After Gil Castle loses his wife in the 9/11 attacks, he decides to take an early retirement and attempts to find refuge at his cousin Blaine’s ranch, The San Ignacio, in Arizona. The ranch originally belonged to Ben Erskine, Gil and Blaine’s grandfather, who fought as a mercenary in the Mexican revolution and eventually became a rancher and lawman. The family’s history is entwined with that of Yvonne Menendez, head of a Mexican drug cartel operating just across the border. The true nature of their connection is not revealed until the final pages. Crossers is a book that not only spans several generations, but also two countries. It is a story about the daily challenges of life on the border – violence, drugs, betrayal – and the moral questions that arise when one confronts those who attempt to cross. It is a love story as well, love not only of people but also of the place that you call home, both of which can break your heart. Caputo is a Pulitzer Prize winning journalist and you can tell he brings that experience to his novels. The chapters involving current-day San Ignacio read as if Caputo has spent time there and seen the struggles. Crossers is a compelling, thought-provoking read, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. ~Torrie