The Cormorant

The Cormorant and The Killing Ground is a novel about the pressures of teaching and about two people who believe they have found true love. Eight male high school faculty members spend many of their summer holidays playing at paintball. The game turns deadly when one member Randolph Blake learns that another member much like a brother to himself Michael Fenell has sexually blackmailed the woman Josey Valchos into bed with himself. Josie is also a member of the high school faculty where Randolph and Michael teach. But what has Michael learned about Josey that is so alarming that she actually takes him to bed to keep him from telling Randolph? The book ends with Michael and Randolph coming to one last violent game played out on the island called “The Killing Ground” where they play paintball. Only Josey and Michael know the reason for the island’s name, the story travels back and forth in time showing the history of Michael and Josey's tie to each other. It shows why Josey has changed her name, has had plastic surgery, has changed her hair color and why she hates Michael as deeply as she does. Amid her scheming she never expects to fall in love with Randolph.