Shadow of Death

Patricia Gussin
Oceanview Publishing (2006)
ISBN 1933515007
Reviewed by Paige Lovitt for Reader Views (4/06)

“Shadow of Death” immediately drew me in. Laura Nelson is a medical student and a mother, in Detroit, during the late 1960’s. During the Detroit riots, she is stalked and raped. Fearful for her life, she shoots her attacker and kills him. She does not report her attack or get help; instead she has to deal with the trauma on her own.

Her situation worsens when she finds out that she is pregnant. She is unsure if the father is her attacker, of a different race, or her husband. A friend of the assailant figures out that she was the one who killed his friend, and goes after her. He injures one of her children and tries to blackmail her regarding killing his friend. The plot thickens and becomes much more complex as she tries to deal with these issues plus finishing medical school.

The author, Gussin, writes in such a way that I was able to feel the emotions of Laura as though they were my own. Gussin’s real life experience as a medical doctor allows her to realistically create a hospital setting, where most of the story takes place. It was also interesting to read about what was happening with the historical race riots at that time and about Laura’s experience as a woman in medical school in the 60’s. I highly recommend this book to people that enjoy suspenseful, fast-paced novels. You will not be able to put it down!

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