A Book A Week

Throughout the pandemic and working from home, my dog Cooper was constantly by my side. Even on the most frustrating days of back-to-back video calls and technology not cooperating, I could always count on him to be there with a wagging tail and smile on his face. More so than ever, I was thankful to have the unwavering friendship of my four-legged friend to get me through the uncertainty and fear that comes with living through a global pandemic. Even better, I was excited to welcome a new puppy Murphy into our home. I saw several friends reading Owen Laukkanen's Deception Cove, but didn't really take notice of it until I realized that the plot centers around a rescue dog. That was all I needed to know before diving into this excellent summer read. 

Mason Burke has made some mistakes in his life. He trusted the wrong people and ended up spending nearly fifteen years in a state penitentiary. While serving his time, he was saved by the most unlikely source. Lucy, a black and white pit bull, was just as untrusting of people as Mason was when the pair met as part of an outreach program. Over the next several weeks, the unlikely duo learned to trust each other. Mason patiently trained Lucy to be an emotional support companion. Just as the pair were becoming inseparable, Lucy was taken away and placed into a new home. Now with his time served, Mason is entering back into society with only the clothes on his back, an empty wallet, and a singular mission. Mason is going to find Lucy. 

Jess is facing a new beginning of her own. The former Marine narrowly escaped the battlefields of Afghanistan. A medical discharge allowed her to finally make her way back home, but there's not much left of the life she left behind. Her husband is dead, and Jess is struggling to manage her own PTSD. Thankfully her service dog Lucy keeps her grounded. Lucy is just about the only thing left in the world that Jess still cares about. Lucy and Jess both find themselves in trouble after Lucy bites the local sheriff. He's taken possession of the dog and means to euthanize her. Jess has vowed to stop at nothing to save the dog who has managed to save her. 

In Deception Cove author Owen Laukkanen tells a stirring story of loyalty and redemption in the form of a  page-turning thriller. Be it the ex-con, former soldier, or even the rescued dog, each of the main characters in this novel is working to overcome the adversities of their past. When faced with a corrupt small-town police force, the three must come together to surmount the odds against them. Laukkanen based the dog in his story on his very own rescue pup who is featured prominently by his side on the back cover of the book. Anyone who has known the love of a dog will no doubt recognize glimmers of their own companion within the pages of this novel. There's a power in building bonds, strength in the connections we form with our friends, family, or even our pets. Deception Cove quietly illustrates that message through the unassuming writing and story that it tells, deceptively reminding us that only in coming together can we overcome. 

For more information visit the author's website, Amazon, and Goodreads. 

(2021, 27)