Today I am reviewing The Right Side by Spencer Quinn for TLC Book Tours. As always, I am provided with a copy of the book in return for my honest review.
About the book (from the publisher): In this riveting new novel by the New York Times bestselling author of the Chet and Bernie mystery series, a deeply damaged female soldier home from the war in Afghanistan becomes obsessed with finding a missing girl, gains an unlikely ally in a strange dog, and encounters new perils beyond the combat zone.
LeAnne Hogan went to Afghanistan as a rising star in the military, and came back a much lesser person, mentally and physically. Now missing an eye and with half her face badly scarred, she can barely remember the disastrous desert operation that almost killed her. She is confused, angry, and suspects the fault is hers, even though no one will come out and say it.
Shattered by one last blow – the sudden death of her hospital roommate, Marci – LeAnne finds herself on a fateful drive across the country, reflecting on her past and seeing no future. Her native land is now unfamiliar, recast in shadow by her one good eye, her damaged psyche, and her weakened body. Arriving in the rain-soaked small town in Washington state that Marci had called home, she makes a troubling discovery: Marci’s eight year old daughter has vanished. When a stray dog – a powerful, dark, unreadable creature, no one’s idea of a pet – seems to adopt LeAnne, a surprising connection is formed and something shifts inside her. As she becomes obsessed with finding Marci’s daughter, LeAnne and her inscrutable canine companion are drawn into danger as dark and menacing as her last Afghan mission. This time she has a strange but loyal fellow traveller protecting her blind side.
My review: LeAnne is one of the thornier heroines I have encountered. She’s tough, she’s very, very angry, and she’s damaged. All of that makes her compelling and fascinating. After returning home with a missing eye and physical and emotional scars, LeAnne is trying to put some semblance of a life back together. She doesn’t want the therapy that the powers-that-be at Walter Reed think she should have, she doesn’t want to play games, and she can’t remember what happened during the mission. She has trouble remembering, period.
Quinn deftly takes us along for the ride in this novel, where, along with the action in the present, scraps and bits of memory come back to LeAnne and drift away again. After Marci unexpectedly dies, LeAnne leaves Walter Reed, goes AWOL, and starts on her trek across the country. Her anger percolates just beneath the surface and, at times, erupts during her encounters with strangers along the way. At times, she seems to be a ticking time bomb, even contemplating suicide.
Pursued (gently) by an officer who is trying to piece together what happened on that mission, she also revisits her hometown and encounters her mother – a necessary part of the beginning of healing.
I take a wee bit of issue with the blurb from the publisher, which makes it sound like the mystery of Marci’s young daughter is the bulk of the story. It’s not. Rather, the mystery is a personal one: what happened on the mission, what went wrong, was LeAnne to blame, and will she find peace and healing. That’s the mystery. The mystery of the missing child is important but that doesn’t happen until about 2/3 of the way through the book.
Quinn writes very well, indeed, and I found this book fascinating and couldn’t put it down. The dog is written beautifully. Anyone who has ever loved a dog, especially an abused dog (and I have), will understand. LeAnne and the dog are both damaged and there is a bit of the mystical about the dog’s sudden appearance in her life. Together, they form an unlikely, yet beautiful bond.
Quinn also writes of battles and wars and the Army with honesty and a reality that doesn’t pull any punches. You’ll feel as if you’re there, watching the mission unfold.
I think you’ll really like this novel. We all seek redemption in some form or other. LeAnne is no different than any of us. You’ll be rooting for her.
About the author: Spencer Quinn is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Chet and Bernie mystery series, as well as the bestselling Bowser and Birdie series for middle grade readers. He lives on Cape Cod with his wife Diana – and dogs Audrey and Pearl.
I am giving away a copy of this book. At this point, I’m unsure if it will come from the publisher or will be my personal copy. Either way, if you’re interested, leave a comment on this post and I’ll draw the winner’s name on Friday evening. Good luck!
Happy Tuesday.
Well, Claudia, you know I’m not a “thriller” reader but this one touches my heart ’cause there’s a dog involved!
This book would be memorable and emotional. Having a dog makes this even more captivating and meaningful.
Sounds really really interesting. Would love to read. Thanks again for the review.
I had not heard of this book before today. Thank you for the review and the chance to win it.
Hope you have a good day!
This books sounds fascinating and I’m always up for a good read! Thanks Claudia!
This does sound like a fascinating book. Being a military brat I feel drawn to stories about the hurt that war does on humans. The added benefit of a dog in her life makes it sound even better. I’ll add this to my TBR list and cross fingers that I win a copy! Great review!
I really enjoy the Chet and Bernie books. I’dlove to read something else by the author. I’ll look for it at my library.
Well, Claudia, as always, you’ve made me really want to read this book! It sounds absolutely intriguing. Also timely. Like you, I’ve had my share of dogs who came from horrible circumstances and I totally understand the mutual healing.
This is a book I plan to read. It would be lovely to win a copy.
Thanks
Linda
Sounds like a great book. Love the canine aspect to it too.
Take care.
I just finished reading the two Lisa Black novels you recommended and enjoyed them both. So I am thinking your taste in reading is very similar to mine and I trust it when you say it is good. So “The Right Side” is definitely in my future.
Yes please!!!
Mystery, dog, female protagonist, what’s not to like? I’d love to read it.
Sounds like quite an interesting read, fingers crossed.
Sounds like a great read. So good to see a book review ~ and, of course I know how very very busy you have been. But, I read so many of the books that you review! I won’t add my name to the giveaway as I was a lucky winner in the past year.
We are enjoying a beautiful 75* day today. A Chamber of Commerce day as “they” say!! Hope that your day is lovely as well!!
Thanks, and count me in!
You had me at dog :) Plus going through somewhat of a transition myself these days, so a good read is just what I need. Pick me!
Lisamarie
Liked your review – definitely entices me to want to read. I read a lot and various types of books. Just sorted through my book shelf and boxed up several books to donate to our local library. What they don’t shelve, they will sell at book sale in October. Money is used for different things, as needed. Children’s reading group, more books, and electronics, just to name a few.
Hope I win and thanks for the opportunity. Ranee
I too would like to read this book. -Judy A-
Claudia,
I probably wouldn’t get this book if you hadn’t recommended it but now I will put it on my list.
Have a safe trip to California.
Kay
Sounds very interesting. I would love to read this book.
Sounds like a book I would enjoy.
Sounds like a good read. I would love to win.
Claudia,
The book sounds interesting, but does anything bad happen to the dog in the end? I realize s/he was abused in the backstory, but I cannot read anything that has cruelty or harm come to an animal, so would like to know.
Example: I’d asked my elderly father if anything bad happened to the whales in Whale Rider, and he said no, so I went. I sobbed & bawled uncontrollably during the last part of the film. When I told him and asked why he said nothing bad happened, he told me he thought I meant did anyone hurt the whales.
So, please tell me!
Thanks!
Cara
I’m the same way, Cara. No, nothing bad happens to the dog.
Thank you so much! I’m going to tell my partner Gary, who was in the military. It sounds like one he might like, but he’s the same about animals being hurt so I appreciate your answering.
I actually read the ends of books before I’ll commit, just to make sure there’s a good ending, and people think that’s crazy, but it doesn’t ruin the book for me.
Enjoy the summer!
Cara
This sounds like an interesting and poignant read. Thank you for the giveaway.
Marilyn
Thank-you Claudia,your review has crafted a compelling picture of a story,i’ll add to my TBR list. As you bring up,we all seek redemption in some form or another so the theme likely strikes closer to our hearts than it may initially appear. And,a dog.
I have read all the Bernie and Chet books and would love to read this one too. Thanks for the opportunity!
One of my dogs was in an abusive home before I got him, and it took years for him to get over his experiences. I think I’d love the dog-focused parts of this story!
Thanks for being a part of the tour.