Ann-Victoria Hadley is the most hated woman in Snow Hill, Pennsylvania. She spent most of her 91 years being controversial from her fifth-grade essay on why patriotism was bad for you to her newest assault on her hometown when she joins a lawsuit to keep Intelligent Design out of the public school. Someone takes major offense at Ann- Victoria's action and attacks her with a lead pipe, leaving her near death. The local sheriff calls in a favor and former FBI agent Gregor Demarkian takes a break from his wedding plans with Bennis to investigate the attempted murder.

Never a fan of small towns, Gregor soon finds Snow Hill lives up to his low expectations. Small towns breed intrigue and resentment smoldering under their surface and Snow Hill is no exception. The town has erupted in class warfare over the evolution debate. Gregor sifts through the lawsuit looking for likely suspects where he finds an over abundance of candidates, including the sheriff. When another murder occurs, Gregor must put the pieces together before the town explodes in violence.

Ms. Haddam continues her highly acclaimed Gregor Demarkian series with a fascinating exposé on evolution and intelligent design. She presents the facts and examines the conflict between morality, religion and science. Ms. Haddam challenges stereotypes and tackles preconceived ideas while interweaving a thought-provoking mystery.

Book Summary

In her 91 years, Ann-Victoria Hadley has often been the most hated person in Snow Hill, Pennsylvania. But now, it’s worse than ever. After a new school board inserted “intelligent design” into the curriculum, they were sued by a coalition including Hadley, the one member of the board who wouldn’t go along with the rest. With the trial about to start and the town a national laughing stock, Annie-Vic is found clubbed into unconsciousness and not expected to survive. The local police chief, one of the school board members, can’t investigate it himself and doesn’t trust the state police. So he brings in Gregor Demarkian.

Gregor Demarkian, former FBI agent, is happy to help—his wedding is coming up and he’s desperate for a bit of time away from his too-involved neighbors on Cavanaugh Street in Philadelphia. Even if it is to investigate a brutal crime in a powder-keg of a small town.