Denise M. Clark Gemini reviews

Can you imagine how difficult it is to watch a loved one die? Marissa Sheldon can. She's living the horror on a day-by-day basis after her husband, George goes in for surgery one day and never wakes up, a result of a reaction to his anesthetic.

A Death Without Malice explores the issues regarding life support through the eyes of Marissa, a woman who loves her husband and yet is caught in an anguished state of limbo after he is placed on life support. Two long years later, she's tired, yet hesitant to make the decision to let him go.

Despite the support of family and friends, Marissa is not quite ready to say goodbye to her husband, despite her deep feelings that perhaps it would be best, for both of them, to allow him to slip away. Torn between allowing a thin ray of hope to invade her desolate world and grasping for the slimmest chances that she can save her husband, Marissa meets with a famous neurologist who informs her of a new technique that may stimulate George out of his coma. However, his hope offering comes with a caveat: If they do not see an improvement in George's condition within two weeks, she must agree to finally let him go.

A Death Without Malice starts off with a bang and never lets the reader go. Caught up in Marissa's torments and hopes, the reader is taken along for a ride that explores questions concerning love, life and death, and the Right to Die. Author M.N. Norton includes every angle in this well written and fast paced read, from not only the major character's point of view, but those of George's loved ones as well.

A gutsy attempt, author Norton pulls the subject off with great attention to detail, well developed characters and a smooth flowing prose that will keep the reader engaged and interested as the story plays out.

One of the better developed attempts on this issue, M.N. Norton's A Death Without Malice will not only provide a riveting read, but prompt readers to stop and think about 'What If…?'

Highly recommended read.