In the Shadow of Death

Margaret Spencer #2

by Gwendolyn Southin

Vancouver, 1959. Margaret Spencer has moved out of her upscale Kerrisdale manor, left her stultifying marriage with Harry, her pompous lawyer husband, and is living alone in a basement apartment in the trendy Vancouver suburb of Kitsilano. Happy in her job as assistant to detective Nat Southby -- whom she has also taken as her lover --, she is also harassed by Harry who wants her to give up and return to the upper middle-class life they once shared. Yearning to escape the pressure she decides to head north to the Cariboo District for a week on a dude ranch. This novel is replete with lush descriptions of the countryside between Vancouver and far-off Williams Lake, and as the whistle-stop train takes Maggie through the picturesque towns of Squamish, Whistler and Lillooet, further and further from civilisation, she is drawn ever deeper into a new mystery -- a husband gone missing and a series of murders whose roots go back a decade. The conflict between Vancouver's hustle and bustle and the bucolic, but in the end, frightening splendor of the wilds is a canvas onto which Southin has painted a cozy with elements that appeal to a broad readership. Relations between the generations, marital tension, betrayal, arrogance and violence run through the story on a current lifted by sharp dialogue and a well-paced plot. Ultimately, a kind of existential resolution leaves the reader satisfied, but with a twist. A broad cast of characters add depth to In the Shadow of Henny, the crackpot office helper hired in desperation by Maggie before she leaves on vacation; Vivienne, the Jezebel sharpshooter wife of a wealthy but wheelchair-bound neighbor of the missing man; even odious businessman Lenny Smith -- whose story which begins the book and lends credence to all that will follow -- is somehow made attractive, while the closed-minded and petty local RCMP man in Williams Lake practically leaks bile off the pages. Maggie is almost shot while looking for clues, the bodies pile up, and in a startling climax that takes place is the lightless shaft of an abandoned mine, Southby is the target and this time, Maggie does the saving. Southin is at her best in chase scenes, and this one is a real page-turner.

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Womens, Detective, Canada

216 pages, Hardcover

First published March 1, 2003

About the author

Gwendolyn Southin is the author of the Margaret Spencer Mysteries, which include Death in a Family Way, Death as a Last Resort, In the Shadow of Death, Death on a Short Leash, and Death as a Fine Art. Long involved in writers' circles and writing workshops, she also helped organize various book festivals in her community. Born in England, and having lived in Montreal, Gwen now enjoys the temperate Sunshine Coast and has made her home in Sechelt, British Columbia.

Reviews

[Aloha4Ever · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 Definitely a stronger entry than the debut novel. Kate might be one of the most annoying characters I’ve even read about! Lol

[Debra · Rating 4 out of 5]

P.I. assistant, Maggie Spencer, needs a break from her life. The husband she left months earlier is demanding she return home and her new love interest and boss, Nat Southby, wants her to move in with him. Her grown children aren’t overly happy with her either, so when Maggie’s landlord, Josie suggests a visit to her sister’s dude ranch in British Columbia’s Cariboo area, Maggie jumps at the opportunity for peace and quiet. When she meets her host, Kate, however, she learns that Kate’s husband is missing, Maggie feels compelled to help the distraught young woman, but it isn’t easy. The local RCMP officer wants her to stop meddling and local folks aren’t particularly helpful or welcoming.

In the Shadow of Death is a terrific, traditional whodunit set in a beautiful location and with enough suspects to keep you guessing. What is especially appealing about Gwendolyn Southin’s mystery is the 1959 setting; a period not often written about in B.C. Maggie’s struggle to walk away from a traditional role and live for herself also adds interesting depth to the story. Maggie is a strong character who will go to great lengths for those she loves, and for justice. If you love fast-paced mysteries with a traditional flavor, then this is the book for you.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoy this series. I liked the direction Maggie and Nat are going in. This episode had a solid plot with some good twists and turns. As in the first book, I enjoyed the look that Southin takes at the dynamics between men and women of the times (which, unfortunately, seem to resemble too much the treatment of women even today). However, as before Southin handles these dynamics deftly and in a way that contributes to the tale so they can be absorbed and pondered (or not) without interfering with the enjoyment of the story.

[Bev · Rating 4 out of 5]

Set in 1959 this second book in the Margaret Spencer series follows Maggie to the BC Cariboo, at first on a vacation to get away from her estranged husband in Vancouver but soon to help in the search for a missing man. Before long she has discovered a body or two, been shot at and then become embroiled in a dangerous mystery that uncovers a criminal conspiracy from the past. I enjoyed the local details included in the story that bring the era and setting to life, and am glad there are more books to look for in this series.

[Tracee · Rating 3 out of 5]

well, this is a local author so thought I would give it a try. There is a plane and a aerial navigation map on the front cover which would lead you to believe there was a focus on aviation in this book. There was not.

In my opinion, the book would appeal to the >80 crowd of the senior's home. The book is set in the 60s and is a little too light on action for my taste.

[Lester · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good read. Funny thing..I started reading this book just on the way to Lillooet!! Funny in that the main character of the book starts off on a journey through the Caribou region..and takes the train..through Lillooet!
Anyhow..I will read the next book by G. Southin..after this road trip.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a terrific series! Her characters are rich in personality and their actions make sense. I like that it takes place in the past. It's a step away & different from the books I read.

[Nancy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Easy read - not a lot of depth but very entertaining if you are from BC.

[Gail · Rating 3 out of 5]

The second in the series, this book set in 1950s Vancouver follows Maggie Spencer as she assists her private-eye boss in solving a murder mystery in BC's Cariboo, a wild and sparsely settled wilderness in the centre of the province. For a 50-something lady of genteel upbringing, Maggie has a quick mind and no compunctions about doing whatever is necessary to bring in the scoundrel who has perpetrated a crime. Well-written and full of action, this novel was fun to read.