Several degrees of good and evil manifest within a community during a week of Scouting activities. The Scoutmaster, major protagonist, and overall "good guy" to nearly everyone but himself, due to his own insecurity, is Mike Roberts. His opposite, a man who can be viewed as evil incarnate, is Izzy, his neighbor. Izzy's upbringing and family's wealth have enabled the horrible one "to get away with everything," and Izzy counts on his lifetime of "luck" to hold as he proceeds to perform heinous acts and to bring down Mike and his family. Izzy is assisted in his plans by his tendency to play on the moral ambiguities and perplexities of some of the people associated with the Scouts who live in the community.

Tecosky has deftly crafted a morality tale for our time. The protagonist's foibles and hesitations are based on his pondering over what is appropriate or accurate. His thoughtfulness and self-described prudishness help to keep him on a moral path. However, his insecurities inevitably hinder his ability to comprehend situations beyond his ken. He wants to be free of Izzy and many of the people whom Izzy influences, while wondering (at first, anyway) if Izzy might be redeemable. The theme that seems to resonate throughout the narrative is whether decent people comprehend pure evil and have the courage and ability to put an end to it. The work challenges its readers to think and act appropriately. Fans of works featuring complex heroes confronting seemingly unbeatable enemies may find this novel extremely engaging.

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