Smokey Joe’s Cafe – Bryce Courtenay

Description

Smokey Joe’s Cafe by Bryce Courtenay follows Thommo, a Vietnam War veteran who returns to Australia to face a society that labels him a mercenary guilty of war crimes. Struggling with physical and mental health issues, Thommo soon discovers he is not alone. His platoon mates, all who survived the bloody Battle of Long Tan, share his torment. Together, they form a ragtag group of eleven angry men seeking revenge for the injustices they endured. To help them, they enlist an ex-Viet Cong soldier with his own hidden agenda, becoming a real-life version of the “Dirty Dozen.” However, despite their anger and determination, they’re so emotionally broken that they can barely function until a woman with strength of character steps in to guide them.