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Reviewed by Heather Osborne for Readers' Favorite
Shadow Journey: A Mrs. Blackstone Story by S.D. O’Donnell is a short story based on one of the characters in O’Donnell’s book, Deadly Memories. The story tells of a woman, Vera Blackstone, and her husband, Ted. Ted is diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor. He implores Vera to end his life if the side effects of the tumor get too much for him to handle. Ted does not want to become a burden to his wife when he can no longer move or speak. Vera struggles with this moral dilemma. Thrown into the mix is their daughter, Alice, who does not get along with her mother and suspects that something is going on, but is unable to prove it.
Miss O’Donnell writes a very captivating short story. Although I know it’s meant to be a spin-off on one of her novel’s characters, I wished the story was longer so I could see more about why Alice and Vera dislike each other so much. It sparked my interest and I would love to read Deadly Memories, just to find out more about Vera Blackstone. Shadow Journey: A Mrs. Blackstone Story made me question the ethics of euthanasia and whether or not people have the right to decide to die if they have a terminal illness. I could relate to the feelings between Vera and Alice, both wanting to protect someone they dearly loved. I almost hated Alice for her indifference to her mother. Overall, this is a heartfelt tale of one woman’s decision to provide comfort to her husband in his last moments.
