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Deception Cove
Listening length: 11 hours and 16 minutes
Former US Marine Jess Winslow reenters civilian life a new widow, with little more to her name than a falling-down house, a medical discharge for PTSD, and a loyal dog named Lucy. The only thing she actually cares about is that dog, a black-and-white pit bull mix who helps her cope with the devastating memories of her time in Afghanistan.
After fifteen years — nearly half his life — in state prison, Mason Burke owns one set of clothes, a wallet, and a photo of Lucy, the service dog he trained while behind bars. Seeking a fresh start, he sets out for Deception Cove, Washington, where the dog now lives.
As soon as Mason knocks on Jess's door, he finds himself in the middle of a standoff between the widow and the deputy county sheriff. When Jess's late husband piloted his final "fishing" expedition, he stole and stashed a valuable package from his drug dealer associates. Now the package is gone, and the sheriff's department has seized Jess's dearest possession — her dog. Unless Jess turns over the missing goods, Lucy will be destroyed.
The last thing Mason wants is to be dragged back into the criminal world. The last thing Jess wants is to trust a stranger. But neither of them can leave a friend, the only good thing in either of their lives, in danger. To rescue Lucy, they'll have to forge an uneasy alliance. And to avoid becoming collateral damage in someone else's private war, they have to fight back — and find a way to conquer their doubts and fears.
Former US Marine Jess Winslow reenters civilian life a new widow, with little more to her name than a falling-down house, a medical discharge for PTSD, and a loyal dog named Lucy. The only thing she actually cares about is that dog, a black-and-white pit bull mix who helps her cope with the devastating memories of her time in Afghanistan.
After fifteen years — nearly half his life — in state prison, Mason Burke owns one set of clothes, a wallet, and a photo of Lucy, the service dog he trained while behind bars. Seeking a fresh start, he sets out for Deception Cove, Washington, where the dog now lives.
As soon as Mason knocks on Jess's door, he finds himself in the middle of a standoff between the widow and the deputy county sheriff. When Jess's late husband piloted his final "fishing" expedition, he stole and stashed a valuable package from his drug dealer associates. Now the package is gone, and the sheriff's department has seized Jess's dearest possession — her dog. Unless Jess turns over the missing goods, Lucy will be destroyed.
The last thing Mason wants is to be dragged back into the criminal world. The last thing Jess wants is to trust a stranger. But neither of them can leave a friend, the only good thing in either of their lives, in danger. To rescue Lucy, they'll have to forge an uneasy alliance. And to avoid becoming collateral damage in someone else's private war, they have to fight back — and find a way to conquer their doubts and fears.
12 pages, Audiobook
First published May 21, 2019
256 people are currently reading
1200 people want to read
About the author
Owen Laukkanen
17 books550 followersOwen Laukkanen's debut thriller, THE PROFESSIONALS, was published by G.P. Putnam's Sons in spring 2012. Its sequel, CRIMINAL ENTERPRISE, will hit stores on March 21, 2013.
An alumnus of the University of British Columbia's Creative Writing BFA program, Laukkanen spent three years in the world of professional poker, traveling to high-stakes tournaments across the globe as a writer for www.PokerListings.com.
A commercial fisherman when he’s not writing, Laukkanen divides his time between Vancouver, British Columbia and Prince Edward Island, Canada.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 332 reviews
May 17, 2019
Owen Laukkanen's new crime thriller series is so atmospheric and gripping, set in the stunning location of the Pacific Northwest coast, in the dying town of Deception Cove, where so many have had their ambitions stifled and dreams shattered. This complex story has two main protagonists, Mason Burke, a recently released ex-convict who has served his time for murder, and ex-Marine and widow, Jess Winslow, suffering from a debilitating PTSD from her Afghanistan tours, isolated in her dilapidated home. Whilst in prison, Mason helped to train Lucy, a pitbull mix dog, as part of his rehabilitation integration programme. Lucy was a terrified and fearful abused dog, that had been rescued. From initially unpromising beginnings, Lucy turns out to be the making of Mason as he comes to love that dog to pieces as he trains her for 6 months, devastated when his time with her comes to an end.
Lucy becomes Jess's loyal and beloved 'companion animal' helping her cope with her recurring nightmares and PTSD, becoming integral in her battle to survive. However, Kirby Harwood, Sheriff Wheeler's Chief Deputy, and his band of dirty local lawmen, are desperate to get their hands on a package hidden by Ty, Jess's dead husband. In their harassing efforts to motivate Jess to locate the package, they have taken Lucy with the intention of destroying her as a dangerous dog. Mason is consumed with the need to find out what happened to Lucy, and does not believe that the dog he trained had become aggressive and dangerous. He has every intention of saving Lucy, no matter what, and travels the long distance to Deception Cove to do so. After prickly beginnings, Jess and Mason begin to forge a bond, initially driven by their common purpose to rescue Lucy. Their relationship strengthens as the dangers they face have them fighting for their lives against all the odds.
Laukkanen has written a thriller that is compulsive and gripping, Lucy is a dog still affected by her earlier abuse, who provides the opportunity for hope and redemption for Mason, and instrumental in supporting Jess through her crippling PTSD. Lucy is the reason for the meeting of two such apparently different people, without her, there would be no reason for their paths to cross. They prove to be what each other needs at a strikingly vulnerable period of their lives, and this includes Lucy, a charismatic presence plagued by her own emotional dog terrors, they knit together into an unbreakable and strong trio. This book is brilliant, full of suspense and tension, and with the winning trio of protagonists, Mason, Jess and Lucy, set amidst the background of a unforgettable dramatic geographical location. Highly recommended to crime fiction and thriller readers and for animal lovers! Many thanks to Hodder and Stoughton for an ARC.
Lucy becomes Jess's loyal and beloved 'companion animal' helping her cope with her recurring nightmares and PTSD, becoming integral in her battle to survive. However, Kirby Harwood, Sheriff Wheeler's Chief Deputy, and his band of dirty local lawmen, are desperate to get their hands on a package hidden by Ty, Jess's dead husband. In their harassing efforts to motivate Jess to locate the package, they have taken Lucy with the intention of destroying her as a dangerous dog. Mason is consumed with the need to find out what happened to Lucy, and does not believe that the dog he trained had become aggressive and dangerous. He has every intention of saving Lucy, no matter what, and travels the long distance to Deception Cove to do so. After prickly beginnings, Jess and Mason begin to forge a bond, initially driven by their common purpose to rescue Lucy. Their relationship strengthens as the dangers they face have them fighting for their lives against all the odds.
Laukkanen has written a thriller that is compulsive and gripping, Lucy is a dog still affected by her earlier abuse, who provides the opportunity for hope and redemption for Mason, and instrumental in supporting Jess through her crippling PTSD. Lucy is the reason for the meeting of two such apparently different people, without her, there would be no reason for their paths to cross. They prove to be what each other needs at a strikingly vulnerable period of their lives, and this includes Lucy, a charismatic presence plagued by her own emotional dog terrors, they knit together into an unbreakable and strong trio. This book is brilliant, full of suspense and tension, and with the winning trio of protagonists, Mason, Jess and Lucy, set amidst the background of a unforgettable dramatic geographical location. Highly recommended to crime fiction and thriller readers and for animal lovers! Many thanks to Hodder and Stoughton for an ARC.
July 20, 2019
I'm a big fan of Owen Laukkanen's series featuring Minnesota BCA agent Kirk Stevens and FBI agent Carla Windermere, and I really enjoyed his stand-alone thriller, Gale Force. Laukkanen now returns with Deception Cove, which races away from the first page in sixth gear and doesn't pause long enough to downshift anywhere along the road to the last. It may be his best book yet.
The novel has three main protagonists. Jess Winslow is an ex-Marine who returns home to Deception Cove on the Washington Coast, psychologically wounded after two tours in Afghanistan. While she's been in the service, her husband has died, leaving her only a ramshackle house and a boatload of trouble. Mason Burke is an ex-con, fresh out of prison after serving fifteen years on a murder charge.
The third character, who brings Winslow and Burke together, is Lucy, a black and white pit bull mix. Lucy was rescued just before being euthanized and was brought together with Burke in a prison program where convicts would work with damaged dogs, preparing them to move on to loving homes. Burke brought Lucy out of her shell and trained her well. The dog then went on for additional training before being given to Winslow as a comfort animal, and in the end, the two wind up comforting each other.
Burke remains emotionally attached to Lucy and upon his release from prison, tries to check up on her. He's not looking to get Lucy back, but he does want to make sure that she's safe and in a good environment. He's shocked to discover that Lucy has bitten someone--a deputy sheriff, no less--and is scheduled to be put down. Burke borrows money, buys a bus ticket to Deception Cove and races off--at least as fast as one can race on a Greyhound bus--in an effort to save Lucy.
Upon arriving in Washington state, Burke meets Winslow who is in serious trouble with the deputy sheriff who was bitten by Lucy and who has taken possession of the dog. The ex-convict and the ex-Marine form a tenuous bond, united by their affection for Lucy and their determination to save her. To say any more would be to say too much, and this is one of those cases where, in my opinion at least, the tease on the book jacket gives way too much away. If you get the book, don't read the tease; just dive in and discover the book's great twists and turns for yourself.
Those who follow the author on Twitter or Facebook will have already met Lucy, who Laukkanen rescued several years ago. She appears to be a great dog in real life and she plays a major role in Deception Cover. I really hope that we will see her, along with Burke and Winslow, again soon. In the meantime, this is an excellent summer read that should appeal to anyone who loves a great thriller.
The novel has three main protagonists. Jess Winslow is an ex-Marine who returns home to Deception Cove on the Washington Coast, psychologically wounded after two tours in Afghanistan. While she's been in the service, her husband has died, leaving her only a ramshackle house and a boatload of trouble. Mason Burke is an ex-con, fresh out of prison after serving fifteen years on a murder charge.
The third character, who brings Winslow and Burke together, is Lucy, a black and white pit bull mix. Lucy was rescued just before being euthanized and was brought together with Burke in a prison program where convicts would work with damaged dogs, preparing them to move on to loving homes. Burke brought Lucy out of her shell and trained her well. The dog then went on for additional training before being given to Winslow as a comfort animal, and in the end, the two wind up comforting each other.
Burke remains emotionally attached to Lucy and upon his release from prison, tries to check up on her. He's not looking to get Lucy back, but he does want to make sure that she's safe and in a good environment. He's shocked to discover that Lucy has bitten someone--a deputy sheriff, no less--and is scheduled to be put down. Burke borrows money, buys a bus ticket to Deception Cove and races off--at least as fast as one can race on a Greyhound bus--in an effort to save Lucy.
Upon arriving in Washington state, Burke meets Winslow who is in serious trouble with the deputy sheriff who was bitten by Lucy and who has taken possession of the dog. The ex-convict and the ex-Marine form a tenuous bond, united by their affection for Lucy and their determination to save her. To say any more would be to say too much, and this is one of those cases where, in my opinion at least, the tease on the book jacket gives way too much away. If you get the book, don't read the tease; just dive in and discover the book's great twists and turns for yourself.
Those who follow the author on Twitter or Facebook will have already met Lucy, who Laukkanen rescued several years ago. She appears to be a great dog in real life and she plays a major role in Deception Cover. I really hope that we will see her, along with Burke and Winslow, again soon. In the meantime, this is an excellent summer read that should appeal to anyone who loves a great thriller.
August 11, 2020
This book had everything I could hope for in a thriller. There is gripping, edge-of-the-seat suspense and danger, but it also contains a lot of heart. The story drew me in emotionally, sometimes bringing happy tears to my eyes, or causing me to gasp in fear for the protagonists and the surprising twists.
It has car chases, boats sinking, valiant rescues, battles where the antagonists have not only an arsenal of big guns but also a grenade launcher.
I had to restrain myself from glancing at the closing pages, anxious to learn the outcome and who had survived. I believe this is one of those rare action stories which would appeal equally to women who enjoy a frantic, compelling adventure with a lot of tension, and to male readers as well. There’s is also a budding, if unlikely, romance. Dog lovers may also enjoy this.
This is a powerful story of healing past mental wounds and redemption. It shows how being discontent with one’s’ present lifestyle can lead to crime, even amongst those charged with upholding the law. There is a vivid sense of place. The setting is a small town in decline, and the rainforests and seascapes of the Pacific Northwest, just south of British Columbia. It rains frequently and the dampness permeates the area. The characterizations of the protagonists are superb, and also the descriptions of the villains and minor characters.
The plot revolves around Mason, who has just been released from prison, after 15 years being incarcerated for his involvement in a murder. He missed many of the skills, relationships, and experiences one learns while growing up, but is determined to lead a good life and to stay out of trouble. As part of a prison program, Mason spent 6 months training a dog, Lucy, to become a companion or trauma dog. Lucy was a frightened part pit bull mix with a history of abuse. Finally, Mason and Lucy bonded, and he was sad when it was time for the dog to be placed in a new home. Determined to learn if Lucy is well cared for, Mason travels across the country to find if Lucy has now settled into her new surroundings.
He finds that Lucy has been placed as a companion dog for Jess, a female Marine suffering from PTSD after several deployments to Afghanistan. Lucy has been very protective of Jess and comforts her from the stress of flashbacks. She is recently a widow and trusts no one, especially Mason who shows up at her door. He learns much to his dismay that Lucy bit a law officer and is about to be killed.
The plot thickens. It seems that the local police are determined to learn the whereabouts of a parcel that her dead husband hid, and the dog was taken in retaliation when she told them she knows nothing about the missing item. Mason and Jess join forces to recover Lucy before she is put to death. This leads them into great danger and to the discovery of an international criminal conspiracy where the stakes are very high and deadly for all concerned.
I was happy to learn this is just the first book in a series.
It has car chases, boats sinking, valiant rescues, battles where the antagonists have not only an arsenal of big guns but also a grenade launcher.
I had to restrain myself from glancing at the closing pages, anxious to learn the outcome and who had survived. I believe this is one of those rare action stories which would appeal equally to women who enjoy a frantic, compelling adventure with a lot of tension, and to male readers as well. There’s is also a budding, if unlikely, romance. Dog lovers may also enjoy this.
This is a powerful story of healing past mental wounds and redemption. It shows how being discontent with one’s’ present lifestyle can lead to crime, even amongst those charged with upholding the law. There is a vivid sense of place. The setting is a small town in decline, and the rainforests and seascapes of the Pacific Northwest, just south of British Columbia. It rains frequently and the dampness permeates the area. The characterizations of the protagonists are superb, and also the descriptions of the villains and minor characters.
The plot revolves around Mason, who has just been released from prison, after 15 years being incarcerated for his involvement in a murder. He missed many of the skills, relationships, and experiences one learns while growing up, but is determined to lead a good life and to stay out of trouble. As part of a prison program, Mason spent 6 months training a dog, Lucy, to become a companion or trauma dog. Lucy was a frightened part pit bull mix with a history of abuse. Finally, Mason and Lucy bonded, and he was sad when it was time for the dog to be placed in a new home. Determined to learn if Lucy is well cared for, Mason travels across the country to find if Lucy has now settled into her new surroundings.
He finds that Lucy has been placed as a companion dog for Jess, a female Marine suffering from PTSD after several deployments to Afghanistan. Lucy has been very protective of Jess and comforts her from the stress of flashbacks. She is recently a widow and trusts no one, especially Mason who shows up at her door. He learns much to his dismay that Lucy bit a law officer and is about to be killed.
The plot thickens. It seems that the local police are determined to learn the whereabouts of a parcel that her dead husband hid, and the dog was taken in retaliation when she told them she knows nothing about the missing item. Mason and Jess join forces to recover Lucy before she is put to death. This leads them into great danger and to the discovery of an international criminal conspiracy where the stakes are very high and deadly for all concerned.
I was happy to learn this is just the first book in a series.
July 24, 2022
I’m a YUUUGE dog lover and I recently lost my own dog, so I would usually avoid dog stories. Often, they are heartbreaking. I enjoyed this tale of a relationship between three wounded characters…an ex-con, a discharged marine with PTSD and a rescued pit bull mix dog named Lucy.
It is described as a thriller, but I was more entertained by the characters than the action. The ex-con wasn’t good with a gun, the female marine was a sharpshooter, and Lucy the loveable pit bull always skedaddled when the going got rough. 😄
I loved knowing that this author’s inspiration for the novel was his own rescued pit bull named Lucy. I could feel that love. Great Story!
It is described as a thriller, but I was more entertained by the characters than the action. The ex-con wasn’t good with a gun, the female marine was a sharpshooter, and Lucy the loveable pit bull always skedaddled when the going got rough. 😄
I loved knowing that this author’s inspiration for the novel was his own rescued pit bull named Lucy. I could feel that love. Great Story!
July 20, 2019
3.5 🐶 🐶 🐶
As thrillers go this is pretty standard. Lots of guns, violence, drugs, and bodies—you know, guy-lit.
What separates this from the pack for me is the ex-marine she-ro and her PTSD therapy dog named for the author’s real life rescued pit bull Lucy who has equal billing with the humans. It also didn’t hurt that I just got back from vacation in the area where it’s set so the atmosphere was extra palpable. Predictable? Yep. Did that matter? Nope. I was ready for a good wine book which is one where you can keep drinking and not suffer plot confusion or prose fatigue and it delivered nicely with a lot of heart and soul.
Truth—he had me from the first “woof.”
As thrillers go this is pretty standard. Lots of guns, violence, drugs, and bodies—you know, guy-lit.
What separates this from the pack for me is the ex-marine she-ro and her PTSD therapy dog named for the author’s real life rescued pit bull Lucy who has equal billing with the humans. It also didn’t hurt that I just got back from vacation in the area where it’s set so the atmosphere was extra palpable. Predictable? Yep. Did that matter? Nope. I was ready for a good wine book which is one where you can keep drinking and not suffer plot confusion or prose fatigue and it delivered nicely with a lot of heart and soul.
Truth—he had me from the first “woof.”
October 15, 2020
Wow.
What a fast read!
I almost sent this book back to Amazon.
Usually I dislike books that feature a dog as a major character. I love dogs. I lost my last two dogs back in 2004. It hit me hard. I can never take the loss of another heartbreaker like those two.
So ...once I realized that this a story centered around a little pit bull I almost bailed.
So glad I hung on and read the entire novel.
One of the most action packed, page-turners I've read all year.
Terrific cast of characters, good and bad.
You've got the little dog - a rescue animal trained by a convict in Chippewa State Prison in Michigan who went in for murder as a teenager and is in the final two years of a fifteen year stretch; you've got a former Marine -a woman recently widowed who served 3 tours of duty in Afghanistan and suffers from PTSD and is assigned the pit bull to help alleviate her night terrors; you've got some cold-blooded local thugs who are trying to locate a mysterious "package" the Marine's late husband apparently stole from the bad guys and you've got an even scarier guy who shows up about halfway through the novel.
And now I've gone and typed too much...
I'll end this here.
Most exciting novel I've read all year.
Highest possible recommendation!
What a fast read!
I almost sent this book back to Amazon.
Usually I dislike books that feature a dog as a major character. I love dogs. I lost my last two dogs back in 2004. It hit me hard. I can never take the loss of another heartbreaker like those two.
So ...once I realized that this a story centered around a little pit bull I almost bailed.
So glad I hung on and read the entire novel.
One of the most action packed, page-turners I've read all year.
Terrific cast of characters, good and bad.
You've got the little dog - a rescue animal trained by a convict in Chippewa State Prison in Michigan who went in for murder as a teenager and is in the final two years of a fifteen year stretch; you've got a former Marine -a woman recently widowed who served 3 tours of duty in Afghanistan and suffers from PTSD and is assigned the pit bull to help alleviate her night terrors; you've got some cold-blooded local thugs who are trying to locate a mysterious "package" the Marine's late husband apparently stole from the bad guys and you've got an even scarier guy who shows up about halfway through the novel.
And now I've gone and typed too much...
I'll end this here.
Most exciting novel I've read all year.
Highest possible recommendation!
May 29, 2019
Having loved his Stevens and Windermere mystery series I was eager to dive into Laukkanen's brand new series of which Deception Cove in the first instalment, and it certainly didn't disappoint. This is a first-rate, clever crime thriller which is fast-moving with more twists than a pretzel bag and the writing is so wonderfully crisp that the pages almost turn themselves. It's an absorbing and gripping read in which the ominous atmosphere builds and builds to a stifling crescendo. The setting of Cascadia (Pacific Northwest) in a small town devoid of opportunities also adds to the claustrophobia which the author conjures up so well.
The story is complex with multiple threads that all merge as the book progresses. The main characters Mason and Jess are both broken people but for very different reasons. Their paths cross in an entirely unexpected way and they effectively team up against a common foe. This is a fiercely compelling read with suspense aplenty and a setting that is both harsh and beautiful. Above all, this book illustrates the power of animal companions to change the lives of their owners, and I loved that message. The bond between canine Lucy, Jess and Mason is heartwarming to experience and a unique idea for a crime thriller.
I hope this series raises Mr Laukkenens profile considerably as it is clear he is a master storyteller, but so far I don't feel he has had the attention he truly deserves. Many thanks to Mulholland Books for an ARC.
The story is complex with multiple threads that all merge as the book progresses. The main characters Mason and Jess are both broken people but for very different reasons. Their paths cross in an entirely unexpected way and they effectively team up against a common foe. This is a fiercely compelling read with suspense aplenty and a setting that is both harsh and beautiful. Above all, this book illustrates the power of animal companions to change the lives of their owners, and I loved that message. The bond between canine Lucy, Jess and Mason is heartwarming to experience and a unique idea for a crime thriller.
I hope this series raises Mr Laukkenens profile considerably as it is clear he is a master storyteller, but so far I don't feel he has had the attention he truly deserves. Many thanks to Mulholland Books for an ARC.
October 8, 2019
A very tense and well-written suspense novel. Man is dog's best friend, it seems, and an ex-convict's search for the rescue dog he trained in prison leads to the exposure of small-town corruption and to a string of brutal murders and a deadly game of hide and seek on a small island. I love that the toughest character by far is a woman, an ex-marine with courage and determination.
May 26, 2021
A fairly typical suspense novel, with the exception of a strong female lead character and a lovable dog. I don't usually read this genre, but the female veteran and her rescue dog hooked me when I needed something distracting to listen to. This did the trick. The audio was done well, the story had good pacing, and when it ended as could be predicted, it felt comforting rather than eye-rolling, because sometimes a person needs predictable in life to counteract all that's not. I especially appreciated (as a woman) that the female lead was capable, fearless, and did not need to be "rescued" by a stronger man. That said
A decent listen if you like mysteries and capable female characters.
A decent listen if you like mysteries and capable female characters.
July 21, 2019
Who saved who? is a popular slogan for animal rescue organizations and for this novel. At its essence, this is a story about a rescued dog named Lucy, a black and white colored pitbull mix, who was terrified and fearful, presumably from abuse. While serving time for murder in prison, Mason Burke trains her well as part of his rehabilitation program. When finally paroled after 15 years, Mason calls the shelter to check in Lucy's wellbeing only to discover she attacked a local Sheriff and is scheduled to be "put down." Sensing something is seriously amiss, Mason guilts his sister and brother-in-law into a $2,000 loan and heads on a 36-hour bus ride to Deception Cove, located on the unspoiled coastline of the Olympic peninsula in Washington. Upon arrival, he meets Lucy's new owner, a widow and former marine, Jess(ica) Winslow, who is suffering from PTSD, from her Afghanistan tours. Jess is being hounded by Kirby Harwood and his deputies, who are seeking a package they believe was stolen by her deceased husband, Ty. Eventually, they mount a rescue operation for Lucy, and realize their problems cannot end until they resolve the conflict with the corrupt cops, and their patron on a tiny, inaccessible island.
Excellent, complex characters, both major and minor, and unique setting: Deception Cove is a dying town, having lost its primary industry (fishing.) Looking forward to more books in this new series by Owen Laukkanen.
Excellent, complex characters, both major and minor, and unique setting: Deception Cove is a dying town, having lost its primary industry (fishing.) Looking forward to more books in this new series by Owen Laukkanen.
Read
June 9, 2019Before rating I have to get over some "nitpicks" ( that bothered me inordinately). #1 nitpick- Lucy, the dog, seemed to rely more on her eyes than her sense of smell-except for one instance, aaand ...
January 25, 2020
Good suspense with some dog love thrown in. Great characters, good and bad guys. I look forward to more
November 7, 2024
~1.5~
I read this book for the dog (a pittie mix named Lucy), but the setting was so grim and depressing and the female MC, Jess, so unlikable, I skimmed large chunks of the story.
Jess is a former Marine and acts like a straight man's fantasy of a female ex-Marine. She's all badass but not particularly smart. She's constantly threatening people with her shotgun. She gives up her dog without a fight, but they'll have to pry her gun out of her cold, dead hands.
All the characters say "old man" when discussing Jess's late husband. Who the hell talks like that in the Pacific Northwest (or anywhere really)? I legit have never heard anyone use that phrase IRL.
I figured out where the plot was going almost immediately. Police corruption, drugs, and money. Check, check, and CHECK.
I liked Mason, the ex-con, initially, but the constant Bible quotes started to irritate me.
The ending is hella abrupt. Mason gets off the bus.
No, really, that's it. He gets off the bus.
I read this book for the dog (a pittie mix named Lucy), but the setting was so grim and depressing and the female MC, Jess, so unlikable, I skimmed large chunks of the story.
Jess is a former Marine and acts like a straight man's fantasy of a female ex-Marine. She's all badass but not particularly smart. She's constantly threatening people with her shotgun. She gives up her dog without a fight, but they'll have to pry her gun out of her cold, dead hands.
All the characters say "old man" when discussing Jess's late husband. Who the hell talks like that in the Pacific Northwest (or anywhere really)? I legit have never heard anyone use that phrase IRL.
I figured out where the plot was going almost immediately. Police corruption, drugs, and money. Check, check, and CHECK.
I liked Mason, the ex-con, initially, but the constant Bible quotes started to irritate me.
The ending is hella abrupt. Mason gets off the bus.
No, really, that's it. He gets off the bus.
September 4, 2021
I actually listened to this as an audiobook, very well narrated by Courtney Patterson & Kevin Stillwell.
The book is about a man, Mason Burke, a woman, Jess Winslow, and a dog, Lucy. The dog was a rescue dog, part pit bull, who was going to be a fighter, but was rescued before she had to fight. She was sent to prison - not for doing anything wrong, but to be socialized by prisoners as part of a program to help both sides. She was terrified, and afraid of everyone. Burke, who was near the end of a 15 year sentence for a murder he knew nothing about but was legally involved in, wasn't too happy about getting this loser of a dog, but they bonded. When Burke got out of prison, he checked up on the dog and found out she was in trouble for attacking someone in Washington state, and with a bit of digging, discovered where she was and set out to investigate - knowing the dog was not violent.
The dog had been given to Jess, a former Marine who was determined to need a companion animal to help her adjust after some hard times in Afghanistan. Her dog was taken by the local law enforcement for attacking a lowlife deputy who was bad to the bone and was hassling Jess because her dead husband had been mixed up with them in some deal gone bad, and they were looking for something he supposedly had. The dog was being held as bait to get her to cooperate. The entire law enforcement of the small town was a leader in drug making and illegal activities, and did not shy away from outright murder to keep their activities going. But it's also the story of small-town people with little to look forward to making bad decisions that led them down into holes they were unable to dig out of.
The story was a bit of a tear-jerker, I though. Burke and Jess were good people who were getting a raw deal from society, and Lucy brought them together. Unfortunately, this caused a lot of hard times, death and destruction, with never a dull moment. It was hard to put down up until the end.
The book is about a man, Mason Burke, a woman, Jess Winslow, and a dog, Lucy. The dog was a rescue dog, part pit bull, who was going to be a fighter, but was rescued before she had to fight. She was sent to prison - not for doing anything wrong, but to be socialized by prisoners as part of a program to help both sides. She was terrified, and afraid of everyone. Burke, who was near the end of a 15 year sentence for a murder he knew nothing about but was legally involved in, wasn't too happy about getting this loser of a dog, but they bonded. When Burke got out of prison, he checked up on the dog and found out she was in trouble for attacking someone in Washington state, and with a bit of digging, discovered where she was and set out to investigate - knowing the dog was not violent.
The dog had been given to Jess, a former Marine who was determined to need a companion animal to help her adjust after some hard times in Afghanistan. Her dog was taken by the local law enforcement for attacking a lowlife deputy who was bad to the bone and was hassling Jess because her dead husband had been mixed up with them in some deal gone bad, and they were looking for something he supposedly had. The dog was being held as bait to get her to cooperate. The entire law enforcement of the small town was a leader in drug making and illegal activities, and did not shy away from outright murder to keep their activities going. But it's also the story of small-town people with little to look forward to making bad decisions that led them down into holes they were unable to dig out of.
The story was a bit of a tear-jerker, I though. Burke and Jess were good people who were getting a raw deal from society, and Lucy brought them together. Unfortunately, this caused a lot of hard times, death and destruction, with never a dull moment. It was hard to put down up until the end.
May 21, 2019
Desperation and a need for saving reeling you in the formations of events unfolding, dog bonded with human with courage and empowerment, there will be a therapy dog in spot of trouble.
A companion animal, a VA doctor placed Lucy with Jesse an ex-marine, Lucy a therapy animal, a mutt partly pit bull terrier, saved from a den of fighting pit-bulls of many found dead.
Mason Burke, out from doing fifteen stretch inside trying to make a break, find some footing and worth.
Lucy the dog he trained as part of a jail rehabilitation program, he spent six months training this nervous dog and then the dog would go out and help others, is now in trouble and a situation arises to give him that meaning again like when he first partnered with Lucy.
Ex-con, ex-marine, ex-pit-bullfighting rescued dog, amidst a web of corruption and murder, with all the complexities and memories of shadows of the past and ones fortitude in making things right with saving and safety running through this tale.
Three broken hearts and souls need saving through tragedy and conflict with things turning bad on the island Deception Cove in this great tale pulling you in with hopes of justice and peace for the three by the end.
The author has crafted a solid tale successfully building empathy within reader for these memorable characters.
Review also @ More2Read
A companion animal, a VA doctor placed Lucy with Jesse an ex-marine, Lucy a therapy animal, a mutt partly pit bull terrier, saved from a den of fighting pit-bulls of many found dead.
Mason Burke, out from doing fifteen stretch inside trying to make a break, find some footing and worth.
Lucy the dog he trained as part of a jail rehabilitation program, he spent six months training this nervous dog and then the dog would go out and help others, is now in trouble and a situation arises to give him that meaning again like when he first partnered with Lucy.
Ex-con, ex-marine, ex-pit-bullfighting rescued dog, amidst a web of corruption and murder, with all the complexities and memories of shadows of the past and ones fortitude in making things right with saving and safety running through this tale.
Three broken hearts and souls need saving through tragedy and conflict with things turning bad on the island Deception Cove in this great tale pulling you in with hopes of justice and peace for the three by the end.
The author has crafted a solid tale successfully building empathy within reader for these memorable characters.
Review also @ More2Read
July 11, 2020
“But this was Deception Cove in a nutshell, right here. Big dreams dashed, and people dying young.”
—
All in all, a knockout first book and entry into what looks to be a solid series. Not only are the characters genuine and complex, but the action never beers into cinematic ludicrousness. This feels like it’s happening now, happening in places all over the country. While the ending may not quite match the novel’s, there were a lot of places where I felt I’d heard or read a story like this in the news ending tragically.
If the rest of the books can match the caliber of this one, you can count me as a lifelong fan.
Read this book now.
—
All in all, a knockout first book and entry into what looks to be a solid series. Not only are the characters genuine and complex, but the action never beers into cinematic ludicrousness. This feels like it’s happening now, happening in places all over the country. While the ending may not quite match the novel’s, there were a lot of places where I felt I’d heard or read a story like this in the news ending tragically.
If the rest of the books can match the caliber of this one, you can count me as a lifelong fan.
Read this book now.
June 11, 2019
A fun thriller. This first in the series introduced two what seemed an unlikely partnership between a fresh out of prison first degree murder convict and a former Marine with PTSD. The link is a companion-therapy dog name Lucy.
While the plot is good and there were intense fight scenes where our Marine heroine shows her combat skills, the dialogue has room for improvement. Not sure if author was writing as female or it's a Marine way of talking, but sometimes her dialog just doesn't feel right. Overall I really enjoy this book and looking forward to the next one.
While the plot is good and there were intense fight scenes where our Marine heroine shows her combat skills, the dialogue has room for improvement. Not sure if author was writing as female or it's a Marine way of talking, but sometimes her dialog just doesn't feel right. Overall I really enjoy this book and looking forward to the next one.
May 18, 2019
To be reviewed over at Fresh Fiction!
May 22, 2024
DNF at 49%
Predictable, unrealistic.
A dog that comprehends more than a bunch of corrupted deputies together - the element, while interesting at the beginning, becomes increasingly absurd as the plot unfolds - the good "guys" who bored me to death. The writing feels flat and uninspired. I personally can't recommend it, though I can imagine that it could find its audience, the reviews confirm that.
Predictable, unrealistic.
A dog that comprehends more than a bunch of corrupted deputies together - the element, while interesting at the beginning, becomes increasingly absurd as the plot unfolds - the good "guys" who bored me to death. The writing feels flat and uninspired. I personally can't recommend it, though I can imagine that it could find its audience, the reviews confirm that.
April 26, 2019
This book grabbed me from the start. Why? Glad you asked.
1. The characterizations are superb.
Jess and Mason both battle with doubts, fears, and wounds. They battle in different ways, though. Jess tends to plan and shoot, and considers the possibility of suicide. Mason, who reluctantly read the Bible in prison, lets it guide his actions. The tension between the two is clear from the start and it builds throughout the book.
It’s interesting that Laukkanen gives little-to-no physical description of either Mason or Jess. The only thing he mentions is that Mason is muscular. We’re given more physical description of sweet floppy-eared Lucy than our human protagonists! Yet my imagination filled in that gap and I had a distinct mental image of both Jess and Mason. I bet that if I compared mental descriptions with other readers’, our ideas would be different but they’d all be equally valid. I rather like this technique. It’s refreshing not to have a female protagonist’s appearance described in detail, and it’s refreshing to see both genders treated the same in this regard. Their appearance simply doesn’t matter for this story; their personalities and characters do.
2. The antagonists aren’t one-dimensional “bad” guys.
Laukkanen gives us their points of view and we see people like Kirby, his other officers, and the ironically-named drug trafficker Joy as people with aspirations and goals, dreams and fears.
They all have moments of humanity, moments when we, the readers, can identify with them. Who hasn’t dreamed of great accomplishments, only to find the world harder to conquer than we’d realized? Who hasn’t lived with the disappointment of not fulfilling their potential? Or made a wrong decision and lived to regret it? Or want a better life for their family? Or desperate to solve a problem? I can identify with these things. So can the antagonists. It makes them human and desperate, but not beyond redemption.
The terrific characterizations don’t stop with the major characters, though. Even minor characters, such as Shelby (Kirby’s secretary and Ty’s fling), have a surprising amount of depth. Sure, she was screwing Ty while his wife was deployed, but she’s capable of loyalty, courage, and sacrifice.
3. Lucy is a well-developed canine character.
Lucy has her own battles to fight. She was rescued from abusers who planned to use her for dogfights. Thanks to flashbacks to the prison training program, we get to see her grow from a terrified dog, unwilling to leave her kennel, to a loving, if skittish, dog whose loyalty to her troubled owner puts her at risk.
But she’s not one-dimensional, either. She can act perturbed at certain . . . um, bedroom activities, or distressed at Jess’ nightmares, or playful with Mason. She even acts the “traitor” by cozying up to minor characters (to the disgust of her owner) and “helps” Jess and Mason get more information than they otherwise would’ve received. Dogs are natural icebreakers.
4. Laukkanen flips gender expectations.
Without giving away major plot points, let’s just say that there are times when Jess is more knowledgeable about traditionally “male” things than Mason. But Mason has the courage to ask for help and is willing to accept Jess as a leader. That endears him to her and to us.
5. Laukkanen raises the stakes throughout the book.
It’s not enough just to make the situation bad. He has to keep making it worse. And right when I thought things couldn’t get worse, guess what? They do. Plenty of action. Plenty of twists and turns.
This is a powerful novel. The possibility of redemption runs throughout the story. People lose their way, sometimes through their own fault and sometimes not, but they can be rescued. Like Lucy, the rescue dog, they need others to give them a chance. Deception Cove isn’t just another adrenaline rush thriller, easily read and forgotten. This is a story that will haunt you, move you, and make you look at others differently.
(Note: I received a copy of Deception Cove from Netgalley and Mulholland Books in exchange for an honest review. This review also appears on Bookbub. It will also appear on my blog after 5/10/19, and on Amazon after the release date.
1. The characterizations are superb.
Jess and Mason both battle with doubts, fears, and wounds. They battle in different ways, though. Jess tends to plan and shoot, and considers the possibility of suicide. Mason, who reluctantly read the Bible in prison, lets it guide his actions. The tension between the two is clear from the start and it builds throughout the book.
It’s interesting that Laukkanen gives little-to-no physical description of either Mason or Jess. The only thing he mentions is that Mason is muscular. We’re given more physical description of sweet floppy-eared Lucy than our human protagonists! Yet my imagination filled in that gap and I had a distinct mental image of both Jess and Mason. I bet that if I compared mental descriptions with other readers’, our ideas would be different but they’d all be equally valid. I rather like this technique. It’s refreshing not to have a female protagonist’s appearance described in detail, and it’s refreshing to see both genders treated the same in this regard. Their appearance simply doesn’t matter for this story; their personalities and characters do.
2. The antagonists aren’t one-dimensional “bad” guys.
Laukkanen gives us their points of view and we see people like Kirby, his other officers, and the ironically-named drug trafficker Joy as people with aspirations and goals, dreams and fears.
They all have moments of humanity, moments when we, the readers, can identify with them. Who hasn’t dreamed of great accomplishments, only to find the world harder to conquer than we’d realized? Who hasn’t lived with the disappointment of not fulfilling their potential? Or made a wrong decision and lived to regret it? Or want a better life for their family? Or desperate to solve a problem? I can identify with these things. So can the antagonists. It makes them human and desperate, but not beyond redemption.
The terrific characterizations don’t stop with the major characters, though. Even minor characters, such as Shelby (Kirby’s secretary and Ty’s fling), have a surprising amount of depth. Sure, she was screwing Ty while his wife was deployed, but she’s capable of loyalty, courage, and sacrifice.
3. Lucy is a well-developed canine character.
Lucy has her own battles to fight. She was rescued from abusers who planned to use her for dogfights. Thanks to flashbacks to the prison training program, we get to see her grow from a terrified dog, unwilling to leave her kennel, to a loving, if skittish, dog whose loyalty to her troubled owner puts her at risk.
But she’s not one-dimensional, either. She can act perturbed at certain . . . um, bedroom activities, or distressed at Jess’ nightmares, or playful with Mason. She even acts the “traitor” by cozying up to minor characters (to the disgust of her owner) and “helps” Jess and Mason get more information than they otherwise would’ve received. Dogs are natural icebreakers.
4. Laukkanen flips gender expectations.
Without giving away major plot points, let’s just say that there are times when Jess is more knowledgeable about traditionally “male” things than Mason. But Mason has the courage to ask for help and is willing to accept Jess as a leader. That endears him to her and to us.
5. Laukkanen raises the stakes throughout the book.
It’s not enough just to make the situation bad. He has to keep making it worse. And right when I thought things couldn’t get worse, guess what? They do. Plenty of action. Plenty of twists and turns.
This is a powerful novel. The possibility of redemption runs throughout the story. People lose their way, sometimes through their own fault and sometimes not, but they can be rescued. Like Lucy, the rescue dog, they need others to give them a chance. Deception Cove isn’t just another adrenaline rush thriller, easily read and forgotten. This is a story that will haunt you, move you, and make you look at others differently.
(Note: I received a copy of Deception Cove from Netgalley and Mulholland Books in exchange for an honest review. This review also appears on Bookbub. It will also appear on my blog after 5/10/19, and on Amazon after the release date.
October 19, 2020
It can be easy to find fault with the novels of Owen Laukkanen. The critical knock on him, as with Michael Koryta, to whom he's sometimes compared — and it's a fair criticism — has been that his characters tend to be types rather than living, breathing creations, and that they exist in a single dimension as constructions built to be broken to the wheel of his plots. His narratives often fall too far on the wrong side of the show vs. tell divide, with Laukkanen spelling out emotions and motivations that the reader would prefer to have the chance to puzzle out for themselves, thus creating a needlessly distanced reading experience.
All that on-the-nose-ness, however, threatens to overlook something that shouldn't be overlooked: that Laukkanen is a hell of a storyteller. His ideas are often inspired, and his plotting and pacing are light on their feet, and he knows how and where to plant hooks and twists and jack up the stakes for maximum page-turnability. And that's the thriller writer's job above all.
And in DECEPTION COVE, Laukkanen brings the best of his strengths to the table in the debut of a new series featuring characters that stick to the cerebral ribs more than the bland, anodyne heroes of the Stevens-and-Windermere novels that comprised his first series. They come to fully realized life through a powerhouse setup: Mason Burke, convicted of murder even though he never actually killed anyone, is out of prison after fifteen years and wants to reconnect with the only thing that made him feel worthwhile behind bars: Lucy, the pit bull he trained as part of an inmate program. When Mason learns that Lucy is slated to be destroyed after she was impounded from her owner in the coastal town of Deception Cove, Washington, he decides to do what he can to save her. That brings him into the orbit of Jess Winslow, Lucy's owner, a PTSD-afflicted war veteran and new widow; and a cabal of corrupt sheriff's deputies on the hunt for a hidden cache of stolen drugs. In short order, the lives of Mason, Lucy and Jess are thrown into a blender, and, faced with death by law, they make a memorable and inventive final stand on a tiny island off the Washington coast.
In carrying out that ingenious premise, Laukkanen does his job: I never stopped wanting—needing—to know who would live or who would die, psychologically or otherwise. There are better stylists out there, but Laukkanen is nearly without peer at taking a powerful idea, making it plausible, and pounding it through several hundred pages at a galloping pace. DECEPTION COVE is the work of a journeyman storyteller with standout commercial instincts at the height of his powers.
All that on-the-nose-ness, however, threatens to overlook something that shouldn't be overlooked: that Laukkanen is a hell of a storyteller. His ideas are often inspired, and his plotting and pacing are light on their feet, and he knows how and where to plant hooks and twists and jack up the stakes for maximum page-turnability. And that's the thriller writer's job above all.
And in DECEPTION COVE, Laukkanen brings the best of his strengths to the table in the debut of a new series featuring characters that stick to the cerebral ribs more than the bland, anodyne heroes of the Stevens-and-Windermere novels that comprised his first series. They come to fully realized life through a powerhouse setup: Mason Burke, convicted of murder even though he never actually killed anyone, is out of prison after fifteen years and wants to reconnect with the only thing that made him feel worthwhile behind bars: Lucy, the pit bull he trained as part of an inmate program. When Mason learns that Lucy is slated to be destroyed after she was impounded from her owner in the coastal town of Deception Cove, Washington, he decides to do what he can to save her. That brings him into the orbit of Jess Winslow, Lucy's owner, a PTSD-afflicted war veteran and new widow; and a cabal of corrupt sheriff's deputies on the hunt for a hidden cache of stolen drugs. In short order, the lives of Mason, Lucy and Jess are thrown into a blender, and, faced with death by law, they make a memorable and inventive final stand on a tiny island off the Washington coast.
In carrying out that ingenious premise, Laukkanen does his job: I never stopped wanting—needing—to know who would live or who would die, psychologically or otherwise. There are better stylists out there, but Laukkanen is nearly without peer at taking a powerful idea, making it plausible, and pounding it through several hundred pages at a galloping pace. DECEPTION COVE is the work of a journeyman storyteller with standout commercial instincts at the height of his powers.
June 15, 2019
4.5 stars. Give me a book with a hero dog in it and I am one happy reader!
Former US Marine Jess Winslow is a widow with PTSD who has Lucy as her companion dog. Deputy Kirby Harwood thinks Jess knows the location of a package her husband stole so he takes Lucy as leverage. Mason Burke has served 15 years in prison and as soon as he gets out, he tracks Lucy to Jess because he's the one who trained the dog. Jess and Mason are bound and determined to get Lucy back and find the mysterious package.
I love books with dogs. I totally understand Jess and Mason going after the dog. If someone had my dogs, I would absolutely go get them back, come hell or high water. I liked both protagonists Jess and Mason. I did not like Kirby at all. Mason reminded me a little bit of Jack Reacher and that's always an A+ in my grade book. The last quarter of the book is full of action and suspense. I hope this is the beginning of a new series!
4.5 stars
Former US Marine Jess Winslow is a widow with PTSD who has Lucy as her companion dog. Deputy Kirby Harwood thinks Jess knows the location of a package her husband stole so he takes Lucy as leverage. Mason Burke has served 15 years in prison and as soon as he gets out, he tracks Lucy to Jess because he's the one who trained the dog. Jess and Mason are bound and determined to get Lucy back and find the mysterious package.
I love books with dogs. I totally understand Jess and Mason going after the dog. If someone had my dogs, I would absolutely go get them back, come hell or high water. I liked both protagonists Jess and Mason. I did not like Kirby at all. Mason reminded me a little bit of Jack Reacher and that's always an A+ in my grade book. The last quarter of the book is full of action and suspense. I hope this is the beginning of a new series!
4.5 stars
November 10, 2020
Really strong mystery!
March 25, 2021
Don't miss this book! I somehow missed it. I've read most, if not all, of Laukkanen's books including the second one in this series and then realized I'd somehow missed the first. This definitely carlified a few things that I'd read in Lone Jack Trail but this was such a fantastic thriller.
Such an awesome way to start a new series! You can't help but want to either be Mason Burke or his friend. You must have a dog just like Lucy. And I simultaneously want to be Jess Winslow and give her a big hug...though she'd probably slug you if you tried.
It all began because of a dog, Lucy. Mason Burke got to train her while in prison for murder shortly before his release. He can't get Lucy out of his head so upon leaving prison his first order of business is to see if Lucy got sent to a good home. He discovers that she's been accused of biting a Sheriff's deputy and is scheduled to be destroyed. He can not let that happen and hops on a bus to go across the country to the Pacific Northwest nowhere town of Deception Cove to rescue her, like she rescued him. He discover's Lucy's owner, Jess Winslow, is a decorated marine who suffers from PTSD and Lucy bit the local sheriff to protect her. Mason discovers that the Sheriff is up to no good and the in order to make Lucy and Jess safe in her own town something must be done.
Laukkanen really has outdone himself in creating three such memorable characters. The plot is fast paced and exciting, yet scary. The descriptions of the area, the ocean, everything is just perfect - enough to get the sense of it but not so overboard that it bogs down the story. Now I can't wait for another addition to the series. In the meantime I will have to read Lone Jack Trail again now that I have more of the backstory.
Such an awesome way to start a new series! You can't help but want to either be Mason Burke or his friend. You must have a dog just like Lucy. And I simultaneously want to be Jess Winslow and give her a big hug...though she'd probably slug you if you tried.
It all began because of a dog, Lucy. Mason Burke got to train her while in prison for murder shortly before his release. He can't get Lucy out of his head so upon leaving prison his first order of business is to see if Lucy got sent to a good home. He discovers that she's been accused of biting a Sheriff's deputy and is scheduled to be destroyed. He can not let that happen and hops on a bus to go across the country to the Pacific Northwest nowhere town of Deception Cove to rescue her, like she rescued him. He discover's Lucy's owner, Jess Winslow, is a decorated marine who suffers from PTSD and Lucy bit the local sheriff to protect her. Mason discovers that the Sheriff is up to no good and the in order to make Lucy and Jess safe in her own town something must be done.
Laukkanen really has outdone himself in creating three such memorable characters. The plot is fast paced and exciting, yet scary. The descriptions of the area, the ocean, everything is just perfect - enough to get the sense of it but not so overboard that it bogs down the story. Now I can't wait for another addition to the series. In the meantime I will have to read Lone Jack Trail again now that I have more of the backstory.
November 23, 2019
This was a quick read. A suspenseful thriller that revolves around two main characters and the dog, Lucy, that ties them together. Jess is an ex-marine with PTSD, and Mason is a just released convict, who in the wildest of circumstances end up teaming together against a dangerous and deadly crime ring in a Pacific Northwest small town.
Lots of action and a full-tilt pace make this a winning page turner. And, there’s the dog....just makes the story better;)
Lots of action and a full-tilt pace make this a winning page turner. And, there’s the dog....just makes the story better;)
June 29, 2020
I wonder why this author isn't more popular on GR. This was a nailbiting thriller and I had trouble putting it down once I started. The main characters, especially Mason Burke, were very likable. Lucy, the dog, was absolutely adorable. The bad people were unlikable and I was rooting for their just desserts. I was initially intrigued by this because of Barbara Nickless's series with a female vet with a dog. Besides being as good, that's where the similarities end. This was a fun read and I will definitely read the next one in the series.
August 20, 2019
A Marine Afghanistan vet with severe PTSD, a convicted murderer, and a rescue dog that brings them together; throw in some drug runners, and set them down in the Pacific northwest. How can you go wrong?
December 4, 2019
Thoroughly enjoyed this book.
Mason Burke has been in prison in Michigan, serving 15 years for murder. Towards the end of his sentence he is part of an experimental program which meant he was responsible for the rehabilitation and socialization of a rescue pit bull mix named Lucy. Upon his release, Mason decides to find Lucy to see if she’s okay. All he has to go on is a photo of Lucy that identifies a building in Deception Cove, Washington. Of course, against all the rules, Mason strikes out for the west coast. Lucy has been adopted by an ex-marine suffering from PTSD, Jess Winslow.
When Jess returned from her deployment her husband Ty was dead. The circumstances surrounding his death are highly suspicious. When a local deputy sheriff comes to the house asking questions about Ty and threatening Jess, as you would expect Lucy responded.
The deputy is determined to destroy the dog.
When Mason shows up, Jess doesn’t trust him but does recognize his attachment to Lucy. Together, against the town, Jess and Mason learn to trust and work together.
Mason Burke has been in prison in Michigan, serving 15 years for murder. Towards the end of his sentence he is part of an experimental program which meant he was responsible for the rehabilitation and socialization of a rescue pit bull mix named Lucy. Upon his release, Mason decides to find Lucy to see if she’s okay. All he has to go on is a photo of Lucy that identifies a building in Deception Cove, Washington. Of course, against all the rules, Mason strikes out for the west coast. Lucy has been adopted by an ex-marine suffering from PTSD, Jess Winslow.
When Jess returned from her deployment her husband Ty was dead. The circumstances surrounding his death are highly suspicious. When a local deputy sheriff comes to the house asking questions about Ty and threatening Jess, as you would expect Lucy responded.
The deputy is determined to destroy the dog.
When Mason shows up, Jess doesn’t trust him but does recognize his attachment to Lucy. Together, against the town, Jess and Mason learn to trust and work together.
May 18, 2019
Mason Burke has spent the last fifteen years in prison in Michigan for committing murder. Towards the end of his sentence, he was put in a program to train dogs. Lucy, the dog he was assigned, was scared and timid when she arrived at the prison but became a great therapy dog six months later.
Lucy was given to Jess, a Marine veteran, who keeps reliving her time in Afghanistan, seeing her best friend get killed. When Jess arrived home in Washington, she has PTSD and is a widow (her husband, Ty, had gotten drunk and drowned while she was away). All she has left is the rundown house and Lucy.
The local deputy was involved in a scheme ... and Ty had stolen some drugs from him. The deputy thinks Jess knows where Ty had hidden the drugs before he died. With his life on the line, he does all he can to pressure Jesse for the information and even takes her dog from her, promising to kill Lucy.
When Mason is released from prison, he just wants to make sure that Lucy is okay and in a good home before he can start his new life. When he hears that she is about to be put down for attacking a police officer, he heads to Washington to do all he can to save Lucy ... and gets himself involved in trying to save Jess' life too.
I've read many books by this author and have liked them ... though I tried to like this one, I couldn't get into it. I enjoy reading books about and with dogs so was cheering for Lucy and that's what kept me reading. Maybe I didn't find the story interesting? I didn't find myself drawn to the characters and didn't find them overly believable. As I was reading, I found myself hearing them talk like backwood hicks out of a bad movie.
It's written in third person perspective with a focus on the various characters. As a head's up, there is swearing.
Blog review post: http://www.teenaintoronto.com/2019/05...
Lucy was given to Jess, a Marine veteran, who keeps reliving her time in Afghanistan, seeing her best friend get killed. When Jess arrived home in Washington, she has PTSD and is a widow (her husband, Ty, had gotten drunk and drowned while she was away). All she has left is the rundown house and Lucy.
The local deputy was involved in a scheme ... and Ty had stolen some drugs from him. The deputy thinks Jess knows where Ty had hidden the drugs before he died. With his life on the line, he does all he can to pressure Jesse for the information and even takes her dog from her, promising to kill Lucy.
When Mason is released from prison, he just wants to make sure that Lucy is okay and in a good home before he can start his new life. When he hears that she is about to be put down for attacking a police officer, he heads to Washington to do all he can to save Lucy ... and gets himself involved in trying to save Jess' life too.
I've read many books by this author and have liked them ... though I tried to like this one, I couldn't get into it. I enjoy reading books about and with dogs so was cheering for Lucy and that's what kept me reading. Maybe I didn't find the story interesting? I didn't find myself drawn to the characters and didn't find them overly believable. As I was reading, I found myself hearing them talk like backwood hicks out of a bad movie.
It's written in third person perspective with a focus on the various characters. As a head's up, there is swearing.
Blog review post: http://www.teenaintoronto.com/2019/05...
August 5, 2019
RATING: 4 STARS
2019; Mulholland Books/Hachette Book Group
(Review Not on Blog)
This is my first novel by Owen Laukkanen, and he did not disappoint! I am a huge supporter of Canadian - especially Vancouver, BC - writers. I follow a lot on social media, and I have not yet read all of their books. I try to go in without any expectations as I REALLY REALLY want to love it, lol.
Let's just get this out of the way - there is the bestest dog in this novel named Lucy (named after the author's own dog) and spoiler alert, she makes it! I am so happy to hear this is going to be a series as I love Mason and Jess. Mason, a former convict, trained Lucy in prison, and Jess, a former Marine, is now Lucy's owner (Lucy is a medical dog to aid Jess's PTSD). Mason comes to find Lucy and gets himself in the middle of Jess's standoff with the deputy. I loved the writing and the characters...and the ride to the end! I am excited to see where it goes.
***I received an eARC from EDELWEISS***
2019; Mulholland Books/Hachette Book Group
(Review Not on Blog)
This is my first novel by Owen Laukkanen, and he did not disappoint! I am a huge supporter of Canadian - especially Vancouver, BC - writers. I follow a lot on social media, and I have not yet read all of their books. I try to go in without any expectations as I REALLY REALLY want to love it, lol.
Let's just get this out of the way - there is the bestest dog in this novel named Lucy (named after the author's own dog) and spoiler alert, she makes it! I am so happy to hear this is going to be a series as I love Mason and Jess. Mason, a former convict, trained Lucy in prison, and Jess, a former Marine, is now Lucy's owner (Lucy is a medical dog to aid Jess's PTSD). Mason comes to find Lucy and gets himself in the middle of Jess's standoff with the deputy. I loved the writing and the characters...and the ride to the end! I am excited to see where it goes.
***I received an eARC from EDELWEISS***
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