The Right Side

Author: Spencer Quinn

Publisher: Atria Books

Release Date: June 27, 2017

Rating: 3.5 Stars

Reviewer: Jessica Higgins

A military thriller with heart and soul for human and animal lover alike.

LeAnne Hogan has been to war in Afghanistan and made it back, almost in one piece. She is hesitant to reenter the world after coming home missing an eye and half her face scarred.  It helps that she doesn’t remember most of the trauma that almost killed her, but also troubling because she thinks her injury and the death of her comrades could be her fault.  While at the hospital. she inadvertently becomes close to her roommate, Marci who dies unexpectedly.  LeAnne now finds herself driving across the country with no destination in mind and no real future.  Without meaning to, she finds herself in Marci’s hometown and discovers that Marci’s eight-year-old daughter has gone missing.  As she partners with a stray dog that has claimed her as his own, they begin their own search for the missing girl and begin to discover secrets no one wants revealed.

The Right Side is a book that is going to be perfect for some people and completely turn others off.  I found myself at both ends of the spectrum.  The story itself was very compelling and the relationships that were formed, especially between LeAnne and her four-legged friend, were just right.  On the other hand, I had a lot of trouble getting past the vulgar language.  I’m not a fan of language in books unless it is done just right.  There have been a few authors of the years that have had a way with their writing that inserting language in the story me see right past it.  I wasn’t able to do that here.  I know LeAnne is a soldier and that is typical of how they would talk, but it till didn’t fit in with the character enough for me to enjoy.  I did however enjoy her drive and desire to help do the right thing, not only with the missing daughter of her roommate but also with clearing up who was responsible for her getting hurt.  LeAnne is the kind of character you want to route for and see come out on top.  The fact that she is a broken protagonist makes her the kind every reader can get behind and enjoy reading about.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. The views and opinions expressed within are my own.