Book signing

Walter Culpepper signs his new book, The Replacement Son, at 6 p.m. Friday at the Garden District Book Shop, 2727 Prytania.

The book is set in the World War II era, and follows Harry McChesney as he enlists in the Army Air Corps—an immensely dangerous beginning to an unforgettable journey, one in which his dead brother, Buddy, always seems to be present. Harry gets help along the way from an old friend, a protective talisman, and a bizarre set of twins. Yet his deceased brother’s hold over unfolding events is unshakable and often terrifying.

In the chaos of war Harry makes a shocking discovery that might offer a resolution and release for both brothers. But their conflict doesn’t end there, and Harry faces failure and defeat much later in life when time is running out on everything. Once again, his problem is “always about Buddy.”

From a thriving 19th-century New Orleans to the city’s devastation in Hurricane Katrina and amidst the harsh realities of England during World War II, The Replacement Son takes readers through vividly depicted locales and eras as Harry pursues his existential quest. With motifs ranging from chivalric adventure to metaphysical mystery, author Culpepper brings a charming but most unlikely hero and an exotic range of supporting characters to life in a compelling story of sacrifice and discovery.