A book full of heart-pounding adventure, bravery, thrills and heroics

A book full of heart-pounding adventure, bravery, thrills and heroics

You never wanted to get caught.

Wasn’t that the point of playing Hide & Seek? To sneak out, lay low, and sneak back to safety? Yep, and never get found — unless, of course, you’re in a situation like those in “Go Find” by Susan Purvis, and you’re 10 feet below snowline.

The geography bug bit Susan Purvis early.

When she was 10, her father taught her to use a compass while the two were on a fishing trip in the Great Lakes area. At 15, Purvis learned to read a U.S. Geological Survey map and topographical maps. Even so, she knew what it was like to be lost, having had it happen not long afterward. She never forgot that.

Years later, married, and working with her husband as a gold miner in the Dominican Republic but based in Colorado, Purvis decided she wanted a dog. Specifically, she wanted a dog she could train to search for avalanche survivors and victims near her home of Crested Butte. It didn’t take long for her to settle on a Black Lab, which she named Tasha.

Initially, training seemed like a daunting task: Purvis hired locals to lie in the snow in a local park until Tasha’s shiny black nose appeared. There was much to learn on both ends of the leash: they had to figure out how to communicate — Tasha, by learning commands; and Purvis, by understanding her dog’s find-signals. Purvis discovered, too, that it would not be easy to get her dog certified, or to get on a team, or to lead local officials to call on a search dog when someone was missing or lost.

Branching out to summertime search and rescue, and then to cadaver retrieval, Purvis also learned that it wasn’t easy to keep one foot in her obsession and one in a relationship.

It is a fact that “Go Find” is full of heart-pounding adventure, bravery, thrills and heroics that will make you smile. It’s a fact that there’s love of a dog shining through it, too, and a few tears.

And yet, this book is an overall no.

For some reason as of late, ill-behaved dogs have become sources of humor in books and movies and people love it. It’s not funny, though, when the miscreant is a working dog, despite the sometimes-jocular tone in “Go Find.” This may lead readers to notice that author Susan Purvis is very harshly critical of amateur search dogs, although she, herself, worked her dog in situations for which Tasha was unready.

Sadly, this convenient and quite outraged criticism is joined by juvenile nicknames for people and dog toys, both which further degrade what should be a grown-up story. Worst of all: an ill-placed, unnecessary sex scene; and several extremely graphic, overly-long passages about Tasha’s gluttonous habits with human waste, and… No.

Though a physical book might be less exceptionable, you can try this audiobook but think twice about doing so while eating, or entertaining young children. Really, though, the best advice for “Go Find” is: don’t.


Talk to us

Please share your story tips by emailing editor@kentreporter.com.

To share your opinion for publication, submit a letter through our website https://www.kentreporter.com/submit-letter/. Include your name, address and daytime phone number. (We’ll only publish your name and hometown.) Please keep letters to 300 words or less.

More in Life

t
Kent Community Monday Night Supper cook stepping down after 40 years

Nancy Turner to turn in her apron as she approaches 90th birthday

With Nancy Turner’s final days as cook coming to an end after 40 years, Kent Lutheran Church is looking for volunteers to cook for the Kent Community Monday Night Supper served all year. STEVE HUNTER, Kent Reporter
Church seeks volunteer cooks, helpers for Kent Monday Night Supper

Free meal to community each Monday at Kent Lutheran Church

The Kent International Festival received a $15,700 grant from 4Culture, one of several Kent groups to get funds. Courtesy Photo, Kent International Festival
Kent cultural groups to receive county grants from 4Culture

Kent International Festival, Kent Downtown Partnership, Greater Kent Historical Society among organizations

t
Kent’s Winterfest kicks off holiday season with tree lighting, parade

‘A fun, fabulous time had by all’ during celebration at Town Square Plaza

Cody Jinks will bring his honky-tonk music Thursday, July 17 to the ShoWare Center in Kent. COURTESY PHOTO, Cody Jinks
Cody Jinks Hippies & Cowboys Tour coming to Kent’s ShoWare Center

Tickets go on sale Dec. 6 for July 17 honky-tonk concert

t
Kent’s Allegro dance studio to present sensory friendly holiday show

Performance is at 1:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 21 at Auburn Performing Arts Center

t
Miss Teen India contestant represents Renton

Washington state’s 1st runner-up is on her way to the national competition.

t
Annual Kent Winterfest set for Saturday, Dec. 7 at Town Square Plaza

Food trucks, parade, music, tree lighting part of 2 to 7 p.m. festival downtown

t
Donations begin in Kent for annual Toys for Joy program

Firefighters also run Jerry Woods Holiday Engine program to collect toys, money

t
Entertainers wanted for Talent Quest show in Kent on Jan. 30

People of all ages and talents invited to register for event that will feature cash prizes

In early October, the Tahoma National Cemetery donated over 1,000 pounds of food for King County Veterans Program clients. According to the KCVP Facebook page, 34 food bags were made to give away to local veterans. Photo courtesy of King County Veterans Program
Veteran services throughout South King County

When it comes to local services for veterans and their families, the… Continue reading

The Kent Holiday Craft Market will run Friday and Saturday, Nov. 1-2 at the Kent Senior Center, 600 E. Smith St. COURTESY PHOTO, City of Kent
Catch the Kent Holiday Craft Market Friday, Saturday Nov. 1-2

Features one-of-a-kind, handcrafted gifts from local artists and craftspeople