December 23, 2006, page D6
by Don Graves

Deadly Lessons

By David Russell.

Rendezvous Crime, $13.95

Winston Patrick, divorced Vancouver lawyer turned insomniac high school teacher, faces the ultimate teacher's nightmare -- accusations of sexual impropriety with a student or predatory sex as the press labels it.

Patrick isn't the culprit, but parents and colleagues make him feel that way: Instead he finds himself the defence counsel for the accused, a dedicated, well-loved colleague. Shortly thereafter the victim is found murdered and the alleged lover becomes the prime suspect. The parents, colleagues and one particular cop turn against Patrick for defending the rogue teacher. As the body count rises and an international incident appears imminent, Patrick realizes that being at the short end of the community's temper is the least of his problems. Is he to be the next victim and why silence him for just doing his job?

David Russell's thoughtful debut novel, Deadly Lessons, is a provocative and well-written winner.

The story line is painfully real and Russell handles it with compassion and hard reality. The classroom dialogue feels so real you can close your eyes and find yourself in the stress-driven classroom.

The politics, the parent group and the school setting are detailed with compelling tension along with the convincing and shocking conclusion.

Deadly Lessons is an attention-getting debut worthy of all the praise it's sure to receive.