Big Splash

This debut novel cleverly sets a Raymond Chandler-style noir mystery in the treacherous hallways of secondary school. Matt Stevens, an average school boy with a glib tongue and a knack for solving crimes, narrates this story of how he got sucked into his school's 'organization', a mafia-like syndicate run by Vincent 'Mr. Biggs' Biggio, specializing in forged hall passes, test-copying rings, black market candy selling and taking out hits with water guns. In this high-pressure world, Matt must work to preserve his integrity, regain lost friendships and shed light on some mysterious incidents happening in school - all while avoiding being cast into the 'Outs', the kids who've been publicly and permanently humiliated by one of Vinny's Super Soaker-wielding henchmen.