The Shadow Box by Luanne Rice

After artist Claire Beaudry Chase is attacked and left for dead in her home on the Connecticut coast, she doesn’t know who she can trust. But her well-connected husband, Griffin—who is running for governor—is her prime suspect.

Just before the attack, Claire was preparing for an exhibit of her shadow boxes, one of which clearly accuses Griffin of a violent crime committed twenty-five years ago. If the public were to find out who her husband is, his political career would be over. Claire’s certain her husband and his powerful supporters would kill her to stop the truth from getting out.

When one of Claire’s acquaintances is murdered, the authorities suspect the homicide is linked to the attack on Claire. As the dual investigations unfold, Claire must decide how much she’s willing to lose to take down her husband and the corrupt group of elites who will do anything to protect Griffin’s interests and their own.

REVIEW: The Shadow Box opens in the midst of a brutal attack on the main character, Claire Chase; the remainder of the novel, told from alternating characters' perspectives, details the actions and intrigue taking place in the days immediately before and after the crime. Claire believes from the start that her attacker is her abusive husband Griffin, a powerful and well-connected attorney and local politician. As the story unfolds, details from the past are revealed that seem to support Claire's beliefs; meanwhile, a seemingly-unrelated tragedy on the same day as Claire's attack begins to appear linked in multiple ways. We get a lot of strong backstory on some of the characters and I found the author's take on the world of New England's monied elite both interesting and timely. 

This book was a quick read and I didn't dislike it, but I never quite connected with the characters and certain details of the story left me seriously questioning the narrative - for example, Claire spends several days following her attack camped out in the woods in a rudimentary shelter with little food or water and no medical supplies. The description of her attack suggests that her injuries are substantial - the fact that she recovers with no nourishment or medical assistance was a bit far-fetched for my taste. Some reviewers have complained that the time and perspective jumps were confusing, but I had no issues with those aspects of the narrative. I just didn't really connect with either the characters or their stories. 3 stars.