Shadow of Turning A Novel by Clayton Carpenter When a man’s beginnings are far rougher than usual, it gives his childhood a hard-eyed look at the world. Poverty, family violence and thuggish behavior are the norm for Ben Kelly as he scrambles toward adulthood. Through great effort, he overcomes a mountain of obstacles to become successful as a professional. Then, at the apex of his career, he is struck with slanderous accusations about his character. People consumed with envy conspire to destroy him. Trusted friends slither through clouds of deception to attack. The career that he fought so hard to attain is left in shambles.  Then, people around him start to die in a variety of “accidents” as he experiences close calls himself.  Is there a connection between the deaths and his former bosses, who are people who will stop at nothing to protect their interests?  If so, what can he do about it?  Will he be faced with confronting powerful people who are adept at hiding behind the law? How will he respond? Will his thin veneer of sophistication hold up under the pressure, or will old thoughts and ideas resurface to trigger unpredictable behavior? If his reactions become extreme, how far will he go? His unique path through hard circumstances leads him down a perilous road of action across three Southern states.