Description
Even the strongest of families aren’t immune to malice, betrayal, and deceit. Supportive, loving, and affluent, the Pierson family is delighted to celebrate the marriage of sensitive middle son Paul Pierson and his wife, Pamela. Everyone rejoices that Paul has finally recovered from the tragic loss of his beloved first wife and looks forward to Paul and Pamela’s new life together. But just as family members are celebrating his happiness, they start noticing that his beautiful bride may not be what she seems.
As the strain between siblings and spouses worsens, the Piersons discover that neither their money nor their considerable influence can keep the family safe from one woman’s malicious intent. When the true nature of this family member is revealed, each of the Piersons is confronted with the quandary of human conduct and moral responsibility.
“Darkness and Grace” is a compelling story of the classic struggle between good and evil, as well as the violent undercurrent running beneath the illusory serenity of a close-knit Midwestern family.
A NOTE FROM THE AUTHOR
“Darkness and Grace” was inspired by real-life events involving my family in the early 1990s. Each time I would discuss the true occurrences, people would comment, “This is a great story. You need to write a book.” After initial trepidation, I recognized this was not only a story worth telling, but it was one that comes to an author only once in a lifetime.
Originally published in 2007 under a pseudonym with the title “Shades of Darkness, Shades of Grace” this book is a work of fiction. To write the narrative, I employed aspects of historical fiction, using authentic news accounts, world events, settings, and descriptions involving entirely fictional characters. “Darkness and Grace” is of the domestic thriller genre in which familial relationships can prove to be far more dangerous than the world at large.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Kathryn Schleich has been a writer for more than 30 years. Her crime novel, “Salvation Station,” was published through She Writes Press in 2020. Schleich has also published the short story Reckless Acts, featured in “After Effects: A Zimbell House Anthology,” and Grand Slam, published in The Acentos Review. She is also the author of the academic book Hollywood and “Catholic Women: Virgins, Whores, Mothers, and Other Images,“ which evolved from her master’s thesis. Her guest posts have been featured on the Women On Writing blog, The Muffin, and she writes for the Amherst H. Wilder Foundation’s volunteer newsletter. When she’s not writing, Schleich is likely volunteering in the education and arts communities in the Twin Cities, Minnesota, where she lives. Friends, family, good food, wine, and traveling are important aspects of her life.
