"The Twisted Ones"-T. KINGFISHER

The second of my literature conquest. The Twisted Ones like many of Kingfisher's work this book is a retelling. Unlike other ones, I had not read the short story, The White People", that inspired this one. I was fully ignorant of the backstory implied in the book.

Let's just start with Bongo. Lovely, beautiful Bongo. Bongo is our lead character , Mouse's, dog. Everything about Bongo captures the heart of any dog owner/lover. I saw my own dog in him so clearly. He is not only an adorable and reliable character. He is also often is who moves the story forward.

Just like his owner, we, the readers, are being dragged behind Bongo as he pulls his leash. Or barks into the dark. Or gives Mouse a little scare. In this book, all the terrifying and mysterious things that linger in shadows at night are actually real. To add to that, the fear that all dog owners know brings that fear to a relatable and tangible place.

My dog, Kitty (yes, my dog's name is Kitty), is a hound mix. She is compact, lean, muscular, and an attuned hunter. A perfect medium sized athlete. She also is a guardian and running buddy. I rely on her instincts and reactions often to gauge certain situations. So you might imagine when she has her moments of growling at the flicker of my electricity, it sometimes freaks me the...[insert expletive]... out. She is a strong-headed hunting dog who I have, many times, been dragged behind as she determinedly smells each new curious scent. I have also had times when (before I have had a chance to survey the area) has halted, haunches up and bared her teeth to the woods. Later, I discover a large animal or even an unexpected human. She is a menace but also my trusted guide.

Separately, there is Dickey (yes, my other dog's name is Dickey). He is not quite the same. A lab mix also of good athletic genetics and perhaps a better temperament, however his intellectual abilities vary greatly from Kitty. He is blissfully unaware of most issues. This includes things like heights he can't jump, aggressive dogs, and (my least favorite) moving vehicles. He is also an incredibly skilled escape artist. This fifty-plus-pound dog can sneak through the most miniscule gaps in a 6ft, reinforced fence. I mean miniscule as in 2-3 inches between ground and fence. And when he sees an animal he deems huntable, he sees and hears nothing else. He removes himself from any yard like a speeding bullet. Unknowing of any potential dangers outside with roads and other animals.

So I very much know how deep and gut-wrenchingly frantic one can become with a missing dog. Without too much in the realm of spoilers, I can say many of the motivations and pushes in this book are created out a very familiar fear. A fear that would push anyone to do something out of character. I have done things like dart in front of cars, run into neighbors backyards, sprinted and screamed down crowded streets, etc. to catch my dog as he hunts his nemesis, rabbits. Most pet owners agree that they would go to hell and back for their pets. Even if the animal is the one who dragged you there in the first place.

I found the use of a wordless character directing and pushing so much of the novel, incredibly effective. Kingfisher really tamped into a maternal (yes, maternal for animals but maternal nonetheless) fear many people know and can relate to. If you have the known the love of a dumb dog, you will definitely know the love for this book.