Friendships, family bonds, guilt and innocence tested in the new legal novel Gray Lines

MENOMONEE FALLS, Wis. - Nov. 8, 2022 - PRLog -- When an attorney turns to writing fiction, it's no surprise that the plot turns on troubling and serious legal questions of responsibility and consent. In Gray Lines, the gripping new novel by author Marisa Rae Dondlinger, a sexual encounter between fourteen-year-olds Micah and Penelope escalates into a case of he-said-she-said. Is it sex or assault?

Micah believes they are in love, while Penelope is in shock, devastated that her best friend of eleven years, her first boyfriend, abused her trust. As neighbors and close friends, their mothers, Amelia and Zoe, must grapple with the emotional, social, and legal consequences of the alleged sexual assault.

At the heart of the case are disturbing questions. Was Micah arrested and prosecuted because he's Black and Penelope is white? Is Penelope lying? Does Micah's intoxication on alcohol mitigate or exacerbate his responsibility?

As the case steamrolls toward trial, the families are left with more questions than answers and the two mothers are pitted against each other as they seek to protect their children.

This provacative story will appeal to readers who love a novel big on legal drama that doesn't sacrifice richly drawn characters or the complexities of human relationships.

Marisa Dondlinger is the author of Scenes From a Bar and Open. A graduate of the University of Wisconsin Law School, Marisa practiced law for several years before devoting herself to writing fiction. She lives in Wisconsin with her husband and two young daughters. When not writing, she enjoys reading, going for walks, and watching her daughters play sports.

Learn more about Marisa Dondlinger at http://marisaraedondlinger.com/