THE UNSEEN SACRIFICE

In Tobbek’s novel, a woman’s dogs are at risk of being destroyed after allegedly killing a neighbor’s pet sheep—so she steps up to be their advocate.

It’s 2013, and photojournalist Miriam Levy has always been content with her life in her Henderson, Nevada, community where she considers herself not only the mother of three children (with her husband, Elliot), but also the “Jewish mother of…two dogs, three cats, and a bunch of fish.” Then, one day, her neighbors, Leah and Ken Alpert, accuse the canines, Kasey and Luca, of fatally attacking their beloved pet sheep—and everything begins to fall apart. The Alperts had always been standoffish and somewhat unsupportive of their son, Eli, dating Miriam’s daughter, Michelle, but they turn openly hostile after the alleged sheep incident. They call animal control and the police, insisting that the Levys’ malamutes are dangerous and should be put down. Miriam maintains that her beloved pets have never displayed any signs of aggression and are well trained; she can’t explain how Kasey and Luca ended up covered in blood, but she’s certain the story is not as cut-and-dried as the neighbors would like everyone to believe. The Alperts’ story is inconsistent, and many people maintain that the dogs aren’t aggressive, but, at trial, the judge’s ultimate decision doesn’t make anyone happy. The Alperts file additional cases and work hard to turn their community—including the local rabbi—against her. The battle stretches on for years and only ends when a confession finally brings the truth to light.

The emotional heart of Tobbek’s novel lies in the obvious love that her characters have for the animals in their care. Miriam is effectively shown to be unwavering in her affection for her pets, her children, and her friends. She even admirably attempts to extend the same sympathy to the Alperts and to her rabbi, when the latter chooses to avoid the issue instead of jumping to the Levys’ defense. However, readers may find it difficult to credit Miriam with much else, as she comes across as largely a static figure in the story. She is, from the start, unequivocally and unwavering in her faith in her pets and in her forgiving attitude. The Alperts, meanwhile, are similarly underdeveloped as characters; they never feel believable as accusers, and their desire for vengeance seems suspect from the very start. Their only possible motivation for lying about the dogs will be clear to many readers early on, and the truth comes out because a character arbitrarily chooses to divulge a revelation, rather than as a result of Miriam’s persistence or wit. In addition, much of the novel is tied up in transcript-style descriptions of court trials in which various characters go over the same details. The lack of new clues or investigative efforts lowers the stakes, which makes the denouement a relief, but not a surprise. Although the protagonist is a clear advocate for her dogs, her advocacy ultimately makes little difference in the end.

An unevenly executed tale for animal lovers with a sympathetic lead character but little suspense.