What's worse than a school where children aren't safe? A school where no one is safe. Few know about—much less acknowledge—the extortion, the drugs, even the sexual assaults at Freedom Consolidated High School, but now that local legend and district CEO Big Bob Samson has been murdered, demands for swift justice echo across the Pennsylvania Dutch heartland. Answering the call is Chief Harley Snitz, who has to sort through a set of unusual suspects, armed with little evidence and even less experience in homicide cases. Rushing to his aid is Snitz's sergeant, the impulsive Ed Knepp, and Nick Neidrich, a rising star in the elite Pennsylvania State Police, a star cast in eclipse by the tragic death of his wife.

The main suspects are Samson's colleagues, educators who refuse to take murder anywhere nearly as seriously as they do their jobs. The worst of the bunch is their main suspect: Doc Randori, a strangely gifted counselor for at-risk students. As the body count rises, each new corpse points in his direction. None of this bothers him though, as he bemuses Snitz, befriends Neidrich, enrages Knepp, and forces all three to face their own fears, prejudices, and values. In the end, the investigation hinges on whether Randori is a harmless misfit or a murderous sociopath.

Condemned to Freedom is more than a murder mystery: it is a searing look at the subculture hidden beneath subjects, sports, and SAT scores. It is the story of abusive and neglectful parents, hurting children, misplaced priorities, and a world that is changing too fast. It seamlessly blends mystery, drama, humor, and unforgettable characters into a page-turner that keeps the reader guessing until the end. And in the end, the reader will reconsider his or her own values and priorities.