Courage in the Late Night Hours: A Novel About War, Remembrance, and the Search for Belonging

Shortly after college student Jane Hughes' father-a war correspondent-is killed in Ukraine, she receives a startling call from Paul Holychuk, a solicitor ten years her senior. He informs Jane that not only is she the heir to her father's family's assets, she has family connections in Edmonton that she knew nothing about, including a grandfather who's now in a long-term care home. Pausing her studies at McGill University, Jane travels to Edmonton to sort things out.

As Jane navigates her new reality, Paul delves into his own family's past, discovering a deep connection between their families, dating back to World War Two. Paul's grandfather, Joseph, and Jane's great-grandfather, Bill, flew on the same bomber with the Royal Canadian Air Force. They remained close after the war, with Bill becoming a journalist and Joseph a police detective.

For Paul and Jane, who worked together exploring past diaries, journals, and letters from their famous aviation families, the journey into the courage and sacrifice of aircrew flying in dark skies and suffering vast losses became an inspirational story of the power of the Canadian spirit in the face of a horrific regime. A story about who we are as a nation- the true north strong and free- faced with the same sinister threats to democracy and the values of western civilization in today's world.

But things become complicated when a series of unsolved murders is linked to Jane's family, and suspicions arise that Joseph may have concealed the killer's identity out of loyalty to Bill. As Jane and Paul investigate the mysteries that entwine their families, they are drawn closer together, uncovering secrets that span decades as well as unexpected feelings for each other.

Adding to the intrigue is a supernatural presence, with at least one ghost working hard behind the scenes to influence events as they unfold, at times helping and other times hindering Jane and Paul's efforts to unravel the truth.