BookBrowse Reviews Deception Cove by Owen Laukkanen

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Throwing together an ex-con, a former Marine, and the dog that stole both their hearts, Deception Cove is a high-stakes thriller that shines a light on PTSD.

Mason Burke has spent almost half his life in prison. He abetted a crime that resulted in manslaughter, and now that he's finally paid his debt to society, his first act is to track down Lucy, the dog he worked with in a prison dog training program. Mason sees his work with Lucy as one of the few good things he's done in his life, and he is determined to ensure that she's found a happy forever home. Instead, he learns that Lucy attacked a sheriff's deputy and is now waiting to be put down. Dismayed, Mason travels to Washington to learn more about the situation and meets Jess, a former Marine and Lucy's new owner. Jess is being harassed by the sheriff's department because her late husband disrupted their illegal side gig, and Lucy has been taken away in retribution. Mason and Jess reluctantly team up to save the dog that has saved them both, and what follows is a fast-paced, guns-blazing thriller with touching moments of emotional honesty.

The first book in the Neah Bay series, Deception Cove is a thriller unlike any I've read before. Its premise is original, the "bad guys" are just as multifaceted out as the heroes, and even the dog gets a point of view. It balances action and adventure with self-reflection and real character development. Jess suffers from PTSD related to her last tour in Afghanistan, and although Lucy helps her cope, she still can't escape the nightmares. She believes that the horrific torture and murder of a friend in the war zone was her fault, and now she's facing the potential death of another friend as Lucy remains in police custody. Jess feels like she is cursed, dooming those she is close to by her very presence, and consequently she is concerned about Mason's sudden entry into her life.

Mason has a different perspective on the situation. He was found guilty of second-degree murder, but he wasn't the one who pulled the trigger. Initially angry with the outcome of the trial, he spent his time in prison reflecting on his life and reading the Bible, and eventually came to accept responsibility for what he did. After spending time with Jess, Mason realizes that her PTSD is tied to her feelings of culpability for what happened in Afghanistan, and although it takes a while, he manages to convince her that she's not responsible for the actions of others. Whether those others be wartime friends, dishonest lawmen or ex-cons who don't know when to quit, people make their own choices, and unfortunately, the outcomes aren't always pleasant. But Mason also helps her learn to trust and rely on others again.

Of course, this isn't enough to end Jess' nightmares, but it does allow her to see Mason in a different light and to finally begin to open up to him about her experiences. The bond that builds between them as friends, rather than just partners by happenstance, truly shines at the very end of the book, and it's an element that will likely continue to be developed in the coming series.

The characterization of Jess and Mason was my favorite aspect of this novel. Author Owen Laukkanen alters the typical thriller tropes by flipping the usual gender roles. Jess is the one who has military experience, and although she may not be as physically strong as many of the book's male characters, her tactical knowledge and sharpshooter skills give her a clear advantage against Lucy's captors. Mason, although described as being quite muscular after 15 years of working out in the prison gym, doesn't have any sort of real-world battle experience other than prison yard brawls. Furthermore, despite the fact that he went to prison for murder, Mason reveals that he has never shot a gun, meaning Jess is largely responsible for their protection. It's refreshing to see a woman in this role, and it's also great to see the male character accept this without question. Although Mason does what he can to keep Jess and Lucy out of harm's way, he never tries to second-guess Jess' plan or her orders when she's the expert. Likewise, Jess never belittles Mason for not knowing his way around firearms, and the two thus rely on each other's strengths to make it through their ordeals. The resulting partnership is rather unique and quite enjoyable to follow as the two fight to stay ahead of the sheriff's deputies and their international drug-trafficking business associates.

Deception Cove has plenty of adrenaline and edge-of-your-seat moments, but those moments are balanced with the deeper emotional connections between Jess and Mason, as well as by their love for Lucy. Not your typical thriller, Laukkanen has crafted a story of forgiveness, loyalty and love with interesting characters and a beautifully wild landscape that brilliantly sets the stage for follow-up novels.

This review was originally published in The BookBrowse Review in May 2019, and has been updated for the June 2020 edition. Click here to go to this issue.