Synopsis

On a school camping trip, fifth graders experiment with a dangerous new hallucinogen and die in a horrific accident, their deaths shattering the quiet town. Assistant Superintendent Ken Parks, hoping to redeem a fatal mistake from his past, grasps the opportunity to conduct the district investigation of how students are getting the drugs. Almost before he begins, the cops make a stunning arrest. But Parks battles on, convinced the real pusher is still out there, poisoning more kids until he receives an anonymous if he continues, those close to him will pay. Is Parks willing to risk those he loves for a chance at redemption?

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Review

This mystery, set in 1995, took me back to a simpler time (no electronics outside of email) and a mystery that had me scratching my head.

Ken Parks is a school administrator who goes the extra mile for the schools he oversees. The tragic deaths of four young men throw him into the fire of seeking out the truth. There are many twists and turns, and I have to be honest, I was a bit surprised when all was revealed. But even at that point, the twists don’t stop.

The story does move at a slower pace than I would have expected. There is a lot of information to sort through, and because it is set in 1995, the methods to uncover the truth and details take a bit longer. There is no searching the internet for facts.

There are many potential suspects. Some are red herrings, others are involved in the situation. While I wanted a few characters to be guilty, they either weren’t or were guilty of something far less serious.

There is a side story regarding Ken’s wife, Amanda. She isn’t happy anymore in their relationship because Ken’s job seems to take up a lot of time. Instead of working through it with him, she decides to have an affair. I am not sure how I feel about this development, but I can understand her frustration. Not to say that Ken wasn’t without his faults, but I think blame could be laid at both of their feet.

Overall, this story was enjoyable, and we give it 4 paws up.

Excerpt

From the bend, the road descended quickly and Amanda felt the car picking up speed as gravity and its powerful engine propelled it downhill. As she approached the next turn, she realized she was coming in a little too fast. She slid her foot to the brake. Her concentration on steering the twisting road ahead, at first it didn’t register. She dared to take her gaze off the road and look down at her feet before she understood. When her right foot depressed the brake, the pedal glided all the way to the floor. No friction. She pulled her foot back and slammed on the brake again. The pedal slid all the way down. Unbelieving, she pumped it, again and again.

There was nothing there.

She jerked her eyes back. The hairpin turn hurtled at her. On instinct, she kept jamming on the pedal. It was supposed to work. She turned the wheel wildly. The big car shuddered as it tried to negotiate the turn. The two rear wheels slipped off the pavement, spinning in space. With the front wheel drive, the front two tires managed enough traction to catch. The car veered around the curve and headed down the next straight incline. The heavy vehicle rolled faster again as gravity pulled it down the hill.

Amanda’s mind reeled. What was she supposed to do?

Struggling desperately to force her mind to think, Amanda tried to consider her options. It was all happening too quickly. The next treacherous turn came at her fast. She had no way to slow down. White knuckles gripped the steering wheel.

The bend ahead showed a hard curve to the right, not quite as tight as the last one, but steeper. And she felt the car accelerating, though she hadn’t touched the gas pedal. Right before the car hit the curve, Amanda spun the steering wheel. The car lurched around the bend. The driver side of the car lifted up. Halfway through the long bend, Amanda watched the hood tilt in the turn until it was almost vertical. No seat belt on, she was catapulted down the leather seat, crashing into the passenger door.

“Hell!” she cried, reaching to grab her bruised shoulder.

She froze as the two wheels still on the ground shuddered in the gravel, sliding off the small road. Slammed against the side door, she heard the tall weeds and low branches whip against the body. But the car didn’t slow. Blood streamed from a gash on her forehead. For an instant she lay there stretched across the passenger door, holding her breath.

Then she sensed the car teetering. The front tire bumped something hard. Amanda stared, unbelieving, as the car began to flip. As the Regal made the first revolution, she screamed.

About the Author

Dr. Randy Overbeck is a best-selling author of the award-winning series The Haunted Shores Mysteries, the three entries earning such national awards as the Gold Award from Literary Titan, Mystery of the Year from ReaderViews, Best Book from Chanticleer and Crowned Heart of Excellence from InD’tale Magazine. He hosts a new podcast, “Great Stories about Great Storytellers,” which reveals the unusual backstories of famous authors, directors, and poets. He is also a speaker in much demand, sharing his multi-media presentations, “Thanks Still Go Bump in the Night” and “A Few Favorite Haunts,” with audiences all over the country.

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