Review: Excellent handling of a controversial issue
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 08 10, 2010
Surgeon Ian Buchanan dies rescuing his infant daughter, Alex, from a house fire that animal activists are suspected of starting. Twenty-one years later, Alex is involved in a cycling accident and wakes from a coma to discover she can communicate telepathically with the chimpanzees and other caged animals subjected to scientific experiment.Cries in the Dark has elements of drama, suspense, fantasy, and romance, but underpinning it all is a strong social message. The message, though, is not delivered in any way that is preachy but through the telling of the story from all sides, including that of the animals. Although confronting at times, I thoroughly enjoyed this novel. It's one of those rare books that affects you long after you read the last page, but probably more so if you have any sort of affinity for animals.My only quibble, which is minor and does not detract from the story in any way, is that it seemed to end rather abruptly. Without giving anything away, I would've have loved to have known what happened next. An epilogue perhaps?