Guff Rankin is warm, kind, smart, and loyal-the kind of guy that everyone wants to be or wants to know. He is an extraordinary main character. In this historical novel, Rankin's life parallels the Vietnam War, the Nixon White House era, and the persistent racial divide in the USA. The author does a superb job of juxtaposing historical world news with Rankin's life, work, family, and friends. Rankin is a guy with a knack for patterns, making him a valuable employee as a code breaker, card wizard, and CIA agent. He is even hired to find patterns in racism to help ease racial tensions in the country.

Rankin's good nature is a theme in itself, but some particular actions and dialogue help solidify the deeper elements of the book. For example, a young man is convinced by unsavory peers to participate in a random shooting. Rankin takes him under his wing for the simple reason that redemption is preferable to a life wasted in prison. He gives the young man an opportunity to sign up for a prison-to-military option available for prisoners during the Vietnam War.

In a noteworthy moment of dialogue, Rankin's friend and congressman reminds him, "...the black community doesn't speak with one voice. I was part of the Martin Luther King faction...we want equity... peacefully...The Panthers are confrontational. Eldridge Cleaver running for President. Huey Newton on trial for killing a police officer. The only thing we share is the color of our skin." All of these points are worthy of reading, remembering, and repeating.

This novel is the third in the Guff series. While the three books together follow Rankin's life from the 40s-70s, each book is interesting, rich, and entertaining on its own. Guff Rankin may become the reader's friend for life

Guff - A Life Well-lived