Stephanie Kane, Seeds of Doubt

Seeds of Doubt

Stephanie Kane

Scribner, Nov 2004, 288 pp.

ISBN: 0743245571

Thirty years ago in Vivian, Colorado, four-year-old Freddie Gant disappeared; his body was ultimately found by a grain elevator. The police deduce that someone shoved him off the top of it. Attention focuses on twelve-year-old Rachel Boyd, who eventually was arrested and found guilty by a jury. She recently was paroled and lives with her brother Chris, a wealthy banker.

When the six-year-old son of Chris' gardener vanishes, everyone looks towards Rachel. When his corpse is found near Denver, attention again focuses on Rachel. Besides her history, she was seen with Benjamin the day he disappeared. Chris hires dyslexic lawyer Jackie Flowers to defend his sister. Jackie goes the extra mile when she agrees to allow Rachel to stay in her home as part of the bail stipulation. Jackie, who has spent her life hiding her learning disability from even loved ones, struggles with the defense because Rachel refuses to cooperate by defending herself. Jackie knows the prosecution has circumstantial evidence, but the prosecution's strength lies with the fact that the same MO was used in both child murders.

Stephanie Kane is part of the Supreme Court of legal thriller writers whom readers know always provide dramatic courtroom scenes that bring electrifying realism to their tales. Stephanie's current novel, SEEDS OF DOUBT, is complex with multilayers as readers wonder if Rachel is guilty or, if not, what is she hiding and why, rather than help make a viable defense. With powerful action and strong characters, the verdict beyond a shadow of a doubt is that Ms. Kane has provided another superb read.

Harriet Klausner