Shades of Darkness, Shades of Grace

Catherine Johnson
iUniverse (2007)
ISBN 9780595706822
Reviewed by Melissa LaMunyon for RebeccasReads (4/08)

In “Shades of Darkness, Shades of Grace,” Catherine Johnson writes about the affluent Pierson family living in the St. Paul/Minneapolis area in the mid-1990s. The Piersons have built a real-estate empire which is now run by their three grown children. The family appears to be healthy, loving, active and well-respected within their community.

Tragedy struck the Pierson family, however, when the youngest son, Paul, loses his wife to ovarian cancer. A dark period for the entire family, Paul seemed to lose himself in his grief and despair. A year later, when Paul falls in love with and marries Pamela Schaeffer, the whole family believes that the darkness is behind them. Despite a few troubling incidents, the Piersons are determined to put aside any doubts about Pamela’s sincerity and love for Paul and welcome her to the family with open arms.

Narrated in first person by Kay, the Pierson’s only daughter, “Shades of Darkness, Shades of Grace” chronicles the family’s journey as they realize that Pamela Schaeffer is not who she seems to be. Rather than representing healing and a fresh start for Paul, Pamela slowly reveals herself to be a calculating gold-digger who becomes intent on destroying the entire Pierson family.

Written for adult fans of drama and suspense, Johnson is successful in creating a sense of horror as the reader watches the Pierson family, despite their innate goodness and considerable wealth and power, be torn apart by the malicious intent of one woman. Woven throughout the novel is a chilling story of how the governmental systems of power, which are put in place to protect people, are used to torment and abuse those who have done nothing wrong.

As compelling as the storyline is, Johnson’s writing is choppy and leaves much to be desired. I also thought that the dialogue was stiff and unbelievable. It was as though I was reading a script, as opposed to hearing the characters speak in my head. I felt as though I was watching the story unfold from behind a soundproof window. While there was obviously something very interesting happening behind the glass, I found myself only mildly curious; because, as much as I wanted too, I couldn’t emotionally engage with the characters.

I believed that the character development was extremely uneven. In the beginning, Kay, the narrator, comes across as a frumpy, meek pastor’s wife, determined to turn the other cheek and forgive Pamela’s outrageous behavior. It was confusing when through the book, Kay is smoking, cursing, angry and Pamela’s biggest critic.

Johnson tries to portray Paul, Pamela’s husband and main victim, as the tragic, put upon hero, but it was difficult to feel any sympathy for him. I know that I was supposed to feel sorry for him, because his first wife died, but I have to admit that it was a challenge. As Paul fails to stand up to Pamela’s growing manipulation, and gives in her greed time and time again, often at his family’s cost, he starts to seem pathetic. Yes, Pamela is revealed to be a monster—but it was hard at times to not think that Paul asked for these problems.

I would recommend that Johnson go through “Shades of Darkness, Shades of Grace
” and completely re-write the dialogue and descriptive scenes. I thought that the dialogue was stiff and unnatural. Also, far too often the reader is told what the characters are feeling, rather using action to show what is happening.

All that being said, however, I had a difficult time putting down “Shades of Darkness, Shades of Grace.” It was an engrossing read, major flaws aside, and I thought the ending was perfect; satisfying and thought-provoking. I am looking forward to Johnson’s next novel, which I might even consider buying on a slow, summer afternoon.