Cast Into Doubt

Cast Into Doubt by Patricia MacDonald 2021 thriller

For those who love figuring out whodunnits, this will keep you guessing until the final pages. The story begins with a shooting at a convenience store which seems unrelated to the story, but it is key. You just won’t find out until later.

The story begins with Shelby Sloan, 42, taking a vacation to care for her grandson, Jeremy, while his parents, Rob and Chloe, go on a cruise Shelby has paid for. Chloe is her daughter, and she seems to blame her mother for choosing work over her when she was younger.

Shelby has a dysfunctional family with an alcoholic mother, who is dying of liver disease, a cold sister, Talia, who keeps laying on the guilt, and a homeless brother, Glen. Other characters are introduced and have ties to Shelby.

It doesn’t take long for the story to take a dark twist when Rob calls and tells Shelby that Chloe is missing. She was drunk and fell overboard. Shelby doesn’t believe the story for an instant and flies to St. Thomas to talk to authorities. She and the police suspect Rob.

The story follows Shelby as she searches for answers. One door closes as another opens. She also questions how well she knew her daughter. The characters are easy to keep separated, and the writing is crisp and moves the story along at a good pace.

Shelby is an amateur sleuth but as the mother of the victim, her behavior is understandable and logical as she talks to those who may have answers. When she stumbles upon the truth, she is caught in a dangerous situation. She tries to rescue herself only to have it thwarted. Will she escape or meet an end similar to her daughter’s?

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