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A review by gadrake
Deception Cove by Owen Laukkanen
4.0
Have not had the privilege of reading Canadian author Owen Laukkanen's books before, but Deception Cove may have persuaded me to go back and check out some earlier titles.
This promising first entry in a new series is set in the most remote corner of northwest Washington state. Having visited this area numerous times, it is clear that this author (from Vancouver BC) knows this setting well. Dense forests, cool steady rains, and lifestyles based around water set the stage for this taut suspense novel.
Four positive inclusions: focus on the leadership and contributions of female Marines, prison training programs that rehabilitate both prisoners and the service dogs they train, a positive portrayal of pitbull dogs (the breed 'everyone' hates), and a subtle paradigm shift for how people should perceive and accept ex-cons once they have paid their dues. A fifth inclusion would be a briefly mentioned awareness that when Americans buy drugs in the USA, they are unwittingly supporting military regimes in other parts of the world...something to think about.
The plot is a tad formulaic. After a prickly beginning, two vulnerable people find one another as they face danger together. Crooked cops and one very bad drug dealer chase them to a remote and rugged island where they face off.
It is the infusion of the issues above that give this depth. Many vets from the war in Afghanistan have returned home with debilitating PTSD, service dogs are widely used now for emotional support, and America has the most ex-cons in the world. These are current, relevant concerns and I was pleased to see them included. The main characters could have used a bit more emotional depth, and the bad guys were almost portrayed to shallowly, like local yokels. So strong in plot, but a tad weak in character development.
This is a fast-paced and stimulating read about healing and redemption. Likely to appeal to animal lovers and fans of dramatic terrains.
This promising first entry in a new series is set in the most remote corner of northwest Washington state. Having visited this area numerous times, it is clear that this author (from Vancouver BC) knows this setting well. Dense forests, cool steady rains, and lifestyles based around water set the stage for this taut suspense novel.
Four positive inclusions: focus on the leadership and contributions of female Marines, prison training programs that rehabilitate both prisoners and the service dogs they train, a positive portrayal of pitbull dogs (the breed 'everyone' hates), and a subtle paradigm shift for how people should perceive and accept ex-cons once they have paid their dues. A fifth inclusion would be a briefly mentioned awareness that when Americans buy drugs in the USA, they are unwittingly supporting military regimes in other parts of the world...something to think about.
The plot is a tad formulaic. After a prickly beginning, two vulnerable people find one another as they face danger together. Crooked cops and one very bad drug dealer chase them to a remote and rugged island where they face off.
It is the infusion of the issues above that give this depth. Many vets from the war in Afghanistan have returned home with debilitating PTSD, service dogs are widely used now for emotional support, and America has the most ex-cons in the world. These are current, relevant concerns and I was pleased to see them included. The main characters could have used a bit more emotional depth, and the bad guys were almost portrayed to shallowly, like local yokels. So strong in plot, but a tad weak in character development.
This is a fast-paced and stimulating read about healing and redemption. Likely to appeal to animal lovers and fans of dramatic terrains.