Book Review: A fingerprint expert obsessed with learning the fate of her missing sister
Shaw (short for Shawnee), now a fingerprint expert for law enforcement agencies, is certain that her sister was murdered, but she is obsessed with learning where she was buried.
Even now, after all these years, she continues to put up posters and roam the woods of their hometown with a cadaver dog. Her obsession takes a toll not only on her but on her family, driving her husband away and traumatizing her two boys.
But in author Gillian French's 'Shaw Connolly Lives To Tell,' Shaw isn't the only one who is obsessed. Someone is obsessed with her.
His name is Anders Jansen, and he calls Shaw frequently, often at odd hours. He taunts her about Thea, revealing details that hint at his involvement in the girl's disappearance — but never enough to justify an arrest.
As their cat-and-mouse game continues, the phone calls become more menacing, and soon he starts following her and making vague threats against her family. When Shaw grows alarmed enough to get a protective order, he violates it, giving police a justification to make an arrest. But now he's on the run, the police can't find him, and the calls continue.
Meanwhile, Shaw has a job to do. She assists police investigating the death of a man who was bludgeoned while walking his dog. She is called to assist with an arson fire in a vacant building. But then there is another arson fire. And another. And another. When the arsonist burns down the church Shaw attended as a child, she and the readers wonder if Anders could be setting the fires.
This well-written, emotionally wrenching novel is not a mystery in the traditional sense. It is apparent early on that Thea is dead and that Anders killed her. The tension lies in how far Shaw will go to learn where she is buried, what Anders will do if she persists, and the price the people she loves will pay for her obsession.
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Bruce DeSilva, winner of the Mystery Writers of America's Edgar Award, is the author of the Mulligan crime novels including 'The Dread Line.'
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7 hours ago
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A New Zealand mother and her 6-year-old son made a brief trip to Canada. They have spent weeks detained by ICE
A brief trip to Canada and a small paperwork mistake landed a Washington state mother and her 6-year-old son in US immigration detention for more than three weeks, her attorney told CNN. Sarah Shaw, a New Zealand citizen who has lived legally in the US since she arrived in 2021, was detained at the Blaine, Washington, Customs and Border Protection checkpoint when returning home after dropping her two oldest children off at the Vancouver airport for a flight to visit their grandparents in New Zealand. Shaw, 33, chose the flight out of Vancouver because it was direct and she didn't want her children to have to navigate a layover alone, her attorney Minda Thorward, told CNN. But Shaw didn't realize the travel permit that allowed her to exit and re-enter the US had expired. That's when Shaw and her son, whose immigration documents were valid, were taken into custody by CBP. Shaw tried to get a humanitarian parole, which would have allowed her to enter the US and return home, but she was denied, her attorney said. Shaw then asked if her boyfriend or a friend could pick up her son since his documents were up to date, but she was again denied, Thorward said. They were transported to the South Texas Family Residential Center in Dilley, Texas, roughly 2,000 miles from their home. Shaw's detention is among the latest examples of the Trump administration's immigration crackdown, which, despite pledges to focus on violent criminals, has also swept up lawful residents like Shaw. Shaw arrived in the US as a tourist in 2021 and married a citizen that year. Shortly after, the marriage ended, and she filed an I-360 petition in April 2022, her lawyer told CNN. Her application remains under review after multiple delays. Shaw had been living in the US under a 'combo card,' a dual document that serves as both a work permit and travel document. She secured the permit through her job working for Washington state, her lawyer said. When it came time to renew both parts of the combo card, Shaw paid to have the work permit renewed, but didn't renew the travel permit 'because she didn't have any plans for travel at that time and it's expensive,' Thorward said. In June, Shaw received confirmation of her work permit renewal, but mistakenly believed it also extended her travel authorization – a 'minor administrative paperwork error' – according to her lawyer. 'She had completely re-established herself. She had a full-time job, an apartment, adopted a dog, a new boyfriend, and the kids were in school and doing great,' Thorward said. 'She made a mistake, but she has no previous convictions – none. This is a very clean case.' Shaw told Thorward the Department of Homeland Security said she may be released on Friday, but Thorward said she has not received any direct updates from authorities. CNN has reached out to Immigration and Customs Enforcement regarding Shaw's case. New Zealand's foreign affairs ministry said it was in contact with Shaw but declined to provide further details for privacy reasons. Set to begin a master's program in psychology this month at Northwest University, Shaw is worried about whether she will be released from detention in time, her lawyer said. Thorward said border officials had the discretion to grant Shaw humanitarian parole rather than detaining her. 'It was not necessary, inappropriate and inhumane (to detain Shaw and her son),' Thorward said. 'She's lawfully in the country. She's been doing everything in good faith.' In a statement to CNN, a CBP spokesperson said that individuals with expired parole trying to re-enter the US would be detained in compliance with immigration laws. 'If they are accompanied by a minor, CBP will follow all protocols to keep families together or arrange care with a legal guardian,' a spokesperson said. A facility for migrant families A friend of Shaw's, Victoria Besancon, told CNN Shaw has spent three weeks in a cramped detention facility, feeling 'incredibly isolated.' 'Each room contains 5 to 6 bunk beds, and rooms are locked from 8 p.m. to 8 a.m.,' Besancon told CNN, adding that she has been able to phone Shaw daily and recently video chat. Besancon said they were among the few English speakers in the facility. Shaw's son has been 'very sad he lost his summer vacation to being locked in the facility.' Shaw has used commissary funds to buy him ice cream and colored pencils to make him feel at home. 'There's not a lot for kids to do. Maybe some coloring books. There's no time for them to be outside,' Thorward said, adding detainees were left sweltering in the South Texas heat, where summer temperatures can reach up to 97 degrees. The South Texas Family Residential Center, one of the largest of its kind in the US, primarily houses migrant women and children. After closing last year, it reopened in March under an agreement between a private prison operator and ICE, with a capacity to detain up to 2,400 people. Other mothers who have been detained with their children at family migrant facilities have similarly described their experiences as traumatic and said they will have lasting psychological effect on children. ICE says the detention centers are safe. On its website, the agency includes a list of safety and health standards for family residential centers. The Dilley facility is 'retrofitted for families,' an ICE spokesperson said. 'This includes medical, dental, and mental health intake screening' and access to medical care. CNN's Lex Harvey and Todd Symons contributed to this report. Solve the daily Crossword
CNN
7 hours ago
- CNN
A New Zealand mother and her 6-year-old son made a brief trip to Canada. They have spent weeks detained by ICE
A brief trip to Canada and a small paperwork mistake landed a Washington state mother and her 6-year-old son in US immigration detention for more than three weeks, her attorney told CNN. Sarah Shaw, a New Zealand citizen who has lived legally in the US since she arrived in 2021, was detained at the Blaine, Washington, Customs and Border Protection checkpoint when returning home after dropping her two oldest children off at the Vancouver airport for a flight to visit their grandparents in New Zealand. Shaw, 33, chose the flight out of Vancouver because it was direct and she didn't want her children to have to navigate a layover alone, her attorney Minda Thorward, told CNN. But Shaw didn't realize the travel permit that allowed her to exit and re-enter the US had expired. That's when Shaw and her son, whose immigration documents were valid, were taken into custody by CBP. Shaw tried to get a humanitarian parole, which would have allowed her to enter the US and return home, but she was denied, her attorney said. Shaw then asked if her boyfriend or a friend could pick up her son since his documents were up to date, but she was again denied, Thorward said. They were transported to the South Texas Family Residential Center in Dilley, Texas, roughly 2,000 miles from their home. Shaw's detention is among the latest examples of the Trump administration's immigration crackdown, which, despite pledges to focus on violent criminals, has also swept up lawful residents like Shaw. Shaw arrived in the US as a tourist in 2021 and married a citizen that year. Shortly after, the marriage ended, and she filed an I-360 petition in April 2022, her lawyer told CNN. Her application remains under review after multiple delays. Shaw had been living in the US under a 'combo card,' a dual document that serves as both a work permit and travel document. She secured the permit through her job working for Washington state, her lawyer said. When it came time to renew both parts of the combo card, Shaw paid to have the work permit renewed, but didn't renew the travel permit 'because she didn't have any plans for travel at that time and it's expensive,' Thorward said. In June, Shaw received confirmation of her work permit renewal, but mistakenly believed it also extended her travel authorization – a 'minor administrative paperwork error' – according to her lawyer. 'She had completely re-established herself. She had a full-time job, an apartment, adopted a dog, a new boyfriend, and the kids were in school and doing great,' Thorward said. 'She made a mistake, but she has no previous convictions – none. This is a very clean case.' Shaw told Thorward the Department of Homeland Security said she may be released on Friday, but Thorward said she has not received any direct updates from authorities. CNN has reached out to Immigration and Customs Enforcement regarding Shaw's case. New Zealand's foreign affairs ministry said it was in contact with Shaw but declined to provide further details for privacy reasons. Set to begin a master's program in psychology this month at Northwest University, Shaw is worried about whether she will be released from detention in time, her lawyer said. Thorward said border officials had the discretion to grant Shaw humanitarian parole rather than detaining her. 'It was not necessary, inappropriate and inhumane (to detain Shaw and her son),' Thorward said. 'She's lawfully in the country. She's been doing everything in good faith.' In a statement to CNN, a CBP spokesperson said that individuals with expired parole trying to re-enter the US would be detained in compliance with immigration laws. 'If they are accompanied by a minor, CBP will follow all protocols to keep families together or arrange care with a legal guardian,' a spokesperson said. A friend of Shaw's, Victoria Besancon, told CNN Shaw has spent three weeks in a cramped detention facility, feeling 'incredibly isolated.' 'Each room contains 5 to 6 bunk beds, and rooms are locked from 8 p.m. to 8 a.m.,' Besancon told CNN, adding that she has been able to phone Shaw daily and recently video chat. Besancon said they were among the few English speakers in the facility. Shaw's son has been 'very sad he lost his summer vacation to being locked in the facility.' Shaw has used commissary funds to buy him ice cream and colored pencils to make him feel at home. 'There's not a lot for kids to do. Maybe some coloring books. There's no time for them to be outside,' Thorward said, adding detainees were left sweltering in the South Texas heat, where summer temperatures can reach up to 97 degrees. The South Texas Family Residential Center, one of the largest of its kind in the US, primarily houses migrant women and children. After closing last year, it reopened in March under an agreement between a private prison operator and ICE, with a capacity to detain up to 2,400 people. Other mothers who have been detained with their children at family migrant facilities have similarly described their experiences as traumatic and said they will have lasting psychological effect on children. ICE says the detention centers are safe. On its website, the agency includes a list of safety and health standards for family residential centers. The Dilley facility is 'retrofitted for families,' an ICE spokesperson said. 'This includes medical, dental, and mental health intake screening' and access to medical care. CNN's Lex Harvey and Todd Symons contributed to this report.
Newsweek
4 days ago
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Domestic Violence Survivor and Son Detained Crossing Canadian Border
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. A New Zealand woman and her youngest son, living in Washington, were detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on the Canadian border after dropping her other children off in Vancouver. Sarah Shaw, who is waiting for a green card, and her son Isaac, 6, were arrested despite having some immigration documents. She is now being held in a detention facility in Texas. Newsweek reached out to ICE and Shaw's attorney for comment via email Monday morning. Why It Matters Since President Donald Trump's return to the White House in January, ICE has been seen to take a tougher stance on immigration enforcement, including against those with legal status. This has led to increased uncertainty around international travel for green card holders and those with other long-term visas. Sarah Shaw (center), seen with her three children, was detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) at the U.S.-Canada border on July 24, 2025. Sarah Shaw (center), seen with her three children, was detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) at the U.S.-Canada border on July 24, 2025. GoFundMe What To Know A GoFundMe page set up by Shaw's friend, Victoria Besancon, explained that the mother of three had fully prepared for a quick trip across the U.S.-Canadian border on July 24 to drop off her two eldest children at Vancouver's airport. They were headed back to New Zealand for a visit with their grandparents. While crossing into Canada had been fine, on the return trip, immigration officials detained Shaw and Isaac. Originally entering the U.S. sponsored by her ex-husband, Shaw is now in the process of seeking a green card independently under a domestic violence survivor's provision. According to the GoFundMe, Shaw had work authorization but not travel permissions just yet, while her son did. Her attorney, Minda Thorward, told NBC King 5 news that under previous administrations, Shaw would likely have been quickly paroled back into the U.S. by Customs and Border Protection (CBP), but that this had clearly shifted under Trump. Despite Isaac having travel permissions, ICE still holds him in detention, with Shaw also held at the Dilley Immigration Processing Center in South Texas. Besancon wrote on her GoFundMe page that Shaw works for the Washington State Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) and was set to begin grad school soon. The funding, sitting at over $33,000 Monday morning, was to cover legal fees and essentials, after she was forced to burn through savings for legal representation. Shaw's case is not the first of its kind, with multiple legal residents reported to have been detained by ICE in recent months. While some have known criminal records or histories, which can be reason to withdraw visas, others have claimed that they simply made mistakes with paperwork and should be released. What People Are Saying Victoria Besancon, Shaw's friend, speaking to NBC King 5: "Sarah had been waiting on some travel documents to be approved. But once her visa and her children's visas were cleared, she felt comfortable taking them to Canada. We assumed everything was fine. "The main thing Sarah has expressed throughout this ordeal is just absolute shock and devastation. She truly believed she had done everything that was required of her." DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin, in a recent statement on immigration enforcement: "The fact of the matter is those who are in our country illegally have a choice—they can leave the country voluntarily or be arrested and deported. The United States taxpayer is generously offering free flights and a $1,000 to illegal aliens who self-deport using the CBP Home app. If they leave now, they preserve the potential opportunity to come back the legal, right way. The choice is theirs." What's Next Shaw is yet to show up on ICE's inmate detainee locator, with her friends and legal team urging the agency to release her and her son.
