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"Few war memoirs achieve the level of literary depth and emotional resonance of Downriver. And even fewer help us understand the burden of leadership in combat, and the resilience required to forge a new path beyond the battlefield."-General David Petraeus, US Army (Ret.)

"This is an epic account of one young man riding the torrents of 21st Century American history, navigating a tumultuous voyage through military and business combat and personal turmoil toward enlightenment and self-discovery."-William Doyle, Author, A Soldier's Dream

"A compelling and unflinchingly personal story about his road toward healing."-Kirkus Reviews

"Revealing memoir of the Iraq war, the financial crisis, and a soldier's will to succeed."-BookLife Reviews (Editor's Pick)

"Libraries and readers interested in life lessons learned on and off the battlefield, poetry, and more will find Downriver enthralling. Packed with tense moments, eye-opening confrontations, and literary history, it embraces bigger-picture thinking about life choices."-D. Donovan, Senior Reviewer, Midwest Book Review

“This is an intelligently written memoir, rich in detail about both military life and the world of finance.” -BlueInk Review

"A deeply personal memoir of struggle... a valuable addition to the corpus of veterans' voices in the world reshaped by 9/11."-IndieReader (IR Approved)

“His use of poetry, written over the years to express emotion and longing, sets McDermott’s heartfelt Downriver: Memoir of a Warrior Poet apart as a true work of art.” -Military Writers Society of America

"Downriver is a search for self that, like a river, makes progress even though the destination may be out of view."-LoveReading UK ("IndieBooks We Love")

"A necessary addition to the canon of post-9/11 memoirs... not just a soldier's story-it's a deeply human one."-San Francisco Book Review (5 Stars)

"Downriver... will fill your heart with compassion and understanding of a war veteran's struggles."-Manhattan Book Review (5 Stars)

"Whether you are a veteran or not, the story will have something to say to you, and may shed light upon a part of the world not familiar enough."-Chicago Book Review (5 Stars)

“Downriver is more than just a memoir—it is a meditation on identity, redemption, and the human capacity to heal.” -Readers' Favorite (5 Stars)

“The scenes of combat are vivid but not glorified, and what stuck with me wasn’t the action but the moral gray zones, the toll on the soul.” -Literary Titan (5 Stars)

“The beating heart of the memoir is his intense desire to find love and build his own family.” -Independent Book Review

“What sets Downriver apart is McDermott’s use of poetry and creative writing as a fantastic healing tool.” -Feathered Quill

“McDermott’s message of healing, of focusing on the future rather than the past, is powerful. I give this book a resounding five out of five stars. I can’t think of someone who wouldn’t be better off after reading it.” -OnlineBookClub (5 Stars)