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Randy Overbeck

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Cruel Lessons (Lessons in Peril Book 1) Kindle Edition

by Randy Overbeck (Author) Format: Kindle Edition

4.3 13 ratings

Book 1 of 1: Lessons in Peril

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On a school camping trip, fifth graders experiment with a dangerous new hallucinogen and die in a horrific accident, their deaths shattering the quiet town. Assistant Superintendent Ken Parks, hoping to redeem a fatal mistake from his past, grasps the opportunity to conduct the district investigation of how students are getting the drugs. Almost before he begins, the cops make a stunning arrest. But Parks battles on, convinced the real pusher is still out there, poisoning more kids until he receives an anonymous threat: if he continues, those close to him will pay. Is Parks willing to risk those he loves for a chance at redemption?

Product details

ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0CDJ6GL5W
Publisher ‏ : ‎ The Wild Rose Press, Inc. (October 11, 2023)
Publication date ‏ : ‎ October 11, 2023
Language ‏ : ‎ English
File size ‏ : ‎ 842 KB
Simultaneous device usage ‏ : ‎ Unlimited
Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe

Best Sellers Rank: #2,049,911 in Kindle Store (See Top 100 in Kindle Store)
- #36,143 in Amateur Sleuths
- #105,004 in Mysteries (Kindle Store)

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4.3 13 ratings

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Randy Overbeck

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Dr. Randy Overbeck is an award-winning educator, author and speaker. As an educator, he served children for more than three decades in a range of roles captured in his novels, from teacher and coach to principal and superintendent. His thriller, LEAVE NO CHILD BEHIND (2012) and his recent mysteries, the Amazon No. 1 Best Seller, BLOOD ON THE CHESAPEAKE (2019), CRIMSON AT CAPE MAY (2020) and SCARLET AT CRYSTAL RIVER (2021) have earned five star reviews and garnered national awards including “Thriller of the Year”—ReadersFavorite.com, “Gold Award”—Literary Titan, “Mystery of the Year”—ReadersView.com and “Crowned Heart of Excellence”—InD’Tale Magazine.

As a member of the Mystery Writers of America, Dr. Overbeck is an active member of the literary community, contributing to a writers’ critique group, serving as a mentor to emerging writers and participating in writing conferences such as Sleuthfest, Killer Nashville and the Midwest Writers Workshop. When he’s not writing or researching his next exciting novel or sharing his presentation “Things Still Go Bump in the Night,” he’s spending time with his incredible family of wife, three children (and their spouses) and seven wonderful grandchildren.

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4.3 out of 5

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Kindle Customer

Take the challenger to figure it out!

Reviewed in the United States on May 2, 2024

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Overbeck specializes in mysteries in small towns. This one involves deadly drugs getting into students' hands. Ken, a school official, is assigned to find out why and how this is happening. Twists and turns and the unexpected will change your mind often as you try to figure it out. People are investigated and accused and even arrested before the real drug dealer is revealed. Your heart will break at the loss of young lives and your anger will flair at the dealers who prey on our children. A modern mystery worth the read!

Reviewed in the United States on March 29, 2024

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Drugs killing kids. This novel gives you sympathetic ordinary people characters caught in a nightmarish situation. Lots of believable suspects to keep you guessing throughout.

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Dan

And entertaining read

Reviewed in the United States on January 24, 2024

Was an interesting read. Held my interest and is a great page-turner. If you are looking for a great real-life mystery you have found it.

Reviewed in the United States on April 15, 2024

After four children die on a school trip after taking a new drug, the school district has to figure out who is making these drugs and how the kids are getting them. Lots of twists and great character development make it a good read!

Reviewed in the United States on October 16, 2023

Verified Purchase

Cruel Lessons is a long, involved novel that begins with the tragic, drug-related deaths of four middle schoolers who were attending a scholastic camp affiliated with their school. The mystery is, how and where did they get the drugs, and what kind of diabolical person would give hallucinogenic drugs to eleven- and twelve-year olds?

Another one of their classmates uses the same kind of drug, in the form of a drug-laden "tattoo," and lapses into a lengthy coma. The drug dealer has the nickname of "the doctor," and, while there are several candidates who might answer to that moniker, the question remains--which one is it?

Ken Parks, assistant superintendent of the school district, thinks he's happily married to his real estate agent wife Amanda, although he admits that some of the magic has gone out of their marriage. They're both always too busy--she with open houses and real estate deals, he with issues relating to the school district. He gets involved in investigating the drug problem and trying to discover where their scourge is coming from. He's more than obsessed with this, and his wife is so upset, she becomes obsessed with something else.

I liked the story and the intricacies with which the author weaves character developments with surprise instances within the novel. However, I could not give this book more than three stars because I found a number of typographical errors (e.g., no consistency in using the Oxford comma, several words left out of phrases, etc.). I enjoyed reading this book and believe others would like the story line and resolution, but grammar and syntax issues shouldn't be in a book with the kind of creativity, time, and patience it takes to produce a novel of this magnitude.

Reviewed in the United States on December 3, 2023

This novel drew me in with an interesting story line
filled with unexpected plot twists that kept me engaged to the end. I will definitely read more from this author!

Reviewed in the United States on October 11, 2023

(review request submitted by the author for an honest critique)

"Cruel Lessons" was a 457-page novel (print edition) that touched on a sensitive real-life issue: drugs in school. It’s common for young adults to experiment with pot, cigarettes, or alcohol. The age bracket partaking in illegal drugs exists well before high school. Cruel Lessons features the effects of drug use among 11 to 13-year-olds. Drugs are entering Foster Middle School, mainly a hallucinogen-inducing wolf tattoo. Once the young buyer presses the drug to their skin, their time is almost up.

Cops witness numerous horrific crime scenes through their time on the force; the death of 4 young boys close to the science camp will haunt their dreams for a long time, maybe forever.

The school board asked Ken to take point and find out how the kids got a hold of the drugs and discover if the school was liable for their deaths. The board seemed more interested if they would get sued or not. I wasn’t surprised people valued the bottom line over the loss of 4 lives.

Ken, not a trained investigator, began to work the case. He interviewed staff members and students and enlisted the help of Bart (resource officer). His “meddling” was not appreciated by the dealer, “the doctor.” Lives were lost in the pursuit of justice. A popular teacher was fighting to prove her innocence. Through all the school drama, readers also watched love triangles unfold in the background. Wow, the cheating spouses drama could be its own soap opera. While I understand each purpose in the story, I wanted their faithful spouses to discover their misdeeds. I wanted more drama!

The list of suspects was long. Who brought the tattoos into the school and how they did it might stun you. As you work the case with Ken and Bart, do not write off a suspect so quickly. At the end of the story, I had 75% of the resolution figured out. I was wrong about one prime suspect, which falls in the 25% category.

"Cruel Lessons" will keep you guessing. When you think you figured it out, the author throws you a curveball. The uncertainty, the twists, kept me going back for more. Even though I loved the book, it left me with many unanswered questions. To avoid giving out spoilers, I will refrain from elaborating on what puzzled me.

If you like crime stories that take time to solve, this book is for you!

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Top reviews from other countries

Tom Dutta

Beyond Cruelty: 'Cruel Lessons' Unveils a Chillingly Cool Tale

Reviewed in Canada on December 1, 2023

Verified Purchase

Randy Overbeck's Cruel Lessons delivers an electrifying narrative from the opening pages. The tragic incident that unfolds sets the stage for an intense, suspenseful journey through a quiet town shattered by a harrowing event. Assistant Superintendent Ken Parks leads a gripping investigation, haunted by his past and determined to prevent further tragedy. The narrative twists and turns, immersing readers in a maze of suspense, intricate characters, and a vividly depicted era.

What I loved most about this book was its ability to transport me into the story. The suspense was palpable, and I was deeply engaged, constantly on the edge of my imagination. The book's cover, with its bold title against the backdrop of a crimson school, perfectly encapsulates the gripping nature of the story within.

As someone who typically gravitates towards non-fiction, 'Cruel Lessons' was a compelling departure from my usual reads. It left me eagerly anticipating my next Overbeck novel, a testament to the author's storytelling prowess.

I won't spoil the plot, but I urge readers to dive into this captivating tale and experience the thrill firsthand. A riveting, must-read narrative that I wholeheartedly recommend to anyone seeking an enthralling mystery."

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Cruel Lessons (Lessons in Peril Book 1) Kindle Edition

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