Of course the Halls of Poison Ivy is intended to be entertaining and what is called a "good read." But because of many national and international events that have occurred since the plot was first conceived, the message in this detective novel has spoken to me many times.

The overarching theme is that just because people with shady ethics are running an institution, an organization or a political party; it does make that institution, organization or political party unethical. The setting for this work of fiction is Georgia Tech, a highly respected and well-supported university. For more than 115 years, it has helped to mold our leaders in business, politics and education. Most of these 10s of thousands alumni are touted with pride. A few that were created for this story are not in this group! Theirs is another story called Halls of Poison Ivy.

In addition to the good, the bad, and the ugly alumni and administrators close to Georgia Tech; Walter, a homeless man with only a first name, becomes a key to finding the murderer of a talented graduate student. The portrayal of the hero Walter is an attempt to raise the awareness of the public that our homeless have value and should not be cast aside as aggravations to the city. Walter may not have been able to afford a place to live on his small paycheck and aluminum can income, but he understood the importance of human relationships. Walter's ethics and his loyalty to the memory of the dead student, create a contrast to those alumni and administrators who appear to have everything except ethics and loyalty.

Homicide Detective Wes T. Wesley is a man of integrity and compassion even though he operates in a dark world of murder and murderers. Because of his close and caring relationship among his father and his son, his life has been well-balanced and lived with harmony. He personifies what the alumni do not: that no matter what your surroundings are your value system is your most important possession. This is a lesson for many who lead our country and our corporations in 2003 have long forgotten and often put their values on money and power.