New Jersey, 1928. A 14-year-old boy disappears from his home without a trace - almost forever. Ninety years later, a series of chance DNA matches reveals what became of him. John had to grow up quickly - changing his identity, earning a living the hard way, and navigating love, friendship and death during some of the toughest times in American history. With nothing more than an 8th grade education, his journey takes us through Prohibition, the Great Depression, the Dust Bowl, the gold mines of Colorado and the Second World War to eventually become a success in his own right. A semi-fictional account, based on a true story. "Michael Schoenholtz blends genealogical research with historical fiction as he tracks the mysterious disappearance of his long lost uncle who forged a seamless new identity to hide his darkest secret. A fast-paced, adeptly told story." - Syril Levin Kline, author