiveness.
Alexander’s descriptive narrative and raw and flawed characters made this story come alive and showing how humanity is unforgiving in some ways and redeeming in others but life is a frail thing.
Aleander Blevens is one author for you to watch closely and savour his stories. I know I will.
Reviewed by @jennadb
Bycatch by Alexander Blevens
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
Rex Thompson is a Vietnam Veteran. While stationed in Da Nang, in 1970, he steals money the U.S. government has earmarked for South Vietnam. Captain Nguyen Duc Dung, who caught him in the act, is blamed for the crime. Rex has regretted this act for years but the crime comes back to haunt him, and we see the negative impact is has had not only back then, but now, 24 years later.
While working in shrimping industry in Biloxi, Mississippi—the two families from long ago meet up and there are grave consequences that impact all involved. Through this story, we get insight into choices, their ramifications, cultural conflict and redemption.
Bycatch by Alexander Blevens
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
What an amazing book! I was intrigued from the moment I read the synopsis. One action, seemingly innocuous, can have ripple effects that last decades and impact generations. The two main characters experience tremendous growth and development throughout the timeline, while others do not. Readers experience the power of forgiveness, and witness the devastating results of generational poor parenting.
Bycatch by Alexander Blevens
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
Rex Thompson is a Vietnam Veteran. While stationed in Da Nang, in 1970, he steals money the U.S. government has earmarked for South Vietnam. Captain Nguyen Duc Dung, who caught him in the act, is blamed for the crime. Rex has regretted this act for years but the crime comes back to haunt him, and we see the negative impact is has had not only back then, but now, 24 years later.
While working in shrimping industry in Biloxi, Mississippi—the two families from long ago meet up and there are grave consequences that impact all involved. Through this story, we get insight into choices, their ramifications, cultural conflict and redemption.
Bycatch by Alexander Blevens
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This book is so well written and vividly captures the era and location that the author has chosen. The characters and their complexities completely make this book and create a depth and intensity I wasn’t quite expecting. The story really drew me in and I think the author has done an amazing job at writing something that makes you think like this one does.
For me what really made this book so good was the setting the author chose for the story. I think it added an extra layer to story. I thought the overall pacing of the book was just right and the author knew exactly what to do to keep you engaged. This is one of those books that caught me by surprised but I enjoyed rom start to finish.
a href=”https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/61074882-bycatch” style=”float: left; padding-right: 20px”>Bycatch by Alexander Blevens
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This one really pulled at my heart strings for so many reasons and part of me thinks it’s because where I live and my country’s history ….
People run from their homes to escape their country and it’s evil , they look for greener grass but it’s not always greener on the other side is it , you’re on a new country with it’s own rules and ways , you’re an alien for lack of a better word and people see that desperation and take advantage of it …..war is not kind , mankind is not always kind🥲
My attention was kept by the characters , their personal demons and struggles and how they deal with it , they’re human , they’re real , they’re relatable 🤗
Bycatch by Alexander Blevens
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Bycatch is an incredible and original story of Rex and his Vietnam experience. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. It’s a book that I struggled to put down and the imagery is fantastic in this book. I feel as if I learned a lot more about how life was during these times. Not only was the story original but they’re are a number of suspenseful moments that lead to a captivating story. I’m looking forward to reading many more historical type books from this author.
Bycatch by Alexander Blevens
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This book had me hooked from the beginning. Taking you through several decades worth of pain for two families. From the Forests of Vietnam to the shores of Biloxi, Mississippi. Unsure how to review without almost rewriting the book here. Suspenseful is the best way to describe it. I did not want to put it down.
Bycatch by Alexander Blevens
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
4 Stars
Bycatch by Alexander Blevens took me by surprise. When I initially chose this book I thought it would be a ‘good’ story, something I could use as a bit of a ‘palate cleanse’ between some of my ‘heavier’ reads. But this took me by surprise- in a great way. It grabbed me right from the get-go and didn’t release me till I had read every word. I was so engrossed in the story that I ended up reading it in one sitting. Sleep is overrated, after all lol.
It is an entertaining and suspenseful thriller with historical details, crime (and investigation), family dynamics, tortured souls, human frailty, tension, intrigue, challenges, complexity, secrets, interconnected details, moving moments, guilt, murder, greed, culture, and more.
This is a well-written, detailed, and descriptive story with skillfully crafted characters who all had their own unique personalities, quirks, and flaws.
I have been debating how to review this story ever since I finished reading it, not because there was anything wrong…. but because I don’t want to give too much away. I think I will let the blurb speak for the story and recommend going into the story a little blind and let the author, plot, and characters surprise you with a riveting read.
If you love a bit of a twisty thriller, with tortured souls, secrets, murder, mystery, historical details, and gripping tension- then you will definitely want to snap up a copy for yourself to explore- asap.
As this is his debut novel, I eagerly await more from Mr. Blevens.
Happy Reading!
Thank you, Alexander Blevens!
Reviewed by @angelahayes
Bycatch by Alexander Blevens
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This book is a well written story that dives into culture, greed, and profound grief. The characters you encounter are crafted in such a way that what they are feeling or suffering from feels like you are the one with those experiences. The trauma of war with the repercussions that come from it are exposed in a light that is normally shadowed over. The lives of two different cultures living in one area is well written. Following along with the characters as time moves on and their personal journeys to healing keeps you wanting to turn the page. War related reads are not something I normally choose when picking up a story and I do not regret picking up this book. It hit me in the feelers while being an interesting read. I would highly recommend this book.
Bycatch by Alexander Blevens
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Wow what a story. The intricate details that this author put in to was…wow…superb. Although this book is different than what I normally read..I am so glad I picked this book up and the cover itself intrigued me. The author captures you in different time lines, but the story really comes together. This book is about what happens when poor choices full of greed come full circle and forgiveness between a man and a community of Vietnamese immigrants.
Fantastic and Highly Recommended….so well done!!
Bycatch by Alexander Blevens
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Bycatch by Alexander Blevens. I absolutely loved this book. Its a very different story but it was so good. Its about Rex Thompson who is a Vietnam Veteran and when he commits a crime in Vietnam years ago he never expect to have it come back on him years later on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. Rex has regretted this act for years and when it comes back to haunt him it brings it all back. His sons thinking they are protecting their father, commit another crime to cover up their dads. This story brings to light a lot about the Vietnamese people who have made the Mississippi Coast their home. Will Rex be able to protect his sons from their crime or will it uncover the ugly truth. Read this amazing story to find out!
