Tommy spent more than a year deployed with his National Guard unit in Iraq, but even though he is back Tommy finds that his old life doesn’t fit him like it used to.  Tommy’s relationship with Graham is one of the things that is going to have to change, but will Graham understand that Tommy’s attitude about life has changed by his brush with death?

Graham spent a year sending care packages and letters to the National Guard unit from his hometown.  Tommy, the Captain of his unit got his share of letters and packages from Graham, but wrote back only once.  Now Tommy’s back and Graham is waiting for Tommy to make the first move like always.  But after two months and no Tommy, Graham is beginning to think that he has lost his lover and best friend.  Will he be able to reach out and get Tommy back and adjust to the changes war has wrought on Tommy?

The Lincoln County Wars takes a good look at the effects of war on the soldiers once they are home and how their experiences change them irrevocably.  Both Tommy and Graham are stereotypical males in their reluctance to give voice to their feelings and letting their actions speak for them.  The story about Tommy, Graham and their town is unexpectedly simple, yet strikes a cord that we can all relate to even if we have no first hand experience with a loved one coming back from the front-lines of the current war.  I found the characters unexpectedly lingering in my mind, which is always a sign of a good book.  While The Lincoln County Wars is not light-hearted, it is a good read nonetheless.