The Sun’s Shadow

A life-threatening diagnosis leads to the unearthing of family secrets in this lackluster novel from Badani (The Storyteller’s Secret). Celine is thrilled when her husband, Eric, cuts back on his business travel, leaving him with more time at the home, but she’s disappointed and troubled by his increasingly distant behavior. Making matters worse, the horse farm she has worked hard to make successful is about to be sold out from under her by her uncle. Things come to a head when their 12-year-old son, Brian, receives a leukemia diagnosis. Amid their scramble to find a stem cell donor, Eric drops a bombshell: he has another son, Justin, who is the result of a one-night stand with his colleague Felicity 17 years ago. The revelation also causes tension between Justin and Felicity, who balks at his quick offer to be Brian’s donor. Celine spirals, struggling to understand Eric’s betrayal and lashing out at the farm’s intended buyer, her childhood best friend. The simplistic writing blunts the story’s dramatic potential, as does Badani’s flat characterization of the saintly Brian and Justin. This is nothing special. (Jan.)