A Murder of Principal by Saralyn Richard

Saralyn Richard, author of the award-winning Detective Parrot mysteries, returns to print with a stand-alone mystery.  A Murder of Principal is both a mystery and a novel that exposes the deep divide between schools of privilege and those where some teachers and administrators have low expectations and favor strong discipline over innovative teaching and motivation. Author Saralyn Richard successfully brings the unique perspective of her years as an administrator in a predominantly African-American high school to the book. Set in 1993 when Richard was an administrator, the mystery paints a picture of a similar, though fictional high school. 

The book opens as R.J. Stoker, Lincoln High School’s new principal, drives to the school having moved from Knoxville, Tennessee. 

“He wasn’t thinking of the paychecks or prestige of being the new principal at Lincoln High. He wasn’t thinking of the new two-story Colonial he had purchased, or the new 1993 Cadillac his wife had her eye on. He paid no attention to the train tracks, the abandoned industrial yards, or the untidy lawns and unkempt houses that had sheltered middle-class families decades ago.

Gang graffiti peppered the sides of buildings and viaducts. This scenery was a far cry from the posh Tennessee neighborhood where he’d served as principal for the past eighteen years, commanding one of the highest principal salaries in the South.

What Stoker was thinking, this Indian summer day in 1993, the first day of school for faculty, was the challenge. Having accomplished his goals in Knoxville, he stood ready to tackle the big Midwestern city. Besides, he gained a certain gratification from being able to improve the lives of young people of his own race. Lincoln High School was predominantly Black.”

Principal Stoker is a man who believes that schools exist for students and some of the teachers and administrators at his new school don’t care for his ideas or his disruption of their traditional methods and discipline. Stoker promoted Sally Pearce, a white teacher, to the Assistant Principal position responsible for curriculum and instruction. The reader can tell that Sally believes in and supports students. She and Principal Stoker have great plans to transform Lincoln High into a place where students thrive.

One of the unique aspects of this book is that it explores racial issues in the school from multiple viewpoints. After a teacher tries to put Ms. Pearce on the spot to get her way, Ms. Pearce asks Principal Stoker what to do and he responds:

“Don’t engage in conversation with a Black teacher who calls you a racist. She was just blowing smoke, trying to get you upset, trying to put you in an indefensible position. Don’t fall for it.”

“So how should I have responded?”

“Just ignore her. Or tell her you won’t dignify that statement with a response. You’re going to have run-ins with teachers who try to use race to cover up their own inadequacies. Let them know you see right through it, and ignore the comments.”

Assistant Principal Welburton, a white man, who assumed he’d be named Principal, and who has long run the school with iron-clad discipline, doesn’t like Principal Stoker’s plans. When a student who’s a known gang member leaves a threatening note on the football coach’s car, Welburton wants to expel the student, but Principal Stoker overrules him. Welburton and his allies, including teachers who’ve been rebuffed by the new principal, are ready to rebel when Principal Stoker is shot and killed and there are a bevy of suspects. Was this a gang-ordered hit? Did one of Stoker’s enemies kill him? 

As the police work to solve the murder, the student who threatened the coach disappears with his family. He’s located and brought into custody when a second administrator is killed. Could it be gang retaliation? Is one of the other teachers or administrators hiding something? 

The clever machinations of the teachers and administrators as they play school politics to advance their own agendas set the book apart. They offer a revealing picture of race and expectations. I wish the book had been longer as I’d have enjoyed exploring more of the motivation behind the actions of some of the characters. I loved the way a mystery could show how engaging teaching methods and high expectations could make a difference. I also enjoyed the mystery especially for a unique twist an eyewitness revealed and for the pacing that made it a page-turner.

Summing It Up: A Murder of Principal engages the reader with a fast-paced murder mystery set in an urban high school then uses that engagement to explore issues of race, gang influence, and prejudice without being preachy. This book would make for a compelling book club discussion especially for high school teachers. Readers living in Chicago’s south suburbs and south side will want to explore the issues it reveals.

Note: The digital edition is currently available for $4.99 on various platforms.

Note: I knew the author personally many years ago when our children attended the same schools and our sons were on the same baseball team.

Rating: 4 stars particularly for its exploration of issues we all should consider

Category: Fiction, Mysteries and Thrillers, Book Club

Publication Date: January 8, 2021

Author Website: http://www.saralynrichard.com

Interview with the Author: https://indiecrimescene.blogspot.com/2020/11/interview-with-saralyn-richard-author.html

What Others Are Saying:

Danger, betrayal, and murder roam the halls of Lincoln High. Teeming with territorial power plays, both in the classrooms and on the streets, A Murder of Principal is an intriguing mystery, cleverly penned with the knowledge and experience only a true educational insider can deliver.”--Bruce Robert Coffin, award-winning author of the Detective Byron Mysteries

 

“Curl up on the couch with your magnifying glass, cat, and some chocolate as you sift through the clues of this well-penned mystery. You're in for a treat!”  --Avanti Centrae, author of the five-time award winning and #1 Amazon bestselling VanOps thriller series

 

“Enter Lincoln High School at your own risk--you'll be held captive by this suspenseful page-turner." –Margaret Mizushima, author of the award-winning Timber Creek K-9 Mysteries, including Hanging Falls

 

“Every day we read in the news of black and white confrontations, prejudice, and gang-related crime. In this murder mystery Saralyn Richard tackles these important issues and delivers an exciting murder mystery to solve. The book is an anthem to better race relations and a belief that “we can all get along.” –Belle Ami, author of the best-selling mystery, The Girl Who Knew Da Vinci

 

“Saralyn Richard has written a compelling page-turner of a mystery. The book’s universe, the life of the administrators, teachers, and staff of an inner-city high school, rings with authenticity. A Murder of Principal has richly drawn characters that drive the story. There are many surprises as the story evolves. Start it early enough so you won’t stay up all night to finish it. I did.” –Marc Grossberg, author of The Best People: A Tale of Trials and Errors

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