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When someone tries to murder a cheerleader on Frederick Sterling’s first day of school, it doesn’t take long to discover that there’s a lot out of the ordinary at Alibi High, which is more like a haunted mansion, teeming with major crimes than it is a school. As the new kid, Fred had simply been hoping not to embarrass himself, but now he’s more worried about staying alive. Unfortunately, when he stumbles on information about the cheerleader, he finds himself unwittingly recruited into the Forensics Club by Mr. Verdigris, a mixture of Ms. Frizzle and Sherlock Holmes, who enjoys turning brutal crimes into school projects. And when a pretty girl from the club named Patti Price decides to make Fred her latest pet project, he can’t help wanting to impress her. Now he’ll have to not only survive the school year, but find a way to actually contribute as the club hunts down a thief named The Klepto-Brainiac, threatening to steal Alibi High’s prized jewel: The Bloodhound Ruby. If they fail, Fred’s sure it will be his fault for not keeping pace with the brilliant Patti and their genius mentor. Not only could he suffer the public humiliation he was so desperately hoping to avoid from the start, but at a school like this, lives are always on the line.

At approximately 85,000 words, Alibi High and the Case of the Bloodhound Ruby appeals to fans of Truly Devious and One of Us is Lying, with its humorous, grounded voice that strikes a contrast to the southern gothic setting where Wednesday Addams would find herself right at home.

As a high school English and creative writing teacher of twelve years, I felt compelled to put the struggles of students in the epically absurd context they deserve. I have been a founding member of my writing group for ten years, and a member of the DFW Writers' Workshop for three. Thank you for your time and consideration.