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The Lost Soldier / Arnie Eats an Ice Cream
One man. Two lives. No clean escape.
A wry, haunting, mental and physical descent into a fractured heart, soul, and mind.
Presented in an unconventional tête-bêche (head-to-tail; tail-to-head) format, The Lost Soldier / Arnie Eats an Ice Cream serves as more than just a novel; it introduces a unique reader you do not simply read this book; you listen to it; you wrestle with it; you embrace it; you navigate it; physically turning the pages and then the entire volume to uncover the mirrored halves of a single, devastating truth.
Part The Lost Soldier
Narrated by renowned psychiatrist Dr Elizabeth Heapy, FRCPsych, this dispassionate account tracks Stephen's clinical descent. Born into the shadowed prestige of the British Special Forces, he faces a life that was expected but never arrives. The deaths of his father, mother, and best friend in quick succession anchor him in an unmanageable internal conflict. Burdened by grief, and despite mounting mental and physical challenges, Stephen becomes an unlikely, deeply unsettled vigilante. The Fatman rises.
Part Arnie Eats an Ice Cream
Written by Anonymous voice, the narrative pivots 180 degrees. The narrative shifts focus from the reasons behind Stephen's fall to the inevitable 'what', which represents the true purpose his life was always moving towards. Set against the volatile backdrop of 1970s-90s sectarianism, crime, and politics, Stephen's internal history propels him toward a real-world, high-profile, historical event that altered the course of history forever. The Fatman falls.
Why this book is
The unique Tête-Bêche A physical metaphor for a fractured heart and soul. The reader must flip the book itself to confront the next side of his life storyFractured Inspired by 'show your working out' in maths Stylistic strike-throughs expose alternative thinking and suppressed truths Stephen cannot admit to, even to himselfA Cinematic A curated pre-1996 soundtrack underscores mood and tension, borrowing the emotional language of film to deepen every chapter
But who is Claire? But who is Alyson?
Darkly humane and emotionally resonant, with humour and irony woven throughout, The Lost Soldier / Arnie Eats an Ice Cream examines how an ordinary life veers into extraordinary consequences. It asks not only how to read the book, but also how to judge the man at its centre and determine where his fiction ends, where his reality begins, and where it ends again.
A wry, haunting, mental and physical descent into a fractured heart, soul, and mind.
Presented in an unconventional tête-bêche (head-to-tail; tail-to-head) format, The Lost Soldier / Arnie Eats an Ice Cream serves as more than just a novel; it introduces a unique reader you do not simply read this book; you listen to it; you wrestle with it; you embrace it; you navigate it; physically turning the pages and then the entire volume to uncover the mirrored halves of a single, devastating truth.
Part The Lost Soldier
Narrated by renowned psychiatrist Dr Elizabeth Heapy, FRCPsych, this dispassionate account tracks Stephen's clinical descent. Born into the shadowed prestige of the British Special Forces, he faces a life that was expected but never arrives. The deaths of his father, mother, and best friend in quick succession anchor him in an unmanageable internal conflict. Burdened by grief, and despite mounting mental and physical challenges, Stephen becomes an unlikely, deeply unsettled vigilante. The Fatman rises.
Part Arnie Eats an Ice Cream
Written by Anonymous voice, the narrative pivots 180 degrees. The narrative shifts focus from the reasons behind Stephen's fall to the inevitable 'what', which represents the true purpose his life was always moving towards. Set against the volatile backdrop of 1970s-90s sectarianism, crime, and politics, Stephen's internal history propels him toward a real-world, high-profile, historical event that altered the course of history forever. The Fatman falls.
Why this book is
The unique Tête-Bêche A physical metaphor for a fractured heart and soul. The reader must flip the book itself to confront the next side of his life storyFractured Inspired by 'show your working out' in maths Stylistic strike-throughs expose alternative thinking and suppressed truths Stephen cannot admit to, even to himselfA Cinematic A curated pre-1996 soundtrack underscores mood and tension, borrowing the emotional language of film to deepen every chapter
But who is Claire? But who is Alyson?
Darkly humane and emotionally resonant, with humour and irony woven throughout, The Lost Soldier / Arnie Eats an Ice Cream examines how an ordinary life veers into extraordinary consequences. It asks not only how to read the book, but also how to judge the man at its centre and determine where his fiction ends, where his reality begins, and where it ends again.
702 pages, Paperback
Published June 14, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
September 22, 2026
This book was a totally new experience for me. The tetebeche was something I never experienced while reading and took the reading to a new level.
Part 1 : The Lost Soldier. This part felt less like a story and more of a documentation to the his life and while it took me a bit to fully invest in the story, starting off a little slowly, but as you began seeing what Stephen was going through as a adult. You began to feel bad for his situation and all the hardships he was going through at a very very short amount of time.
After finishing Part 1 and flipping the story you immediately want and need to continue. By the end of Part 1 I couldn't wait to get consumed into the next part.
Part 2 : Arnie Eats An Ice Cream. This part tells you what happens after cleaned up the fragments of his life, moving him in a different location, showing you different people and showing a new 'love' interest. Claire will always be my favorite because of all she did for Steve throughout the story, but i do see how he becomes enthralled in other people. The part once started continues quickly until the jaw dropping ending.
The story put together was a wonderful experience. I loved being able to read an entire life in two different parts of life. Seeing both the difficult and painful chapters in his life and then the cleaner, hardworking made the story super enjoyable.
Part 1 : The Lost Soldier. This part felt less like a story and more of a documentation to the his life and while it took me a bit to fully invest in the story, starting off a little slowly, but as you began seeing what Stephen was going through as a adult. You began to feel bad for his situation and all the hardships he was going through at a very very short amount of time.
After finishing Part 1 and flipping the story you immediately want and need to continue. By the end of Part 1 I couldn't wait to get consumed into the next part.
Part 2 : Arnie Eats An Ice Cream. This part tells you what happens after cleaned up the fragments of his life, moving him in a different location, showing you different people and showing a new 'love' interest. Claire will always be my favorite because of all she did for Steve throughout the story, but i do see how he becomes enthralled in other people. The part once started continues quickly until the jaw dropping ending.
The story put together was a wonderful experience. I loved being able to read an entire life in two different parts of life. Seeing both the difficult and painful chapters in his life and then the cleaner, hardworking made the story super enjoyable.
September 19, 2026
The Lost Soldier and Arnie Eats an Ice Cream by Dr Elizabeth Heapy is a thriller with a unique tête-bêche format, with two stories bound within the same book, each beginning at opposite ends.
The first part, The Lost Soldier, didn’t initially feel like a conventional story to me, but more like a document of events. As it is based on true events, this gave it a sense of authenticity and brought back fond memories of the era. It is interspersed with accounts from the main person involved, which added a deeper layer to the story.
As I continued reading, I found myself becoming more and more invested in Stephen’s story. It kept me reading, although at times I felt almost as though I was imposing on his private thoughts and experiences. That, to me, is a testament to Dr Heapy’s writing. There was also a certain naivety to Stephen’s perspective which made me warm to him and his story.
This is a very sad story that follows a downward spiral. I felt Stephen was instinctively a good person who made bad choices after receiving devastating news and finding himself with nowhere to turn. His circumstances made it difficult not to feel some sympathy for him, even when I didn’t agree with his decisions.
There is a pivotal moment when The Lost Soldier becomes Arnie Eats an Ice Cream, and the two parts begin to come together in a way that gives the book another dimension.
At times, the writing is descriptive in a rather crass and humorous way, which I felt suited the time period and, despite the darker subject matter, occasionally made me smile. I particularly liked Stephen as a person. Although troubled and clearly struggling, he still felt like a decent person underneath it all.
This is an unusual and thought-provoking book, and the tête-bêche format makes the reading experience particularly interesting. I found myself much more invested in Stephen’s story as it progressed, and although his journey is a sad one, there was something very human about it. I think the combination of true events, period detail, humour and a troubled but likeable central character makes this a story that will stay with me.
The first part, The Lost Soldier, didn’t initially feel like a conventional story to me, but more like a document of events. As it is based on true events, this gave it a sense of authenticity and brought back fond memories of the era. It is interspersed with accounts from the main person involved, which added a deeper layer to the story.
As I continued reading, I found myself becoming more and more invested in Stephen’s story. It kept me reading, although at times I felt almost as though I was imposing on his private thoughts and experiences. That, to me, is a testament to Dr Heapy’s writing. There was also a certain naivety to Stephen’s perspective which made me warm to him and his story.
This is a very sad story that follows a downward spiral. I felt Stephen was instinctively a good person who made bad choices after receiving devastating news and finding himself with nowhere to turn. His circumstances made it difficult not to feel some sympathy for him, even when I didn’t agree with his decisions.
There is a pivotal moment when The Lost Soldier becomes Arnie Eats an Ice Cream, and the two parts begin to come together in a way that gives the book another dimension.
At times, the writing is descriptive in a rather crass and humorous way, which I felt suited the time period and, despite the darker subject matter, occasionally made me smile. I particularly liked Stephen as a person. Although troubled and clearly struggling, he still felt like a decent person underneath it all.
This is an unusual and thought-provoking book, and the tête-bêche format makes the reading experience particularly interesting. I found myself much more invested in Stephen’s story as it progressed, and although his journey is a sad one, there was something very human about it. I think the combination of true events, period detail, humour and a troubled but likeable central character makes this a story that will stay with me.
September 21, 2026
The Lost Soldier/Arnie Eats An Ice Cream
Review Post
THE READALONG HAS SADLY COME TO AN END. THIS IS MY REVIEW TO WRAP IT UP BUT DO NOT WORRY THERE ARE MORE TO COME AS WELL AS SOME RUNNING NOW!! THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO JOINED IN WITH THE QUESTIONS AND LOOKING FORWARD TO YOUR NEXT ANSWERS!! SEE YOU THERE
Well I must say that when I first received this I was definitely intimidated by the sheer size! It is DEFINITELY the biggest book I have ever read. However, not the longest (that award goes to The Stand by Stephen King!). Do NOT let the size or length put you off giving this book a read as it is most definitely worth it!! It is actually two books in one with the total being 702 pages. Part 1 is called 'The Lost Soldier' and is just 301 pages long and Part 2 which is called 'Arnie Eats An Ice Cream' and is a bit longer with 381 pages. I absolutely LOVE the fact that you have to physically flip the book over and upside down to change story! Absolutely brilliant and definitely unique! Although it does state that this book can begin from either side I would, personally, say that it really does need to be started with The Lost Soldier story which takes us through Steve's life as a young child, losing his father and then growing older and getting in trouble. Arnie Eats An Ice Cream continues with Steve as an adult and getting into even more trouble but doing so under the Secret Services.
I thoroughly enjoyed both stories but would say that out of them both I preferred The Lost Soldier. The whole book is extremely well written and the vivid and emotive descriptions really puts the reader in the storyline! I loved how The Lost Soldier was written through the perspective of Dr Elizabeth Heapy, a psychiatrist, and the author of this story which really has you thinking if it is factor fiction. It is masterfully thought about and written! The storyline itself is packed with romance, family, friendship, secrets, violence, love, mystery, danger, drama, action, emotion, regret, heartache, loss and so very much more!!
Review Post
THE READALONG HAS SADLY COME TO AN END. THIS IS MY REVIEW TO WRAP IT UP BUT DO NOT WORRY THERE ARE MORE TO COME AS WELL AS SOME RUNNING NOW!! THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO JOINED IN WITH THE QUESTIONS AND LOOKING FORWARD TO YOUR NEXT ANSWERS!! SEE YOU THERE
Well I must say that when I first received this I was definitely intimidated by the sheer size! It is DEFINITELY the biggest book I have ever read. However, not the longest (that award goes to The Stand by Stephen King!). Do NOT let the size or length put you off giving this book a read as it is most definitely worth it!! It is actually two books in one with the total being 702 pages. Part 1 is called 'The Lost Soldier' and is just 301 pages long and Part 2 which is called 'Arnie Eats An Ice Cream' and is a bit longer with 381 pages. I absolutely LOVE the fact that you have to physically flip the book over and upside down to change story! Absolutely brilliant and definitely unique! Although it does state that this book can begin from either side I would, personally, say that it really does need to be started with The Lost Soldier story which takes us through Steve's life as a young child, losing his father and then growing older and getting in trouble. Arnie Eats An Ice Cream continues with Steve as an adult and getting into even more trouble but doing so under the Secret Services.
I thoroughly enjoyed both stories but would say that out of them both I preferred The Lost Soldier. The whole book is extremely well written and the vivid and emotive descriptions really puts the reader in the storyline! I loved how The Lost Soldier was written through the perspective of Dr Elizabeth Heapy, a psychiatrist, and the author of this story which really has you thinking if it is factor fiction. It is masterfully thought about and written! The storyline itself is packed with romance, family, friendship, secrets, violence, love, mystery, danger, drama, action, emotion, regret, heartache, loss and so very much more!!
September 22, 2026
Thank you LBT for having me on this read along. It’s been so much fun and this book was good. And I so appreciate being able to have a copy of this book.
Ok so I don’t know what you call 2 books in one. Is there a name for it ? I don’t know but I loved this book. I will say though for me at times I was a bit confused and a little lost. I just couldn’t tell who was telling the story at times and It didn’t hinder me from the book I just do wish it was maybe set up a little differently so was a little easier to follow.
But this was a good story I really enjoyed The Lost Solider to me felt like I was inside a documentary which I loved especially since this was based on a true story. Once I kept reading it did start to make more sense and I was really invested in Stephen’s story I felt for him and the writing of this Dr was so good. I at times felt like I was inside Stephen’s head and this story is just so sad and you don’t realize how much of this book relates to me. Just it’s all in how you handle things. He was a good person who just made not so good decisions. I feel this. I’m a good person but sometimes even as an adult I make awful decisions!!
I really like how seemingly smooth the transition was into Arnie Eats Ice Cream and how the stories really came together and it’s super descriptive and I loved it. So so good I feel like this is the type of book I can read again and find something I missed. I think I may do that.
This book was so good. The author did an amazing job of writing this and combing and I thought Arnie part of the book was darker than the first part which I liked more. It shows the grown up version of Stephen and how his childhood really impacted him. I love the nostalgia I got from this book!!
Gosh this was such a good book. Highly recommend!!
Ok so I don’t know what you call 2 books in one. Is there a name for it ? I don’t know but I loved this book. I will say though for me at times I was a bit confused and a little lost. I just couldn’t tell who was telling the story at times and It didn’t hinder me from the book I just do wish it was maybe set up a little differently so was a little easier to follow.
But this was a good story I really enjoyed The Lost Solider to me felt like I was inside a documentary which I loved especially since this was based on a true story. Once I kept reading it did start to make more sense and I was really invested in Stephen’s story I felt for him and the writing of this Dr was so good. I at times felt like I was inside Stephen’s head and this story is just so sad and you don’t realize how much of this book relates to me. Just it’s all in how you handle things. He was a good person who just made not so good decisions. I feel this. I’m a good person but sometimes even as an adult I make awful decisions!!
I really like how seemingly smooth the transition was into Arnie Eats Ice Cream and how the stories really came together and it’s super descriptive and I loved it. So so good I feel like this is the type of book I can read again and find something I missed. I think I may do that.
This book was so good. The author did an amazing job of writing this and combing and I thought Arnie part of the book was darker than the first part which I liked more. It shows the grown up version of Stephen and how his childhood really impacted him. I love the nostalgia I got from this book!!
Gosh this was such a good book. Highly recommend!!
September 23, 2026
What an interesting story and format. This story tells the tale of a young man who honestly is given a tough start, and then we watch his slow descent into what many would describe as madness. I don't like that word - and really I'm not sure how accurate it is. The world is full of shades of grey, and the poor guy experiences some really strange starts to life.
That said, this is a really intense - and incredibly long - read so you really need to make sure you're ready for it. It is incredibly violent, includes graphic descriptions, more than one attempt of SA, murder, and tons of other really intense stuff. So, this is in now way a light read. So make sure you're prepared for a heavy investment both emotionally and timewise.
I can't really say if I liked the main character, but I'm not one to say that main characters have to be likeable. I have enjoyed books where none of the characters were likeable. I did however really like Claire.
I don't want to give too much away, but you should definitely peruse some of my favorite questions from this readalong and check out the blurb. This is definitely a book that will resonate with a lot of readers, and it is really fun that it comes from around the time I was born (I was born in the mid-1980s).
I hope the author writes more in the future. Their style is unique and fun! The tetebeche flip over in the middle style was especially fun! It was also really cool how I had to keep reminding myself that it was fiction and not an actual memoir.
That said, this is a really intense - and incredibly long - read so you really need to make sure you're ready for it. It is incredibly violent, includes graphic descriptions, more than one attempt of SA, murder, and tons of other really intense stuff. So, this is in now way a light read. So make sure you're prepared for a heavy investment both emotionally and timewise.
I can't really say if I liked the main character, but I'm not one to say that main characters have to be likeable. I have enjoyed books where none of the characters were likeable. I did however really like Claire.
I don't want to give too much away, but you should definitely peruse some of my favorite questions from this readalong and check out the blurb. This is definitely a book that will resonate with a lot of readers, and it is really fun that it comes from around the time I was born (I was born in the mid-1980s).
I hope the author writes more in the future. Their style is unique and fun! The tetebeche flip over in the middle style was especially fun! It was also really cool how I had to keep reminding myself that it was fiction and not an actual memoir.
September 21, 2026
What a unique reading experience this was for me. One I havent had in a long time. Despite being an absolutely massive book that looked like a med school textbook, it was thankfully easy to read and written in a very approachable way.
I loved that for a thriller, there was still great humour throughout, even alongside some really tough subject matter. I appreciated that as it’s exactly what I do in real life. Humour is how I deal with difficult or uncomfortable things, so having those two things sit side by side felt natural to me. That’s probably what I appreciated most of all with this one, just how authentic it felt overall.
I loved the exploration of early childhood. The effect those first exposures and experiences can have on us throughout our lives. The author captured the complexity of Stephen’s struggles without making anything feel too simple.
I LOVED having to physically flip the book over for Part Two. It reminded me of the Choose Your Own Adventure books I used to read as a kid and made the whole reading experience even more fun and memorable. We need more fun little things like that in the bookish world!
An absolutely unique read! I’m excited to find the right person to recommend it to.
I loved that for a thriller, there was still great humour throughout, even alongside some really tough subject matter. I appreciated that as it’s exactly what I do in real life. Humour is how I deal with difficult or uncomfortable things, so having those two things sit side by side felt natural to me. That’s probably what I appreciated most of all with this one, just how authentic it felt overall.
I loved the exploration of early childhood. The effect those first exposures and experiences can have on us throughout our lives. The author captured the complexity of Stephen’s struggles without making anything feel too simple.
I LOVED having to physically flip the book over for Part Two. It reminded me of the Choose Your Own Adventure books I used to read as a kid and made the whole reading experience even more fun and memorable. We need more fun little things like that in the bookish world!
An absolutely unique read! I’m excited to find the right person to recommend it to.
September 21, 2026
This is a new concept to me, a tête-bêche where there are two stories in one from different perspectives beginning at opposite ends of a life.
The Lost Soldier is almost like reading case file notes, which to me was fantastic, I was so engaged and could have read a whole another 300 pages of it! You really get under the skin of the character.
When you get to the middle, I am not sure if you can ever be ready for the switch!
Arnie Eats an Ice Cream is all an undercover life, but in a completely different way - you will be heartbroken I really was!
When I started reading and from the cover text, I had no clue what would lie within, and I think like other reviewers I really enjoyed learning about the IRA, SAS and all other secret things!
I really would recommend this, I would read this again and I would love to have any extra excerpts sent to me about the characters life to continue reading as I am sure there is so much more to him than we learnt!
There is so much atmosphere throughout both parts, the first in the mind and the second in the world. I really enjoyed this journey
The Lost Soldier is almost like reading case file notes, which to me was fantastic, I was so engaged and could have read a whole another 300 pages of it! You really get under the skin of the character.
When you get to the middle, I am not sure if you can ever be ready for the switch!
Arnie Eats an Ice Cream is all an undercover life, but in a completely different way - you will be heartbroken I really was!
When I started reading and from the cover text, I had no clue what would lie within, and I think like other reviewers I really enjoyed learning about the IRA, SAS and all other secret things!
I really would recommend this, I would read this again and I would love to have any extra excerpts sent to me about the characters life to continue reading as I am sure there is so much more to him than we learnt!
There is so much atmosphere throughout both parts, the first in the mind and the second in the world. I really enjoyed this journey
September 21, 2026
This was such a unique experience and I feel so lucky to have read this book. What a book - heavy in weight, heavy in story, heavy in the lasting memory it left me with.
Part One is about Stephen’s early life growing up with his mum and dad, military blood in his veins and lineage. I loved his relationship with Andy, his friendship with Ray - an opportunity for stability and happy halcyon times, and of course his relationship with Claire. But there is anger and vengeance within Stephen that materialises in his journey to adulthood.
Part Two, inspired by real events, picks up a later stage in his life. I found this part equally compelling, set largely in Ireland during The Troubles. The story interweaves seamlessly with the main characters, as well as introducing new people in Steve’s life such as Jayne, Rob and Alyson. Steve is still angry and vengeful, seeking answers to questions and uncertainty from his past.
This is a remarkable book. I would encourage anyone to not be put off by the size, it reads easily and flows smoothly. I loved the concept of the two books combined into one. Just brilliant.
Part One is about Stephen’s early life growing up with his mum and dad, military blood in his veins and lineage. I loved his relationship with Andy, his friendship with Ray - an opportunity for stability and happy halcyon times, and of course his relationship with Claire. But there is anger and vengeance within Stephen that materialises in his journey to adulthood.
Part Two, inspired by real events, picks up a later stage in his life. I found this part equally compelling, set largely in Ireland during The Troubles. The story interweaves seamlessly with the main characters, as well as introducing new people in Steve’s life such as Jayne, Rob and Alyson. Steve is still angry and vengeful, seeking answers to questions and uncertainty from his past.
This is a remarkable book. I would encourage anyone to not be put off by the size, it reads easily and flows smoothly. I loved the concept of the two books combined into one. Just brilliant.
September 11, 2026
You Could tell Stephen was a disturbed child reading about the fights and the killing room and you kind of get a sense of where it was going because of the alcoholism and constant need to protect people and violence.
Even though he acts as a vigilante, you do feel sorry for Stephen, he has to deal with so much loss and is then hospitalised before the inevitable happens. I found this quite a hard read in the beginning as I felt it was more of a biography rather than fiction but that may be down to being written by a psychologist. About a third of the way through part 1 I did find it got easier especially as Stephen got older and left school.
Arnie Eats Ice-cream - part 2
In my opinion start with part 1 - this story picks up where part 1 leaves off and in my opinion makes more sense. This part is not written from the doctors point of view so feels a lot more personal. You get to know Stephen as a a person rather than a subject and the added twist at the end was a good finale to the story.
Even though he acts as a vigilante, you do feel sorry for Stephen, he has to deal with so much loss and is then hospitalised before the inevitable happens. I found this quite a hard read in the beginning as I felt it was more of a biography rather than fiction but that may be down to being written by a psychologist. About a third of the way through part 1 I did find it got easier especially as Stephen got older and left school.
Arnie Eats Ice-cream - part 2
In my opinion start with part 1 - this story picks up where part 1 leaves off and in my opinion makes more sense. This part is not written from the doctors point of view so feels a lot more personal. You get to know Stephen as a a person rather than a subject and the added twist at the end was a good finale to the story.
September 21, 2026
The Lost Soldier/Arnie Eats An Icecream is such a unique book - it’s a tête-bêche format with two stories in one book. You read part one ‘The Lost Soldier’ and then you turn the book around and read ‘Arnie Eats An Icecream’. It’s such an interesting concept and it appealed to me straight away.
Part One follows Stephen and the story is both personal and thought provoking. It was hard not to feel sorry for him at times. It’s a very unique reading experience to suddenly go back to the start of the story again and see how it all comes together. It’s a well written book and there is so much going on. I’m really glad that I read this book and joined the readalong as stopping to answer questions along the way really contributed to my enjoyment of the story.
Part One follows Stephen and the story is both personal and thought provoking. It was hard not to feel sorry for him at times. It’s a very unique reading experience to suddenly go back to the start of the story again and see how it all comes together. It’s a well written book and there is so much going on. I’m really glad that I read this book and joined the readalong as stopping to answer questions along the way really contributed to my enjoyment of the story.
September 4, 2026
This book was so good! I did some googling after and didn't realise the rabbit hole I would go down!
I knew nothing of the IRA going into this read, this is Stephen John Cooper's story, written from two sides, Elizabeth's version and Stephen's as such. We meet Claire in part one, and Alyson in part two. Both intertwined and special in their own way but with the flip over being part of the story also, there's a fine line between reality and fiction!
The cover says you can be read from either side but I read part one then two, for me, it made more sense that way. It's such a whirlwind of a story and I'm so glad I got to read it!
I knew nothing of the IRA going into this read, this is Stephen John Cooper's story, written from two sides, Elizabeth's version and Stephen's as such. We meet Claire in part one, and Alyson in part two. Both intertwined and special in their own way but with the flip over being part of the story also, there's a fine line between reality and fiction!
The cover says you can be read from either side but I read part one then two, for me, it made more sense that way. It's such a whirlwind of a story and I'm so glad I got to read it!
September 28, 2026
The Lost Soldier/Arnie Eats an Ice Cream was such an interesting book. It was divided into 2 parts based on the 2 parts of Stephen‘s life, and the cool part is that part 1, The Lost Soldier, is on one side of the book. Then, you flip the book over and part 2, Arnie Eats an Ice Cream is on the other side. The Lost Soldier is great, and you will be entertained, but Arnie Eats an Ice Cream is the part of the story where all the twists, turns, and revelations are. I loved both parts and rate the entire thing as ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️!
August 18, 2026
The Lost Soldier/Arnie eats ice cream is an interesting book. First of all the size is nothing that I have ever encountered except in a textbook. It's considered a tete beche style book featuring two different tales that are connected in a fascinating way.
The first side is The Lost Soldier, which features Stephen. His father died in service and his mother was incapable of taking care of him. Stephen suffered through mental illness, grief, and other different types of trauma. I have noticed Stephen also has the worst luck and ends up in some terrible situations.
Then you flip over to Arnie Eats ice cream and the story pivots in a mysterious way and also has a historical element to it. It also introduces some characters that make you question why.
This was an interesting book, from its narrative, size, and style. I did find myself bored at times and the story was a lot more character driven. I did appreciate what the author was trying to do, but it’s not something that I would reach for in the future.
Thank you to Dog House Press and Love Book Tours for the opportunity to read this interesting book.
The first side is The Lost Soldier, which features Stephen. His father died in service and his mother was incapable of taking care of him. Stephen suffered through mental illness, grief, and other different types of trauma. I have noticed Stephen also has the worst luck and ends up in some terrible situations.
Then you flip over to Arnie Eats ice cream and the story pivots in a mysterious way and also has a historical element to it. It also introduces some characters that make you question why.
This was an interesting book, from its narrative, size, and style. I did find myself bored at times and the story was a lot more character driven. I did appreciate what the author was trying to do, but it’s not something that I would reach for in the future.
Thank you to Dog House Press and Love Book Tours for the opportunity to read this interesting book.
September 19, 2026
My thoughts on The Lost Solider/Arnie Eats an Ice Cream
2 sides of Stephen Cooper’s story woven together in one incredible Tête-bêche.
Part 1: The Lost Solider gives us the beginnings of Stephens story and it’s a troubling one . A mother struggling with alcohol addiction, a father who is predominately absent, mostly by choice as he tries to avoid the family home and on top of that he is exposed to things that are far greater than his years, an example of this would be guns and being allowed to reenact the goings on of a kill house.
It’s easy to see how all of the these adverse childhood experiences could impact the man he grows to become. The Lost Solider read very much as an almost memoir which made me feel a much stronger connection to Stephen. At times I could see where things were going and I wanted to jump in and save him from making the wrong choice. I may have disagreed with his thoughts and actions but under it all I could still see the vulnerable little boy.
Part 2: Arnie Eats and Ice Cream brings us an older version of Stephen. One clearly affected by his childhood. This side of the book induces far more feelings and is a lot darker than part 1. A story of Stephens difficult navigation of his own relationships, choices and his own identify and perception in the world around him. A desperately sad story but also what felt like a very real one.
I loved the reference to Coventry. I live very close and even have family laid to rest in Canley Crematorium. It made the story even more real and connectable.
I also really enjoyed the nostalgic references, things like taping the radio and playing on bmx’s, it took me right back to my youth.
“Bataclarva” – obsessed with the reference to the balaclarva he likened to Batman’s cowl and will forever use this term with my children.
This book was like nothing I have ever read before and I’m unlikely to find anything quite like it again. Stephen’s story will stay with me long after the last page was closed.
2 sides of Stephen Cooper’s story woven together in one incredible Tête-bêche.
Part 1: The Lost Solider gives us the beginnings of Stephens story and it’s a troubling one . A mother struggling with alcohol addiction, a father who is predominately absent, mostly by choice as he tries to avoid the family home and on top of that he is exposed to things that are far greater than his years, an example of this would be guns and being allowed to reenact the goings on of a kill house.
It’s easy to see how all of the these adverse childhood experiences could impact the man he grows to become. The Lost Solider read very much as an almost memoir which made me feel a much stronger connection to Stephen. At times I could see where things were going and I wanted to jump in and save him from making the wrong choice. I may have disagreed with his thoughts and actions but under it all I could still see the vulnerable little boy.
Part 2: Arnie Eats and Ice Cream brings us an older version of Stephen. One clearly affected by his childhood. This side of the book induces far more feelings and is a lot darker than part 1. A story of Stephens difficult navigation of his own relationships, choices and his own identify and perception in the world around him. A desperately sad story but also what felt like a very real one.
I loved the reference to Coventry. I live very close and even have family laid to rest in Canley Crematorium. It made the story even more real and connectable.
I also really enjoyed the nostalgic references, things like taping the radio and playing on bmx’s, it took me right back to my youth.
“Bataclarva” – obsessed with the reference to the balaclarva he likened to Batman’s cowl and will forever use this term with my children.
This book was like nothing I have ever read before and I’m unlikely to find anything quite like it again. Stephen’s story will stay with me long after the last page was closed.
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