Everyone has secrets—even college freshman Jason Crowell. But he has few secrets left when an anonymous feminist organization on campus publicly accuses him of date rape. Jason proclaims his innocence and has no idea who his supposed victim really is. Milan Jacovich signs on to clear his name at the behest of Jason’s ex-principal, Reggie Parker—who recently saved Milan’s life. One of the faculty is murdered, and—as Milan tangles with college deans, Jason’s rigid parents, and a dangerous gang of wild kids—he wonders whether his own number has finally come up.

“Milan Jacovich is a hero one can’t help but like. Roberts’ polished prose, inventive plots, and pleasantly low-key style add extra appeal for his long-running series.” (Booklist)

Excerpt: Where do people come up with their agendas, their causes, their passionate advocacies? They don’t tell you what your responsibilities are when you’re born. They don’t give you a job description and a list of your duties. You have to figure it out yourself.

I’m not presumptuous enough to say exactly why I was put here on earth, because I don’t know. And when I meet somebody who does, who tells me they are absolutely certain they were created to save the whales, spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ, revive the American theater, kill everyone who isn’t a white Protestant, convince gay people to change their wicked ways, rail against the evils of demon rum, or bitch at other poor bastards about their sexual habits, their choice of reading material, or their cigarette smoking, they are either purely full of baloney or possessed of the most astonishing hubris.

I think our main job is to find out who we are and what’s the right thing to do for ourselves individually, and then just shut up about it and go do it.

Publisher: Gray & Company (2006)

Pages: 265

Original Publisher: St. Martin’s Press (1999)