The Time in Between

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In search of love and forgiveness, Charles Boatman mysteriously returns to Vietnam, where he fought as a reluctant soldier twenty-nine years earlier. His new encounters clash with his memories. When he disappears, his daughter Ada and brother Jon travel to Vietnam, exploring the streets of Danang and beyond to find him. Their quest leads them into a country that is both beautiful and incomprehensible. As Ada chases her father’s shadow, she grows increasingly hopeless, while Jon escapes into the urban nightlife. However, Ada begins to connect with her missing father and finds the strength to forgive him for his long-kept secret. The narrative introduces compelling characters, including Lieutenant Dat, a police officer who tries to seduce Ada with withheld information; Yen, an orphan who claims to be her guide; Jack Gouds, an American expatriate; his unhappy wife Elaine, haunted by her encounters with Charles; and Hoang Vu, an artist who teaches Ada about love and betrayal. The story also features the reclusive author Dang Tho, whose wartime novel deeply affects Charles. Moving between past and present, the novel explores one family's emotional journey across two cultures in search of elusive answers.