title: Critical Injuries
author:  Joan Barfoot 
description: In her eighth novel, Barfoot (Getting Over Edgar) explores the effects of an act of violence on both the perpetrator and the victim. At 49, Isla has found happiness in her second marriage to attorney Lyle. She loves her two grown children, too, although she'd be the first to admit that she's not happy about their lives: daughter Alix has joined a cult, and son Jamie is drifting from job to job after recovering from a teenage drug habit. Living in the same community as Isla and her family, 17-year-old Roddy is restless and dissatisfied with small-town life. In order to finance their scheme to run away to the nearest big city, Roddy and best friend Mike set up a fake robbery at the ice cream store where Mike works. Isla enters the store at precisely the wrong moment, Roddy panics, a gun goes off, and both Isla and Roddy must learn to live with the consequences: Isla is a paraplegic, and Roddy spends more than a year in jail. Alternating viewpoints between these two characters, Barfoot brilliantly conveys how out of tragedy can come not only acceptance of changed circumstances but a sort of grace. Readers can't help but admire Isla's courage. All of award-winning Canadian novelist Barfoot's earlier books are out of print in the United States, which is a shame; after finishing Critical Injuries, those who enjoy good, character-driven fiction will surely want to read her earlier books as well. Recommended for public libraries large and small. Nancy Pearl, Washington Ctr. for the Book, Seattle <br />Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.
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  ## “WAS ALL THIS CAUSED BY WHATEVER LEFT THOSE BLOOD SPOTS UNDER HER FRONT
  RIBS?”
  
  
  
  
  
  “Maybe,” Robbins said. “Theoretically, there could be a range of causes. Bad
  posture, a sports injury…”
  
  
  “Bottom line, Doc,” Warrick said.
  
  
  Robbins thought a moment and released a long breath. “Rose Demille was a young
  woman. If we can believe half of what we read about her, she had a vigorous
  lifestyle. I doubt she could have gotten through her normal daily activities
  with a condition this severe—intensive therapy, if not surgery, would have
  been needed to relieve the acute pain.” Another exhalation. “My opinion? These
  injuries weren’t preexisting. She sustained the spinal trauma while being
  suffocated to death.”
  
  
  Catherine’s eyes narrowed. “You said you were confused by something?”
  
  
  “Mainly, it’s that she didn’t appear to struggle. Even if she was tied to the
  bedposts, you’d expect to find some evidence she resisted. Bruising on her
  hands, arms, or legs, whatever. Assumi