Helena Colden is a veterinarian who has died of breast cancer, leaving behind her husband David, and a menagerie of pets. However, Helena cannot move on to the other side, afraid of what may be awaiting her. Over the years, she has euthanized hundreds of pets, and she fears they wait for her, judging her and all of her mistakes over her 37 years. So she sticks around to watch David, her pets, and the rest of her friends mourn their loss and try to move on with their lives.

David is a corporate attorney, and he struggles to take care of Helena's numerous pets, many of whom don't understand the sudden disappearance of their mistress. Joshua is the veterinarian who Helena practiced with, and he isn't sure if he can continue practicing; he's older and continuing as a sole practitioner may be too much for him, especially with memories of Helena around every corner. Jaycee is a former colleague of Helena's when Joshua was Helena's faculty adviser at Cornell vet school. Jaycee finds herself constantly reminded of Helena because Helena is the only person who could help her out with a professional situation.

But when Jaycee's situation takes a serious turn and she finds herself facing criminal charges, she turns to David to help. David is reluctant to help since he doesn't practice criminal law and Helena never told him about her work with Jaycee, but certain evidence comes to light that convinces him to assist Jaycee.

This is a story about love, healing, and, even more compellingly, animal rights. The work that Helena and Jaycee did with Charlie and Cindy (both chimpanzees) make for utterly compelling stories that drive this story and weave all of these characters together in an unexpected way.

The subplot involving Sally and her son Clifford, who has Asperberger's syndrome, is told deftly and with compassion. Sally is a vet tech for a competing veterinarian who finds herself suddenly without a job and ends up working for David (through a connection with Joshua) as a housekeeper and animal-tender. As someone who has also suffered loss in her life, she also serves as somewhat of a guide to David through this tumultuous period in his life, sometimes through a health dose of tough love.

This was a sublimely beautiful book, that hooked me from the very first scene. The only (extremely minor) fault I have with this book is that, although the initial scene grabbed me, after that, I was left wondering where the book would take me. I wasn't sure what the book was actually about, other than Helena observing her loved ones, for quite awhile. But once I understood it, I was extremely captivated. One last warning to future readers: have a box of tissue handy!