In the Shadow of the Ivory Tower

When a shooter attacks a Middle Eastern Religions class at a prestigious West Coast university, the serenity of the seaside campus is rocked and the lives of its community members are threatened. Is it the work of a determined group of students, or a sociopath with his own agenda?

A prestigious west coast university is under attack. The serenity of the seaside campus has been rocked and the lives of the university community have been threatened. Is it the work of a determined group of students or a sociopath with his own agenda? A shooting attack on a Middle Eastern Religions class throws California Pacific University into a state of fear and suspicion. Violent protests erupt at campus events that feature controversial speakers. Threats and attacks on the community occur every few days as an unknown assailant challenges the campus leadership, making demands for greater influence over the administration including the removal of the current Chancellor. Those who live in the California Pacific University community are caught up in a power struggle that threatens the university with more violence. Principles of diversity, inclusion, and free speech are challenged as the university struggles to maintain control. Darren Kelly, a professor of Counseling Psychology, and Detective Jake Cooper are part of a Threat Assessment Team that attempts to identify the attacker and release his chaotic grip on their community. But matching wits with a sociopath could pop the collegiate bubble in which they live, and the quiet seaside community will forever be changed if the assailant achieves his goal.

For more than 30 years, Alan Kirby enjoyed a career at the University of California, Santa Barbara. He earned multiple advanced degrees at Ball State University and the University of Florida, including a Ph.D. in Counseling. Now focused on writing fiction, his first novel, In The Shadow of the Watertower, explored small-town American values and the strong bond between brothers. The second novel in this series, In The Shadow of the Ivory Tower, is a psychological mystery. Kirby provides an insider's look at a crisis in a premier research university that features aggressive protests and attacks on the campus community. He lives in Ojai, California and welcomes comments and questions at alan@alankirbybooks.com. Visit www.alankirbybooks.com for more information