Winston Patrick reluctantly leads some kids in suing their school when a same-sex partner is refused entry to the prom, but opponents will stop at nothing to make their point, not even murder.

Winston Patrick was a successful lawyer who defended the downtrodden of Vancouver’s criminal world. Dissatisfied with his career, he traded in the courtroom for the high school classroom. Winston is barely surviving his first year at a Vancouver high school when his students present a human rights issue. A student wants to bring his same-sex partner to the high school prom, but the school won’t let him.

Winston reluctantly leads his proteges on their first legal quest: suing the school. He never thought that fighting for a student’s rights could have deadly consequences, but as the issue gains publicity, Winston discovers that their opponents will stop at nothing to make their point not even murder.

David Russell’s first Winston Patrick novel, Deadly Lessons, was shortlisted for an Arthur Ellis Award for best first crime novel.

David Russell was born and raised in Burnaby, B.C. He received a diploma in Performing Arts Theatre, a Bachelor of Education degree from Simon Fraser University and Masters Degree in Educational and Public Policy Management from the University of Oregon. A long time member of the arts community in Vancouver, Russell has worked in stage and television, including performing as a company member with the world champion improvisation company the Vancouver TheatreSports League for over fifteen years, where he continues to perform today. He hosted a youth television program on the Global Television network and was host and co-producer for six years of a Vancouver-based talk show. Russell has written freelance for a number of publications, including Maclean’s, The Vancouver Sun, The Province and the award-winning online news site The Tyee, and others. His first novel, Deadly Lessons, revolves around Winston Patrick, who has given up the practice of law for the practice of teaching, only to find himself in the middle of the investigation of the murder of a student at his school, a murder in which the accused is one of his own teaching colleagues. The novel was shortlisted for the Arthur Ellis Award for best first novel. A sequel, Last Dance, will be published in the spring of 2011. In addition to writing and performing, Russell teaches high school law and history part time.

David Russell's profile page

Russell artfully lets Winstons own words paint Winston as a bit self-righteous, prickly, and less discerning than Winston believes himself to be.

Publishers Weekly(Jan.)

deftly wraps a contentious issue inside a complex and revealing, burtal but also witty, bubble of crime.

The Toronto Sun

Russell has created some interesting characters and set them solidly in todays Vancouver.

The Saskatoon Star-Phoenix

The first-person narrative, realistic dialogue and accessible cast create an engaging intimacy to this fast-paced social commentary.

The Winnipeg Free Press

Last Dance is a well written mystery. But it is more than that. It is a story about searching for a life that can sustain the soul regardless of how uphill the battle should be.

Hamilton Spectator

This is a solid mystery with a sad message: Hate does kill.

The Globe and Mail

It was a book that I wanted to discuss with others and see what they thought about it. This would be an excellent book for a book club.

Examiner.com