Targets
of Affection
RG
Willems
Reviewed
by Wendy Runyon
Set in the
growing Saskatoon suburb of
Poplar Bluff, Targets of Affection, RG Willems’ debut novel and
the
first in a new mystery series, takes the reader into the heart of a
local pet
clinic, introducing Shelby James, a veterinary technician whose love
for
animals shines through on just about every page. I
was instantly drawn to her character,
finding her to be intelligent and caring.
I suppose it helped that she and I share a couple of things in
common
besides our love for animals. We both do
not like to cook and as a result our husband’s have become the chef;
and we
both live in fixer-up houses (however, I don’t have a purple door),
although we
lack handyman skills to do much about it.
With
an opening scene that makes one’s
heart rate go up, the novel gets off to a good start.
Miranda Walls and her young daughter, Jessie,
bring in an injured dog that requires immediate medical attention. He was the victim of a hit and run
accident. Despite the fact that he’s a
stray, Miranda volunteers to pay for his treatment and care. Her generous nature and caring heart make it
impossible for Shelby not to instantly take a liking to the woman and
her
child, Jessie. Shelby soon discovers
that Miranda and Jessie recently fled from an abusive relationship with
Jessie’s father, and it increases her protectiveness for the mother and
daughter. She feels drawn to Jessie, a
sickly child who Shelby finds she can identify with, having had a
difficult
childhood herself. In the wake of
several near tragedies and learning more about Miranda and Jessie’s
life,
Shelby uncovers more than she bargained for.
Shelby’s husband Jake, a university
professor, offers insight into the psychological aspects of the
situation with
Miranda and Jessie. Despite a subtle
unrest in their marriage, Jake’s support and love for his wife is
unwavering. Although of the non-human
variety, Shelby also has the support of her dog, Spin, a loyal
companion who often
accompanies her to work. Shelby’s love
for him runs deep.
The author delves into the tie between
animal and child abuse like few other fiction writers.
It isn’t uncommon for those who abuse and
kill animals to eventually escalate to harming humans, especially
children. Animals and children are two
of the most vulnerable targets in our society.
RG Willems takes on these disturbing topics with sensitivity but
does
not shy away from the harsh reality. Her
knowledge and use of medical terminology and procedures without
sounding too
technical puts the reader directly into the book.
Although the mystery takes its time to
reveal itself, the characters and anecdotes surrounding the main story
are just
as poignant and entertaining. RG Willems
has created a cast of characters, both human and animal, that readers,
especially animal lovers, will be drawn to.