Last week, on Monday, I went searching for some new books to read. This in itself was not unusual, but the distance between my usual secondhand store and the others in my town are a few blocks, and I rarely venture into them. I walked into the Salvation Army, and picked up two animal books- saving cinnamon, and the dog that saved my life, as well as a few other fiction novels. I left the store with the feeling that I'd missed something however, and returned a few days later to find this beautiful book hidden behind two others.

Let me say, this is more than the usual animal book- this is truly emotive, beautiful, intense and thought provoking. I read a lot of books, but this one had me in tears. So close does Dean describe the feelings he holds for Trixie that are the same I hold towards my own three pets! That he never had children, and instead had Trixie, who offered him in her short time just as much love and joy. Only once have I ever had the knowledge of a pet's passing before the event occurred, and this occurred after I had left home and the dog remained at my parents, before he passed on. Never had I had that grief, with most of my pets simply wandering away, never to be seen, or dying on roads and hastily buried by my parents. Now, living as an adult with my own responsibilities, I know one day that grief will be my own as my cats live indoors, and it may be that I am the one hastily concealing their passing.

I highly recommend this book to all animal lovers, and even and especially if, you have never picked up a Dean Koontz book before, pick up this one. A sad, but truly great, book.