Book Review: Shadow of a Doubt

Reviewed By: Harriet Klausner

Shadow of a Doubt     Amazon US PB Amazon Canada PB
Karen McCullough
Class/Genre:   Mystery   Police Procedural   Romantic Suspense   Supernatural
Dreams Unlimited, Sep 2000, 216 pp.

Hartersburg’s only homicide detective Liz Ramsey leads the investigation into the murder of a twentyish female with no ID. The victim looks like a hooker who probably was strangulated by her john, but even that seems like a stretch to Liz. Liz notices Greg Conyers, a highly regard artist and formerly successful businessman, standing apart from the rest of the mulling crowd at the crime scene.

Greg, who lives with his mother, is rarely seen anywhere in town, preferring to hide and paint in his mountain home. His property lies next to the crime scene. He becomes the prime suspect of the local police department. However, as Liz questions Greg she finds herself very attracted to the loner, who acts weirder and weirder as she comes closer to uncovering the truth.

SHADOW OF A DOUBT is an entertaining police procedural romance with some paranormal and Gothic elements. Though done many times before, the story line is fun to read even with the audience knowing the killer’s identity long before the police have any concept of who did it. Greg is the classic recluse found in Gothic tales and Liz is a wonderful heroine. Readers will have no doubts that they thoroughly enjoyed Karen McCullough’s novel.

Harriet Klausner

Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, Harriet Klausner