Walking Through Shadows: A Novel

by Bev Marshall

When Lloyd Cotton hears that Sheila Barnes is consistently beaten by her daddy, he offers her a room and a job cleaning up around his dairy farm. Despite physical deformity, poverty, and years of abuse, Sheila manages to see the silver lining in every cloud–and her bright spirit touches everyone in the Cotton family, including young Annette who finds an enchanting Best Friend. Stoney Barnes, the handsome boy who milks the cows, is especially taken with Sheila. And when they marry, it seems that God has finally given her the good graces she deserves.

But in a cruel twist of fate, Sheila’s body is found in the cornfields. Soon the little town of Zebulon, Mississippi, is awash in scandal. Who would want the innocent young woman dead? Her alcoholic father, her opinionated husband, or perhaps the faithfully married Lloyd Cotton, about whom unsavory rumors swirl?

Surprising secrets will crack open a rural community, and more than one family will suffer in the telling.

Genres: Fiction, Mystery

320 pages, Paperback

First published April 1, 2002

About the author

Bev Marshall is the author of three novels, Walking Through Shadows, Right As Rain, and Hot Fudge Sundae Blues. She is writer-in-residence at Southeastern Louisiana University in Hammond, Louisiana. She grew up in McComb and Gulfport, Mississippi, married her childhood sweetheart and now lives in Ponchatoula, Louisiana, just down the road from the live alligator that serves as the town's tourist attraction.

Reviews

[Jonathan M · Rating 3 out of 5]

It wasn't a bad book, but it had some things I wasn't a fan of. The beginning is very slow, and the same sequence of events is retold in different characters perspectives. I liked the addition of the different perspectives, but the beginning felt too long. Ultimately, it is sad and you do feel a lot of pity for Sheila, but the content is dark, and I don't think Bev did a great job at making us try and sympathize with Stoney.

[Chana · Rating 3 out of 5]

Because the subject matter is disturbing, verging on appalling and disgusting, I would like to be able to dismiss it as a literary work. However, it is not to be dismissed. The story flows along flawlessly, realistically and vividly.

[Isabella Medina · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book was overall good, it did catch my attention (I really just wanted to know what happened). I was interested throughout the story. I liked how different characters were voiced, it shown each perspective, how they thought. I did enjoy it but not sure if I'll read it again.

[Jessica Kennelly · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story was good but the author should have stopped about 12 pages sooner. She tried to make the story into more than a murder

[Jill · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this book. The characters are real and interesting. The author is local, and in talking to her, I learned that this book is based on her own family history and the event was real. Her grandfather is the owner of the dairy farm. The tragedy is heartbreaking and you hope for a good resolution.

[Donna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Here is a mystery set in the early 1940's, one of my favorite eras to read about. The story was "voiced" by different characters in Zebulon, Mississippi who were, in one way or another, involved in the life of the young woman who was murdered. I enjoyed this author's second novel very much also. There are some "rough" places in the story due to the subject matter, but it reads very well.

[Abby Rosmarin · Rating 2 out of 5]

Oh I wanted to like it. I really did. But it just seemed to be one gigantic flop. The pity character was too pathetic, Marshall tried too hard to make each point-of-view written different (which, in the end, always failed and they always started sounding the same), and I just found myself rolling my eyes at the end of it.

[Jen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this book, but had a hard time getting into it. It was recommended by my mom and usually we have similar tastes_ however she said she read this in just a day or two and it took me much longer

[Emily Herring · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bev Marshall was one of my college professors, so I felt obligated to read it. I really enjoyed it, but I just felt so angry at the end. I do love how Bev used each character's voice as a narrator. It definitely kept things interested. I would recommend this book to others.

[Nancy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting style of writing, relating the story using different character's perspectives on each event. The book is worth reading as a genre style but not for the story itself. Nancy

[Nicki · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautifully written!

[T.S. · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great murder mystery!

[Gloria]

*sigh*
You ever have those times where you go through a glut of books-- all of them duds? Here's to hoping the first thing I pick up in the new year will capture and hold my attention.

[Lydia Orbach · Rating 4 out of 5]

My friend Kelly gave this to me to read and it was wonderful.

[Brenda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great character development. I'm sure I met these characters many times as a social worker.

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

A well played out mystery, surprise at the end.