Five o'Clock Shadow

by Susan Slater

Newlywed Pauly Caton watches, horrified, as the hot air balloon—the one she should have been riding in—falls from the sky. She races to the wrecked basket to discover both the pilot and her husband Randy dead in the fiery crash. The lone survivor appears to be an unknown child, who runs from the scene, naked and fearful, and disappears from sight. Shocked, Pauly turns to her Grams, a flashy grande dame and carnival owner, and a source of comfort for her pain.

During the ensuing weeks, Pauly learns that nearly everything she knew about her new husband was based on lies and deception. As Christmas approaches, she attempts to pick up the pieces of her life and uncovers a host of other surprises about Randy—things that make her question everything about her choice to marry him. She senses she can trust no one, not even the police, and learns that there are secrets which threaten to put her own life in danger.

Praise for Susan Slater’s previous mystery novels:
The Dan Mahoney series:
“Flash Flood is just what it sounds like—a fresh, surprising, adrenaline-rush whitewater ride. It’s also funny. Susan Slater can flat-out write.” —Don Winslow, New York Times bestselling author

“Slater’s excellent sequel to Flash Flood takes insurance investigator Dan Mahoney to tiny Wagon Mound, New Mexico … Readers will be glad they’re along for the ride.”— Publishers Weekly (starred review)

“There’ll be much, much more, with whispers of everything from alien experiments to voodoo, before Slater closes out this lively, surprising case, first of a series.” – Kirkus Reviews

“Dan Mahoney is an appealingly resilient character, a welcome addition to the roster of sleuths that make the Southwest a hotbed of current mystery fiction.” —Publishers Weekly

The Ben Pecos mystery series:
“Solid, suspenseful narrative and colorful glimpses of Native American life ... strongly recommend.” —Library Journal

“A series to watch.” —Booklist

“… Ben Pecos—raised far from New Mexico’s Tewa Pueblo—could become as lasting a fictional presence as Joe Leaphorn and Jim Chee.” – Chicago Tribune

“… a gripping, interesting tale.” –5 stars, online review

Genres: Mystery

332 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2000

About the author

Susan has lived in the Southwest for 32 years. The enchantment of New Mexico comes alive in her Ben Pecos series - The Pumpkin Seed Massacre, Yellow Lies, Thunderbird, and A Way to the Manger.

Reviews

[Stephanie Dewey · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a stand alone book and not part of Susan Slater other mystery series (Ben Pecos and Dan Mahoney). I was mesmerized by this suspenseful story and could not put it down. The subject of human sex trafficking is a main topic. The way that Susan handles this delicate subject is very tasteful and well done... it's an issue going on in our country today and very relevant. The mystery surrounding the death of the main character's husband on their honeymoon is so intriguing that you can not help but keep reading. Is her grandmother in on this? It's hard to know the good guys from the bad guys which intensifies the mystery even further. Who can you trust? I highly recommend this book if you are looking for a great mystery.

[LJ · Rating 1 out of 5]

FIVE O’CLOCK SHADOW (Amateur Sleuth-New Mexico-Cont) - NR
Susan Slater – 2nd book
Poisoned Pen Press, 2004 – Hardcover
Set in New Mexico, Pauly Caton takes refuge at her carnival-queen mother’s house while trying to find out who killed the husband she married four days ago.
*** Between a recent widow lusting after every man she meets, terrible dialogue and absurd characters, I could not get through this book.