Thirty-three years after her dad's death, Liz Williams delves into his letters and photos from World War II, seeking to solve a mystery: What caused his terrifying rages? She wonders if the war planted a fuse in her dad's head, sparking his explosions. The letters lead her to uncover a spellbinding look at Hawaii's transformation from island paradise to war zone, the bombing of Pearl Harbor, and his combat duty on other Pacific battlegrounds. Amid her quest, Liz stumbles upon a shocking family secret that the letters also imply: Her father had waged two wars one of them with himself.