Passionately told by John Melady, the tales of their courage span the nation and beyond: a heart-stopping rescue on the storm-tossed Atlantic, a plane crash on a mountain peak, a robbery and cold-blooded murder on the Saskatchewan prairie and a dramatic rescue at the very brink of Niagara Falls, to name just a few.
Whether the quick-thinking seven-year-old who foiled a molester, the quiet young woman who disarmed a killer, or the soldier who became a human shield: these courageous individuals will inspire readers and prove to Canadians that there are great heroes in our midst.
John Melady is the author of several books, including Heartbreak and Heroism: Canadian Search and Rescue Stories, also published by Dundurn. His book Acts of Courage, about Canada's Cross of Valour winners, was short-listed last year for the Hackmatack award in Atlantic Canada. A former high school vice-principal, John Melady is now a full-time writer.