Abramson’s novel features a vet Samantha Lewis devoted to dogs who runs a dog shelter. Other central characters are an ex-cop who had to shoot his own canine in the line of service and a city official who needs to contain a deadly virus killing children in Riverside, NYC, a priest with troubling secrets, and of course many dogs. Just Life is a thriller that is about humans and dogs, and highlights the plight of stray dogs in cities. Sam is a lonely angry woman who battled her scientist father about his experiments on dogs when she was younger, but in a strange twist she decides to seek him out again to get his help. The plot is convoluted and involves a lot about animal transmitted diseases. The characters are on the clichéd side, but readers who like stories about dogs and the deep relationship between pet lovers and animals may still enjoy the book. The unabridged audiobook is performed by Tanya Eby, whose tone is appropriately melodramatic.

© 2016 Christian Perring

Christian Perring has been editor of Metapsychology Online since 1997.