Murder at Walden Pond - Softcover

Blanchard, Al

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1930486286 ISBN 13: 9781930486287

Publisher: Salvo Pr, 2000

Synopsis

Middle School History Teacher Steve Asher is forcibly removed from his role of helping young people when he is charged with the murder of a student's sister. Asher is counseling a troubled boy, Petey Oliver, whose dysfunctional family is represented by Susan Oliver, a young attractive woman trying hard to keep her bright but disturbed brother out of trouble. Asher meets Susan over coffee to discuss ways they can help Petey, but when we see them together again he is fishing her body out of Walden Pond. Asher becomes a prime suspect in the murder after Susan’s diary is turned over to a hungry reporter naming Steve as her lover. In order to clear his name and regain his reputation, Asher is torn from his academic tower and forced into a quest to find Susan's real murderer. Asher struggles to survive in an alien hostile environment where someone has brutally murdered a woman he hardly knew and is trying to silence him. All the while he is being harassed by the police who suspect him, ostracized by the community, questioned by students and threatened with suspension by the school board for a crime he did not commit. The key to the crime hinges on a runaway boy and a politician running for Governor. Asher's quest leads back to Walden Pond where he comes face to face with a killer.

About this title

About the Author

Like Steve Asher, the protagonist in Murder At Walden Pond, Al Blanchard has been a middle school teacher for a number of years. Many of his teaching experiences appear in the novel. Before teaching Al owned an art gallery, a music store, a restaurant and has run workshops teaching computer literacy to blind adults. His published short fiction has appeared in Murderous Intent, Pirate Writings, The Edge, The Advocate, Futures and numerous other magazines. He lives in Massachusetts with his wife and is currently at work on another Steve Asher novel.

From Library Journal

Two weeks after a young woman speaks with eighth-grade history teacher Steve Asher about her troubled younger brother Petey one of his students Steve finds her body in Walden Pond. Police suspect Steve when they hear rumors of a relationship between him and the woman and read her diary depicting a fantasized love affair with him. As his job and relationships begin to crumble, Steve hastens to the offensive: a local gubernatorial candidate seems to have much to hide. Unfortunately, the narrative lacks conviction, the plot lacks depth, and the characters lack appeal. Pass.
Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc.

About this edition

• Publisher: Salvo Pr
• Publication date: 2000
• ISBN 10: 1930486286
• ISBN 13: 9781930486287
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 208