Shadow of Doubt: A Carol Childs Mystery

Silverman’s rocky debut introduces news reporter Carol Childs, formerly a sales exec with KCHC, an L.A. talk-radio station. Carol’s neighbor, Samantha “Sam” Millhouse, is second in command at a talent agency owned by Sam’s hard-driven, obnoxious aunt, Pepper Millhouse. When Pepper apparently drowns in her bathtub, Sam, who was none too fond of her aunt, becomes a prime suspect in what turns into a homicide case. Kari Rhodes, KCHC’s entertainment reporter, is the first to point out that Pepper is the third important person at the agency to die recently under suspicious circumstances. After the police arrest Sam, Carol begins to dig into the many people who had reason to kill Pepper, aided by boyfriend Eric Langdon, an FBI agent, but hindered by KCHC’s hostile news director, Tyler Hunt. The convincing Hollywood background redeems only in part a weak plot and sketchy characters. [em](Dec.) [/em]