Ex-marine Jess Winslow was discharged and returned home only to bury her no good husband who drowned in what the police say was an accident. Suffering from severe PTSD is her dog, Lucy, the only thing that really makes each day worthwhile. That's until the fateful day someone knocks on the door and changes her whole life, for the worse. Meanwhile, Mason Burke has just been released from prison after serving fifteen years behind bars. Now he just wants to start afresh, but first, he wants to check up on Lucy, the dog he trained while in prison. He doesn't expect that he will have to side with Jess against a corrupt deputy country sheriff that is after something Jess's husband stole. And, on the line is Lucy that the sheriff threatens to destroy. . .
DECEPTION COVE is not the first book that appealed to me thanks to the storyline about a dog. It will probably not be the last on either. I found the story to be engaging from the start with both Jess and Mason making a strong impression on me. Not to mention Lucy, who is the very glue that binds them together. Their love for Lucy is what makes them join forces. However, they soon discover that working together is making them both much good. Hopefully, they will be able to save Lucy. If only they can find what the sheriff is after...
DECEPTION COVE is the first book I've read by Owen Laukkanen and I was impressed by it. I found the story to be really good. This is the first book in the Neah Bay series and I'm looking forward to reading more.
For fans of CJ Box and Michael Koryta, a thriller about an ex-Marine, and ex-convict, and a rescue dog caught in the crosshairs of a ruthless gang in remote Washington state.
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.