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Students and staff are being mysteriously murdered within an inner city school, and writing teacher, Neil Masterman, has become the prime suspect despite numerous other potential suspects. Amid the tragedy of the murders, Masterman's students begin to explore a writing assignment with sexual content, which puts the future of the class at risk. No one knows who could be luring victims into the bookroom, and everyone is set on edge as cops roam the halls. There are no clues that could lead the cops to the actual killer, so they grasp at straws, causing the tension to rise higher.
Readers are taken on a wild ride of suspense, self-discovery, and racial tension. The story is not so much a mystery novel as it is a coming of age/self realization novel. Mixed in with the main story of the murder investigation are the stories written by the writing class. This adds an element of depth to the students, allowing readers see a bit of each student's personality and what makes them tick while they explore their understanding of the world. This story shows how people deal with violence in different ways, and how they can either come together for healing or become more divisive. It is not a slow story, but is evenly fast-paced and makes readers want to find out where the story will head next. While the main character is the teacher, the students also become strong characters. Berg's writing sticks with readers well after they have finished reading it. As social unrest is becoming prevalent in today's society, this is a book that needs to be read.
RECOMMENDED by the US Review
Alan Berg was a 2015 Eric Hoffer Book Award winner.