Five O'Clock Shadow
By Susan Slater

       Newlywed Pauly Caton has troubles. After witnessing the murder of her husband of six days, her grief is overshadowed by revelation after revelation which lead her to believe that she knew nothing about the man she married. As evidence pointing to all sorts of unsavory dealings on his part mounts, her confidence is shaken, and she's no longer sure whom she can or should trust. But she's determined to uncover the secret life of her husband. Someone is equally determined to keep those secrets buried--even if another murder or murders is necessary.

      Ms. Slater has packed Five O'Clock Shadow with an incredible amount of action and detail. There is a rather staggering amount of plots and subplots that made this somewhat tiring to follow. I also found it difficult to keep track of the many characters introduced, none of whom were particularly likable or memorable.

     I found Pauly difficult to like or identify with. The more clues she found and did not report to the police, the less likable she became. She didn't trust anyone, even those closest to her. And when she finally did trust someone, she had the misfortunate to choose the wrong person. All in all, I found Five O'Clock Shadow to be a difficult book to finish. However, those that strive on complex, multifaceted mysteries, will no doubt find Five O'Clock Shadow an engrossing read.