The Right Side by Spencer QuinnMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
About The Right Side
Hardcover: 336 pages
Publisher: Atria Books (June 27, 2017)
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 stray 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 nobody 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, 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 traveler protecting her blind side.
Enthralling, suspenseful, and psychologically nuanced, The Right Side introduces one of the most unforgettable protagonists in modern fiction: isolated, broken, disillusioned—yet still seeking redemption and purpose—LeAnne takes hold of the reader and never lets go.
“Brilliant. Deeply felt, but totally under control. I loved it.” (Stephen King)
“A great suspense novel, and so much more. You won’t forget the heroic LeAnne Hogan — and the same goes for her dog! Not to be missed.” (Harlan Coben)
“Perfectly detailed…Quinn realistically depicts the way civilians fail to comprehend a warrior’s mindset. The despondency of PTSD [is] portrayed with such brutal intensity…a psychological drama.” (Kirkus)
Visit the publisher’s website for more information about The Right Side, including a Reading Group Guide.
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The Right Side is an engrossing book about LeAnne Hogan, who has just returned from Afghanistan after being wounded. At the hospital where she is staying as she tries to come to terms with what happens does she get to know Marci, who has lost a leg. They become friends and bond over their military life. Then, Marci suddenly dies and LeAnne after leaving the hospital decides to drive to see Marci's daughter. But, she learns when she arrives that Marci's daughter has disappeared, did she run away or has anyone taken her?
Writing this short outline of the book is truly like giving away very little of what is going on in this book. I mean it takes over half the book before she even is close to seeing Marci's daughter and getting acquainted with a very special dog. But, that's also the thing I really like about the book, it seems like a straightforward story, but there is so much going one in LeAnne's life, both what happened in the past when she was growing up, her life in the military and what happened when she was wounded. And, then we have the presents events with her trouble remembering things, and her road-trip to see Marci's daughter and not to mention the dog that suddenly appears in her life.
It's such a rich story, and I came to like LeAnne quite a lot and of course dog too (yes she gets a name, but you have to read it to find out since it's part of the story) and I wouldn't mind reading more books with them. I mean they are a fabulous team and I really want to know what will happen next!
Purchase Links
About Spencer QuinnSpencer Quinn is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the ongoing 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.
Keep up with him by visiting SpenceQuinn.com.
Spencer Quinn’s TLC Book Tours TOUR STOPS:
Monday, June 19th: Books and Bindings
Tuesday, June 20th: Books a la Mode – author Q&A
Wednesday, June 21st: Reading Reality
Thursday, June 22nd: Helen’s Book Blog
Monday, June 26th: Chick Lit Central
Tuesday, June 27th: Mockingbird Hill Cottage
Wednesday, June 28th: No More Grumpy Bookseller
Thursday, June 29th: Write Read Life
Monday, July 3rd: Thoughts on This ‘n That
Tuesday, July 4th: Books and Spoons
Wednesday, July 5th: A Bookaholic Swede
Thursday, July 6th: Kahakai Kitchen
Monday, July 10th: From the TBR Pile
Tuesday, July 11th: Just Commonly
I gave your blog a follow, and I would truly appreciate it if you could check out my book reviews blog located at https://elsbookreviews.blogspot.ca/ and possibly give it a follow as well! Looking forward to reading more of your reviews!
ReplyDelete- El
Stories of damaged people and their relationships with animals are always a draw for me. I'm glad you enjoyed this book so much!
ReplyDeleteThanks for being a part of the tour.