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The Rescue
The Rescue is a gripping thriller that explores the strength of the human-animal bond and how far we will go to protect what we love by three-time Edgar Award winner and New York Times bestselling author T. Jefferson Parker.
While reporting on a Tijuana animal shelter, journalist Bettina Blazak falls in love with one of her story’s subjects—an adorable Mexican street dog who is being treated for a mysterious gunshot wound. Bettina impulsively adopts the dog, who she names Felix after the veterinarian who saved him.
In investigating Felix’s past, Bettina discovers that his life is nothing like what she assumed. For one thing, he’s not a Mexican street dog at all. A former DEA drug-sniffing dog, Felix has led a very colorful, dangerous, and profitable life. With Bettina’s story going viral, some interesting people are looking for Felix, making him a target—again.
Bettina soon finds herself drawn into a deadly criminal underworld from which she and her beloved dog may not return.
While reporting on a Tijuana animal shelter, journalist Bettina Blazak falls in love with one of her story’s subjects—an adorable Mexican street dog who is being treated for a mysterious gunshot wound. Bettina impulsively adopts the dog, who she names Felix after the veterinarian who saved him.
In investigating Felix’s past, Bettina discovers that his life is nothing like what she assumed. For one thing, he’s not a Mexican street dog at all. A former DEA drug-sniffing dog, Felix has led a very colorful, dangerous, and profitable life. With Bettina’s story going viral, some interesting people are looking for Felix, making him a target—again.
Bettina soon finds herself drawn into a deadly criminal underworld from which she and her beloved dog may not return.
341 pages, Hardcover
First published April 25, 2023
167 people are currently reading
5959 people want to read
About the author
T. Jefferson Parker
99 books852 followersT. Jefferson Parker is the bestselling author of 26 crime novels, including Edgar Award-winners SILENT JOE and CALIFORNIA GIRL. Parker's next work is coming-of-age thriller, A THOUSAND STEPS, set for January of 2022. He lives with his family in a small town in north San Diego County, and enjoys fishing, hiking and beachcombing.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 180 reviews
February 17, 2023
This is a weird one to review.
A large part of the book is through the POV of a street dog from mexico; which I loved!
It was actually the POV from the various humans in this street dog's life that were clunky and pulled emotion away from the story.
Joe/Felix is sweet, naive, adventurous and adorable!
I would still recommend this, mostly because I want someone to talk to about this.
Go read it and hit my DMs.
Much love to NetGalley, Tor Publishing and MacMillan audio for my ARCs.
A large part of the book is through the POV of a street dog from mexico; which I loved!
It was actually the POV from the various humans in this street dog's life that were clunky and pulled emotion away from the story.
Joe/Felix is sweet, naive, adventurous and adorable!
I would still recommend this, mostly because I want someone to talk to about this.
Go read it and hit my DMs.
Much love to NetGalley, Tor Publishing and MacMillan audio for my ARCs.
December 19, 2022
Earlier this year, when I reviewed T. Jefferson Parker’s book A Thousand Steps, I wrote: When I first read T. Jefferson Parker’s Laguna Heat back in 1985, I had recently moved to Santa Cruz and was ecstatic to be living in a small beach town again — because I grew up in South Orange County (specifically in and around Laguna Beach) and graduated high school in 1965. So I know the area well (at least the area as it was then, because overdevelopment has ruined most of the good things about the area). Anyway, I have read all of Parker’s books since then, loving many and being “meh” about a few…but I always like the ones set in Orange County, so I was extremely happy to receive a copy of A Thousand Steps “. Thanks to Tor/Forge Books, I received a copy of his upcoming book, The Rescue, in exchange for an honest review.
So, I’m a dog lover, a reader of mysteries, and I grew up in Southern California– pretty much the trifecta of people for whom this book will be a favorite. In it, a journalist named Bettina Blazak is writing a story about the street dogs and includes a visit to a shelter in Tijuana, Mexico (just across the border from San Diego) as part of her research. On a whim, she adopts one of the dogs. He turns out not to be a street dog at all, but rather a drug-sniffing dog formerly “employed” by the DEA. As Bettina and her pup enter a “deadly criminal underworld” together, she realizes that her dog is once again a target of the bad guys.
The story of the bond she develops with her beloved dog will warm the hearts of dog lovers, and the mystery will please Mr. Parker’s many fans. Those of us who have a connection with Southern California will get a bonus of terrific writing that captures the setting very well (a particular aspect of Parker’s writing that is appreciated by many). Four stars.
So, I’m a dog lover, a reader of mysteries, and I grew up in Southern California– pretty much the trifecta of people for whom this book will be a favorite. In it, a journalist named Bettina Blazak is writing a story about the street dogs and includes a visit to a shelter in Tijuana, Mexico (just across the border from San Diego) as part of her research. On a whim, she adopts one of the dogs. He turns out not to be a street dog at all, but rather a drug-sniffing dog formerly “employed” by the DEA. As Bettina and her pup enter a “deadly criminal underworld” together, she realizes that her dog is once again a target of the bad guys.
The story of the bond she develops with her beloved dog will warm the hearts of dog lovers, and the mystery will please Mr. Parker’s many fans. Those of us who have a connection with Southern California will get a bonus of terrific writing that captures the setting very well (a particular aspect of Parker’s writing that is appreciated by many). Four stars.
February 27, 2023
As soon as I got far enough along in this book to get to know the lovably loyal drug-sniffing pooch Joe - and the dangerous life he's been leading for most of his life - my first thought was this: please, please don't let anything worse happen to him. Of course, I won't say whether I got my wish or not - that would spoil things for others - but suffice it to say I spent quite a bit of reading time on the edge of my seat.
When they're well written, dog stories tug heartstrings to the breaking point; one of the best books I've ever read, for instance, is Garth Stein's The Art of Racing in the Rain. This book isn't like that at all - there's far too much crime and mayhem - but still, it's impossible not to sympathize with Joe as he gets shuffled (willingly or otherwise) from owner to owner through no fault of his own. He starts out with a kid, Teddy, who is forced to give him up to a man who trains dogs to help DEA agents locate drugs. When that job doesn't pan out properly, he goes to Dan Strickland, who runs a successful self-defense training center and secretly involved with a dangerous drug cartel in Tijuana. It is there that Joe is injured and found by Bettina Blazak, a journalist who came looking for a human interest story and ended up with a dog - who she renames Felix.
From that point on, the story - often told from Felix/Joe's perspective - explores the experiences of the characters from different time periods, weaving them all together amid plenty of action into a tapestry that's framed as the ending. It's mostly satisfying, but it's also the most likely scenario given what readers learn about the characters along the way. Overall, I found Joe to be a bit too perceptive (despite his obvious smarts)and Bettina too little given hers, but it all worked out well. Thanks to the publisher, via NetGalley, for allowing me to read and review a pre-release copy. Another one well done by this talented author.
When they're well written, dog stories tug heartstrings to the breaking point; one of the best books I've ever read, for instance, is Garth Stein's The Art of Racing in the Rain. This book isn't like that at all - there's far too much crime and mayhem - but still, it's impossible not to sympathize with Joe as he gets shuffled (willingly or otherwise) from owner to owner through no fault of his own. He starts out with a kid, Teddy, who is forced to give him up to a man who trains dogs to help DEA agents locate drugs. When that job doesn't pan out properly, he goes to Dan Strickland, who runs a successful self-defense training center and secretly involved with a dangerous drug cartel in Tijuana. It is there that Joe is injured and found by Bettina Blazak, a journalist who came looking for a human interest story and ended up with a dog - who she renames Felix.
From that point on, the story - often told from Felix/Joe's perspective - explores the experiences of the characters from different time periods, weaving them all together amid plenty of action into a tapestry that's framed as the ending. It's mostly satisfying, but it's also the most likely scenario given what readers learn about the characters along the way. Overall, I found Joe to be a bit too perceptive (despite his obvious smarts)and Bettina too little given hers, but it all worked out well. Thanks to the publisher, via NetGalley, for allowing me to read and review a pre-release copy. Another one well done by this talented author.
February 12, 2023
4 stars
This is a unique mystery/moderate thriller/crime novel because it happens from the perspective of both humans and a very cool dog. It's important to know that a significant chunk happens from the dog's perspective. If this sounds a little too out there for you, this might not be the best option. But, if you are an animal lover and are curious to know how this goes, I recommend queuing this one. I was skeptical but ended up enjoying this very much.
Bettina is a reporter from Southern California, and when she heads south of the border, she encounters what many of us from this region are aware of: the tough situation that many dogs in the area face. One dog's backstory really strikes a chord with her, and she can't help but make him a Californian. Neither Bettina nor readers can anticipate the kind of baggage that this poor little fella brings along with him!
Highlights of this novel include that the woman m.c. is smart, the dog's perspective is really interesting (and very touching), and there are so many creeps around that the suspense is pretty solid throughout. At times, Bettina's reactions and choices are a little unrelatable, but her convictions are also what drive the plot, so this is understandable.
As noted, I came into this one with a bit of skepticism and am leaving it pleasantly surprised. I'm always rooting for dogs, and if you are too, you might find something extra special here.
*Special thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for this alc, which I received in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.
This is a unique mystery/moderate thriller/crime novel because it happens from the perspective of both humans and a very cool dog. It's important to know that a significant chunk happens from the dog's perspective. If this sounds a little too out there for you, this might not be the best option. But, if you are an animal lover and are curious to know how this goes, I recommend queuing this one. I was skeptical but ended up enjoying this very much.
Bettina is a reporter from Southern California, and when she heads south of the border, she encounters what many of us from this region are aware of: the tough situation that many dogs in the area face. One dog's backstory really strikes a chord with her, and she can't help but make him a Californian. Neither Bettina nor readers can anticipate the kind of baggage that this poor little fella brings along with him!
Highlights of this novel include that the woman m.c. is smart, the dog's perspective is really interesting (and very touching), and there are so many creeps around that the suspense is pretty solid throughout. At times, Bettina's reactions and choices are a little unrelatable, but her convictions are also what drive the plot, so this is understandable.
As noted, I came into this one with a bit of skepticism and am leaving it pleasantly surprised. I'm always rooting for dogs, and if you are too, you might find something extra special here.
*Special thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for this alc, which I received in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.
September 11, 2023
Bettina sucks. It’s not your dog; give it back!
December 9, 2024
Wear the crown 👑wear the target 🎯
What an emotional roller coaster this book was! Lots of changing POVs.. including a dog named Joe.
Joe is a good boy and he goes through tumultuous periods of time throughout this book.
I wasn’t sure how it would end but it definitely will make you think and also make you tear up 🥺🥺
Loved the storyline even though the naïveté of the characters was quite baffling 😳😬😬
What an emotional roller coaster this book was! Lots of changing POVs.. including a dog named Joe.
Joe is a good boy and he goes through tumultuous periods of time throughout this book.
I wasn’t sure how it would end but it definitely will make you think and also make you tear up 🥺🥺
Loved the storyline even though the naïveté of the characters was quite baffling 😳😬😬
August 25, 2023
The Rescue
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
📚 Fiction (kinda sorta thrillerish)
🎶 My Best Friend - Tim McGraw
One sentence synopsis:
Story of Joe/Felix; a Mexican street dog, turned boyhood companion, turned bad ass DEA drug sniffer, turned shot dog who eventually gets adopted by a reporter who tells his story.
My review:
I went back and forth on what to rate this one and ultimately settled on 4⭐️. On one hand I absolutely LOVED the parts from the dogs perspective. They were sublime and there were not nearly enough of them. When I first met my husband he had a bloodhound. Aside from the drool, he was the sweetest and neatest dog. I remember when he tracked a hot dog all around the back yard. Coolest thing ever. Anyways, the dog in this book makes me miss our sweet drool monster.
On the other hand, I thought the actual story surrounding the dog to be lacking a bit. The story starts with a reporter finding this dog in a vet clinic and adopting him after he had been shot. She gets home and writes a story about him. The drug cartel gets wind of this dog and goes on the hunt to find him because he costs them a lot of money. There are some flash back scenes where we lean how the dog got from one part of his life to the other which I liked the most. But ultimately I didn’t really care about the current situation they were in and just wanted more of the dog and the little boy.
I didn’t find this super “thrilling” so I don’t know if I would categorize it as such. But there is a little action towards the end. Aside from the action, I was holding my breath towards the very end because I desperately wanting a very specific ending. Let’s just say I am very happy how things turned out.
Dog lovers, this one is also for you! And I think if you liked Remarkably Bright Creatures you would like this as well. Same kind of vibe but slightly more thrilling.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
📚 Fiction (kinda sorta thrillerish)
🎶 My Best Friend - Tim McGraw
One sentence synopsis:
Story of Joe/Felix; a Mexican street dog, turned boyhood companion, turned bad ass DEA drug sniffer, turned shot dog who eventually gets adopted by a reporter who tells his story.
My review:
I went back and forth on what to rate this one and ultimately settled on 4⭐️. On one hand I absolutely LOVED the parts from the dogs perspective. They were sublime and there were not nearly enough of them. When I first met my husband he had a bloodhound. Aside from the drool, he was the sweetest and neatest dog. I remember when he tracked a hot dog all around the back yard. Coolest thing ever. Anyways, the dog in this book makes me miss our sweet drool monster.
On the other hand, I thought the actual story surrounding the dog to be lacking a bit. The story starts with a reporter finding this dog in a vet clinic and adopting him after he had been shot. She gets home and writes a story about him. The drug cartel gets wind of this dog and goes on the hunt to find him because he costs them a lot of money. There are some flash back scenes where we lean how the dog got from one part of his life to the other which I liked the most. But ultimately I didn’t really care about the current situation they were in and just wanted more of the dog and the little boy.
I didn’t find this super “thrilling” so I don’t know if I would categorize it as such. But there is a little action towards the end. Aside from the action, I was holding my breath towards the very end because I desperately wanting a very specific ending. Let’s just say I am very happy how things turned out.
Dog lovers, this one is also for you! And I think if you liked Remarkably Bright Creatures you would like this as well. Same kind of vibe but slightly more thrilling.
January 15, 2023
This would have been one star instead of two, but I give it an extra star for the dog. The only redeeming feature of this book was the dog. The segments from his point of view were the best parts of it. Otherwise: two-dimensional characters (I even guessed correctly which one was going to die before the end), blah dialogue, meh action. One character was caught in a major lie by Our Heroine, and she didn't even react. Another time, that same character had information that he shouldn't have had, and the heroine wasn't the least suspicious of that. Far from being a thrilling page-turner, I had no trouble putting this book down when it was time to stop reading.
I really need to stop feeling obligated to finish giveaway books, though this one fooled me by starting out much better than it went on.
I really need to stop feeling obligated to finish giveaway books, though this one fooled me by starting out much better than it went on.
November 26, 2023
Big Fat DNF
Not my cup of tea.
Not my cup of tea.
May 5, 2023
My High Hopes For The Rescue Never Materialized!
I’ve enjoyed several of T. Jefferson Parker’s crime novels over the years. So, when I learned that his newest novel, The Rescue, involved a dog as a major character, I had such strong expectations that it would be “right up my alley” that I put it at the very top of my mountain of books waiting to be read.
Sadly, while I was intrigued by The Rescue’s plot concept (see the Goodreads Book Description above), I was disappointed in Parker’s execution of the plot. The primary reasons for my disappointment were that: (1) other than the dog, Joe/Felix (who I loved), the characters were one-dimensional; (2) the characters’ actions and dialogue at times lacked credibility and seemed force, and (3) the flow of the book tended to be choppy due to its going back and forth between time periods.
Despite my hopes for The Rescue not being met, I didn’t consider it to be a bad book. For me, it was a book good enough to finish, just not good enough to recommend.
I’ve enjoyed several of T. Jefferson Parker’s crime novels over the years. So, when I learned that his newest novel, The Rescue, involved a dog as a major character, I had such strong expectations that it would be “right up my alley” that I put it at the very top of my mountain of books waiting to be read.
Sadly, while I was intrigued by The Rescue’s plot concept (see the Goodreads Book Description above), I was disappointed in Parker’s execution of the plot. The primary reasons for my disappointment were that: (1) other than the dog, Joe/Felix (who I loved), the characters were one-dimensional; (2) the characters’ actions and dialogue at times lacked credibility and seemed force, and (3) the flow of the book tended to be choppy due to its going back and forth between time periods.
Despite my hopes for The Rescue not being met, I didn’t consider it to be a bad book. For me, it was a book good enough to finish, just not good enough to recommend.
March 6, 2023
I really wanted to like this book more than I did. I mean a book about a rescue dog – how could you not like it? But the writing just did not work for me. I did appreciate the different points of view, however, I felt the narrator did not do a good job of shifting between points of view. I guess with one being a dog, it could be difficult, but hey I would have liked maybe something different. I just struggled with this one for various reasons, but I see how some people will really enjoy. I also feel that this book is not a “gripping thriller” as advertised, I cannot say I got thriller at all from this one. I appreciated that the book spanned over time, and how it ended.
I will not be submitting this review beyond goodreads and netgalley. I appreciate the publisher and netgalley for this e-alc in exchange for this honest review.
I will not be submitting this review beyond goodreads and netgalley. I appreciate the publisher and netgalley for this e-alc in exchange for this honest review.
September 8, 2024
First rate, action packed, end of the summer, beginning of the fall, beach read. A Mexican street dog impregnates a pure bred Labrador retriever owned by a California family. One of the puppies turns out to have the best sniffer ever. He’s owned and trained by a succession of humans to sniff out weapons, cash and drugs. The story goes back and forth, past to present and the main story begins when a beautiful reporter from Laguna Beach finds him in a veterinary clinic where he’s survived a cartel shoot out, but is scheduled for euthanasia. She rescues him and brings him back to California where she writes his story and creates an engaging video about him that goes viral. His former owners see it and want him back. The Mexican drug cartel wants him dead and he just wants to eat, sleep, play and please his human. Quite a page turner and an adequate homage to Call of the Wild and more recent bestsellers like Dancing in the Rain and Suspect by Robert Crais. Adopt. Don’t Shop. These lil guys, and big guys need you.
April 25, 2023
This author is an auto read for me, so I don't really pay attention to what the new book is about, just know when it comes out and I request it from the library. So I had no clue what this about going in, but I loved it! I really loved how we got so much of Joe/Felix's life, what he liked, what he didn't, what he knew, what he didn't. All this around several humans who were really going through some things.
First we had Teddy, who's story went from so happy to sad, to happy again. I think had Joe been allowed to stay with Teddy things would have been so great for them both. Then there was Aaron, who seemed like a POS, so glad Joe didn't have to stay there long. Next was Dan, where things were iffy. Dan and Joe were happy together, but the work that Dan was doing wasn't good and Joe ended up hurt. Finally there was Bettina, who was the real looser in all of this. Her initial story about the dogs in general and Felix in particular was great! It's just that Felix had a past that put him in the path of some not good people, which then followed him as he was so valuable for them.
Here is where things became like a game of cat and mouse. Bettina wanted to keep her dog, Dan wanted his money maker back, but soon he was a bit enthralled by Bettina. I think if he was given the chance, Dan might have made a change, but he didn't get the chance and things got ugly quickly.
Bettina did the best that she could in all the situations that came her way. Her meeting at the end had me in tears. Joe is where he belongs, even if it breaks my heart, along with Bettina's.
First we had Teddy, who's story went from so happy to sad, to happy again. I think had Joe been allowed to stay with Teddy things would have been so great for them both. Then there was Aaron, who seemed like a POS, so glad Joe didn't have to stay there long. Next was Dan, where things were iffy. Dan and Joe were happy together, but the work that Dan was doing wasn't good and Joe ended up hurt. Finally there was Bettina, who was the real looser in all of this. Her initial story about the dogs in general and Felix in particular was great! It's just that Felix had a past that put him in the path of some not good people, which then followed him as he was so valuable for them.
Here is where things became like a game of cat and mouse. Bettina wanted to keep her dog, Dan wanted his money maker back, but soon he was a bit enthralled by Bettina. I think if he was given the chance, Dan might have made a change, but he didn't get the chance and things got ugly quickly.
Bettina did the best that she could in all the situations that came her way. Her meeting at the end had me in tears. Joe is where he belongs, even if it breaks my heart, along with Bettina's.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 14, 2023
If the whole book had been from the viewpoint of the dog, it probably would have gotten 1 more star from me.
I found it really annoying that Bettina kept insisting the dog, his name was obviously "Joe" NOT Felix, was her dog even though she had possession of him for what? 4 days? She even admitted that the dog was 2 other people's before hers. I felt she lacked empathy. Obviously the dog, JOE, loved Dan. He went to him. Responded to him.
My favorite characters were Joe and Teddy. I loved their portions of the story.
Bettina getting an interview with the drug cartel guy was laughable. Totally unrealistic!
I also found many of the characters in the story unnecessary and just added more fluff.
I found it really annoying that Bettina kept insisting the dog, his name was obviously "Joe" NOT Felix, was her dog even though she had possession of him for what? 4 days? She even admitted that the dog was 2 other people's before hers. I felt she lacked empathy. Obviously the dog, JOE, loved Dan. He went to him. Responded to him.
My favorite characters were Joe and Teddy. I loved their portions of the story.
Bettina getting an interview with the drug cartel guy was laughable. Totally unrealistic!
I also found many of the characters in the story unnecessary and just added more fluff.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 3, 2023
T Jefferson Parker is an award winning writer. His latest mystery The Rescue is a taught thriller about the love we hold for an animal. Bettina, a reporter in Southern California, finds a wounded Mexican street dog, but is he a street dog. Joe seems to have had a lot of training for just a street dog in Tijuana.
Why are Mexican cartels trying to steal Joe. Who are the people who befriend Bettina on the chance they will be able to steal Joe.
Our relationship with dogs is a complicated one. We care so much for these wonderful creatures and in return we get so much love back.
Give this exciting thriller a try. The story of Joe is a wonderful story of a great dog and his people.
Why are Mexican cartels trying to steal Joe. Who are the people who befriend Bettina on the chance they will be able to steal Joe.
Our relationship with dogs is a complicated one. We care so much for these wonderful creatures and in return we get so much love back.
Give this exciting thriller a try. The story of Joe is a wonderful story of a great dog and his people.
December 15, 2024
In The Rescue by T. Jefferson Parker, journalist Bettina Blazak adopts a dog named Felix, only to discover he is a former DEA drug-sniffing dog with a dangerous past. As Felix becomes a target once again, Bettina is pulled into a deadly criminal underworld to protect him.
Overall, I found this to be an engaging read and a unique thriller! The story is told through the perspectives of Joe/Felix (the “Mexican street dog”) and his various humans. I particularly loved Joe/Felix and Teddy’s points of view as their innocence added a unique charm to the narrative. Joe/Felix was my favorite character and it was heartbreaking to follow his journey from a loving home to a DEA dog, a drug cartel dog, and finally, to being adopted by a reporter. The one character I wasn’t a fan of was Bettina. Her actions and choices often felt naïve for a reporter and some of her decisions didn’t align with her character. Additionally, parts of her backstory felt out of place, almost as if they were included just to check a box. On the other hand, the author excelled in capturing the settings, particularly Laguna Beach and San Diego. Being familiar with these areas, I enjoyed vividly imagining the places described. I recommend giving this book a try, but I suggest reviewing the content warnings beforehand (don’t worry—the dog has a happy ending!).
Overall, I found this to be an engaging read and a unique thriller! The story is told through the perspectives of Joe/Felix (the “Mexican street dog”) and his various humans. I particularly loved Joe/Felix and Teddy’s points of view as their innocence added a unique charm to the narrative. Joe/Felix was my favorite character and it was heartbreaking to follow his journey from a loving home to a DEA dog, a drug cartel dog, and finally, to being adopted by a reporter. The one character I wasn’t a fan of was Bettina. Her actions and choices often felt naïve for a reporter and some of her decisions didn’t align with her character. Additionally, parts of her backstory felt out of place, almost as if they were included just to check a box. On the other hand, the author excelled in capturing the settings, particularly Laguna Beach and San Diego. Being familiar with these areas, I enjoyed vividly imagining the places described. I recommend giving this book a try, but I suggest reviewing the content warnings beforehand (don’t worry—the dog has a happy ending!).
March 13, 2023
I wanted to like this more than I did. The premise was good-a dog being rescued from the streets-what’s not to love about that? But unfortunately, the execution fell flat for me. The delivery of the third person narrative kept me out of the story and the narrator was very monotonous. The characters were very two dimensional and the dialogue was simplistic at best. There were no big thrilling moments despite being it being about drug cartels and the dog being rescued from working the streets. There’s was just so much potential that was missed out on. It just left me skipping at points trying to get through to the end.
I hate to leave reviews like this but every book is not for everyone and this just wasn’t for me.
Thanks to Forge Books and NetGalley for this audiobook arc in exchange for my review.
I hate to leave reviews like this but every book is not for everyone and this just wasn’t for me.
Thanks to Forge Books and NetGalley for this audiobook arc in exchange for my review.
July 12, 2023
The parts about the dog and from his perspective were the only redeeming qualities of this book. Really poor editing, the typos were as distracting as the author’s inability to write what I’m assuming is supposed to be a strong female character. Disappointing
September 7, 2023
I was not prepared for this book. I thought it was going to be a fun thriller that included a dog. I was mistaken.
It did include a dog, but it was not fun. This is not a criticism. I definitely prefer the type of story The Rescue communicates. I just did not know that’s what I’d be getting myself into.
The Rescue, at its heart, conveyed the beautiful companionship of a dog. The connections that Joe/Felix (the dog) made throughout his life were meaningful and deeply touching. The tragic backstories of two of the most likable characters added another layer of depth. This was so much more than a thriller. This was so much more than a book that included a dog.
The unfortunate aspect, and this will serve as a spoiler, was the love triangle. Overall, I am not fond of this angle in stories, but I was especially irritated with its presence here. The story started off in such a lovely fashion, but the romance began to ruin it for me.
One of the love options was incredibly creepy from the start and, although it seemed like Bettina could sense that, she was not heeding the red flags. I cannot say I was extremely fond of the other option, either, and I did feel he did a few uncomfortable things, but I’d still choose him over what was behind door number two.
I’m really not sure what the author was aiming for with this character. The impression I got was that he wanted us to see the character as a multifaceted presence. He was the bad boy, so to speak, but broken, and in possession of the ability to change for the better. The issue was that this guy exhibited the tendencies of an abuser. It was extremely bothersome to me. He did not ever abuse Bettina, but his behavior was problematic, and Bettina accepted it in a way that presented a concerning message. For example, she relishes in his possessiveness (the author notes that it feels good to her) and such behavior is not a good thing.
Another component that inevitably tainted the tale for me was the author’s approach to the trauma of a sexual assault. Early on, I did not have any qualms about how this was handled and I thought the author was tackling it in a sensitive way. However, later in the story, the author clearly implies that if the victim confronts her abuser, exhibiting control over the situation, she will no longer be hindered by the trauma it caused. Like magic, she is over it! Hooray! But, no. That’s not realistic. That’s not how this works.
I will say that I was pleased with the ending. Early on, I considered how the author might go about things, and there was only one conclusion that I felt would satisfy me. Fortunately, the author seemed to feel the same way, as that’s the route he took.
I am immensely grateful to Macmillan Audio for my copy. All opinions are my own.
It did include a dog, but it was not fun. This is not a criticism. I definitely prefer the type of story The Rescue communicates. I just did not know that’s what I’d be getting myself into.
The Rescue, at its heart, conveyed the beautiful companionship of a dog. The connections that Joe/Felix (the dog) made throughout his life were meaningful and deeply touching. The tragic backstories of two of the most likable characters added another layer of depth. This was so much more than a thriller. This was so much more than a book that included a dog.
The unfortunate aspect, and this will serve as a spoiler, was the love triangle. Overall, I am not fond of this angle in stories, but I was especially irritated with its presence here. The story started off in such a lovely fashion, but the romance began to ruin it for me.
One of the love options was incredibly creepy from the start and, although it seemed like Bettina could sense that, she was not heeding the red flags. I cannot say I was extremely fond of the other option, either, and I did feel he did a few uncomfortable things, but I’d still choose him over what was behind door number two.
I’m really not sure what the author was aiming for with this character. The impression I got was that he wanted us to see the character as a multifaceted presence. He was the bad boy, so to speak, but broken, and in possession of the ability to change for the better. The issue was that this guy exhibited the tendencies of an abuser. It was extremely bothersome to me. He did not ever abuse Bettina, but his behavior was problematic, and Bettina accepted it in a way that presented a concerning message. For example, she relishes in his possessiveness (the author notes that it feels good to her) and such behavior is not a good thing.
Another component that inevitably tainted the tale for me was the author’s approach to the trauma of a sexual assault. Early on, I did not have any qualms about how this was handled and I thought the author was tackling it in a sensitive way. However, later in the story, the author clearly implies that if the victim confronts her abuser, exhibiting control over the situation, she will no longer be hindered by the trauma it caused. Like magic, she is over it! Hooray! But, no. That’s not realistic. That’s not how this works.
I will say that I was pleased with the ending. Early on, I considered how the author might go about things, and there was only one conclusion that I felt would satisfy me. Fortunately, the author seemed to feel the same way, as that’s the route he took.
I am immensely grateful to Macmillan Audio for my copy. All opinions are my own.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 1, 2023
This book should have been written about me and my „Wonder Dog Sylvester“
September 4, 2025
I loved, loved the story from Joe’s POV. Joe was a delightful protagonist. I found myself skimming through the humans’ narratives just to get back to Joe. Dogs - we don’t deserve them.
March 6, 2023
A book about a rescue dog? How could I resist? In The Rescue, Bettina is a reporter who impulsively adopts a Mexican street dog while doing a story on a Tijuana animal shelter. But Felix, as she names him, isn’t just any old dog. He’s actually Joe, a former DEA drug-sniffing dog with a colorful past. As the book progresses, more and more people are interested in getting their hands on him.
The book tackles the love we develop for our pets, sometimes very quickly, but how it lasts over both years and separation. It also deals with how far we’ll go to protect those we love, be they two or four legged.
The book covers multiple POVs and time periods. One of those POVs is Felix’s, the dog. I can struggle with books where dogs are anthropomorphized. And I had mixed feelings here. It worked fine when Parker limited Felix’s understanding to a few words, expressions and emotions. When he tried to veer further afield, I had problems. It sometimes got a little clunky when Parker would contain plot points in Felix/Joe’s section and then clarify that the dog didn’t understand what was happening or being said.
The story is fast paced. There are criminals, double crosses, lots of folks that can’t be trusted. I was totally engaged because I couldn’t see any way this was going to end well. When it all came together, it worked for me.
I listened to this story and enjoyed Victoria Villarreal as the narrator.
The book tackles the love we develop for our pets, sometimes very quickly, but how it lasts over both years and separation. It also deals with how far we’ll go to protect those we love, be they two or four legged.
The book covers multiple POVs and time periods. One of those POVs is Felix’s, the dog. I can struggle with books where dogs are anthropomorphized. And I had mixed feelings here. It worked fine when Parker limited Felix’s understanding to a few words, expressions and emotions. When he tried to veer further afield, I had problems. It sometimes got a little clunky when Parker would contain plot points in Felix/Joe’s section and then clarify that the dog didn’t understand what was happening or being said.
The story is fast paced. There are criminals, double crosses, lots of folks that can’t be trusted. I was totally engaged because I couldn’t see any way this was going to end well. When it all came together, it worked for me.
I listened to this story and enjoyed Victoria Villarreal as the narrator.
February 17, 2023
WOW! Rarely does a book grab me from the first moment it starts until it ends, but this book surely did. I loved the narrator: her tones, her transition from English to Spanish, her volume, her empathy. 10+ stars for a job well done. The story is written about a "rescue", but who is rescuing who is the story? It is premised on a dog and his many owners, but the story is written so well that not only the dog is rescued so many times in the story, but also many people were rescued by this dog in many ways. I liked how the author wrote this story from so many perspectives. I can't wait to add this T. Jefferson Parker to my "can't wait until I read what's next." Thank you Macmillion Audio for giving me the chance to listen to this first and to T. Jefferson Parker for writing such a sweet story.
May 20, 2023
3 1/2 stars. Intricately plotted mystery entertains.
February 25, 2023
3.5 stars
I'm entertained by books with amusing animal characters, especially pets that 'talk.' One of the main protagonists in this story is a mongrel pooch named Joe, a 55-pound Labrador-Terrier mix with gull wing ears and an exceptional sense of smell.
Joe doesn't talk per se but we're privy to Joe's thoughts as he grows from a cute puppy, to a talented Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) canine, to the pet of a San Diego self-defense instructor, to a pooch being pursued by a Mexican drug cartel.
Joe's current owner is journalist Bettina Blazak, who writes stories and does video interviews for a newspaper called 'The Coastal Eddy' in Laguna Beach, California.
Bettina first saw Joe at an animal shelter in Tijuana, Mexico, when she was doing a story about Mexican street dogs.
Joe was recovering from a bullet wound, and Bettina learned that, 35 days ago, a boy found the injured dog on a Tijuana street and carried him to the clinic. There Joe was saved by an emergency operation.
Bettina was drawn to Joe, adopted him, and called him Felix. The journalist then wrote an article about Felix's life-threatening adventure, which went viral. This brought the canine to the attention of several previous owners as well as a Mexican drug cartel.
From Joe's thoughts we find out that he lived with a boy named Teddy Delgado as a puppy, but was taken away when a relative was allergic;
Joe was then trained to be a DEA sniffer dog, and worked for several years until he got burn out.
Afterwards, Joe was adopted by an ex-cop/self-defense instructor named Dan Strickland. Dan secretly works for the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, where he uses Joe's outstanding sniffer to steal drugs and cash from the Sinaloa Cartel.
Joe was injured during a cartel shoot-out in Tijuana, and Dan inadvertently lost the pooch in the chaos.
Dan Strickland is a sort of good guy/bad guy who runs an excellent self-protection school, drives a green Maserati Quattroporte, and really loves Joe.....but also loves the cartel money Joe makes for him. Moreover, Joe loves Dan back, and misses his former home, which was filled with dog treats and dog toys.
Once Bettina's article about Felix/Joe goes viral, the journalist is contacted by all of Joe's previous owners:
❧ Teddy Delgado sends a series of emails, saying he raised Joe as a puppy, loves and misses the dog, and is saving up money in hopes of buying him back.
❧ A DEA officer says the agency owns Joe, and - though they don't want to take the dog away - have a plan to use Joe against the cartels.
❧ And Dan Strickland asserts Joe is his dog, and he wants Joe back.
Moreover, the Sinaloa Cartel - which lost a lot of money because of Joe - wants to kidnap the canine.
By now Bettina is very attached to Felix/Joe and plans to keep him no matter what.
This is the set-up for the story, which leads to all manner of action and adventure for the characters involved, especially Bettina, Dan, Joe, a bicycle-cop, and a cadre of DEA agents.
This is an exciting adventure story with a touch of romance, recommended to fans of the genre.
I listened to the audiobook, narrated by Victoria Villarreal, who does an excellent job.
Thanks to Netgalley, T. Jefferson Parker, and Macmillan Audio for a copy of the book.
You can follow my reviews at https://reviewsbybarbsaffer.blogspot.com
May 10, 2023
The Rescue by T. Jefferson Parker is a thrilling novel that explores the bond between humans and animals. Bettina Blazak, a journalist, falls in love with a Mexican street dog named Felix and discovers that he has a dangerous past as a former DEA drug-sniffing dog. As Bettina investigates Felix's past, she draws the attention of dangerous people, and the two of them are soon drawn into a deadly criminal underworld.
While the concept of a dog linking different people is intriguing, the characters felt one-dimensional, and the decisions they made were often incomprehensible. Additionally, the writing of a female character struggling with gaslighting and rape culture felt shallow and cheap. Despite these flaws, the novel's second half was more engaging and made for a decent beach read.
The author's love for animals is apparent in the writing, with Joe, the Mexican street dog, being the highlight of the book. However, the other characters felt less interesting and contradictory, making it difficult to connect with them. While the writing was good and compassionate towards animals, the story failed to live up to its potential and left me feeling disappointed.
While the concept of a dog linking different people is intriguing, the characters felt one-dimensional, and the decisions they made were often incomprehensible. Additionally, the writing of a female character struggling with gaslighting and rape culture felt shallow and cheap. Despite these flaws, the novel's second half was more engaging and made for a decent beach read.
The author's love for animals is apparent in the writing, with Joe, the Mexican street dog, being the highlight of the book. However, the other characters felt less interesting and contradictory, making it difficult to connect with them. While the writing was good and compassionate towards animals, the story failed to live up to its potential and left me feeling disappointed.
December 16, 2023
Bettina is interviewing a veterinarian for her report about Mexican street dogs when she is introduced to "Shot Dog," a stray who was brought to the animal clinic with a gunshot injury. Impetuous by nature, it is love at first sight for Bettina; she adopts the dog, takes him home to California and names him Felix. Felix is unusually well-trained for a street dog, which leads the reporter to feature him in her story and a video. Once the video hits the media, the Internet explodes. Her editor is happy, Bettina is happy and so are some unsavory characters who happen to be looking for the same dog. It appears that Felix has unwittingly led an unsavory past. What is in store for his future?
T. Jefferson Parker tells this story through the eyes and mind of the dog, who is the best developed animal character I've read about since Jane Smiley's Perestroika in Paris. I'm a cat person, but I fell in love with this dog. You will too. I could not put the book down.
T. Jefferson Parker tells this story through the eyes and mind of the dog, who is the best developed animal character I've read about since Jane Smiley's Perestroika in Paris. I'm a cat person, but I fell in love with this dog. You will too. I could not put the book down.
February 24, 2023
Thank you, Netgalley, for my ARC.
This was a super tough book to rate. Overall, I enjoyed the story. The boy and Joe, alongside Joe's point of view, were the best part of the story for me. The people stories (beside the young boy) were frustrating and uninteresting to me. Billy, the police officer, wasn't interested in Betina until she wrote the story - then he was all in. Dan, who has never truly loved, met Betina for the first time and decided his life revolved around her and Joe.....was all a bit too much and forced. If the story was done more on the viewpoint of Joe, I would have enjoyed it much more.
This was a super tough book to rate. Overall, I enjoyed the story. The boy and Joe, alongside Joe's point of view, were the best part of the story for me. The people stories (beside the young boy) were frustrating and uninteresting to me. Billy, the police officer, wasn't interested in Betina until she wrote the story - then he was all in. Dan, who has never truly loved, met Betina for the first time and decided his life revolved around her and Joe.....was all a bit too much and forced. If the story was done more on the viewpoint of Joe, I would have enjoyed it much more.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 27, 2024
Vomit. I hate this book and its characters except the dog. I only like the last 5 sentences. I finished it instead of ditching it so there is that. I spent 90% plus of this book furious at Bettima for her unreasonable claim on Joe and including her stupid name for him. Both main characters were overblown caricatures. Snide judgmental comments like narcissist or plutocrat were irksome. Etc.
“Bet” gag!
“Bet” gag!
June 1, 2023
This is clearly one of Parker's best; who wouldn't fall in love with Joe/Felix, the most adorable dog ever?? Who has such a personality, and such a great "sniffer"! I love the descriptions of Joe's emotions as he tries to understand all the crazy human nonsense; and of course, it all ends as it should! (Read the book if you want to know the ending!!) 5+stars for purely enjoyable reading!!
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