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The Secret Life of Souls

The Secret Life of Souls Book Cover The Secret Life of Souls
Jack Ketchum, Lucky McKee,
Fiction
November 7, 2016
384

A gripping family drama that brilliantly explores the relationship between a young girl and her dog―and the mysteries that lie within.

At the heart of this psychological suspense novel is the haunting depiction of a family’s fall and the extraordinary gifted dog, Caity, who knows the truth. As the drama unfolds Caity evolves from protector to savior, from scapegoat to prop, and eventually, from avenger to survivor. She is an unselfish soul in a selfish world―and she is written with depth and grace by authors Ketchum and Mckee, who display a profound understanding of a dog’s complex emotions. With her telling instincts and her capacity for joy and transformative love, Caity joins the pantheon of great dogs in contemporary literature.
Eleven year old actress Delia Cross is beautiful, talented, charismatic. A true a star in the making. Her days are a blur of hard work on ­set, auditions and tutors. Her family―driven, pill­-popping stage mother Pat, wastrel dad Bart, and introverted twin brother Robbie―depends on her for their upscale lifestyle. Delia in turn depends on Caity, her beloved ginger Queensland Heeler―and loyal friend―for the calming private space they share. Delia is on the verge of a professional break through. But just as the contracts are about to be signed, there is a freak accident that puts Delia in the danger zone with only Caity to protect her.

 

Review:

“The Secret Life of Souls” is categorized as horror, but I don’t think that is quite accurate.  Terrifying, yes, but not in the way the term horror would make you believe.

If you’re a dog lover, and enjoy reading books that can be tense and uncomfortable, this is the book for you.  The characters are engaging, the plot is steady, and the emotional resonance is strong.  My only complaint is that I wish the various points of view had a smoother transition.

Don’t hesitate to pick “The Secret Life of Souls” if you like animals or intense storytelling.  I highly recommend it.

This unbiased review is based upon a complimentary copy provided by the publisher.