The Animals

January 26, 2015
Kiefer, author of The Infinite Tides, returns with a mesmerizing literary thriller about Bill Reed, a lost soul who winds up in a remote corner of Idaho, operating a wildlife sanctuary filled with animals who cannot take care of themselves after suffering at the hands of humans. The book opens in 1996, introducing us to Reed and some of his creatures, including a gentle giant of a bear named Majer. Reed lives quietly: he cares for his animals and courts local veterinarian Grace. But Reed’s past in Reno, Nev., comes back with his friend Rick, who shows up in Idaho, just released from a long stretch in prison. Rick has come to avenge the aftermath of a crime that involved the two of them. Reed’s job at the refuge is a form of penance, but there’s a thrilling story line that builds in momentum to an inevitable denouement, paced by prose that’s poetic without ever succumbing to preciousness. This is a compelling, thoughtful novel.

Starred review from November 1, 2015
Twelve years into managing a small menagerie of disabled creatures in northern Idaho, Bill Reed has mastered fundraising, facilities maintenance, volunteer recruitment, and himself. His compassionate care and bond with the animals, in particular with an elderly blind bear named Majer, signify redemption from his errant youth. Then a phone call from former best friend Rick, newly released from prison, portends the imminent dismantling of Bill's reputation and hopes of pursuing a shared future with local veterinarian Grace and her son. Initially contemplative as it probes the ramifications of confined habitats (both animal and human), the tense narrative gains momentum and twists as chapters alternate in time, arraying revelations from the past against Bill's current expectations and challenging readers' judgments up to and beyond the gripping conclusion. Kiefer's ("The Infinite Tides") masterly prose is frequently poetic, at times cinematic, heartbreaking throughout, and will thrill literary fiction fans, as will Richard Poe's perfectly attuned, moving narration. VERDICT Recommended for all collections where literary fiction is popular.--Linda Sappenfield, Round Rock P.L., TX

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