One of the most popular terms in our culture today is “gaslighting,” which refers to making someone think they are losing their mind. It has origins in Patrick Hamilton’s play, Gas Light, and was more famously turned into the classic film Gaslight.

I begin my review of SHELL GAMES as such because it would be impossible to discuss the book without understanding that word, which is used frequently throughout the story. Bonnie Kistler is a former trial lawyer who spends part of the year in Sarasota, Florida, which is where the novel is set.

At the wedding of Charlie Mull and Katie Sawyer, the groom announces that he has a confession to make. He reveals that he has had a torch for Katie since they were high school sweethearts. It just took 50 years for them to finally marry! The nuptials are taking place at Katie’s mansion, La Coquina, on an island off the Sarasota coast.

"I thoroughly enjoyed SHELL GAMES. It kept me on my toes and had me thinking and rethinking everything I was reading as all great psychological suspense novels should."

The primary characters, in addition to Charlie and Katie, are Julie Hoffman, Katie’s daughter and legal counsel for her billion-dollar real estate firm; Julie’s husband, Eric, a surgeon; Eric’s sister and Julie’s BFF, Greta, a judge; and Becky, Charlie’s daughter from his first marriage. Others will enter the story as the narrative progresses, but these people drive the action and proceed to confound readers in the process.

On the night of their wedding, Charlie announces privately to Katie that he has another confession to make. This one is far more serious and mind-blowing. He admits to being the person behind the infamous Tylenol murders that occurred in Chicago in 1982. A shocked Katie calls the police on her new husband, and everything blows up. Julie, Eric, Greta and others arrive in the middle of the night at the hotel where Katie is being treated, while Charlie is detained in a police car.

When the dust settles, Charlie denies confessing to any crime and adds that Katie was quite intoxicated. Rumors of her possibly starting the long journey into dementia are floated, and a neurologist friend orders her to go to the hospital for more extensive testing.

Katie tells Julie that she is completely of sound mind and insists that Charlie is gaslighting her. Why? Because their prenuptial agreement would leave him with nothing but La Coquina and none of her fortune upon her death. If she is found to be of addled mind, the pre-nup would be nullified, and Charlie would get everything. Julie has a hard time dealing with all of this, but suddenly everyone involved seems to have a reason for wanting to get Katie out of the way. There is so much alleged gaslighting going on here that it's hard to decipher who's telling the truth and who's not, including Julie to some extent.

I will not reveal what happens from this point on as they would be major spoilers. I will only say that there is subplot involving Tad Ainsworth, an attorney and environmental activist who once had worked briefly with Julie as a legal intern and now represents a non-profit that is in battle with Katie’s real estate empire. Ainsworth will play an intricate role here in some unexpected ways.

I thoroughly enjoyed SHELL GAMES. It kept me on my toes and had me thinking and rethinking everything I was reading as all great psychological suspense novels should. Kistler not only shows her legal expertise and familiarity with Sarasota, but also spins a tale that plays out at times like a true domestic thriller and a classic murder mystery, featuring a small group of characters who all have their own motives.