Hal Wiens, a retired professor, is mourning the sudden death of his loving wife, Yo. One snowy April morning, while drinking coffee with his Den friend Owl in south-side Edmonton, he sees a tall man in an orange downfill jacket walk past on the sidewalk. The jacket, the posture, the head and hair are unmistakable: it's his beloved oldest son, Gabriel. But it can't be-Gabriel killed himself 25 years ago. The sighting throws Hal's inert life into tumult. Come Back is a rare and beautiful novel about the humanity of living and dying, a masterwork from a treasured writer.