The Animals

Kiefer, author of The Infinite Tides, returns with a mesmerizing literary thriller about Bill Reed, a lost soul who winds up in a remote corner of Idaho, operating a wildlife sanctuary filled with animals who cannot take care of themselves after suffering at the hands of humans. The book opens in 1996, introducing us to Reed and some of his creatures, including a gentle giant of a bear named Majer. Reed lives quietly: he cares for his animals and courts local veterinarian Grace. But Reed’s past in Reno, Nev., comes back with his friend Rick, who shows up in Idaho, just released from a long stretch in prison. Rick has come to avenge the aftermath of a crime that involved the two of them. Reed’s job at the refuge is a form of penance, but there’s a thrilling story line that builds in momentum to an inevitable denouement, paced by prose that’s poetic without ever succumbing to preciousness. This is a compelling, thoughtful novel. (Mar.)