Shadow of Death, 1: A Laura Nelson Thriller

Shadow of Death takes its title from the Bible but the title also refers to the fact that every death casts a shadow over the survivors, particularly when violence is involved. More AN AMERICAN TRAGEDY than a conventional thriller, this well-paced novel is in a category with Thomas Cook's award-winning RED LEAVES. It deals with the repurcussions of a violent event on the lives of ordinary, good people. It emphasizes the ripple effect of acts of violence and our reactions to them throughout our lives and those close to us. A truely thought-provoking book. Excellent for discussion groups. I recommend it very highly.

As a history teacher I seem to gravitate to historical fiction novels but also love medical thrillers. I picked up "Shadow of Death" because it seemed to be a combination of both. I was not disappointed, the story begins with an accurate depiction of the Detroit during the riots in 1967. Throughout the story you are reminded of the political unrest that occurred during the 1960s & 1970s. In addition to the historical perspective, I was equally impressed with the story line of Gussin's main character Laura Nelson. The story was so realistic that many times I thought, What would I do in this situation? How would I respond to such terrible events as being attacked and raped? Gussin's plot and connections make the novel a page turner and difficult to put down. Gussin masterfully intertwines the story of two families, one middle class white and the other urban African American is terryifying and suspenseful story. It is a great read!

Shadow of Death is a thoroughly enjoyable read about a young female medical student trying to navigate the troubled waters of med school, marriage and motherhood against the backdrop of turbulent and violent Detroit in the 1970's. The book grabs your attention from the beginning and remains interesting until the very end. The book is now circulating around the office where I work and every reader has had the same positive reaction. Pick it up to read on the beach this summer -- you won't regret it.

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!

I loved this story. This exciting novel tells about Laura Nelson, a first year medical student living in Detroit during the race riots. Laura wants simply to treat her patients and care for her children, but her life is shattered by street violence. This dynamic story shows how the casual brutality of that time drove a seemingly normal person to the most extreme responses. It shows that anything's possible, for any of us, when it means survival. Read this gritty story and take the plunge into a time in American history that gets very little exposure.