Las Vegas Review-Journal (Sunday)
Dog links strangers in ‘Deception Cove’
It would be easy for Owen Laukkanen’s superb “Deception Cove” to evolve into just a dog story about the power and love of a devoted canine — and, indeed, that is part of this tale.
But “Deception Cove” also insightfully explores the recovery of former soldiers, prisoners reentering society and how one’s tough exterior can obscure fragile emotions. In “Deception Cove,” second chances are granted.
Marine Jess Winslow returned from Afghanistan with a severe case of posttraumatic stress disorder. During her deployment, her husband, Ty, drowned while he was drunk, leaving her with heavy debt and “not much more than bad memories and no clue what to do with herself next.”
Her only salvation has been her rescue dog, Lucy, so in tune with Jess’ moods that the dog can tell when Jess is about to suffer an attack or is having a nightmare. But now Lucy has been seized by the local sheriff ’s deputy, Kirby Harwood, whose threats to Jess may have caused the therapy dog to attack him. The corrupt Kirby insists that Jess knows where Ty hid a package that he wants.
Jess isn’t the only one concerned about Lucy. Mason Burke has one goal after finishing his prison sentence in Michigan — he wants to find out what happened to Lucy, whom he trained while he was behind bars.
As she did for Jess, Lucy gave Mason a purpose, a will to live and a comfort that he had never experienced. He only wants to know that Lucy is in good hands. But when Mason finds out she may be euthanized, he travels to Deception Cove to
save the dog.
Dog lovers will want to know immediately that Lucy is not harmed and comes out all right.
Still, this series opener is a first-rate thriller with plenty of action that Laukkanen masterfully controls while also delving deep into the personas of Jess and Mason.
Both are fully fleshed-out characters whose strengths and foibles are well explored. Both must find their way to reenter society — Jess because of her PTSD and Mason because he was imprisoned for 15 years, since he was 18 years old.
The author also shows the humanity of even the villains, who sometimes may have plausible, even understandable motives for their actions.
Laukkanen explores the bond that real therapy dogs have with people. Jess knows that “she couldn’t survive without Lucy, not alone. Not for much longer, anyway.”
Yet, at no time does Laukkanen stoop to anthropomorphism. Lucy is a dog — a great dog, but still a dog — making “Deception Cove” even more rich in its storytelling.
More visits with the characters of “Deception Cove” will be most welcomed, as will more time with Lucy.
This series opener is a first-rate thriller with plenty of action that Owen Laukkanen masterfully controls while also delving deep into the personas of Jess and Mason and the bond that real therapy dogs have with people.