From Library Journal
When police officer Stan Shepherd is rushed to the hospital complaining of gastric pains, his horrified friends and family find out that he has been poisoned with arsenic. The situation is especially traumatic for Stan's wife, Celia, whose first husband died after being given arsenic. Although she was acquitted of that crime, local police decide that there is no way two husbands being poisoned in the same way was a coincidence, and Celia is arrested. The number of people who believe in her dwindles. Trying to prove her innocence, Celia finds herself turning more and more to her faith in God to get through her troubles. Blackstock's second mystery in the "Newpointe 911" series (following Private Justice, Zondervan, 1998) is a real page-turner, with some exciting sequences and a truly surprising ending. Libraries looking for mysteries with a strong Christian element should find this book pleasing to most patrons.Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.


Book Description
Book two in the Newpointe 911 series in which Celia Shepherd is arrested for the attempted murder of her husband, Stan.


From the Publisher
Shadow of Doubt is book two in the Newpointe 911 suspense series by award-winning novelist Terri Blackstock. Newpointe 911 offers, taut, superbly crafted novels of fear, faith, and close-knit, small-town relationships, seasoned with romance and tempered by insights into the nature of relationships, redemption, and the human heart.


From the Author
Terri Blackstock wrote Private Justice, book one in the Newpointe 911 series. She is also the author of the best-selling suspense series, Sun Coast Chronicles; and of the Second Chances romantic suspense series. An award-winning author, her books have sold over 3.5 million copies. She has been chosen as a 1998 RITA Award finalist in the Inspirational category for her book Presumption of Guilt


From the Back Cover
A Poisoned Past. A Bitter Present. Is Celia a Murderer . . . or a Victim? Detective Stan Sheperd lies comatose in the hospital, a victim of arsenic poisoning. The Newpointe police have a suspect: Celia Shepherd, Stan’s wife. Celia is no stranger to such charges. When her first husband died of poisoning, a technicality scuttled the case against her, and Celia got off scot-free. Now it looks like the same old story--only this time, the motive appears plain. An old flame has moved into town under circumstances bound to raise suspicion. And that’s just for starters. More evidence is gathering that can put Celia away for good. But attorney Jill Clark thinks the pieces of the puzzle fit together a bit too neatly. Either her client’s Christian faith is a sham, or she’s the victim of a deadly frame up--and the real killer is still afoot. . . . Shadow of Doubt is book two in the Newpointe 911 suspense series by award-winning novelist Terri Blackstock. Newpointe 911 offers taut, superbly crafted novels of fear, faith, and close-knit, small-town relationships, seasoned with romance and tempered by insights into the nature of relationships, redemption, and the human heart. Look for book one, the best-selling Private Justice, and the upcoming False Witness at your favorite Christian bookstore.


About the Author
She has appeared on national television programs such as "The 700 Club" and "Home Life" and has been a guest on numerous radio programs nationwide.


Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.
Chapter One
The thing about upset stomachs was that, eventually, they got better, but Stan Shepherds stomach was proving that theory wrong. He hadnt slept a wink all night. First hed had stomach cramps, and then it had turned to nausea, so hed spent half the night in the bathroom standing over the toilet, but that brought no relief. His T-shirt and boxer shorts were soaked with sweat, but he was too weak to change clothes. A cold shower might help except that the prospect of walking those few feet to the bathroom again was more than he could bear. He was tired, and his head ached. Still, there had to be something he could do. He grabbed the corner post on the bed for support and tried to pull up. His heart raced, and his breathing accelerated as if hed just climbed ten flights of stairs. Wearily, he fell back onto the bed with a bounce.
Celia woke up and squinted at him in the darkness. Stan, whats wrong, honey?
Im sick. The words came with great effort between short raspy breaths.
He knew his retching in the bathroom had already awakened her twice, and both times she had scurried around getting cold compresses and glasses of water. Each time he had convinced her he felt better, and she had managed to go back to sleep. Now it was evident that he had lied.
She crawled across the bed and slipped her bare feet to the floor. The lamp came on, and she bent over him, touching his head, looking into his eyes, feeling for his pulse. Youre worse. Stan, this isnt just a little nausea. Im taking you to the emergency room! She tried to pull him up, but he resisted.
No, Ill be okay. I mustve eaten something . . .
What? she asked urgently. I ate everything you ate tonight, and Im not sick.
There mustve been something. Just . . . find me some Pepto Bismol. Baking soda. Something. And more water. My throats on fire. Help me get in the shower first.
She slipped her arm under his and tried to help him pull up, but she was only five-three, and his six-foot, two-inch frame was too big for her. He managed to sit, but then dizziness assaulted him again. She struggled to pull him into a standing position. Instead, he collapsed onto the floor, worrying even as he fell that he would pull her down with him.
Stan, Im calling 911! She was crying now. He hated making her cry. He tried to tell her just to help him back into bed, that he didnt want her to get all nervous and upset. Tomorrow was her birthday, and hed made so many plans. She needed her rest.
He heard her talking to the dispatcher, Newpointes busy-body who would have the word of his illness all over town before the sun even came up. He wished Celia would just go for the Pepto. If shed just get him some Pepto . . .
Stan, can you hear me? Stan? Stan?
He couldnt seem to respond, nor could he breathe, and the pain in his throat and gut felt like a knife probing around, but he was too weak to double up with the pain. She was pulling on him, trying to revive him, trying to make him sit up, and he kept wishing for the pink stuff . . .
He wanted to throw up again, but it wouldnt come, and he prayed for a breath, just a breath that could go all the way into his lungs, and for the room to stop spinning, and for something to stop the nausea.
And then he stopped praying as he felt her pulling him up. He fell forward again, this time into a deep hole, where it was dark and he couldnt find the end, and there was nothing to reach out for that would stop his fall, and he didnt know where the darkness would take him . . .

FROM THE PUBLISHER

A Poisoned Past. A Bitter Present.Is Celia a Murderer . . . or a Victim?

Detective Stan Sheperd lies comatose in the hospital, a victim of arsenic poisoning. The Newpointe police have a suspect: Celia Shepherd, Stan's wife.

Celia is no stranger to such charges. When her first husband died of poisoning, a technicality scuttled the case against her, and Celia got off scot-free. Now it looks like the same old story--only this time, the motive appears plain. An old flame has moved into town under circumstances bound to raise suspicion. And that's just for starters. More evidence is gathering that can put Celia away for good.

But attorney Jill Clark thinks the pieces of the puzzle fit together a bit too neatly. Either her client's Christian faith is a sham, or she's the victim of a deadly frame up--and the real killer is still afoot. . . .

Shadow of Doubt is book two in the Newpointe 911 suspense series by award-winning novelist Terri Blackstock. Newpointe 911 offers taut, superbly crafted novels of fear, faith, and close-knit, small-town relationships, seasoned with romance and tempered by insights into the nature of relationships, redemption, and the human heart. Look for book one, the best-selling Private Justice, and the upcoming False Witness at your favorite Christian bookstore.

Author Biography: Terri Blackstock is the bestselling author of the Newpointe 911 and Sun coast Chronicles suspense series and other books, including Cape Refuge, Emerald Windows, Seaside, and her novels with Beverly LaHaye.

SYNOPSIS

Book two in the Newpointe 911 series in which Celia Shepherd is arrested for the attempted murder of her husband, Stan.

FROM THE CRITICS

Library Journal