Exciting and interesting story about a small town, Snow Hill, located in the hills of Pennsylvania. The native residents have been there “forever” have very fundamental religious views and are not very friendly to newcomers. They are very suspicious of the people who have settled in the new subdivision with their fancy cars, their college educations, the “big words” they use, even the clothes they wear. Snow Hill folks drive pick-up trucks, don’t read books except for the bible of course, wear parkas not coats and most of them hardly got through high school. Then, there is religious disagreement among the natives; one of the groups were snake handlers another created their own "Christian " school.
A new school board decided to introduce Intelligent Design into the curriculum and the town is in an uproar. People, immediately, take sides; “Creationists” who take the Bible literally (the earth and everything was formed in seven days), those who do not go that far but still do not believe in evolution and the “Evolutionists”. Very strong language and opinions are expressed openly on the streets and in the stores very insulting; there is no middle ground.
A law suit has been filed against the school board and a very public trial is eminent.
The oldest, wealthiest and most opinionated woman in town(very liberal in all of her views)is discovered close to death, badly beaten in her own home. The local sheriff, a very biased “Creationist” thinks that he might be among the “suspects” and because there is going to be a media circus when the trial starts hires former FBI Agent Gregor Demarkian to investigate. Demarkian is an “out of towner” (and an Athiest) the town people do not warm to him.
This was an interesting subject and Jane Haddon researched it well and presented it with vigor and some bias I think. This was my first meeting with Gregor Demarkian; I like him and I will read more Jane Haddon.
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