Customer Reviews

Shades of Darkness, Shades of Grace

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This is a story of universal themes that almost anyone can relate to - the bonds and love of family that bind, the trauma of divorce and child custody fights where children become bargaining chips, the realization that the tragedy of chemical dependency can happen to anyone, or the chilling realization of what one will do to protect loved ones. I was riveted from the first page to the last.

Having watched similar dramas unfold in the lives of friends, the Pierson family and their travils were all too real. I don't doubt the "inspired by a true story" tagline as Johnson clearly understands how divorce can rip families apart and that chemical dependency has absolutely no bias in regards to race, class, sex, religion, education, or income.

As a Minnesotan, having the story set in the Twin Cities and surrounding areas made the story come alive even more. You get a real sense of what life is like here, and Minnesota became another character in the novel.

I loved "Shades of Darkness, Shades of Grace" and highly recommend it.

Conflict and antagonism are natural occurrences even in the most harmonious of families - but what makes them harmonious is there capacity to deal with them. "Shades of Darkness, Shades of Grace" is one families struggle to overcome the lies and deception between them - and when they finally sift out who's responsible, they are faced with an inner conflict of their loyalty to blood and love, and what is justifiable anger - a story of conflict that some will discover creepy parallels to their own family. "Shades of Darkness, Shades of Grace" is highly recommended to community library fiction collections as a deftly written novel that explores human nature - a top pick indeed.

In Shades of Darkness, Shades of Grace Catherine Johnson has woven an intriguing web of family dynamics and mystery. Set against a Minnesota backdrop, this story unfolds to show the reader a family working together not only to run a successful business but also to save one of their own. Told through the point of view of the sister, it tells of the tragic situation where her brother, Paul, who has suffered through the death of his first beloved wife has now remarried a woman who is dragging him down both financially and psychologically. The plot follows this descent slowly and allows the reader to feel the same build up of frustration and helplessness that the Pierson family must have felt. It is a visceral story that expertly counterpoints the sanctuary that one can find in one's family and the chaos that can be created by those out to exploit and benefit at the expense of others. The aggravation that comes with the inability to fight the unfairness of the situation finally causes a surprising twist ending that provides an unexpected sense of justice. Shades of Darkness, Shades of Grace is an engrossing and satisfying read expertly told by Catherine Johnson. I highly recommend it!

Wow! What a great read! I sat down Sunday afternoon with a copy of Shades of Darkness, Shades of Grace and thought I'd read a few minutes before I did some chores. Forget that. Hours later, the sky was dark when I put it down because I had read the entire novel. Couldn't put it down. As a novelist myself, I was genuinely impressed with the quality of this author's debut novel.The characters were human and real ~ even the villains; the story was compelling; and the outcome was a stunner yet so skillfully foreshadowed that it was totally believable. Will I buy Catherine Johnson's next book? You bet. I'm already waiting for it.

Prudy Taylor Board, author of A Grave Injustice and Murder a la Carte

Brilliant! I absolutely did not see the twist coming. The author beautifully tied together all the elements of the story for a surprising and satisfying conclusion. This was such a richly described and beautifully woven story, I found myself wishing that I was a Pierson--the family scenes are great and the connection of the family members is wonderfully drawn.

After the death of his wife, grief-stricken Paul Pierson meets and weds Pamela Schaeffer in 1996 Minneapolis, his extended family relieved that the recent sorrow may be a thing of the past. Paul's two siblings are partners in a successful family business, more attached to one another's daily lives than most. Their father opting for a less prominent role, Jack, Paul and Kay (fifteen years sober) sign the documents that further cement their bonds, the financial futures of each tied to the others. Although the prologue indicates a possible murder victim- and therefore a mystery- the story that unfolds from blissful wedding day to combative, messy divorce with a small child in the middle, is a combination of motives and issues, this reader ready to commit mayhem on this codependent cast of characters.

What appears Paul's salvation soon becomes his nightmare as the newly married couple struggles with financial difficulties, forced to take extreme measures to solve their growing debts; between business obligations and his marriage, Paul is confronted with failure on at least one front, a rift between the couple that affects the rest of the Pierson's. The inevitable domestic disarray occurs, the parents and siblings staunchly behind Paul, while Pamela's volatile temperament results in a number of high-decibel confrontations, increasingly serious incidents that deliver Paul and Pamela to the inevitable. To further complicate the situation, alcoholism is a recurring theme in the Pierson family, Paul only the most recent to fall victim to a particularly destructive disease. Determined as they are to support Paul's messy divorce, the family is embroiled as well with the damage wrought on them by alcohol abuse, the strained relationships, codependency, denial, enabling and general problems that permeate such families.

At this point, I am unsure if this is a novel or a fictionalized memoir. Pamela's trajectory is predictable, a discontented and vengeful woman; it is the Pierson's internecine battles that are emotionally draining. The story is compelling in its theme, but the prose is little more than average, characters trapped in endless arguments and impulsive decisions, driving them all to the edge of reason. Their problems go beyond the initial marriage incompatibility, tapping into an all too familiar reservoir of family dynamics. The author's task is to sort through the chaos, building a consistent narrative lest she leave her audience demanding a stiff drink to make it to the end of the novel. Reminiscent of the obsessed character in Fatal Attraction, Pamela just won't desist, ratcheting up her merciless attacks on the desperate family, demanding endless remuneration. Under siege, the Pierson's must develop a strategy for dealing with Paul's demented ex-wife. Like a dysfunctional family member on a holiday glutted with drama, I am ready to do anything to escape. Luan Gaines/ 2008.