Shadow of Death (Book 1 of Laura Nelson Series)

Shadow of Death is a surefire winner. The suspense is riveting, the pacing masterful. Patricia Gussin is a wonderful storyteller, and Shadow of Death is medical suspense at its best. Only a physician who is also a great writer could have crafted this novel. This book will have you gasping for breath.

Shadow of Death is a moving story set against the wounded, wailing backdrop of Detroit during the cataclysmic race riot of 1967. A stylist of the minimalistic school, Patricia Gussin wrenches emotion from the reader with a spare, objective narrative that draws its power from without, rather than telling her audience what to think and how to feel. I doubt we’ll see a better story about this unhealed wound in late twentieth-century history.

Shadow of Death portrays an accurate picture of Detroit during that tough year of 1967. It is realistic, gruesome and stunning, almost shocking in its detail.

A riveting, non-stop suspense novel from newcomer Patricia Gussin. Gussin taps into the deepest fears of women and places them artfully in the world of 1960’s Detroit.

This is a very promising first novel about a little-explored incident in 20th century American history about which the author knows a great deal. Protagonist Laura Nelson, a medical student, finds herself in the middle of a riot in Detroit, tribulations as a student, wife and mother, and life and death challenges that keep coming.

Dark secrets, shady characters, fear and frustration and a plot that races along like a runaway gurney in a hospital corridor. Shadow of Death scared me! A really good scare.

In Shadow of Death, the author gives a stunning picture of the cultural divide during and after the Detroit riots that propels the reader through the story…A story that rings painfully clear.

Patricia Gussin’s first novel is a nail-biter…once I picked this one up, I couldn’t put it down.

Part medical thriller, part woman’s fiction…Deeply disturbing, realistically harsh, Shadow of Death is a taut suspense thriller.

Highly recommended: Shadow of Death by Dr. Patricia Gussin is a great new read.

All the characters, the riots, the time period of 1967—all are so real. The author catches all the feelings.

A very human and compelling protagonist. Nail-biting tension and suspense drive the story to its shocking climax.

A woman’s life is torn asunder…An elaborate and fast-paced medical thriller.

Her secret may not be a secret…Laura must face her fears and her toughest critic—herself.

Nail-biting tension and suspense drive the story to its shocking climax.