Backcountry

March 24, 2014
Convincingly rendered human and animal characters fill this fast-paced novel of greed, pathos, and tenderness. When naive 17-year-old Brittany's baby, Ivy, is kidnapped, embittered but empathetic detective Finn investigates. He begins to lose hope for Ivy, but a witness finally steps forth. The problem? The witness is Neema, a trained gorilla whose repeated testimonyâdelivered in sign languageâcauses a significant media stir and impels Grace McKenna, a scientist working with the ape, to help Finn unravel the mystery. Beason has written a taut and fascinating novel. She weaves intelligence and compassion into this dark descent into emotional bankruptcy and betrayal. Complex psychological histories make Finn and Mckenna fully developed characters with valid motivations. Wading into controversial themes, this rollicking thriller touches on human trafficking, teen pregnancy, and the role of animals in the lives of people.